Traveler

I was raised by very strict parents. However, my father would often say, “Anything you see me do is okay for you to do. If it is something that I do not do – you will be much better off avoiding it. And if I catch you – you will automatically be in trouble.” My wife was raised with the attitude – do what I say and not what I do. It took her a while to adjust but she came around and is a wonderful example. As a side note – my parents claimed that of all their kids – I was the most difficult. My father was an accomplished artist – I have no precognitive visual capabilities and my main goal as a kid was to launch something into outer space. We all have different skills (spiritual gifts). I take this to mean that even though we can use others as example for certain things – we will never be what someone else is or intended to be – we best learn to navigate and master our own life and destiny (that I believe is the intent of agency). The Traveler

I saw a study a while back that said that coffee is not a problem in moderation – with the one exception of developing the habit of not starting your day without the caffeine stimulation first thing when they wake up. I do not know if there is anything to it – but in my younger days, I used to compete in cycling and skiing. Both sports relied heavily on the use of caffeine for performance – especially endurance. I never used caffeine and only once placed (in each sport). But all the guys I used to compete against are no longer able to endure a ride or a day skiing. I do admit that it is mostly due to pain (mostly back pain and arthritis). I do not know what the connection is but I suspect that it is more about sugar and alcohol than caffeine. The Traveler

I have long been a fan of Star Trek. I know we call this stuff science fiction and yet it seems that there is lots of fiction and very little if any science. The idea of exploring space is something I have always dreamed about. The strange new lifeforms (that have become basically messed up humans in Halloween costumes and the boldly going where no man has gone before (at least intelligent humans) seem to be going the normal direction of humans with an IQ that is not quite room temperature (Fahrenheit system). Am I outgrowing this stuff? I have been watching the latest Star Trek Discovery series. Is it me or Disney? I get the impression that the plot is being written as a sophomore high school English project for students with learning disabilities. It is like the Star Ship gets in trouble with the worse villains in the galaxy and then the captain says to the crew, “Everybody close your eyes, cross your fingers and repeat 3 times in your mind – I believe in elves”. Then somehow it works, and they get out of another impossible situation. Interwoven into the rest of the plot is every other possible love relationship, with the exception of traditional marriage and family. Oh, wait there are some traditional families in the plot with some character that is the only survivor of his interplanetary species from some galactic tragedy or war. Is anybody finding any entertainment value in this stuff that surpasses what used to be 3rd grade level when I was a kid? I admit that back then we had pitiful special effects, but it seems that now all that exists in visual entertainment is the special effects. The Traveler

Not sure - that is all Greak to me. The Traveler

This is very stupid – everybody knows you speak German to your dog. I also think you are better off arguing with men in Greak. The Traveler

Maybe most people could cut the 20%+ (with all considered - perhaps even much more) - It would likely be difficult for me because I am addicted to using my brain and a lot of the extra calories, I use up skiing and cycling. 😇 The Traveler

If you want to use English where you go in the next life after you die – I sure you will be accommodated. I can imagine that in Hell that the cooks are British, the police are French, they use imperial measurements and quite likely they speak English. 😉 The Traveler

I think English is a horrible illogical and obtuse language that breaks all its own rules. I am embarrassed that it is my first language and that it is considered so important in this world. --- Right along with the imperial measurement system. I look forward to the millennium that will replace corruption with something logical and pure. 😎 The Traveler

Tiawan is a problem. I have spent some time working there. The people are wonderful – perhaps one of the kindest cultures I have encountered. The Church there is very young, experience-wise but growing. There are a lot of people on the island, and they all want to be reunited with friends and family on the mainland but none of them want to live under communism. They know communism much better than it is known in this country and they would rather die than be ruled by communism. The problem is that the people of China and Tiawan are one people that should be one country. I think we need to understand history – I will try to make this short (most difficult). When Marco Polo established relations between Europe and China, trade brought lots of new things to Europe. But China thought and was far superior to Europe both with products and knowledge in general. The only thing that Europe had to trade of value to Chima was gold and silver (and other precious elements). After a couple of years of trade China was accumulating the wealth (gold, silver and precious elements) of Europe. China acquired all the reserves Europe had taken from their colonies and then some. Something had to be done or the western civilizations would all go bankrupt. 20 western families from Europe (one with ties to the USA) formed an alliance to create an international drug cartel. Afghanistan was targeted as a source of opium and the drug and it addictions was introduced into China to recover the gold and silver reserves. The drug trade devested China resulting in what is known in China as the 100 years of shame. China began to fight back against the drug trade. Eventually (end of the 1800’s) China attacked an island off the coast of China where the opium (heroin) was manufactured in a desperate attempt to stop the drug from destroying China. All of Europe and the USA sent their military to end the China rebellion. There is a movie titled “55 days in Peking” (or something like that starring Charlton Heston). The reason I brought up this movie is to establish the blatant attitude of the West to this drug trade problem. The war against China was over quite quickly resolved and China surrendered. As punishment the West took Hong Kong and Tiawan away from China for 100 years. Hong Kong was given to the UK and Tiawan was given to Japan with the promise that they would be returned to China after the 100 years. As a side note, the British turned Hong Kong into a trading center and Japan turned Tiawan into a hell hole (a reason that China and Japan currently do not get along very well). The result of this China completely imploded and the Quin Dynasty that ruled China (including its economy) collapsed. Eventually communism started to take hold in China. Two world wars and China had gone from a superpower to a 3rd world economy (though technically, by definition, is became a 2nd world economy). At the end of WWII Tiawan was taken away from Japan. With the collapse of government and everything else in China, communism rose to power in a brutal dispute with western backed efforts of a fledgling democracy. The little fledging democracy was given the island of Tiawan. When the 100 years of occupation of Hong Kong and Tiawan was over and with communism in control of mainland China – The communist government of China demanded that Hong Kong and Tiawan be returned as promised to China. Britain quickly caved and gave up Hong Kong to establish a president of returning these assets to China. So now we have the problem of Tiawan. According to international law we have no leg to stand on, beyond the fact that the people living in Tiawan do not want to be taken over by the communists. But we did not do anything for the citizens of Hong Kong that wanted a say (mostly we can thank the UK for that). Is China sympathetic towards the fentanyl problem in the USA? – probably no more than we were with China when China was having their problem with heroin to which we contributed and were very unsympathetic. I do not think China wants a war with the USA. But I also think China sees an opportunity to make a move because of a weak administration in the USA. I also believe that China has leverage with many of our elected officials (more so with democrats than republicans). I think that Trump is a wild card that China does not want to deal with. I am concerned that China will make a move before the upcoming election. I do not know if they will invade Tiawan (I hope not) but I think they will try something – soon. Perhaps China thinks the fentanyl trade is enough for now. I question if our elected officials will oppose the flow of fentanyl, beyond border rhetoric. The Traveler

I wanted to go into another problem that can be very difficult to deal with. In part, I think our poster @CV75 deals with the core of this problem with the statement: "The fundamental principles of our religion is the testimony of the apostles and prophets concerning Jesus Christ, “that he died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended up into heaven;” and all other things are only appendages to these, which pertain to our religion." The statement itself is not the problem as much as what individuals interpret and think this means. Before diving deep into describing what I think will turn out to be an excellent can of worms, I need to make clear an observation and opinion that I have. This concerns the Proclamation on the Family and the importance of traditional families to stability and sustainability of societies – not just here in mortality but in eternity also. Without fathers and mothers loving and merciful towards each other and their children as a predominant principle defining a society – all other societies (anything else) are unstable, unstainable, corrupt and unjust. Now I will attempt to highlight the problem with one word – sex. Not just as a reference of gender but as a core principle of marriage and family. Perhaps I am wrong and misinterpreting trends within religion but there seems to be a reluctance within many religious circles to openly acknowledge the importance of sex in relationship to the salvation of mankind. What part does the doctrines of sex have to do with the above quote concerning Jesus Christ and the atonement? Answer: - In essence – I believe it is the means of creation of life, the foundation of family and the reason for the Law of Chasity. It is why there is gender and the reason that male and female are created in the image and likeness of G-d. Because we believe in a mother and father in heaven, I have had discussions with many religious people that are concerned that sexual relationships would take place in eternity. That G-d would so act or that Jesus would marry is not believed in any way to define G-d or within the nature of G-d. That no one in heaven is married or involved in sex. But why would I believe that it is marriage? (Note - that marriage must occur here in mortality and be sealed here by the same power given to Peter to seal on earth that which will be sealed in heaven. Because there is no initiation of marriage that takes place in heaven – it must be done here.) We are starting to see why marriage is necessary and an attribute of G-d, unfolding in these Last days. We are seeing why the Proclamation of the Family was prophetic and given by prophecy directly for our time. The columniation of the LGBTQ+ movement is reaching its pinnacle and purpose with the explanation of what the LGBTQ+ movements calls non-binary. Non-binary for LGBTQ+ is the transcendence to the divine. Because it is so widely believed that G-d the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ are the divine expression of non-binary. The logical and inevitable result of no marriage between a husband and wife, father and mother defining family is a non-binary society as defined by the LGBTQ+ movement. Satan has taken the arguments against the Saints and turned it against our critics in ways our critics did not foresee nor understand. The notion that we worship a different Jesus (G-d) is not a claim we initiated. Many times, I have been told that eternal marriage is not necessary nor in any way defines divine society. Now we can see, not only why the doctrine of family is true but why it is necessary to go against what is the traditional doctrine of our other Christian cousins. G-d created us to be binary in the image and likeness of G-d and the binary he has created is male and female. This binary is the way and means by which every person is born and able to be obedient to the commandment to multiply and replenish the earth (sex). There is one other thing I believe. We all have our agency and if some guy wants to identify as something other than that guy created by G-d or some girl that wants to identify as something else – that is their choice. I believe G-d still loves them and so I will try to love them too, but they will never be a part of the glory of G-d or have increase. The Traveler

I appreciate your response – Thanks. Coming from your background brings a lot of credence. I am very much in agreement with your last paragraph but with perhaps one caveat. This is the concept that all things witness that there is a G-d. This logically convinces me that Adam and Eve both had belly buttons and were not created in a petri dish. A little side note here: When Michale Angelo was painting the Sistine Chappel, he asked if Adam should have a belly button. That question nearly started a civil war among the religious experts of the time. Since Adam has a belly button, we know how that conflict ended. This is a segway into the opening of one big can of worms – that I intend to highlight in another post. The Traveler

I have never figured out the symbolism of Eve created (born) from a rib of Adam. I have many questions, why this symbolism is utilized. Every human sole since is born with the primary sacrifice of a mother that in essence gives the gift of life. The scriptures speak with the symbolism of another phrase – “The Breath of Life”. I have no idea what is meant by the breath of life. The Traveler

Our Apostles and Prophets have also formally declared the eternal nature of families. In the Family Proclamation we are given a glimpse into the eternal society of Heaven as fully and completely dependent on the structure of family relationships. That the very purpose of Christ, the atonement and the great plan of salvation is the extension of family: As I understand Jesus Christ is the path, way or means to an end (all that you posted). It is that we can have eternal life in the presents of the Father where men and women are sealed forever in that marriage covenant ordained of G-d. The Traveler

@zil2 talked a little bit about worship and that we should only worship The Father. I understand the sentiment, but I do not understand all the possible extensions of that commandment. My problem is that whenever I listen to someone attempting to define worship, I realize that it is easily applied to other beings. For example, we petition Jesus or use the name of Jesus to seek redemption of our sins – this looks like a very strong element of worship to me. I believe we can worship the Father through Jesus Christ – in fact, I have come to believe that the greatest possible worship of the Father is through Jesus Christ. It makes sense to me, especially for women, to model their worship of the Father by fully exercising their divine femininity. In short, to worship The Father through the realization of the divine role of motherhood. But the problem is that we do not have clearly defined working models of this. @mikbonetalked about the birth of Adam and Eve. From my scientific background I wonder why Eve did not come first. We are told that she was called Eve because she is the mother of all living. I find the word “all” to be the most operative word here. I have speculated that creation is a form conception and birth – which requires a mother. Perhaps there is a Mother in heaven through which all living things are given life? My personal thought on this is that women are more important than generally taught in religious circles. But since I do not know and have no personal revelation that I am certain of – I can only speak with speculation – realizing that throughout my life that speculation is seldom, if ever, spot on. I do not have a good reason to understand why our spiritual understanding is so uncertain. The Traveler

The doctrine of heavenly parents has been strongly imbedded in LDS theology as long as I can remember, and I have been alive and attending the LDS Church for the time period of most of our Latter-day prophets. However, this subject seems to be a topic of increasing discussion, especially on the internet, as of late. Most of the discussion seem to center on our heavenly mother. I have thought to open a thread concerning this doctrine of heavenly parents. It is my personal understanding that scripture is very explicit in verifying divine gender and the concept of divine family as the basis of the society of Heaven. As I became aware of other religions and their theology, I was greatly surprised that in general, Abrahamic religions are rather unhappy and distant from the idea of a divine family. I believe that this is strongly embedded in the religious notion that G-d is a unique one of a kind being and that G-d would not allow any other being like themselves to ever exist. I have never been sure if it is because such thinking is that G-d lacks the power to replicate or that it is a matter of “will not” replicate. But I did not intend to debate what other religious notions are – mainly because I do not understand other notions in this matter, nor do I see the logic to support it. It is interesting that outside of Abrahamic religions – the concept of divine family is both common and persistent. What has always been a surprise to me is the amazing lack of scripture and revelation on this notion of heavenly parents. My first surprise is that there are very few scriptures and revelations about our Father in Heaven beyond the concept that he exists and that we should pray to him. There is even less scripture and revelation about our Mother in Heaven – what little there is – is rather ambiguous, which allows wide and wild interpretations (my personal insertion or impression). Beyond that we LDS believe we have a heavenly mother – I do not think we have much solid doctrine to go on. There are some “fringe” doctrines or ideas of divine females. For example, there is Lilith (the possible first wife of Adam, that decided to become the consort of Lucifer). I do not know of any latter-day revelation that confirms anything close to this doctrine. There is a name that seems to be popular among certain LDS concerning the possibility of a heavenly mother. This name is Asherath (and variations on this name). I am very concerned that this name is being suggested for our mother in heaven because it is the name of the prime consort of Baal – especially in the ancient lexicon of Canaan and Phoenicia. I am open to ideas and notions – but I strongly believe that the doctrine of heavenly parents, and especially our heavenly mother, is a subject we out to tread very carefully concerning. I believe we have been warned by our prophets to avoid attitudes of worship towards our heavenly mother, though I do not understand so much why. I am fascinated with the concept of the oneness of G-d in our ancient scripture. The Hebrew word for this oneness is “ehad” and is the same word for oneness used to describe the marriage of a man and a woman before G-d. In contrast the word for one unique individual is “yahead”. I apologize if I have used the incorrect English spelling of these terms. The Traveler

It is my impression that we are in the last-days. We do not have to guess as much as we need to be aware of the warnings of prophets. When I was young, strange encounters were just a LG thing. I developed a theory that the primary (only) cause of homosexuality was masturbation. Like Jacob in the Book of Mormon – because of the tenderness of the Latter-day Saints I do not intend to discuss these problems in detail. Only to caution the tendency of the “natural man” for pleasure. I believe the problems today to have advanced to be products of masturbation mixed with pornography. My theory is that the more individuals learn to pleasure themselves, the less they will have to deal with the hassle of other’s personalities and quirks. The more selfish individuals become the more dealing with others is a hassle, and the more dealing with others is a hassle, the more individuals are susceptible to violence. The result is that LGBTQ+ will inevitably turn violently on itself – especially for those that find violence as a outlet for pleasure. Thus, I believe societies with tendencies towards LGBTQ+ or support of LGBTQ+ will inevitably violently destroy themselves. What concerns me the most about such violent self-destruction is that innocent children will suffer first and the most. As I understand the closing events of the Last-days – that the societies of man will be divided into two groups. One is symbolically represented by Zion and the other symbolically represented by Babylon. I had thought that the war between good and evil would take place between these two possibilities. I currently think that there will be war everywhere. But only in Zion will anyone find peace with one another while they yet must deal with those that hate Zion. The Traveler

I believe I agree with @Jersey Boy and @Carborendum . It is not the resurrection itself for which anyone would be disappointed (since we all shouted for joy over the announcement of the Plan of Salvation or Plan of Happiness). It is the part of the resurrection where we present ourselves and the exercise of our agency before G-d to conclude our part in G-d’s plan. As I understand, the resurrection and our judgement are one in the same in that we are resurrected to our glory that resulted from that judgement. The Traveler

It was suggested by a Russian scientist that we can determine the advancement (intelligence) of a civilization (galactic species?) by its ability to utilize resources (technology). For example, the ability to communicate via text (outside of presents) demonstrates a certain level of intelligence. There are many intelligent species on this earth (for example slime mold) but none with the technological advancement to communicate via written text. My observation is that for all that we have discovered in this universe – there is nothing to prove intelligent life beyond our own. I would add the religious assumption that our life is tightly linked to G-d in that we are made in the Image of G-d – male and female. If someone is wondering if they should be insulted by any of this thinking – My only response is how such a person compares themselves (and their use of technology) to other lifeforms they encounter (with the emphasis on extraterrestrial life forms). If they do not know of any other extraterrestrial life forms, then the discussion is mute. As a side note – I would define stupid, not as the opposite of intelligence but rather the inclination to ignore whatever intelligence one has achieved and deliberately select the unintelligent possibility. I believe the only occurrence that I have experienced concerning this is with individuals within my own species. I would not include anyone on this forum in such a category. I would be very shocked to learn that anyone on this forum would so classify themselves. The Traveler

@Jamie123 does have a point. There seems to be so much conflicting information lately that our models of the universe are having problems. One very important premise is that the universe is isotropic. Well, it is, and it isn’t – sort of. In effort to resolve discrepancies it has been determined that about 95% of our universe is made up of Dark Energy and Dark Matter. It appears that this dark stuff is not consistent. I find it quite interesting that a theory gaining traction is that the universe itself is kind of a living thing with intelligence. It is my perception that when the Messiah returns that the knowledge of the universe will be opened up and made known – like the opening of a scroll or book. That the inconsistencies of our evolving understanding will be resolved. I believe what is currently being manifested and the acceleration of our knowledge of things is a sign of the times. I would add that it is quite astonishing to me that with all that we are learning and the information available – that the most simple observable things about humanity that we have easy access to everyday and that has been known for millennia (such as reproduction and sustainability of our species) is being needlessly confused with stuff that is utter nonsense. And the excuse is that we should not hurt the feelings of those being the most confused. It is rather interesting to me what we are willing to sacrifice on the alters of the g-ds we worship. The Traveler

That would depend on how you see yourself in comparison to other species here on earth. The Traveler

We have information from Voyager 1 and 2. Here is a fun link to NASA https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/status/ (note that the Cosmic ray detection system is still operating.) The Traveler

Books are an interesting and valuable commodity. I would say that of all my material possessions, I covet them the most. However, I am not sealed to any of my books and I have no plan to take them with me when I finish my travels and return home. The Traveler

Live here on earth is very abundant. So abundant that perhaps our understanding of life in this universe is skewed beyond realistic possibilities. The Drake Equation would indicate that intelligent life is so abundant that we should have discovered intelligent life already. Currently, it is roughly believed that life will exist anywhere it is possible. This is how things seem to pile up here on earth. I am of a different thought – Earth is extremely rare, perhaps even a statistical improbability. There are 4 planets in our solar system that could harbor life in the Goldilocks zone from the sun – that is according to the theories we have concerning life. But life as we know it only exists on our earth. But even on earth life is not easy. Every organism must struggle unceasingly for survival. Over 99% of the species of life that have evolved on earth are now extinct. Intelligent life is even rarer. As an intelligent species we have barely evolved literacy and yet it is widely circulated and believed that our intelligent species on earth will likely destroy itself (and perhaps lots of other life) within the next 15 years. The point here is that even on this planet life as we know it is very fragile. But there is even more. Earth is unusually oriented for life as we know it. It is relatively abundant in heavy elements beginning with carbon all the way through plutonium. These elements are only created (as far as we know) when a star goes supernova. Because of the half life of very heavy elements, we know that the earth could not have been created here in our solar system. The best explanation is that the earth was created somewhere closer to the interior of the Milky Way Galaxy and then very quickly flung out to be captured by our sun. But that is somewhat of a stretch because of the near circular orbit of the earth around the sun. Recent discoveries point to more uncertainties for life. Our sun gives off powerful solar winds. There is not a clear indication of how our earth was set up with a magnetic sphere protecting the earth from the sun’s powerful solar winds. Never-the-less the solar winds are necessary for life to exist even though it is because of the solar winds that the other planets in the Goldilocks zone have lost their atmosphere and the water they were created with. But beyond the reaches of our solar system, beyond the Oort cloud and the Kuiper belt and into deep space there is deadly cosmic (gamma) radiation. In addition, our solar system is traveling at a high rate of speed into this cosmos. At the outer edge of our solar system that is a war going on with that cosmos and the solar winds are our front-line soldiers keeping the gamma rays from destroying the DNA of every living thing on earth. It does not look like the Drake Equation takes all that is necessary into account. If there is intelligent life anywhere else in our universe – statistically it will not be anything like life here on earth. There is no way for life as we know it to evolve anywhere else – the universe is far to hostel. Both for any possible generation of life as well as the evolution of such life. Thus, the technology of any such intelligent life will be indistinguishable from magic or divine miracles. If we are to continue to survive and evolve we are completely dependent of the intelligence that engineered this extremely slim probable opportunity. Hopefully such intelligence is a merciful G-d because if it is not then we are doomed along with all our hope and potential. The Traveler

There has never been a Palestinian State. The Middle East has always been multicultural. One would think that those trying to live there would figure out how to get along with other cultures. Having visited Israel – I was amazed with how many religions are tied to the area. The only place I discovered would not allow an established secondary religious worship facility was anywhere under Palestinian authority. I have also visited Vatican City and I experienced that no one enters that city without permission and crossing a check point – It is was not easier than passing check points in Isarel. The Traveler

Once, while I was visiting a Mexican family, I was served a tostada for dinner with a fired egg (over easy) on top. I loved it. However, my wife has this thing with fried eggs (especially over easy) and will not allow it in our home, when she is home. So, I only get this treat when I am home alone. The Traveler