Jonah

Who owned the sword given to the brother of Jared on the mount before it became known as the sword of Laban?

Would someone clarify this section. D&C 17 Introductory notes - 1–4, By faith the Three Witnesses will see the plates and other sacred items; "Behold, I say unto you, that you must rely upon my word, which if you do with full purpose of heart, you shall have a view of the plates, and also of the breastplate, the sword of Laban, the Urim and Thummim, which were given to the brother of Jared upon the mount, when he talked with the Lord face to face, and the miraculous directors which were given to Lehi while in the wilderness, on the borders of the Red Sea". Is there a record of the 3 Witnesses ever seeing the sword of Laban or Lehi's directors? Which of the mentioned items (plates, breastplate, sword, Urim and Thummim) were given to Jared's brother upon the mount? When I read Ether 6:1-2, he goes to the mount and comes back from the mount with only the stones. Jonah

Heavenly Father created us. I don't believe a heavenly mother was involved. The Fall separated mankind from Him. By faith, we are adopted back as sons. There are a few verses in Romans chapter 8 which reveal this adoption: 12 - So, then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh to live according to the flesh 13 - for if you live according to the flesh, you are sure to die; but if you put the practices of body to deaths by the spirit, you will live. 14 - For all who are led by God's spirit are indeed God’s sons. 15 - For you did not receive a spirit of slavery causing fear again, but you received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: "Abba, Father!" 16 - The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children. 17 - If, then, we are children, we are also heirs-heirs indeed of God, but joint heirs with Christ provided we suffer together so that we may also be glorified together. Only those led by the spirit of God are the children of God (and joint-heirs with Christ).

What do you think about Joseph's teaching as recorded in History of the Church? "Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God! I say that is a strange God anyhow--three in one, and one in three! It is a curious organization".

I believe I'm an adopted son of God by faith, but not a literal procreated child of heavenly parents.

I don't know for sure, but I think this was done to denote three persons in the trinity. I don't understand how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one God and one Godhead.

I understand that you believe you may become a god (in the future) as shown in Doctrine and Covenants 132:16-17. Doctrine and Covenants 121:32 says "According to that which was ordained in the midst of the Council of the Eternal God of all other gods before this world was ..." Were you already a god at this Council in the past?

Joseph Smith made several statements about what seem to be the Trinity. "Many men say there is one God; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are only one God! I say that is a strange God anyhow--three in one, and one in three! It is a curious organization. "Father, I pray not for the world, but I pray for them which thou hast given me " "Holy Father, keep through Thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one as we are." All are to be crammed into one God, according to sectarianism. It would make the biggest God in all the world. He would be a wonderfully big God--he would be a giant or a monster." (History of the Church, volume 6). "I have always declared God to be a distinct personage, Jesus Christ a separate and distinct personage from God the Father, and that the Holy Ghost was a distinct personage and a Spirit: and these three constitute three distinct personages and three Gods" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church - Joseph Smith). How do you interpret these verses? 2 Nephi 31:21. "And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen". Alma 11:44. "Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one Eternal God". Doctrine and Covenants 20:28. "Which Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are one God, infinite and eternal, without end. Amen".

Is the Trinity considered to be "3 Gods in one Godhead" in LDS theology?

What are the populations of the other 2 sons referred to as?

I don't think there is a misunderstanding of marriage. Some view it as a command, others as optional. One can remain single and not procreate and still bring glory to God (Matthew 19:12 is one example). There is another in 1 Corinthians 7 by the Apostle Paul. If I am not mistaken, only Adam and Noah were the only humans God told to be fruitful and multiply and this was in the context of monogamy, not polygamy.

Would someone clarify this section. "Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who created the heavens and the earth, a light which cannot be hid in darkness; Wherefore, I must bring forth the fulness of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel". Who exactly are these Gentiles and why must it come from them instead of the house of Israel to the house of Israel? Jonah

I would be interested to know the scriptural rationale for why it was sanctioned in the first place.

Hi Traveler, I don't have a historical knowledge of how the approval of the Trinity by traditional Christians caused institutions to treat any society that rejected this creed. But I have heard (via reading the Foxe's Book of Martyrs) how some Catholics severely persecuted those who had differing views. As one portion says, "After Henry’s break with Rome and the founding of the Church of England, however, there was a period when Catholics faced the same terrors". Some excerpts are found online - https://www.kregel.com/books/pdfs/excerpts/9780825443299.pdf I used to have a much older version but I don't recall where I may have placed it. Whatever atrocities that occurred by both sides in the past is not in line with the teachings of Christ. I would view these actions as sins (more notably referred to as brutal punishments and murders). Jonah

I find great joy knowing that faith in Christ's atonement will enable us to live with Christ in his kingdom. From my understanding of what I read in the Book of Mormon, there is no second chance for those who had rejected the gospel in mortality. There are a few but I'll provide one passage which mentions this. "Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment" (Mosiah 2:38-39). But I understand that a particular section in Doctrine and Covenants says they do have a chance for some degree of glory (supposedly, maybe?, living a life better than what they experienced on earth).

Would you start a new thread.

Would someone clarify this section. D&C 13 "Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels, and of the gospel of repentance, and of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; and this shall never be taken again from the earth, until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness". What future offering of the Levites would result in the taking away of repentance and baptism by immersion?

Yes, every knee will bow and confess that Jesus is the Christ, but I don't see that those who reject the gospel or refuse to repent will have good news in the resurrection. What do you think about the latter?

What good news awaits those in the resurrection who refused to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ or those who continued in their sins and did not repent?

Verse 3 says about John, "thou shalt tarry until I come in my glory, and shalt prophesy before nations, kindreds, tongues and people". How would John be doing this over the last almost 2000 years? Would his appearance be changing so that no one in history would make any record of this immortal evangelist?

A Catholic (of the non-priestly or non-nun class) can choose to remain celibate without undergoing an ordinance of the Catholic Church.

@Traveler asked "Do you think that to multiply and replenish the Earth is Law? And involves marriage?" This is a law for those to whom God commands. Paul remained single and did not remarry. There is no record that he even had children from his first marriage. Stephen was martyred but there is no mention of him being married with children either. As a side note, only monogamy and not polygamy (to my knowledge) was ever associated with God's command to be fruitful and multiply and to replenish the earth. If I am not mistaken, this command was given to Adam and his wife and to Noah and the flood survivors.

We don't have an ordinance for singleness. I don't believe remaining single is breaking a commandment of God since marriage is not for everyone. For this I would quote the teachings of Jesus about the eunuch. In Matthew 19:12, Jesus mentions eunuchs in the context of whether it is good to marry. He says, “There are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others—and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it.” Jesus identifies three types of “eunuchs” here: natural eunuchs (“born that way”), forced eunuchs (“made eunuchs by others”), and voluntary eunuchs (“those who choose”). No condemnation is given by him. In 1 Corinthians 7, Paul states that it is not wrong to get married, but that it is better if a Christian can stay single.

The account of the witch of Endor summoning Samuel is recorded in 1 Samuel 28:7-20. I think God allowed this and the witch seemed surprised herself in that she cried out when she saw Samuel.

Satan quoted scripture in order to tempt Jesus to sin. So I would say that counterfeit spiritual promptings will lead to evil fruit in the life of a believer.