List of Questions (Answered and Unanswered)


clbent04
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I wanted to make a running list of questions I’ve posted that have been answered and unanswered mostly for my own reference.  Thanks to everyone for your feedback

Question: Why are miracles performed by LDS prophets today not publicized like they were in the Bible?  Are the miracles today just not as grandiose as they were before? 

Status: [UNANSWERED]

Current Thought: Although I haven’t received an answer for myself on this, great feedback from @Just_A_Guy and @Anddenex.  I need to dig deeper to find out how much publicity miracles really received back then, and what exactly it means in passages like the following where Jesus performed a miracle and specifically charged the recipient to not say anything: Mark 1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”

Question: Is the church doing enough to combat pornography? Could more resources be dedicated to helping its members?

Status: [NO COMMENT]

Current Thought: I can’t state a definitive yes or no to the question above without undermining church leadership.  What I will say is I personally would like to see in the future every ward have its own pornography addiction support group as well as someone in the ward being assigned to a calling as the pornography addiction support group leader to host meetings once a week. I believe every ward has enough men (and sometimes women) experiencing pornography issues to justify these measures. The real problem becomes opening up honest discussion on the subject to allow members to help each other overcome such a shameful, embarrassing addiction

Question: Why do we pray to the Father and not the Son for forgiveness when it was the Son who atoned for our sins?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answers:

@Snigmorder “Jesus was sent by the Father, Jesus is the Father's servant. We did not break Jesus's laws, therefore it is not his forgiveness we ask.“

@prisonchaplain “The Godhead has determined that it is the Father who decides how sins are redeemed, and that they are forgiven.

@Anddenex “The definition of being "one" doesn't mean their roles are also the same. Remember the intercessory prayer, and how we are commanded and the Lord prays that his servants will be one like Jesus and the Father are one. Our specific roles do not change when we become ‘one.’”

Question: In the multiple accounts recorded of Joseph Smith’s First Vision, why did Joseph Smith state he only saw one “Lord” in his first account while in later accounts he stated seeing both the Father and the Son?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: The first account actually did allude to two “Lords” being present.  It’s not black and white, but it’s workable when you compare the first account in 1832 to the second account in 1835. 

1832 Account

“…I was filled with the spirit of god and the <Lord> opened the heavens upon me and I saw the Lord and he spake unto me…”

This sentence could be interpreted as one Lord appears first to open the heavens, AND THEN, Joseph sees another Lord who speaks to him.

I tried rewriting this sentence as if I was writing it referring to only one Lord.  All I ended up doing was replacing the second usage of “the Lord” with a pronoun.

 “…I was filled with the spirit of god and the <Lord> opened the heavens upon me and I saw him as he spake unto me…”

However, even when just trying to refer to one Lord, I’m tempted to revert back to the original sentence Joseph Smith wrote to make it clear he did indeed see the Lord with his own eyes.

This analysis by itself does not merit much, but when comparing it side by side with the 1835 account, it meshes a lot better with the notion Joseph did intend to describe in his first account that he saw two Lords who appeared at different times.

1835 Account

“…a personage appeard in the midst, of this pillar of flame which was spread all around, and yet nothing consumed, another personage soon appeard like unto the first…”

In later accounts, the choreography of one Lord appearing before the other is dismissed, possible due to focusing more on the message itself than the staging of the First Vision.

Credit goes to @Snigmorder

Question: How do 300,000 year old human fossil remains fit on the timeline with Adam being the father of the human race when it is thought he lived on this Earth no more than 7,000 years ago (give or take a few years based on calendar discrepancies)?

Status: [UNANSWERED]

Current Thought: The more I think about this topic in general, the more confused I become. God created Adam as the first man, yet modern scientific timelines place Neanderthals well before scriptural timelines. What is the relationship of that which was living in the Garden of Eden to that which was living outside of it? Were Neanderthals human and did they have a conscience? When did Neanderthals integrate with descendants of Adam, and does it even make sense that not all humans today would have a direct line to Adam? And how accurate is our measurement of time using half-life analysis? ¡AYYYY CARAMBA!

Question: Do you think the Lord will judge us based on how much meat we consume in this life?  Or how many animals died at the expense of our nourishment?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: Yes, the Lord will judge us using the “sparingly” threshold

Question: Is It Okay to Admitting to a Substandard Testimony from Behind the Pulpit?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: Yes, as long as it’s shared in the right spirit. What would happen if we were more open with each other about personal struggles we are going through? Could we find some good in that? To me it seems whoever takes the microphone in Church has to appear to have a 100 percent testimony, when in reality, we all know that's not the case. I personally would appreciate it if more speakers were down to earth with admitting they might not be perfect, but that they have hope in Christ of becoming better.

Question: Are Confessions Kept Confidential by Bishops?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: No, confessions are not kept STRICTLY confidential by bishops. While they won’t be parading around what you confessed, they are at liberty to discuss your confession with other ward members, your mom and dad, and any others they see fit

Question: Why do couples have to wait a year to be sealed in the temple if they were first wed civilly?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: I think the issue is based on where is your priority.  Who do you put first in your life?  God or man?  Also, waiting a year serves as a safeguard for those who may not be ready to take on additional accountability.  A temple marriage provides some special blessings but with those blessings comes an added measure of accountability to following the Lord’s commandments.

Question: Where do the desires to survive, learn, love, procreate, and prosper come from?  Did God instill these desires within us?  Are these desires righteous or just a part of the natural man?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: All instinctual and righteous desires within us are animated by the light of Christ

Credit goes to @CV75

Question: Is Jesus Christ the Savior of more than just this world?

Status: [UNANSWERED]

Current Thought: Who knows? If he is the Savior to more than this world, does he live and die multiple times to have a mortal experience on every world he atoned for? Did his atonement in our world cover just our sins or also include every world out there? Did he perform a new atonement each time he lived on a different world? If his atonement here covered the sins for all other worlds and he never had mortal experiences elsewhere, does that mean all other worlds have to accept him as an alien Savior? ¡AYYYY CARAMBA!

Question: Is the Devil necessary for God’s Plan of Salvation to go forward?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: No. If a devil is needed to tempt us, who tempted Lucifer when he first rebelled against God?  We as imperfect beings can make wrong decisions without the influence of a devil.  The Devil increases the challenge for us to resist temptation, but he is not necessary for God’s plan to go forward.  God’s plan would go forward regardless.

Question: How can we reliably use the Holy Spirit to gain a testimony of the LDS church when experiencing the Holy Spirit is not unique to the Mormon Church?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: The summation of spiritual experiences one has is not the same as receiving a spiritual confirmation that the religion is true.  We need to pray specifically to know if the LDS church is the one and only true church on the face of the Earth.  Also, we can’t just gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon and then subsequently accept all teachings within the Church to be true.  The “if/then” logic is faulty (if the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph Smith was a prophet, and the Church is true…).  We need to ask more specific answers in prayer.  If you prayed to know Mother Theresa’s words were true, and received confirmation that they were, does that mean you should accept all beliefs of the Catholic Church?

Credit goes to @person0

Question: What does Matthew 7:14 mean when it says "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: It means few will obtain Celestial Glory (my own interpretation of a “few” is between 5-10 percent)

Question: Is the LDS belief that everyone will be extended a chance to accept the gospel whether in this life or the next not one the greatest reassurances that God is a respecter of no man and he loves all his children equally?

Status: [ANSWERED]

Answer: Yes

Question: Why would God introduce Mormons to the practice of polygamy only to restrict it, and then say the restriction is only temporary and that Polygamy is indeed a true eternal doctrine to be embraced by those worthy and willing at a later time?

Status: [UNANSWERED]

Current Thought: I still haven’t found an example of God behaving in a similar manner within the Holy Bible, and I don’t consider the Law of Moses to be a parallel example.  We were never meant to practice “an eye for an eye” forever.

Question: Should dying at a young age in itself be the reason why Celestial glory is awarded?

Status: [UNANSWERED]

Current Thought: If the answer is PREDESIGN, I’m only left with more questions. Did children who die before turning 8 years old live more valiantly than the rest of us in Premortal Life?  If so, what’s that to say about the timing of death in all other scenarios? 

Take for instance a man who dies in a wicked state but who would have repented a couple years down the road given the chance.  Did he not live valiantly in the Premortal Life?

What about a man who dies in a righteous state but who would have fallen into wickedness a couple years down the road given the chance?  Did he live more valiantly in the Premortal Life?

And when have you ever seen a heavenly class of kinder garners? If a bomb blew up that school and one of the teachers lived to tell about it, do you really think she would grade every student of hers as Celestial?

Edited by clbent04
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11 hours ago, clbent04 said:

Question: Why are miracles performed by LDS prophets today not publicized like they were in the Bible?  Are the miracles today just not as grandiose as they were before? 

All of the miracles in the Bible are recorded accounts. We have numerous, perhaps hundreds or thousands, of written accounts of latter-day visitations by heavenly beings by numerous people. Those have as much credence as the accounts of miracles in the Bible. If the latter-day Saints are having heavenly visitations, what does it matter the publicity of prophetic miracles or otherwise? And what about priesthood miracles? I've heard stories that, if written in the king James style, would sound like a miracle performed by Jesus in the New Testament.

And what about books which contain no miracles and only prophesying and visions?

11 hours ago, clbent04 said:

Question: How do 300,000 year old human fossil remains fit on the timeline with Adam being the father of the human race when it is thought he lived on this Earth no more than 7,000 years ago (give or take a few years based on calendar discrepancies)?

If the book of Mormon is true, and the testimonies of the witnesses are true, and stories and accounts of heavenly visitations are true, and if personal testimony is true, the issues raised by the question are just details.

11 hours ago, clbent04 said:

Question: Is Jesus Christ the Savior of more than just this world?

To quote Tad R. Callister's "The Infinite Atonement."

"Does the saviors atonement extend beyond this world? Elder McConkie Todd: "Our Lord's jurisdiction and power extend far beyond the limits of this one small earth on which we do well. He is, under the father, the creator of the world without number. And through the power of his atonement the inhabitants of these worlds, the Revelation says 'are begotten sons and daughters unto God', which means that the atonement of Christ, being a literally and truly infinite, applies to an infinite number of earths."

I think Bruce would agree that there was only one atonement performed by Jesus Christ, ever. How any of this works or is possible is a distraction from the real task at hand, In my opinion.

11 hours ago, clbent04 said:

Question: Is the Devil necessary for God’s Plan of Salvation to go forward?

The opposing influence of an adversary is absolutely essential to agency and moral choice. All the people here on earth chose to come here and obeyed the Father in doing so. A preexistent man looking the everlasting God square in the face and denying Him is an entirely different manner of disobedience. They disobeyed even in God's presence.

Now, in the earth, we have two influences: One of them entices men to do wickedly and the other entices men to do righteously. And men are instructed sufficiently to know the difference.

11 hours ago, clbent04 said:

Question: How can we reliably use the Holy Spirit to gain a testimony of the LDS church when experiencing the Holy Spirit is not unique to the Mormon Church?

"And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings. [D&C 88:11]

From this we learn that the Light of Christ is the creative and governing power for all things in this universe and for all of God’s creations. It is everywhere present.

 ... I believe that what the scientist calls nature is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. I believe that what the Catholic and Protestant worlds call God is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. And perhaps this is what all religions call God. It is everywhere present; it can dwell in a man’s heart. I believe that what the humanist would call decency and what the man on the street would call common sense is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. We all are partakers of the Spirit. The civilized world has the Spirit of Jesus Christ; and if the people obey it, they will be led to the covenant gospel probably through members of the Church and missionaries. They will pray in their own ways. I’ll never forget the great impression I had in the Irish Mission when I wrote to new converts to obtain an understanding of their background and their conversion process. It was almost universal that they had been praying in some way or hungering in some way, not necessarily in our way but in some way they were hurting and desiring something more, and many of them were trying to be truer to their consciences. They were being prepared by the Spirit of the Lord."  - 'An Educated Conscience' given by Stephen R Covey

The Holy Ghost does not witness to, or emblazon a testimony for, an organization which isn't the Church of the Firstborn. There's no reason to conclude other people's religious positivity is the Holy Ghost.

11 hours ago, clbent04 said:

I still haven’t found an example of God behaving in a similar manner within the Holy Bible, and I don’t consider the Law of Moses to be a parallel example.  We were never meant to practice “an eye for an eye” forever.

Abraham was given a second woman to wife and he predates the rigid Mosaic law. Seeing as Abraham sought after righteousness and was obedient and humble before God, I conclude that his plural marriage was not that of the Mosaic fashion.

11 hours ago, clbent04 said:

Question: Should dying at a young age in itself be the reason why Celestial glory is awarded?

The reason for this is because, in a legal sense, they have not sinned, and therefore the law has no claim on them, this is made possible by the Atonement. The question asking if children who die in their innocence were predestined to do so is irrelevant and useless in my opinion. What evidence is there from which we can draw this conclusion? (Same goes for the idea of "Valiant spirits" being given something.)

 

Edited by Snigmorder
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8 hours ago, clbent04 said:

Question: Why are miracles performed by LDS prophets today not publicized like they were in the Bible?  Are the miracles today just not as grandiose as they were before? 

Status: [UNANSWERED]

Current Thought: Although I haven’t received an answer for myself on this, great feedback from @Just_A_Guy and @Anddenex.  I need to dig deeper to find out how much publicity miracles really received back then, and what exactly it means in passages like the following where Jesus performed a miracle and specifically charged the recipient to not say anything: Mark 1:45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.”

Because Twitter didn't exist 2000 years ago.  To be "publicized" is very different 2000 years ago is very different than today, so this completely apples and oranges.  And we all know Twitter is of the devil ;)

8 hours ago, clbent04 said:

 

Question: Is the church doing enough to combat pornography? Could more resources be dedicated to helping its members?

Status: [NO COMMENT]

Current Thought: I can’t state a definitive yes or no to the question above without undermining church leadership.  What I will say is I personally would like to see in the future every ward have its own pornography addiction support group as well as someone in the ward being assigned to a calling as the pornography addiction support group leader to host meetings once a week. I believe every ward has enough men (and sometimes women) experiencing pornography issues to justify these measures. The real problem becomes opening up honest discussion on the subject to allow members to help each other overcome such a shameful, embarrassing addiction

All of the things you're describing are done, usually at the stake level.  As to whether or not this is "enough": there are TONS of resources out to help combat this, there are TONS of GC talks on the matter, there are TONS of classes,  Whether or not this is "enough" is dependent on whether each person wants to use them: if someone refuses to use resources, then no amount is "enough"- they aren't going to use them.

 

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Question: How do 300,000 year old human fossil remains fit on the timeline with Adam being the father of the human race when it is thought he lived on this Earth no more than 7,000 years ago (give or take a few years based on calendar discrepancies)?

Define Human.

When we say Adam was the first, we mean Adam was the first pre-mortal spirit to gain a mortal body.

Now, if you (or science) can show that the pre-Adamites have spirits then it becomes a discussion.  Other than that, this discussion is useless.

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Question: Why are miracles performed by LDS prophets today not publicized like they were in the Bible?  Are the miracles today just not as grandiose as they were before? 

I wonder then, if the answers given did not answer the question, if we are having a different understanding of the term "publicized". Jesus's miracles were publicized according to the current geography he lived in and was close to. In the beginning of the Church miracles were publicized according to the vicinity of the miracle, and these miracles have been written down and shared (e.g. the miracles I provided).

Joseph Smith's name was known throughout any area he lived in. So, what do you refer to as publicized "nationwide"? Even the Lord's work, during the time he lived, never went nationwide public -- not until the Apostles were given commission to teach the gentiles.

Question: Is the church doing enough to combat pornography? Could more resources be dedicated to helping its members?

Yes, the Church is doing all they can without forcing people to stop watching. The sources provided are enough for any member to receive help.

Question: How do 300,000 year old human fossil remains fit on the timeline with Adam being the father of the human race when it is thought he lived on this Earth no more than 7,000 years ago (give or take a few years based on calendar discrepancies)?

I can see how one feels this is unanswered. For me personally, I don't think man has enough understanding regarding time & dating to know exactly how old something is, especially when it extends beyond what has been defined in the scriptures and by modern prophets.

Now, @Traveler, has an interesting theory regarding 4th dimension and Adam & Eve. If Adam & Eve were in a 4th dimension paradise, truly one could say that there was no death and no other human in that sphere of truth. And then partaking of the fruit brought them out of the 4th dimension into our dimension of an existing earth, then it leaves more questions, but does provide an interesting thought and theory.

Once I am dead, I will know the answer fully to this question, sadly, it won't be of much use. ;)

Question: Is Jesus Christ the Savior of more than just this world?

Yes, he is the Savior of all the worlds that are inhabited by the sons and daughters of God, and by which he was the creator of with this Father (as he is the only one like the Father in all things, and the Father chose him).

Lds.org link: https://www.lds.org/new-era/1985/11/qa-questions-and-answers?lang=eng&_r=1  particular the answer given in the section title, “Is Jesus Christ the Savior of all the worlds God created or just ours?”

Question: Why would God introduce Mormons to the practice of polygamy only to restrict it, and then say the restriction is only temporary and that Polygamy is indeed a true eternal doctrine to be embraced by those worthy and willing at a later time?

Polygamy is a doctrine of principle and practice, which can be commanded and then restricted at any given time. Jacob answers this question, as for me clearly, in Jacob 2: 30, "For if I will, saith the Lord of Hosts, raise up seed unto me, I will command my people; otherwise they shall hearken unto these things."

I would say God's preferred method is simply one man and one woman, but sadly this is not always the case due to death, wickedness, and laws of the land (as with wives and concubines -- concubines being a whole different part of the equation).

God restricted it due to a vision given to President Wilford seeing what the government and man would do to the saints if they did not stop. God also restricts things according to the faithfulness of his children. He will remove blessings if his children are rebellious. Either way, polygamy is a doctrine of principle and practice which can be restricted or commanded at any given time. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of our God.

Question: Should dying at a young age in itself be the reason why Celestial glory is awarded?

If baptizing young children, from the Book of Mormon, is considered an abomination because children are whole through Christ -- due to their innocence -- we shouldn't think any other way save their reward in the Celestial kingdom. They have not sinned, and those who are "in" sin, are those who will not be able to abide the Father's glory and kingdom. They are not spotted by the world as those who are accountable.

Dying at a young age and obtaining the Celestial kingdom is only possible through Christ, as they are alive in Christ.

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@clbent04 I've noticed there's some questions you haven't asked. Have you already gotten answers for them?

Question: What do you like most about attending church? What do you like most about your service in the Church?

Question: How did you gain a testimony (either of the Book of Mormon, or the Church, or even of the Savior)?

Question: What's it like to be moved upon by the Holy Ghost?

Question: How does the Lord answer your prayers?

Question: Was Joseph Smith a prophet?

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15 minutes ago, mordorbund said:

@clbent04 I've noticed there's some questions you haven't asked. Have you already gotten answers for them?

Question: What do you like most about attending church? What do you like most about your service in the Church?

Question: How did you gain a testimony (either of the Book of Mormon, or the Church, or even of the Savior)?

Question: What's it like to be moved upon by the Holy Ghost?

Question: How does the Lord answer your prayers?

Question: Was Joseph Smith a prophet?

2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

Even if we already have an answer to the truthfulness of the gospel, we should study it out in our minds how it makes sense to us.

We might not receive answers to every question, and I'm not suggesting I need any of my questions answered to have a testimony. I already do 

Edited by clbent04
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