Hello

[Guest Lovely12]

Hello everyone!

I am happily married and the mother of five. My family and I were sealed in the temple in 1997. I loved the church and met many wonderul people in the church. However, I am now inactive. I am really confused as to where I should be, because the Mormon church really did bring me closer to God, but I need answers to some questions that I have. I have tried talking to church officials and members, but they really don't know the answers to my questions. They get upset with me, because they think that I am bashing the Gospel, but I'm not. I'm just trying to understand. My faith is extremely important to me and I want it to be TRUE. I want to believe in the Gospel of the church, but at the same time, I don't want to go against God. So, I find myself here searching for answers that will hopefully give me inner peace again. Thanks for listening and I look forward to chatting with you all.

[Hemidakota]

Being on a forum can be fruitful and it can be chaotic. We need the Spirit to make the differences. But ask and there are those here that may shed some light to your questions.

If not, there is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Mormon.org - Home, and so forth. Now, welcome to the web forum.

[Guest Lovely12]

Thanks for the response. There are several things that keep me from being active again.

1. Jesus is our example and teacher, right? Then why must one have to marry in order to acheive the highest degree of glory? Jesus never married.

2. Why is the temple so important to my salvation when God said only through Christ can we be saved? Jesus never taught anything about the temple being a "gateway" to heaven.

3. It is taught that family is very sacred in the church, but yet nonmembers are not allowed to temple marriages? Wouldn't God want family to be together? My oldest daughter, who graduated from seminary, has a huge problem with this one... I can't really blame her.

4. The Book of Mormon teaches the Lamanites had "skin of blackness" due to a curse for their sin. Is this teaching us that people of color are a cursed people? Or that they received their beautiful color from a curse? (I'm really confused on this one)

I want to be careful that I am following the true teachings of Jesus Christ and not those of man. Until I can find sincere answers to these questions I will remain in turmoil. A part of me wants to go back to chruch, but a part of me is not sure what to do. I worry about my children.

Thank you for any help you can offer.

[Hemidakota]

To keep it personnel and to hopefully to the point....

1] As you stated, being an example of such, do you not think He was married prior to His departure? For one, using some sort of educational thought process here, how could the Savior be glorified and sit on the throne without this commitment? It is a known fact, in order to obtain the highest order of the Celestial Kingdom; you need that finally covenant of sealing. Now, if I was the Savior, would you allow any of the chosen followers of that time write it down for future generations? No. So to answer that question, He is sealed to a woman of His choice. Now what is subjectiveness here, who was first at the tomb after His death and why? This may aid you on whom it maybe the chosen vessel for the Savior.

2] Temples been around since the beginning of time, whether it was a sacred mountain top or a building. It is place where one can receive further enlightenment of truths and be edified in eternal doctrines and principles. It is place where our mortal preparation is made for our eternal rest. It is a place where we stand in the presence of the Godhead and make our covenants. In this last day, it has been made known to this generation the requirement for you to complete your baptism, receive the Holy Ghost; [men] receive the eternal priesthood, complete your temple ordinances, and be sealed for time and eternally to a spouse of choice before entering to the highest degree of order. You have the choice to not make this commitment in mortality. This is your agency to make this choice. But to reside and move forward with our Heavenly Parents and our elder brother, it is a requirement that is placed upon us to do so. You know, there is no requirement for baptism for those who enter into the telestial or terrestrial states. However, you cannot enter your rest and be with the Godhead in the eternalties.

3] [It is taught that family is very sacred in the church ] Correct! If the Savior made it clear to us, this is the proper way for any of His servants to enter into the highest degree of order, then it needs to be accomplish. GOD does want and beckons us to succeed in this mortal probation and made it possible for each dispensation to do so. However, in the last days, we are given guidelines on how this is achieved if we choose to do it. If GOD ask us to prepare ourselves, wash and anoint, being endowed with the sacred keys before entering, would you take HIS advice prior to enter HIS house? Could you stand in GOD presence without preparation? No! This is no different from the days of Christ with the temple in Jerusalem. As we are not allowed to enter the highest degree without completing those given guidelines provided. Do you know, there are members in the church who are not allowed in the temple and it does require a dual interview of a Bishop and Stake President to ask each member to see if they are striving in keeping those guidelines the Lord has provided? Both my wife and I are converts to the church and we have no problem in keeping what the Lord as stated. Now, if your daughter has a problem, go to the Lord and make her case,

4] What had happen to Cain’s skin pigmentation and why? If you understand this then it is easy to talk about others in this world who suffered the same fate beside Cain. Now, was the curse his skin pigmentation or a token reminder for others of that era [church membership] in not mingling with his kin? Not hard to figure it out. Again, the curse was not making Cain’s skin a different color but came about through murder, the continuation of the lie, and refusal to repent. In the end, Cain was the ‘Father of all lies’. He was greater than Lucifer since he held the priesthood and had a mortal body. What is the different from Cain and Laman & Lemuel? Both sons of Lehi were murders in there hearts and refused to repent or follow the gospel of Christ. Both men were given the same sign of skin pigmentation change to tell the followers of Nephi in not mingling with them. Overtime, you will notice through mingling with other cultures the genetic does change. What may be the natural native color of today was probably not the original sign given to both Laman and Lemuel kin in the beginning.

I have to agree on your last statement. I also had the same feelings when I was approached by my friend on this religion or belief. I used the literal terms of Moroni 10:7 and applied it to see if there was truly a GOD that can talk to men[women] today. What I did ask, was if Joseph Smith was HIS prophet and whether or not this is the only true church. I can attest [see my conversion story], as with Paul, I received my answers. Since then, I was given many opportunities in my life to receive those answers when I was mature enough to understand them from the hands of the Godhead.

Edited April 30, 2009 by Hemidakota

[cyoung]

1. The scriptures don't mention if he was married or not. Maybe he was martyred before he had the opportunity. The prophets are here to tell us what God wants and expects, in addition to the example set by Jesus.

2. We are saved through Christ. We are exalted through the temple. People that have never been to the temple are saved.

3. The temple is a sacred place, special above all others. Even the aincient temples had requirements for entry. Sure, families are sacred. Thats why there is a plan for EVERYONE.

4. My opinion is that the Book of Mormon was speaking metaphorically. This teaches that the Lamanites were a cursed people, not every dark person. Before too long the church will be mostly dark people anyway! Thats like saying "the lamanites had red hair. so God hate redheads".

Just answer the Question "Did Joseph Smith find and translate the Book of Mormon?" . If he did, then we ought to follow along. If he didn't, don't waste your time.

[Dr T]

Welcome to this site :)

[jameslentz]

welcome to the site I hope that the answers you can receive here will help you find your way home.

I would just like to add my personal thought to your first question about Jesus marrying. There is no written record of that being a fact as mentioned my hemidakota....what I have come to believe is that since we have a Heavenly Father and we are created in his image with the opportunity to become like Him then it only makes sense to me that we also have a Heavenly Mother. It also seems logical to me that Jesus was in fact married but it was not written about and here is why I believe there is no record of either of these women.....as often as both Heavenly Father and Jesus' names get taken in vain and the pain that they feel for that and how there are those that revile against the mention of there names, Heavenly Father would not allow the same to happen to his beloved eternal companion, nor would Jesus. So I believe that love for their mates has kept that from us but I believe that because of what I stated above that they do exist. But that is definitely something that will have to wait until returning to our Father before we find out.

I hope that you search in earnest for the answer to these questions, use fasting and prayer to help you to receive your answer, and then trust that answer. You have been promised the Holy Ghost to show you truth, use it.

[Guest Lovely12]

I want to thank everyone who has responded to my post. You ALL have been very helpful. I have much to pray over and ponder. I have contacted my VT that I have been assigned to (and who I have never met) and she and I are planning to get together next week.

I think I am slowly finding my way back. Tonight is the first night in three years that I have opened my dusty quad. I also plan to read my Patriarchal blessing....it's been a long time and very needed.

Again, thank you all. I will keep you posted on my progess. Please keep me in your prayers.

Much love and God Bless!

[Maya]

Hi And welcome. Hemi already wrote a really good answer to you. I could not have done it better myself... I think I copy that and use translation when I need it...

To me that darkskinned may also mean anger, hate. Have you ever seen real anger of hate? The person seems to get dark. Maybe I jsut an too sensitive to bad... but I can see it.

Good makes someone dark he can also make someone light.... I dont see thsi refered to so often, just noticed it myself a week or so ago.

3 Ne. 2: 15

15 And their curse was taken from them, and their skin became white like unto the Nephites;

[Guest Lovely12]

Thank you, Maya! By the way I love the qoute at the bottom of your page! That's too cute!

[Palerider]

Welcome to the site...... here are a few lonks that might help you in your search for some answers to your questions.....

Black LDS Mormons

Answers About Mormons and Mormon Belief (LDS FAQ - Latter-day Saints)

[Guest Lovely12]

Thank you, Palerider! I have visited the site and I love it! I will share it with others, too.

[Guest Lovely12]

I'm not really sure how to use this board yet, so forgive me.

Hello everyone,

Well my visiting teacher, who is very sweet, came out this morning, but she admitted that she did not have the answers to my questions and would bring back someone more knowlegeable.

I have many other questions, too, but I don't want to post them here, because there are so many non-members that read these posts.

I would like to ask a question regardig the trinity and exaltation and I will be very careful how I ask it. My husband and I have always believed that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost were separate, but during our inactivity we learned that there are various passages in the Book of Mormon that states they are the same (trinity) Mosiah 7:27 16:15 Alma 11:38 etc. Can someone explain these passages to me? The church teaches they are separate, but these passages contradict that.

Also, on the subject of exaltation, and I will be careful here, it states in many parts of the scripture such as in Mormon 9:9-10 that God is the same today, yesterday, and forever. He does not change. Do you all understand what I'm getting at?

And, on marriage, I can be open to the idea that maybe Jesus was married, but he still did not teach it was necessary to receive the highest degree of glory. Also, was this a Joseph Smith teaching? My VT couldn't tell me where that came from. She also worries about that one since she and her husband have divorced since joining the church.

Like I said, I have many other questions, but I don't want to post them here. I will wait until my VT comes back with others that can hopefully answer my quesitons. In the meantime, I would appreciate your insight on the things that I have mentioned.

Thank you.

[Maya]

*If you klick on the LDS forums you get to see all teh forums there is one called LDS gospel discusition I think you could ask your questions there... not everyone reads this part of the forum.

Anyway here is my 5p worth:

-I would like to ask a question regardig the trinity and exaltation and I will be very careful how I ask it. My husband and I have always believed that God, Jesus, and the Holy Ghost were separate, but during our inactivity we learned that there are various passages in the Book of Mormon that states they are the same (trinity) Mosiah 7:27 16:15 Alma 11:38 etc. Can someone explain these passages to me? The church teaches they are separate, but these passages contradict that.

* yes and no. It is the same as in the Bible they talk about Godhead. Our knowledge about God and Jesus beeing separate also comes from it that JS DID see 2 personages... separate! Also Jesus was talking to his Father. I dont think he was talking to himself.... In those days it ws so well understood that they were 3 separate persons that they did not especially write about it.

-Also, on the subject of exaltation, and I will be careful here, it states in many parts of the scripture such as in Mormon 9:9-10 that God is the same today, yesterday, and forever. He does not change. Do you all understand what I'm getting at?

*God is the same as His... ok my english is not enough for this... toughts, what He tries to accomplish, His love is the same. That God is always tehe same eternally does not cut out the possibility that he could not learn new things. He will always be the one who created us, He will alwasy be as much smarter as much wiser than us, we will always be His children.

And, on marriage, I can be open to the idea that maybe Jesus was married, but he still did not teach it was necessary to receive the highest degree of glory. Also, was this a Joseph Smith teaching?

*The fact was Jesus married or not is not revieled to us. But from what we read and know we may so conclude. Anyway it is not helping us with our salvation to know that so it is nto important... so amy things are not important... We dont really know much of what Jesus tought us. Not until these days they ahve found Temples from right after Jesus death. What would be gospel was decided by a non christian cesar! He told that there will be NO fighting in his kingdom so you christians better get your lines in order. Make a doctorin and then we burn as wiches everyone who do not do as we decide should be done and we burn all those books that are asying against what we decide is tright. Jesu talks about "mysteries" remember Temple was/is so secret we do not go around talking about it... everybody who was "good" memeber of the church was able to go to the Temple... not anyone else. As these Templegoers were burned, thare was no one to tell on the truth ...

Most LDS dont even think this deep so I hope you dont scare your VT and that they can answer you or find someone who can. Many dont care or are afraid to face those questions. As the faith to Jesus adn his atonement is enough to ensure us to a better eternity and going to Temple adds to that... then many do not see any sence ion digging stuff like this that has nothing to do with their salvation. Knowing if Jesus was married or not helps nothing.

[Guest Lovely12]

Thank you, Maya.