Saturday, September 29, 2018
Friday, September 28, 2018
Pre-Existence
We
are taught in the church that we lived with God before coming to this
Earth. This is known as the pre-existence. There are scriptures that
attest to this teaching. A favorite one is found in the Bible.1
There are a few examples in the Bible actually. When Jesus spoke to
his disciples about the blind man.2
Their question was who had sinned him or his parents that he was born
blind. That is showing a knowledge of something before this life.
Then
in the book of Revelation we learn that Michael fought against the
devil and his angels. That 1/3rd of the hosts of heaven were cast out
from God’s presence.3
How terrible a moment that must have been for God to cast out his
son. Lucifer, the Devil, Satan, however you wish to refer to him. He
was a “Shining One” or “Lightbearer”, also “Son of the
Morning”. Such titles display he was high up. As we know from the
Pearl of Great Price, Lucifer asked to come to earth to be the Savior
of the world. He wanted God’s power in order to do so, and he would
have saved us all no matter what.4
But
God knew it could not be this way. Jesus stepped forward and said to
send Him instead and the glory would be God’s.
It
is interesting to note that Satan’s way of thinking is how some
people in the LDS church think. They would drag you kicking and
screaming into heaven given the chance. I am not certain if they
understand this is what they are doing by saying such things, but it
is interesting for sure.
We
learn that the premortal realm was the first estate.5
Those who kept their first estate earned bodies. That is, we were
born to this earth to be able to grow and learn through experience
that we might be able to come back to God someday. At the same time,
Satan and his followers were sent to earth, but they are not able to
receive bodies or progress. They have been damned. They have no veil
over their minds and they are able to remember everything that
happened before the world was.
It
would be interesting to have a glimpse back into that first estate.
To be able to remember such things which we have lost. Yet we are
commanded to learn by faith and reliance upon the Holy Spirit that we
might recall unto our remembrance those things which were taught
before we came here.
Perhaps,
when all is said and done and we do have that recollection of times
past, we will have a better understanding of all the things which we
accepted to by coming here. Until that time comes of course, we are
but simply trying to do our best to learn and grow as children of
God.
There
is no telling how many estates there are in this existence, that
being pre, earth, and post. We know that this earth life is the
second estate for sure. Those who keep their second estate continue
on to the third estate, are judged, and then end up in the kingdom
they belong in. If there are estates beyond that? It is only for God
to know.
1. Proverbs
8
2. John
9:1-12
3. Revelation
12:4-9
4. Moses
4:1-4
5. Jude
1:6
Thursday, September 27, 2018
Death
Does
anyone ever think about how death will affect their life? Could it be
something upon which a person doesn’t grasp fully? Or something
which they can? Who’s to say exactly what will happen when such a
thought occurs? Do you have all you need to have in this life secured
away? I doubt it. I don’t think a lot of people have everything
they actually need in this life. We all go about doing the best we
can and hope that it is enough.
But,
what does happen at death? We know the body and the spirit are
separated. It’s like a glove. Yes that analogy. Nothing new
there. But there has to be something more to this life than simply
living and then dying to go onto some other place? A place that
doesn’t matter or make sense? Well maybe it does matter. I’m not
sure. I mean who would have thought anything ever mattered in this
life? If something matters, it would need to actually be there for a
purpose upon which we cannot see. Perhaps that’s where faith comes
in? I mean, that’s always a possibility right? Who’s to say what
is right and wrong in such thinking?
From
scripture, we are told the following:
O
death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The
sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But
thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.1
Christ
suffered all things so we might be able to come unto Him and unto the
God which gave us life. It is in the plan of salvation which we are
to follow in order to live fully to the principles and ordinances of
the gospel. (Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost2)
For this is the Doctrine of Christ that we might be saved in the
Kingdom of God.
Now
there has been dispute regarding the Kingdom of God and how people
get to heaven. Some say it is by grace alone and we do not need
works. Others say it is by works and then after all we can do we are
saved by grace. That Christ is the mediator3
between us and the Father. He is the lawgiver and the law. No man
cometh under the Father but by Him, he is the way, the truth and the
life.4
If
we believe such things, how is it that people do not fully attend to
them? Why do they fear death? Is it the actual process of death
people fear? Or is it something else?
If
it is something else, what exactly is that? Are we doomed if we do
not fully believe in this life? Do we go to a place of Hell before we
are able to grab hold of the Iron Rod and move along the path which
we were to have been moving on all along? What is the point of it all
if we are but simply trying to do our best? Perhaps that’s all
which is required of us? To try and to our best, without that we are
nothing. Without God we are nothing. What is the purpose of this life
if we cannot rise above the temptations of that evil wicked one, the
father of lies even the devil?
When
a person comes to know that which is just and true, and fall away for
a season are they doomed because of it? Does God, who knows all from
everlasting to everlasting, give them an ounce of leeway? Or are we
simply damned before any of this life ever happened because God knows
our hearts mind and our hearts
mind. Why must there be so many questions in regard to this life? I
do not fully understand any of it. Any amount of prayer will not make
it all better either. It only seems to cause more questions than
answers.
1. 1
Corinthians 15:55-57
2. See
Articles of Faith 1:4
3. 1
Timothy 2:5
4. John
14:6
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
Tuesday, September 25, 2018
It Is Only A Dream
“Life
is but a dream.”1
Is that not what the song said? It is an interesting thought process
isn’t it? Life is as it was and is what it will always be. There
are changes yes, but life will not change to the point where it isn’t
recognizable again. This life is but a life full of
challenges. Some are good for us, others are not as good as we would
hope.
There
are times in this life we would wish it would be better. There are
other times in this life when we do not wish anything to happen at
all and we are simply here. I do not know of a better time in life
that could be better or worse. It obviously always can be better or
worse, but to pin point a specific place in time? I cannot do that,
nor should I ever wish to try.
“The
purpose of mortal life is for all people to have joy.2
A full joy will come only through Jesus Christ.”3
That
is found in LDS Scripture,
that is fine and good. But what does it say about the purpose of life
in the Bible? Oh there are passages about life and whatnot, but not a
purpose that has been described in the Book of Mormon. I find that
interesting...was this one of the simple plain and precious truths
that was taken from the book? It makes me wonder at times.
If
this life is really just a dream, and we are waiting to wake up from
it. Is it not more of a form of nightmare? I would think it would be.
If we are here on earth, suffering at times and trying to live life
to the best and fullest we are able and God allows suffering. Don’t
get me started on God allowing suffering because of agency etc. some
suffering comes to us and it’s not because our agency had anything
to do with it. But if we are here, suffering, and we are meant to
find joy in such suffering. What’s the point of it all? Does it
even make any sense that way? I’m not certain.
I
have not been persecuted like Paul, who once so persecuted the saints
and the church. The Lord took Paul him
under His care and made sure he found the correct path to follow. It
is interesting that there are so many churches out there. Most of
them don’t fret over if you belong to them. They only care if you
do good to others and love the Lord. The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints on the other hand wish you to belong to their
congregation. Teaching that all other churches are an abomination
before the Lord. Well, that was the Lord’s own teaching to Joseph
Smith wasn’t it? So wouldn’t it still be that way?
Church
leaders have let up on that thought accepting all churches as having
good in them but not having the complete 100% of the gospel like the
Mormon church does. It is a rather bold and prideful statement. Why
cannot a person simply try their best to follow God and Jesus being
led by the Holy Spirit? One would think it would really be that
simple. But to some it is not.
If
we are to find peace in this life, we must all find a way to come
together in a form of unity. That’s not to say we are to all become
one under God’s one true church, for I do not believe there is a
one true church in this life. I do believe, however, that we are to
simply do our best. Love our neighbor. Love God, Love Jesus. The rest
will fall into place.
1. Row,
Row, Row Your Boat
2. 2
Ne. 2:22–25
3. John
15:11; D&C 93:33–34; 101:36
Monday, September 24, 2018
Better to be dead than excommunicated from the LDS Church
Miracle of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball
Articles of Faith Revised
Articles of Faith
Monday, September 24, 2018
Monday, September 24, 2018
Going to mormon.org, or believe.org which redirects to mormon.org, you will find they have the Articles of Faith summarized. So in effect, an already summarized set of beliefs summarized even shorter. If they were simple to begin with, why would they be summarized again?
It is an interesting thing to read through and compare the two...how they compare to each other, what words are excluded. Perhaps looking into why they are eliminated for public consumption. Is it merely a milk before meat kind of thing? Personally I feel the Articles of Faith are milk before they were summarized...again.
No
|
Summariezed
MORMON.ORG1
|
Original
LDS.ORG2
|
1.
|
We believe in God the Father; His Son, Jesus Christ; and the Holy Ghost.
|
We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
|
2.
|
That men will be punished only for their own sins and not for Adam’s transgression.
|
We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam’s transgression.
|
3.
|
That through Christ’s Atonement, we can be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
|
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
|
4.
|
That faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, baptism by immersion, confirmation, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost are all necessary for salvation.
|
We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
|
5.
|
That leaders and teachers in the Church must be chosen and ordained by priesthood power.
|
We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
|
6.
|
That Christ’s Church today is organized as it was when He first established it.
|
We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
|
7.
|
In modern-day revelation and priesthood healing and blessing.
|
We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
|
8.
|
That the Bible and Book of Mormon are both divinely revealed scripture.
|
We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
|
9.
|
That God has communicated with and will continue to communicate with humankind.
|
We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.
|
10.
|
In the literal gathering of Israel and the restoration of the ten tribes, and that Zion will be built on the American continent when Christ reigns on the earth.
|
We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
|
11.
|
In worshipping God according to our own dictates and allowing others to do likewise.
|
We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
|
12.
|
In sustaining the laws and leaders of the land.
|
We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
|
13.
|
In being “honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men.”
|
We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
|
1. https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/articles-of-faith
2. https://www.lds.org/scriptures/pgp/a-of-f/1?lang=eng
Female Healing of Others was Okay in Joseph Smith's Time
"Nauvoo Relief Society Minute Book," p. [36], The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed September 24, 2018, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/nauvoo-relief-society-minute-book/33
Sunday, September 23, 2018
No Genitles in the Telestial and Terrestial Kingdoms
Doctrines of Salvation Vol 2, Joseph Fielding Smith, pp 287-288
A Shower Thought: I can handle the history, but the morals I don’t Understand
I’ve come to a
conclusion. The history of the church is fine. Whatever. It’s
history. Let it be. But, the problem I have with it? The morals of
the people we cherish as leaders of the church back then. Lying to
other people about practicing polygamy? Being secret about it all?
God says to do it, you do it, then he tells you to not tell anyone
and keep it hush hush. So when you’re asked about it you deny it?
Because an angel with a drawn sword told you so.
Reminds me of texts
in the Book of Mormon about the Gadianton Robbers who would swear
upon oaths that they would rather die than to tell what goes on in
their secret meetings.
It’s a simple
thought. But it is a thought.
To publicly
announce on more than one occasion that you do not follow or practice
a certain lifestyle, and then excommunicate others1
who have doesn’t seem right to me. The typical response is it
wasn’t done through the proper authority or channels. If Joseph
Smith married Fanny Alger in 1833, that was 3 years before
the sealing power was restored. So what was he doing at that time if
the power wasn’t on the earth to bind people together? Was it an
affair? Then it was denied for so many years.
Follow
the prophet...follow them.
1. Times
and Seasons Vol 5, page 423
No man shall have but one wife
"Journal, December 1842–June 1844; Book 3, 15 July 1843–29 February 1844," p. [117], The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed September 23, 2018, http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/journal-december-1842-june-1844-book-3-15-july-1843-29-february-1844/123
Remarks of Wm Marks Regarding Joseph Denying The Practice Of Polygamy
Zion's Harbinger and Baneemy's Organ, Vol 3, pps 52-54
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Law of Common Consent
Section 26 - Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual (2002), 54
Improvement Era June 1945, Page 354
D&C 20:65
D&C 26:2
Mosiah 29:25-26
Friday, September 21, 2018
A Thought Process of Nothing
What is this life exactly? I mean there are so many possibilities out there that don’t make sense. If it did make some kind of sense, we would all be out there without any kind of safety net. A safety net is something you wish you had, yet here we are without the options and possibilities that don’t wish to make any kind of sense. Either way? That’s what this life is all about. Let’s not discuss that which should not be discussed. Unless it is meant to be understood by that which could be grasped and grabbed hold of. It is a time in life which doesn’t make sense. Thats’ okay! Don’t look back across a chasm you have just crossed, look forward towards something which you would rather be looking forward to.
If you have the ability to do something, do it.1 So, there we are. Doing what we all need to be
doing. Looking forward to a place where this life will eventually come to a halt. If you don’t believe
me, that’s okay. There’s so many things out there which aren’t made to make sense. There are thoughts
and lives out there affected long after anything else can be grasped and understood. There are reasons
for these thoughts to come across your mind.
Sometimes people come in and out of your life for a reason. Other times they tend to simply
leave with no reason at all. They simply disappear. It happens. There’s nothing wrong with that I
suppose, but it happens. What else is there to think about when that occurs? I mean, it’s a thing. It
happens. People leave. There’s no reason to get attached to any of them. They leave, and they don’t
come back.
Some attempt to come back into your life, but well you have to stop that from happening. You
can’t simply allow them to come back in and crush your life all over again.2 Once you realize you are
not alone in all of this, it can get easier. Doesn’t mean it will get easier. Just that it can get easier.
I think it all has to do with the thought process of how a person becomes what they want to
become. They wish people would do what they would do, and then allow things to come across as they
want it to happen. Life comes and goes long before and after you wish anything to occur. It’s a thing. It
happens. Life will always do that to you. It’s not meant to let you down. It’s not meant to sink you. Life
will happen and everything will come to an eventual close.
So where does that leave us? Where do we belong in all of this? I do not know. I’m not sure.
That’s why life is full of uncertainties. You never know what will happen. You never understand
or grasp anything which will fully take place in your life without the thought process that it will come
to an end.
It’s what happens in life. It all comes to an end. There is no going back. You cannot fix the past,
you can only move forward. Move forward and see everything that is out there. So deal with it.
Understand that everything which happens, happens. Sometimes you have control over it, other times
you don’t.
Let it be.
Allow yourself to breathe.
Simply live.
Allow yourself to breathe.
Simply live.
D&C 8 Gift of Aaron vs Gift of the Sprout or Rod
"Revelation, April 1829–B [D&C 8]," p. 13, The Joseph Smith Papers, accessed September 21, 2018, [link]
Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Sunday, September 16, 2018
Book of Mormon Introduction Change - 1981/2006
Book of Mormon Introduction 1981
Book of Mormon Introduction 2006
"Vicious lies about Joseph Smith" in the Nauvoo Expositor
Primary 5, Doctrine and Covenants Church History, Ages 8-11
Lesson 37, Joseph and Hyrum Smith Are Martyred
Lesson 37, Joseph and Hyrum Smith Are Martyred
Nauvoo Expositor, Friday June 7, 1844
Heading of Section D&C 132, which speaks about polygamy
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