theplains

Is there a scripture in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Pearl of Great Price to show people knew of and/or participated in the endowment ceremony? Thanks, Jim

See the document at scribd. Screen prints of church teachings (Doctrines of Salvation, volume 3). Thanks, Jim

When you download the PDF file and open it, an advanced search for Cumorah will reveal all of them. search). Thanks, Jim

You may want to look at the 1928 General Conference and search for Cumorah. http://www.archive.org/details/conferencereport1928a Thanks, Jim

Is this the future event you had in mind? Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh. Thanks, Jim

I also found this: Alma 21:1 - "Now when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers' nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon." Thanks, Jim

The Levites were blessed with something far greater - the priesthood. See Numbers and Leviticus. Jim

On the church's web site, it mentions: "To commit sin is to willfully disobey God’s commandments or to fail to act righteously despite a knowledge of the truth (see James 4:17)." Is there a reason why same-sex marriage was referred to as a serious transgression instead of a serious sin? Thanks, Jim

Quoting one verse of the whole - "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." The language seems similar to that describing the false prophet of Revelation chapters 13 and 19. Do you think Matthew 24:15-24 refers to a future time of great apostasy? Thanks, Jim

If I am understanding the verses correctly, the Church of the Firstborn is only for exalted beings. D&C 76:54-58 - "They are they who are the church of the Firstborn. They are they into whose hands the Father has given all things—They are they who are priests and kings, who have received of his fulness, and of his glory; And are priests of the Most High, after the order of Melchizedek, which was after the order of Enoch, which was after the order of the Only Begotten Son. Wherefore, as it is written, they are gods, even the sons of God." I found this other link too: "We have the opportunity to be “joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) and be numbered among “the church of the Firstborn” (D&C 93:22; see also D&C 76:51–54). In this way we also can receive all that the Father has (see D&C 76:55; 84:37–38)." Reading a few other passages in Romans 8: "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." Only the children of God are joint-heirs. Thanks, Jim

What I mentioned is taught in LDS Church manuals. Jim

I had a question about these verses in Luke 1. "And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary ... And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus." Is it fair to say that Jesus was conceived in the sixth month (Elul; the Jewish Calendar compared with the Gregorian Calendar - http://s4ctroops.com/id45.html)? If yes, would his birth follow a normal 9-month cycle and fall sometime in the month of Sivan? Thanks, Jim

Would I be considered an anti-Mormon when I say that the LDS Church is incorrect in teaching that Jesus Christ is the first spirit child of heavenly parents who progressed into becoming a God when he reached a certain level of intelligence? Thanks, Jim

Apart from the 3 Nephite disciples, were there other Nephites or Mulekites who did not perish in unbelief? Thanks, Jim

What do you believe is Adam's first sin?

I do not know why it was in Salt Lake City that Jews were also considered as Gentiles but not in Missouri. Thanks, Jim

Personally I don't see anything humorous about that. Is there a reason why Joseph Smith and the Latter-day Saints, while they lived in Missouri and other states before travelling west, did not consider Jews as Gentiles? Thanks, Jim

Maybe the simple answer is that seeking something outside the will of God is sinful. Unless one believes that God really wanted Adam and Eve to disobey Him. Another term for original sin is 'first sin'. What is the first sin you believe Adam and Eve committed? Thanks, Jim

I saw this from https://www.lds.org/ensign/1991/01/of-the-house-of-israel?lang=eng Joseph Smith was referred to as a pure Ephraimite. This is clarified by "Thus, Joseph Smith was of the house of Israel so far as his family or blood lines were concerned, but he came from a Gentile nation and thus might also be considered a Gentile in the political or geographical sense." It would seem that many who claim literal descent from the lineage of Jacob could also refer to themselves as Gentiles. Thanks, Jim

I don't believe in being a Lone Ranger Christian who does not wish to have community/fellowship with other believers 🙂 A belief in teachings will influence one's actions. I believe it was the thought of becoming a god that was the great temptation which led Adam and Eve to disobey God. There is more to the story of the fall that initially meets the eye. I also believe Satan was able to convince them that God was withholding something from them so they chose to believe the lie. After they sinned (the original or first sin), shame followed, and fear (they hid from God), and then the blame game followed (Adam blamed God indirectly for giving him Eve and Eve blamed Satan - they were not even able to accept responsibility for their actions). So its very important to teach correctly so people are not led away by strange doctrines. This is what the apostles warned about in NT writings. Thanks, Jim

I believe my faith rests solely on faith in Jesus Christ (the Eternal God - not a spirit child of heavenly parents who became a God), hopefully evidenced by works approved by Him. Nothing in my hand I bring..Simply to the cross I cling. I can't remember the originator of that phrase and if I worded it correctly. I don't believe those who place their faith in Jesus (aka Michael the Archangel) are saved. Jim

If one says they have faith but cannot show works, this is really evidence of dead faith (i.e. faith without works is dead). But having true faith in Christ will be evidenced by good works. Faith alone saves, but that faith (if genuine) is not alone. I don't believe in the Book of Mormon teachings that we are saved by grace after all we can do (2 Nephi 25:23) or that Christ's grace is sufficient for us only after all the many other things we must do (Moroni 10:32). Christ's grace is all that one needs for salvation (saved by grace through faith) and is sufficient without us having to do anything. Thanks, Jim

Alma 34:32-35 has a good explanation. "For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked." Jim

I don't see how this is related to the forum topic. Jim

Why were some named Anti-Nephi-Lehies (Alma 23:17)? The phrase 'anti' seems negative when calling someone anti-Mormon. Jim