SeattleTruthSeeker

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  1. Now, for my own speculative opinion here. The LDS Church believes that every person who has been born into this world, who ever will be born, will have an opportunity to hear about the Gospel of Christ, to some extent. We know that the coming of Christ will not happen until the world is flooded with the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now, at one time, this would have been considered a very unlikely possibility because in order to reach the entire world with the Gospel of Christ, every person would hear the gospel, which lies the impossibility because when one person has been reached that has not heard, many children are already born into the world that have not heard yet. However, that has diminished with the advancement of the Internet and how it has brought the global community together. The Gospel of Christ is reaching more people than ever thought possible just by someone being able to perform a keyword search and read about something on the Gospel of Christ. And, because as the Church teaches, our Heavenly Father is a loving, kind, gracious father who wants all of his children the opportunity to hear and partake of the Tree of Life. He is not wanting to condemn children because they did not accept Jesus Christ (as mainstream Christianity dangerously teaches). And, since we believe and accept this doctrine, our Father is not going to hold one individual accountable on the same level as another person. His judgments are going to be just and merciful. So, for instance, two people die. One person is a faithful latter-day saint who has obeyed the commandments, fulfilled his callings, and has done all that he could do in his life to the best of his abilities. The second person never heard of Christ, never heard of the Crucifixion, has no idea who the nation of Israel is or even what a Bible is. Yet, they worshiped God according to their own dictates of their mind. This individual may even have a different name, made an idol as a representation of him, and lived his life doing the best he can to remain faithful to how he viewed and worshiped God. The modern mainstream Christian believes that the second man will die and be condemned to eternal torment. The Latter-day Saint believes that our Heavenly Father will allow him into either paradise or prison and allow him the opportunity to hear the true gospel of Christ, and accept it. In fact, the Latter day Saint believes that the millenial reign of Christ will be where all those who had passed on without receiving the Restored Gospel will have an opportunity to do so. Temple work will be done completely and wholly without any interference.
  2. 1) I have researched it and the evidence supports that the attack was due to drug dealing. 2) How do you know that one of the attackers were "LDS" and had "received a pamphlet" as you suggest? Regarding the latter- I have been in some instances where some gay men are very aggressive in their approach and in one instance, I had to actually use self-defense in the presence of a couple fellow co-workers who are gay and came to my defense rather than the guys defense. Gay men (I am not sure about gay women) are very prevalent in bathrooms. I can't tell you how many times I have been propositioned in a men's restroom in a grocery store, a public park, or even at rest stops. There is a growing real problem of such things happening in our parks and public places. However, let us get back to the point of the OP, the WBC has the right to speak their mind, assemble, and protest. We do not have to agree with it, we do not have to like it. Are they wasting their time? Depends on how you look at it. Are they demeaning, crude, and disrespectful? You bet. Are they trying to get the message out of what is happening? Yes they are.
  3. What people need to understand about the Westboro Baptist Church - the founder complained about Homosexual activity going on in public parks where his children played. Nothing was done, despite it being against the laws of the land. Because of this instance, they now have taken upon themselves to pronounce judgment on America. Their delusion has some relevance of truth. Yes, they have the right to protest. Is it ethical? Is it respectful? No it is not and I disagree with them 100%. What they are doing is morally and ethically wrong. Even still, what they are attempting to do is to get the message out that America is doomed because we have allowed such things to come into our culture. We are seeing the sins of the fathers being visited upon the children. We have fallen asleep at the wheel. While Latter-day Saints, we continue to present the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, things will get a whole lot worse. We will start seeing our rights slowly strip away - in fact, it is already underway. It is now called hate speech to say that Homosexuality is sinful and wrong in the sight of God. It is now called a hate crime if a homosexual is assaulted - despite the reason surrounding the assault (which is exactly why we have the Matthew Shephard law that is now on the books and started the whole Hate Speech, Hate Crime movement, when his brutal death was not due to him being homosexual, but a drug addict/dealer who was beaten and robbed - his death was a political machination to bring about the new laws of the land to protect the minority that now act out in violence and protests that are not protected but allowed). Yes, they have the privilege to preach their hate and condemnation, but they do not have the ethical and moral right to do so.
  4. I can understand and accept someone who is new to the Church or just coming back. What I am talking about are those members who you see during the week dressed in business and professional attire and then all of a sudden, they are in a more casual dress, or in their Saturday clothing when they should be in their best dress for Sunday, you know, the guy looking like he just got done working in the garden. The latter reminded me of growing up. There was a guy that always came to church in a shirt and tie, but always wore his faded, well-worn coveralls as well.
  5. Anyone ever get annoyed when someone comes to church dressed immodestly, or not dressed appropriately at all.
  6. My biggest pet peeve, someone not prepared and they are up at the pulpit giving their talk. There is a 3 minute pause while they are looking for something and you hear them under their breath (cause the mic is right there) saying "I had it here a moment ago, where did it go".
  7. Well, you be sure to note that I would not be doing that with my talk. Never served a mission here - regrettably speaking
  8. Would Rapping your talk with beat boxing and vocal mixing be a pet peeve?
  9. You have read this amongst various Anti-Mormon literature and postings. There is nothing in Mormon teaching that we believe Christ paid for our sins in the Garden of Gethsemane. What Anti-Mormon's and Counter Cult Ministries have taken and misinterpreted are statements that when Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane, praying to the father, he sweat what it appeared to be great drops of blood. This account is recorded in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22. When you carefully read these three passages, you will find that Christ was under extreme duress and agony. He prayed that the cup pass from his lips. He called this cup, bitter. Here, we see a very real human quality of Christ. To the point that this human quality is fear. He, being the Son of God, feared what was about to happen to him. Yet, he remained strong and steadfast. He prayed to his Father in Heaven. Christians really do not like this part of the passion. They view Christ as a hero, a redeemer who went quietly, peacefully and did not suffer until he was nailed to the Cross. They have this false sense of ideal that Christ shed blood only at the cross and it was this blood that he shed saving us from our sins and washing us. However, they negate the whole panoramic view of the road from Gethsemane to the Resurrection. While in the Garden of Gethsemane, the reality of his impending death came upon him. The reality that he is about to be tortured, spat upon, ridiculed, and eventually put to death weighed heavily upon him. Think about it. If you knew exactly how you would die in the most gruesome manner and way, would that not cause some serious agony and pain? Lee Strobel even stated this, during his investigation into the Christian Faith and reality of Jesus Christ: When we take in the whole scene, Christ shed blood through sweat (which is rare, but medically possible) because of the immense agony and anxiety he faced in the impending death that would come upon him. He was arrested and tried. He then was flogged by Roman soldiers. Flogging is where it is a whip that has metal shards, broken glass, or any other object that is jagged, and sharp to cut the skin. Again, in the Case for Christ, Lee Strobel relates this: Christ would have lost significant amount of blood just by flogging alone. The nailing to the cross was only the final act in the Roman torture. This produced even more pain and suffering upon the person and their body (if they survive the flogging). The reason for this is because it would constrict the person's breathing. Imagine your back severely exposed to where when you grated it against the wooden beam, you would cry out in pain. A very effective, grotesque form of torture. Did Christ shed his blood on the cross? In a sense yes, but majority of his blood loss was during the flogging, and the journey up to Golgotha where he hung on the Cross to die. He was then buried and upon the third day, he rose the third day with a resurrected body. So, when it comes to the Latter-day Saint understanding of the atonement, we do not put our faith and idea on just the Cross as the end all be all of our faith. We understand the reality and severity that Christ did not just hang on the cross and suffered and died for our sins and that his shed blood covers our sin's, but that the process of the atonement began in the Garden of Gethsemane and became fulfilled with his bodily resurrection. What did Christ come to save mankind from? Sin and Death. Christians place emphasis on the fact he came to die for our sins and that is it. There is much more to the passion of Christ in that he came to save us from our Sins, and to conquer Death. This is why Baptism is so important because we die unto Christ, are buried unto Christ, and we rise with newness of life in Christ for the remission of our sins. Here are some good links for you to truly pray about, ponder, and read: The Purefying Power of Gethsemane by Bruce R. McKonkie From the Garden to the Empty Tomb Gethsemane - The Place of Atonement These are just a few articles that deal with this from a Latter-day Perspective. Now, what is interesting, Gethsemane actually is referenced to that of the common industry - Oil Press. This industry produced Olive Oil that was used as an ignition source for candles, and lights. It is the oil Christ referenced in his parable of the Ten Virgins. The Garden of Gethsemane means Oil Press. The process in which Olive Oil was extracted involved pressing it to the point that the oil would flow out. So, when Christ was in the Garden praying he was pressed down with such severity of taken upon him the sins of the world - to the point that his sweat was that of great drops of blood. In a sense, yes, this is where Christ took upon himself the sins of the world because it is here that he realized the mission he must fulfill - Not my will, but thine is what Christ cried out to his Father in Heaven.
  10. I do not recall where I read this story, but it was a recent reading from Church related material. This story is actually one about Moses and is told in Muslim circles. Moses asked an angel if he could go with him. The angel had replied that Moses would not be able to handle the sights he would see. Moses pleaded with the Angel, and the Angel put down a condition that Moses not ask any questions pertaining to what he saw. They came upon a fisherman who was fishing. The Angel caused the ship to drown, killing the fisherman. Moses began to respond to the sight, but the Angel reminded Moses that he was to remain silent through their journey. They came upon a young boy and the Angel killed the young man. Again, Moses protested the act and the Angel reminded Moses not to ask questions or condemn the mission of the Angel. They came upon a village where there was a widow who suffered poverty, and she had two sons. The Angel caused the wall to collapse. Moses complained a third time, and the Angel stated that this was where Moses and the Angel had to part. But, before they parted, the Angel revealed the purpose and reasons behind why he did what he did. Moses was told that the reason why the fisherman was drowned was to save him from capture of the King's ships and suffered bondage and captivity. His death freed him from slavery. The slain young boy would have rebelled and killed another innocent person which would have brought shame upon his parents, thereby, the young boys death saved the other innocent boy and the shame that his (the dead young man's) parents would have endured had he lived to rebel. And, the final was the collapse of the wall where, if the Angel had not caused this to occur, the two young boys would not find their inheritance that their father had hidden prior to his death so that the widow and her sons would be able to overcome their poverty. We are like Moses, we do not understand the reasons why things happen in our lives. We do know of a surety that there is nothing out of God's plan and design that is not without reason. So also was the fall an event that has provided the reason for our hope and testimony. If Adam and Eve had not partaken of the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and remained in the Garden of Eden we would not have need of a redeemer and savior. There would be no need for Jesus Christ and his crucifixion. There would be no need for the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. There would be no need to believe and obey God. There would be no need to have faith. There would be no need to have hope. There would be no need to grow from Grace to Grace and from Faith to Faith. There would be no need for our faith to be challenged. Essentially, we would have no need to understand and know the purpose of our life. We are like that fisherman on that boat, the young man who was slain to prevent him from rebelling and committing a crime, and we are like the widow and her two sons who would eventually find the inheritance our Father has left us to find and enrich our lives. These things were done so that the purpose of God is right, just and true. What is that purpose? To bring to pass the eternal life and immortality of mankind. That is why Adam and Eve needed to transgress. We may not fully comprehend it, we may not even agree with it, but we are much like Moses who traveled with the Angel and could not understand why the Angel sunk the boat, caused the death of a young man, and collapse the wall. We are like Moses and protest along the way when we should keep quiet and have faith in knowing that some things may be beyond our comprehension and understanding.
  11. My biggest pet peeve - children fussing, crying, or even acting up and the parents are allowing it or weakly protesting their behavior in church. One Sunday, this happened and I politely turned to the mother who was oblivious to her son running up and down the aisle with his car and causing such a distraction and asked "would you mind if I took your son out or would you like to take him out so that others can hear the speaker?" She got offended and walked out, dragging dear old son in tow. Didn't see her back at church after that.
  12. Actually, I have offered several times to take our now 15 month old out so that my wife can benefit from the talks/testimonies. She always gets up and goes outside anyway. I always ask her if I could take our daughter out so that she can finish the lesson, but she walks out of the room anyway. I have offered to take our daughter to priesthood, but my wife takes her with her and says she will be fine, only after church complain about how she had to get up and leave R.S and not hear anything. Then, the other day, when I asked my wife why she does not feel like going to church, she replied with something to the effect that she is tired of missing out on all of the lessons and talks and have to go out with our daughter. I politely said to her, "will you once let me take her out so that you can receive the blessings that you are missing?" and that is where the conversation ended. Today, Church was cancelled due to snow and ice, next Sunday is stake conference.
  13. There is one experience that I would like you to spend some time prayerfully reading, contemplate, and pray. The Book of Mormon does not just tell us wonderful stories of faith, but they tell us stories about real people, with real problems, in real situations. This is the one about Nephi, his challenges he faced when standing for truth and righteousness. Even sometimes from his parents. His brothers bound him, constantly ridiculed him - despite having seen an angel. They even beat him. While on the ship, Nephi was bound, ridiculed for his faith by his family (and some of them even believed). When we place our faith in what other people think about us, or how they help us out or not, we are building up a false sense of security. Many people make this mistake to their own peril. The Church is perfect, but the people are not. We are to magnify our calling in the Church. We are to study, pray, and seek after Christ, and come unto him in our daily lives. We develop a daily habit of praying, of reading our scriptures, and coming to our Heavenly Father who knows our hearts, and we serve him according to our talents and abilities. Do not bank your testimony on what other people do or don't do. Base your testimony on the reality of what our Heavenly Father reveals to you as his precious daughter. Sometimes, you will find yourself alone - but are you really alone when you have a Father in Heaven that loves and cherishes you? He will give you the strength to stand and bear your testimony to your family. You will never know how our Heavenly Father will use you to bring your family into the truth of the Restored Gospel. We are to put our faith and trust in God, and we are to walk in obedience. Nephi says it very plainly and simple - I will go and do the things that the Lord commands, for I know that the Lord gives no commandment that he is not able to allow us to fulfill and obey (see 1 Nephi 3:7) We may look at the challenge as being difficult, but with God on our side, he will help us find a way through it. In fact, coming home from the store one day, a local Methodist church has this on their reader board, and it has caused me to think about why it impressed me so much - love how the Holy Spirit works - and it said: "If he is able to bring you to it, he is able to bring you through it". Here are some articles for you to read and ponder as well: Should I stay or Should I go - a story of a young man who is the only member of His family to have joined the Church. Both parents are hospitalized, and he has to face the difficult decision of either staying to care for them, or go on his mission. The Path of the Chosen I hope that your faith and testimony increases and grow as you begin to seek out the Holy Spirit and the love our Heavenly Father has for you.
  14. Here is one for you! I met this lady online at one of those LDS Dating sites. We talked on IM and then phone. One night, we were talking on the phone and I asked her to send me a picture. She did, and it was one of those group pictures. Well, I proceeded to ask which one of the gal's she was in the picture. She told me. I was instantly attracted to her and said "I can work with that," We set the date and I showed up. While sitting at an Ihop, her phone rang and she answered saying something to the effect that everything was okay. Later on, I found out it was a "courtesy date" because I had tweaked her nose by saying "I can work with that" and she had had a friend call her to pretend that she was going into labor and the gal would bail on me. This was back in 2006. It is now 2011 and we are married, serving as Sunday School teachers and we have a 15 month old. Our joke, the courtesy date turned into a courtesy relationship, then a courtesy marriage lol.
  15. Think about it this way: Anti-Mormon Literature can have the same effects on a person as that of Pornography. It destroys, rather than uplifts. It is not worthwhile, it is demeaning, it is morally incompatible with the truth and the realization as to the nature and being of God. Also, if you are having problems in your marriage, would you seek out the advice of your friends who have been divorced, or would you go to someone who has had experience and knowledge in restoring one's marriage, or a marriage councilor? Certainly, you would not go to a dentist to find out why your child is sick with the flu for three weeks now would you?
  16. Never walk into a gay bar where your friend is having a birthday party and you are invited because he is your co-worker and friend, only to meet up with another group of people you have not seen and they ask you why you are hear: "Oh, I just thought I would finally come out."
  17. I have actually seen some anti's in play here. Prior to me coming back to church, I would see missionaries everywhere I went. Morning, Noon, night. I started getting paranoid a bit because I thought they were out secretly to find me. Anyway, here are a couple of instances where I have seen anti's at work: 1) Waiting for the bus. It was cold, wet, and windy, and it was about 8 in the morning. A couple of missionaries pulled up on their bikes to catch the bus (I used to live in Seattle so you would see several sets of missionaries on the bus, bikes, walking, et all). These two young boys started talking with people waiting at the bus stop. I listened but kept to myself (at that time I was smoking so I had to stand out in the cold lol). As they were getting ready to hand a Book of Mormon out, a couple approached and took the Book of Mormon, then, proceeded to "witness" to the person the Missionaries were just talking to and the Missionaries. Catching the young men off guard with the typical "shot gun" questioning. Flipping through their bibles, and such. The bus came and we all got on the bus except for the one couple who prevented the gentleman the missionaries were just talking with, from getting on the bus. 2) I was sitting down some place and having something to eat. Missionaries walked in and sat down a couple tables from where I was sitting. Within about 5 minutes a group of young men and women, with an older gentleman came into the place and they were carrying some Book of Mormon's. They dropped them off at the table where the Missionaries were sitting and began to preach to the Missionaries about how the Book of Mormon is the product of Satan and Occultic means. They left, leaving the missionaries bewildered. 3) (and the most appalling I have ever seen) where a group of people actually had made up their own "Elder" and "Sister" placard name tags. They looked like the real deal and walked around handing out tracts that were anti-mormon, asking people if they had ever been approached by LDS missionaries? 4) evangelical Christians tracting behind the Missionaries, knocking on every door that missionaries knocked on.
  18. So, are you calling yourself a Chicken??? :roflmbo::roflmbo::roflmbo:
  19. I read your post and have noticed two major red flags: 1) Lack of intimacy in your marriage with your wife 2) Getting involved with a married woman The first one will take counseling, prayer, and some creative and an active imagination. Sounds like the spark of romance has left you. Another thing (and is actually a common thing that I have discovered among women), you say she is thirty years of age (or thereabouts). It could be that you guys have been married seven years and she has yet to conceive. Have you ever stopped to think about how she might be feeling? Women who hear about other women (at work, church, social ventures) getting pregnant, having babies, and becoming mom's have an impact on those women who could not have children. Case in point, when my wife and I found out she was pregnant a month and a half after we got married, she was posting and chatting about being pregnant on her social networking for moms. One lady was having difficulty getting pregnant and my wife shared with me how she felt bad that she was 41 when she got pregnant and yet other women are having a hard time with getting pregnant. Concerning the second one. You are going to have to man up and confess to your wife. No excuse making, no blaming, no nothing. Maybe she suspects that you are cheating on her and so she has withdrawn more so than she has before. You are going to have to be honest with your wife, expect the consequences of what will happen, and work on getting your life back on track. The issue you are going to face is this: you are also involved with a married woman. at one time I was involved with a married woman (single at the time), the relationship ended and I was devastatedly heartbroke, more so than any other heartbreak. It almost killed me (literally). It took me two years to fight out of that dark web. Ask any man who has dated a married woman, majority of them will say the woman will end up staying with their husband while your life is left in ruins. It sounds heartless, but it is the truth. My advice, leave the tantalizing forbidden skirt, confess to your wife and have your bags packed and a place lined up.
  20. The discussion is turning more to a political slant than what is originally intended. The issue here is the evidence of moral decay in our society today and the impact we as parents, teachers, leaders, and community participants have that play a key role in providing a paradigm shift back to a place of a higher moral ground and understanding.
  21. I have a new article up on my blog and invite all persons to come over and share their thoughts on this particular subject matter. Also, you can share this article through Facebook, Twitter, and other sharing options by clicking the specific option below the article. Look forward to hearing what people have to say regarding this subject. Reasoning with the Critics | Safety First Article Associated Content | Safety First Mormon Apologetics Research Studies | Safety First
  22. Picture yourself getting in the car. You are in the drivers seat. You already know where you want to go, how you want to get there, and the best possible route. Now, you let someone in on the passenger side. They want you to go in a different direction. Who is behind the wheel and who is in the passenger seat? The answer is obvious. Allow someone else to dictate your plans for the future, then you have given them full permission to decide for you what is good and what is not good. The only people that you need to heed counsel and advice from are: 1) Heavenly Father, 2) Parents, 3) Church Leaders (Local leaders, ie Bishop, young men's presidency, et all), and possible close friends who you trust and hold in confidence with. I agree, if you are not in love with this girl, then why stay at a local college. My concern and question is this: Have you addressed the issue that you do not care for her in the way that she cares for you? This is a time for you to be open and honest with her and her family. I am presuming you may have to some extent, if not, it needs to be considered. There is a polite way to go about this and there is a not so polite way of going about this. The polite way is to thank them for their advice, for their concern. At the same time, impress upon them that the decision is ultimately up to you and that your desire is to go to BYU-I. Maybe there is a program that is being offered there that is not being offered anywhere else. Express your reasons for your decision. In the end, the ultimate decision is up to you. Decide to give in and do what they want you to do will only build resentment, frustrations, and wish I should I could I if only I had the chance to do it all over again mentality. In fact, this might be a sign that this relationship is not what Heavenly Father has in store for you.
  23. It is good to know that I am not the only that finds this recent revelation somewhat troubling. We know she is not going to stop so my question is why bother asking this here and then insist that they are being sincere. These types of things set up red flags that we catch and call people on.
  24. I did read that and had forgotten you said that. You are correct. However, I still believe and will say this: a) you can, and should, attend Church. b) you can, and should, read your scriptures. c) You can't expect the ward, leaders, and Bishop accept your lifestyle and what you have chosen. d) You can't blame the ward, leaders, and Bishop for their counsel and advisement against how you are living your life. e) You can expect that a decision will eventually need to be made where you have to choose between the Church and living the Gospel as opposed to living your life as you currently are, or vice versa. f) You can expect that when you decide to become more serious about Church and participating in the repentance process and to be fully restored as a Member of the Restored Gospel that your relationship with your boyfriend will become more difficult and strained and will cause you more problems. g) You can expect that as you become more involved with the Church and participate in the Church that temptation to revert back to your old habits will become more difficult and challenging for you to overcome. h) You can expect that things will be difficult for a while and that heartbreak maybe on the horizon. Those are the realities. Those are the things that have to be understood. Choosing the Church and working on restoring your testimony, faith in Jesus Christ, and living more appropriately according to the Gospel Standards are going to offer you more blessings in your life than 15 minutes of passion and satisfaction.
  25. I actually am very skeptical of this. The reality is that it will be much more easier for you than it will be harder. He will most likely not want to leave. Days will turn to weeks. Et all. And, I will have to disagree, it will be much more difficult to "stay clean" because where there is a will, there is a way. What this actually tells me is that if you are not able to stop having sexual relations with your boyfriend while you guys are having a long distance relationship, then you honestly are not that concerned about living according to the Gospel Standards. Granted, yes, my wife and I were living in sin before we were married -(and not to make excuses here), our decision to live together was more economical because I could not afford a place on my own, and she could not afford a place on her own. We decided to pool our resources together and move in. The reality is that you have to come to the decision as to how important it is for you to return back to Church. For my wife, she finally drew the line and I supported her in it. If your boyfriend truly does love you and respect you, and you are sincere in your desire to return to Church, then it should not wait 2 months down the road when he lives 3 minutes away from you, but it should be starting right now today. Little steps at a time. And, when you go and visit, or he goes and visits, you remove the temptation of being alone. What this will do is help you and your boyfriend out in remaining abstinent while courting one another. The question I must ask here is if he is a member. If he is, then it would be good that he also works on his return back to the church. If he is not, then it will make it more difficult for you in your relationship - and sadly, speaking as a guy, he is going to use every word of persuasion to enable you to continue to participate in that which is not according to Gospel Standards. The problem I have is that most people are not speaking openly and honestly. While we are not here to condemn, we ought to speak thoughtfully, honestly, and openly about what your situation is and what is more important. All in all, it won't be much easier for you to stop the sexual relationship, contrary, it will enable you to become more active in your sexual relationship.