#How the Book of Mormon testifies of Christ

[mindfulldsliving]

Jesus as the Eternal God: Responding to Life After Ministry - "BOM: Jesus is God"

Critics consistently present information that causes misunderstandings of Latter-day Saint teachings. Specifically, they tend to confuse LDS understanding of Christ and His divinity. They often claim contradictions between the Bible, the Book of Mormon, and LDS teaching. The clear truth – the harmony affirms Jesus as the Eternal God and yet the Son of the Living God subordinate to the…

[tw1stedthicket]

Just found out apparently the Winter Olympic Games in 10 years or so are gonna be held in Salt Lake City, Utah. I sincerely hope and pray that in the next 10 years, this fact will mean something different to me.

As it stands right now, I am pissed off. Of all the beautiful places on this green earth, Utah certainly has captivating natural beauty, but I don't trust that there may not be the influence of what is so flagrantly defining about Utah in that it is the central hub of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Something as beautiful and hopeful as a long-held tradition kept amongst all nations of the world to send some of their best in stunning athletic feats that sometimes seem to transcend humanity's physical potential to one place, so they may compete in the name of their home and a title of honor recognizing the boundaries they pushed in the name of their sport, is almost downright spiritual. I can't help but feel the parallels of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believing themselves to be sending out the best and the brightest fledgling flames of the younger generation to spread a similar light of God, the truth of the "latter days" in today's evolving world, and unity of all of us in God's plan and in one human legacy and divine birthright for all families to participate in that binds us and seals us together. I know not all Latter-day Saints are as inclined to putting forth a presentation of righteous, precious duty for this spiritual sentiment of "being a light" or would as such be engaged in the kinds of acceptance, social change, radical hope, equality, and more that it would require, but that sentiment of all the above mentioned is baked into the religion no less, as to what its members are called to do and be.

Unfortunately, the gruesome underbelly that gets overlooked in their politeness and sweetness and eagerness to just help everyone come unto Christ, is one that suffers from absolutely crippling enforcements of conformity. Conformity that white-washes the cultures that are "invited" to join -- asks them to sacrifice aspects of their identity and assimilate into Whiteness and to alter long-held beliefs and ways of life for the sake of a "restoration of the truth"...eliminating personal beliefs, personal practices, personal behaviors, and by extension personality, and where isolated from broader cultures and one's own ability to make choices freely, to own what one finds true, to walk as one will and where one will, to find meaning, express values, call upon one's ancestors or their own sources, grow in wisdom, and so much more, as though these might not be a path up the mountain, eliminates so much identity even in one's very personhood.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints venerates freedom, honored in a free American country with a "restoration" and the bestowing of God's keys of power to guide the world at a time that could have only been made possible then, a freedom that is held up in its triumphant insistence that the greatest gift to humans was "agency", and captivated in its role as the supreme poser of such deeply rooted human questions at the heart of our souls as to how and why we are here and the gifter of the answers - should we be free to honestly ask the question ourselves, honestly ask it of the missionaries in the world, honestly ask it of the promise laid out in the Book of Mormon to God, who will testify of the truth that sets you free. And yet. The stunning implications that it was never a choice are chained to their idea of freedom.

It was never a choice for the families that Joseph Smith encountered and who persuaded their perspectives and faith to change, families he then asked to take their young daughter's hand in marriage for himself under threat of damnation, or to women whose husbands were off serving missions in other parts of the world. It was never a choice to the people of the world today who do anything less than fully accept, with choking implications that they are denying the very thing that will save them, save them from unhappiness and unfairness. And offering this promise to the members of the world that have been oppressed, in colonized parts of the world, in enslaved parts of 1800's America, in Indigenous Native parts of the colonized Americas and colonized Utah itself, a name directly referencing the tribes that lived there. Offering this to people whose civil rights the Church's extensive arms and threaded branches in local governments lobby to repress. To the queer community that it tragically imposes the question of "agency" and "chastity" that you might just simply choose to be different. For all these people, the implication that life could be different for you. For countries of the world today in need of aid that are promised temples, for families in need of aid that are asked if they tithe. For people in the world asking for more freedom, and the levying of power that all along it will be, if you conform; from the enslaved American promised to find emanicipation in Zion in Utah under Joseph Smith's presidential platform, to the Pacific Islanders today that have family lineages populated with Latter-day Saints that move from their ancestral homes to Utah as Utahns crowd them out, to women everywhere that are promised a Relief Society for women and perhaps an advancement of the cause for women, but find themselves taught by priesthood holders about what great mothers and wives God made them to be. For people in need of guidance and counsel for self-worth and a justification to still be here in a hopeless world, that get asked about sin and "valiance" and given the choice to remain an active member for the sake of fulfilling gender roles, family roles, having posterity. The implication that families can be together forever, but only if you accept and obey to the highest order of covenants, promises you make to the entire dedication and consecration of your life to it. A culture of shaming for less than true perfection and that you must choose less if you get less, and you must have chose hell if you got it, and a power to send you there.

The Church has very carefully, very saintly, made of all its members, "pure", "converted" people striving for perfection even as Christ is perfect. Perfection that comes across to many as diligence, dedication, and integrity. Perfection that to be sure of, might reflect in the Olympic ceremonies as a reverence for that which is sacred, and an adoring display of its temples, its hallowed history of saints and pioneers, and its citizenship of those who Build Up Zion. The world community at large may be deeply saddened as many of us are to find that hallmarks of the human spirit in all the corners of the world from belief systems far and wide, ancient and new, will be swallowed up inevitably in a sweeping display of a sinister thought: that we, Latter-day Saints, are the vested light in a darkened world, and we bear the "torch", so to speak, of shining out evils that we decided long ago were not what defined the power structure of the 1800's world Joseph Smith grew up in and that have shaped the globe ever since.

Their dazzle conceals the weath it took to build it, and who it takes it from. Its celebration of oneness washes out the exclusion of those it defines as needing to "change", "convert", or "overcome" in the name of conformity. Any humility involved will belie a supremacy that earnestly, and audaciously, believes that people should be sent out into the world for the sake of one truth, and one path, and one plan, and that after death, each member should plumb the archives and annals of human ancestry to convert all to its religion in the afterlife. A family religion, a family culture, an Olympic celebration of the human family, yet damned and condemned to separation in the afterlife in tiers of glory the same as its tiered chandeliers in every temple building dotting the desert and mountain Utah landscape.

It's revolting, to me, and I find my only solace in the hope that in ten years, more progress will have been made that shifts our world just a few more degrees toward the acceptable belief that the things the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes are unacceptable.

[thoughts-in-20s]

FIRST WEEK IN THAILAND 🇹🇭

สวัสดีคะ!

Hello how was your week? We have safely arrived here in Thailand last Wednesday night and I've been here in Ayutthaya (my first area) for only 4 days and it's been such a very tough week for me although I already know the first 3 months in the field would be hard I didn't really expect it to be this hard. Guess what we are opening this area haha great my first area is an open and biking area I don't really know what to feel to be honest but I kinda feel like this area would progress because the members here are so so nice and sweet and they have 3 returned missionaries here who also served in thailand which is a good thing because they for sure know about the area but one thing about Ayutthaya they never had their missionaries ever since pandemic so that explains why there are only less than 30 members here but I'm excited to work on this area also we have another set of 2 missionaries who will be serving with us so 1 companionship of Elders (Elder Anderson and Elder Badal) and 1 companionship of senior missionaries (Elder and Sister Cook) they are so sweeettttt they even treat us for dinner last night plus help us get our groceries I love them so much. So last night we have a bunch of meetings and I was just so lost in translations I can't even understand a single word but it's a good thing for me because it motivates me to like strive more in learning thai and I've been doing language study 2 times harder than I was in the MTC. I really testify SYL is so so important trust me it will seriously help you when you'll already out in the field now it's clear to me why our teachers in the mtc are trying their very best for us to do SYL I guarantee it's 100% helpful. Anyways my trainer is (Sister Loranger) she is the best companion you would ever have she is so patientttt and kind to me, and also she is the referral secretary so we'll kinda do a lot of stuffs with social media because most of the people here use it so it's kinda useful to get referrals because they usually chat in our page if they wanna get Book of Mormon or if they wanna learn about the Gospel. President and Sister Burgener are so sweet they welcomed us warmly and the first time we got here the first thing we saw was the Thailand Bangkok Temple it was so prettyyyyy I really felt the assurance and peace that everything will be well. We'll also be having our zone conference next week and we'll be singing with our native language which is a funny thing because this is my first time singing in tagalog and I'm the only Filipino in this area. Things are literally new here for me especially the food because to be honest I never had a food here which is not spicy so Goodluck to me hahaha. But even though it's hard I know He is always there to bear me up and the same goes to you. I like how the Lord will always make it hard for us at first so that we can be more tougher. I miss my ward, my family, my friends and MTC but I know I will eventually love it more here. Thai people are literally the sweetest they are more into their feelings when they talk to you and you can literally feel their sincerity. I am so blessed that the Lord chose Ayutthaya to be my first area couldn't be more grateful. I love the Book of Mormon so much I can't even count how many times it had helped me during my difficult times. I really testify the power of prayer from the very first day we arrived here I really felt the Lord is very mindful to me. Whenever you feel discourage just always remember Mosiah 14: 3-5 He lives and He is there for you even if don't feel it His love is always there. Words can't even describe how grateful I am for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. The work is so so hard here but the work Jesus Christ did was a lot harder I love Him with all my heart and I will always do my best to glorify Him and Heavenly Father ! I hope you are doing well, Take care always and I would love to hear from you too!

1. Ayutthaya District

2. My Trainer (Sister Loranger) 💛✊️

3. Nephi district I miss y'all so so much

4. Ayutthaya Branch

5. Elephant sanctuary (I kinda feel bad for the Elephant tbh)

[bookoformon]

3 Nephi, Chapter 15. "The Fever."

Jesus announces that the law of Moses is fulfilled in Him—The Nephites are the other sheep of whom He spoke in Jerusalem—Because of iniquity, the Lord’s people in Jerusalem do not know of the scattered sheep of Israel. About A.D. 34. "Glared."

Blinding Light is a symbol of God's Glory in all the faiths. In this part of 3 Nephi, we come back to the Midrash portion of the Book of Mormon after reading the most important passages in the Gospels form the Book of Matthew. The Pophet takes on the Mantle of Christ and explains their worth and meaning.

This is the the text that turns the use of fictional characters and moral symbols and metaphors in the rest of the Book of Mormon, the Book of the Myrrh of the Words of Moses, into an Addititional Testament of the Son of God.

Important topics for analysis include how is Jesus the Fulfillment of the Law, and what are the implications to man, what does it mean to be raised up on the Last Day, who are the People Israel, and what does it mean that some are included and some are not, and what can be done about stiffneckedness, looking back instead of looking forward? None of this can be guessed after the delivery of the Sermon on the Mount of what we just read in the Book of Matthew:

1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had ended these sayings he cast his eyes round about on the multitude, and said unto them: Behold, ye have heard the things which I taught before I ascended to my Father; therefore, whoso remembereth these sayings of mine and doeth them, him will I raise up at the last day.

2 And it came to pass that when Jesus had said these words he perceived that there were some among them who marveled, and wondered what he would concerning the law of Moses; for they understood not the saying that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

3 And he said unto them: Marvel not that I said unto you that old things had passed away, and that all things had become new.

4 Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.

5 Behold, I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath an end.

6 Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.

7 And because I said unto you that old things have passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come.

8 For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me.

9 Behold, I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.

10 Behold, I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly��testified of me.

11 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he said unto those twelve whom he had chosen:

12 Ye are my disciples; and ye are a light unto this people, who are a remnant of the house of Joseph.

13 And behold, this is the land of your inheritance; and the Father hath given it unto you.

14 And not at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell it unto your brethren at Jerusalem.

15 Neither at any time hath the Father given me commandment that I should tell unto them concerning the other tribes of the house of Israel, whom the Father hath led away out of the land.

16 This much did the Father command me, that I should tell unto them:

17 That other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

18 And now, because of stiffneckedness and unbelief they cunderstood not my word; therefore I was commanded to say no more of the Father concerning this thing unto them.

19 But, verily, I say unto you that the Father hath commanded me, and I tell it unto you, that ye were separated from among them because of their iniquity; therefore it is because of their iniquity that they know not of you.

20 And verily, I say unto you again that the other tribes hath the Father separated from them; and it is because of their iniquity that they know not of them.

21 And verily I say unto you, that ye are they of whom I said: Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

22 And they understood me not, for they supposed it had been the Gentiles; for they understood not that the Gentiles should be converted through their preaching.

23 And they understood me not that I said they shall hear my voice; and they understood me not that the Gentiles should not at any time hear my voice—that I should not manifest myself unto them save it were by the Holy Ghost.

24 But behold, ye have both heard my voice, and seen me; and ye are my sheep, and ye are numbered among those whom the Father hath given me.

The best way to drill into English versions of scripture or text that originated in English is to use Gematria. Gematria turns English into Hebrew, assigns numeric values to the Hebrew called Elements. Elements are are added together to produce what are called Molecules. Molecules in Hebrew are the most basic building blocks of all religion. They will always tell us the right thing to do or think no matter what. Jesus was an fleshbound manifestation of the God Israel and likewise also a Jew. He spoke all the time about the Laws of Moses. and did not speak of anything out of context:

v. 3-4: How is the Annunciation a sign all things are made new when we know they just got worse after Christ appeared? The Value in Gematria is 12574, יבה‎‎ז‎ד‎, yvezd, "will be lost."

Without a Host the soul is indeed lost. So Jesus came in both the Gospels and the Book of Mormon to state we are lost. We do not appreciate life on earth, we do not treat each other well. We are slovenly and wicked and are destroying this planet in a barrage of nonsense, hate, missiles, corruption and unbelief. There are no excuses for this.

v. 5-6: But beold! I do not destroy the prophets! The Value in Gematria is 10999, יטטט‎ ‎ , yettat, you will be,

v. 7-8: ...because I said unto you...13048, יגיגדח‎ ‎‎will grow

v. 9-10: ...behold I am the law...10380, יג‎‎חאֶפֶס, jagaphes, "the roof of the infinite."

So Christ says "without the law you are lost. Because of it you will be great, you will grow, you will reach the roof of the infinite."

And this means:

v. 11-13: The Value in Gematria is 13478, יגדח‎, "will be feverish."

The 12 Disciples represent a way for mankind to get warmer, to heat up into a Burning Bush the Giver of the Law, the highly attuned human intellect. The Hebrew word for fever is qaddachath, which has an etymology of "going into the sun":

"The masculine noun קדם (qedem) refers to whatever comes first and may describe times that had come first (the past or antiquity; Psalm 44:1, Isaiah 37:26, Micah 5:2), or the place where the sun rises (the east; Genesis 10:30, Isaiah 2:6, Zechariah 14:4), and obviously these two are often used poetically to signify each other (looking toward the east means reviewing the past). Still, a western reader should be very careful when interpreting these patterns since the Hebrews had a wholly other sense of time and space.

The Hebrews understood that time is not linear and also not two dimensional. A person's sense of present reality sits entirely in her own personal head and every element of her sense of reality made its way into her head when a signal containing a piece of information reached her and was absorbed by her senses and processed and incorporated into her mind by her brain.

That means that the past, and thus the east, is all around her and is signified by a state of dispersal. The observer functions as a point upon which all lines of the past converge. Should the observer in turn desire a greater state of unity with whatever she cannot observe through signals from the past, she would have to shuffle "backwards" into the future.

Hence to go west is to unify, to go east of to disperse. Going westward is forging bonds or simplifying observations into general statements, going eastward is dissolving bonds and making things more complicated."

So by dispersing the past, by moving onward from East to West such as Christ said he was purposefully doing through the Sermon on the Mount we enter into an unbroken trail of discipleship that concludes in Kingdom of Heaven.

In the Book of Mormon, however Christ says "but you do not know." We have the scripture, but we have no inklings about it so we are lost and must retrace the steps of the Christ and attain to them ourselves as He told the Disciples to do.

Jesus says there are Gentiles that will not accept the way of the Jew and we know what that looks like. A world gone mad. As Christ says we must observe the Laws of Moses, we must read and understand their fulfillment in the Sermon on the Mount and finally we must observe Shabbat. The violence and corruption have to stop.

Persons who are unable or unwilling to respond to this shall not be Numbered and so be it.

The inverse of the fever is great rage, and this has overtaken the planet. Without reliance on the Law instead of its long arm and all of its weapons, we will not survive the conditions we have created. Only the Laws of Moses and great care in exercising them over the world in the name of the Beatitude of the Christ will be able to change this and save us.

[the-hem]

They would not accept Him. The Truth behind the Jews and the rejection of Christ.

The story of Jesus failing the ecumenical proofs of the Pharisees and their rejection of Him has caused billions of people to suffer and die. Let us see what the truth behind the story is.

We do not know who the Jews that interrogated Jesus in the temple. We do not know their names, or if they were even real. We do know from the script below all Jesus asked them to do was believe in the nature of the work of the Gospels. He didn't care of they believed He was the Son of God or not.

This is the very same theme that runs through the Book of Mormon. In neither text does Jesus say harm should come to the Jew.

The Jews Reject Jesus

22 The Festival of the Dedication of the Temple took place in Jerusalem during the winter.

23 Jesus was walking on Solomon’s porch in the temple courtyard.

24 The Jews surrounded him. They asked him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.”

25 Jesus answered them, “I’ve told you, but you don’t believe me. The things that I do in my Father’s name testify on my behalf.

26 However, you don’t believe because you’re not my sheep.

27 My sheep respond to my voice, and I know who they are. They follow me,

28 and I give them eternal life. They will never be lost, and no one will tear them away from me.

29 My Father, who gave them to me, is greater than everyone else, and no one can tear them away from my Father.

30 The Father and I are one.”

31 The Jews had again brought some rocks to stone Jesus to death.

32 Jesus replied to them, “I’ve shown you many good things that come from the Father. For which of these good things do you want to stone me to death?”

33 The Jews answered Jesus, “We’re going to stone you to death, not for any good things you’ve done, but for dishonoring God. You claim to be God, although you’re only a man.”

34 Jesus said to them, “Don’t your Scriptures say, ‘I said, “You are gods” ’?

35 The Scriptures cannot be discredited. So if God calls people gods (and they are the people to whom he gave the Scriptures),

36 why do you say that I’m dishonoring God because I said, ‘I’m the Son of God’? God set me apart for this holy purpose and has sent me into the world.

37 If I’m not doing the things my Father does, don’t believe me.

38 But if I’m doing those things and you refuse to believe me, then at least believe the things that I’m doing. Then you will know and recognize that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father.”

39 The Jews tried to arrest Jesus again, but he got away from them.

40 He went back across the Jordan River and stayed in the place where John first baptized people.

41 Many people went to Jesus. They said, “John didn’t perform any miracles, but everything John said about this man is true.”

42 Many people there believed in Jesus.

The Festival of Dedication performed in the winter in Jerusalem is Hannukah:

"Hanukkah in Hebrew means “dedication”. That is what it is all about, chasing the darkness away and bringing back the light through the rededication of something that you might have considered lost or too defiled to be used again by God."

Jesus walks along the "porch" of Solomon a very special place in history as this is where Solomon kept the Four Pillars, the Four Vedas and used the porch, the meditation seat, to look over the edge into the Black Sea, the place where God emerged In the Beginning in order to See Himself.

For Jesus to place Himself here during Dedication is a very sacred act. It tells us everything about His Distilled Inner Nature.

Jesus tries to explain who He is to the Jews who are gathered for dedication but He tells them they are not His flock and because of this they will not know Him. So who was the flock, and can we hold Jews responsible for the fact Jesus did not come to speak to them in the first place?

Let us look at the Gematria and see what this means.

v. 24: is 15779, אה‎זזט, "Ah hurry up" or Beshalach. About this, the Rabbi says:

"It is customary that in order to prepare for the revelation of a new and profound teaching, the crowd sings a special melody to prime themselves for the discourse.

At this particular gathering, the yeshiva students were eager to hear the Rebbe's teachings and began speeding up the song. The Rebbe admonished the young men for their display of honest and well-meaning enthusiasm.

The entire point of absorbing Chassidic teachings, he explained, is to develop the trait of pnimiyut — to be genuine to the core, and to put one's entire self into the moment.

Why does it take such a radical shift in thinking in order to enable a person to live in the moment? Well, for one, being in the moment has some scary consequences.

It means that you open yourself up to something outside of yourself beyond your control; namely, life. In order to avoid being hurt or feeling too much, we've learned to seek self-stimulation that can draw us deep into ourselves and protect us from having to feel too much about things we can't control."

The gathering wanted Jesus to provide proof He had been on Sinai and seen God. This is of critical important to Jews, that their holy men understand Horeb, the climb to the summit of the Holy Mountain. Jesus was standing there on Solomon's Porch so we know He had.

Jesus explains why He will not assert He had attained Horeb. So who is Jesus and who are the sheep?

v. 25-27: 14239, אדבגט, "the Advocate."

=Jesus says He came to convert people to Judaism in order to combat the classism of Rome and reinstate the Law regarding all practical spiritual approaches to life contained in the religion.

The culmination of these is Shabbat. Everyone on earth must observe and is guarnteed Shabbat. Shabbat means each of us entitled to rest, eat, fellowship and recenter without fear of any kind.

I have said it before, Jesus came to remind the Romanized world Shabbat could not be denied. All of the Parables Jesus spake tell the world to observe Shabbat. The Jews of His time understood this.

v. 28-30. Jesus makes the amazing claim Shabbat will confer eternal life. The Number is 13840, אגחדאֶפֶס‎, aghdafes. "To draw happiness everlasting closer."

ag= to be near

together with the preposition παρα (para), meaning near or nearby: the verb παραγω (parago), meaning to lead along or close by. This word may describe a passing close by something (MATTHEW 9:9, MARK 15:21, JOHN 9:1), but in the classics it often denotes a leading astray, divert or "take for a ride" or "give the slip" (JOHN 8:59). It may also mean to change slightly and is used to describe the changing of the letters of a derived word. This puts to mind natural evolution and may even be hinted at in texts such as 1 CORINTHIANS 7:31 and 1 JOHN 2:8 and 2:17.

hadah=to being a jolly tingle to a friend

The verb חדה (hada I) is said to mean to sharpen. It's used only twice in the Bible, both times in Proverbs 27:17: "Let iron sharpen iron, and let a man sharpen the countenance of his friend". Obviously, a verb that means to sharpen can be easily tied to iron (that's normal), but to stick the same to a man's face is rather curious. It's just as lopsided to figure that the man's face will be gladdened (as is normal), while the iron will somehow be gladdened also (which is curious).

Still, it's also quite absurd to reckon that iron is sharpened by iron. Iron, if it gets sharpened, is sharpened on a stone, not on more iron. In fact, when a sharp iron object meets another one, both objects will get blunted.

And when they meet a jolly tingle erupts, quite like the joy that arises in two friends meeting. Ergo: this verb should probably be translated with to gladden or rejoice.

efes=for all time

v. 31: to stone to death means to question, to ensure the response is thoroughly researched and understood by the one being interrogated.

Continuing to v. 32-33: 15058, א‎האֶפֶסהח, ‎‎ahafeshah

ah=brother

ha=who sees, who perceives

fe=phe, from Nephilim "extraordinarily"

Root פלל (palal) is all about distinguishing and discerning, and often emphasizes representation of something unseen or not present. It's frequently used in the sense of to entreat or pray on someone's behalf.

Noun תפלה (tepilla) means prayer. Noun פליל (palil) describes an inspector or umpire and noun פלילה (pelila) refers to the place at which an umpire operates; a judge's office. Adjective פלילי (pelili) means "for a judge" or "to be judged" and noun פליליה (peliliya) means verdict or assessment. Noun פול (pol) means beans (and was probably imported but fits right in).

Verb פלה (pala) means to be distinct or separated. Pronoun פלני (peloni) refers to "a certain person/place."

Verb פלא (pala') means to be extraordinary. Nouns פלא (pele') and מפלאה (mipla'a) refer to extraordinary things or deeds. Adjective פלאי (pil'i) means extraordinary.

shah=shuah, but also remains humble.

The verb שחח (shahah) means to bow down or be bowed down, crouched or humbled. Adjective שח (shah) means low or lowly.

This was the expectation for the temperament of the debate. Not unusual.

v. 34: 4514, דהא‎ד, dahad, "sharp understanding."

Jesus says, "You want me to be wise like God but be humble also, now listen to how I respond in the manner you require."

v. 35-37: 9742, טזדב, tazdev, "To enlist in the elevation of humanity."

ta=to hire

az=to help

ev=Eve, humanity

It is generally accepted God created the universe and the Torah to create a race of beings, us, believe or not, that is ingenious enough to overcome any limitation save the eventual end of his own life.

Jesus says if not, then:

v. 38: 9783, טז‎חג‎, 16. "Watch, and learn."

"The ayin is the sixteenth letter of the alef-beis. According to the AriZal, the ayin is a vav contained in a nun. The nun represents humility. The vav signifies Torah, which descends from Heaven to earth in its inherent design of a hook or a chute. Vav also has the gematria of six. This represents the Six Orders of the Mishnah, the Oral Law. Only an individual who is unassuming, who has the humility of the nun, is fit to acquire the higher level of the vav, the “crown of Torah.”

There is a second aspect of the ayin’s design, which is that the ayin is actually two eyes united at the optical chiasma—the nerve center that receives and interprets visual impulses—at the back of the head. Two eyes attached to a central link can be clearly seen in the letter’s form.2 This offers us a new under­standing of the mitzvah of donning tefillin: specifically to the positioning of the head tefillin. In Deuteronomy3 it says that G‑d’s commandments shall be “between your eyes.”

In Jewish law, between one’s eyes means the point between the eyes as it travels up just above the hairline. In actuality, the proper posi­tion of the head tefillin is slightly above the hairline atop the soft part of the skull.

Viewed from above, this soft spot is literally at the mid-point between one’s eyes and the chiasma. The head tefillin is thus set directly between the physical eyes of the body and the eye of the brain, just as the Torah pre­scribes."

The Jews tried to trap Jesus in arguments again, but instead Jesus left and demonstrated: He Baptized people, He included them in a ritual bath which takes place before a marraige, AKA Shabbat.

The end of the section has a value of 15-8-10, י״החי‎‎, "the living."

Jesus went forth and give each person He met a purpose. This is prescribed in the Torah, much more than once. Except Rome taught most people they did not serve a purpose except to serve others- either in the army, as a slave, a whore, or for entertainment, and you did not want to be that entertaining to the Romans.

One person or crowd of persons at a time, Jesus spoke of the importance of individual purpose and how its realization through Shabbat served the state not through slavery but through equality.

There has never been a Jew since the dawn of time that has rejected this idea. Certainly it did not hurt them when Christ reminded them of it, but every Jew understands the importance of social equity and the Jewish people always have.

[nerdygaymormon]

Something was said in sacrament that upset me. The lady said if we focus on answering the most important gospel questions, 2ndary q's will pale in comparison. The 1st ones were basically concerning faith and testimony and Jesus but the 2ndary were about gay marriage and more worldly things but gay marriage isn't secondary to queer members at all. I feel like all queer members desperately need it. If we weren't seen as 2nd class or abnormal in the church i feel more non queer members would care about queer issues.

My very first reaction to this is, if gay marriage isn't that important then why has our church spent millions fighting it? Our church files many affidavits with courts, lobbies government officials, and has organized the time of local members to campaign against gay marriage along with making donations to that cause. Our church sure seems to think it's an important question.

----------------

If we were asking Jesus or God, then yes, they might say gay marriage is secondary, as is straight couples getting married, tithing, church attendance, temple ceremonies, and so on.

They would say how you treat others is the most important. Christ teaches that “the righteous” are people who welcome the stranger, feed and clothe people in need, visit the sick and those in jail.

Jesus repeatedly teaches that all are alike, all should be treated fairly, more important than faith or belonging to a particular religion is how you treat others. The 'holiest' civilizations in the Bible and in the Book of Mormon are ones where there were no poor, everyone had their needs taken care of, and likewise, there were no rich (doesn't sound like capitalism, does it?).

We know that in Jesus' ministry He healed people, He taught people and He fed people. He was poor and relied on others, particularly women. He elevated women's voices, challenging the patriarchy of the local culture.

Based on that, we could say our primary gospel questions should be how to ensure food security, widespread education without big crushing personal debts, and universal healthcare. We could also add equality, so I guess for people in the United States, how we can get the Equality Act and the Equal Rights Amendments passed should be primary gospel questions.

Considering Jesus never marries a couple or creates a family in the scriptures, maybe we can stop worrying about gatekeeping who gets to be married and sealed. Or actually, He did create a family, He had a chosen family, not the traditional heteronormative family.

----------------

The lady who testified in your church, she basically is saying she done got hers so things are good, everyone else's concerns are secondary.

Of course gay marriage & sealings are important to gay people, just as combating racism & its effects is important to people of color, and patriarchy which demeans and dismisses is important to women. These are big concerns to us because we're directly affected by the unfairness and injustices of these things.

If we're truly Christlike, we'd be concerned about the things that concern others, not just those that directly impact ourselves.

Jesus, when He met people who were on the periphery, He didn't dismiss their concerns as "secondary," He addressed their immediate concerns. He spoke to the blind man on the corner and asked what he wanted. He worried about the hunger being experienced by those listening to His long sermon. He cried with Mary & Martha as they mourned the death of their brother Lazarus. Even as He was dying, He thought about who would take care of His mom.

----------------

If, as the lady at church said, faith and testimony are the primary questions, let's remember Jesus identified only two people in His earthly ministry who He said had great faith; a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5–13) and a Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:21–28).

The Roman centurion was seeking for Jesus to heal his gay lover. Jesus restores the gay relationship and then holds up the gay man as an example of faith for all to follow.

The foreign woman speaks directly to Jesus, which was against the norms of the time, women & men didn't interact in public, and in private usually only if they're married or related. She demands Jesus heals her daughter and turns Jesus' words and arguments against Him.

Both examples of great faith are not Jews, they are not part of the covenant people. They also were seeking healing for someone they loved, not for themselves.

----------------

I think when the final judgement happens, we're all gonna be surprised at who makes it to heaven and who doesn't. A lot of the "good" people will be left knocking on the door, reminding Jesus that they ate and drank with Him, and He'll respond, "I know thee not." And many people who we think aren't "righteous" will make it in despite not making the right kinds of covenants or not being seen in the pews every week.

----------------

I suspect the lady who spoke in your ward doesn't like feeling unsettled and uncomfortable. The Church is a place of answers and security for her and she doesn't like being shown that her church actually harms some people and that the Plan of Salvation is incomplete. She doesn't want her simple faith and viewpoint challenged by the messy complexity that is reality for all sorts of people in the Church who don't fit a specific model.

[youaregodsglory]

Friday, April 29, 2022, @ 8:48 pm

"7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 

8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 

9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son asks bread, will he give him a stone?

10 Or if he asks a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" -Matthew 7:7-11

      Heavenly Father is a good father and wants to have a personal relationship with you. Not just words from the Bible or any other book, but direct answers from Him. Just ask Him, and you shall receive.

      Do you think He wants not to have a relationship with you, that He doesn't answer your prayers, or wants to bless you with good gifts? The Lord does want to bless you, your family, and your friends. Right now, though, I'm talking to you.

      You truly never know how much good you do, and the Lord promises to bless you for those things. Not to earn His grace or love, of course, but just because He loves you! God loves you so much. He wants to have a relationship with you, and a relationship goes both ways.

       It is said that when you want to talk to God, you pray and when you want God to speak to you, you read your scriptures. But, I'm telling you the Lord can teach you through His spirit and talk with you on any matter, not just in scripture. I'm not trying to discredit the Bible or any other book; I also read the Book of Mormon.

          I read the Bible and the Book of Mormon because they testify of Jesus Christ. I know they both do through my own experience and study, and I also know they are both true by asking God Himself. You can come to understand all truth through prayer, and it's not meant to be just you talking.

         God does answer prayer, and we can come to understand topics such as modern conflicts, media, and so forth that are not mentioned in the Bible or even the Book of Mormon. Ask God; He will give you the answers.

Author's Promise: I promise you that if you ask God Himself, He will give you the answers to issues not found in scripture.

[alliluyevas]

At about this time [in 1829], the unbaptized Smith and [Book of Mormon scribe Oliver] Cowdery became concerned about their own spiritual welfare. “After writing the account given of the Savior’s ministry to the remnant of the seed of Jacob, upon this continent,” Cowdery wrote in 1834, “… it was as easily to be seen, that amid the great strife and noise concerning religion, none had authority from God to administer the ordinances of the gospel. For, the question might be asked, have men authority to administer in the name of Christ, who deny revelations? … and we only waited for the commandment to be given, ‘Arise and be baptized.’”6 The command came, according to Smith and Cowdery, on 15 May.7 “One morning,” Lucy Smith [Joseph’s mother] reported, “they sat down to their work, as usual, and the first thing which presented itself through the Urim and Thummim, was a commandment for Joseph and Oliver to repair to the water, and attend to the ordinance of Baptism. They did so … they had now received authority to baptize.”8

Five years later, Smith and Cowdery would begin telling that their baptisms were preceded by the appearance of an angel who gave them authority. Even later, they would identify this angel as John the Baptist.9 In September 1834, to encourage the faltering Mormons in Missouri, Cowdery said:

On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the vail was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory … his voice, though mild, pierced to the center, and his words, “I am thy fellow servant,” dispelled every fear. … We received under his hand the holy priesthood, as he said, “upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer this priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon earth, that the sons of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness!”10

Cowdery’s disclosure, far from being a simple reminder of what had been related in the past, was surprising news to Missouri Mormons. David Whitmer, president of the Missouri church and early associate of Smith, testified in 1885: “I never heard that an angel had ordained Joseph and Oliver to the Aaronic priesthood until the year 1834, 5 or 6.”11 William E. McLellin, another prominent Mormon who joined the church in 1831, concurred: “I never heard of John the Baptist ordaining Joseph and Oliver.”12 Smith’s and Cowdery’s long silence on the issue led Whitmer and Mc­Lel­lin to question the appearance of the angel, believing instead that it had been created to support later notions about priesthood. For instance, McLellin said in 1872: “An angel never ordained a man to any office since the world began. Then say you how did Joseph and Oliver get authority to start? I answer, that a revelation from the Lord gives a man both power and authority to do whatever it commands. The Lord commanded Joseph to baptize, confirm, and ordain Oliver, then Oliver to do the same for him. This was legal and valid.”13

Indeed, there was nothing thus far in the Book of Mormon to cause Smith and Cowdery to seek angelic ordination. Alma received authority to baptize through the Spirit (Mosiah 18:13). Similarly, Alma II taught that holders of the high priesthood were preordained to their office (Alma 13:3), and Jesus’ commission to Nephi and other disciples seems to have been conveyed verbally (3 Ne. 11:21). In this setting, the subsequent claim to angelic ordination seems anachronistic.

Smith’s reason why he and Cowdery delayed revealing this event is not entirely convincing. He stated that they were “forced to keep secret the circumstances of our having been baptized, and having received this priesthood,” because of “a spirit of persecution” that had already manifested itself in Pennsylvania.14 This would not explain why they chose to suppress this information even after relocating to upper New York and Ohio. The fact is that early Mormons, including those who were the closest to Smith, were told nothing about an angelic bestowal of priesthood authority, nor did anyone, including Smith and Cowdery, claim that angelic ordinations would be essential for such a restoration. Whether Smith’s and Cowdery’s receipt of priesthood authority was a closely guarded secret or created later to encourage an unstable membership in Missouri and to place the church under a developing hierarchy is not as important to historians as the corresponding shift from charisma-based authority to one that was both legalistic and hierarchical.

“yeah and john the baptist was totally there too”

[eldermillarmissionblog]

Camelback Dos--Week 1

Hello everyone!

Hope you all had a great week. This week has been a lot different from what I am used to…haha. It is interesting how much difference moving 10 minutes away can make. Our teaching pool is very small and we work extensively with less-actives. On-average we have 20-30 people at church. I miss my 300+ people Texas wards. But, I am happy and content where I am serving, and know that we will see miracles as we work in this area.

My new companion is Elder Smith. He is a great missionary and very obedient. He is from Meridian, Idaho, and we are getting along well together. I’m excited for this transfer working with him.

One cool experience we had the other day was a lesson with a young couple that just moved here from BYU-Idaho. We had a wonderful lesson about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and they shared some powerful experiences with us. It was very cool because they both shared experiences that neither had heard before. They also talked about how they felt prompted during our lesson of certain things they can do better in their life (reading the Book of Mormon daily, etc) and they seem excited to implement those changes. Tender mercies from the Lord. I love missionary work. 

Spiritual thought:

My spiritual thought is short today. But I hope you can feel the power of it.

You are a child of God. I can testify of that with a sure knowledge. He knows you perfectly and He loves you perfectly. Pray to Him. Even when you don't want to pray, pray until you want to pray. When you don't want to read the scriptures, read the scriptures until you want to read the scriptures. You will find God as you do these things. And I can promise that you will find Him. Even when you are going through dark times, you can find Him in prayer and in the scriptures. 

Now I have a question: will you find Him? Will you turn to Him? What's holding you back from truly coming closer to your Father in Heaven? I invite you to find out how you can find God and let Him prevail more in your lives, and DO it! :) In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Love y'all! You are amazing! Love life. Smile. :)

Elder Millar

(Sorry no pics this week)

[nottskyler]

3 Nephi 1-7 What qualified the people for destruction?

Come Follow Me for last week wasn’t anything earth shattering when I read it alone. I mean I had a thought that maybe the people who fled to join the Gadianton Robbers were wronged and that was why the people had to repent, but retaliating against wrongs by hiding out and sabotaging people is wrong even if you’ve been wronged (assuming farming and taking care of yourself without plunder is an option). But the real interesting part was doing “Sunday School” with the in-laws who reject my name and pronouns where we began discussing what did the people do wrong.

I mean the Come Follow Me book misguides us by stating “Forgetting spiritual experiences makes me vulnerable to Satan’s temptations”. While that is true for many sections in the Book of Mormon (I’d say the entire book of Alma), this is the one section where this isn’t true. The point was that the signs and wonders were so amazing that they couldn’t deny their existence, just deny that future prophecies would be fulfilled and that they had any spiritual significance. The point was that they hadn’t forgotten, that they knew the prophecies and signs, but then they decide that they weren’t spiritual experiences and that they wouldn’t continue to be right.

Anyway, back to the story and not just arguing my point, my in-laws were trying to be like, oh you have to obey the prophets and remember your testimony and then you won’t be like them. And I’m like, um no. They literally changed their calendar based on the sign. They knew and remembered but “believe[d] that the doctrine of Christ was a foolish and vain thing.” (3 Nephi 2:2). They had to repent in order to not be destroyed by the Gadianton Robbers, but I’m not sure about the nature of their repentance because of their celebration for winning against their enemies: “they knew it was because of their repentance and humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.” (3 Nephi 4:33). So yeah, after winning “they did forsake all their sins, and their abominations, and their whoredoms, and did serve Gd with all diligence day and night.” (3 Nephi 5:3), but this lasted like a New Years Resolution before they “began to be distinguished by ranks...and thus there became a great inequality in all the land.” (3 Nephi 6:12, 14).

I suppose the largest support of my argument that remembering the words of prophets and your testimony won’t save you comes from verse 18 of that chapter: “Now they did not sin ignorantly for they knew the will of Gd concerning them, for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did willfully rebel against Gd.” They knew the word and likely pretended to be following it, but they set their hearts on riches and the vain things of the world and chose those things instead of what is good. I don’t know why we couldn’t agree that remembering the words of the prophets and remembering conversion isn’t what set the few righteous different from the majority of the population, but it was a source of contention in our discussion.

Yeah, part of this is explaining it in other words because I want to prove I’m right, but I also feel like it has consequences. If we forget that the wicked people had testimonies and knew it was true but still did wrong anyway, we won’t be prevented from following the same path by saying we remember. But I also think there is the fundamental difference going on between them and me where they think blind obedience is more important than a relationship with Gd. They choose confirming their status quo over love. They are favoring the law over the doctrine. They don’t see how they fit into my perceptions of the Church at that time mirroring the Church in our time where people pretend to be doing good and talk all the time about signs and miracles and spiritual experiences but fail to realize that it is meant to mean more than words. I’m not trying to say every congregation is bad, but I’ve had my fair share of time spent in wards that valued being perceived as good over being good and I feel like that is what sets apart the good and the not-so-good, but I still don’t know where the modern line is for what qualified them for destruction.

What qualified the people for destruction? Killing the prophets, but my queer journey has had me realizing that the prophets they were killing likely weren’t the set apart and organized in an apostle-hood like we know it today.

“And there began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth, standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying unto them concerning the redemption which the Lord would make for his people, or in other words, the resurrection of Christ; and they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings.” (3 Nephi 6: 20).

I know in this instance they literally put them to death, but is that rally the line in our day? Are we in trouble for persecuting the meek until they kill themselves? Are we in trouble for changing the commandments to exclude people insomuch that they kill themselves since there is no hope either way? Are we responsible for supporting politicians who purposefully kill innocent people? I hope not because then we are surely in line for destruction. Maybe it is simply the path towards getting that wicked and we need to stop and repent to prevent ourselves from getting so far that we are willing to support and help get rid of the people who remind of us our flaws and areas that we need to repent and improve.

Regardless, the doctrine of Christ reminds us all that we need to repent no matter where we are on the path. There is always space to improve and there is always truth that we discover that demands us to change to be in greater harmony with that truth. The world hates when people acknowledge they were wrong and change, that’s the enemy we seek to fight.

[mindfulldsliving]

Unpacking 2 Corinthians 11:14: Moroni vs. Deception

Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith in His Room (The Angel Moroni Appears to Joseph Smith), by Tom Lovell 2 Corinthians 11:14 and the Angel Moroni: Dispelling Myths About Satanic Deception Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 11:14 caution us about Satan’s ability to disguise himself as an angel of light. This verse is often cited in criticism of Joseph Smith’s account of the Angel Moroni’s visitation,…

[relatablemormonmoments]

April General Conference 2020

These are my personal notes on each of the talks given. This is to give those who chose not to listen to conference a chance to select which talks they would be comfortable listening to or reading.

Read and Listen to

Listen/Watch

Read

Don’t bother

Saturday Afternoon Session

Ulisses Soares (Listen/Watch)

The Book of Mormon testifies of a lot of things

Book of Mormon and Bible confound false doctrine

I honestly feel like having this conference themed around the first vision is a bad idea. A mistake. We’re hearing the same story ten times and I just wasn’t hear for it. I’m sure President Soares gave an excellent talk but I kinda just zoned out during it.

John A. McCune (Read and Listen to)

I will go and I will do the things which the Lord hath commanded

“My G-d hath been my support!”

“Poured our hearts out to G-d” -> prepared to expect any outcome

Recovery was long and difficult

Trusting and focusing on Jesus Christ

Gerald Causse (Read)

Tree of Life represents a love of G-d

Sing the song of redeeming love

Dale G. Renlund (Listen/Watch)

Consider what G-d has done for us

Our Heavenly Father wants us to understand his kindness

Touch lives with generosity and love

Received gifts we could not provide for ourselves

What does it take for you to be drawn to the savior?

All good things come from Jesus Christ

Always rejoice

Benjamin M.Z. Tai Ok I loved this guy’s talk, he’s so cute. (Read and Listen to)

What adjustments would our spiritual physician prescribe

Book of Mormon prescribes nutritional

Book of Mormon teaches how we can know truth

“I would pray, I felt peace and soft hearted”

“That’s a great book” -> “I am here, and I know where you are, just do your best, and I will take care of the rest.”

“With a sincere heart, with real intent” -> Helped quit chain-smoking

Focus on new habits

You will make better decisions every day by reading the Book of Mormon

Gary E Stevenson (Listen/Watch)

Building of temple -> elaborate ceremonies

Prophet looks over all temples with great care

Newly proposed seismic construction

Defend the foundation

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO ANIMATION

What are the spiritual cornerstones of our personal lives?

How will you strengthen your spiritual foundation?

Devoted souls understand the meaning of “How Firm a Foundation ye Saints of the Lord.”

[thoughts-in-20s]

My Mission Journey

Hello today is our preparation day and I can't believe we're already on our 2nd week here in the MTC. First of all I testify that the food is really good here hahahah I am still adjusting to missionary life but I'm so happy to be here, it's hard but it's worth it. Everyday we are learning a lot of things from Gospel studies to teaching skills and I'm so grateful for our MTC teachers and Leaders that is always there to be our guide. Today I am also blessed to witnessed some of my district mate's endowment I was one of the escorts since I already got my endowment before. I am so grateful for our personal and companionship study because through this mas madedeepen yung understanding ko in Book of Mormon and Preach my Gospel. I know y'all are wondering why I am not using thai language that's because we're gonna learn thai in our 4th week here hahaha. I am so grateful for having this opportunity to be called as a missionary of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter day Saints. I am so ready to embark in this great cause and serve the people of Thailand, I testify that the Lord knows each of us personally and in my 5 days stay here in the MTC I realized how much we need to depend on the Lord for our strength. The more we help others to come unto Christ the more we come closer to Him and I testify that missionaries are personal advocate of Jesus Christ.

-2nd picture with the District (Nephi District)

-5th picture with my companion Sister Thit (she's from Myanmar)

[bookoformon]

3 Nephi, Chapter 10. Part 4: Zenos and Zenock.

Zenos is knowledge, Zenock "the leap" is its embodiment. These refer specifically to a process by which the Holy Ghost enters the flesh and performs its works of faith through mankind.

Every religion has scriptures which testify to what this looks like on the outside: do not kill, do not steal, do not lie, do not covet, do not slander, etc. The ability to do these things and become Christlike anointed of God is the end point of holding back on the performance of these things.

The Book of Mormon says if we do, we leave a seed behind that shows others how and why to do the same things. Without these seeds the seat of civilization has potential to crumble as we are seeing. All the scriptures forbid granting power to persons like Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin but we have done it. Now we must focus on what the religion says to do about it becuase things cannot continue.

To veil the mind and the entire planet with ideas about the feasibility of future attacks and expansions of cruel corrupt regimes "post election" is a sin. These things and their orginators must be stopped now, today, and the lives they have touched must be given everything they need in order to resume civilization:

15 Behold, I say unto you, Yea, many have testified of these things at the coming of Christ, and were slain because they testified of these things.

16 Yea, the prophet Zenos did testify of these things, and also Zenock spake concerning these things, because they testified particularly concerning us, who are the remnant of their seed.

17 Behold, our father Jacob also testified concerning a remnant of the seed of Joseph. And behold, are not we a remnant of the seed of Joseph? And these things which testify of us, are they not written upon the plates of brass which our father Lehi brought out of Jerusalem?

18 And it came to pass that in the ending of the thirty and fourth year, behold, I will show unto you that the people of Nephi who were spared, and also those who had been called Lamanites, who had been spared, did have great favors shown unto them, and great blessings poured out upon their heads, insomuch that soon after the ascension of Christ into heaven he did truly manifest himself unto them—

19 Showing his body unto them, and ministering unto them; and an account of his ministry shall be given hereafter. Therefore for this time I make an end of my sayings.

There must be an account and ministry, Zenos and Zenock. From these come the law and duty and they are clear: we need to spare the rest of the human race the horror proposed by Donald Trump and the savages that follow him, kill Vladimir Putin and his enablers and bless the Russian people and their neighbors with a real government and its ecomonics.

I will never understand why we allowed things to become so awful. We sat and watched and deliberated, but drew no conclusions at all that these people might really need our help and be glad for it. To deny the importance of such gladness all around the world, to avoid wanting to see it given back to us is the antithesis of the practice of religion.

[the-hem]

The Perfect Series Resumes. Part 11.2: Purgation.

Illumination tells us why we want to be involved with life, it explains how and when to open and also to harden our hearts.

Purgation tells us what to leave behind when we finally make our moves. Both are products of the Suggestive Powers of the Holy Spirit.

From the Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi Chapter 33.

Nephi’s words are true—They testify of Christ—Those who believe in Christ will believe Nephi’s words, which will stand as a witness before the judgment bar. About 559–545 B.C.

1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I amighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man bspeaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

2 But behold, there are many that aharden their bhearts against the cHoly Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.

3 But I, Nephi, have written what I have written, and I esteem it as of great aworth, and especially unto my people. For I bpray continually for them by day, and mine ceyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry.

4 And I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people. And the words which I have written in weakness will be made strong unto them; for it apersuadeth them to do good; it maketh known unto them of their fathers; and it speaketh of Jesus, and persuadeth them to believe in him, and to endure to the end, which is life beternal.

5 And it speaketh aharshly against sin, according to the bplainness of the truth; wherefore, no man will be angry at the words which I have written save he shall be of the spirit of the devil.

6 I aglory in bplainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath credeemed my soul from hell.

7 I have acharity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.

8 I have charity for the aJew—I say Jew, because I mean them from whence I came.

9 I also have charity for the Gentiles. But behold, for none of athese can I hope except they shall be breconciled unto Christ, and enter into the cnarrow dgate, and ewalk in the fstrait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of gprobation.

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also aJew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and bbelieve in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall cbelieve in Christ ye will believe in these dwords, for they are the ewords of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they fteach all men that they should do good.

11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with apower and great bglory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

12 And I pray the Father in the name of Christ that many of us, if not all, may be saved in his akingdom at that great and last day.

13 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one acrying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come.

14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the aJews, and also my bwords, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall ccondemn you at the last day.

15 For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the ajudgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must bobey. Amen.

[shannonallaround]

I felt like I needed to say this today.

There is a lot of misinformation about different religions out there on the internet and in less-than-friendly circles. People are constantly striving to misrepresent other faiths, take their beliefs out of context, and just be mean to others. It makes me sad because it brings so much sorrow to those targeted. Anyone with a bit of education knows how hate speech and misrepresentation throughout history has led to the unjust discrimination of peaceful Jews, Muslims, etc.

I am not a member of either of those faiths, but I have been the target of hate speach too. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I am Christian. (Some people have called members of our church "mormons" in the past because along with the Bible, we also believe in another book of scripture called the Book of Mormon, which also testifies of Jesus Christ.) Even while just trying to enjoy fandoms on tumblr, I have come across so much misinformation and hateful comments about my church and our beliefs. Some stuff is flat out falsehood, while other stuff is taken so drastically out of context as to completely misrepresent who we are. The fact that people disagree with my beliefs is not what hurts~ what hurts is the fact that they're doing so in such derogatory and mean way just for the sake of being mean.

This kind of thing happens to people of all faiths (and those lacking a faith). Freedom of consciousness and freedom of religion are basic rights guaranteed to all, including those who choose not to have a religion. And people are 100% allowed to disagree with each other!! Problems happen not when people disagree, but when they do so in a way that is derogatory, unfair, hateful, and/or cruel.

I hope that most people would believe in respect and kindness for all simply because we are all just people trying to get by in a challenging world. Respect does not require agreeing with other people, nor does it require condoning actions you think are morally wrong. What it does mean is that as we discuss sometimes vastly different opinions with one another, we do so treating other human beings with basic dignity, kindness, and love. We seek to understand rather than judge. Rather than push away, we seek to build on common ground.

I think that is what is gonna make this world a better place.