Here's another one to get some discussion going.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:72-75
Does this mean they never heard the Gospel (the law) OR that they never made covenants to accept the law?
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith Of the Council of the Twelve Apostles in his April 1942 Conference talk - The Necessity of Working on Our Own Lineage stated:
"They who enter into the terrestrial kingdom, the one higher than the telestial, are the honorable men — the honest, the virtuous, those who have been clean, and yet would not receive the gospel. There will be some others also who will go into that kingdom, but in a general sense these people will be the honest and honorable, who could not or would not see or receive the gospel of Jesus Christ, therefore they are assigned to the terrestrial kingdom."
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Love is What You Go Through Together
I was listening to the last Worldwide Leadership Training meeting on the way to work a few weeks ago and heard Elder Jeffery R. Holland talking about the reasons that people put off getting married (schooling, finances, and so forth). He then quoted James Thurber, "Love is what you go through together." (See “Thurber,” Life, Mar. 14, 1960, 108.).
As I heard that I thought of another facet of people making decisions to get married. Sometimes the opposite is true. People jump into bad relationship because they don't think logically enough and get God involved in the decision making process. At times people get caught up in feelings about how handsome the other person is or that they enjoy being touched by them or that it is so exciting to see them in some activity they do whether it be driving a fast car or playing a sport and they label that as love.
As I reflected on my own experience and on the quote that Elder Holland gave, I wondered if love doesn't happen until one has been married for some period of time. It also reminded me of the Michael McLean song It Wasn't Love Before.
It appears to me that love comes through going through experiences together. One should perhaps look more at if this is a person who they could successfully go through trials with.
As I heard that I thought of another facet of people making decisions to get married. Sometimes the opposite is true. People jump into bad relationship because they don't think logically enough and get God involved in the decision making process. At times people get caught up in feelings about how handsome the other person is or that they enjoy being touched by them or that it is so exciting to see them in some activity they do whether it be driving a fast car or playing a sport and they label that as love.
As I reflected on my own experience and on the quote that Elder Holland gave, I wondered if love doesn't happen until one has been married for some period of time. It also reminded me of the Michael McLean song It Wasn't Love Before.
It appears to me that love comes through going through experiences together. One should perhaps look more at if this is a person who they could successfully go through trials with.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
An Example of the Believers
In studying in Preach My Gospel this morning I found this:
"Along with your authority comes a responsibility to live worthy of your calling. As the
Lord’s representative, you are to be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12). Strive
to live according to God’s commandments and keep the covenants you made in the temple;
know the scriptures; be courteous, on time, and dependable; follow missionary standards
of conduct, dress, and grooming; love the people with whom you serve and work. Honor
Christ’s name by your actions."
I think that this applies to not just missionaries, but all members of the Church. Too often members of the Church have language, dress, conduct, and personal standards which do not give a good example of being a believer and does not honor Christ.
We all represent the Lord by virtue of being members of the Church.
"Along with your authority comes a responsibility to live worthy of your calling. As the
Lord’s representative, you are to be “an example of the believers” (1 Timothy 4:12). Strive
to live according to God’s commandments and keep the covenants you made in the temple;
know the scriptures; be courteous, on time, and dependable; follow missionary standards
of conduct, dress, and grooming; love the people with whom you serve and work. Honor
Christ’s name by your actions."
I think that this applies to not just missionaries, but all members of the Church. Too often members of the Church have language, dress, conduct, and personal standards which do not give a good example of being a believer and does not honor Christ.
We all represent the Lord by virtue of being members of the Church.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Obedience Is the Armor That Will Protect Us from Evil
Found this in the last paragraphs of an article in the January 2008 Ensign by William D. Oswald Second Counselor in the Sunday School General Presidency - Obedience: The First Law of Heaven
He quotes President Boyd K. Packer:
“By following the rules,” said President Packer, “you will never make a serious mistake … either while you are on your mission or thereafter without being warned. You will never take the wrong road, you will never go around the wrong bend, or make the wrong decision without your having been warned. That pattern is the pattern of the Latter-day Saint. You were confirmed a member of the Church, and you had conferred upon you the gift of the Holy Ghost to be a guide and a companion to you.”2
He quotes President Boyd K. Packer:
“By following the rules,” said President Packer, “you will never make a serious mistake … either while you are on your mission or thereafter without being warned. You will never take the wrong road, you will never go around the wrong bend, or make the wrong decision without your having been warned. That pattern is the pattern of the Latter-day Saint. You were confirmed a member of the Church, and you had conferred upon you the gift of the Holy Ghost to be a guide and a companion to you.”2
Certainly Latter-day Saints believe this is true for the prophet leading the church. Do we believe this for us leading our families? And if we do, why are we not more obedient?
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Trees in the Scriptures
Is there any significance to God using trees in the scriptures? For example, the tree in Lehi's dream and the two trees in the Garden of Eden.
Also, Adam and Eve were not forbidden to partake of the Tree of Life until after they partook of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Had they partaken of the Tree of Life before that? Is the Tree of Life a symbol and not an actual tree, much as in Lehi's vision?
Also, Adam and Eve were not forbidden to partake of the Tree of Life until after they partook of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Had they partaken of the Tree of Life before that? Is the Tree of Life a symbol and not an actual tree, much as in Lehi's vision?
Friday, November 23, 2007
Needed a Nap
I found this paragraph in a talk given by President Monson at the General Relief Society Meeting in October. (Text, Audio, Video)
"I learned recently of loving service given to a mother when her children were very young. Frequently she would be up in the middle of the night tending to the needs of her little ones, as mothers do. Often her friend and neighbor across the street would come over the next day and say, 'I saw your lights on in the middle of the night and know you were up with the children. I’m going to take them to my house for a couple of hours while you take a nap.' Said this grateful mother: 'I was so thankful for her welcome offer, it wasn’t until this had happened many times that I realized if she had seen my lights on in the middle of the night, she was up with one of her children as well and needed a nap just as much as I did. She taught me a great lesson, and I’ve since tried to be as observant as she was in looking for opportunities to serve others.'”
"I learned recently of loving service given to a mother when her children were very young. Frequently she would be up in the middle of the night tending to the needs of her little ones, as mothers do. Often her friend and neighbor across the street would come over the next day and say, 'I saw your lights on in the middle of the night and know you were up with the children. I’m going to take them to my house for a couple of hours while you take a nap.' Said this grateful mother: 'I was so thankful for her welcome offer, it wasn’t until this had happened many times that I realized if she had seen my lights on in the middle of the night, she was up with one of her children as well and needed a nap just as much as I did. She taught me a great lesson, and I’ve since tried to be as observant as she was in looking for opportunities to serve others.'”
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Media
Ezra Taft Benson May 1986
"Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. Don’t listen to music that is degrading."
For the Strength of Youth
"Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable."
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).
"Don’t see R-rated movies or vulgar videos or participate in any entertainment that is immoral, suggestive, or pornographic. Don’t listen to music that is degrading."
For the Strength of Youth
"Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable."
“If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things” (Articles of Faith 1:13).
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Lies and Half Truths About the Church
If the Church is wrong then people should be able to create a logical argument against it without having to lie.
Below I will list of critics that I have found to be disreputable. Below that I will detail some of the things I have heard about the Church that are not true. Where possible I will note the person that said it, so that as people come across works about the Church they can identify authors to avoid.
Disreputable Critics
Details
Lie
Mormons talk to dead people in their temples. If you are a member in good standing and you want to talk to your dead grandmother you can go to the temple and do a ritual and talk to her.
Source
Eric Grieschaben
Truth
There is not temple ritual to talk to dead people.
Lie
Mormons are not Christian. They believe in a different Jesus.
Source
Eric Grieschaben
Truth
How different is Jesus between the various protestant denominations, yet they all consider each other as Christians. An example of this is whether God is one entity taking on different forms or whether the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are individuals. This is a huge difference about who Jesus is.
To say that Mormons do not believe in the same Jesus as Christians in order to classify them as being part of the occult is ridiculous.
One of the arguments used to bolster this argument our Jesus not being Jesus is to throw out that Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers. Scandalous!
The bible states that Lucifer was with God and he got greedy and tried to take over and was cast out and became Satan (Isaiah 14, Rev 12:7-9). The bible also states that before the Earth was created that Jesus was with God (John 1:1-4). Many families have family members that go on to greatness, while some of those same families also have family members that are trouble.
I realize that based on the biblical record that we have today this could be perceived as speculation, but is it a doctrine that really throws Mormons into the category of the occult?
Lie
Women can not be saved without men. This goes in the category of "the Mormons are oppressive to women."
Source
Shiela Garrigus
Truth
Being "saved" to protestants means going to Heaven or not going to Hell. This would be equivalent to getting to the Celestial Kingdom to Latter-day Saints. You don't have to be married to get to the Celestial Kingdom. To obtain all the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom one must be married. This applies to men and women both.
Lie
"Mormons refuse to take off these garments completely even while taking a bath..."
Source
I didn't catch the source, but it was some guy being interviewed in a cafe and was pontificating rubbish about Latter-day Saints.
Truth
He mentioned something about Latter-day Saints would take a bath and keep their hand outside the tub covered with their garments. This is a flat out lie and totally inflamatory.
Below I will list of critics that I have found to be disreputable. Below that I will detail some of the things I have heard about the Church that are not true. Where possible I will note the person that said it, so that as people come across works about the Church they can identify authors to avoid.
Disreputable Critics
- Shiela Garrigus
- Eric Grieschaben
Details
Lie
Mormons talk to dead people in their temples. If you are a member in good standing and you want to talk to your dead grandmother you can go to the temple and do a ritual and talk to her.
Source
Eric Grieschaben
Truth
There is not temple ritual to talk to dead people.
Lie
Mormons are not Christian. They believe in a different Jesus.
Source
Eric Grieschaben
Truth
How different is Jesus between the various protestant denominations, yet they all consider each other as Christians. An example of this is whether God is one entity taking on different forms or whether the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are individuals. This is a huge difference about who Jesus is.
To say that Mormons do not believe in the same Jesus as Christians in order to classify them as being part of the occult is ridiculous.
One of the arguments used to bolster this argument our Jesus not being Jesus is to throw out that Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers. Scandalous!
The bible states that Lucifer was with God and he got greedy and tried to take over and was cast out and became Satan (Isaiah 14, Rev 12:7-9). The bible also states that before the Earth was created that Jesus was with God (John 1:1-4). Many families have family members that go on to greatness, while some of those same families also have family members that are trouble.
I realize that based on the biblical record that we have today this could be perceived as speculation, but is it a doctrine that really throws Mormons into the category of the occult?
Lie
Women can not be saved without men. This goes in the category of "the Mormons are oppressive to women."
Source
Shiela Garrigus
Truth
Being "saved" to protestants means going to Heaven or not going to Hell. This would be equivalent to getting to the Celestial Kingdom to Latter-day Saints. You don't have to be married to get to the Celestial Kingdom. To obtain all the blessings of the Celestial Kingdom one must be married. This applies to men and women both.
Lie
"Mormons refuse to take off these garments completely even while taking a bath..."
Source
I didn't catch the source, but it was some guy being interviewed in a cafe and was pontificating rubbish about Latter-day Saints.
Truth
He mentioned something about Latter-day Saints would take a bath and keep their hand outside the tub covered with their garments. This is a flat out lie and totally inflamatory.
Monday, January 15, 2007
2 Nephi 4:13-15
2 Nephi 4:13-15
Summary
Laman and Lemuel are upset with Nephi because of their father's words to them about their disobedience. Nephi is constrained from giving them any more instruction, but continues his record. This record can then be used by future generations to find their way back.
It struck me that this can apply to us. When we get stuck in our own traditions and our own wants we harden ourselves and distance ourselves to where the spirit stops instructing us. In order to get further instruction we need to go to the scriptures get get those instructions and to get the spirit to begin instructing us again.
Summary
Laman and Lemuel are upset with Nephi because of their father's words to them about their disobedience. Nephi is constrained from giving them any more instruction, but continues his record. This record can then be used by future generations to find their way back.
It struck me that this can apply to us. When we get stuck in our own traditions and our own wants we harden ourselves and distance ourselves to where the spirit stops instructing us. In order to get further instruction we need to go to the scriptures get get those instructions and to get the spirit to begin instructing us again.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Mighty Prayer
I was listening to the December 2006 Ensign article What I Have Learned about Mighty Prayer by Mary Jane Woodger on the way to work this morning. A quote from President Hinckley in it made me think. “The trouble with most of our prayers is that we give them as if we were picking up the telephone and ordering groceries—we place our order and hang up."(Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 469)
I think most of us have had the concern at one time or another about repetitious prayers or prayers that seem to barely reach to the ceiling let alone to Heavenly Father. One piece that I think I miss frequently is meditating.
The world has perhaps made the concept of meditation seem hokey, but I think if done properly and with the right spirit it is a critical part of prayer. I have heard several talks over the last couple of years on meditating. I think meditating could be defined as the part of prayer when we listen. I think the word meditate indicates something a bit more focused than listening, but I think listening is something we all understand and it is a good place to start.
In my opinion, meditation is not the chanting that we sometimes see on TV, but a simple, focused listening and pondering or focused observing.
This article was a nice reminder that prayer is a communication channel and is a two way channel. We must listen and not just rattle off our requests and leave.
I think most of us have had the concern at one time or another about repetitious prayers or prayers that seem to barely reach to the ceiling let alone to Heavenly Father. One piece that I think I miss frequently is meditating.
The world has perhaps made the concept of meditation seem hokey, but I think if done properly and with the right spirit it is a critical part of prayer. I have heard several talks over the last couple of years on meditating. I think meditating could be defined as the part of prayer when we listen. I think the word meditate indicates something a bit more focused than listening, but I think listening is something we all understand and it is a good place to start.
In my opinion, meditation is not the chanting that we sometimes see on TV, but a simple, focused listening and pondering or focused observing.
This article was a nice reminder that prayer is a communication channel and is a two way channel. We must listen and not just rattle off our requests and leave.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Pro Sports and the Sabbath
We often talk about people that "have" to work on Sunday. Either because they are short on money and they have no choice but to take a job on Sunday or because they are in a profession that is critical to have available to people on Sunday (doctors, firefighters, police).
I don't believe that professional sports fall into either of these categories, but I wanted to get some other opinions on this. If I was someone starting out my career life is Professional sports a justifiable "work on Sunday" career?
The second piece of this that I am interested in is watching pro sports on Sunday. A) Is it a valid use of our Sabbath time to watch sports? B) Are we causing others to work on Sunday (the players) by us watching? We would not go out to eat on Sunday and cause someone else to have to work on the Sabbath, but does watching sports commercialize the Sabbath as well?
The point of this post is not to be judgmental, but to expand each other's knowledge of the Sabbath.
I don't believe that professional sports fall into either of these categories, but I wanted to get some other opinions on this. If I was someone starting out my career life is Professional sports a justifiable "work on Sunday" career?
The second piece of this that I am interested in is watching pro sports on Sunday. A) Is it a valid use of our Sabbath time to watch sports? B) Are we causing others to work on Sunday (the players) by us watching? We would not go out to eat on Sunday and cause someone else to have to work on the Sabbath, but does watching sports commercialize the Sabbath as well?
The point of this post is not to be judgmental, but to expand each other's knowledge of the Sabbath.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Satan Petitioning to have Job Tortured
In Sunday school this week we talked about Satan's telling God that Job was only faithful because he was so blessed. It made me think about why was Satan given an audience with God? Why was God persuaded by him?
I didn't want to side track the lesson, but I thought it might be a nice thing to share thoughts on with each other.
I didn't want to side track the lesson, but I thought it might be a nice thing to share thoughts on with each other.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Forgiveness in the World to Come
I read Matt 12:32 today
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be aforgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
I had always read this scripture from the perspective of the unpardonable sin, which is obviously what it is all about. When I read it today I noticed the phrase "neither in the world to come." People often talk about people dying and going directly to Heaven or Hell, which goes against the idea of Christ returning and judging his people. This scripture's implication seems to support the doctrine of being able to repent to some extent after death.
This is not to imply that one should wait until the "world to come" to repent, but it made me think that this might be a biblical reference to doing work for the dead.
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be aforgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
I had always read this scripture from the perspective of the unpardonable sin, which is obviously what it is all about. When I read it today I noticed the phrase "neither in the world to come." People often talk about people dying and going directly to Heaven or Hell, which goes against the idea of Christ returning and judging his people. This scripture's implication seems to support the doctrine of being able to repent to some extent after death.
This is not to imply that one should wait until the "world to come" to repent, but it made me think that this might be a biblical reference to doing work for the dead.
God is a Spirit
John 4: 24
Does anyone have any other authoritative resources on this?
24 aGod is a bSpirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in ctruth.
Many people use this to prove that God does not have a body, but the same could be said for man. Man is a spirit. Man is also flesh and bone, but our spirit is who we are.
Many people use this to prove that God does not have a body, but the same could be said for man. Man is a spirit. Man is also flesh and bone, but our spirit is who we are.
Does anyone have any other authoritative resources on this?
Sunday, June 25, 2006
What is David's Fate?
One question I have had is can David repent? Has his committed the unpardonable sin by committing murder? Our Sunday school teach said that he may never attain anything above the Telestial. If he had not received any level of forgiveness he would have received no glory and yet to have fallen so far to not be able to reach beyond the Telestial. Also the statements in 2 Sam 11-12 about his wives being given to another. Is that in this life or in the resurrection? Does anyone know the history of David at all? Did he lose his wives in this life? The scriptures reference that the Lord would do this thing before the sun. That kind of spoke of Celestial things to me, but I have nothing authoritative yet.
Anyone else have anything autoritative?
Anyone else have anything autoritative?
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Bible and Book of Mormon
Bible
Several are offended at the suggestion that there would be any scripture in addition to the Bible. Several also are stunned at the thought that God might have had any other plan than to keep the Bible pristine through the centuries.
Book of Mormon
Prophets have asked us to read the Book of Mormon every day.
Latter-day saints love the Bible and it has been an act of God that it has been preserved to us in the condition it is in.
I don't know what question to put here to spawn discussion, but this is such an important issue that I feel it is worthy of discussion. Maybe part of the problem is that I can not articulate the issue. Perhaps the discussion should start with someone helping me define the issue.
Several are offended at the suggestion that there would be any scripture in addition to the Bible. Several also are stunned at the thought that God might have had any other plan than to keep the Bible pristine through the centuries.
Book of Mormon
Prophets have asked us to read the Book of Mormon every day.
Latter-day saints love the Bible and it has been an act of God that it has been preserved to us in the condition it is in.
I don't know what question to put here to spawn discussion, but this is such an important issue that I feel it is worthy of discussion. Maybe part of the problem is that I can not articulate the issue. Perhaps the discussion should start with someone helping me define the issue.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
If Your Eye Offends You Pluck It Out
The Lord talked about this and it is recorded in the gospels. Over the years I have heard these passages discusses as referring to excommunication, but I was just listening to a BYU devotional given on June 6, 2006 by Joseph Perry. The talk was called "On Being a Christian Perfectly".
He proposed that one application of this doctrine might be to not pluck out our eyes if we can't keep from watching bad things, but to pluck out the cable, internet, or TV if they are causing us to stumble.
He proposed that one application of this doctrine might be to not pluck out our eyes if we can't keep from watching bad things, but to pluck out the cable, internet, or TV if they are causing us to stumble.
Evil Spirit From the Lord
1 Samuel 16 talks about Saul being afflicted with an evil spirit from the Lord. There are several other verses that use that same wording. I saw that the Joseph Smith Translation says that it is an evil spirit not of the Lord. I notice that other bible translations from other church seem to keep that theme that the evil spirit is of the Lord.
I was wondering if anyone had any information about the translation of these verses and the doctrine of other churches that would explain, from their perspective, an evil spirit from the Lord.
I was wondering if anyone had any information about the translation of these verses and the doctrine of other churches that would explain, from their perspective, an evil spirit from the Lord.
Sunday, May 28, 2006
What should we be entering into our journals?
We are told that writing in our journals in an acceptable Sabbath activity. That being the case should our journals perhaps be of a spiritual nature?
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