BJ64

I suppose fountain pens could be problematic in Australia, being upside down and all. 😄

I think the reason I liked it so well is because it was simple. We ate, then the Christmas story was read from Luke intermixed with singing Christmas hymns.

I believe it’s pretty much assumed that Jesus was born at the time of the Passover which would be in the spring. The shepherds spoken of are said to have been tending the sacrificial lambs used at Passover. The reason there was no room at the inn was because everyone was in town for the Passover celebration. At least this is what you learn if you read Elder Lund’s Kingdom and the Crown book series.

Our ward has Christmas Dinners. This year we had baked potatoes, ham, lettuce salad, rolls and cheesecake. All of the Christmas songs we sang were from the hymn book. It was one of the best ward Christmas parties in my memory.

I counted in sacrament meeting today. There were 22 men with beards. I don’t know what percent that was. That number included a councilor in the bishopric, the ward clerk, two assistant clerks, two members of the elders quorum presidency, two members of the Sunday school presidency and two primary teachers. In priesthood meeting exactly one third of the men in attendance had beards.

In my ward the deacons used to wear scout uniforms on “scout Sunday” but that changed a few years ago and they no longer wear them to church so I’d guess it was from some directive.

Several members of bishoprics and other leadership callings in our stake have beards. I don’t think anyone thinks anything of it. Beards are very common these days.

In my state no permit is needed for concealed carry. My son caries everywhere including movie theaters, restaurants and church. My nephew is in the bishopric of our ward and always carries his gun at church. I also know other members of our stake both men and women who carry concealed guns at church.

http://josephsmithfoundation.org/faqs/science/11-adams-father-who-was-the-father-of-adam-do-we-have-a-royal-heritage/

I didn’t attempt to imply that Adam was born to a mortal woman. Why would anyone even think that was the case? Adam was born as an immortal being and as such his parents had to be immortal. Jesus in the other hand was born of a mortal woman. The “only begotten” by God in such a manner. Jesus was born half immortal and as such could die or not, it was his choice to die as a sacrifice for our sins. Adam however was immortal until the fall at which time he became mortal and subject to death.

Jesus was the only begotten of The God The Father conceived by a mortal woman into mortality. Luke 3:38 tells us “Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.” Adam was also a son of God begotten as Brigham Young teaches us "And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness.... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them." I believe that the declaration made in these two scriptures is literally true. God has made His children like Himself to stand erect, and has endowed them with intelligence and power and dominion over all His works and given them the same attributes which He Himself possesses. He created man, as we create our children; for there is no other process of creation in heaven, on the earth, in the earth, or under the earth, or in all the eternities, that is, that were, or that ever will be. (Journal of Discourses, 11:122)

If you follow Joseph Smith’s teaching that there is no beginning and no end then you can’t date the universe because it has no beginning it has always existed.

You are correct. However a knowledge of how they fit in would be helpful in showing to those with scientific minds how the Bible and science fit together rather than contradict each other.

Joseph Smith and Brigham Young told us how He made man and they were his mouthpieces.

Adam and Eve being commanded to multiply and replenish the Earth gives strong evidence that it had previously been populated. re·plen·ish rəˈpleniSH/ verb fill (something) up again. "he replenished Justin's glass with mineral water" synonyms: refill, top up, fill up, recharge, freshen "she replenished their glasses" restore (a stock or supply of something) to the former level or condition. "all creatures need sleep to replenish their energies" synonyms: restock, stock up, restore, replace "their supplies were replenished"

Meridian does not necessarily mean middle.

I was merely pointing out that you can’t say there are ten times more lurkers than posters since many of the views are repeat viewing of the posters. I will also point out that many of the guests may also be regular posters who simply don’t bother to log in.

Duplicate post

If Heavenly Father is not a man who progressed into becoming a god as the church teaches then the teaching would be false but since he is a man who progressed into becoming a god as the church teaches, the teaching is true. Satan teaches that God is a being without body, parts or passions. The Book of Mormon teaches in 1 Nephi 14: 10 And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.

A significant portion of those views are the people who have posted going back to view the thread every time there is a new post. If ten people were posted ten times each on a thread there would be 100 posts. Presuming that when someone posts that is counted as one view then we also have 100 views. If each of the ten posters viewed the thread each time there was a new post then each of the ten would be going back 90 tines to view the 90 posts that they didn’t write. This adds up to another 900 views so the total is 1000 views. Ten timed more views than posts. All by the same ten people. Therefore this example points out that there aren’t nearly as many lurkers on a forum as might be perceived.

It’s available at lds.org https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/face-to-face/cook?cid=HP_SU-9-9-2018_dPTH_fBCASTxLIDyL1-B_&lang=eng

I watched it live and noticed the slip up. It was just a slip of the tongue that he didn’t catch. It was not anything deliberate. I don’t think that anyone watching it would have misunderstood what he meant to say. I suppose they’ll edit it and make it available again.

I watched. I think it’s good for the church to be open about church history.

Joseph Smith had an answer it your question. “I am dwelling on the immortality of the spirit of man. Is it logical to say that the intelligence of spirits is immortal, and yet that it has a beginning? The intelligence of spirits had no beginning, neither will it have an end. That is good logic. That which has a beginning may have an end. There never was a time when there were not spirits; for they are co-equal [co-eternal] with our Father in heaven. I want to reason more on the spirit of man; for I am dwelling on the body and spirit of man—on the subject of the dead. I take my ring from my finger and liken it unto the mind of man—the immortal part, because it had no beginning. Suppose you cut it in two; then it has a beginning and an end; but join it again, and it continues one eternal round. So with the spirit of man. As the Lord liveth, if it had a beginning, it will have an end. All the fools and learned and wise men from the beginning of creation, who say that the spirit of man had a beginning, prove that it must have an end; and if that doctrine is true, then the doctrine of annihilation would be true. But if I am right, I might with boldness proclaim from the housetops that God never had the power to create the spirit of man at all. God himself could not create himself. Intelligence is eternal and exists upon a self-existent principle. It is a spirit from age to age and there is no creation about it. All the minds and spirits that God ever sent into the world are susceptible of enlargement. The first principles of man are self-existent with God. God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself. The relationship we have with God places us in a situation to advance in knowledge. He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with Himself, so that they might have one glory upon another, and all that knowledge, power, glory, and intelligence, which is requisite in order to save them in the world of spirits. This is good doctrine. It tastes good. I can taste the principles of eternal life, and so can you. They are given to me by the revelations of Jesus Christ; and I know that when I tell you these words of eternal life as they are given to me, you taste them, and I know that you believe them. You say honey is sweet, and so do I. I can also taste the spirit of eternal life. I know that it is good; and when I tell you of these things which were given me by inspiration of the Holy Spirit, you are bound to receive them as sweet, and rejoice more and more.”

I know he was making a joke of it. That was part of his good nature and humor. I didn’t mean it as anything critical. I think more importantly, he was too busy to worry to much about such things. He got his exercise not only by going to funerals but in everything else he did. I have heard people lament why do they have so many health problems when they obey the word of wisdom. My thought is that it is obvious, they aren’t obeying the word of wisdom. The promise for obedience to the word of wisdom is. 18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones; 19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; 20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. 21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen. However I think these blessings are for those who obey the whole law, not just a little bit here and there.