DennisTate

Point of clarification here at the thief on the cross:
LDS do believe that baptism is required for salvation, but this baptism does not always happen before the person's mortal death.  For the thief on the cross: obviously he was an individual whom at that moment had faith, accepted Christ, and after death entered paradise.  Scripture does not say whether or not he was already baptized.  If he was not, then a vicious baptism is provided, fulfilling that commandment and his desire to formally enter a covenant with Christ and take upon His name.  
Now about universal salvation: 
LDS believe that everyone besides the sons of perdition will live forever, resurrected in a world beyond imagination wonderful, and just knock-your-socks-off-incomprehensiable happy for eternity.  Every knee will bow and acknowledge Jesus is the Christ.  That's happening for everyone.
Now, moving beyond just living forever: to what magnitude does your character reflect Christ?  That is a question that doesn't just have one universal answer.  Some people completely completely embrace Christ and reflect His character completely, bringing an even greater happiness (we LDS call this exaltation).  Other folks do not so fully embrace Christ.

Please note that LDS theology make a distinction between Salvation and Exaltation.
It can be a bit hard because many members equate Salvation and Exaltation in practice (even if they know the difference)... With such quotes as "Salvation without Exaltation is damnation"
Thus in LDS theology Salvation will come to all but the Son's of Perdition, and is therefore almost universal in nature.  This fulfills the many scriptures about Christ saving all that is in his hands.  Exaltation is much more exclusive, and it is given to those that seek after Christ and to do his will in all things. Thus fulfilling those scriptures.
Thus believing in a near universal Salvation is acceptable, believing in a near universal Exaltation is where you would really run in to push back from various members of the church.  

I am thinking about doing my best to make it out to services again this Sunday.  
I will keep you updated.  

Please do!

Wow!!!!!
You have just answered one of the major question that I do have about the L.D.S. church.......
Like you.... I also believe that the Holy Spirit is leading people from many faiths...... and from many denominations of Christianity.......
for years and even decades before they come to full fledged conversion.  
I know that I could not become a member of another church if I was expected to believe that they were the only church in which there were people who
have and are led by the Holy Spirit!
 

Wouldn't it be appropriate to re-word this to: "The purpose of this life is to prepare to become a god like Heavenly
Father?"
Jim

How were Adam and Eve able to feel pleasure without first knowing pain?
What emotions do you believe Adam and Eve felt towards each other and towards God (as they worshipped
Him) before the fall in the Garden?
Thanks,
Jim

This is also impressive..... because I also believe that people can come to salvation after their deaths.  
Here is what was shown to former Atheist and near death experience Howard Storm Ph. D. about events behind the scenes during the Holocaust of the Nazi era.
Howard Storm Ph. 😧

LDS believe that the Spirit testifies of that which is good, and inspires many people (LDS and non).  There is MUCH good in many faiths, and good is always good, wherever it is found.  Now, that being said, LDS also believe that Christ has one church on this earth that is 100% His, and that's the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.   Other churches... while there is much much good, there's also much disagreement and there can only be one pure Truth.
So for an example: Bob is raised atheist discovers Christ is a Baptist church, that's great!  Christ is great and there's many other great things about the Baptist church.  The Spirit can indeed testify to Bob that Christ is the Savior and the Truthfulness of the Bible-- that's Truth!  But the Baptist church doesn't have all Truth, nor does it have Christ's authority as His one true church.  So the hope is that Bob eventually embraces more and more Truth and Christ's one church.  Of course, this may not happen until after Bob's mortal death, which God generously prepared a way for it to happen still. 

Download the App.  It's all there.

I have visited many Temples, in the U.S., and abroad. Each time I have felt the Holy Spirit in such wonderful ways. Over the years I have debated with anti-Mormons who claim that it is all manufactured experiences, or that our Temples are just used as a "control mechanism", to "keep us in line". I have spoken with former members who beliece that they were just deceived, and former members who admit to having Spiritual experiences, while in the Temple. The truth is the experience is not only being in such a place, but the place the Temple has within our lives. Like any place of worship, we bring with us the baggage (be it heavy or light) from our own life's experience. I remember once going to a Synagogue to do an inspection for my job, while working for the City of Atlanta. When I walked in the front door there was a family there with their son who was meeting with his Rabbi. Upon entering, I felt the Holy Spirit in a powerful way, I was not surprised, but I was intrigued at the experience. I remember the scripture from the New Testament come to mind, "Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, I will be their also". The interesting thing is this scripture applies to Jesus Christ I thought, and with that thought I was reminded of Christ's intercessory prayer. In this prayer he speaks of the Father, Son and Holy Ghost as one, and those who are believers as one, one with one another, and one with God. 
It it clear, that the light of Christ dwells with all, even though all may not clearly understand the nature of God, and the roe that Jesus Christ plays in their knowledge of "Good and Evil". It is a light that shines brightly within some people, and different Faiths. Or it shines dimly within others due to unrepentant sins, or incorrect teaching. Also sadly, not at all to those who have snuffed it out through rebellion, when God "turns them over to a reprobate mind". I have learned that we can carry it within our own Temple, "ourselves", which can make the Temple experience so much more powerful. Or when beaten down by life, we can rediscover it in our Sacrament meetings, and our trips to the Temple building. Either way, it is a wondrous place to pear beyond the veil within our hearts and mind, and see the face of God. So, I am so glad you have had, and will continue to have these wonderful bursts of light that come from the word of God, and the physical blessing of a Temple to attend, and re-attend. 

It's been nice to have a way to stay in touch when the forums were down.

I started a secret group on facebook for lds.net forum users so that we can stay connected during the times that the forums go down.  Right now the only people that are in the group are those that I have as friends on facebook.  If you would like to be added to the group, you will actually have to friend me on facebook long enough for me to add you to the group. Then you can unfriend me.     If you are interested, send me a message and I'll send you my profile info.  
The only ones that can see our posts will be members of the group.

Hi Dennis,
If you have any concerns for wanting permission on the things you can look at the forum rules and also contact a moderator. I am just a visitor/ semi new member; I am not in any admin/mod roles. 
Thanks.

and I am truly impressed as I have read about twenty or more chapters of Gospel Principles.  
I really like the following statement for many reasons:
https://www.lds.org/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-41-the-postmortal-spirit-world?lang=eng
 
 

I read an intriguing prediction on a Facebook group back on October 16, 2012:
 
Edie Reno:

Fascinating!
Thank you immensely for this clarification!

I think you already hit the ball out of the park.  The only other thing I can add from my LDS shoes it redeclare the 11th article of faith: "11 We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
Looking from outside my own Mormon shoes, I think everyone worldwide can agree that the events 500 years ago reshaped the world and laid part of groundwork for our modern civilization.

What? Did I miss something in this discussion???

I suppose so. Now all we have to do is help Judah believe in and come unto Christ as a whole. We have the majority of Ephraim and Manasseh in the USA and the rest of the Americas, this is our new home. Europe is also Ephraim. Levites are scattered in the Americas, Europe and Israel. The Land of Russia is full of the other tribes of Israel. We just need to learn to work together. We have often gone to war with each other, with some devastating results. Like when Benjamin was reduced to 400 men (all women, children, and animals killed) when they became like sodomites and only recovered because the city of Jabesh Gilead snubbed Israel and didn't show up to the war. They were destroyed like the Benjaminites with the exception of 400 young women who were "given" as wives to the 400 Benjaminite survivors. Over 70,000 People were killed during this one family feud.

This is a great question!

Did Eve know the difference between Good and Evil when she committed to the act?

Haha are they still trying to do that new world order?  So dumb. Only person capable of running the world is Jesus himself (Yes I know he got crucified by choice)  
I am not worried as long as the saints don't become stupid. If we hold to our values and acknowledge the laws of God we'll be just fine. I also think repentance is being obedient so I am by no means expecting saints to be perfect, Jesus can expect that from us. 
I am not going to google it because it will just annoy me. He was already thwarted with the faulty electronic Hillary voting booths, the ones that "glitched" to not let people vote for Trump. They were all removed and new booths brought in when people complained. They were owned by a company funded by Jorge Soros himself. Anyway, he will just keep throwing his endless pile of money to the wind. We already know the corruption going on, it will just cave in on itself like it always does ex: People of Jared, The Nephites, Gadianton Robbers
Here is a quote. I am not really sure how to feel about the woman comment though.

Is George still alive?  What you are saying reminds of something Glenn Beck would say and we see what is happening there after his fallout with that rude young lady. I don't remember her name at the moment. Also I thought someone in the church said the white horse prophecy was not inspired. 

No.  Horse.  Spur.  Use spur to make horse go faster.  It was a word play on "spurious".

Your comparison of a child molester is not appropriate unless the child made a consent to be molested.  God left Adam
and Eve alone with Satan because Satan could not harm them if they remained obedient to Him.  As the New Testament
teaches, God is even able to provide a way out in our own temptations ... if we choose to follow Him.
Jim