Xavier

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Posts posted by Xavier

  1. 2 hours ago, anatess2 said:

    My fast is scheduled to end 5 hours from now.  For some reason, this fast seems a bit more difficult than usual.  It may be because I'm not out and about getting distracted but in an "open concept" house where you can't escape from the visibility of the kitchen.  This requires more focus for me, especially in this last few hours.  I'm thinking of extending the fast to breakfast tomorrow.

    I find that the last few hours of a fast are always the most challenging. I have come to rely on prayer during these times and I also focus on serving, but as you've mentioned, during a lockdown is kind of hard! 

    Perhaps, document your thoughts and/or testimony for your children/family in form of a video log! I am actually doing that right now and it's definitely keeping my mind off of things!

  2. 17 hours ago, Emmanuel Goldstein said:

    I am referring to the quote from President Nelson: "How do we fast? Two meals or a period of 24 hours is customary. But you decide what would constitute a sacrifice for you, as you remember the supreme sacrifice the Savior made for you. Let us unite in pleading for healing throughout the world."

    The way I saw it is that he gave us a definite way for a proper fast, but IF for some reason, you are not able to do it, then there is a way to still "fast" by giving up something you might consider a sacrifice. 

    so, to summarize, 

    1.- Abstain from eating and drinking for a period of 24 hours

    or

    2.- Giving up something you would consider a sacrifice to go without for the same period

    Of course, every fast is accompanied by a monetary donation of your choice... perhaps that's a sacrifice on its own.

  3. I have been thinking a lot about the signs given of these latter-days. Signs of the second coming and I can't help but think that everything happening right now is so coincidental to hat is about to happen in just a few weeks, these year being the bicentennial anniversary of God's appearance to Joseph Smith introducing His only beloved Son Jesus Christ, whom he sent.

    Could this pandemic be an attempt by Satan to destruct the world of such significant event, such as the very restoration of His true and living Church?

    Will this usher the last few events where the world will be so affected economically that the sign of the beast will be instituted and no-one will be able to trade or buy without this "sign"?

    Should we be concerned?

    How are you preparing should this be the case?

  4. On 1/8/2020 at 7:34 AM, Jane_Doe said:

    A proper man of God isn't an misogynist.  A proper man of God respect and loves woman, and treats her has his equal help-mate.  The #MeToo movement supports this Christ-like behavior in encouraging people (of both genders) who've been hurt to speak up, and encouraging people (of both genders) to treat each other with respect.

    I agree, and wholeheartedly would conclude it as such. My main idea is that in today's environment of rising women's rights and/or equality movements, it seems as though, the traditional view of patriarchy is seem more like a misogynistic and chauvinistic traditions rather than an Celestial order previously approved by Our Father in Heaven.

  5. 23 hours ago, JKing said:

    Hi, my oldest son returned from his mission 4 weeks ago and I think he has been sad ever since he came home. He barely celebrated Christmas with us and he has hardly left his room since being home. Whilst he was still on his mission I had a feeling that something was wrong with him, he very rarely wrote to us after the first year of him being away, and when the rule changed so he could phone us every week he emailed saying he wouldn't be doing that and he wanted to finish his mission the way he started it. I emailed him most weeks and he only emailed us 4 times in the last 6 months of his mission. Then a few weeks  before he was due to come home, he told us he had decided to extend his mission for 6 weeks. 

    My husband says it is quite normal for a returned missionary to feel that way and that he felt the same. Although, I remember when my husband returned and he may have been upset without me realising it but he was nothing like the way our son is now. Do you think it is normal behavior? He hasn't even gone to church since he has been home and that isn't like him at all. If it is normal how long do you think it will last? 

    Also, I am slightly concerned something happened to him on his mission. Is there someone my husband or I can talk to, so we can find out? 

    P.s I am not a member but my husband is 

    So, I have read most of the responses here and they all seem to be helpful, however, they sound speculative in nature. No-one here can make any types of assessments as to whether or not your son has a "mental illness". Does he display symptoms that could lead one to believe that he is depressed, sure! But I am not going to diagnose it because I am not trained NOR have I spoken to him in person. 

    I can share with you what my own experience was and then you can decide if my experience and what I did is something your son could do as an alternative. he needs help or if this is a passing thought.

    Firstly, I commend you for wanting your son to be whole and healthy and happy, like any loving and caring mother would. Missionary service is a really wonderful and rewarding experience one that gives back even days, weeks, years later. However, it's not easy to re-adjust once the mission is finished.

    A missionary Elder (or Sister) is endowed with the power of God himself to preach and touch the hearts of those they come in-contact with. That power can be felt and it is ever present in a missionary's life (so long as he/she is following the commandments and mission rules). With that power, a missionary can see how the Gospel, when being taught by the spirit, changes lives and blesses those who accept the message of salvation. Once the missionary is released, the Endowment he had for two years is no longer there and in most cases, not having it is a real feeling of "loss" and can be challenging to overcome. Most missionaries have a well established support system and even then, they struggle. However, if the missionary is focused on his future, He(she) must be involved and active in anything that gives them purpose. But I m sure you already knew that because that's the normal reaction for anyone going through some sort of grief process. 

    I remember thinking to myself about how much I longed for my Grandma and my Aunts to hear the gospel and pray to God about its veracity. I then had a special experience about four months after I had started my mission and although at the moment it was very scary, later I realized that it was my Grandma coming to say goodbye. I remember doing my personal study (missionaries have a strict schedule to follow every morning and one of the hours prior to leaving the apartment for the day is to study the scriptures) and while I was reading my scriptures, I felt a sens of deep sadness. The kind of sadness that makes one sob uncontrollably. My companion saw me and was concerned and I couldn't explain what was happening. Suddenly I realized that perhaps my mom had passed away. Soon after I had that thought, I offered a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help me accept His will regardless of whatever had happened. A few weeks later it as mother's day and I was praying that my mother would answer the call. After I dialed the number it rung a few times and then I heard my mother's voice. I was so relieved and at the same point confused. After a few minutes and greetings she had informed me that my Grandma had passed away. At that moment I felt at peace and I knew that she had come to say goodbye to me. I prayed to Heavenly Father that I needed Him to send missionaries to her right away because I was going to do her Temple Work as soon as I was back at home. Soon after I came home, I went to the temple and id the work for my Grandma and it was a wonderful experience. I have no doubt that she accepted the ordinances and is happy with her decision.  

    I am not sure as to why you aren't a member of the Church or if you are but not active, nevertheless, I can see your son wanting desperately to share the gospel with you the way a missionary does and if you have resisted to learn more about the Gospel before, he might be having an internal struggle because he wants the Best for you. If you at some point decide to take the discussions, please involve him in the process. I am going to be bold and say this, it will be a much better experience of you at least learn and take the discussions now, than after you're gone through the veil. Eventually, if you decide not to take the discussions now, he will do the work for you after you're there. However, please do now that whether you do it now or then, you still have a choice and regardless of how your son feels or your husband, you are loved by God. 

    Another aspect about being a returned missionary, is the fact that usually the bishop of your Ward puts the young man to work (a calling in the ward) and he might want to take a few weeks to "re-charge".

    Regardless of whatever the reason is, do not dismiss your gut-feeling and keep the lines of communication opened. He needs to talk to your husband, and he needs to talk to his bishop. He needs to get active and go to school or get a job. 

    One last thing, upon finishing a mission, the mission president does one last interview and in that interview, most times, the mission president extorts the missionary to find a young lady to marry and not to take too long in doing so. It is a good advise however, it is definitely something that could be intimidating.

    Hope this helps and gives you an idea as to what he might have gone through. 

    To finish, I would like to share with you AND YOUR SON, my testimony: I know without a shadow of a doubt that your son was called of God and that he had God's blessing to testify on His behalf. I know that the gospel is true and it's real. I know that the Book of Mormon changes lives and I know that it is the true word of God. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He is the head of His Church. I also know that God lives and loves His children. He has living angels and some of those are called "Missionaries"! Most of the future is uncertain, but I know that if we live by the Word of God, that uncertainty will turn into Happiness. In the Book of Mormon there is a verse that gives me hope for the future: Mosiah 2:41

    Quote

    41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

    I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

  6. I am wondering how much of this ideology is still accepted by today's society?

    Is the "Me Too" movement causing many people to determine that men are no longer needed by women?

    How is 1 Corintians 11 still relevant in today's society and/or church culture without being looked like a misogynist?

    My understanding is this:

    • Man's head (authority come from) is Christ
    • Woman is Man's glory
    • Woman's glory is her hair

    How is this ideology going to bring people to the truth when it causes many woman to be cautious of men due to the current universal feeling of womanhood and it's rise in "equality"?

  7. I have been looking at the rapid change in today's world's views and see that modern-day feminism is changing the way we all look at the proverbial family unit.

    I ask myself, if the Patriarchal Order is now dead. It seems as though, feminism is not in agreement of the way God has ordered the hierarchy of His kingdom.

    I find that some brothers whom have been endowed in the House of the Lord mistakenly have understood that the Patriarchal Order to be one of a dictatorship. This is far from the truth. However, feminism is not the antidote to chauvinistic male assertions of power.

    So, is the Patriarchal Oder Dead?

  8. So, I have been searching documentation and/or a source from official church sources to back up the notion that a general authority does need a recommend to enter the temple, but such, is a lifetime recommend and does not expire. 

    Does anyone know where I can find this information, or anything to expose something completely different?

    Thank you in advance for your assistance.

  9. 10 hours ago, Aaddaamm said:

    Hey will not force them. But if they choose to their pride over marriage, they will be denied the blessings of exaltation.

    I agree. I think there will be a lot of people ok with that. Why would God provide "three levels/degrees" within the celestial kingdom? Not everyone will exalted. Which is the point to my original question. 

  10. On 2/9/2019 at 9:34 PM, Aaddaamm said:

    The fact that God takes a woman from a man already married and gives her to another because he was not sufficiently faithful, may also mean that God gives sufficiently faithful single women the same opportunity, as in, given to a faithful man in the resurrection.

    I believe God wants nothing less than exaltation for all his children, which requires being sealed to a spouse. So he will do what he can to make that happen.

    However, agency is still paramount. I know worthy, righteous women who do not want to be married to men with multiple wives. Elohim will not force them...

  11. There seems to be a common misconception about what exaltation really is, among some members of the church. While discussing this topic in a Facebook LDS group, it is thought that anyone in the celestial kingdom will be exalted. I tried to explain that that is not the case. Exaltation is reserved only for those who enter into the everlasting covenant of celestial marriage which is the highest level in the celestial kingdom. So, she was a little upset because she didn't think that was fair. She is a single lady and has done everything in her power to live the standards and has kept all of her covenants in the temple and feels she is "married" to the Lord (she hasn't found someone to marry in the temple). I made the attempt to explain that she need no worry because the lord will make sure she has a chance to be sealed to a worthy priesthood holder either in this life or the next. 

    Of course, exaltation and eternal life s a broad and vast subject but the gist of it is the union of two celestial law abiding individuals who are one with God. What is your take on this?

     

  12. 13 minutes ago, prisonchaplain said:

    The church uses the King James Version of the Bible. It was compiled in 1611. In that era, and up until about 1970, masculine pronouns were used in English by default. Gender-neutral pronouns are now used for references to a general audience. When reading older literature, understanding this basic reality should help all of us avoid the false belief that prior to 1970 everyone was misogynist.  :whistling:

    I more-less explained this to her, but she didn't want to hear that!

  13. 4 hours ago, zil said:

    This bit is confusing to me.

    Is she saying that God expects less of women - e.g. that men are expected to be humble, but not women?

    Or is she suggesting simply that the choice of words used in scripture is demeaning to women (but women are expected to obey just as men are)?  (i.e. the "restrictions on women" bit simply means that she doesn't think God would word things that way, but that He would be more inclusive in His word choices?)

    That's mostly for my curiosity.  I think the point is irrelevant.  I don't think anything will satisfy her - even a complete re-write of scripture.

    She thinks that by using the word "MEN" to describe both, MEN and women, is misogynistic and sexist. She feels that God would never want to demean women to that extent. 

  14. Recently, I was having a conversation with an investigator and at one point, she made a very interesting observation. 

    In the scriptures when describing humanity as a whole, the Lord uses “and the children of MEN”, or, “if MEN humble themselves...” . 

    She felt that it demotes womenhood to be less than that of men and that God would never place such restrictions on women.

    I made the attempt to express that in any language, the general way to describe humanity as a whole, it was by using the word “MEN” and that in noway it’s used to demean women. She wasn’t sastified with that answer. 

    So, two questions:

    1.- How could you explain and provide a suitable answer to explain this to people such as this lady?

    2.- Is feminism going to destroy humanity to the point of abolishing anything and everything related masculinity?

  15. On 5/15/2018 at 5:32 AM, Luke said:

    Yet, I feel my larger concern has not been addressed.  And this is probably my fault for not explaining myself better.  But, let me try to focus my question.  How can we know that God doesn't lie?  It would appear to me impossible to know, at least in mortality.

    There is what we call Absolute Truth, which is what defines God. To wonder if God lies or tells the truth is counterproductive to the infantile human mind. To make this concept even more simplistic, let's look at some facts that bring the question of wether or not God lies, to rest: 

    President Kimball said: 

    Quote

    I realize I cannot convince you against your will, but I know I can help you if you will only listen and let me call to your attention some salient truths, and if you will listen with a prayer and a desire to know that what I say is true. I would not, even if I could, force your thinking, for free agency is the basic law of God and each one must assume the responsibility for his own response; but certainly each of us must do his part in influencing for good those who might need some assistance.

    So, the key to understanding is to listen and understand those silent truths President Kimball is talking about. Now, what are those silent truths? Let's explore a few:

    In a talk given by President Kimball, he elaborates on the difference between relative truth and absolute truth. It's amazing and I hope you take some time to ponder it's content. I have reread it at least a dozen times and still learn something new. 

    I love this quote from such talk: click here for the quote

    Quote

    If men are really humble, they will realize that they discover, but do not create, truth.

    So, relatively speaking of truth, thats what you're experiencing right now. Regardless of wether or not you think God may or may not lie, is absolute relative to the absolute truth which is he DOESN'T.  He has said and done many things that are constant and does not deviate from what he says. Never has, never will. Otherwise he woukd ceased to be God and remember that those are the traits of someone telling the truth. 

    In Mathew 7:15 - 20 we read:

    Quote

      Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’sclothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

    16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

    17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

    18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

    19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewndown, and cast into the fire.

    20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

    So, why would God expect his servants to be truthful and not expect that of himself? It just didn't add up. So, from a logical point of view we can conclude that He Doesn't lie and will NEVER lie. It's just not his His nature and expects us to learn from him so that one day, we too may be in truth AND in spirit. 

    Hope that helps clear that up a bit.

     

    Regards, 

    @Xavier

     

    P.S. not sure why I couldn't attach the links but here they are:

    "Absolute truth":

     https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/spencer-w-kimball_absolute-truth/

    "by their fruits ya shall know them":

    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1985/10/by-their-fruits-ye-shall-know-them?lang=eng