ZealoulyStriving

It may have not been completely completed, but it is complete enough to be completely better than the KJV. 😁

At this juncture, maybe it would be appropriate to open a new topic addressing Adam/God?

I think there was quite a bit of too much, too fast in early Utah. With the easily crisised© in our day, I see the wisdom of pulling back and being more milk-oriented in official teachings. But the great thing about our religion is you can let your mind soar in your private musings and with those equally interested in the "deeper things" of God.

Which shows we are not teaching or following the text properly! Maybe this is one of the ways we are "treating lightly" the Book of Mormon?

Last year as I was reading through the Book of Mormon again, I was inspired to really notice all the father-son(s) dynamics, I then realized that beyond being the "keystone of our religion" and our "latter-day survival guide", it is specifically directed at men. I believe Mormon was inspired to include the things he did because the Lord knew in the days it would come forward masculinity and manhood would be under attack and the accounts in the Book of Mormon can help to counter that trend. The Book of Mormon addresses: *how to be a good husband (Lehi) *how to be a good father (Lehi, Jacob, Enos, King Benjamin, Alma(s), Helaman ben Alma, etc...) *how to be a good mentor (Captain Helaman) *how to be a good friend/companion (Ammon ben Mosiah, Alma ben Alma) *how to be a good leader and citizen (Chief Captain Moroni) The Book of Mormon is literally a "How to Manual" of being a man.

I meet a, about, 3 great-grandson of Joseph who was about 18 at the time, he looked exactly like some of the paintings of Joseph and was tall like Joseph.

He's going to get savaged by the antis, but he seems up for the challenge based on his baptismal video.

Once. 😂

I had a rich lady bring in a fancy German vacuum that wasn't picking anything up. When I looked it was COMPLETELY clogged. When I showed her, she was in absolute SHOCK. She thought that vacuum just magically took care of the dirt. 🤣

"32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth, and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good. 33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you. 34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me." (Moses 6)

To be clear... I've tucked that securely back on the shelf behind all the towels.

It's actually quite fascinating and was a major draw for me towards fundamentalism during my wilderness journey.

The problem arises in that that discourse isn't the only place he mentioned it. And he is clearer about his meaning in other writings. But like I said, those who hold the keys have told us to avoid the subject, so it's better to not fall down that rabbit hole.

With the quality of people I met during my wilderness journey among the various Restoration churches, I have no reason to doubt that some at whom we cry "APOSTATE!" will be gathered home with the Saints.

In ancient Israel when the Temple priests went off course, the Israelites still had to take their sacrifices to the temple to those same priests who officiated in the sacrificial offerings. It is a pattern for us... If the leadership should veer from established counsel (like transporting the ark on an oxcart instead of carrying it) it is our job to continue the mission God has given us, and let the Lord correct His leaders. THE primary work of these last days is Temple work, redeeming our ancestors and sealing the generations and dispensations to each other. If we are found faithful to that mission the Lord will accept our individual offering no matter what policy the Church may propose. This is where the other churches/groups of the Restoration fail. The RLDS people doubt or outright reject temple work, and the Fundamentalists are so obsessed with their own family situations that they have for all intents and purposes ignored the greater work of redemption for the dead. Only the Church making a full-court press in temple work can be the Lord's authorized organization, and only one church is doing that. I empathize with the fundamentalists on some doctrinal issues, but they lack the keys to teach them and are out of order.

A major reason that Jesus uttered those words was to point them to David's lament in Psalm 22, which if they recalled to mind would've shown them it was prophetic of what was happening right before their very eyes.

Even Joseph Smith corrected/clarified revelations he received. If the senior leaders say a talk transcript needs clarifying, it is in the purview as the authorized keyholders. If a policy announcement was made authorizing same-sex marriages, I would doubt the inspiration of the change, but would go about my business of redeeming the dead and sealing families in the Houses of the Lord.

Today, I have been given the opportunity to bear a short 3 Minute testimony in our Branch Conference. (This is Branch a organized for the local prisons)... You will realize someday the importance of your calling to God and the heavens. Members would be clamoring to volunteer if they knew the blessings that will come to those who minister to the prisoner. Heavenly Father loves us with a love that we can barely even conceive of. As the Lord's newest Apostle, Elder Patrick Kearon, said, and as I can personally witness, “God is in relentless pursuit of you. He “wants all of His children to choose to return to Him,” and He employs every possible measure to bring you back.” Jesus Christ is our Messiah, Redeemer, and King. He voluntarily suffered, bled, and died so that we could repent and we receive forgiveness. He is our only hope of forgiveness, salvation, and exaltation. By His Resurrection all of God's children will gain immortality. He is the Light and Life of this world and all creation. He is creation's only hope. Without Him all would be darkness and chaos. He is coming again soon to establish His Kingdom of Peace. Joseph Smith holds the keys of, and is the head of this, the Dispensation of the Fullness of Times and those keys will never be taken from him- “Forever and ever the keys he will hold!”. He is the Servant of the Lord in the parable of the Vineyard. He will stand again on the earth to lead forth in the redemption of Zion- “Millions shall know Brother Joseph again!”. The Lord gave me a testimony of the calling of Joseph Smith Jr. at 16, and the all devils in hell haven't been able to, and never will, take that witness from me! The Book of Mormon is a real history, of real people, that really lived. It contains the fullness of the Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ. It is the keystone of my religion. It is my Latter-day survival guide. I have, and you will, come closer to God by abiding by it's precepts than any other Book. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord's Church. It was established through the ministry of angels. Only in it are found the keys of salvation and eternal life. As President Nelson recently said, “no other organization can and will influence your life after death.” Russell Marion Nelson is the Lord's Presiding High Priest to direct His work in these days. He is the prophet, seer, and revelator to the Church and the world. If we obey the counsel given through him we will receive the power to endure and survive the sorrows that are coming upon the earth, and receive a fullness of joy in the mansions of our Eternal Parents.

Working off the teaching that the Holy Ghost is received AFTER baptism and the Holy Ghost descended upon Jesus in the form of dove AFTER His baptism, I suppose it's conceivable that He didn't have the fulness of the Holy Ghost BEFORE His baptism in the same way we don't until we are baptized.

In the Journal of Discourses talk I read last night Brigham says he is going to start letting people settle were they want because they weren't listening to him anyways when he would tell them where to settle. Based on a talk I listened to on FAIR it seems he started backing off on going deeper in to Adam-God because people didn't want to listen- which is unfortunate because we are left with this confusion about what exactly WAS Brigham trying to teach?

An aha moment came just this morning as I finished Jacob 5. This is a note a quickly took on my phone: "If the roots are the eternal covenant made with Abraham and his descendants, and the roots are in danger of dying if the branches aren't bearing good fruit- this points to temple work. The Abrahamic covenant can only preserve roots (ancestors) and branches (descendants) if they are joined together through temple work!!! Otherwise the earth would be totally wasted and cursed at the coming of the Lord (the Master of the Vineyard)." The theme of Jacob 5 is Temple work. The principle work the servant (Joseph Smith Jr.) and those his brings with him (succeeding presidents of the Church) is facilitating the work for the dead and joining families and dispensations together so the covenant won't die, and leave this earth "without form, and void".

In his "The Book of Mormon: The Earliest Text" Royal Skousen has the original as "thy family" not "thy families". https://bookofmormoncentral.org/content/book-mormon-earliest-text

My *personal* thoughts: As the dispensation head Joseph had the responsibility of receiving revelation to lay the foundation upon which everything else would be built. Also, coming out of the Apostasy such revelations were more necessary to bring them forth out of almost complete darkness. The Prophets since then have been ministering to people who have more light so such revelations aren't as necessary. Not intending to downplay Joseph's successors in the Presidency, I see them in kind of a caretaker type role. I believe Brigham said as much once.

I find reformatting the scriptures helps me get the themes better, I figured I'd do it to Conference talks also... Pres. Nelson April 2024.docx Enjoy. Feedback welcome.

I believe it is being referred to as "inspired counsel"?