Traveler

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  1. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from zil2 in Christmas   
    I had the responsibility of delivering our second to the youngest – at the hospital because the doctor did not make it in time (some story).  I doubt that anyone would remain in the same place (spot) very long where the delivery took place.  Also, this delivery was not so much of a feather in my cap as an incredible accomplishment and achievement for my wife.
    I have often wondered what help Joseph had – I doubt he was on his own.  I believe it possible that angles were assisting.  And yet the greatest sacrifice went to Mary to deliver the Christ.  Sometimes I think the contributions of women are not as appreciated as they should be.  Especially in the current gender climate.  It is doubtful the Mary was anxious to travel much over the 41 days.
     
    The Traveler
  2. Like
    Traveler reacted to zil2 in Christmas   
    Very happy to have given you something to think about!
    Correction - it would have been 41 days in Bethlehem, and then going to Jerusalem.  (Though I guess they could have left the manger and traveled 2 hours to Jerusalem and hung out there until the days of her purification were complete.  Heaven knows - and I'm content leaving it to them for now. )
  3. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from zil2 in Christmas   
    Thanks
     
    Your pickup concerning sphere is absolute genus.  The more I consider this notion the more impressed I am.  A sphere adds to the dimension concept over that of a platform.  This bring me back to revelations given by Joseph that was so far a head of its time.  Even theories coming forward because of the James Webb telescope are trying to solve creation of the universe through thinking beyond the normal dimensions.   Your post has me going back through scripture and various quantum theories and rethinking a great deal --- Thanks.
    Concerning the 41 days in Jerusalem there are a number of elements in history that play into this story.  You may want to do some research into a possible historical character known as Prester John.  If you can get Islamic references from the time of Salah Al Din.  Also, there is an interesting document kept by what is called the Nestorian Christians.  I surmise that Prester John was more a title than a name of an individual.  The document I mention is a letter claimed to be written by the hand of Jesus.  Short part of a long story – the letter is carbon dated to the time of Jesus and the parchment is from the area of Israel.  The back story is that a ruler priest in Persia was converted that Jesus was the Mesiah and sent an envoy to draw his picture and get Jesus to leave Jerusalem (Israel) and come live under his protection.   The picture was lost in time, but the letter (according to claim) was preserved.   The Nestorian Christians supposably knew about the star from ancient text that were destroyed with a library about the same time as the library of Alexendria.   I first learned about the Nestorian Christians when some fled Iran when the Shaw of Iran fell, and the current regime took over.  Having met an individual (Nestorian Christian) that had fled Iran and learned their version of Christianity (especially the G-dhead) caused a paradigm shift in my thinking.  I speculate that the Kings bringing gifts had connections to the Melchizedek (priestly king), had connections to revelations not in our Bible and knew the importance of the Messiah as a member of the G-dhead separate from the Father and Holy Spirit.  And – they could have made the journey within the 41 days.
    On another note – I have speculated that the Star that appeared was a supernova about 600 light years away – that energy radiation from the supernova would have caused the ozone to turn fluorescent resulting in a night of light without shadows in the Americas.   
     
    The Traveler
  4. Okay
    Traveler reacted to Backroads in The Good Old Days   
    My husband, who is not yet forty, literally does the cow threat. Or attempts to. We don't know anyone nearby with cows.
    But the kids hear a lot of "way back in the 90s I had to get up at 4 am to milk the cows and it builds character!"
  5. Thanks
    Traveler reacted to zil2 in The Good Old Days   
    Tripped over a video of Hartman Rector, Jr.'s October 1985 GC talk while scrolling Instagram today (yes, it's possible to see mostly good stuff on Instagram).  Here's the portion he was saying (you can watch it here, starting at 2:45) :
    (Bolding is mine.)  I laughed because it was so familiar.  My parents used to say similar things, especially my dad.  I think it's sad that so many out there seem never to have learned that the universe really doesn't care whether they want to.  Learning to do things you don't want to is an extremely valuable lesson, one every child should learn when they're little - as little as possible and as often as it takes.
    (For the record, I never had to milk cows, and I'm glad. )
  6. Love
    Traveler reacted to zil2 in Christmas   
    Hmm.  Sounds like a sphere.
     
    Some interesting factoids:
    1. Per Leviticus 12, they would have gone to Jerusalem after 41 days (8 + 33).  So, if we assume they stayed in Bethlehem for those 41 days and then went to Jerusalem as required, the events of Luke 2 happened around that time, including going to Nazareth.
    2. It may or may not be meaningful that they went to Jerusalem every year at Passover.  (Note that Bethlehem is very close to Jerusalem (about 2 hours away by foot), and lots of people go to "Jerusalem" at Passover - and perhaps spill out into surrounding towns.)
    3. In Matthew 2, Herod kills all children 2 years of age and younger.  You've explained the math here, but it's still a wide range of time - meaning, the visit from the wise men doesn't have to have happened in those 41 days.  Indeed, depending on where "in the east" is (some speculate Babylon), it likely took them more than 41 days just to make their journey.
    Verse 1 can be referring to initiating events more than precise times - after all, the star appeared at the birth of Christ, not before, so the wise men couldn't be there "when Jesus was born in Bethlehem" - it would have to be considerably after.  At the very least, they've found a "house" (Matthew 2:11) - not in the manger any more...
    4. Herod's experts tell the wise men that the Messiah is to be born in Bethlehem, and Herod sent them there, saying (emphasis mine): "Go and search diligently for the young child..."  OK, sure, maybe that meant infant, or maybe not.
    5. Now let us look at exactly what verses 9 and 10 say, without assuming what they say:
    They left the king And oh, hey, look, the star!  Let's follow it. The star stopped when it "came and stood over where the young child was" - again young child.  (Moving star - did you know about the Chinese record of the comet (or meteor, or something, I forget now) from this time?) They rejoiced when they saw the star Maybe, just maybe, instead of going to Bethlehem (2 hours of following the star?), they followed the star for a week until it came to Nazareth - or when night fell, they saw the star and it wasn't over Bethlehem, so they picked up and headed north...
    6. They were warned not to return to Jerusalem (hard to do if they're in Bethlehem, but easy if they're in Nazareth).
    7. Now, before you say, but why send Joseph to Egypt if they're in Nazareth and Herod is going to kill all the children in Bethlehem?  Surely Herod wasn't a complete idiot.  Joseph was there for a census.  It's likely that census would have noted he was there with wife and newborn son.
    v13: "Herod will seek the young child to destroy him" - maybe Herod searched the census records.  That v16 doesn't mention it doesn't mean it didn't happen that way.   I mean, dude had to know about the census, right?
    Anywho, point is that the events can easily fit together without contradiction - the accounts are sufficiently vague that almost anything could be true.
  7. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from zil2 in Ezra's Eagle   
    The greatest sign to all the world that these are the last days took place nearly 200 years ago (April 6, 1830) when the kingdom of G-d was restored to the earth in its infancy.  I personally believe the next greatest sign to the world was in 1978 when all males of every nation, kindred, tongue and people were cleared by divine decree to receive the priesthood of G-d and participate in all the ordinances and covenants of G-d in order to prepare all peoples throughout the world that will so covenant, to receive the Christ that will rule earth in peace for 1,000 years.
    There has never been a time on earth when the Gospel of Christ and the laws, ordinances and covenants of the Kingdom of G-d have been more available to all of mankind than at this very moment today.  It is my perceptions that for 2,000 years the wheat and tares have been growing together and that recently there has begun a great shuffling taking place to separate the wheat from not just the tares but the chaff as well.
    I do not know that much concerning society prior to the flood of Noah and the final advent of Enoch but I cannot imagine that the separations and divisions between the saints of G-d and the perversions of man were any more distinct that what is currently taking place.  I would also point out that there is not a nation that currently will not allow those intent on destroying Israel to openly declare their intent throughout all nations, unincumbered without actual recourse.
    Those that are familiar with the geography and history of Israel know that Armageddon is not a place of war or any battle but rather a symbol or place that Israel gathered and prepared for war.  Symbolically the leader Gog and the place of Magog are currently at war and in league with those nations intent on destroying Israel.  This is not a time of preparations for war but a time of war in Israel.
    I am under the impression that this is not a time of peace in the world (despite the Christmas season) but rather a time of increasing tensions, violence and great economic uncertainty.  Some speak in terms of the coming election as a deliverance or time of easing.  Personally, I doubt that the hope of such things will sustain even till the casting of ballots for that election.   Those insisting on procrastinating their final preparations and thinking there is plenty of time remaining to enjoy the exploits of the world – follow a path I do not recommend.
     
    The Traveler
  8. Thanks
    Traveler reacted to mirkwood in The Temple And Symbols   
    Paris temple.
     

     
  9. Like
  10. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from zil2 in Ezra's Eagle   
    I am not so sure about “Ezra’s Eagle”.  My main concern is that none of our sustained “prophets” teach these things.  As far as given and especially modern revelation concerning the end of times – I am on the notion that nothing is more relevant than the Book of Mormon.
    My personal most concerning notion is the intrusion of a secret combination, as spoken of in the BofM, into the highest offices of our government – especially those elected and those appointed as judges.  I am also concerned about our lawyers and those that work in our legal system.  Not all, because I have faith in some I know – like @Just_A_Guy on our forum.  But in general, I believe the Book of Mormon to be prophetic and that as the last-days progress we will see in our government how those supporting the satanic secret combinations protect each other and create legal ways to destroy their opposition.
     
    The Traveler
  11. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from LDSGator in Universal Basic Income Has Never and Will Never Work OR Where Does Wealth Come From?   
    I believe you are mostly correct for a Terrestrial or secular society.  I am also a proponent of such.  However, for a Celestial or Zion society or even a class III on the Kardashev scale – I am of the opinion that there is greater wealth that is achieved when the motivation is beyond self-interest.   I think that self-interest cannot drive any society above what I believe is a Terrestrial order – which in historical or worldly sense of things is quite amazing.
     
    The Traveler
  12. Like
    Traveler reacted to LDSGator in Universal Basic Income Has Never and Will Never Work OR Where Does Wealth Come From?   
    I think wealth comes from individuals pursuing their own self interests. Which paradoxically benefits society. Adam Smith was right 99.9% of the time.  
  13. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from LDSGator in Universal Basic Income Has Never and Will Never Work OR Where Does Wealth Come From?   
    I thought I would take a shot at my idea of where wealth comes from.  I am going to suggest that wealth comes from the populace working in concert doing what is impossible for any individual.   I would also suggest that the more the populace works in concert the greater will be the wealth.
    I will also suggest that the convers is also true the more there is descent or unwillingness to work not just in concert but unwilling to work at all – not only will there be less wealth but if such remains, wealth will be destroyed or fall into ruin.
    I believe the great question of any economy is how to motivate work – especially to motivate work in concert throughout society.
     
    The Traveler
  14. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from zil2 in Universal Basic Income Has Never and Will Never Work OR Where Does Wealth Come From?   
    I thought I would take a shot at my idea of where wealth comes from.  I am going to suggest that wealth comes from the populace working in concert doing what is impossible for any individual.   I would also suggest that the more the populace works in concert the greater will be the wealth.
    I will also suggest that the convers is also true the more there is descent or unwillingness to work not just in concert but unwilling to work at all – not only will there be less wealth but if such remains, wealth will be destroyed or fall into ruin.
    I believe the great question of any economy is how to motivate work – especially to motivate work in concert throughout society.
     
    The Traveler
  15. Love
    Traveler reacted to LDSGator in Universal Basic Income Has Never and Will Never Work OR Where Does Wealth Come From?   
    @Grunt @Traveler
    I’m a 90’s kid so I only remember Donahue as a trashy talk show host. This interview was in the 70’s and it’s fantastic. Hope you guys like it too! 
     
  16. Like
    Traveler reacted to LDSGator in Universal Basic Income Has Never and Will Never Work OR Where Does Wealth Come From?   
    It’s not a matter of intelligence, it’s cognitive dissonance or plain old disagreement. They view Friedman the same way I view Krugman. 
  17. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from LDSGator in Universal Basic Income Has Never and Will Never Work OR Where Does Wealth Come From?   
    I wonder why smart (?) people in our government do not listen to a real economist.   In either party.
     
    The Traveler
     
     
  18. Like
    Traveler reacted to LDSGator in Universal Basic Income Has Never and Will Never Work OR Where Does Wealth Come From?   
    I could listen to him for hours.  
  19. Love
    Traveler reacted to Carborendum in Newest Apostle   
    This may not be directly what you were talking about specifically, but...  I have an opportunity to take a position in a company that designs nuclear power plants.
    It would be a huge feather in my cap.  I've never been in that space before.  I found out why.  For many decades, those in that field became nuclear engineers because they were already in the field.  As you can guess, that meant that no one was coming into the field and the attrition rate was as rapid as the aging population.
    Now, they're looking at the entire field who is ready to retire.  So, they are willing to take outsiders who look promising.  I'm one of them.
    While discussing options with my wife an interesting point came up.  Many people are growing up learning that 2+2 does not necessarily = 4.  Can we really trust the rising generation of engineering students?  If not them, whom?  
    Even if the other job would be a better idea for me personally, I am considering this position for the future of the nuclear industry because I believe it will always be a necessary part of our power grid.
    I haven't worked with a newbie in many years.  I really don't know if any of the new kids actually understand engineering.
  20. Like
    Traveler reacted to Carborendum in Newest Apostle   
    In reality, what we see is a perfect plan to fail that was sold to the public as a plan to go into a world of fairy tales.
  21. Thanks
    Traveler reacted to Emmanuel Goldstein in I Stand at the door.   
    We should open the door and let him in:
     
  22. Like
    Traveler reacted to Just_A_Guy in Newest Apostle   
    And for the sake of context, I believe the "basic claim" here is that Uchtdorf is "privileged"--notwithstanding his having grown up in Hitler's Germany with a father who was a non-Nazi bureaucrat, being evicted from Czechoslovakia into eastern Germany, starving in postwar Germany with the rest of his countrymen, living under occupation by Soviet troops, then ultimately having to flee east Germany because his dad was an anti-communist. 

    But we know that Uchtdorf made it into the (barely-one-year-old at the time) German Air Force, which (we are to conclude) means: 
    He was privileged (because if you didn't have connections you couldn't make it *anywhere* in mid-20th-century Germany) (except the chancellery, multiple times); His rise from destitution to prosperity had nothing--nothing!--to do with his own efforts, qualities, or anything else that might support the idea of meritocracy (because as we all know, German culture absolutely values caste, charisma, and the ability to schmooze at the expense of competence, efficiency, and skill); and Most germane to this discussion:  White™ Dieter simply has no idea how hard or cruel life can be; and his apostleship would have been better conferred upon some hirsute womanizing tent-dweller in Portland or some "From The River To The Sea!"-gibbering student in London; either of whom would have had the wisdom and passion to funnel the Church's vast resources towards the cronies causes  that rightfully deserve them.  
  23. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from JohnsonJones in LDS Opinion on Appropriate Missionary Behavior   
    Rather than read the link I have read the responses on this thread.  I have more trust in this forum than random internet information.  I have had more experience with LGBTQ+ than I wished and I will list a number of impressions from my experiences:
    1 With extreme exception, all that experience mortality will be resurrected to one of 3 Glories in the Kingdom (heaven) of G-d.  Generally, I believe that those perusing LGBTQ+ that do not repent will not be resurrected to nor live the Law and covenants of the Celestial Kingdom of glory.  Generally, it is my understanding that those that struggle with repentance will fall into the came category and are not preparing for the Celestial Kingdom of glory.  Those that do not love, enjoy and appreciate repentance – I am concerned that they are on a path to something other than Celestial.
    2 As with all possibilities – I believe moral purity is more of a spectrum than binary possibility.  That with most all possibilities included in the spectrums of possibilities it is only the extremes that we come to think of as a binary choice.  The law of chastity (as with all divine laws) has both a letter and spirit of the law.  I believe that the letter of the law attempts to be binary (my impression) – it is through the spirit that we prepare for marriage.
    3 There are many lies perpetrated in LGBTQ+ theory.  I believe two of the biggest are that LGBTQ+ is not a choice.  And that it is not a learned nor acquired cognitive behavior.
    4 The prime directive of the Saints of G-d is love for one another and that it is impossible to love someone and intend to deprive them of agency.  I speculate that in the resurrection that only those that live Celestial Law will respect the agency of others.  All other kingdoms will preside over one another and intend to disallow agency.  I struggle with this – I have difficulty loving those that abuse their agency.
    5 Loving someone does not mean that you accept (condone, support, honor and appreciate) abuses of agency that limit one’s eternal capabilities (the definition of damnation).   I am concerned that Satan may have gone off the eternal rails concerned about those that abuse their own agency to the point that he perhaps rebelled thinking to save the difficulties that occur from abuses of agency.
     
    The Traveler
  24. Like
    Traveler got a reaction from Vort in LDS Opinion on Appropriate Missionary Behavior   
    Rather than read the link I have read the responses on this thread.  I have more trust in this forum than random internet information.  I have had more experience with LGBTQ+ than I wished and I will list a number of impressions from my experiences:
    1 With extreme exception, all that experience mortality will be resurrected to one of 3 Glories in the Kingdom (heaven) of G-d.  Generally, I believe that those perusing LGBTQ+ that do not repent will not be resurrected to nor live the Law and covenants of the Celestial Kingdom of glory.  Generally, it is my understanding that those that struggle with repentance will fall into the came category and are not preparing for the Celestial Kingdom of glory.  Those that do not love, enjoy and appreciate repentance – I am concerned that they are on a path to something other than Celestial.
    2 As with all possibilities – I believe moral purity is more of a spectrum than binary possibility.  That with most all possibilities included in the spectrums of possibilities it is only the extremes that we come to think of as a binary choice.  The law of chastity (as with all divine laws) has both a letter and spirit of the law.  I believe that the letter of the law attempts to be binary (my impression) – it is through the spirit that we prepare for marriage.
    3 There are many lies perpetrated in LGBTQ+ theory.  I believe two of the biggest are that LGBTQ+ is not a choice.  And that it is not a learned nor acquired cognitive behavior.
    4 The prime directive of the Saints of G-d is love for one another and that it is impossible to love someone and intend to deprive them of agency.  I speculate that in the resurrection that only those that live Celestial Law will respect the agency of others.  All other kingdoms will preside over one another and intend to disallow agency.  I struggle with this – I have difficulty loving those that abuse their agency.
    5 Loving someone does not mean that you accept (condone, support, honor and appreciate) abuses of agency that limit one’s eternal capabilities (the definition of damnation).   I am concerned that Satan may have gone off the eternal rails concerned about those that abuse their own agency to the point that he perhaps rebelled thinking to save the difficulties that occur from abuses of agency.
     
    The Traveler
  25. Like
    Traveler reacted to The Folk Prophet in LDS Opinion on Appropriate Missionary Behavior   
    The older I get the more I become convinced that one of the greatest evils in the world is thinking.
    This child thinks he's wise, and has decided that his "wisdom" will benefit the world.
    I've basically gotten to the point where, as smart and "wise" as I am, I'm full-on aware that I'm an foolish idiot.
    Add to that the reality that libido basically pumps drugs into one's brain, and you've got a messed up child who's an idiot and a fool, and as good as on drugs (as all horny teenagers are) preaching his view of truth and wisdom to the world. Useful.
    Well, that's the whole story of gaydom in my view. It's lunacy to look at it any way but a bunch of foolish idiots with chemically compromised brains preaching garbage that's worth less than nothing.
    That is the why of commandments. That is they why of the Lord's boundaries. This stupid foolish compromised kid has no idea what he's talking about, and yet is locking himself into an eternal course. And on top of that he's preaching to others what his idea of "truth" on the matter is.
    Sadly, this is common.
    I, of course, think I understand things. But I'm "wise" enough to know I really don't. I have beliefs that are pretty firm. But debating from those beliefs isn't useful because, as I just said, I'm a foolish idiot.
    But.... The Lord has given us standards. The Lord has given us boundaries. Within the Lord's standards and boundaries we can find happiness. Outside the Lord's standards and boundaries we never will. It's as simple as that.
    Homosexuality, despite any view of the science or psychiatry of it, is not within the Lord's standards and boundaries. It never has been. It never will be. It, in any form, will never lead to peace and happiness.
    Whether or not it's a choice isn't relevant to that. We all have natures that are outside the Lord's standards and boundaries. Everyone of us must put aside those things and traverse within the Lord's standards and boundaries in order to find happiness and peace.
    Any view other than that is...well...foolish and stupid.
    The path is narrow and few shall find it.