Traveler

But scores have...all to the exact...same...end.

Thank you for the following thought. The application of this parable also includes our pre-mortal life. I like.

I asked a simple question - Was as choice made in the pre-existence to follow G-d or Satan?  Yes or No?
This is an important question - the answer to this question is the answer to who is wheat and who is tears.
 
The Traveler
 
 

Trees and their fruit are used symbolically in scripture.  The Tree of Life symbolism appears in the Eden epoch as well as Lehi's dream.  So also "Cherubim" is symbolism.  It is important to note that "Cherubim" is the plural for Cherub.  The symbolism of Cherubim is always two in opposition.  The flaming sword is another interesting symbol - Where else do we encounter a being with a sword and fire - as it pertains to our eternal salvation?  For those that find where else this symbol is used they will find important insight to symbolism in scripture.
I would say one other thing about the Cherubim of Eden - They were not a "barrier" to the Tree of Life but rather the "Keeper" of the path or way.  So my question - where else in scripture do we encounter someone claiming to be in charge of the "way"?  I will make this simple - All of the symbolism of one of the Cherubim - the Cherub at the right hand of the mercy seat - points to Christ.
 
The Traveler

since someone started elephant jokes - Do you know what you can do with an elephant on the freeway?
ans - almost 30 miles/hour.
Do you know how to tell if you just passed an elephant?
ans - the toilet won't flush.
 
The Traveler 

I believe you are making an oversimplification both of history and of our time as well.   Within 40 years of Jesus the Romans decimated Israel (Jerusalem) in one of the worse human tragedies in history.  In our own time we are not that far removed from the Holocaust, the Stalin purges and the China Opiate wars and even the Chinese cultural revolution.  And we should not forget the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Within my life time I have observed that the Prophet David O. McKay use to walk the streets of SLC greeting passers by without any worries.   Currently our prophets never go out in public without armed guards because of constant threats on their lives.  Prophets, today are not being ignored as you are suggesting.  Something else I have noticed, as a youth, I often took a gun to school.  On one occasion the weapon I had would not fit in my locker so I took the rifle to my classes and set it on the floor beside me - no one was even concerned or ask a single question.  My graduating class was about 300 or so.
Now I am an old guy in my 70's - and a lot has changed from my youth - the trend should be of concern; even to the most righteous of Saints.  The peace and quite we have enjoyed is temporary and is changing.  Our prophets have warned us that many elements of peace that we have enjoyed in our current society will not last beyond a short time.  There is a phrase in one of our beloved hymns that says, "And should we die before our journeys through, Happy Day all is well."
I agree that there are reasons to be optimistic - but if anyone thinks the road a head will be easier and that is why they are optimistic - their optimism is not founded in reality and I am quite sure they do not understand what it is the we should be optimistic about.
 
The Traveler

As much as we talk about heaven or hell - it would appear that none of us know very much about either.  The classic definition of hell is "Death".  This can include being subject to death.  With the Fall of Man all "righteous" spiritual children of G-d became subject to death.  There are two deaths.  The first is the physical death of the body where spirits are separated from a physical body.  If someone were to think about this in any detail they would realize that until we were born into mortality we suffered the first death which by definition is a "kind" of Hell - even though we existed in the presents of G-d the Father.  They would also realize that we all suffer Death or the Hell of physical death.
The second Death is spiritual death.  We are to understand that this means separation from G-d or more specifically the spirit of G-d and the spirit of Christ.  With the Fall of Man - all the righteous spirits of G-d were introduced to the second death or spiritual death.  We remain in this state until be become "Born Again - Saints of G-d".  The Born Again refers to a spiritual rebirth that is initiated or enabled with Baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost - but remember that to be initiated by ordinance and covenant there must be a previous act of Faith in Jesus Christ and Repentance. 
I believe and it is logical to me that when we have been Born Again of the spirit and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost - we are no longer suffer from the Second Death or Hell.  If this is accomplished in this life - we will remain delivered from spiritual death when we enter the spirit rheum - thus immediately enter spiritual paradise.  Others may be delivered from spirit prison or spiritual hell through Faith in Jesus Christ, Repentance and the ordinance of Baptism and Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Finely when we are resurrected we are delivered eternally from the first Death and our spirits become inseparable from our bodies and we are for ever free from the first death (or Hell).
 
There is something else that many associate with Hell - and that is being subject to Satan or the influence of Satan.  Sometimes this is called the "Darkness" of Hell and is represented symbolically in the scriptures as Darkness and Night as opposed to Light and Day.  The power to distinguish and choose between light and darkness or eternal life and hell is called "Agency".  We were first introduced to light and darkness in "The Beginning" while in the pre-existence where we exercised agency to become children of light or children of darkness.  Those that "Kept" their first estate and exercised Agency to choose light were enabled to become mortal.  At what is called "The Final Judgement" we will complete or Agency and choose even greater light or a kind or type of darkness.  Those that choose the greater light - even the light of G-d become resurrected beings of light - even as G-d the Father.
 
The Traveler

????  Death and Hell are two sides of the same coin in scripture.  And as long as we are referencing scripture - According to the Book of Revelation - all shall be delivered from death and hell.
 
The Traveler

The terms "hell", "outer darkness", and "spirit prison" all mean the same thing in reference to where the wicked go after death.

Other have answered the OP with greater knowledge and understanding than I would, but I'd like to address this question, because we (and Christians of all denominations) hear it a LOT when confronted with doctrines that require a certain standard within Christianity.
The answer is simple.  Because without the Gospel there is no universal definition of a "good person."  Take 10 different people and ask them to define a good person.  You'll get 10 different answers.  Sure, there are some universal elements like "A good person doesn't kill, steal or rape."  Okay, not much meat there.  Let's talk about the variances.
When would a good person find it acceptable to lie? When would a good person find it acceptable to sleep with someone? How much money does a good person donate to charity? Under what conditions would a good person be justified in killing? Does a good person get an abortion? What political issues does a good person support? Who should a good person vote for? Ask 10 different people that set of questions and you'll get 10 different answers I guarantee it.  And once you have those 10 answers, who gets to judge which among them goes where in the afterlife?  And once you've decided that, ask yourself what makes your perspective wise enough to make that call?  And, if you're a wise enough person to realize that it takes godlike wisdom to judge, then you know we have to leave it to God to do just that.  He's given us the standard. 
 

Change out of your Church clothes before you eat spaghetti.

The visit to Chico CA was inspired by the Camp fire that led to 85 deaths and 1300 displaced families in Paradise, CA.  
We live in Redding, CA (90 min north of Chico) where we also experienced wildfires and had been under manditory evacuation for 10 days for the Carr fire that preceeded the Camp fire by 2 months.  
The visit was likely designed to uplift the hearts of those whom had lost family, friends, property, and livelihoods. And we learned that President Nelson had just 2 days prior lost another daughter due to cancer.
Sister Nelson testified of her husband’s nightly revelation sessions and his yellow lined scratch pad that he continues to fill and maintain in his nightstand.  She alluded to a personal revelation that she received twice, seperated by 2 days, which let her know that Russel M. Nelson is the Prophet.
President Nelson then quoted Isaiah 61:3
To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.

As I listened to the words of Isaiah I pictured the devastation near my home.  The picture above is very representative of the fires.  All the homes burnt to the foundations, but occasionally trees between the homes were completly spared.  I realized that the ‘living water’ within the trees protected them from the fires.  When the fires burn trees or brush, the smoke is white.  But when homes burn with all the plastic and artificial components the fires rage MUCH hotter and burn with a black smoke.  This made me think that we should fill our homes with the living water of Christ and avoid plastic and artificial junk that pollutes our homes and country.
He then quoted John 3:16 & John 11:25-26
He then related the life story of Horatio Spafford and his hymn, It is well with my soul.  Which the chior later sang with an extra verse that Sister Nelson wrote. 

He then shared another story of his interaction with an African monarch while he was an apostle.  When they first met there was a translator that translated each word from English to the native tongue and back.  After the meeting, the monarch approached President Nelson and in perfect english (He had been educated at Oxford) asked him who he was. Apparently the monarch was puzzled, inspired, and realized that President Nelson was special.  One thing led to another and eventually they began to read and discuss the chapter of 3 Nephi 11.  The King stated that this knowledge of another testament of Jesus Christ was more precious to him then rubies or diamonds.
Pres Nelson then contrasted the things that the Nephites were taught with those that the Jews were not taught.  Other Sheep, children of the covenant, raising children resistant to sin.   He then quoted Jesus saying.
3 NE 27:27  Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am.
And although I have personally read this scripture many times, I understood it differently as President Nelson stated the words.  When he said “I AM”, I understood it in the same manner as it was explained to Moses in Exodus 3:14.
He testified of the Abrahamic covenant.  The gathering of Israel on both sides of the veil.  And also spoke of Patriarchal blessings, detailing that a new Patriarch had been ordained in the Chico Stake last week. 
He finished the meeting with an Apostolic promise. And after the closing prayer we sang all the verses to, We Thank Thee O God for a prophet.  And hummed another six or so verses until they left the building.
😊

since someone started elephant jokes - Do you know what you can do with an elephant on the freeway?
ans - almost 30 miles/hour.
Do you know how to tell if you just passed an elephant?
ans - the toilet won't flush.
 
The Traveler 

@Rob Osborn @BJ64 @MormonGator and anyone else.
If someone tells me anything in confidence, I understand and respect what it means to hold something in confidence.  I work with many companies and often I am asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement.   My point is that if we agree to hold anything in confidence - Honest people of integrity will always keep a confidence.  Even when what was asked to be kept confidence is "public" knowledge.  But more than keeping a confidence - things that are sacred should be "kept" sacred; especially and most noticeably by those that believe them to be sacred.  
 
The Traveler
 

@Rob Osborn @BJ64 @MormonGator and anyone else.
If someone tells me anything in confidence, I understand and respect what it means to hold something in confidence.  I work with many companies and often I am asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement.   My point is that if we agree to hold anything in confidence - Honest people of integrity will always keep a confidence.  Even when what was asked to be kept confidence is "public" knowledge.  But more than keeping a confidence - things that are sacred should be "kept" sacred; especially and most noticeably by those that believe them to be sacred.  
 
The Traveler
 

Is it so hard for you to comprehend that it's not about whether / how / what the world learns of sacred things, but of whether one will obey instructions from a prophet?

Irrelevant.

This is also correct and the software supports it.  I've never tried to see how many people I can add as companions, but "more than 3" appears to be correct - and I have companionships of 3, and one husband & wife companionship (perhaps it's the Elders who have this, or the ward, or something - really not sure exactly how to qualify that companionship - I entered them in the system, but he's an Elder, so...).

I believe you. Especially after experiencing my experience. What's crazier about your experience is you weren't even coming out of a dream. You were completely awake. With my experience a lot of people would say, oh, you were just half-asleep. Harder to refute your experience.

Have you considered that Adam and Eve were real literal people but that elements of what has been passed down over the ages has become allegorical?  Just because someone believes something about a person that may not be accurate does not mean that everything about that person is a fake and a lie.  
 
The Traveler

@clbent04 I have experienced sleep paralysis - not much but only once or twice in my lifetime when I have awoken from sleep.  But I also had an experience, maybe similar to yours and not unlike the boy Joseph Smith.  I was 13 years old (about the same age as Joseph) in the attitude of prayer before retiring for the night when I sensed a presents enter my room that I immediately identified as evil or unclean.  At this point of my life I always prayed vocally out loud.   Not only was I bound unable to move but I was also unable to speak.   While I was so held I saw a "darkness" engulfing my room and creating a discernible boundary between the darkness and the light (from a lamp by my bed) as the lamp light was not able to penetrate the darkness.  The darkness was gathering in the room and gradually limiting the lamp light like a fog rolling in.  When the darkness reached me; I could feel it and it so terrified me that I as certain that I would die.
I determined to pray to G-d in the name of Jesus Christ for deliverance.  As I began to pray the darkness began to withdraw from touching me.  I am currently giving a very brief and incomplete account of what happened but obviously I was delivered.  It was my first ever encounter with unclean spirits but not by any means my last.
I cannot speak to anyone else's experiences but I can speak clearly and distinctly to my own and that evil and unclean spirits do indeed exist and influence or attempt to influence our lives in many different ways and to different degrees - sometimes so subtle that we may not realize it at first - and at other with brazen obvious acts that would be unmistakable.
 
The Traveler

@clbent04 I have experienced sleep paralysis - not much but only once or twice in my lifetime when I have awoken from sleep.  But I also had an experience, maybe similar to yours and not unlike the boy Joseph Smith.  I was 13 years old (about the same age as Joseph) in the attitude of prayer before retiring for the night when I sensed a presents enter my room that I immediately identified as evil or unclean.  At this point of my life I always prayed vocally out loud.   Not only was I bound unable to move but I was also unable to speak.   While I was so held I saw a "darkness" engulfing my room and creating a discernible boundary between the darkness and the light (from a lamp by my bed) as the lamp light was not able to penetrate the darkness.  The darkness was gathering in the room and gradually limiting the lamp light like a fog rolling in.  When the darkness reached me; I could feel it and it so terrified me that I as certain that I would die.
I determined to pray to G-d in the name of Jesus Christ for deliverance.  As I began to pray the darkness began to withdraw from touching me.  I am currently giving a very brief and incomplete account of what happened but obviously I was delivered.  It was my first ever encounter with unclean spirits but not by any means my last.
I cannot speak to anyone else's experiences but I can speak clearly and distinctly to my own and that evil and unclean spirits do indeed exist and influence or attempt to influence our lives in many different ways and to different degrees - sometimes so subtle that we may not realize it at first - and at other with brazen obvious acts that would be unmistakable.
 
The Traveler

@clbent04 I have experienced sleep paralysis - not much but only once or twice in my lifetime when I have awoken from sleep.  But I also had an experience, maybe similar to yours and not unlike the boy Joseph Smith.  I was 13 years old (about the same age as Joseph) in the attitude of prayer before retiring for the night when I sensed a presents enter my room that I immediately identified as evil or unclean.  At this point of my life I always prayed vocally out loud.   Not only was I bound unable to move but I was also unable to speak.   While I was so held I saw a "darkness" engulfing my room and creating a discernible boundary between the darkness and the light (from a lamp by my bed) as the lamp light was not able to penetrate the darkness.  The darkness was gathering in the room and gradually limiting the lamp light like a fog rolling in.  When the darkness reached me; I could feel it and it so terrified me that I as certain that I would die.
I determined to pray to G-d in the name of Jesus Christ for deliverance.  As I began to pray the darkness began to withdraw from touching me.  I am currently giving a very brief and incomplete account of what happened but obviously I was delivered.  It was my first ever encounter with unclean spirits but not by any means my last.
I cannot speak to anyone else's experiences but I can speak clearly and distinctly to my own and that evil and unclean spirits do indeed exist and influence or attempt to influence our lives in many different ways and to different degrees - sometimes so subtle that we may not realize it at first - and at other with brazen obvious acts that would be unmistakable.
 
The Traveler

I've never had sleep paralysis, but I have had some other "encounters" and they are dark and scary.  The priesthood is the perfect tool.

I believe you are making an oversimplification both of history and of our time as well.   Within 40 years of Jesus the Romans decimated Israel (Jerusalem) in one of the worse human tragedies in history.  In our own time we are not that far removed from the Holocaust, the Stalin purges and the China Opiate wars and even the Chinese cultural revolution.  And we should not forget the martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith.
Within my life time I have observed that the Prophet David O. McKay use to walk the streets of SLC greeting passers by without any worries.   Currently our prophets never go out in public without armed guards because of constant threats on their lives.  Prophets, today are not being ignored as you are suggesting.  Something else I have noticed, as a youth, I often took a gun to school.  On one occasion the weapon I had would not fit in my locker so I took the rifle to my classes and set it on the floor beside me - no one was even concerned or ask a single question.  My graduating class was about 300 or so.
Now I am an old guy in my 70's - and a lot has changed from my youth - the trend should be of concern; even to the most righteous of Saints.  The peace and quite we have enjoyed is temporary and is changing.  Our prophets have warned us that many elements of peace that we have enjoyed in our current society will not last beyond a short time.  There is a phrase in one of our beloved hymns that says, "And should we die before our journeys through, Happy Day all is well."
I agree that there are reasons to be optimistic - but if anyone thinks the road a head will be easier and that is why they are optimistic - their optimism is not founded in reality and I am quite sure they do not understand what it is the we should be optimistic about.
 
The Traveler