Jonah

The Catholic Church has for many centuries said that priests should remain single and celibate. It seems to be leaning in a direction where this prohibition may be lifted. Do you think the following words of Jesus indicate one can choose to remain single and still be pleasing to God? "... there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it".

What are your thoughts about doctrines revealed by God?

In an earlier post, Carborendum talked about the persecution of the LDS Church and how it almost got snuffed out. He said "so he set things up to be restored at a time when the world would be more prepared to receive the fulness of the Gospel. Even then, it almost got snuffed out". So my question was how prepared he believed the Jews and Gentiles were to receive the fulness of the Gospel under Roman rule? I have read literature describing the persecutions and murder of the Latter-day Saints in the 1830's and beyond, but I would say it was much worse for the Christians under Roman rule before Christianity became acceptable under Constantine. When NeedleinA said, "Ah, the classic 1997 GP reference", I made the comment that maybe the 2009 version would someday be viewed as a classic too. I think the next version, whenever it comes out, will be just as valid as the previous versions though.

The 2009 version will become a classic some day. We'll see what changes show up in the new edition.

Is a sealing on earth equivalent to a marriage in the spirit world or a marriage after judgment day (when spirit and body are re-united)?

How prepared do you believe the Jews and Gentiles living in the first and second centuries were to receive the fulness of the Gospel?

Would someone clarify this section. D&C 10:43 "I will not suffer that they shall destroy my work; yea, I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil" The 1997 Gospel Principles says God's church was eventually destroyed. Are these two teachings referencing two different events?

Why does marriage need to take place before the resurrection?

What are the differences between the body of a spirit child and the body of Heavenly Father?

I have never met these beings, but I was thinking about those who are considered to be the one-third of Heavenly Father's spirit children who rejected his plan of salvation. I think these are classified as the sons of perdition, destined for outer darkness.

I don't know what most of Christianity you are referring to, but I would stay with the scriptures to support any teachings about the justice of God and his mercy. In one particular example, I don't see God extending any mercy to those in Revelation 14:9-11.

I wonder if Judas really believed deep down that Jesus was the Christ. If he did, would he really have betrayed him for some pieces of silver? I don't think the other disciples knew about Judas' intentions.

You're welcome. We have similarities from time to time. You misunderstood what I wrote previously. I think that someone who dies without repenting and accepting Christ's atonement has died as an enemy of God since he has rejected God's mercy. I would say that all unregenerated people are the enemies of God (the children of wrath, Ephesians 2:1-3) The wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience (Colossians 3:5-6). The wrath of God will also be on display in the future (Revelation 15:1,7; 16:1). This will not be pleasing for those on the receiving end but unfortunately it happens.

In Mosiah 2:39, what does it mean that mercy has no claim on that person? If mercy has no claim on him, does justice have claim on him? I think the person who dies in ignorance, never hearing the gospel, will be judged by whatever light they had before they died. But I think that someone who dies without repenting and accepting Christ's atonement has died as an enemy of God since he has rejected God's mercy. Another opinion is that if a person really seeks God, God will ensure he has the opportunity to hear the gospel by bringing someone into that person's life that will share the good news; like what happened between Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). What I find pleasing and enlightening is that God keeps extending his mercy to us while we still have an ability to turn to him. After a certain point (possibly judgment day), a person will either be saved or lost. God still loves that person, but unfortunately they chose to remain unsaved. Revelation 20:6 says "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years". Do you believe the priests saved from the second death are the same priests of Revelation 1:6? Why are only those in the first resurrection considered priests?

That's the impression I get when I read this passage. "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)

Does the word "after" in the phrase "after all we can do" have some aspect in it that changes the meaning of the verse if someone substitutes the word "despite"? That is, does "after" = "despite" or does the change reflect a change in the meaning that Joseph intended when it was translated that way?

I saw this mentioned in Doctrine and Covenants. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/119?lang=eng "The law of tithing, as understood today, had not been given to the Church previous to this revelation ... The Lord had previously given to the Church the law of consecration and stewardship of property, which members (chiefly the leading elders) entered into by a covenant that was to be everlasting. Because of failure on the part of many to abide by this covenant, the Lord withdrew it for a time and gave instead the law of tithing to the whole Church". When I read these notes, it gives me the impression the law of consecration and stewardship of properly was not a concurrent law with the law of tithing. The law of tithing seems to have been only instituted because the other law was not followed by many of the leading elders. From what I know so far, this law of consecration has not been reinstated by revelation. Did many of the Nephite elders also fail to follow the law of consecration so the law of tithing was instituted for all of the Nephite population?

Hi @Traveler , in addition to what laronius mentioned, I would add two others: God's everlasting existence and his everlasting mercy. Psalm 90:2 - "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God". Psalm 103:17 - "But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children".

The mortgage example makes sense. One has to endure to the end with all the payments.

Do you mean those who don't inherit eternal life because they do not endure to the end?

I would have to examine the passage in its context. Some is symbolic, some is literal. For the garden of Eden with all the trees God created, I would say they are literal. You seemed to have mentioned in a previous post that the two trees are symbolic but you didn't mention how you would interpret a verse like the following. "And out of the ground [assuming from the garden mentioned in verse 8 of Genesis 2] made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food"

Does holding to the iron rod include believing everything spoken by leaders at General Conference are truthful?

Was Jesus begotten of heavenly parents in similar fashion as you and I are begotten of our earthly parents?

Gospel Principles considers passionate kissing before marriage as something to be avoided. “Before marriage, do not do anything to arouse the powerful emotions that must be expressed only in marriage. Do not participate in passionate kissing, lie on top of another person, ... Do not allow anyone to do that with you. Do not arouse those emotions in your own body” (For the Strength of Youth [pamphlet, 2001], 27). A momentary kiss on the lips should be ok though.

Endorsing sex-same unions implies endorsing same-sex behaviors IMO - unless he qualifies it with 'but must remain celibate'.