https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Reiddp&feedformat=atom MormonWiki - User contributions [en] 2024-03-28T22:05:44Z User contributions MediaWiki 1.29.1 https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Revelation&diff=10297 Revelation 2007-03-07T19:37:23Z <p>Reiddp: adding more context about general aspects of revelation for mankind</p> <hr /> <div>The Mormon Church defines [http://scriptures.lds.org/gsr/rvltn revelation] as &quot;Communication from God to his children on earth. Revelation may come through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost by way of inspiration, visions, dreams, or visits by angels. Revelation provides guidance that can lead the faithful to eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom.&quot; Mormonism is unique among Christian denominations in that it asserts that revelation is continuous and that much modern revelation has been revealed as is recorded in the [[Scriptures]] of the Mormon Church. The ninth [[Articles of Faith|Article of Faith]] states:<br /> <br /> &quot;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.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that revelation in the form of inspiration by the [[Holy Spirit]], prophetic dreams, visions, visitations of angels, and so on continue to day. Mormonism teaches that every member of the Church and every accountable person on earth who sincerely and earnestly seeks to know the will of God in their lives is entitled to revelation from God about what actions will lead them to happiness through following the teachings of [[Jesus Christ]], the inspiration of the [[Light of Christ]], and the guidance of the [[Holy Ghost]]. <br /> <br /> Revelation has always been a part of Christ’s Church especially to the Church’s leaders known as prophets. Amos 3:7 reads, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Today, the [[First Presidency]] and the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] are set apart in the Church as [[Mormon prophet|prophets]], seers, and revelators. While only the [[Mormon president|President of the Church]] is authorized to receive revelation for the whole Church, members can receive revelation for themselves, their families, and their areas of authority in the Church. The Prophet [[Joseph Smith]] taught:<br /> <br /> :I will inform you that it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instructions for those in authority, higher than themselves; therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed to them; but if any person have a vision or a visitation from a heavenly messenger, it must be for his own benefit and instruction; for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the Church are vested in the keys of the kingdom. . . And again we never inquire at the hand of God for special revelation only in case of there being no previous revelation to suit the case; and that in a council of High Priests.<br /> :History of Church 7 Vols. 1:338, 339<br /> <br /> Every member of the Mormon Church is blessed with the gift of the [[Holy Ghost]]. Joseph Smith said, “The Holy Ghost is a revelator, no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.” Every person is entitled to personal revelation for his or her own benefit. Those in leadership positions within the Church such as a Bishop or Stake President may receive revelation for the members over whom he presides. However a Bishop can’t receive revelation for an entire stake, because his authority is only over the ward. Parents are also entitled to receive revelation on behalf of their entire family, and children.<br /> <br /> Revelation is essential. Instruction given to past generations may not always be necessary for future generations. For example in the Old Testament, God instituted the law of animal sacrifice through revelation. The purpose of animal sacrifice was to remind the people of the [[Savior]] that would come and give his life as a sacrifice for sin and redeem us all. However, when Christ came and performed this act, there was no longer a need for animal sacrifice. A new law of sacrifice was revealed and asked that members give of their time, substance, and talents to help build up Christ’s Church. Modern revelation is also needed to help clarify, and interpret past revelation. Biblical injunctions against not eating food sacrificed to idols does not apply to our day and so God continues to reveal guidance and commandments to help his faithful followers avoid the difficultires of the world and build His Kingdom on earth.<br /> <br /> Members of the Church value the Bible and Book of Mormon as a source for revelation about the organization of Christ’s Church, the commandments, [[Plan of Salvation|plan of salvation]], important spiritual events such as Christ’s life and ministry, and as an example of God’s dealings with men. However these are not the only sources of God’s revelations other revelations are needed to guide our lives and the Church to make sure that our actions are in accordance with God’s will.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Mormon_DNA&diff=10291 Book of Mormon DNA 2007-03-06T22:38:13Z <p>Reiddp: /* The Book of Mormon vs. DNA */ David Stewart article is excellent reference</p> <hr /> <div>== The Book of Mormon vs. DNA ==<br /> <br /> The [[Book of Mormon]] vs. DNA controversy is an issue that most critics believe completely undermines [[Mormon]] beliefs in the truthfulness of the book. The controversy stems from DNA studies of Native American peoples. Critics claim that such studies prove conclusively that there is no evidence of a Middle Eastern strand within the Native American gene pool. [http://farms.byu.edu/pdf.php?filename=MTkxNjc1MzA5NS0xNy0xLnBkZg==&amp;type=cmV2aWV3 Book of Mormon DNA research]<br /> <br /> What does this claim have to do with the factuality of a religious text? Some background information will illuminate the subject and the reasons behind the debate. <br /> <br /> The [[Book of Mormon]] is a religious record that was published in 1830 by [[Joseph Smith]], the founder and prophet of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]--or the Mormon Church as it has been unofficially dubbed. The Book of Mormon professes a story which outlines three migrations from the Old World to the New, more specifically from regions of the Middle East over to the American continent. The most prominent migration begins with the family of a man named [[Lehi]]. It was about 600 B.C. when Lehi's group left Jerusalem and set sail for an unknown &quot;[[promised land]].&quot; Their ship landed somewhere in Central or South America, though the exact location is unknown. <br /> <br /> Perhaps the controversy begins with an unofficial and individually assumed idea about the geographical location of the events portrayed in the Book of Mormon. Many Mormons and non-Mormons have read the book and assumed that no one else was on the American continent when Lehi and his company arrived; from this misconception it would be easy to assume [[Lehi]] and his wife were the parents of all human inhabitants in North and South America; it would also be possible to imagine that this group of people and their operations encompassed the whole of the western hemisphere. If these underlying assumptions were justifiable, then any ancient inhabitant of the Americas-–as well as their descendents–-should rightly have genetic tracings to the Middle Eastern world since Lehi and his company originated there. The fact that DNA testing of Native Americans points to Asian roots has caused many critics to declare without reservation that the the Book of Mormon has been proven false. <br /> <br /> However, since the notion of Lehi's group being the only one to discover and populate the entire Western Hemisphere and to cover all of South, Central, and North America is highly improbable, nor is it consistent with the book itself, we ought not assume that this is factual. According to experts, it is more likely that Lehi and his family were merely a limited addition to an extensive population already present in the Americas. It is believed, though not certain, that the Book of Mormon population was limited to Mesoamerica, ranging in the hundreds of miles, not thousands. <br /> <br /> In light of these conclusions, it is important to note that the Book of Mormon was written to be a spiritual text, not a record of the geographical or demographical facts of the ancient American peoples. It is also important to remember that the bulk of the Book of Mormon covers a limited time period, from about 600 A.D. to 400 B.C. Understanding the location and the degree to which the Book of Mormon people populated the land is very difficult to surmise with certainty. <br /> <br /> For more than fifty years, serious students of the Book of Mormon have read that book with an understanding of these limitations, though most Mormons merely read the book as the spiritual and doctrinal resource that it is, rather than extensively pondering the unspecific geographic implications of the prophetic writings.<br /> <br /> There is nothing about the Book of Mormon that is undermined by DNA studies. It does not claim to stand in opposition of scientific theories that say most Native Americans are derived from northeast Asia over a land bridge. It merely claims to be the writings of a few specific groups of people who migrated and lived in the Western Hemisphere during a limited period of time. In order for DNA testing to have any hold on these assertions, it would be necessary to prove that never, at any point during the time period of 600 A.D. to 400 B.C. was there any group living in the Western Hemisphere who came from the Middle Eastern region, and that a migration into the mountains of Asia by a group of Israelites could not possibly explain the DNA similarities between the two populations. Obviously such assertions would be nearly impossible to justify without having their entire genealogical record. <br /> <br /> And so we are left where the Book of Mormon authors intended us to be: in a realm of faith. Mormons believe that the book was written by ancient prophets who recorded their faith and the words of the Lord. They, like the prophets in the Old and New Testament, were given revelations and instructions directly from God. Those things were recorded for the benefit and learning of future generations, that their descendents, all the house of Israel, and all Gentiles seeking the gospel might believe in [[Jesus Christ]] as the living son of God and the Savior of the world. One Book of Mormon prophet writes, &quot;And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.&quot; [http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/25/26#26 2 Nephi 25:26]<br /> <br /> Reading the Book of Mormon and asking God if it is true is the only way to really know. Any other attempt will yield uncertain results. If God is the author of the book, then humble seekers will receive a confirmation from Him that the book is true. [http://mormon.org/seenontv/1,19733,6199-1,00.html Request a Free Book of Mormon], no obligations.<br /> <br /> *''Is there any conflict between science and religion? There is no conflict in the mind of God, but often there is conflict in the minds of men.'' -Henry Eyring<br /> <br /> '''For More Information'''<br /> <br /> *[http://www.book-of-mormon-dna.blogspot.com Jill Larsen refutes claims against The Book of Mormon]<br /> <br /> *[http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDS_Intro.shtml Learn about Mormon Beliefs]<br /> <br /> *[http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/DNA.shtml Does DNA evidence refute the Book of Mormon?]<br /> <br /> *[http://www.cumorah.com/bookofmormondna.html David Stewart's article]<br /> <br /> *[http://farms.byu.edu/display.php?id=30&amp;table=transcripts The Historicity of the Book of Mormon] talk given by [[Dallin H. Oaks]]<br /> <br /> '''Resources:'''<br /> <br /> A Brief Review of Murphy and Southerton's &quot;Galileo Event&quot; by Kevin L. Barney<br /> <br /> A Few Thoughts From a Believing DNA Scientist. John M. Butler. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2003. Pp. 36–37<br /> <br /> Detecting Lehi's Genetic Signature: Possible, Probable, or Not? Reviewed By: David A. McClellan. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2003. Pp. 35–90<br /> <br /> DNA and the Book of Mormon by David Stewart, M.D<br /> <br /> Nephi's Neighbors: Book of Mormon Peoples and Pre-Columbian Populations. Matthew Roper<br /> [[Category:Book of Mormon Topics]][[Category:Scriptures and Scriptural Topics]][[Category:Controversial Topics]]</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Abrahamic_Covenant&diff=7714 Abrahamic Covenant 2006-09-25T15:31:41Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>The Abrahamic covenant is a covenant God made with Abraham, the great patriarch of the [[Old Testament]], promising him and his literal and adopted descendants throughout the world all gospel blessings, including the [[priesthood]] and [[Exaltation|eternal life]], if they are faithful. The Abrahamic covenant includes [[celestial marriage]], which enables people to form eternal families. Another part of this covenant involves the eternal possession of the land of Canaan by Abraham and his righteous posterity. It also includes the foreknowledge of God that Abraham's posterity would eventually be spread throughout the earth and would have a spiritual inclination to accept the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to share the gospel with all of mankind.<br /> <br /> The Abrahamic covenant is introduced in Genesis 12 and Abraham 2, when the Lord told Abram (Abraham) to leave the land of his father (Ur, then Haran) and go into the land of Canaan, where &quot;I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed&quot; (Genesis 12:2-3).<br /> <br /> When Abraham arrived in Canaan, the Lord told him: &quot;And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God&quot; (Genesis 17:7-8).<br /> <br /> The [[Book of Abraham]] in the [[Pearl of Great Price]] adds additional insight into the covenant promises Jehovah made to Abraham:<br /> :And thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father; And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal. (Abraham 2:9-11)<br /> <br /> Mormonism teaches that Abraham was blessed with these covenant promises because he sought to regain the true priesthood and the true gospel possessed by his ancestors but lost through apostasy by his father's people, and because he was willing to follow the Lord's guidance and direction in all things, not withholding anything. Later, when he was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, in similitude of the [[Atonement of Jesus Christ|atoning sacrifice]] which [[Heavenly Father|God the Father]] offers to mankind through the sacrifice of His Beloved Only Begotten Son, [[Jesus Christ]], Abraham showed his willingness to obey that directive and his faith in the [[resurrection]] of his son, Isaac. <br /> <br /> Abraham became, by example and by covenant, the &quot;father of the faithful.&quot; Mormonism explains that those who receive the &quot;fullness of the everlasting gospel&quot; and its covenants and priesthood have responded to spiritual promptings that Abraham was promised that his posterity and the Gentile nations among them would receive (See 3 Nephi 20:25-27).<br /> <br /> The &quot;everlasting possession&quot; promised to Abraham's seed is this earth, which will become the sanctified dwelling place of those who inherit eternal life through their faithfulness in all things (D&amp;C 130:9).<br /> <br /> [[Category:Scriptures and Scriptural Topics]]</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Abrahamic_Covenant&diff=7713 Abrahamic Covenant 2006-09-25T15:30:50Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>The Abrahamic covenant is a covenant God made with Abraham, the great patriarch of the [[Old Testament]], promising him and his literal and adopted descendants throughout the world all gospel blessings, including the [[priesthood]] and [[Exaltation|eternal life]], if they are faithful. The Abrahamic covenant includes [[celestial marriage]], which enables people to form eternal families. Another part of this covenant involves the eternal possession of the land of Canaan by Abraham and his righteous posterity. It also includes the foreknowledge of God that Abraham's posterity would be spread throughout the earth and would have a spiritual inclination to accept the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to share the gospel with all of mankind.<br /> <br /> The Abrahamic covenant is introduced in Genesis 12 and Abraham 2, when the Lord told Abram (Abraham) to leave the land of his father (Ur, then Haran) and go into the land of Canaan, where &quot;I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed&quot; (Genesis 12:2-3).<br /> <br /> When Abraham arrived in Canaan, the Lord told him: &quot;And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God&quot; (Genesis 17:7-8).<br /> <br /> The [[Book of Abraham]] in the [[Pearl of Great Price]] adds additional insight into the covenant promises Jehovah made to Abraham:<br /> :And thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father; And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal. (Abraham 2:9-11)<br /> <br /> Mormonism teaches that Abraham was blessed with these covenant promises because he sought to regain the true priesthood and the true gospel possessed by his ancestors but lost through apostasy by his father's people, and because he was willing to follow the Lord's guidance and direction in all things, not withholding anything. Later, when he was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, in similitude of the [[Atonement of Jesus Christ|atoning sacrifice]] which [[Heavenly Father|God the Father]] offers to mankind through the sacrifice of His Beloved Only Begotten Son, [[Jesus Christ]], Abraham showed his willingness to obey that directive and his faith in the [[resurrection]] of his son, Isaac. <br /> <br /> Abraham became, by example and by covenant, the &quot;father of the faithful.&quot; Mormonism explains that those who receive the &quot;fullness of the everlasting gospel&quot; and its covenants and priesthood have responded to spiritual promptings that Abraham was promised that his posterity and the Gentile nations among them would receive (See 3 Nephi 20:25-27).<br /> <br /> The &quot;everlasting possession&quot; promised to Abraham's seed is this earth, which will become the sanctified dwelling place of those who inherit eternal life through their faithfulness in all things (D&amp;C 130:9).<br /> <br /> [[Category:Scriptures and Scriptural Topics]]</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Abrahamic_Covenant&diff=7670 Abrahamic Covenant 2006-09-20T15:15:57Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Stub}}<br /> <br /> The Abrahamic covenant is a covenant God made with Abraham, promising him and his literal and adopted descendants all gospel blessings, including the [[priesthood]] and eternal life, if they are faithful. The Abrahamic covenant includes [[celestial marriage]], which enables people to form eternal families. Another part of this covenant involves the eternal possession of the land of Canaan by Abraham and his righteous posterity.<br /> <br /> The Abrahamic covenant is introduced in Genesis 12 and Abraham 2, when the Lord told Abram (Abraham) to leave the land of his father (Ur, then Haran) and go the land of Canaan, where &quot;I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:2 - 3)<br /> <br /> When Abraham arrived in Canaan, the Lord told him: &quot;And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.<br /> And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.&quot; (Genesis 17:7 - 8)<br /> <br /> The Book of Abraham in the [[Pearl of Great Price]] adds additional insight into the covenant promises Jehovah made to Abraham: &quot;and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father; And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.&quot; (Abraham 2:9-11)<br /> <br /> Mormonism teaches that Abraham was blessed with these covenant promises because he sought to regain the true priesthood and the true gospel possessed by his ancestors but lost through apostasy by his father's people, and because he was willing to follow the Lord's guidance and direction in all things, not withholding anything. Later, when he was asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, in similitude of the atoning sacrifice which God the Father offers to mankind through the sacrifice of His Beloved Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, Abraham showed his willingness to obey that directive and his faith in the resurrection of his son, Isaac. <br /> <br /> Abraham became, by example and by covenant, the &quot;father of the faithful.&quot; Mormonism explains that those who receive the &quot;fullness of the everlasting gospel&quot; and its covenants and priesthood have responded to spiritual promptings that Abraham was promised that his posterity and the Gentile nations among them would receive. (See 3 Nephi 20:25-27)<br /> <br /> The &quot;everlasting possession&quot; promised to Abraham's seed is this earth, which will become the sanctified dwelling place of those who inherit eternal life through their faithfulness in all things. (Doctrine and Covenants 130:9)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Abrahamic_Covenant&diff=7669 Abrahamic Covenant 2006-09-19T22:17:55Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>{{Stub}}<br /> <br /> The Abrahamic covenant is a covenant God made with Abraham, promising him and his literal and adopted descendants all gospel blessings, including the [[priesthood]] and eternal life, if they are faithful. The Abrahamic covenant includes [[celestial marriage]], which enables people to form eternal families. Another part of this covenant involves the eternal possession of the land of Canaan by Abraham and his righteous posterity.<br /> <br /> The Abrahamic covenant is introduced in Genesis 12 and Abraham 2, when the Lord tells Abram (Abraham) to leave the land of his father (Ur, then Haran) and go the land of Canaan, where &quot;I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:2 - 3)<br /> <br /> The Book of Abraham in the [[Pearl of Great Price]] adds additional insight into the covenant promises Jehovah made to Abraham: &quot;and thou shalt be a blessing unto thy seed after thee, that in their hands they shall bear this ministry and Priesthood unto all nations; And I will bless them through thy name; for as many as receive this Gospel shall be called after thy name, and shall be accounted thy seed, and shall rise up and bless thee, as their father; And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; and in thee (that is, in thy Priesthood) and in thy seed (that is, thy Priesthood), for I give unto thee a promise that this right shall continue in thee, and in thy seed after thee (that is to say, the literal seed, or the seed of the body) shall all the families of the earth be blessed, even with the blessings of the Gospel, which are the blessings of salvation, even of life eternal.&quot; (Abraham 2:9-11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fasting&diff=7652 Fasting 2006-09-07T21:25:57Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>The &quot;law of the fast&quot; as practiced in Mormonism follows precepts taught in the Old Testament by Isaiah and Malachi, in that fasting is accompanied by an offering or donation that will be used to help the poor and needy, thus blessing both the giver and the receiver. Through following the law of the fast, members of the LDS Church feel sanctified, strengthened and renewed in the inner soul, and reach outward to help lift others so that each community of Saints may follow the pattern of becoming a Zion people. (See Helaman 3:35; Moses 7:18) Members are encouraged to fast (neither eat nor drink) for approximately a 24-hour period (two meals), and to donate the food commodities or money that would have been used to buy the food for those two meals in their family, to a Church fund that can be drawn upon by the bishops in the Church to aid in helping with the immediate needs of the poor. Those who have health restrictions are not asked to fast, but are encouraged to participate in the blessings afforded those who share their means to lift the poor. The teachings include the importance of a prayerful, humble attitude and praying in private during the period of fasting to offer gratitude to God and to pray for special help or guidance, either personally or for the benefit of others.<br /> <br /> Mormon leaders cite the teachings and promises of Isaiah: <br /> <br /> &quot;Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? <br /> &quot;Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? <br /> &quot;Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. <br /> &quot;Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; <br /> &quot;And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: <br /> &quot;And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.&quot; (Isaiah 58:6-11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Fasting&diff=7651 Fasting 2006-09-07T21:19:03Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>The &quot;law of the fast&quot; as practiced in Mormonism follows precepts taught in the Old Testament by Isaiah and Malachi, in that fasting is accompanied by an offering or donation that will be used to help the poor and needy, thus blessing both the giver and the receiver. Through following the law of the fast, members of the LDS Church feel sanctified, strengthened and renewed in the inner soul, and reach outward to help lift others so that each community of Saints may follow the pattern of becoming a Zion people. (See Helaman 3:35; Moses 7:18) Members are encouraged to fast (neither eat nor drink) for approximately a 24-hour period (two meals), and to donate the food commodities or money that would have been used to buy the food for those two meals in their family, to a Church fund that can be drawn upon by the bishops in the Church to aid in helping with the immediate needs of the poor. Those who have health restrictions are not asked to fast, but are encouraged to participate in the blessings afforded those who share their means to lift the poor. <br /> <br /> Mormon leaders cite the teachings and promises of Isaiah: <br /> <br /> &quot;Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? <br /> &quot;Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? <br /> &quot;Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. <br /> &quot;Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; <br /> &quot;And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: <br /> &quot;And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.&quot; (Isaiah 58:6-11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Foreordination&diff=7649 Foreordination 2006-09-07T15:41:55Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>The word &quot;foreordination&quot; has several distinct connotations within Mormonism that distinguish its meaning from the word &quot;predestination&quot; as it has come to be used within many Christian writings since the time of John Calvin.<br /> <br /> Foreordination recognizes that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have foreknowledge of historical events of this earth and individual actions of God's spirit children before they occur in mortal time, because time is not a barrier to their omniscience, for &quot;all things are present before mine eyes;&quot; (D &amp; C 38:2) &quot;past, present, and future are continually before the Lord.&quot; (D &amp; C 130:7) God the Father declared to Moses, &quot;all things are present with me, for I know them all.&quot; (Moses 1:6) Alma stated, &quot;all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men.&quot; (Alma 40:8) <br /> <br /> Based on this foreknowledge and also their knowledge of the desires, inclinations, degree of love of truth and light, and talents of God's spirit children, God the Father held a Grand Council in heaven before Adam and Eve were sent to this earth, wherein He presented the [[plan of salvation]] and asked for volunteers to accept important assignments in mortality so that the plan could be brought about. The plan of salvation would be contingent on the [[agency]] of each spirit, and was only possible because the Father knew that His Firstborn Son in the pre-existence was capable of accepting the preeminent assignment of living a sinless mortal life and suffering the infinite [[Atonement of Jesus Christ|atonement]] to redeem mankind from the effects of the eternal law of justice by the great plan of mercy.<br /> <br /> Jesus Christ, who was like the Father in His great love for all the spirits in the pre-existence and His knowledge of eternal truths including the powers of creation through faith and priesthood power, volunteered to be the foreordained Redeemer of mankind. He became the &quot;Lamb slain from the foundation of the world&quot; (Moses 7:47), and could offer to mankind a predestined condition--that is, the sure promise of eternal life for those who would follow Christ through faith, repentance, baptism and acceptance of other covenants and ordinances, and enduring in those covenants to the end of their probationary period of living by faith.<br /> <br /> Other faithful spirits capable of leadership roles because of their desires and talents, volunteered to accept assignments as prophets, leaders among their nations, and bearers of priesthood responsibilities, and were foreordained in those assignments. Included among these were Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Joseph Smith and other latter-day prophets, and many others. (D &amp; C 138:53-56, Abraham 3:23) During their mortal lives, their spirits have been inclined toward the desires they expressed in the pre-existence, and they have carried out their foreordained missions based on their faith and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost through exercising their agency in righteous ways.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Foreordination&diff=7648 Foreordination 2006-09-07T15:36:37Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>The word &quot;foreordination&quot; has several distinct connotations within Mormonism that distinguish its meaning from the word &quot;predestination&quot; as it has come to be used within many Christian writings since the time of John Calvin.<br /> <br /> Foreordination recognizes that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have foreknowledge of historical events of this earth and individual actions of God's spirit children before they occur in mortal time, because time is not a barrier to their omniscience, for &quot;all things are present before mine eyes;&quot; (D &amp; C 38:2) &quot;past, present, and future are continually before the Lord.&quot; (D &amp; C 130:7) God the Father declared to Moses, &quot;all things are present with me, for I know them all.&quot; (Moses 1:6) Alma stated, &quot;all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men.&quot; (Alma 40:8) <br /> <br /> Based on this foreknowledge and also their knowledge of the desires, inclinations, degree of love of truth and light, and talents of God's spirit children, God the Father held a Grand Council in heaven before Adam and Eve were sent to this earth, wherein He presented the [[plan of salvation]] and asked for volunteers to accept important assignments in mortality so that the plan could be brought about. The plan of salvation would be contingent on the [[agency]] of each spirit, and was only possible because the Father knew that His Firstborn Son in the pre-existence was capable of accepting the preeminent assignment of living a sinless mortal life and suffering the infinite [[atonement]] to redeem mankind from the effects of the eternal law of justice by the great plan of mercy.<br /> <br /> Jesus Christ, who was like the Father in His great love for all the spirits in the pre-existence and His knowledge of eternal truths including the powers of creation through faith and priesthood power, volunteered to be the foreordained Redeemer of mankind. He became the &quot;Lamb slain from the foundation of the world&quot; (Moses 7:47), and could offer to mankind a predestined condition--that is, the sure promise of eternal life for those who would follow Christ through faith, repentance, baptism and acceptance of other covenants and ordinances, and enduring in those covenants to the end of their probationary period of living by faith.<br /> <br /> Other faithful spirits capable of leadership roles because of their desires and talents, volunteered to accept assignments as prophets, leaders among their nations, and bearers of priesthood responsibilities, and were foreordained in those assignments. Included among these were Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, Joseph Smith and other latter-day prophets, and many others. (D &amp; C 138:53-56, Abraham 3:23) During their mortal lives, their spirits have been inclined toward the desires they expressed in the pre-existence, and they have carried out their foreordained missions based on their faith and following the promptings of the Holy Ghost through exercising their agency in righteous ways.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Foreordination&diff=7647 Foreordination 2006-09-07T15:07:53Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>The word &quot;foreordination&quot; has several distinct connotations within Mormonism that distinguish its meaning from the word &quot;predestination&quot; as it has come to be used within many Christian writings since the time of John Calvin.<br /> <br /> Foreordination recognizes that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have foreknowledge of historical events of this earth and individual actions of God's spirit children before they occur in mortal time, because time is not a barrier to their omniscience, for &quot;all things are present before mine eyes;&quot; (D &amp; C 38:2) &quot;past, present, and future are continually before the Lord.&quot; (D &amp; C 130:7) God the Father declared to Moses, &quot;all things are present with me, for I know them all.&quot; (Moses 1:6) Alma stated, &quot;all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men.&quot; (Alma 40:8) <br /> <br /> Based on this foreknowledge and also their knowledge of the desires, inclinations, degree of love of truth and light, and talents of God's spirit children, God the Father held a Grand Council in heaven before Adam and Eve were sent to this earth, wherein He presented the [[plan of salvation]] and asked for volunteers to accept important assignments in mortality so that the plan could be brought about. The plan of salvation would be contingent on the [[agency]] of each spirit, and was only possible because the Father knew that His Firstborn Son in the pre-existence was capable of accepting the preeminent assignment of living a sinless mortal life and suffering the infinite [[atonement]] to redeem mankind from the effects of the eternal law of justice by the great plan of mercy.<br /> <br /> Jesus Christ, who was like the Father in His love for all the spirits in the pre-existence and His knowledge of eternal truths including the powers of creation through faith and priesthood power, volunteered to be the foreordained Redeemer of mankind.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Foreordination&diff=7612 Foreordination 2006-09-01T16:04:39Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>The word &quot;foreordination&quot; has several distinct connotations within Mormonism that distinguish its meaning from the word &quot;predesination&quot; as it has come to be used within many Christian writings since the time of John Calvin.<br /> <br /> Foreordination recognizes that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ have foreknowledge of historical events of this earth and individual actions of God's spirit children before they occur in mortal time, because time is not a barrier to their omniscience, for &quot;all things are present before mine eyes;&quot; (D &amp; C 38:2) &quot;past, present, and future are continually before the Lord.&quot; (D &amp; C 130:7) God the Father declared to Moses, &quot;all things are present with me, for I know them all.&quot; (Moses 1:6) Alma stated, &quot;all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men.&quot; (Alma 40:8)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Atonement_of_Jesus_Christ&diff=7611 Atonement of Jesus Christ 2006-09-01T15:37:09Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Mormonism teaches that [[Jesus Christ]]’s atonement is the central doctrine of the great [[Plan of salvation|plan of life and salvation]]. On one occasion the Prophet [[Joseph Smith]] was asked the question, &quot;What are the fundamental principles of your religion?&quot; The Prophet's answer to the question was: &quot;the fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and the Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it ...&quot; (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 121). <br /> <br /> Truly Jesus’ mission, culminating in His Atonement, is the most important message of Mormonism. <br /> <br /> The Atonement, which is the greatest event in the history of the world, was accomplished through Jesus’ sufferings in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the cross. <br /> Although the finite human mind cannot fully understand how Jesus suffered for our sins, the scriptures affirm that in the Garden of Gethsemane, the weight of mankind’s sins caused Him to feel such agony that He bled from every pore (Luke 22:39–44). <br /> <br /> Later, as He hung [[Crucifixion of Jesus Christ|upon the cross]], Jesus willingly suffered a painful death inflicted by one of the cruelest methods that men ever devised. <br /> <br /> The same Savior tells us about that experience: &quot;For behold, I ... have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer ... even as I&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–17).<br /> <br /> As the Son of God, Jesus Christ is the only being who could have performed an infinite sacrifice to atone for our sins. Jesus did His part, but in order to make His Atonement fully functional in our individual lives, we must do [[First Principles of the Gospel|certain things]]. First, we need to have [[Faith|faith]] in Christ; second, we need to repent of our sins; third, we need to be [[Baptism|baptized]] by someone who has the proper [[Mormon Priesthood|priesthood authority]]; fourth, we need to receive the [[Gift of the Holy Ghost]] by the [[Laying on of Hands|laying on of hands]] (again, by someone who has the proper priesthood authority); and finally, we need to obey God's commandments until the end of our days on the earth.<br /> <br /> If we do these things, the benefits of the Atonement can reach our individual lives and allow us to return to live with Jesus Christ and our [[Heavenly Father]] forever. According to Mormon doctrine we are saved by [[Grace|grace]], but only after we do all we can to obey God’s commandments, repent of our sins, and allow His loving influence to change our hearts so that we become loving and &quot;purified even as He is pure.&quot; (Moroni 7:48)<br /> <br /> == The Garden of Gethsemane and the Cross ==<br /> <br /> The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the central doctrine of the Gospel and the most important and selfless act in the history of the world.<br /> <br /> The literal meaning of the word &quot;Atonement&quot; is ''at-one-ment'', signifying the act of unifying or reconciling that which has been separated. According to the teachings of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], the Atonement of Jesus Christ was necessary because of the transgression, or [[Fall|fall]], of Adam, which brought death into the world when [[Adam and Eve]] partook of the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil (see Gen. 2:9; 3:1-24). The resulting death includes not only a separation of the spirit from the physical body, but also a separation of all people from their perfect and holy God.<br /> <br /> Through the Atonement, Jesus Christ suffered physically and spiritually from the sins and pains of all humankind. He ensured that all mortal living things will receive their bodies again after death and live forever, and that all people will be brought in their newly resurrected bodies to stand before Him to be judged according to their works. Thus the Atonement unconditionally guarantees the literal resurrection of every mortal body and the eternal reuniting with God of every faithful person.<br /> <br /> In order to access the spiritual redemptive power of the Atonement, we need to develop faith in Christ, repent of our sins, be baptized, receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end in obedience to the principles of the Gospel. When we repent, the Lord forgives us and removes the guilt from our souls. By virtue of what He suffered for us, our sins are paid for already; what remains is for us to decide whether to accept or reject that ultimate atoning sacrifice. If we refuse to accept the Atonement, we keep ourselves shut off from the presence of God indefinitely. God thus cannot redeem us in our sins, but He can and will redeem us from our sins if we repent and follow Him.<br /> <br /> Frequently, when Christians (including many members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) talk about the Atonement, they emphasize its physical aspects. They often speak of the crown of thorns that was placed upon the Savior's head, his scourging by Roman soldiers, or the pains he suffered when nails were driven into his hands and feet. Surely these were painful happenings and are important aspects of the Atonement. However, there is also a more spiritual dimension to Christ's redemptive act.<br /> <br /> The night before He was crucified, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane with Peter, James and John, the three chief apostles. Gethsemane means &quot;oil press.&quot; For generations at that place, olives had been pressed under the weight of gigantic stones to extract their precious oil, an important source of light and life. The atoning suffering of the Light and Life of the world, the Savior, caused blood to be pressed from every pore of His body under the crushing weight of the sins of the world.<br /> <br /> The scriptures state that when in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus began to be sorrowful and very heavy. He said to His apostles: &quot;My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, unto death&quot; (Mark 14:34). He went a certain distance from them and fell on the ground. Then the Savior prayed fervently, crying to His Father to &quot;take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt&quot; (see Mark 14:35–36). For several hours the Lord poured out His soul in prayer and His blood dripped to the ground. At one point an angel from God came to strengthen and help the Savior complete His sacrifice. During this harrowing time, in some way and to a degree incomprehensible to us, Jesus felt in His own body and spirit the effects of all the sins and all the spiritual and physical suffering (including all illness, pain, and anguish) of every human being who would ever live. He was punished in body and spirit for our wrongdoings. A tremendous and infinite weight of sorrow and anguish filled His soul, and He suffered in an eternal and infinite sense.<br /> <br /> The Savior was the only child of our Father in Heaven who could perform the Atonement for the rest of us. He was chosen before He was born to become the Savior. He was the literal Son of God in the flesh, meaning that He inherited from His Father in Heaven power over death and from his mortal mother, Mary, the ability to die. He lived a perfect life, making him the only sinless accountable mortal to ever live. Any other person would have died attempting to suffer as Jesus eventually suffered.<br /> <br /> Without the Atonement, each mortal would remain bodiless after death forever and would be cut off eternally from the presence of God, being doomed to live under Satan's power in darkness and misery because there would be no way to overcome death or sin. The Atonement provides all humankind its only hope of salvation from this dismal fate.<br /> <br /> It is impossible for us to fully understand the magnitude of the Lord's suffering in Gethsemane and on the cross. Even Jesus, who knew beforehand what the experience would be like, said he was &quot;sore amazed&quot; (Mark 14:33), or awestruck.<br /> <br /> After rising from prayer, the Lord returned to where Peter, James and John were. Soon afterwards, the traitor apostle Judas Iscariot arrived with a contingent of Roman soldiers, who arrested Jesus under false charges. That night and the following morning, the Savior endured extreme physical and mental abuse by Roman soldiers and others, and passed through several illegal and unfair trials. Ultimately, in the presence of Pilate, Jesus was unjustly condemned to be crucified as a blasphemer. From about nine o'clock that awful Friday morning until about three o'clock that afternoon, Jesus suffered in agony on the cross. He finally volunatarily died when His suffering was complete, and His spirit went into the spirit world to proclaim the Gospel to the dead. His disciples took His body down from the cross and buried it in a new tomb, where no one had been buried before. The body lay in the tomb from Friday evening (the start of the Jewish Sabbath) until Sunday morning. Then Jesus returned and His body was reunited to His spirit in a glorified, perfected, immortal form. Thus Jesus was the first mortal being to be resurrected. His resurrection completed His triumph over death and sin. Since then, the followers of Christ have proclaimed the Gospel, or &quot;good news,&quot; that Christ has made it possible for us to live again after this life with God and all His faithful children forever.<br /> <br /> As a resurrected being, Christ revealed to Joseph Smith a few more details about His suffering in Gethsemane: &quot;For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all men, that they might not suffer if they would repent. But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit--and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink--nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men&quot; (Doctrine and Covenant 19:16-19).<br /> <br /> The experience of the &quot;bitter cup&quot; in Gethsemane affected the Savior profoundly. It is this aspect of the Atonement that Latter-day Saint scriptures emphasize. The pains of mind, spirit, and body, suffered both in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the hill of Calvary, constituted Jesus' infinite sacrifice--through which he literally paid for us, rescuing us from the condemnation of our sins if we but accept his sacrifice by faithfully following his example and teachings. Thus the Atonement rejoins our spirits to our bodies in the Resurrection, and likewise rejoins us to the presence of our God if we accept it by faithfully following the Savior's teachings.<br /> <br /> '''For a better understanding of the Atonement of Jesus Christ you may want to read:'''<br /> <br /> Skinner, Andrew C. ''Gethsemane''. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2002.<br /> [[Category: Jesus Christ]][[Category: The Godhead]][[Category: Scriptures and Scriptural Topics]][[Category: Plan of Salvation]]</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Sons_of_Perdition&diff=7308 Sons of Perdition 2006-08-23T22:14:54Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Mormonism refers to Sons of Perdition as those few souls who have been born on this earth who &quot;have been made partakers&quot; of God's power, yet &quot;suffered themselves through the power of the devil to be overcome, and to deny the truth and defy&quot; God by denying the Holy Spirit after having received it, denying the Only Begotten Son and &quot;put him to an open shame.&quot; They openly and knowingly fight against God and Christ, having sided with Satan even though they had once tasted of full gospel knowledge by the power of the Holy Ghost.<br /> <br /> Thus, as punishment they are &quot;doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the devil and his angels in eternity;&quot; (D &amp; C 76:30-49) their torment and anguish cannot be comprehended by mortal persons.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Spirit_World&diff=7305 Spirit World 2006-08-23T21:54:38Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Mormonism teaches that after death, the spirits of every man and woman returns to place known as the spirit world. Mormons say 'return,' because Mormon doctrine teaches that the soul of man is immortal and existed prior to this earth life in what Mormons call the [[Pre-Mortal Life|pre-mortal life]]. The [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/afterlife/spirit_world_eom.htm post-mortal world of spirits], according to the [[Mormon prophet|prophet]] [[Joseph Smith]], is an actual place where the deceased spirits reside and &quot;where they converse together the same as we do on the earth&quot; (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pg. 353). According to the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], in heaven, &quot;that same sociality which exists among us here will exist among us there, only it will be coupled with eternal glory, which glory we do not now enjoy&quot; (D&amp;C 130:2). [[Bruce R. McConkie]], a former [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|Apostle]] in the Church said that, &quot;[l]ife and work and activity all continue in the spirit world. Men have the same talents and intelligence there, which they had in this life. They possess the same attitudes, inclinations, and feelings there which they had in this life&quot; (Mormon Doctrine, p. 762). Mormons believe that in the spirit world, men and women can continue to learn and grow. <br /> <br /> The post-mortal spirit world is comprised of three conditions of existence: spirit paradise for the righteous who have had temple ordinances and are progressing in learning and preparing for their resurrection, a waiting place that may be called spirit prison for those honorable spirits who await receiving vicarious temple ordinances so they may progress further in knowledge, and a spirit prison of torment for the unrepentant. The spirit prison for those waiting to learn the fulness of the gospel of Christ and receive vicarious ordinances is not a place of torment, but a place where the gospel is taught and there is sociality. Messengers are sent to teach those in spirit prison, and in this way the postmortal spirit world is much like mortality. In a revelation given to [[Joseph F. Smith]], sixth [[Mormon president|president]] of the Mormon Church, he saw the following:<br /> <br /> :[T]he [was] gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. And so it was made known among the dead, both small and great, the unrighteous as well as the faithful, that redemption had been wrought through the sacrifice of the Son of God upon the cross.<br /> :~D&amp;C 138:32-35<br /> <br /> Everyone will have the opportunity to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ and accept it, but those who knowingly rejected opportunities to hear the Gospel in this life, will not have a second chance. During the time between Christ's death and resurrection, he organized this missionary effort in the spirit world so that all would have the opportunity to learn and choose the gospel. Spirit paradise, in contrast to spirit prision, is a place where the souls of the righteous can rest from the trials and difficulties of mortal life and continue the work of teaching the gospel.<br /> <br /> It is this post-mortal spirit world that the spirits of all mankind await the resurrection and the judgement. When Christ comes again, all will be resurrected, and the spirit world will no longer be needed. People will then be judged according to their works, and will be able to enter the [[Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms|Celestial, Terrestrial or Telestial Kingdoms]].<br /> [[Category: Plan of Salvation]]</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Divinity&diff=7176 Divinity 2006-08-17T14:23:36Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>''LDS belief in the divine potential of man''<br /> <br /> The teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include the belief in the divine potential of mankind, who are considered spirit children of Heavenly Father and a heavenly mother during the pre-existence, or pre-mortal life in heaven. The belief is that God the Father is the Supreme Being and Supreme Ruler of the universe, and that progress through choices and growth in understanding by his spirit children occurred during pre-mortal life in varying degrees, based on each individual spirit's inclination toward truth, light, love and faith. The pre-mortal spirits of mankind were not created from nothing, but were brought forth into a more progressed state of being from existing matter or energy, called &quot;intelligence.&quot;<br /> <br /> LDS teaching is that Jesus Christ was the Firstborn of Heavenly Father during the pre-mortal life, and that Christ's ability to obey truth, perceive light, and act in love and faith distinguished him in that pre-mortal existence as being God-like. Therefore, because of Christ's love for Heavenly Father's other spirit children, He offered to accept the mission on earth of acting throughout His life in a sinless way and overcoming the eternal law of justice by suffering the punishment for the sins of all of mankind through the infinite atonement, which only He would be able to accomplish because He would be the physical offspring of God the Father, inheriting power over death and the power to suffer in a magnitude far greater than mortal man could suffer. Thus, Christ's mission became a foreordained part of the plan of salvation for all of mankind.<br /> <br /> The LDS belief is that Christ's divinity and sinlessness qualified Him to return to the presence of Heavenly Father after His death, inheriting a resurrected and perfected body and joining with the Father in being omniscient, omnipotent, and omni-benevolent. Thus, although they love all of mankind unconditionally, only Christ had the qualities and attributes necessary to become a resurrected perfected being like Heavenly Father in and of Himself, yet He offers a way whereby others of God's spirit children may receive a sinless condition in the resurrection, because of the atonement, as men and women repent and rely wholly on the merits of Christ's grace. Repentance through faith in Jesus Christ is thus the only way mankind may progress to a perfected state of becoming like God, receiving omniscience, omnipotence, and omni-benevolence and always acting under the governing power of God the Father. One who loves on this level desires to share these qualities because of the joy they bring to an individual soul.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Divinity&diff=7175 Divinity 2006-08-17T14:23:04Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>LDS belief in the divine potential of man<br /> The teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints include the belief in the divine potential of mankind, who are considered spirit children of Heavenly Father and a heavenly mother during the pre-existence, or pre-mortal life in heaven. The belief is that God the Father is the Supreme Being and Supreme Ruler of the universe, and that progress through choices and growth in understanding by his spirit children occurred during pre-mortal life in varying degrees, based on each individual spirit's inclination toward truth, light, love and faith. The pre-mortal spirits of mankind were not created from nothing, but were brought forth into a more progressed state of being from existing matter or energy, called &quot;intelligence.&quot;<br /> <br /> LDS teaching is that Jesus Christ was the Firstborn of Heavenly Father during the pre-mortal life, and that Christ's ability to obey truth, perceive light, and act in love and faith distinguished him in that pre-mortal existence as being God-like. Therefore, because of Christ's love for Heavenly Father's other spirit children, He offered to accept the mission on earth of acting throughout His life in a sinless way and overcoming the eternal law of justice by suffering the punishment for the sins of all of mankind through the infinite atonement, which only He would be able to accomplish because He would be the physical offspring of God the Father, inheriting power over death and the power to suffer in a magnitude far greater than mortal man could suffer. Thus, Christ's mission became a foreordained part of the plan of salvation for all of mankind.<br /> <br /> The LDS belief is that Christ's divinity and sinlessness qualified Him to return to the presence of Heavenly Father after His death, inheriting a resurrected and perfected body and joining with the Father in being omniscient, omnipotent, and omni-benevolent. Thus, although they love all of mankind unconditionally, only Christ had the qualities and attributes necessary to become a resurrected perfected being like Heavenly Father in and of Himself, yet He offers a way whereby others of God's spirit children may receive a sinless condition in the resurrection, because of the atonement, as men and women repent and rely wholly on the merits of Christ's grace. Repentance through faith in Jesus Christ is thus the only way mankind may progress to a perfected state of becoming like God, receiving omniscience, omnipotence, and omni-benevolence and always acting under the governing power of God the Father. One who loves on this level desires to share these qualities because of the joy they bring to an individual soul.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Mormon_DNA&diff=5742 Book of Mormon DNA 2006-07-01T22:45:54Z <p>Reiddp: /* The Book of Mormon vs. DNA */</p> <hr /> <div>== The Book of Mormon vs. DNA ==<br /> <br /> <br /> The Book of Mormon vs. DNA controversy is an issue that most critics believe completely undermines [[Mormon]] beliefs in the truthfulness of the book. The controversy stems from DNA studies of Native American peoples. Critics claim that such studies prove conclusively that there is no evidence of a Middle Eastern strand within the Native American gene pool. [http://farms.byu.edu/pdf.php?filename=MTkxNjc1MzA5NS0xNy0xLnBkZg==&amp;type=cmV2aWV3 Book of Mormon DNA research]<br /> <br /> <br /> What does this claim have to do with the factuality of a religious text? Some background information will illuminate the subject and the reasons behind the debate. <br /> <br /> <br /> The [[Book of Mormon]] is a religious record that was published in 1830 by [[Joseph Smith]], the founder and prophet of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]--or the Mormon Church as it has been unofficially dubbed. The Book of Mormon professes a story which outlines three migrations from the Old World to the New, more specifically from regions of the Middle East over to the American continent. The most prominent migration begins with the family of a man named [[Lehi]]. It was about 600 B.C. when Lehi's group left Jerusalem and set sail for an unknown &quot;[[promised land]].&quot; Their ship landed somewhere in Central or South America, though the exact location is unknown. <br /> <br /> <br /> Perhaps the controversy begins with an unofficial and individually assumed idea about the geographical location of the events portrayed in the Book of Mormon. Many Mormons and non-Mormons have read the book and assumed that no one else was on the American continent when Lehi and his company arrived; from this misconception it would be easy to assume Lehi and his wife were the parents of all human inhabitants in North and South America; it would also be possible to imagine that this group of people and their operations encompassed the whole of the western hemisphere. If these underlying assumptions were justifiable, then any ancient inhabitant of the Americas-–as well as their descendents–-should rightly have genetic tracings to the Middle Eastern world since Lehi and his company originated there. The fact that DNA testing of Native Americans points to Asian roots has caused many critics to declare without reservation that the the Book of Mormon has been proven false. <br /> <br /> <br /> However, since the notion of Lehi's group being the only one to discover and populate the entire Western Hemisphere and to cover all of South, Central, and North America is highly improbable, nor is it consistent with the book itself, we ought not assume that this is factual. According to experts, it is more likely that Lehi and his family were merely a limited addition to an extensive population already present in the Americas. It is believed, though not certain, that the Book of Mormon population was limited to Mesoamerica, ranging in the hundreds of miles, not thousands. <br /> <br /> <br /> In light of these conclusions, it is important to note that the Book of Mormon was written to be a spiritual text, not a record of the geographical or demographical facts of the ancient American peoples. It is also important to remember that the bulk of the Book of Mormon covers a limited time period, from about 600 A.D. to 400 B.C. Understanding the location and the degree to which the Book of Mormon people populated the land is very difficult to surmise with certainty. <br /> <br /> <br /> For more than fifty years, serious students of the Book of Mormon have read that book with an understanding of these limitations, though most Mormons merely read the book as the spiritual and doctrinal resource that it is, rather than extensively pondering the unspecific geographic implications of the prophetic writings.<br /> <br /> <br /> There is nothing about the Book of Mormon that is undermined by DNA studies. It does not claim to stand in opposition of scientific theories that say most Native Americans are derived from northeast Asia over a land bridge. It merely claims to be the writings of a few specific groups of people who migrated and lived in the Western Hemisphere during a limited period of time. In order for DNA testing to have any hold on these assertions, it would be necessary to prove that never, at any point during the time period of 600 A.D. to 400 B.C. was there any group living in the Western Hemisphere who came from the Middle Eastern region. Obviously such a theory would be nearly impossible to justify. <br /> <br /> <br /> And so we are left where the Book of Mormon authors intended us to be: in a realm of faith. Mormons believe that the book was written by ancient prophets who recorded their faith and the words of the Lord. They, like the prophets in the Old and New Testament, were given revelations and instructions directly from God. Those things were recorded for the benefit and learning of future generations, that their descendents, all the house of Israel, and all Gentiles seeking the gospel might believe in [[Jesus Christ]] as the living son of God and the Savior of the world. One Book of Mormon prophet writes, &quot;And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.&quot; [http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/25/26#26 2 Nephi 25:26]<br /> <br /> <br /> Reading the Book of Mormon and asking God if it is true is the only way to really know. Any other attempt will yield uncertain results. If God is the author of the book, then humble seekers will receive a confirmation from Him that the book is true. [http://mormon.org/seenontv/1,19733,6199-1,00.html Request a Free Book of Mormon], no obligations.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ''Is there any conflict between science and religion? There is no conflict in the mind of God, but often there is conflict in the minds of men.'' -Henry Eyring<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDS_Intro.shtml Learn about Mormon Beliefs]<br /> <br /> [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/DNA.shtml Does DNA evidence refute the Book of Mormon?]<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Resources:'''<br /> <br /> A Brief Review of Murphy and Southerton's &quot;Galileo Event&quot; by Kevin L. Barney<br /> <br /> A Few Thoughts From a Believing DNA Scientist. John M. Butler. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2003. Pp. 36–37<br /> <br /> Detecting Lehi's Genetic Signature: Possible, Probable, or Not? Reviewed By: David A. McClellan. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2003. Pp. 35–90<br /> <br /> DNA and the Book of Mormon by David Stewart, M.D<br /> <br /> Nephi's Neighbors: Book of Mormon Peoples and Pre-Columbian Populations. Matthew Roper</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Mormon_DNA&diff=5741 Book of Mormon DNA 2006-07-01T22:40:59Z <p>Reiddp: /* The Book of Mormon vs. DNA */</p> <hr /> <div>== The Book of Mormon vs. DNA ==<br /> <br /> <br /> The Book of Mormon vs. DNA controversy is an issue that most critics believe completely undermines [[Mormon]] beliefs in the truthfulness of the book. The controversy stems from DNA studies of Native American peoples. Critics claim that such studies prove conclusively that there is no evidence of a Middle Eastern strand within the Native American gene pool. [http://farms.byu.edu/pdf.php?filename=MTkxNjc1MzA5NS0xNy0xLnBkZg==&amp;type=cmV2aWV3 Book of Mormon DNA research]<br /> <br /> <br /> What does this claim have to do with the factuality of a religious text? Some background information will illuminate the subject and the reasons behind the debate. <br /> <br /> <br /> The [[Book of Mormon]] is a religious record that was published in 1830 by [[Joseph Smith]], the founder and prophet of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]--or the Mormon Church as it has been unofficially dubbed. The Book of Mormon professes a story which outlines three migrations from the Old World to the New, more specifically from regions of the Middle East over to the American continent. The most prominent migration begins with the family of a man named [[Lehi]]. It was about 600 B.C. when Lehi's group left Jerusalem and set sail for an unknown &quot;[[promised land]].&quot; Their ship landed somewhere in Central or South America, though the exact location is unknown. <br /> <br /> <br /> Perhaps the controversy begins with an unofficial and individually assumed idea about the geographical location of the events portrayed in the Book of Mormon. Many Mormons and non-Mormons have read the book and assumed that no one else was on the American continent when Lehi and his company arrived; from this misconception it would be easy to assume Lehi and his wife were the parents of all human inhabitants in North and South America; it would also be possible to imagine that this group of people and their operations encompassed the whole of the western hemisphere. If these underlying assumptions were justifiable, then any ancient inhabitant of the Americas-–as well as their descendents–-should rightly have genetic tracings to the Middle Eastern world since Lehi and his company originated there. The fact that DNA testing of Native Americans points to Asian roots has caused many critics to declare without reservation that the the Book of Mormon has been proven false. <br /> <br /> <br /> However, since the notion of Lehi's group being the only one to discover and populate the entire Western Hemisphere and to cover all of South, Central, and North America is highly improbable, nor is it consistent with the book itself, we ought not assume that this is factual. According to experts, it is more likely that Lehi and his family were merely a limited addition to an extensive population already present in the Americas. It is believed, though not certain, that the Book of Mormon population was limited to Mesoamerica, ranging in the hundreds of miles, not thousands. <br /> <br /> <br /> In light of these conclusions, it is important to note that the Book of Mormon was written to be a spiritual text, not a record of the geographical or demographical facts of the ancient American peoples. It is also important to remember that the bulk of the Book of Mormon covers a limited time period, from about 600 A.D. to 400 B.C. Understanding the location and the degree to which the Book of Mormon people populated the land is very difficult to surmise with certainty. <br /> <br /> <br /> For more than fifty years, serious students of the Book of Mormon have read that book with an understanding of these limitations, though most Mormons merely read the book as the spiritual and doctrinal resource that it is, rather than extensively pondering the unspecific geographic implications of the prophetic writings.<br /> <br /> <br /> There is nothing about the Book of Mormon that is undermined by DNA studies. It does not claim to stand in opposition of scientific theories that say most Native Americans are derived from northeast Asia over a land bridge. It merely claims to be the writings of a few specific groups of people who migrated and lived in the Western Hemisphere during a limited period of time. In order for DNA testing to have any hold on these assertions, it would be necessary to prove that never, at any point during the time period of 600 A.D. to 400 B.C. was there any group living in the Western Hemisphere who came from the Middle Eastern region. Obviously such a theory would be nearly impossible to justify. <br /> <br /> <br /> And so we are left where the Book of Mormon authors intended us to be: in a realm of faith. Mormons believe that the book was written by ancient prophets who recorded their faith and the words of the Lord. They, like the prophets in the Old and New Testament, were given revelations and instructions directly from God. Those things were recorded for the benefit and learning of future generations, that their descendents might believe in [[Jesus Christ]] as the living son of God and the Savior of the world. One Book of Mormon prophet writes, &quot;And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.&quot; [http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/25/26#26 2 Nephi 25:26]<br /> <br /> <br /> Reading the Book of Mormon and asking God if it is true is the only way to really know. Any other attempt will yield uncertain results. If God is the author of the book, then humble seekers will receive a confirmation from Him that the book is true. [http://mormon.org/seenontv/1,19733,6199-1,00.html Request a Free Book of Mormon], no obligations.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ''Is there any conflict between science and religion? There is no conflict in the mind of God, but often there is conflict in the minds of men.'' -Henry Eyring<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDS_Intro.shtml Learn about Mormon Beliefs]<br /> <br /> [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/DNA.shtml Does DNA evidence refute the Book of Mormon?]<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Resources:'''<br /> <br /> A Brief Review of Murphy and Southerton's &quot;Galileo Event&quot; by Kevin L. Barney<br /> <br /> A Few Thoughts From a Believing DNA Scientist. John M. Butler. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2003. Pp. 36–37<br /> <br /> Detecting Lehi's Genetic Signature: Possible, Probable, or Not? Reviewed By: David A. McClellan. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2003. Pp. 35–90<br /> <br /> DNA and the Book of Mormon by David Stewart, M.D<br /> <br /> Nephi's Neighbors: Book of Mormon Peoples and Pre-Columbian Populations. Matthew Roper</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Book_of_Mormon_DNA&diff=5740 Book of Mormon DNA 2006-07-01T22:38:45Z <p>Reiddp: /* The Book of Mormon vs. DNA */</p> <hr /> <div>== The Book of Mormon vs. DNA ==<br /> <br /> <br /> The Book of Mormon vs. DNA controversy is an issue that most critics believe completely undermines [[Mormon]] beliefs in the truthfulness of the book. The controversy stems from DNA studies of Native American peoples. Critics claim that such studies prove conclusively that there is no evidence of a Middle Eastern strand within the Native American gene pool. [http://farms.byu.edu/pdf.php?filename=MTkxNjc1MzA5NS0xNy0xLnBkZg==&amp;type=cmV2aWV3 Book of Mormon DNA research]<br /> <br /> <br /> What does this claim have to do with the factuality of a religious text? Some background information will illuminate the subject and the reasons behind the debate. <br /> <br /> <br /> The [[Book of Mormon]] is a religious record that was published in 1830 by [[Joseph Smith]], the founder and prophet of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]--or the Mormon Church as it has been unofficially dubbed. The Book of Mormon professes a story which outlines three migrations from the Old World to the New, more specifically from regions of the Middle East over to the American continent. The most prominent migration begins with the family of a man named [[Lehi]]. It was about 600 B.C. when Lehi's group left Jerusalem and set sail for an unknown &quot;[[promised land]].&quot; Their ship landed somewhere in Central or South America, though the exact location is unknown. <br /> <br /> <br /> Perhaps the controversy begins with an unofficial and individually assumed idea about the geographical location of the events portrayed in the Book of Mormon. Many Mormons and non-Mormons have read the book and assumed that no one else was on the American continent when Lehi and his company arrived; from this misconception it would be easy to assume Lehi and his wife were the parents of all human inhabitants in North and South America; it would also be possible to imagine that this group of people and their operations encompassed the whole of the western hemisphere. If these underlying assumptions were justifiable, then any ancient inhabitant of the Americas-–as well as their descendents–-should rightly have genetic tracings to the Middle Eastern world since Lehi and his company originated there. The fact that DNA testing of Native Americans points to Asian roots has caused many critics to declare without reservation that the the Book of Mormon has been proven false. <br /> <br /> <br /> However, since the notion of Lehi's group being the only one to discover and populate the entire Western Hemisphere and to cover all of South, Central, and North America is highly improbable, we must not assume that this is factual. According to experts, it is more likely that Lehi and his family were merely a limited addition to an extensive population already present in the Americas. It is believed, though not certain, that the Book of Mormon population was limited to Mesoamerica, ranging in the hundreds of miles, not thousands. <br /> <br /> <br /> In light of these conclusions, it is important to note that the Book of Mormon was written to be a spiritual text, not a record of the geographical or demographical facts of the ancient American peoples. It is also important to remember that the bulk of the Book of Mormon covers a limited time period, from about 600 A.D. to 400 B.C. Understanding the location and the degree to which the Book of Mormon people populated the land is very difficult to surmise with certainty. <br /> <br /> <br /> For more than fifty years, serious students of the Book of Mormon have read that book with an understanding of these limitations, though most Mormons merely read the book as the spiritual and doctrinal resource that it is, rather than extensively pondering the unspecific geographic implications of the prophetic writings.<br /> <br /> <br /> There is nothing about the Book of Mormon that is undermined by DNA studies. It does not claim to stand in opposition of scientific theories that say most Native Americans are derived from northeast Asia over a land bridge. It merely claims to be the writings of a few specific groups of people who migrated and lived in the Western Hemisphere during a limited period of time. In order for DNA testing to have any hold on these assertions, it would be necessary to prove that never, at any point during the time period of 600 A.D. to 400 B.C. was there any group living in the Western Hemisphere who came from the Middle Eastern region. Obviously such a theory would be nearly impossible to justify. <br /> <br /> <br /> And so we are left where the Book of Mormon authors intended us to be: in a realm of faith. Mormons believe that the book was written by ancient prophets who recorded their faith and the words of the Lord. They, like the prophets in the Old and New Testament, were given revelations and instructions directly from God. Those things were recorded for the benefit and learning of future generations, that their descendents might believe in [[Jesus Christ]] as the living son of God and the Savior of the world. One Book of Mormon prophet writes, &quot;And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophecy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.&quot; [http://scriptures.lds.org/2_ne/25/26#26 2 Nephi 25:26]<br /> <br /> <br /> Reading the Book of Mormon and asking God if it is true is the only way to really know. Any other attempt will yield uncertain results. If God is the author of the book, then humble seekers will receive a confirmation from Him that the book is true. [http://mormon.org/seenontv/1,19733,6199-1,00.html Request a Free Book of Mormon], no obligations.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> ''Is there any conflict between science and religion? There is no conflict in the mind of God, but often there is conflict in the minds of men.'' -Henry Eyring<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDS_Intro.shtml Learn about Mormon Beliefs]<br /> <br /> [http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/DNA.shtml Does DNA evidence refute the Book of Mormon?]<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''Resources:'''<br /> <br /> A Brief Review of Murphy and Southerton's &quot;Galileo Event&quot; by Kevin L. Barney<br /> <br /> A Few Thoughts From a Believing DNA Scientist. John M. Butler. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2003. Pp. 36–37<br /> <br /> Detecting Lehi's Genetic Signature: Possible, Probable, or Not? Reviewed By: David A. McClellan. Provo, Utah: FARMS, 2003. Pp. 35–90<br /> <br /> DNA and the Book of Mormon by David Stewart, M.D<br /> <br /> Nephi's Neighbors: Book of Mormon Peoples and Pre-Columbian Populations. Matthew Roper</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mormon_Beliefs_on_human_tragedy&diff=5611 Mormon Beliefs on human tragedy 2006-06-22T19:59:46Z <p>Reiddp: /* Learning Compassion */</p> <hr /> <div>When people face tragedies they sometimes ask themselves why. Some non-religious people may consider the existence of human tragedy as proof that God doesn’t exist or doesn’t care about mankind. Religious people who have [[faith]] in God and include Him in the explanation of human events may try to explain the occurrence of tragedies in many different ways, sometimes by trying to distinguish between situations that are a consequence of human actions and situations in which God seems to have intervened more directly.<br /> <br /> What does Mormonism have to say about human tragedy and its purpose in people's lives? There isn't any definitive official statement about this issue in the Mormon Church, but a lot can be said by analyzing the words of [[Mormon prophet|prophets]], [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|apostles]], and other Mormon authors.<br /> <br /> According to President Hugh B. Brown, &quot;religious faith gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces. Life is not what Voltaire called it, 'a bad joke'; it is really a school of discipline whose author and teacher is God&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1969, Third Day—Morning Meeting, p. 107). In other words, human tragedy has a purpose in the eyes of God. It is a refining tool that helps men and women to improve their lives, even if this involves suffering.<br /> <br /> The history of Mormonism is full of examples of suffering and tragedy that seem to contradict the belief of a religion that proclaims that &quot;men are, that they might have joy&quot; (2 Nephi 2:25). [[Joseph Smith|The Prophet Joseph Smith]], founder of Mormonism, had to face many tragedies in his life and eventually was [[Martyrdom of Joseph Smith|killed]] at the age of 38. [[Jesus Christ]], the true head of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], was absolutely familiar with suffering and He perfectly accepted it as part of His mission.<br /> <br /> So why do people need to suffer? Why are young, innocent children killed prematurely in car collisions? Or why could terrorists crash planes against the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York a few years ago? To understand these and countless similar events, it may be helpful to question whether God really caused the event or whether He merely allowed it to occur. Nobody knows the answers for sure.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that [[Heavenly Father|God]] is omnipotent and that He has the power to control events in our lives, including eliminating all pain and preventing all accidents. However, it is clear that He doesn't do it all the time. Why?<br /> <br /> == Free Agency and the Three Stages of Life==<br /> <br /> Mormonism proclaims that one of the basic laws of the gospel is free [[agency]] that fosters eternal development. If God were to force us to be careful and righteous all the time we wouldn't be able to learn and grow.<br /> <br /> Another basic belief in Mormonism is that the [[plan of salvation]], established by God the Father, includes three parts or stages. The first stage includes our [[Pre-Mortal Life|pre-mortal lives]] as spirit children with our Heavenly Father (before we were born). The [[Mortality|second stage]] is the one in which we are now, while we live on this earth, and the special purpose of this stage is to receive physical bodies and be tested. The final stage starts after we die and will include our [[resurrection]] and [[Last Judgment|assignment]] to a [[Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms|kingdom of glory]], based on our works here on the earth.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the fullness of joy and happiness is only reserved for the last stage and only for those who have obeyed God's commandments and have qualified for the highest degree of glory in the Kingdom of God. The Lord said: &quot;for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants 101:36). We are now in the second stage, and we can't expect to be free from problems. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, &quot;when we tear ourselves free from the entanglements of the world, are we promised a religion of repose or an Eden of ease? No! We are promised tears and trials and toil! But we are also promised final triumph, the mere contemplation of which tingles one's soul&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1974, 16).<br /> <br /> In conclusion, Mormonism teaches that human tragedy and suffering are part of God's plan, something that we need to accept with patience and faith, a necessary schoolmaster that can teach us many important lessons. At the end, to know whether tragedies come in our lives because of natural forces, evil people, or our sins, is less important than the way we react to them. If we choose to learn from them and use them to get closer to God rather than complaining and rebelling, we will be better off when we finally meet our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ after our lives on this earth are through.<br /> <br /> == Learning Compassion ==<br /> <br /> One of the major purposes of human tragedy, whether caused by natural forces or by accidents or man-made violence that God allows to occur, is to help mankind to learn compassion for each other. We can react to these events by rolling up our sleeves and helping as best we can, bearing &quot;one another's burdens, that they may be light;...mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.&quot; (See Mosiah 18:8,9) Mormons stand alongside many others who are moved with compassion and who seek to bring immediate and long-term help to those who are overwhelmed by tragic occurrences such as an earthquake, a hurricane or a tsunami. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sometimes called the &quot;Jesus church&quot; by those of other faiths in remote parts of the world as Mormon [[Humanitarian Efforts|humanitarian aid]] reaches out to them.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that Christ's teaching about loving one another means that this is one of our primary purposes in mortality: to learn how to love each other. Many bridges of understanding and love are built after the devastation of a tragic event, as people come together in a spirit of compassion and rebuilding. Though the sorrow of loss of loved ones remains, an awakening of the power of Christ's love to heal hearts and find new beginnings can bring meaning even in the face of great tragedies. The knowledge of the plan of salvation and [[Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms|life after death]] can also help to bring solace to those who mourn the loss of loved ones or of innocent children in a tragedy.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mormon_Beliefs_on_human_tragedy&diff=5610 Mormon Beliefs on human tragedy 2006-06-22T19:58:29Z <p>Reiddp: /* Learning Compassion */</p> <hr /> <div>When people face tragedies they sometimes ask themselves why. Some non-religious people may consider the existence of human tragedy as proof that God doesn’t exist or doesn’t care about mankind. Religious people who have [[faith]] in God and include Him in the explanation of human events may try to explain the occurrence of tragedies in many different ways, sometimes by trying to distinguish between situations that are a consequence of human actions and situations in which God seems to have intervened more directly.<br /> <br /> What does Mormonism have to say about human tragedy and its purpose in people's lives? There isn't any definitive official statement about this issue in the Mormon Church, but a lot can be said by analyzing the words of [[Mormon prophet|prophets]], [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|apostles]], and other Mormon authors.<br /> <br /> According to President Hugh B. Brown, &quot;religious faith gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces. Life is not what Voltaire called it, 'a bad joke'; it is really a school of discipline whose author and teacher is God&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1969, Third Day—Morning Meeting, p. 107). In other words, human tragedy has a purpose in the eyes of God. It is a refining tool that helps men and women to improve their lives, even if this involves suffering.<br /> <br /> The history of Mormonism is full of examples of suffering and tragedy that seem to contradict the belief of a religion that proclaims that &quot;men are, that they might have joy&quot; (2 Nephi 2:25). [[Joseph Smith|The Prophet Joseph Smith]], founder of Mormonism, had to face many tragedies in his life and eventually was [[Martyrdom of Joseph Smith|killed]] at the age of 38. [[Jesus Christ]], the true head of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], was absolutely familiar with suffering and He perfectly accepted it as part of His mission.<br /> <br /> So why do people need to suffer? Why are young, innocent children killed prematurely in car collisions? Or why could terrorists crash planes against the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York a few years ago? To understand these and countless similar events, it may be helpful to question whether God really caused the event or whether He merely allowed it to occur. Nobody knows the answers for sure.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that [[Heavenly Father|God]] is omnipotent and that He has the power to control events in our lives, including eliminating all pain and preventing all accidents. However, it is clear that He doesn't do it all the time. Why?<br /> <br /> == Free Agency and the Three Stages of Life==<br /> <br /> Mormonism proclaims that one of the basic laws of the gospel is free [[agency]] that fosters eternal development. If God were to force us to be careful and righteous all the time we wouldn't be able to learn and grow.<br /> <br /> Another basic belief in Mormonism is that the [[plan of salvation]], established by God the Father, includes three parts or stages. The first stage includes our [[Pre-Mortal Life|pre-mortal lives]] as spirit children with our Heavenly Father (before we were born). The [[Mortality|second stage]] is the one in which we are now, while we live on this earth, and the special purpose of this stage is to receive physical bodies and be tested. The final stage starts after we die and will include our [[resurrection]] and [[Last Judgment|assignment]] to a [[Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms|kingdom of glory]], based on our works here on the earth.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the fullness of joy and happiness is only reserved for the last stage and only for those who have obeyed God's commandments and have qualified for the highest degree of glory in the Kingdom of God. The Lord said: &quot;for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants 101:36). We are now in the second stage, and we can't expect to be free from problems. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, &quot;when we tear ourselves free from the entanglements of the world, are we promised a religion of repose or an Eden of ease? No! We are promised tears and trials and toil! But we are also promised final triumph, the mere contemplation of which tingles one's soul&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1974, 16).<br /> <br /> In conclusion, Mormonism teaches that human tragedy and suffering are part of God's plan, something that we need to accept with patience and faith, a necessary schoolmaster that can teach us many important lessons. At the end, to know whether tragedies come in our lives because of natural forces, evil people, or our sins, is less important than the way we react to them. If we choose to learn from them and use them to get closer to God rather than complaining and rebelling, we will be better off when we finally meet our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ after our lives on this earth are through.<br /> <br /> == Learning Compassion ==<br /> <br /> One of the major purposes of human tragedy, whether caused by natural forces or by accidents or man-made violence that God allows to occur, is to help mankind to learn compassion for each other. We can react to these events by rolling up our sleeves and helping as best we can, bearing &quot;one another's burdens, that they may be light;...mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.&quot; (See Mosiah 18:8,9) Mormons stand alongside many others who are moved with compassion and who seek to bring immediate and long-term help to those who are overwhelmed by tragic occurrences such as an earthquake, a hurricane or a tsunami. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sometimes called the &quot;Jesus church&quot; by those of other faiths in remote parts of the world as Mormon [[Humanitarian Efforts|humanitarian aid]] reaches out to them.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that Christ's teaching about loving one another means that this is one of our primary purposes in mortality: to learn how to love each other. Many bridges of understanding and love are built after the devastation of a tragic event, as people come together in a spirit of compassion and rebuilding. Though the sorrow of loss of loved ones remains, an awakening of the power of Christ's love to heal hearts and find new beginnings can bring meaning even in the face of great tragedies. The knowledge of the plan of salvation and [[celestial kingdom, terrestrial kingdom, and telestial kingdom|life after death]] can also help to bring solace to those who mourn the loss of loved ones or of innocent children in a tragedy.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mormon_Beliefs_on_human_tragedy&diff=5609 Mormon Beliefs on human tragedy 2006-06-22T19:57:45Z <p>Reiddp: /* Learning Compassion */</p> <hr /> <div>When people face tragedies they sometimes ask themselves why. Some non-religious people may consider the existence of human tragedy as proof that God doesn’t exist or doesn’t care about mankind. Religious people who have [[faith]] in God and include Him in the explanation of human events may try to explain the occurrence of tragedies in many different ways, sometimes by trying to distinguish between situations that are a consequence of human actions and situations in which God seems to have intervened more directly.<br /> <br /> What does Mormonism have to say about human tragedy and its purpose in people's lives? There isn't any definitive official statement about this issue in the Mormon Church, but a lot can be said by analyzing the words of [[Mormon prophet|prophets]], [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|apostles]], and other Mormon authors.<br /> <br /> According to President Hugh B. Brown, &quot;religious faith gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces. Life is not what Voltaire called it, 'a bad joke'; it is really a school of discipline whose author and teacher is God&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1969, Third Day—Morning Meeting, p. 107). In other words, human tragedy has a purpose in the eyes of God. It is a refining tool that helps men and women to improve their lives, even if this involves suffering.<br /> <br /> The history of Mormonism is full of examples of suffering and tragedy that seem to contradict the belief of a religion that proclaims that &quot;men are, that they might have joy&quot; (2 Nephi 2:25). [[Joseph Smith|The Prophet Joseph Smith]], founder of Mormonism, had to face many tragedies in his life and eventually was [[Martyrdom of Joseph Smith|killed]] at the age of 38. [[Jesus Christ]], the true head of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], was absolutely familiar with suffering and He perfectly accepted it as part of His mission.<br /> <br /> So why do people need to suffer? Why are young, innocent children killed prematurely in car collisions? Or why could terrorists crash planes against the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York a few years ago? To understand these and countless similar events, it may be helpful to question whether God really caused the event or whether He merely allowed it to occur. Nobody knows the answers for sure.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that [[Heavenly Father|God]] is omnipotent and that He has the power to control events in our lives, including eliminating all pain and preventing all accidents. However, it is clear that He doesn't do it all the time. Why?<br /> <br /> == Free Agency and the Three Stages of Life==<br /> <br /> Mormonism proclaims that one of the basic laws of the gospel is free [[agency]] that fosters eternal development. If God were to force us to be careful and righteous all the time we wouldn't be able to learn and grow.<br /> <br /> Another basic belief in Mormonism is that the [[plan of salvation]], established by God the Father, includes three parts or stages. The first stage includes our [[Pre-Mortal Life|pre-mortal lives]] as spirit children with our Heavenly Father (before we were born). The [[Mortality|second stage]] is the one in which we are now, while we live on this earth, and the special purpose of this stage is to receive physical bodies and be tested. The final stage starts after we die and will include our [[resurrection]] and [[Last Judgment|assignment]] to a [[Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms|kingdom of glory]], based on our works here on the earth.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the fullness of joy and happiness is only reserved for the last stage and only for those who have obeyed God's commandments and have qualified for the highest degree of glory in the Kingdom of God. The Lord said: &quot;for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants 101:36). We are now in the second stage, and we can't expect to be free from problems. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, &quot;when we tear ourselves free from the entanglements of the world, are we promised a religion of repose or an Eden of ease? No! We are promised tears and trials and toil! But we are also promised final triumph, the mere contemplation of which tingles one's soul&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1974, 16).<br /> <br /> In conclusion, Mormonism teaches that human tragedy and suffering are part of God's plan, something that we need to accept with patience and faith, a necessary schoolmaster that can teach us many important lessons. At the end, to know whether tragedies come in our lives because of natural forces, evil people, or our sins, is less important than the way we react to them. If we choose to learn from them and use them to get closer to God rather than complaining and rebelling, we will be better off when we finally meet our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ after our lives on this earth are through.<br /> <br /> == Learning Compassion ==<br /> <br /> One of the major purposes of human tragedy, whether caused by natural forces or by accidents or man-made violence that God allows to occur, is to help mankind to learn compassion for each other. We can react to these events by rolling up our sleeves and helping as best we can, bearing &quot;one another's burdens, that they may be light;...mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.&quot; (See Mosiah 18:8,9) Mormons stand alongside many others who are moved with compassion and who seek to bring immediate and long-term help to those who are overwhelmed by tragic occurrences such as an earthquake, a hurricane or a tsunami. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sometimes called the &quot;Jesus church&quot; by those of other faiths in remote parts of the world as Mormon [[Humanitarian Efforts|humanitarian aid]] reaches out to them.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that Christ's teaching about loving one another means that this is one of our primary purposes in mortality: to learn how to love each other. Many bridges of understanding and love are built after the devastation of a tragic event, as people come together in a spirit of compassion and rebuilding. Though the sorrow of loss of loved ones remains, an awakening of the power of Christ's love to heal hearts and find new beginnings can bring meaning even in the face of great tragedies. The knowledge of the plan of salvation and [[three degrees of glory|life after death]] can also help to bring solace to those who mourn the loss of loved ones or of innocent children in a tragedy.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mormon_Beliefs_on_human_tragedy&diff=5608 Mormon Beliefs on human tragedy 2006-06-22T19:56:49Z <p>Reiddp: /* Learning Compassion */</p> <hr /> <div>When people face tragedies they sometimes ask themselves why. Some non-religious people may consider the existence of human tragedy as proof that God doesn’t exist or doesn’t care about mankind. Religious people who have [[faith]] in God and include Him in the explanation of human events may try to explain the occurrence of tragedies in many different ways, sometimes by trying to distinguish between situations that are a consequence of human actions and situations in which God seems to have intervened more directly.<br /> <br /> What does Mormonism have to say about human tragedy and its purpose in people's lives? There isn't any definitive official statement about this issue in the Mormon Church, but a lot can be said by analyzing the words of [[Mormon prophet|prophets]], [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|apostles]], and other Mormon authors.<br /> <br /> According to President Hugh B. Brown, &quot;religious faith gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces. Life is not what Voltaire called it, 'a bad joke'; it is really a school of discipline whose author and teacher is God&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1969, Third Day—Morning Meeting, p. 107). In other words, human tragedy has a purpose in the eyes of God. It is a refining tool that helps men and women to improve their lives, even if this involves suffering.<br /> <br /> The history of Mormonism is full of examples of suffering and tragedy that seem to contradict the belief of a religion that proclaims that &quot;men are, that they might have joy&quot; (2 Nephi 2:25). [[Joseph Smith|The Prophet Joseph Smith]], founder of Mormonism, had to face many tragedies in his life and eventually was [[Martyrdom of Joseph Smith|killed]] at the age of 38. [[Jesus Christ]], the true head of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], was absolutely familiar with suffering and He perfectly accepted it as part of His mission.<br /> <br /> So why do people need to suffer? Why are young, innocent children killed prematurely in car collisions? Or why could terrorists crash planes against the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York a few years ago? To understand these and countless similar events, it may be helpful to question whether God really caused the event or whether He merely allowed it to occur. Nobody knows the answers for sure.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that [[Heavenly Father|God]] is omnipotent and that He has the power to control events in our lives, including eliminating all pain and preventing all accidents. However, it is clear that He doesn't do it all the time. Why?<br /> <br /> == Free Agency and the Three Stages of Life==<br /> <br /> Mormonism proclaims that one of the basic laws of the gospel is free [[agency]] that fosters eternal development. If God were to force us to be careful and righteous all the time we wouldn't be able to learn and grow.<br /> <br /> Another basic belief in Mormonism is that the [[plan of salvation]], established by God the Father, includes three parts or stages. The first stage includes our [[Pre-Mortal Life|pre-mortal lives]] as spirit children with our Heavenly Father (before we were born). The [[Mortality|second stage]] is the one in which we are now, while we live on this earth, and the special purpose of this stage is to receive physical bodies and be tested. The final stage starts after we die and will include our [[resurrection]] and [[Last Judgment|assignment]] to a [[Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms|kingdom of glory]], based on our works here on the earth.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the fullness of joy and happiness is only reserved for the last stage and only for those who have obeyed God's commandments and have qualified for the highest degree of glory in the Kingdom of God. The Lord said: &quot;for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants 101:36). We are now in the second stage, and we can't expect to be free from problems. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, &quot;when we tear ourselves free from the entanglements of the world, are we promised a religion of repose or an Eden of ease? No! We are promised tears and trials and toil! But we are also promised final triumph, the mere contemplation of which tingles one's soul&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1974, 16).<br /> <br /> In conclusion, Mormonism teaches that human tragedy and suffering are part of God's plan, something that we need to accept with patience and faith, a necessary schoolmaster that can teach us many important lessons. At the end, to know whether tragedies come in our lives because of natural forces, evil people, or our sins, is less important than the way we react to them. If we choose to learn from them and use them to get closer to God rather than complaining and rebelling, we will be better off when we finally meet our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ after our lives on this earth are through.<br /> <br /> == Learning Compassion ==<br /> <br /> One of the major purposes of human tragedy, whether caused by natural forces or by accidents or man-made violence that God allows to occur, is to help mankind to learn compassion for each other. We can react to these events by rolling up our sleeves and helping as best we can, bearing &quot;one another's burdens, that they may be light;...mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.&quot; (See Mosiah 18:8,9) Mormons stand alongside many others who are moved with compassion and who seek to bring immediate and long-term help to those who are overwhelmed by tragic occurrences such as an earthquake, a hurricane or a tsunami. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sometimes called the &quot;Jesus church&quot; by those of other faiths in remote parts of the world as Mormon [[Humanitarian Efforts|humanitarian aid]] reaches out to them.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that Christ's teaching about loving one another means that this is one of our primary purposes in mortality: to learn how to love each other. Many bridges of understanding and love are built after the devastation of a tragic event, as people come together in a spirit of compassion and rebuilding. Though the sorrow of loss of loved ones remains, an awakening of the power of Christ's love to heal hearts and find new beginnings can bring meaning even in the face of great tragedies. The knowledge of the plan of salvation and [[celestial kingdom|life after death]] can also help to bring solace to those who mourn the loss of loved ones or of innocent children in a tragedy.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Plan_of_Salvation&diff=5606 Plan of Salvation 2006-06-22T19:44:10Z <p>Reiddp: /* The Steps of the Plan of Salvation */</p> <hr /> <div>''Adapted from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.''<br /> <br /> The '''[http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/purpose_life.htm Plan of Salvation]''', also known as the plan of happiness, plan of mercy and plan of redemption, is a fundamental teaching in Mormon doctrine. The plan of salvation represents the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ as it is experienced and lived by mankind. It's purpose, according to the Lord is &quot;to bring to pass the [[immortality]] and [[eternal life]] of man&quot; (Moses 1:39). It includes the [[Creation]], the [[Fall]], and the [[Atonement of Jesus Christ|Atonement]], along with all God-given laws, ordinances, and doctrines. After this life is the Resurrection, and Judgement.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that &quot;through the [[Atonement of Jesus Christ|Atonement]] of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the [[First Principles of the Gospel|Gospel]].&quot; (See Third [[Articles of Faith#Mormon|Article of Faith]].) Mankind may thus return to live with God as glorified, eternal beings. However, the conditions that Christ requires individuals to fulfil do not of themselves merit salvation, but are required for other reasons. It is only through His merits, mercy, and grace that salvation comes.<br /> <br /> The gift of [[immortality]] is freely given to all because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross and his subsequent [[Resurrection]] (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/1_cor/15/22 1 Corinthians 15:22]), although salvation from [[sin]], or spiritual [[death]], is conditional. Entrance to the highest Heavenly Kingdom, the &quot;Celestial Kingdom&quot; (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/1_cor/15/40 1 Corinthians 15:40]), is only granted to those who accept Jesus through [[baptism]] into the Church by its [[priesthood]] authority, follow Church doctrine, and live righteous lives. Faith alone, or faith without works, (i.e. dead faith), is not considered sufficient to attain exaltation. (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/james/2/26 James 2:26].)<br /> <br /> [[Exaltation]] is the reward which Mormons believe is a gift given to the righteous who have endured faithfully, trusting in Jesus Christ and repenting of their sins. This includes those whose first opportunity to hear the gospel is in the afterlife (see [[Baptism for the Dead|baptism for the dead]]). Through the process of exaltation, a person can eventually become like Jesus Christ, or as it is expressed in scripture, a joint-heir with Him {See [http://scriptures.lds.org/rom/8/17 Romans 8:17].)<br /> <br /> '''For More Information''' visit [http://www.meetmormonmissionaries.org/plan_of_salvation.html The Plan of Salvation] on [http://www.meetmormonmissionaries.org/index.html MeetMormonMissionaries.org]<br /> <br /> ==The Steps of the Plan of Salvation==<br /> *[[Pre-Mortal Life|Pre-mortal Existence]]<br /> :Before we came to earth we lived with Heavenly Father. We are His children. We learned, formed relationships, and developed talents. However, we could only progress so far, so Heavenly Father presented us with a way to become more like Him. <br /> *[[Creation]] and [[Fall]]<br /> :According to Mormonism these were necessary steps. The Fall is actually a positive event that provides the necessary mortal experience which we need to become like God.<br /> *Birth<br /> :Those who chose to follow Heavenly Father’s plan have been or will be born. Birth is the way we gain physical bodies, and is an important step in the plan of salvation. <br /> *Mortality<br /> :This time on earth is like a test. We need to learn how to have faith in God and follow His commandments. We are also learning how to live in and lead families. <br /> *Death<br /> Like birth, death is a doorway into a new life. Through death we again enter the Spirit world. <br /> *[[Spirit World]]<br /> In the spirit world there will be two conditions of existence, spirit prison; for those who did not have the opportunity to learn the gospel of Christ or who rejected it, and spirit paradise. Those in spirit prison will have the opportunity to learn about and accept the gospel. <br /> <br /> The term &quot;spirit prison&quot; does not have the same connotation as a &quot;prison&quot; on earth, but only means that a spirit in that condition cannot advance in light, knowledge and preparation for eternity until they receive the covenants of the gospel of Christ. Those who did good works and did not commit major sins while living by the light and knowledge that they had, will rest from care and sorrow but will still need to progress, hence their condition can be described as a spirit prison, but it is a good place. The wicked, however, will suffer in spirit prison, though they will still have an opportunity to hear the plan of repentance, forgiveness, and salvation through Jesus Christ.<br /> *[[Resurrection]]<br /> This is the reuniting of the body and spirit. Every person who has ever lived will be resurrected. <br /> *Judgment<br /> After Christ’s second coming and His millennial reign the great judgment will begin. During this time all will be judged for their actions during mortality. Each person will be put into one of four places based on their actions; the Celestial (highest) kingdom, Terrestrial kingdom, Telestial kingdom, Outer Darkness (equivalent of Hell, only a few will be sent here).<br /> <br /> ==[[Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms|Kingdoms of Glory]]==<br /> For Church members, the kingdoms of glory, as follows, are congruent with Christ's words in the New Testament: &quot;In my house there are many mansions...&quot;<br /> <br /> The ''[[Celestial Kingdom]]'' (whose glory is compared to the brightness of the sun in the sky, as its inhabitants have all truth and light) is where the righteous will live with God and with their families. Those who have had the ordinances of eternal marriage, which is performed in [[Inside Mormon temples| temples]], and baptism may be exalted if they are found worthy by God. Accountable individuals must be baptized and repent to gain entrance to the Celestial Kingdom. Mormonism teaches that all children who die before the age of accountability automatically inherit a celestial glory.<br /> <br /> Those good people who are not valiant in following Jesus or who do not accept the Gospel do not qualify for exaltation and will be consigned to the ''[[Terrestrial Kingdom]]'' (whose glory is compared to the brightness of the moon in the sky). This kingdom is one of great glory, but without the presence of God the Father. An ultimate willingness to keep the &quot;law of carnal commandments&quot; (the [[Ten Commandments]]) is considered essential to enter this kingdom.<br /> <br /> Murderers, other criminals, and the like who do not accept the [[Atonement of Jesus Christ]] will eventually spend eternity with people of like intent in the ''[[Telestial Kingdom]]'', and their glory will be as that of the stars in the night sky. This is also considered a kingdom of glory and has been described as being better than our current earthly life. All those who do not qualify for a higher degree of glory will automatically enter this kingdom unless they deny the [[Holy Ghost]], a sin it is believed very few people are able to commit. However, those who inherit this kingdom will still have to suffer for a time because of their sins and they will have to pay the penalty for their disobedience in life.<br /> <br /> Those few people who do deny the Holy Ghost, after gaining a full knowledge of the Gospel, willfully deny and contend against the Holy Ghost, are believed to inherit no glory. Most members of the Church refer to this place as [[Outer Darkness]]; this is not to be confused with traditional Christianity's definition of the term. An individual so banished is called a [[Son of Perdition]]. Forgiveness is not possible for these souls, though they will be resurrected. <br /> <br /> <br /> ==Enduring to the End==<br /> Latter-day Saints believe that life involves enduring to the end, and is not just a &quot;one-time&quot; religious experience. A life of discipleship is daily spiritual maintenance, charitable works, and personal development — social, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual development. It also involves overcoming personal trials, attending church and temple, rearing families, and doing work for the dead. Ultimately, the goal is for [[sanctification]], the process of having the same character that God has: perfect love, perfect mercy, and perfect truth.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Millennium&diff=5443 Millennium 2006-06-07T03:26:30Z <p>Reiddp: /* What will life be like during the Millennium? */</p> <hr /> <div>In the doctrine of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] the millennium is a “thousand year period of peace that will begin when [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] returns to reign personally on the earth (see LDS Guide to the Scriptures and [[Articles of Faith|Article of Faith]] 10).”<br /> <br /> ===When will the Millennium begin?===<br /> :The terrors of the night are vanishing away. Where there was fear and ignorance and superstition, now there is love and light and pure religion. Fear has become courage; ignorance is transformed into wisdom; superstition and tradition are replaced by the light and truth of heaven. Soon the wolves of wickedness will no longer howl and the jackals of sin no longer snivel and snipe at the ongoing kingdom, and the great millennial day will be upon us (Bruce R. McConkie, “The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee,” ''Ensign'', May 1978, 12).<br /> <br /> The millennium will begin at the time of Christ’s [[Second Coming]]. When Christ returns a [[resurrection]] will occur. All those who have been righteous will have their bodies and spirits made whole again. These righteous will help Christ rule and lead His Church. Just after the beginning of the Millennium a second group of righteous individuals will be resurrected. These people were not as righteous as those in the first group but will still have the opportunity to participate in Christ’s millennial reign. <br /> <br /> ===Who will be on the Earth during the Milliennium?===<br /> The wicked of the earth will be destroyed in pestilence, disease, and war before Christ comes again. Only good, just, and righteous people will remain on the earth. This does not mean that all will be members of the LDS faith. The [[Mormon prophet|Prophet]] [[Brigham Young]] taught that there would be many on the earth that were good men and women but had not yet learned of the gospel. Those who have passed away and have been resurrected will be able to visit the earth and will help build up the kingdom. The City of Enoch will return to the earth and play an important role.<br /> <br /> ===What will life be like during the Millennium?===<br /> *There will be no war (see Isa. 2:4, 2 Ne. 12:4, Micah 4:3). <br /> *The earth will be changed so that it is again like it was at the time of the Garden of Eden (see Ezek. 36: 35). <br /> *[[Satan]] will have no power over the people and righteousness, love of neighbor, and peace will reign (see 1 Ne. 22: 26). <br /> *People will continue to have children and parents will have the joy of watching their children grow up in righteousness (see D&amp;C 45: 58). <br /> *People will continue to live, but when they get old they will not suffer death, they will be automatically changed from having a mortal body to having an immortal body (see D&amp;C 63: 51). <br /> *The members of the Church will be engaged in performing [[Mormon temple|temple work]] for the living and the dead. Resurrected beings (those who have passed away) will be able to help the living find names and correct any mistakes that may have been made. <br /> *Through temple work all of the earthly family will be linked from generation to generation all the way back to Adam. <br /> *Members will also be busy teaching the gospel. Everyone will have the opportunity to hear it and choose for themselves whether or not they will accept it. <br /> *Christ will rule over the Church and the government in perfection. <br /> *There will be two capital cities: Jerusalem and the [[New Jerusalem]] in North America. <br /> *Every living creature will live in peace, including animals. <br /> *There will be no disease. <br /> *There will be an increase of understanding and knowledge. <br /> *People will continue to marry, have families, plant food, harvest crops, and build houses. They will help each other to build Zion, &quot;the pure in heart,&quot; and there will be no poor among them.<br /> <br /> ===What will happen at the end of the Millennium?===<br /> Satan will be loosed for a short time and some people will believe him and follow him. There will be a final battle between Satan and his followers and Christ and his followers. Satan will lose the battle and be defeated forever. The [[Last Judgment|final judgment]] will then be given to all who have ever lived on the earth.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Millennium&diff=5442 Millennium 2006-06-07T03:20:36Z <p>Reiddp: /* Who will be on the Earth during the Milliennium? */</p> <hr /> <div>In the doctrine of [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] the millennium is a “thousand year period of peace that will begin when [[Jesus Christ|Christ]] returns to reign personally on the earth (see LDS Guide to the Scriptures and [[Articles of Faith|Article of Faith]] 10).”<br /> <br /> ===When will the Millennium begin?===<br /> :The terrors of the night are vanishing away. Where there was fear and ignorance and superstition, now there is love and light and pure religion. Fear has become courage; ignorance is transformed into wisdom; superstition and tradition are replaced by the light and truth of heaven. Soon the wolves of wickedness will no longer howl and the jackals of sin no longer snivel and snipe at the ongoing kingdom, and the great millennial day will be upon us (Bruce R. McConkie, “The Morning Breaks; the Shadows Flee,” ''Ensign'', May 1978, 12).<br /> <br /> The millennium will begin at the time of Christ’s [[Second Coming]]. When Christ returns a [[resurrection]] will occur. All those who have been righteous will have their bodies and spirits made whole again. These righteous will help Christ rule and lead His Church. Just after the beginning of the Millennium a second group of righteous individuals will be resurrected. These people were not as righteous as those in the first group but will still have the opportunity to participate in Christ’s millennial reign. <br /> <br /> ===Who will be on the Earth during the Milliennium?===<br /> The wicked of the earth will be destroyed in pestilence, disease, and war before Christ comes again. Only good, just, and righteous people will remain on the earth. This does not mean that all will be members of the LDS faith. The [[Mormon prophet|Prophet]] [[Brigham Young]] taught that there would be many on the earth that were good men and women but had not yet learned of the gospel. Those who have passed away and have been resurrected will be able to visit the earth and will help build up the kingdom. The City of Enoch will return to the earth and play an important role.<br /> <br /> ===What will life be like during the Millennium?===<br /> *There will be no war (see Isa. 2:4, 2 Ne. 12:4, Micah 4:3). <br /> *The earth will be changed so that it is again like it was at the time of the Garden of Eden (see Ezek. 36: 35). <br /> *[[Satan]] will have no power over the people and righteousness will reign (see 1 Ne. 22: 26). <br /> *People will continue to have children and parents will have the joy of watching their children grow up in righteousness (see D&amp;C 45: 58). <br /> *People will continue to live, but when they get old they will not suffer death, they will be automatically changed from having a mortal body to having an immortal body (see D&amp;C 63: 51). <br /> *The members of the Church will be engaged in performing [[Mormon temple|temple work]] for the living and the dead. Resurrected beings (those who have passed away) will be able to help the living find names and correct any mistakes that may have been made. <br /> *Through temple work all of the earthly family will be linked from generation to generation all the way back to Adam. <br /> *Members will also be busy teaching the gospel. Everyone will have the opportunity to hear it and choose for themselves whether or not they will accept it. <br /> *Christ will rule over the Church and the government in perfection. <br /> *There will be two capital cities: Jerusalem and the [[New Jerusalem]] in North America. <br /> *Every living creature will live in peace, including animals. <br /> *There will be no disease. <br /> *There will be an increase of understanding and knowledge. <br /> *People will continue to marry, have families, plant food, harvest crops, and build houses. <br /> <br /> ===What will happen at the end of the Millennium?===<br /> Satan will be loosed for a short time and some people will believe him and follow him. There will be a final battle between Satan and his followers and Christ and his followers. Satan will lose the battle and be defeated forever. The [[Last Judgment|final judgment]] will then be given to all who have ever lived on the earth.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Coming&diff=5441 Second Coming 2006-06-07T03:17:56Z <p>Reiddp: /* Major Events Preceding the Second Coming */</p> <hr /> <div>==Introduction==<br /> Members of [[Mormon Church]] have always looked forward to the Second Coming of Jesus. As the true name, [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], suggest, Mormonism proclaims that these are the last days. No [[Mormon prophet]], not even [http://www.shields-research.org/General/LDS_Leaders/1stPres/Joseph_Smith/56_Year.htm Joseph Smith], has claimed to know when this momentous event will occur. Mormon leaders encourage members to know the signs of His coming and watch for them, but also to live their lives, prepare for the future with education and savings, as though it is still a long way off. <br /> <br /> [[Jesus Christ]] taught his disciples to look for the signs of his coming. The [[Bible]], the [[Book of Mormon]], the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], and the [[Pearl of Great Price]] all record various prophesies about the Second Coming. The following is a brief, incomplete summary of what Mormons believe will be the major events prior to Jesus' return and His ushering in the [[Millennium]], a thousand years of peace and righteousness where Jesus Christ will reign on the earth. As the tenth [[Articles of Faith|Article of Faith]] declares:<br /> <br /> :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.<br /> <br /> Mormon Church leaders also consistently teach that each person on earth should live their lives as though preparing for the Second Coming right now, and not &quot;wait for the Millenium.&quot; (Brigham Young)<br /> <br /> ==Scriptural Passages about the Second Coming==<br /> <br /> Prophecies about the Second Coming of Jesus can be found in many scriptures. For Mormons, some of the major places where prophecies are recorded in the [[Scriptures|scriptures]] are:<br /> <br /> ===Old Testament:===<br /> *Isaiah 2<br /> *Isaiah 11<br /> *Joel 2<br /> *Daniel<br /> *Malachi 4<br /> <br /> ===New Testament:===<br /> *Matthew 24<br /> *2 Timothy 3<br /> *2 Thess. 2<br /> <br /> ===Book of Mormon===<br /> *1 Nephi 14<br /> *Mormon 8<br /> <br /> ===Doctrine and Covenants===<br /> *Section 45<br /> *Section 88<br /> *Section 133<br /> <br /> ===Pearl of Great Price===<br /> *Moses 6<br /> *Joseph Smith-Matthew<br /> <br /> ==Major Events Preceding the Second Coming==<br /> It would be difficult to write something that encapsulates all Mormon beliefs about the Second Coming. This list merely shows some of the major beliefs and significant events, some of which have come to pass and some have not yet, which Mormonism teaches will precede Jesus' return. <br /> <br /> 1. There will be wickedness, wars and turmoil.<br /> :“Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. … For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6–7). This is happening now, and will continue until Christ comes and brings with him peace. <br /> <br /> 2. The Gospel is restored.<br /> :“Light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel” (D&amp;C 45:28); &quot;And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.&quot; (Rev. 14:6) This occurred when the Prophet Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830.<br /> <br /> 3. The Book of Mormon will be brought to the earth.<br /> :In Old Testament times the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel foresaw the coming of the Book of Mormon (see Isaiah 29:4–18; Ezekiel 37:16–20). This is happening now. The Book of Mormon has been translated, and it is being given to all who live on the earth. <br /> <br /> 4. The Gospel will be preached to the entire World.<br /> :The “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14). This prophecy is also already happening. The Church has missionaries in 162 nations. <br /> <br /> 5. Elijah the prophet is to return to the earth.<br /> :Malachi, who lived after the Babylonian captivity, said:<br /> :“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Mal. 4:5–6.) <br /> <br /> :This prophecy has already been fulfilled. On April 3, 1836, Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith the prophet and said, “Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.” (D&amp;C 110:13–16.)<br /> <br /> 6. The descendants of Judah and of all the House of Israel are to gather from the four corners of the earth.<br /> :“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa. 11:12.)<br /> <br /> 7. The descendants of Judah will use gold and silver from the nations of the earth to reclaim the land.<br /> :Again Zechariah says: “And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.” (Zech. 14:14.)<br /> <br /> 8. The land of Jerusalem is to be made productive.<br /> :“… the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.” (Ezek. 36:34–36. Italics added.)<br /> <br /> 9. The descendants of Judah will be attacked by their former conquerors, but they will be delivered.<br /> :“In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zech. 12:6, 9. Italics added.)<br /> <br /> :“Behold, they shall surely gather together against thee, not by me; whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.<br /> :“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. …” (3 Ne. 22:15, 17; quoted by the Savior from Isa. 54:15, 17.)<br /> <br /> 10. Jerusalem will come under the control of Israel.<br /> :… and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.” (Zech. 12:6.) “And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” (Zech. 2:12.)<br /> <br /> 11. The Jewish people will begin to believe in Jesus Christ and eventually the gospel will be preached to them.<br /> :“… this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14.) “And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fulness of my gospel shall be preached unto them; And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name.” (3 Ne. 20: 30–31.)<br /> <br /> 12. A new temple will be built in Jerusalem.<br /> :“Let your hands be strong, … that the temple might be built.” [Zech. 8:9] A description of the temple is given in Ezekiel 40–48 [Ezek. 40–48]. President Wilford Woodruff said:<br /> <br /> :“… Christ will not come until these things come to pass. Jerusalem has got to be rebuilt. The temple has got to be built.…These things have been revealed by the prophets; they will have their fulfillment.” (MS, vol. 52 [Oct. 6, 1890], p. 740.)<br /> <br /> 11. A new leader named David (a descendant of the ancient King David) is to become a great leader in Israel.<br /> :The Prophet Joseph Smith, said: “… the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and will be given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage.” (DHC, vol. 6, p. 253.) Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Hosea and Zechariah also prophesy of this event. <br /> <br /> 12. The nations of the earth will gather together against the descendants of Judah, and Judah will be smitten.<br /> :“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” (Zech. 14:2.)<br /> <br /> 13. Two prophets are to be raised up to the Jewish nation.<br /> :“Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation? [And the Lord answered:]<br /> :“A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers.” (D&amp;C 77:15.)<br /> <br /> 14. The [[Savior]] is to appear to the descendants of Judah.<br /> :“… they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him. …” (Zech. 12:10.) <br /> <br /> 15. The [[Messiah]] will lead the people of Israel to victory and later he will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.<br /> :“Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” (Zech. 14:3, 9.)<br /> <br /> 16. Two great world capitals are to be established—one in Zion and one in Jerusalem.<br /> :“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:2–3.)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Second_Coming&diff=5440 Second Coming 2006-06-07T03:16:25Z <p>Reiddp: /* Introduction */</p> <hr /> <div>==Introduction==<br /> Members of [[Mormon Church]] have always looked forward to the Second Coming of Jesus. As the true name, [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], suggest, Mormonism proclaims that these are the last days. No [[Mormon prophet]], not even [http://www.shields-research.org/General/LDS_Leaders/1stPres/Joseph_Smith/56_Year.htm Joseph Smith], has claimed to know when this momentous event will occur. Mormon leaders encourage members to know the signs of His coming and watch for them, but also to live their lives, prepare for the future with education and savings, as though it is still a long way off. <br /> <br /> [[Jesus Christ]] taught his disciples to look for the signs of his coming. The [[Bible]], the [[Book of Mormon]], the [[Doctrine and Covenants]], and the [[Pearl of Great Price]] all record various prophesies about the Second Coming. The following is a brief, incomplete summary of what Mormons believe will be the major events prior to Jesus' return and His ushering in the [[Millennium]], a thousand years of peace and righteousness where Jesus Christ will reign on the earth. As the tenth [[Articles of Faith|Article of Faith]] declares:<br /> <br /> :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.<br /> <br /> Mormon Church leaders also consistently teach that each person on earth should live their lives as though preparing for the Second Coming right now, and not &quot;wait for the Millenium.&quot; (Brigham Young)<br /> <br /> ==Scriptural Passages about the Second Coming==<br /> <br /> Prophecies about the Second Coming of Jesus can be found in many scriptures. For Mormons, some of the major places where prophecies are recorded in the [[Scriptures|scriptures]] are:<br /> <br /> ===Old Testament:===<br /> *Isaiah 2<br /> *Isaiah 11<br /> *Joel 2<br /> *Daniel<br /> *Malachi 4<br /> <br /> ===New Testament:===<br /> *Matthew 24<br /> *2 Timothy 3<br /> *2 Thess. 2<br /> <br /> ===Book of Mormon===<br /> *1 Nephi 14<br /> *Mormon 8<br /> <br /> ===Doctrine and Covenants===<br /> *Section 45<br /> *Section 88<br /> *Section 133<br /> <br /> ===Pearl of Great Price===<br /> *Moses 6<br /> *Joseph Smith-Matthew<br /> <br /> ==Major Events Preceding the Second Coming==<br /> It would be difficult to write something that encapsulates all Mormon beliefs about the Second Coming. This list merely shows some of the major beliefs and significant events, some of which have come to pass and some have not yet, which Mormonism teaches will precede Jesus' return. <br /> <br /> 1. There will be wickedness, wars and turmoil.<br /> :“Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars. … For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom” (Matthew 24:6–7). This is happening now, and will continue until Christ comes and brings with him peace. <br /> <br /> 2. The Gospel is restored.<br /> :“Light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel” (D&amp;C 45:28); &quot;And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people.&quot; (Rev. 14:6) This occurred when the Prophet Joseph Smith organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on April 6, 1830.<br /> <br /> 3. The Book of Mormon will be brought to the earth.<br /> :In Old Testament times the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel foresaw the coming of the Book of Mormon (see Isaiah 29:4–18; Ezekiel 37:16–20). This is happening now. The Book of Mormon has been translated, and it is being given to all who live on the earth. <br /> <br /> 4. The Gospel will be preached to the entire World.<br /> :The “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations” (Matthew 24:14). This prophecy is also already happening. The Church has missionaries in 162 nations. <br /> <br /> 5. Elijah the prophet is to return to the earth.<br /> :Malachi, who lived after the Babylonian captivity, said:<br /> :“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord: And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.” (Mal. 4:5–6.) <br /> <br /> :This prophecy has already been fulfilled. On April 3, 1836, Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith the prophet and said, “Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi—testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse—Therefore, the keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands; and by this ye may know that the great and dreadful day of the Lord is near, even at the doors.” (D&amp;C 110:13–16.)<br /> <br /> 6. The descendants of Judah are to gather from the four corners of the earth.<br /> :“And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa. 11:12.)<br /> <br /> 7. The descendants of Judah will use gold and silver from the nations of the earth to reclaim the land.<br /> :Again Zechariah says: “And Judah also shall fight at Jerusalem; and the wealth of all the heathen round about shall be gathered together, gold, and silver, and apparel, in great abundance.” (Zech. 14:14.)<br /> <br /> 8. The land of Jerusalem is to be made productive.<br /> :“… the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the sight of all that passed by. And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become fenced, and are inhabited. Then the heathen that are left round about you shall know that I the Lord build the ruined places, and plant that that was desolate: I the Lord have spoken it, and I will do it.” (Ezek. 36:34–36. Italics added.)<br /> <br /> 9. The descendants of Judah will be attacked by their former conquerors, but they will be delivered.<br /> :“In that day will I make the governors of Judah like an hearth of fire among the wood, and like a torch of fire in a sheaf; and they shall devour all the people round about, on the right hand and on the left: and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem. And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.” (Zech. 12:6, 9. Italics added.)<br /> <br /> :“Behold, they shall surely gather together against thee, not by me; whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake.<br /> :“No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper. …” (3 Ne. 22:15, 17; quoted by the Savior from Isa. 54:15, 17.)<br /> <br /> 10. Jerusalem will come under the control of Israel.<br /> :… and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem.” (Zech. 12:6.) “And the Lord shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” (Zech. 2:12.)<br /> <br /> 11. The Jewish people will begin to believe in Jesus Christ and eventually the gospel will be preached to them.<br /> :“… this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” (Matt. 24:14.) “And it shall come to pass that the time cometh, when the fulness of my gospel shall be preached unto them; And they shall believe in me, that I am Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and shall pray unto the Father in my name.” (3 Ne. 20: 30–31.)<br /> <br /> 12. A new temple will be built in Jerusalem.<br /> :“Let your hands be strong, … that the temple might be built.” [Zech. 8:9] A description of the temple is given in Ezekiel 40–48 [Ezek. 40–48]. President Wilford Woodruff said:<br /> <br /> :“… Christ will not come until these things come to pass. Jerusalem has got to be rebuilt. The temple has got to be built.…These things have been revealed by the prophets; they will have their fulfillment.” (MS, vol. 52 [Oct. 6, 1890], p. 740.)<br /> <br /> 11. A new leader named David (a descendant of the ancient King David) is to become a great leader in Israel.<br /> :The Prophet Joseph Smith, said: “… the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and will be given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage.” (DHC, vol. 6, p. 253.) Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Hosea and Zechariah also prophesy of this event. <br /> <br /> 12. The nations of the earth will gather together against the descendants of Judah, and Judah will be smitten.<br /> :“For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” (Zech. 14:2.)<br /> <br /> 13. Two prophets are to be raised up to the Jewish nation.<br /> :“Q. What is to be understood by the two witnesses, in the eleventh chapter of Revelation? [And the Lord answered:]<br /> :“A. They are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers.” (D&amp;C 77:15.)<br /> <br /> 14. The [[Savior]] is to appear to the descendants of Judah.<br /> :“… they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him. …” (Zech. 12:10.) <br /> <br /> 15. The [[Messiah]] will lead the people of Israel to victory and later he will rule as King of kings and Lord of lords.<br /> :“Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those nations, as when he fought in the day of battle. And the Lord shall be king over all the earth; in that day shall there be one Lord, and his name one.” (Zech. 14:3, 9.)<br /> <br /> 16. Two great world capitals are to be established—one in Zion and one in Jerusalem.<br /> :“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:2–3.)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Church_Welfare_Program&diff=5414 Church Welfare Program 2006-06-06T17:49:52Z <p>Reiddp: /* Ruling Principle of Work */</p> <hr /> <div>President Marion G. Romney said, “Welfare is not a program of the Church; it is the essence of the Church” (qtd. by Vaughn J. Featherstone, “Now Abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity”, ''Ensign'', July 1973, p.35).<br /> <br /> Shortly after [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] was organized a commandment was given to take care of the poor:<br /> :And now, I give unto the church in these parts a commandment, that certain men among them shall be appointed, and they shall be appointed by the voice of the church; And they shall look to the poor and the needy, and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer; and send them forth to the place which I have commanded them; (D&amp;C 38:34-5).<br /> Since that time, the Church and its members have done their best to follow the [[Jesus Christ|Savior's]] example of charity by helping those in need. In 1935, during the hard years of the Great Depression the Welfare Program was instituted as a worldwide program. <br /> <br /> The Church runs numerous programs that fall under the umbrella category known as the Welfare Program. One of these programs is [[Fasting|fast offerings]]. Each month the members of the Church are asked to neither eat nor drink for two meals. They are then asked to give the Church the money they would have spent on those meals. This money is first given to help any of the needy in the [[Wards|ward]], any excess is sent to other areas with people in need. <br /> <br /> [[LDS Family Services]] is also another part of the Welfare Program. Although LDS Family Services is a separate corporation, [[Roles of a Bishop|bishops]] (who oversee local welfare needs and distribution) refer members of the Church who are in need of its help. LDS Family Services provide [[adoption]] services, counseling for unwed parents, placing children in foster homes, and therapy and counseling for families or individuals experiencing other problems. <br /> <br /> Another part of the welfare program is the [[LDS Welfare Cannery|Bishop’s Storehouse]]. The Bishop’s Storehouse is a place where goods are kept to be distributed to those in need. It is filled with food and other household items such as soap, all of which are produced by the Church. When a family or individual is going through a hard time, they can go to their [[bishop]] and he will help them decide what they need. <br /> <br /> The Church also provides [[Employment Programs|employment programs]]. The Church has set up centers around the world where people can go and get help finding a job or learning marketable skills. The Church also runs a program known as the [[Perpetual Education Fund]]. Through this program, people can apply for aid from the Church to pay for their schooling. After they have completed their education they are asked to return the money they used so that others will be helped. Anyone can donate to this fund as well. <br /> <br /> [[Humanitarian Efforts|Humanitarian Services]] is also an extension of the Welfare Program. Humanitarian Services provide aid to those in need because of disasters or poverty. They provide food, water, vaccinations, clothing, and school supplies. Donations can also be given to this area of the Welfare Program through the Humanitarian Fund. Members of the Church are encouraged to help in this effort by making kits. Kits are divided into categories such as hygiene, school, and baby kits. <br /> <br /> == Ruling Principle of Work ==<br /> <br /> The First Presidency said in 1936: &quot;Our primary purpose was to set up, in so far as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift, and self respect be once more established amongst our people. . . . Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership.&quot; (Conference Report, October 1936, p. 3.)<br /> <br /> &quot;In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground. . . .&quot; (Genesis 3:19.) This commandment, given to Adam, applies to all men. The Church Welfare plan provides for a &quot;hand up,&quot; not a &quot;hand out,&quot; as men and women are offered assistance in ways that contribute to their long-term ability to become as self-reliant as possible, and in ways that maintain their self-respect and belief in their own individual capacity.<br /> <br /> '''For More Information''' visit:<br /> * The LDS Church's [http://www.providentliving.org/ Provident Living]<br /> * [http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/welcome/0,6892,407-1-0,00.html LDS Philanthropies]<br /> * Lightplanet's [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/welfare/ Welfare and Humanitarian Assistance]</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Church_Welfare_Program&diff=5413 Church Welfare Program 2006-06-06T17:34:56Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>President Marion G. Romney said, “Welfare is not a program of the Church; it is the essence of the Church” (qtd. by Vaughn J. Featherstone, “Now Abideth Faith, Hope, and Charity”, ''Ensign'', July 1973, p.35).<br /> <br /> Shortly after [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] was organized a commandment was given to take care of the poor:<br /> :And now, I give unto the church in these parts a commandment, that certain men among them shall be appointed, and they shall be appointed by the voice of the church; And they shall look to the poor and the needy, and administer to their relief that they shall not suffer; and send them forth to the place which I have commanded them; (D&amp;C 38:34-5).<br /> Since that time, the Church and its members have done their best to follow the [[Jesus Christ|Savior's]] example of charity by helping those in need. In 1935, during the hard years of the Great Depression the Welfare Program was instituted as a worldwide program. <br /> <br /> The Church runs numerous programs that fall under the umbrella category known as the Welfare Program. One of these programs is [[Fasting|fast offerings]]. Each month the members of the Church are asked to neither eat nor drink for two meals. They are then asked to give the Church the money they would have spent on those meals. This money is first given to help any of the needy in the [[Wards|ward]], any excess is sent to other areas with people in need. <br /> <br /> [[LDS Family Services]] is also another part of the Welfare Program. Although LDS Family Services is a separate corporation, [[Roles of a Bishop|bishops]] (who oversee local welfare needs and distribution) refer members of the Church who are in need of its help. LDS Family Services provide [[adoption]] services, counseling for unwed parents, placing children in foster homes, and therapy and counseling for families or individuals experiencing other problems. <br /> <br /> Another part of the welfare program is the [[LDS Welfare Cannery|Bishop’s Storehouse]]. The Bishop’s Storehouse is a place where goods are kept to be distributed to those in need. It is filled with food and other household items such as soap, all of which are produced by the Church. When a family or individual is going through a hard time, they can go to their [[bishop]] and he will help them decide what they need. <br /> <br /> The Church also provides [[Employment Programs|employment programs]]. The Church has set up centers around the world where people can go and get help finding a job or learning marketable skills. The Church also runs a program known as the [[Perpetual Education Fund]]. Through this program, people can apply for aid from the Church to pay for their schooling. After they have completed their education they are asked to return the money they used so that others will be helped. Anyone can donate to this fund as well. <br /> <br /> [[Humanitarian Efforts|Humanitarian Services]] is also an extension of the Welfare Program. Humanitarian Services provide aid to those in need because of disasters or poverty. They provide food, water, vaccinations, clothing, and school supplies. Donations can also be given to this area of the Welfare Program through the Humanitarian Fund. Members of the Church are encouraged to help in this effort by making kits. Kits are divided into categories such as hygiene, school, and baby kits. <br /> <br /> == Ruling Principle of Work ==<br /> <br /> President Marion G. Romney taught the importance of work as an underlying principle in the Church Welfare program:<br /> <br /> &quot;In announcing the welfare program in 1936, the First Presidency said: 'Our primary purpose was to set up, in so far as it might be possible, a system under which the curse of idleness would be done away with, the evils of a dole abolished, and independence, industry, thrift, and self respect be once more established amongst our people. . . . Work is to be re-enthroned as the ruling principle of the lives of our Church membership.' (Conference Report, October 1936, p. 3.)<br /> <br /> To care for people, the Saints, on any other basis is to do them more harm than good.<br /> <br /> The purpose of Church welfare is not to relieve one from taking care of himself nor to relieve a husband from taking care of his wife. It is not to relieve parents from taking care of their children nor children from taking care of their parents.<br /> <br /> It is the obligation of everyone to work. The obligation to sustain one's self was divinely imposed upon the human race at the very beginning. 'In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground. . . .' (Genesis 3:19.) In these words the Lord himself gave to Adam and Eve, as they left the Garden of Eden, the economic law under which people are to live their lives upon the earth.&quot;<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> '''For More Information''' visit:<br /> * The LDS Church's [http://www.providentliving.org/ Provident Living]<br /> * [http://www.lds.org/ldsfoundation/welcome/0,6892,407-1-0,00.html LDS Philanthropies]<br /> * Lightplanet's [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/welfare/ Welfare and Humanitarian Assistance]</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Agency&diff=5412 Agency 2006-06-06T16:55:32Z <p>Reiddp: /* Same Sex Marriage, Agency, and Government Role in Protecting Children */</p> <hr /> <div>Agency is the ability God gives people to choose for themselves. This makes each person responsible for the decisions he or she makes. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Rather than force us to obey Him, the Lord offers us choices and lets us decide on our own.<br /> <br /> God has allowed the agency of man since He placed [[Adam and Eve]] in the Garden of Eden. Yet many men and women since the beginning of mortal time have used their agency unwisely, limiting their own progress and their opportunity to receive light and knowledge. Beginning with Cain, some have used their agency to inflict harm, abuse, tyranny, slavery, or [[death]] upon others, contrary to the will and commandments of God. <br /> <br /> Because God allows these actions does not mean that He condones them. He allows them because agency is an eternal principle. He has provided the way through the [[atonement of Jesus Christ]] whereby men and women can [[Repentance|repent]] of their wrongful acts of commission or of omission, and come back into the path of receiving further light and knowledge through making right choices. The atonement of Christ and the plan of compassion among men also provides a way whereby those who have been harmed by the sinful actions of others may be healed in a spiritual sense, although this may take great patience and long-suffering, and often requires the help of others.<br /> <br /> [[Satan]], the great deceiver, sought during [[Pre-Mortal Life|premortal life]] to destroy the agency of man. (See Moses 4:3) He continues to seek to enslave men, women and children in whatever ways that he can in this world, to &quot;lead them captive at his will.&quot; (Moses 4:4) Whatever leads in this world to enslavement, addiction, or forced behavior is ultimately promulgated by Satan. God allows these conditions because of the agency He has given to man, but He expects men to overcome evil by doing good among the society in which they live. He holds men and women responsible and accountable in relation to the light and knowledge they have. Every person born into the world is given the light of Christ, our conscience, to guide us in choosing good from evil.<br /> <br /> God's plan includes the [[foreordination]] of [[Mormon prophet|prophets]] and teachers who have gifts and callings among men to teach and re-teach correct principles so that agency can be used wisely. (See Jeremiah 1:5) God's plan includes the important role of [[Family|parents]] to teach their children the path of righteousness and happiness. (See Deuteronomy 6:7) God's plan provides the blessing of the holy [[scriptures]] to give a foundation of gospel knowledge, including the knowledge of the saving role of [[Jesus Christ]] and the importance of the [[ordinances]] and covenants of the gospel.<br /> <br /> Whenever gospel knowledge has been lost or limited among portions of mankind, this has come about because of the unrighteousness of the people and their leaders. The [[Great Apostasy]] occurred in this way. The [[restoration]] of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the agency exercised by [[Joseph Smith]] to ask God in humble [[prayer]] which church then on the earth was right, is an example of how God honors the agency and [[faith]] of His children on earth. Men and women may use their agency today to ask God in faith to guide their lives in finding and living by the truth. As they do this, they and their families will be blessed.<br /> <br /> Family and societal relationships are a part of mortal life for many purposes, including the need to learn to show love, acceptance, and compassion in ways that continue to allow agency. Unrighteous dominion is never acceptable to God. Part of the agency given to men is the expectation that when they marry, they will treat their wife and children with love, respect, tenderness, and material and emotional support (See [[Proclamation to the World|The Family: A Proclamation to the World]]).<br /> <br /> == Agency and Governments ==<br /> <br /> The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:<br /> &quot;1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.<br /> 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.<br /> 3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.<br /> 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:1 - 4)<br /> <br /> 9 &quot;We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:9)<br /> <br /> 11 &quot;We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:11)<br /> <br /> == Same Sex Marriage, Agency, and Government Role in Protecting Children ==<br /> <br /> Mormon Church leaders support efforts of many Christian organizations to oppose definitions in laws that would allow the recognition of same sex marriages. There are many reasons for this very clear viewpoint. Among these reasons, the following may be surmised as relates to agency and governments:<br /> <br /> 1. One of the many roles of government is to protect the rights of children, including the unborn. Gender identity is a fundamental right that each child should have, including the right to have parents who provide a clear example of gender identity. Example is a God-given role of parents. It is also a role that governments should foster, not confuse. Since marriage laws imply that children will become a part of a family that is created by that marriage, such laws should support gender identity for the sake of the children within that marriage.<br /> <br /> 2. Another role of government is to act with moral authority based on true principles, so that the society that it governs does not ascribe the government's role as being capricious. To the extent that a government creates laws that contravene divinely revealed truths that are inspired by God to promote the long-term happiness of mankind, such government moves toward having capricious authority rather than moral authority, and this weakens the body politic as relates to trusting and following the laws.<br /> <br /> Elder Russell M. Nelson stated the Church's position supporting a constitutional amendment in the following statement on June 5, 2006 in Washington,D.C.:<br /> <br /> “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is pleased to be represented in this significant cause. While those of us here today represent a broad spectrum of religious diversity, we are firmly united in our declaration that marriage of a man and a woman is ordained of God. The sanctity of marriage and family constitutes the spiritual undergirding of lasting and successful societies.<br /> <br /> “Together we share a duty to preserve marriage and family as established by God. The time has now come when a constitutional amendment is needed in this country to protect our divine inheritance. Such action does not reduce our regard for individuals who choose to live by other standards. But it confirms our conviction that marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue and the foundation for eternal exaltation.&quot;</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Agency&diff=5035 Agency 2006-05-27T16:18:56Z <p>Reiddp: /* Agency and Governments */</p> <hr /> <div>Agency is the ability God gives people to choose for themselves. This makes each person responsible for the decisions he or she makes. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Rather than force us to obey Him, the Lord offers us choices and lets us decide on our own.<br /> <br /> God has allowed the agency of man since He placed [[Adam and Eve]] in the Garden of Eden. Yet many men and women since the beginning of mortal time have used their agency unwisely, limiting their own progress and their opportunity to receive light and knowledge. Beginning with Cain, some have used their agency to inflict harm, abuse, tyranny, slavery, or [[death]] upon others, contrary to the will and commandments of God. <br /> <br /> Because God allows these actions does not mean that He condones them. He allows them because agency is an eternal principle. He has provided the way through the [[atonement of Jesus Christ]] whereby men and women can [[Repentance|repent]] of their wrongful acts of commission or of omission, and come back into the path of receiving further light and knowledge through making right choices. The atonement of Christ and the plan of compassion among men also provides a way whereby those who have been harmed by the sinful actions of others may be healed in a spiritual sense, although this may take great patience and long-suffering, and often requires the help of others.<br /> <br /> [[Satan]], the great deceiver, sought during [[Pre-Mortal Life|premortal life]] to destroy the agency of man. (See Moses 4:3) He continues to seek to enslave men, women and children in whatever ways that he can in this world, to &quot;lead them captive at his will.&quot; (Moses 4:4) Whatever leads in this world to enslavement, addiction, or forced behavior is ultimately promulgated by Satan. God allows these conditions because of the agency He has given to man, but He expects men to overcome evil by doing good among the society in which they live. He holds men and women responsible and accountable in relation to the light and knowledge they have. Every person born into the world is given the light of Christ, our conscience, to guide us in choosing good from evil.<br /> <br /> God's plan includes the [[foreordination]] of [[Mormon prophet|prophets]] and teachers who have gifts and callings among men to teach and re-teach correct principles so that agency can be used wisely. (See Jeremiah 1:5) God's plan includes the important role of [[Family|parents]] to teach their children the path of righteousness and happiness. (See Deuteronomy 6:7) God's plan provides the blessing of the holy [[scriptures]] to give a foundation of gospel knowledge, including the knowledge of the saving role of [[Jesus Christ]] and the importance of the [[ordinances]] and covenants of the gospel.<br /> <br /> Whenever gospel knowledge has been lost or limited among portions of mankind, this has come about because of the unrighteousness of the people and their leaders. The [[Great Apostasy]] occurred in this way. The [[restoration]] of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the agency exercised by [[Joseph Smith]] to ask God in humble [[prayer]] which church then on the earth was right, is an example of how God honors the agency and [[faith]] of His children on earth. Men and women may use their agency today to ask God in faith to guide their lives in finding and living by the truth. As they do this, they and their families will be blessed.<br /> <br /> Family and societal relationships are a part of mortal life for many purposes, including the need to learn to show love, acceptance, and compassion in ways that continue to allow agency. Unrighteous dominion is never acceptable to God. Part of the agency given to men is the expectation that when they marry, they will treat their wife and children with love, respect, tenderness, and material and emotional support (See [[Proclamation to the World|The Family: A Proclamation to the World]]).<br /> <br /> == Agency and Governments ==<br /> <br /> The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:<br /> &quot;1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.<br /> 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.<br /> 3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.<br /> 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:1 - 4)<br /> <br /> 9 &quot;We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:9)<br /> <br /> 11 &quot;We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:11)<br /> <br /> == Same Sex Marriage, Agency, and Government Role in Protecting Children ==<br /> <br /> Mormon Church leaders support efforts of many Christian organizations to oppose definitions in laws that would allow the recognition of same sex marriages. There are many reasons for this very clear viewpoint. Among these reasons, the following may be surmised as relates to agency and governments:<br /> <br /> 1. One of the many roles of government is to protect the rights of children, including the unborn. Gender identity is a fundamental right that each child should have, including the right to have parents who provide a clear example of gender identity. Example is a God-given role of parents. It is also a role that governments should foster, not confuse. Since marriage laws imply that children will become a part of a family that is created by that marriage, such laws should support gender identity for the sake of the children within that marriage.<br /> <br /> 2. Another role of government is to act with moral authority based on true principles, so that the society that it governs does not ascribe the government's role as being capricious. To the extent that a government creates laws that contravene divinely revealed truths that are inspired by God to promote the long-term happiness of mankind, such government moves toward having capricious authority rather than moral authority, and this weakens the body politic as relates to trusting and following the laws.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mormon_Beliefs_on_human_tragedy&diff=4945 Mormon Beliefs on human tragedy 2006-05-26T12:33:51Z <p>Reiddp: /* Learning Compassion */</p> <hr /> <div>When people face tragedies they sometimes ask themselves why. Some non-religious people may consider the existence of human tragedy as proof that God doesn’t exist or doesn’t care about mankind. Religious people who have faith in God and include Him in the explanation of human events may try to explain the occurrence of tragedies in many different ways, sometimes by trying to distinguish between situations that are a consequence of human actions and situations in which God seems to have intervened more directly.<br /> <br /> What does Mormonism have to say about human tragedy and its purpose in people's lives? There isn't any definitive official statement about this issue in the Mormon Church, but a lot can be said by analyzing the words of prophets, apostles, and other Mormon authors.<br /> <br /> According to President Hugh B. Brown, &quot;religious faith gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces. Life is not what Voltaire called it, 'a bad joke'; it is really a school of discipline whose author and teacher is God&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1969, Third Day—Morning Meeting, p. 107). In other words, human tragedy has a purpose in the eyes of God. It is a refining tool that helps men and women to improve their lives, even if this involves suffering.<br /> <br /> The history of Mormonism is full of examples of suffering and tragedy that seem to contradict the belief of a religion that proclaims that &quot;men are, that they might have joy&quot; (2 Nephi 2:25). [[Joseph Smith|The Prophet Joseph Smith]], founder of Mormonism, had to face many tragedies in his life and eventually was killed at the age of 38. Jesus Christ, the true head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was absolutely familiar with suffering and He perfectly accepted it as part of His mission.<br /> <br /> So why do people need to suffer? Why are young, innocent children killed prematurely in car collisions? Or why could terrorists crash planes against the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York a few years ago? To understand these and countless similar events, it may be helpful to question whether God really caused the event or whether He merely allowed it to occur. Nobody knows the answers for sure.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that God is omnipotent and that He has the power to control events in our lives, including eliminating all pain and preventing all accidents. However, it is clear that He doesn't do it all the time. Why?<br /> <br /> <br /> == Free Agency and the Three Stages of Life==<br /> Mormonism proclaims that one of the basic laws of the gospel is free agency that fosters eternal development. If God were to force us to be careful and righteous all the time we wouldn't be able to learn and grow.<br /> <br /> Another basic belief in Mormonism is that the plan of salvation, established by God the Father, includes three parts or stages. The first stage includes our [[Pre-Mortal Life|pre-mortal lives]] as spirit children with our Heavenly Father (before we were born). The second stage is the one in which we are now, while we live on this earth, and the special purpose of this stage is to receive physical bodies and be tested. The final stage starts after we die and will include our resurrection and assignment to a kingdom of glory, based on our works here on the earth.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the fullness of joy and happiness is only reserved for the last stage and only for those who have obeyed God's commandments and have qualified for the highest degree of glory in the Kingdom of God. The Lord said: &quot;for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants 101:36). We are now in the second stage, and we can't expect to be free from problems. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, &quot;when we tear ourselves free from the entanglements of the world, are we promised a religion of repose or an Eden of ease? No! We are promised tears and trials and toil! But we are also promised final triumph, the mere contemplation of which tingles one's soul&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1974, 16).<br /> <br /> In conclusion, Mormonism teaches that human tragedy and suffering are part of God's plan, something that we need to accept with patience and faith, a necessary schoolmaster that can teach us many important lessons. At the end, to know whether tragedies come in our lives because of natural forces, evil people, or our sins, is less important than the way we react to them. If we choose to learn from them and use them to get closer to God rather than complaining and rebelling, we will be better off when we finally meet our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ after our lives on this earth are through.<br /> <br /> == Learning Compassion ==<br /> <br /> One of the major purposes of human tragedy, whether caused by natural forces or by accidents or man-made violence that God allows to occur, is to help mankind to learn compassion for each other. We can react to these events by rolling up our sleeves and helping as best we can, bearing &quot;one another's burdens, that they may be light;...mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.&quot; (See Mosiah 18:8,9) Mormons stand alongside many others who are moved with compassion and who seek to bring immediate and long-term help to those who are overwhelmed by tragic occurrences such as an earthquake, a hurricane or a tsunami. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sometimes called the &quot;Jesus church&quot; by those of other faiths in remote parts of the world as Mormon humanitarian aid reaches out to them.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that Christ's teaching about loving one another means that this is one of our primary purposes in mortality: to learn how to love each other. Many bridges of understanding and love are built after the devastation of a tragic event, as people come together in a spirit of compassion and rebuilding. Though the sorrow of loss of loved ones remains, an awakening of the power of Christ's love to heal hearts and find new beginnings can bring meaning even in the face of great tragedies. The knowledge of the plan of salvation and life after death can also help to bring solace to those who mourn the loss of loved ones or of innocent children in a tragedy.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Agency&diff=4944 Agency 2006-05-26T03:56:48Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Agency is the ability God gives people to choose for themselves. This makes each person responsible for the decisions he or she makes. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Rather than force us to obey Him, the Lord offers us choices and lets us decide on our own.<br /> <br /> God has allowed the agency of man since He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Yet many men and women since the beginning of mortal time have used their agency unwisely, limiting their own progress and their opportunity to receive light and knowledge. Beginning with Cain, some have used their agency to inflict harm, abuse, tyranny, slavery, or death upon others, contrary to the will and commandments of God. <br /> <br /> Because God allows these actions does not mean that He condones them. He allows them because agency is an eternal principle. He has provided the way through the atonement of Jesus Christ whereby men and women can repent of their wrongful acts of commission or of omission, and come back into the path of receiving further light and knowledge through making right choices. The atonement of Christ and the plan of compassion among men also provides a way whereby those who have been harmed by the sinful actions of others may be healed in a spiritual sense, although this may take great patience and long-suffering, and often requires the help of others.<br /> <br /> Satan, the great deceiver, sought during premortal life to destroy the agency of man. (See Moses 4:3) He continues to seek to enslave men, women and children in whatever ways that he can in this world, to &quot;lead them captive at his will.&quot; (Moses 4:4) Whatever leads in this world to enslavement, addiction, or forced behavior is ultimately promulgated by Satan. God allows these conditions because of the agency He has given to man, but He expects men to overcome evil by doing good among the society in which they live. He holds men and women responsible and accountable in relation to the light and knowledge they have. Every person born into the world is given the light of Christ, our conscience, to guide us in choosing good from evil.<br /> <br /> God's plan includes the foreordination of prophets and teachers who have gifts and callings among men to teach and re-teach correct principles so that agency can be used wisely. (See Jeremiah 1:5) His plan includes the important role of parents to teach their children the path of righteousness and happiness. (See Deuteronomy 6:7) His plan provides the blessing of the holy scriptures to give a foundation of gospel knowledge, including the knowledge of the saving role of Jesus Christ and the importance of the ordinances and covenants of the gospel.<br /> <br /> Whenever gospel knowledge has been lost or limited among portions of mankind, this has come about because of the unrighteousness of the people and their leaders. The Great Apostasy occurred in this way. The restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the agency exercised by Joseph Smith to ask God in humble prayer which church then on the earth was right, is an example of how God honors the agency and faith of His children on earth. Men and women may use their agency today to ask God in faith to guide their lives in finding and living by the truth. As they do this, they and their families will be blessed.<br /> <br /> Family and societal relationships are a part of mortal life for many purposes, including the need to learn to show love, acceptance, and compassion in ways that continue to allow agency. Unrighteous dominion is never acceptable to God. Part of the agency given to men is the expectation that when they marry, they will treat their wife and children with love, respect, tenderness, and material and emotional support.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Agency and Governments ==<br /> <br /> The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:<br /> &quot;1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.<br /> 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.<br /> 3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.<br /> 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:1 - 4)<br /> <br /> 9 &quot;We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:9)<br /> <br /> 11 &quot;We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Agency&diff=4935 Agency 2006-05-25T21:41:46Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Agency is the ability God gives people to choose for themselves. This makes each person responsible for the decisions he or she makes. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Rather than force us to obey Him, the Lord offers us choices and lets us decide on our own.<br /> <br /> God has allowed the agency of man since He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Yet many men and women since the beginning of mortal time have used their agency unwisely, limiting their own progress and their opportunity to receive light and knowledge. Beginning with Cain, some have used their agency to inflict harm, abuse, tyranny, slavery, or death upon others, contrary to the will and commandments of God. <br /> <br /> Because God allows these actions does not mean that He condones them. He allows them because agency is an eternal principle. He has provided the way through the atonement of Jesus Christ whereby men and women can repent of their wrongful acts of commission or of omission, and come back into the path of receiving further light and knowledge through making right choices. The atonement of Christ and the plan of compassion among men also provides a way whereby those who have been harmed by the sinful actions of others may be healed in a spiritual sense, although this may take great patience and long-suffering, and often requires the help of others.<br /> <br /> Satan, the great deceiver, sought during premortal life to destroy the agency of man. (See Moses 4:3) He continues to seek to enslave men, women and children in whatever ways that he can in this world, to &quot;lead them captive at his will.&quot; (Moses 4:4) Whatever leads in this world to enslavement, addiction, or forced behavior is ultimately promulgated by Satan. God allows these conditions because of the agency He has given to man, but He expects men to overcome evil by doing good among the society in which they live.<br /> <br /> God's plan includes the foreordination of prophets and teachers who have gifts and callings among men to teach and re-teach correct principles so that agency can be used wisely. (See Jeremiah 1:5) His plan includes the important role of parents to teach their children the path of righteousness and happiness. (See Deuteronomy 6:7) His plan provides the blessing of the holy scriptures to give a foundation of gospel knowledge, including the knowledge of the saving role of Jesus Christ and the importance of the ordinances of the gospel.<br /> <br /> Whenever gospel knowledge has been lost or limited among portions of mankind, this has come about because of the unrighteousness of the people and their leaders. The Great Apostasy occurred in this way. The restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the agency exercised by Joseph Smith to ask God in humble prayer which church then on the earth was right, is an example of how God honors the agency and faith of His children on earth. Men and women may use their agency today to ask God in faith to guide their lives in finding and living by the truth. In this way, they and their families may be blessed.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Agency and Governments ==<br /> <br /> The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:<br /> &quot;1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.<br /> 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.<br /> 3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.<br /> 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:1 - 4)<br /> <br /> 9 &quot;We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:9)<br /> <br /> 11 &quot;We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Agency&diff=4934 Agency 2006-05-25T20:07:46Z <p>Reiddp: /* Agency and Governments */</p> <hr /> <div>Agency is the ability God gives people to choose for themselves. This makes each person responsible for the decisions he or she makes. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Rather than force us to obey Him, the Lord offers us choices and lets us decide on our own.<br /> <br /> God has allowed the agency of man since He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Yet many men and women since the beginning of mortal time have used their agency unwisely, limiting their own progress and their opportunity to receive light and knowledge. Beginning with Cain, some have used their agency to inflict harm, abuse, tyranny, slavery, or death upon others, contrary to the will and commandments of God. <br /> <br /> Because God allows these actions does not mean that He condones them. He allows them because agency is an eternal principle. He has provided the way through the atonement of Jesus Christ whereby men and women can repent of their wrongful acts of commission or of omission, and come back into the path of receiving further light and knowledge through making right choices. The atonement of Christ and the plan of compassion among men also provides a way whereby those who have been harmed by the sinful actions of others may be healed in a spiritual sense, although this may take great patience and long-suffering, and often requires the help of others.<br /> <br /> God's plan includes the foreordination of prophets and teachers who have gifts and callings among men to teach and re-teach correct principles so that agency can be used wisely. (See Jeremiah 1:5) His plan includes the important role of parents to teach their children the path of righteousness and happiness. (See Deuteronomy 6:7) His plan provides the blessing of the holy scriptures to give a foundation of gospel knowledge, including the knowledge of the saving role of Jesus Christ and the importance of the ordinances of the gospel.<br /> <br /> Whenever gospel knowledge has been lost or limited among portions of mankind, this has come about because of the unrighteousness of the people and their leaders. The Great Apostasy occurred in this way. The restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the agency exercised by Joseph Smith to ask God in humble prayer which church then on the earth was right, is an example of how God honors the agency and faith of His children on earth. Men and women may use their agency today to ask God in faith to guide their lives in finding and living by the truth. In this way, they and their families may be blessed.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Agency and Governments ==<br /> <br /> The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:<br /> &quot;1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.<br /> 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.<br /> 3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.<br /> 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:1 - 4)<br /> <br /> 9 &quot;We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:9)<br /> <br /> 11 &quot;We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Agency&diff=4933 Agency 2006-05-25T20:06:01Z <p>Reiddp: /* Agency and Governments */</p> <hr /> <div>Agency is the ability God gives people to choose for themselves. This makes each person responsible for the decisions he or she makes. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Rather than force us to obey Him, the Lord offers us choices and lets us decide on our own.<br /> <br /> God has allowed the agency of man since He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Yet many men and women since the beginning of mortal time have used their agency unwisely, limiting their own progress and their opportunity to receive light and knowledge. Beginning with Cain, some have used their agency to inflict harm, abuse, tyranny, slavery, or death upon others, contrary to the will and commandments of God. <br /> <br /> Because God allows these actions does not mean that He condones them. He allows them because agency is an eternal principle. He has provided the way through the atonement of Jesus Christ whereby men and women can repent of their wrongful acts of commission or of omission, and come back into the path of receiving further light and knowledge through making right choices. The atonement of Christ and the plan of compassion among men also provides a way whereby those who have been harmed by the sinful actions of others may be healed in a spiritual sense, although this may take great patience and long-suffering, and often requires the help of others.<br /> <br /> God's plan includes the foreordination of prophets and teachers who have gifts and callings among men to teach and re-teach correct principles so that agency can be used wisely. (See Jeremiah 1:5) His plan includes the important role of parents to teach their children the path of righteousness and happiness. (See Deuteronomy 6:7) His plan provides the blessing of the holy scriptures to give a foundation of gospel knowledge, including the knowledge of the saving role of Jesus Christ and the importance of the ordinances of the gospel.<br /> <br /> Whenever gospel knowledge has been lost or limited among portions of mankind, this has come about because of the unrighteousness of the people and their leaders. The Great Apostasy occurred in this way. The restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the agency exercised by Joseph Smith to ask God in humble prayer which church then on the earth was right, is an example of how God honors the agency and faith of His children on earth. Men and women may use their agency today to ask God in faith to guide their lives in finding and living by the truth. In this way, they and their families may be blessed.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Agency and Governments ==<br /> <br /> The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:<br /> &quot;1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.<br /> 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.<br /> 3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.<br /> 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:1 - 4)<br /> <br /> &quot;We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:9)<br /> <br /> &quot;We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Agency&diff=4932 Agency 2006-05-25T20:04:40Z <p>Reiddp: /* Agency and Governments */</p> <hr /> <div>Agency is the ability God gives people to choose for themselves. This makes each person responsible for the decisions he or she makes. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Rather than force us to obey Him, the Lord offers us choices and lets us decide on our own.<br /> <br /> God has allowed the agency of man since He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Yet many men and women since the beginning of mortal time have used their agency unwisely, limiting their own progress and their opportunity to receive light and knowledge. Beginning with Cain, some have used their agency to inflict harm, abuse, tyranny, slavery, or death upon others, contrary to the will and commandments of God. <br /> <br /> Because God allows these actions does not mean that He condones them. He allows them because agency is an eternal principle. He has provided the way through the atonement of Jesus Christ whereby men and women can repent of their wrongful acts of commission or of omission, and come back into the path of receiving further light and knowledge through making right choices. The atonement of Christ and the plan of compassion among men also provides a way whereby those who have been harmed by the sinful actions of others may be healed in a spiritual sense, although this may take great patience and long-suffering, and often requires the help of others.<br /> <br /> God's plan includes the foreordination of prophets and teachers who have gifts and callings among men to teach and re-teach correct principles so that agency can be used wisely. (See Jeremiah 1:5) His plan includes the important role of parents to teach their children the path of righteousness and happiness. (See Deuteronomy 6:7) His plan provides the blessing of the holy scriptures to give a foundation of gospel knowledge, including the knowledge of the saving role of Jesus Christ and the importance of the ordinances of the gospel.<br /> <br /> Whenever gospel knowledge has been lost or limited among portions of mankind, this has come about because of the unrighteousness of the people and their leaders. The Great Apostasy occurred in this way. The restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the agency exercised by Joseph Smith to ask God in humble prayer which church then on the earth was right, is an example of how God honors the agency and faith of His children on earth. Men and women may use their agency today to ask God in faith to guide their lives in finding and living by the truth. In this way, they and their families may be blessed.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Agency and Governments ==<br /> <br /> The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:<br /> &quot;1 We believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.<br /> 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.<br /> 3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.<br /> 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:1 - 4)<br /> 9 &quot;We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:9)<br /> 11 &quot;We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Agency&diff=4931 Agency 2006-05-25T20:02:43Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Agency is the ability God gives people to choose for themselves. This makes each person responsible for the decisions he or she makes. Agency is one of God's greatest gifts to His children. Rather than force us to obey Him, the Lord offers us choices and lets us decide on our own.<br /> <br /> God has allowed the agency of man since He placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Yet many men and women since the beginning of mortal time have used their agency unwisely, limiting their own progress and their opportunity to receive light and knowledge. Beginning with Cain, some have used their agency to inflict harm, abuse, tyranny, slavery, or death upon others, contrary to the will and commandments of God. <br /> <br /> Because God allows these actions does not mean that He condones them. He allows them because agency is an eternal principle. He has provided the way through the atonement of Jesus Christ whereby men and women can repent of their wrongful acts of commission or of omission, and come back into the path of receiving further light and knowledge through making right choices. The atonement of Christ and the plan of compassion among men also provides a way whereby those who have been harmed by the sinful actions of others may be healed in a spiritual sense, although this may take great patience and long-suffering, and often requires the help of others.<br /> <br /> God's plan includes the foreordination of prophets and teachers who have gifts and callings among men to teach and re-teach correct principles so that agency can be used wisely. (See Jeremiah 1:5) His plan includes the important role of parents to teach their children the path of righteousness and happiness. (See Deuteronomy 6:7) His plan provides the blessing of the holy scriptures to give a foundation of gospel knowledge, including the knowledge of the saving role of Jesus Christ and the importance of the ordinances of the gospel.<br /> <br /> Whenever gospel knowledge has been lost or limited among portions of mankind, this has come about because of the unrighteousness of the people and their leaders. The Great Apostasy occurred in this way. The restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the agency exercised by Joseph Smith to ask God in humble prayer which church then on the earth was right, is an example of how God honors the agency and faith of His children on earth. Men and women may use their agency today to ask God in faith to guide their lives in finding and living by the truth. In this way, they and their families may be blessed.<br /> <br /> <br /> == Agency and Governments ==<br /> <br /> The Prophet Joseph Smith taught:<br /> &quot;1 WE believe that governments were instituted of God for the benefit of man; and that he holds men accountable for their acts in relation to them, both in making laws and administering them, for the good and safety of society.<br /> 2 We believe that no government can exist in peace, except such laws are framed and held inviolate as will secure to each individual the free exercise of conscience, the right and control of property, and the protection of life.<br /> 3 We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.<br /> 4 We believe that religion is instituted of God; and that men are amenable to him, and to him only, for the exercise of it, unless their religious opinions prompt them to infringe upon the rights and liberties of others; but we do not believe that human law has a right to interfere in prescribing rules of worship to bind the consciences of men, nor dictate forms for public or private devotion; that the civil magistrate should restrain crime, but never control conscience; should punish guilt, but never suppress the freedom of the soul.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:1 - 4)<br /> 9 &quot;We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:9)<br /> 11 &quot;We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded.&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 134:11)</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Death&diff=4930 Death 2006-05-25T18:27:57Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Death is a separation. The scriptures speak of two kinds of death: physical and spiritual. Physical death is the separation of the body and spirit, while spiritual death is the separation of humankind from the presence of God because of sin. Thanks to [[Jesus Christ]], all mortals will overcome physical death and all who obey the Gospel will overcome spiritual death.<br /> <br /> The [[Fall]] of [[Adam and Eve]] brought both kinds of death into this world (2 Nephi 2:22; Moses 6:48). Through His [[Atonement of Jesus Christ|Atonement]], Jesus Christ overcame physical death so that all mortals, regardless of how they live, will be [[Resurrection|resurrected]] (1 Corinthians 15:21-23). After being resurrected, our physical bodies can no longer die (Alma 11:45).<br /> <br /> Jesus also provided a way for all people to overcome spiritual death and receive eternal life. Through His atonement and by obeying His teachings and commandments, we can become free from sin and become spiritually &quot;alive&quot; once again. Those who are spiritually &quot;alive&quot; will continue to make mistakes during mortal life, and will need to repent of those mistakes through sincere prayer, asking forgiveness, righting wrongs that may have been done to others, and trying to live better lives.<br /> <br /> Those who refuse to repent of their sins will someday suffer a permanent spiritual death, being forever cut off from God's presence. This type of spiritual death is often referred to in the scriptures as the &quot;second death.&quot;<br /> <br /> == Receiving Comfort after the Death of a Loved One ==<br /> <br /> The death of a loved one often brings such questions as &quot;why this?&quot; or &quot;why now?&quot; Many times, the grieving process takes many months for a person to begin to trust God again, because we do not understand God's purposes and we may feel that He did not listen to our prayers. He does listen, and promises to comfort us as we approach Him in prayer. The Savior's promise as recorded in John 14:27 is true: &quot;Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that life after death is a place of happiness, joy, and being with loved ones. This belief is not only about those who have joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but about all good people who have lived or are living on earth, and all children who have died in infancy or young childhood. After this life, the learning process that is a part of mortal life continues in a loving environment where we prepare for our own day of resurrection, when our spirit will be joined with an immortal physical body that lives on forever.<br /> <br /> Because of these beliefs, a Mormon funeral expresses feelings of peace and comfort for close family members, friends and loved ones of the deceased, knowing that there will be a future reuniting that will be joyful. Also, it is a great comfort to know that the person who has died is able to be with other loved ones who have already died.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mormon_Beliefs_on_human_tragedy&diff=4929 Mormon Beliefs on human tragedy 2006-05-25T17:13:31Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>When people face tragedies they sometimes ask themselves why. Some non-religious people may consider the existence of human tragedy as proof that God doesn’t exist or doesn’t care about mankind. Religious people who have faith in God and include Him in the explanation of human events may try to explain the occurrence of tragedies in many different ways, sometimes by trying to distinguish between situations that are a consequence of human actions and situations in which God seems to have intervened more directly.<br /> <br /> What does Mormonism have to say about human tragedy and its purpose in people's lives? There isn't any definitive official statement about this issue in the Mormon Church, but a lot can be said by analyzing the words of prophets, apostles, and other Mormon authors.<br /> <br /> According to President Hugh B. Brown, &quot;religious faith gives confidence that human tragedy is not a meaningless sport of physical forces. Life is not what Voltaire called it, 'a bad joke'; it is really a school of discipline whose author and teacher is God&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1969, Third Day—Morning Meeting, p. 107). In other words, human tragedy has a purpose in the eyes of God. It is a refining tool that helps men and women to improve their lives, even if this involves suffering.<br /> <br /> The history of Mormonism is full of examples of suffering and tragedy that seem to contradict the belief of a religion that proclaims that &quot;men are, that they might have joy&quot; (2 Nephi 2:25). [[Joseph Smith|The Prophet Joseph Smith]], founder of Mormonism, had to face many tragedies in his life and eventually was killed at the age of 38. Jesus Christ, the true head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was absolutely familiar with suffering and He perfectly accepted it as part of His mission.<br /> <br /> So why do people need to suffer? Why are young, innocent children killed prematurely in car collisions? Or why could terrorists crash planes against the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York a few years ago? To understand these and countless similar events, it may be helpful to question whether God really caused the event or whether He merely allowed it to occur. Nobody knows the answers for sure.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that God is omnipotent and that He has the power to control events in our lives, including eliminating all pain and preventing all accidents. However, it is clear that He doesn't do it all the time. Why?<br /> <br /> <br /> == Free Agency and the Three Stages of Life==<br /> Mormonism proclaims that one of the basic laws of the gospel is free agency that fosters eternal development. If God were to force us to be careful and righteous all the time we wouldn't be able to learn and grow.<br /> <br /> Another basic belief in Mormonism is that the plan of salvation, established by God the Father, includes three parts or stages. The first stage includes our [[Pre-Mortal Life|pre-mortal lives]] as spirit children with our Heavenly Father (before we were born). The second stage is the one in which we are now, while we live on this earth, and the special purpose of this stage is to receive physical bodies and be tested. The final stage starts after we die and will include our resurrection and assignment to a kingdom of glory, based on our works here on the earth.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the fullness of joy and happiness is only reserved for the last stage and only for those who have obeyed God's commandments and have qualified for the highest degree of glory in the Kingdom of God. The Lord said: &quot;for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full&quot; (Doctrine and Covenants 101:36). We are now in the second stage, and we can't expect to be free from problems. Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, &quot;when we tear ourselves free from the entanglements of the world, are we promised a religion of repose or an Eden of ease? No! We are promised tears and trials and toil! But we are also promised final triumph, the mere contemplation of which tingles one's soul&quot; (''Conference Report,'' October 1974, 16).<br /> <br /> In conclusion, Mormonism teaches that human tragedy and suffering are part of God's plan, something that we need to accept with patience and faith, a necessary schoolmaster that can teach us many important lessons. At the end, to know whether tragedies come in our lives because of natural forces, evil people, or our sins, is less important than the way we react to them. If we choose to learn from them and use them to get closer to God rather than complaining and rebelling, we will be better off when we finally meet our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ after our lives on this earth are through.<br /> <br /> == Learning Compassion ==<br /> <br /> One of the major purposes of human tragedy, whether caused by natural forces or by accidents or violence that God allows to occur, is to help mankind to learn compassion for each other. We can react to these events by rolling up our sleeves and helping as best we can, bearing &quot;one another's burdens, that they may be light;...mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort.&quot; (See Mosiah 18:8,9) Mormons stand alongside many others who are moved with compassion and who seek to bring immediate and long-term help to those who are overwhelmed by tragic occurrences. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is sometimes called the &quot;Jesus church&quot; by those of other faiths in remote parts of the world as Mormon humanitarian aid reaches out to them.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that Christ's teaching about loving one another means that this is one of our primary purposes in mortality: to learn how to love each other. Many bridges of understanding and love are built after the chaos of a tragic event, as people come together in a spirit of compassion and rebuilding. Though the sorrow of loss of loved ones remains, an awakening of the power of Christ's love to heal hearts and find new beginnings can bring meaning even in the face of great tragedies.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Holy_Bible&diff=4861 Holy Bible 2006-05-23T01:15:58Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:BOM2.jpg]]<br /> <br /> <br /> The Holy Bible is one of the greatest gifts that God has given to man. Mormons believe it is the word of God, and that it should be studied diligently by all followers of [[Jesus Christ]]. English-speaking Mormons use the King James Version of the Holy Bible. They believe that God inspired the men who translated the Bible into English as it is now presented in the King James Version. Other translations and modern language versions may be informative for study, but they may also lose some of the richness, depth, and meaning of the King James Version.<br /> <br /> The Bible is invaluable, along with the [[Book of Mormon]], in studying Jesus Christ's teachings and the teachings of the [[Mormon |prophet]]s and [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|apostles]] who were called by God at various times during the history of the world to declare the word of God to the people around them. The Bible provides an important foundation for learning about God's plan for the progress and redemption available to all of mankind through Jesus Christ. <br /> [http://scriptures.lds.org/ Holy Bible Online]<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the Bible is essential for their individual and group study. They study the Old Testament and the New Testament for one year each during a four-year cycle of study in their adult and youth [[Sunday School]] classes. Many of the [[LDS Sermons|speeches]] given by leaders and members of the Mormon Church quote from passages of the Bible. The Book of Mormon also quotes extensively from Bible passages, especially the words of Isaiah and Malachi. <br /> <br /> A section of the Book of Mormon tells of the visitation by the resurrected Jesus Christ to the people who were then living in a part of the Western Hemisphere. During this visit, the [[Savior]] taught the people to study the words of Isaiah and the words of Malachi from the Old Testament, and taught them that in Him (Christ) the law of Moses was fulfilled. Mormons believe that studying the Bible and the Book of Mormon are important steps in preparing for the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus Christ to this earth, and in preparing for Christ's [[Millennium|Millenial reign]] on earth.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that God did not cease to speak to his children when the Bible was compiled. They believe in other prophets who lived on the earth and taught important truths to the people of their own day which are available to us today. They also believe in a restoration of prophetic gifts in this modern day. This belief in a modern living prophet who speaks for God through inspired revelation concerning today's world and its problems is a unique teaching among Christian denominations. Mormon leaders study the Bible, but do not rely on it alone to guide them in teaching the world about Jesus Christ and [[Heavenly Father]]'s will for mankind.<br /> <br /> ''See also [[Mormon books]], [[Scriptures]], and [[Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible]]''</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Holy_Bible&diff=4860 Holy Bible 2006-05-23T01:15:14Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>[[Image:BOM2.jpg]]<br /> <br /> <br /> The Holy Bible is one of the greatest gifts that God has given to man. Mormons believe it is the word of God, and that it should be studied diligently by all followers of [[Jesus Christ]]. English-speaking Mormons use the King James Version of the Holy Bible. They believe that God inspired the men who translated the Bible into English as it is now presented in the King James Version. Other translations and modern language versions may be informative for study, but they may also lose some of the richness, depth, and meaning of the King James Version.<br /> <br /> The Bible is invaluable, along with the [[Book of Mormon]], in studying Jesus Christ's teachings and the teachings of the [[Mormon |prophet]] and [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|apostles]] who were called by God at various times during the history of the world to declare the word of God to the people around them. The Bible provides an important foundation for learning about God's plan for the progress and redemption available to all of mankind through Jesus Christ. <br /> [http://scriptures.lds.org/ Holy Bible Online]<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the Bible is essential for their individual and group study. They study the Old Testament and the New Testament for one year each during a four-year cycle of study in their adult and youth [[Sunday School]] classes. Many of the [[LDS Sermons|speeches]] given by leaders and members of the Mormon Church quote from passages of the Bible. The Book of Mormon also quotes extensively from Bible passages, especially the words of Isaiah and Malachi. <br /> <br /> A section of the Book of Mormon tells of the visitation by the resurrected Jesus Christ to the people who were then living in a part of the Western Hemisphere. During this visit, the [[Savior]] taught the people to study the words of Isaiah and the words of Malachi from the Old Testament, and taught them that in Him (Christ) the law of Moses was fulfilled. Mormons believe that studying the Bible and the Book of Mormon are important steps in preparing for the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus Christ to this earth, and in preparing for Christ's [[Millennium|Millenial reign]] on earth.<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that God did not cease to speak to his children when the Bible was compiled. They believe in other prophets who lived on the earth and taught important truths to the people of their own day which are available to us today. They also believe in a restoration of prophetic gifts in this modern day. This belief in a modern living prophet who speaks for God through inspired revelation concerning today's world and its problems is a unique teaching among Christian denominations. Mormon leaders study the Bible, but do not rely on it alone to guide them in teaching the world about Jesus Christ and [[Heavenly Father]]'s will for mankind.<br /> <br /> ''See also [[Mormon books]], [[Scriptures]], and [[Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible]]''</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Priesthood&diff=4847 Priesthood 2006-05-22T20:13:37Z <p>Reiddp: /* Definition of the Priesthood */</p> <hr /> <div>==Definition of the Priesthood==<br /> <br /> The priesthood is the power and authority of God. God created the heavens and the earth by His priesthood power. By this power the universe is kept in perfect order. Through this power He accomplishes His work and glory, which is “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” ([[Pearl of Great Price]], Moses 1:39).<br /> <br /> Our Heavenly Father shares His priesthood power in a limited way with worthy male members of the Mormon Church. The priesthood enables them to act in the name of Jesus Christ to help bring about the salvation of the human family. Through it, they can be authorized to preach the gospel, administer the ordinances of salvation, and govern God’s kingdom on earth. Men are ordained to the priesthood through the [[Laying on of Hands|laying on of hands]] by worthy priesthood holders. As the Apostle Paul taught, &quot;And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.&quot;<br /> (New Testament | Hebrews 5:4)<br /> <br /> Priesthood holders are divided into bodies called ''quorums''. Through the quorums of the priesthood, men and boys strengthen each other and organize themselves to be of service in the neighborhoods and communities in which they live. Women and girls, though not receiving the priesthood, have equally important roles and responsibilities in carrying out the purposes of our loving Heavenly Father here on earth. <br /> <br /> See also [[Priesthood Authority]] and [[Priesthood Power]]<br /> <br /> ===Aaronic Priesthood===<br /> '''History'''<br /> <br /> The Aaronic Priesthood is the lesser of the two priesthoods in terms of power and authority and functions under the direction of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It is named after Aaron, the brother of Moses, from whose lineage came the ancient priests and high priests of Israel. In ancient Israel, only those of the tribe of Levi could be ordained to this priesthood (which is why it is also referred to as the Levitical Priesthood). With the coming of Christ, however, the lineal restrictions were lifted and worthy men of any tribe could receive this priesthood. The Mormon Church continues to operate in this manner, allowing any worthy man over the age of twelve to be ordained to the Aaronic Priesthood.<br /> <br /> '''[http://www.lds.org/pa/display/0,17884,5085-1,00.html Offices and Functions]'''<br /> <br /> There are four offices within the Aaronic Priesthood. Each has specific duties and responsibilities associated with it. Once a man has progressed to the next highest office, they still retain all the power and authority of the lower office.<br /> <br /> *''[[Deacons]]'': Men can be ordained as Deacons starting at age twelve. One of the duties of the deacon's quorum is to watch over the Church and its members. They are also to &quot;warn, expound, exhort, and teach, and invite all to come unto Christ&quot; (D&amp;C 20:59). Deacons can also pass the sacrament to the congregation, collect fast offerings, assist the bishopric, serve as messengers, be baptized and confirmed for the dead in the temple, speak in meetings, and care for the meetinghouse and grounds.<br /> <br /> *''[[Teachers]]'': Men can be ordained as Teachers starting at age fourteen. Teachers are to watch over and strengthen the Church as well as see that there is &quot;neither lying, backbiting, nor evil speaking (D&amp;C 20:53-55). Teachers may also prepare the sacrament, serve as a [[Home Teaching|home teacher]], reverently serve as ushers in ward meetings and stake conference, assist the bishopric, and participate in [[seminary]], where available.<br /> <br /> *''[[Priests]]'': Men can be ordained as Priests starting at age sixteen. The priest's quorum has the responsibility to &quot;preach, teach, expound, exhort, ... and visit the house of each member, and exhort them to pray vocally and in secret and attend to all family duties&quot; (D&amp;C 47 20:46-47). Priests can bless the sacrament. They can also baptize, though they do not have the authority to confer the Holy Ghost.<br /> <br /> *''[[Bishop]]'': A [[Roles of a Bishop|bishop]] is the highest office in the Aaronic Priesthood. The bishop is the president of the priest's quorum, the president of the Aaronic Priesthood, and the presiding high priest in the ward. Although bishop is an Aaronic Priesthood office, men called to be bishops hold the Melchizedek Priesthood and hold the office of high priest so they can preside over the entire congregation.<br /> <br /> The Aaronic Priesthood is also described as holding &quot;the keys of the ministering of angels, and to administer in outward ordinances&quot; (D&amp;C 107:20).<br /> <br /> ===Melchizedek Priesthood===<br /> '''History'''<br /> <br /> The higher priesthood, is named after the ancient patriarch and high priest Melchizedek, to whom Abraham paid tithes. Doctrine and Covenants 107:3-4 explains why the priesthood is called after him:<br /> <br /> :Before his [Melchizedek's] day it was called ''the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.'' But out of respect or reverence to the name of the Supreme Being, to avoid the too frequent repetition of his name, they, the church, in ancient days, called that priesthood after Melchizedek, or the Melchizedek Priesthood.<br /> <br /> Paul, in his epistle to the Hebrews, mentions a number of times that Christ was &quot;an high priest after the order of Melchisedec&quot; (Heb. 5:10).<br /> <br /> The Melchizedek Priesthood was given to Adam and has since been held by every patriarch and prophet authorized by God. This priesthood was taken from Israel as a whole during the time of Moses. Instead, Israel was given the lesser portion known as the Aaronic Priesthood. Christ restored the Melchizedek Priesthood to His apostles. After the death of the apostles, the priesthood was lost during what is known as the ''[[Great Apostasy]]''. In 1829, Christ's apostles then restored the high priesthood to [[Joseph Smith]] and [[Oliver Cowdery]].<br /> <br /> '''Offices and Functions'''<br /> Just as in the Aaronic Priesthood, a man retains all the keys and authority of his previous ordinations. For example, if no Aaronic Priesthood members are present, the Melchizedek Priesthood can bless and pass the sacrament.<br /> <br /> *''[[Elder]]'' as Title: The title &quot;[[Elder]]&quot; can be used for any holder of the Melchizedek Priesthood. As a title it is typically used to refer to male [[Mormon missionaries]] (e.g. Elder Smith or Elder Jones) or to [[General Authorities]] (such as Elder Russell M. Nelson or Elder Merrill J. Bateman).<br /> <br /> *''[[Elder]]'' as Office: Men are ordained as elders beginning at either age 18 or 19. The duties of an elder are to baptize, confirm members of the Church and give the [[Gift of the Holy Ghost| gift of the Holy Ghost]], administer the [[Sacrament|sacrament]], give [[Priesthood Blessings|blessings]] of comfort and healing, and generally watch over the Church.<br /> <br /> *''[[Seventy]]'': Members of the Quorums of the Seventy are called as [[General Authorities]] under the direction of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. The Seventy direct missionary work and other Church activities, build up the Church in all the nations the Church is in, and preach the Gospel. Members of the Seventy may also be called upon to speak in [[General Conference]]. At present, there are five quorums, each with no more than seventy members. Members of the Seventy may be honorably released and given emeritus status.<br /> <br /> *''[[High Priest]]'': High Priests have the authority to officiate in the Church. Men are ordained as High Priests to serve in a number of [[Mormon Callings|callings]]: members of the bishopric, members of the stake presidency, high councilors, mission presidents, stake patriarchs, etc. High Priests have their own quorums, separate from the Elder's quorum.<br /> <br /> *''[[Patriarch]]'': Patriarchs are called on stake levels and are ordained by General Authorities or stake presidents given that authority by the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. A patriarch's duty is to give worthy Church members special blessings known as ''[[Patriarchal Blessings|patriarchal blessings]]''. Such blessings are the Lord's personal words to the recipient and may give the person a better understanding of their callings in life. The office of patriarchs is held for life, though if the patriarch is no longer able to function in his duties, an additional stake patriarch may be called. The term &quot;patriarch&quot; is also applied to the father of a family.<br /> <br /> *''[[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|Apostle]]'': Meaning &quot;one sent forth,&quot; apostles are special witnesses of [[Jesus Christ]] and are called for life. The men ordained as apostles are members of either the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] or the [[First Presidency]]. The apostles travel throughout the world building up and regulating the Church. Each apostle is given all the keys of the kingdom, but only the senior apostle--the President of the Church--is authorized to use all the keys. The other apostles act under the president's direction.<br /> <br /> *''[[Mormon prophet|President]]'': At any one time, only one man can hold the office of President of the Church and exercise the keys and authority associated with that office. The President (also referred to as &quot;[[Mormon prophet|the Prophet]]&quot;) is the senior apostle (in terms of years as an apostle, not age. See [[Choosing a Prophet]] to learn about the ''Order of Succession'') and is also the president of the Melchizedek Priesthood. He is sustained as ''the'' prophet, seer, and revelator. As such he is entitled to receive revelation for not only the Church, but the entire world. A man will remain President of the Church the remainder of his life, though in cases of poor health the counselors in the [[First Presidency]] may take over some of the functions of the office as the President authorizes.<br /> <br /> The Melchizedek Priesthood &quot;holds the right of presidency, and has power and authority over all the offices in the church in all ages of the world, to administer in spiritual things,&quot; and holds &quot;keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church&quot; (D&amp;C 107:8, 18).<br /> <br /> ==Blacks and the Priesthood==<br /> Until 1978, men of African descent had not been permitted to receive the priesthood although they could become members and serve within the church. (Persons of other dark-skinned ethnicities not of African descent, such as the Maori, could receive the priesthood prior to this time.)<br /> <br /> In 1978, an official declaration of the [[First Presidency]] reported that a revelation had been received by Mormon Church President [[Spencer W. Kimball]] directing that all worthy men be allowed to receive the priesthood. Elder [[David B. Haight]] was present when President Kimball received the revelation. Years later he bore this testimony in [[General Conference|general conference]]:<br /> <br /> :I noticed an edition of the Chicago Tribune on the newsstand. The headline in the paper said, “Mormons Give Blacks Priesthood.” And the subheading said, “President Kimball Claims to Have Received a Revelation.” I bought a copy of the newspaper. I stared at one word in that subheading—claims. It stood out to me just like it was in red neon. As I walked along the hallway to make my plane connection, I thought, Here I am now in Chicago walking through this busy airport, yet I was a witness to this revelation. I was there. I witnessed it. I felt that heavenly influence. I was part of it. Little did the editor of that newspaper realize the truth of that revelation when he wrote, “… Claims to Have Received a Revelation.” Little did he know, or the printer, or the man who put the ink on the press, or the one who delivered the newspaper—little did any of them know that it was truly a revelation from God. Little did they know what I knew because I was a witness to it (David B. Haight, “This Work Is True,” Ensign, May 1996, 22).<br /> <br /> Another leader in the Mormon Church related the following about one of the early Mormon converts in Africa: <br /> <br /> :Moses Mahlangu, of Soweto, South Africa, patiently but persistently waited sixteen years for baptism. When he speaks of his long wait to join the Church, Brother Mahlangu compares himself to Cornelius [the first Gentile to join the early Christian Church after Peter received revelation that the gospel was spread to the Gentiles], who he says was “very good in waiting to receive the word of God or to be a member of the Church until the angels came and told him what to do.” (See [http://scriptures.lds.org/acts/10/1-7#1 Acts 10:1–7]) Today, at age sixty-three, Moses is a groundskeeper at the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, which he regularly attends. He is also the elders quorum president in the Soweto Branch. (E. Dale LeBaron, “Gospel Pioneers in Africa,” Ensign, Aug. 1990, 40)<br /> <br /> Since 1978, the Mormon Church has grown extensively in Africa and currently has [[Mormon temple|temples]] in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa. As of 2004, there were over 220,000 members of the Mormon Church in Africa.<br /> <br /> '''For More Information''' about Blacks and Mormons:<br /> * [http://www.ldsgenesisgroup.org/ LDS Genesis Group]<br /> * [http://blacklds.org/ BlackLDS.org]<br /> <br /> ==Women and the Priesthood==<br /> In the Mormon Church, women are not ordained to the priesthood. This does not in any way lessen them in the eyes of either God or the Church. Women are entitled to all of the same blessings of the priesthood as men. Men and women, however, have different responsibilities both within the Mormon Church and before God.<br /> <br /> Mormon [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles|Apostle]] [[Dallin H. Oaks]] said this about the matter:<br /> <br /> :President [Joseph Fielding] Smith explained: &quot;While the sisters have not been given the Priesthood, … that does not mean that the Lord has not given unto them authority. Authority and Priesthood are two different things. A person may have authority given to him, or a sister to her, to do certain things in the Church that are binding and absolutely necessary for our salvation, such as the work that our sisters do in the House of the Lord.&quot; (Relief Society Magazine, Jan. 1959, p. 4.)<br /> <br /> :President Smith's teaching on authority explains what the Prophet Joseph Smith meant when he said that he organized the [[Relief Society]] &quot;under the priesthood after the pattern of the priesthood.&quot; The authority to be exercised by the officers and teachers of the Relief Society, as with the other auxiliary organizations, was the authority that would flow to them through their organizational connection with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and through their individual setting apart under the hands of the priesthood leaders by whom they were called. (Dallin H. Oaks, &quot;The Relief Society and the Church,&quot; Ensign, May 1992, 34)<br /> <br /> ''See also [[Mormon women]]''</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mormon_history&diff=4830 Mormon history 2006-05-22T19:45:13Z <p>Reiddp: /* New York Period */</p> <hr /> <div>==Overview==<br /> The Church of Christ (the original name for the Mormon Church) was organized with six founding members in Fayette, New York on April 6, 1830. (The full name, [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]], was given by revelation in 1838.) The earliest members were almost all the family and friends of the prophet Joseph Smith. Persecution in New York, coupled with strong growth in Kirtland, Ohio, caused the Church to move to that town. Subsequently the Church moved again, first to Western Missouri, then to Illinois, and ultimately across the great plains to the Rocky Mountains. All attempts to wipe out or dislodge the Saints from that region failed, and with the ending of official persecution at the close of the nineteenth century, the Church entered upon a sustained period of growth and prosperity, which continues to this day. In its nearly two hundred year history, Mormonism has spread from its headquarters in the American Midwest and finally Utah, to become an international church with most of its members living outside the United States. The history of so broad a movement cannot be adequately condensed, but in the pages that follow is an outline of Mormon History from 1820 to contemporary times. Links go to pages that give a fuller treatment of the time period.<br /> <br /> ==Outline of Mormon History==<br /> <br /> ===[[New York Period]]===<br /> <br /> [[Joseph Smith]] has his [[First Vision|first vision]] where he sees God the Father and [[Jesus Christ]]. The [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/basic/bom/people/moroni_2_angel_eom.htm Angel Moroni] appears to him and gives him the golden plates. He translates the [[Book of Mormon]], publishes it, receives the authority of the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods, and founds [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]]. [[Mormon missionaries|Missionaries]] go out and convert many. Persecution follows the Church.<br /> <br /> ===[[Ohio Period]]===<br /> <br /> Mormons move to Kirtland, Ohio. Joseph Smith receives many revelations. Many Mormons move to Missouri, where they hope to build [[Zion]]. In Ohio, Mormons build their first [[Mormon temple|temple]]. Joseph translates the [[Book of Abraham]]. The [[Doctrine and Covenants]] is published. Missionaries begin going to Canada and England. The [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] is established. [[Zion's Camp]] is launched to help the persecuted Mormons in Missouri. Finally, the Church moves to Missouri in 1838.<br /> <br /> ===[[Missouri Period]]===<br /> <br /> Mormons first settle Jackson County, Missouri, in 1831. By 1833, they are expelled by mobs after many are tarred and featherd, chased, and attacked. They settle in Clay County temporarily and finally move to Caldwell and Daviess counties in 1836. Tensions mount as mobs harrass Mormon settlements. Some Mormons fight back. One group of Mormons organizes the [[Danites]][http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_Missouri.shtml], who fight back. The Missouri war escalates as Joseph Smith and the Ohio Mormons move to Missouri. Joseph Smith is arrested and thrown in jail for several months without trial. The [[Extermination Order]] expels all the Mormons from Ohio. Dozens of Mormons are massacred at [[Haun's Mill]], others are burned out of their homes. The Mormons flee to Illinois under the leadership of [[Brigham Young]].<br /> <br /> ===[[Nauvoo and the Martyrdom]]===<br /> <br /> The Mormons establish a new city at Nauvoo, Illinois. In a few years it rivals Chicago for size. [http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/daily/missionary/ Mormon missionaries] begin proselyting through Europe and have much success in England and Scandanavia. Mormons begin the Nauvoo Temple. Persecution continues both from Missouri and Illinois. Joseph Smith must frequently hide from enemies. Many important revelations come which teach about [[polygamy]], [[Baptism for the Dead| baptism for the dead]], [[Celestial marriage]], and the [[Plan of salvation|plan of salvation]]. In June 1844, Joseph Smith and his brother are murdered. The [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]] leads the Church. They finish the temple in 1846, but are driven out that same year.<br /> <br /> ===[[Westward Migration]]===<br /> <br /> After expulsion from Illinois, the Mormons scatter throughout Iowa. Finally, they establish the [[Mormon Trail]] to Utah. The [[Mormon Battalion]] participates in the U.S.-Mexican War and explores California. [[Mormon Pioneers]] cross the Great Plains and establish cities in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Wyoming, Arizona, and Idaho. Ultimately they push on into northern Mexico and southern Canada. For ten years the Mormon Church has peace in the Rocky Mountains.<br /> <br /> ===The [[Utah War]]===<br /> <br /> Political pressure and lies from former Utah officials cause U.S. President James Buchanan to send Johnston's Army to Utah to quell a nonexistent rebellion. Brigham Young, who was governor, is dismissed from office, but is not notified about it. Afraid to be driven again, the Mormons harass the invading army by burning grass and scattering horses. Finally, the army realizes that no rebellion is occurring and they conclude a peace. Unfortunately, fears caused by the invasion drove some Mormons to massacre settlers bound for California at a place called [[Mountain Meadows massacre|Mountain Meadows]].<br /> <br /> ===[[Post-Civil War Persecution]]===<br /> <br /> The Mormons are generally left alone during the U.S. Civil War and continue missionary work throughout the world, going into Mexico and South America and parts of Asia and Europe. After the Civil War, the U.S. Congress passes several laws that outlaw [[polygamy]]. They ultimately jail thousands of Mormons. Others are forbidden to vote, hold office, or own property. Loyalty oaths are instituted to keep Mormons out of jobs. Many Mormons flee to Mexico and Canada. Church leaders go into hiding. Finally, after receiving revelation from the Lord, the Church stops polygamy and excommunicates those who continue to practice it, the rest are pardoned by U.S. President Grover Cleveland. The Church begins to grow once more and thousands of European Mormons come to Utah.<br /> <br /> ===[[Stability and Growth]]===<br /> <br /> The next few decades are relatively peaceful. The [[Mormon Church]] is able to regain its property, though it would be some time before they pay off all the debts brought on by persecution. Mormons still must fight to hold government offices. Reed Smoot, a Mormon Apostle, must fight for two years to take his seat in the U.S. Senate after being elected. President Joseph F. Smith receives an important revelation about [[salvation for the dead]]. The Church celebrates its centennial and begins buying historic sites. The Church Welfare program is developed during the Great Depression to help members affected by the depression. At this point, most Mormons begin staying in their own countires, rather than moving to Utah. Missionary work continues in South American and the Pacific islands where thousands join the Church. Temples are built in Canada, Europe, New Zealand, and Hawaii. During World War II, Mormons find themselves on both sides of the conflict and many Mormons are trapped behind the Iron Curtain after the war.<br /> <br /> ===[[International Growth]]===<br /> <br /> Following World War II, the Mormon Church begins to grow exponentially. More temples are built throughout the United States, Europe, Central and South America, and the Pacific Islands. One temple is even built in East Germany while under Soviet control. President [[David O. McKay]] becomes the most widely travelled [[Mormon president]] to date. The Mormon Church expands its welfare and humanitarian programs and renders valuable aid in the reconstruction of Europe and Japan. Missionary training centers are established to help missionaries learn the many languages of the Church. David O. McKay encourages all members to be missionaries and one of his successors, Spencer W. Kimball, receives a revelation that all male members should serve as missionaries. Soon, the missionary force of the Church climbs to over 50,000. All this growth leads to the correlation program which streamlines Church government and Church programs to eliminate waste and duplication. Growth of the Church in Brazil and Africa causes [[Mormon prophet]] [[Spencer W. Kimball]] to pray about the ban on blacks from the [[Priesthood|priesthood.]] In 1978, he recieves a revelation from God that all worthy male members may receive the priesthood. Soon the Mormon Church grows exponentially in Brazil and Africa. In the 1980s the Church concentrates on translating the [[Book of Mormon]] into dozens of world languages and Mormons answer the call to &quot;flood the earth&quot; with it.<br /> <br /> ===[[Contemporary Developments]]===<br /> <br /> Since the early 1990s, the Mormon Church has surpassed 12,000,000 members worldwide. Much of this growth has occurred in South America and Africa as well as in the countries of the former Soviet Union, especially Russia. By the late 1990s, more Mormons live outside the United States than within. This growth requires hundreds of new churches a year. In 1995, [[Gordon B. Hinckley]] becomes president. He surpasses David O. McKay as most widely travelled [[Mormon president]]. He issues the [[Proclamation to the World]] concerning the breakdown of the family, and [[the Living Christ]], about the mission of [[Jesus Christ]]. He receives a revelation calling for more temples to be built and by the year 2000, more than 100 temples are in operation worldwide, including places such as China, Japan, more in the Philippines, three in Africa, and dozens in North and South America and Europe. For many Mormons, the rebuilding of the Nauvoo temple, destroyed by arsonists in 1846, marks a crowning point in their lives. Mormons also celebrated the sesquicentennial of the Mormon Pioneers' journey to Utah and in 2005, they celebrated the bicentennial of Joseph Smith's birth.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Death&diff=4822 Death 2006-05-22T19:07:33Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Death is a separation. The scriptures speak of two kinds of death: physical and spiritual. Physical death is the separation of the body and spirit, while spiritual death is the separation of humankind from the presence of God because of sin. Thanks to [[Jesus Christ]], all mortals will overcome physical death and all who obey the Gospel will overcome spiritual death.<br /> <br /> The [[Fall]] of [[Adam and Eve]] brought both kinds of death into this world (2 Nephi 2:22; Moses 6:48). Through His [[Atonement of Jesus Christ|Atonement]], Jesus Christ overcame physical death so that all mortals, regardless of how they live, will be [[Resurrection|resurrected]] (1 Corinthians 15:21-23). After being resurrected, our physical bodies can no longer die (Alma 11:45).<br /> <br /> Jesus also provided a way for all people to overcome spiritual death and receive eternal life. Through His atonement and by obeying His teachings and commandments, we can become free from sin and become spiritually &quot;alive&quot; once again. Those who are spiritually &quot;alive&quot; will continue to make mistakes during mortal life, and will need to repent of those mistakes through sincere prayer, asking forgiveness, righting wrongs that may have been done to others, and trying to live better lives.<br /> <br /> Those who refuse to repent of their sins will someday suffer a permanent spiritual death, being forever cut off from God's presence. This type of spiritual death is often referred to in the scriptures as the &quot;second death.&quot;<br /> <br /> Receiving Comfort after the Death of a Loved One<br /> <br /> The death of a loved one often brings such questions as &quot;why this?&quot; or &quot;why now?&quot; Many times, the grieving process takes many months for a person to begin to trust God again, because we do not understand God's purposes and we may feel that He did not listen to our prayers. He does listen, and promises to comfort us as we approach Him in prayer. The Savior's promise as recorded in John 14:27 is true: &quot;Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.&quot;<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that life after death is a place of happiness, joy, and being with loved ones. This belief is not only about those who have joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but about all good people who have lived or are living on earth, and all children who have died in infancy or young childhood. After this life, the learning process that is a part of mortal life continues in a loving environment where we prepare for our own day of resurrection, when our spirit will be joined with an immortal physical body that lives on forever.<br /> <br /> Because of these beliefs, a Mormon funeral expresses feelings of peace and comfort for close family members, friends and loved ones of the deceased, knowing that there will be a future reuniting that will be joyful. Also, it is a great comfort to know that the person who has died is able to be with other loved ones who have already died.</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Death&diff=4816 Death 2006-05-22T17:32:15Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Death is a separation. The scriptures speak of two kinds of death: physical and spiritual. Physical death is the separation of the body and spirit, while spiritual death is the separation of humankind from the presence of God because of sin. Thanks to [[Jesus Christ]], all mortals will overcome physical death and all who obey the Gospel will overcome spiritual death.<br /> <br /> The [[Fall]] of [[Adam and Eve]] brought both kinds of death into this world (2 Nephi 2:22; Moses 6:48). Through His [[Atonement of Jesus Christ|Atonement]], Jesus Christ overcame physical death so that all mortals, regardless of how they live, will be [[Resurrection|resurrected]] (1 Corinthians 15:21-23). After being resurrected, our physical bodies can no longer die (Alma 11:45).<br /> <br /> Jesus also provided a way for all people to overcome spiritual death and receive eternal life. Through His atonement and by obeying His teachings and commandments, we can become free from sin and become spiritually &quot;alive&quot; once again. Those who are spiritually &quot;alive&quot; will continue to make mistakes during mortal life, and will need to repent of those mistakes through sincere prayer, asking forgiveness, righting wrongs that may have been done to others, and trying to live better lives.<br /> <br /> Those who refuse to repent of their sins will someday suffer a permanent spiritual death, being forever cut off from God's presence. This type of spiritual death is often referred to in the scriptures as the &quot;second death.&quot;</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Mormon_prophet&diff=4815 Mormon prophet 2006-05-22T16:14:19Z <p>Reiddp: /* Book of Mormon Prophets */</p> <hr /> <div>Mormons believe in prophets, both ancient and modern. This belief is intertwined with the belief that God has an interest in talking to man, and does so through the prophets that He chooses. The Bible contains a record of God's dealings with prophets in those days, and modern scripture contains a record of God’s dealings with prophets in modern days. Mormons believe that the heavens were not closed after the biblical record, and that He still talks to His children today, just as in days of old.<br /> <br /> Most Christians have at least a passing familiarity with the prophets of the Bible. Stories of Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Samuel, Elijah, and dozens of other major and minor prophets are included in the Bible. These prophets talked with the Lord and related the Lord’s will to the people. The teachings and warnings of the biblical prophets were heeded or ignored; the choice rested with the people to whom the prophets spoke. The consequences for exercising that choice—good or bad—also rested upon the people as a whole.<br /> <br /> ==Becoming a Prophet==<br /> A prophet is not someone born to that position, it is not a job that someone can apply for, nor is it something that someone can take upon themselves. Based on the biblical record, prophets always seem to go through a specific process in order to become a prophet. This process includes a call, a commission or charge, and a message to be delivered.<br /> <br /> ===Calling a Prophet===<br /> All prophets share a calling, initiated by God, in which the individual is summoned to serve as God’s messenger. The event attendant to the calling, and the circumstances in which the event occurs, are powerful and realistic enough to convince the individual that the communication is from God, and not some mental aberration or hallucination.<br /> <br /> The Bible records the calling of prophets such as Moses, Samuel, Elisha, Isaiah, Ezekiel, and others. There are a few prophets (such as Elijah, Nathan, and Ahijah) for whom the record is incomplete and the calling is not recorded. A prophet’s call often occurs through visionary experiences, but not all the details are exactly the same from prophet to prophet. It is not uncommon for the visions to be accompanied by an unusual or miraculous event, such as Moses and the burning bush. <br /> <br /> ===The Prophet's Charge===<br /> God's calling of a prophet is always accompanied by that individual being charged with a specific task. In other words, the prophet is called and then asked by the Lord to do something. The charge is seldom easy and often related to others. For instance, a prophet may be charged with preaching repentance to a city or people. Others may be asked to condemn individuals or a group of people.<br /> <br /> Prophets are not always eager to accept the charge given them by God. Perhaps the most famous example is Jonah, who tried to run from his prophetic charge, only to be miraculously delivered by God to the location where he finally accepted it. There are other instances, as well, of reluctance among prophets—Jeremiah protesting that he was too young (Jeremiah 1:6) or Moses coming up with reasons why people wouldn’t listen to him (Exodus 3-4).<br /> <br /> For other prophets the biblical record indicates no reservations; they went straightway and did what the Lord asked. Prophets such as Isaiah and Ezekiel are characteristic of this type of personality.<br /> <br /> ===A Prophet's Message===<br /> The charge given to a prophet invariably includes some sort of message that the Lord wants delivered. The message may be one of warning or consolation; it may be one of promise or consequence. The message often contains some prediction of the future, conditioned on the reception or rejection of the message. The message is seldom the same, and the details are oriented to the needs of the people and the expectations of the Lord.<br /> <br /> God communicated His will to prophets in various ways. Some prophets experienced visions, heard voices, or had dreams. At least one prophet, Moses, spoke with God mouth to mouth (Exodus 33) or face to face (Deuteronomy 34). Most prophets only sensed the presence of the Lord, whereas Moses actually saw His form and person (Numbers 12, Exodus 33-34).<br /> <br /> ==The Character of Prophets==<br /> Prophets are not all cut out of the same character mold; they are people with different characteristics, different capabilities, and different skills. The Bible records that some prophets were dynamic, commanding speakers, while others are self-conscious or poor speakers. Some were pleasing to look at, while others were not much to look at. Prophets have no physical marks that would identify them as such, and they carry no credentials that would lead to unquestioned recognition of their position. Prophets are individuals, the same as everyone else, and easily mistaken for any other regular person.<br /> <br /> This &quot;plainness&quot; of a prophet led many people to reject biblical prophets—the man called of God did not fit the image of a prophet that was expected by the people. Rejection may have been because the prophet was someone known to the people before his call, or it may have been because they expected messages from God to be delivered in some other manner and through some other messenger.<br /> <br /> The individuality of a prophet also means that their messages weren’t always delivered in the same way. One prophet might speak directly to a king or other leader, while a different prophet might preach in the streets. One might use threatening language, while another used pleadings and promises. The Lord did not transform the prophets into carbon copies of each other; He gave them a message to deliver and then usually left it to the individual prophet to figure out how to best deliver the message.<br /> <br /> ==Miracles and Prophets==<br /> When people think of prophets, they often think of miracles performed by those prophets. Mention Moses, and people often think of the miraculous plagues pronounced upon the Egyptians, the parting of the Red Sea, or striking a rock and having water come forth. Moses is not the only prophet to perform miracles; there are many including Samuel, Elijah, Elisha, and Isaiah.<br /> <br /> Miracles do not seem to be a common characteristic of all prophets, however. Some prophets have no recorded miracles, yet the Lord affirms that they are prophets nonetheless. Miracles seem to be associated with the needs of the prophet and the people and always consistent with the will of the Lord.<br /> <br /> ==Testing Prophets==<br /> The book of Deuteronomy offers rules of procedure to determine if a prophet is a true prophet. The first rule is located in Deuteronomy 13:1-5, and specifies what shall happen if a prophet attempts to lead people to follow “different gods” than the true God:<br /> <br /> :1 If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,<br /> :2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;<br /> :3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.<br /> :4 Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.<br /> :5 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn [you] away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.<br /> <br /> The second rule is recorded in Deuteronomy 18:20-22 and specifies a test for prophets relative to the predictions they make:<br /> <br /> :20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.<br /> :21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?<br /> :22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.<br /> <br /> The problem is that the rules outlined in Deuteronomy will not work in many situations. For instance, what the predictions carried in a prophetic message have no specific timetable attached? When should a person determine that the prediction did not come true? If the person judges too soon, then the person will be wrong. If the person judges too late, then the person will end up following a false prophet.<br /> <br /> In historical terms, many of the biblical prophets gave predictions without timetable which could not be judged within the lifetime of the hearer. For instance, Isaiah and many Old Testament prophets prophesied about the coming of the [[Messiah]]. It was impossible for a hearer to listen to such predictions and wait for their eventual fulfillment and make a decision that would affect how the hearer lived his or her life.<br /> <br /> In most cases, the decision of whether a prophet is a true prophet or not must rely upon factors not addressed in the Deuteronomic tests. Perhaps the primary factor, besides whether the prophet speaks in the name of the true and living God, is the affect that the prophet has upon the person asked to judge the truth of the prophet’s message. Each person must make the determination of the truthfulness of the prophet’s message based upon whether that message resonates with what the individual knows to be real and true.<br /> <br /> ==Book of Mormon Prophets==<br /> Mormons accept as holy scripture the [[Book of Mormon]]. This inspired record recounts God’s dealings with His covenant people in the Western hemisphere for about a thousand years, from approximately 600 B.C. to 400 A.D. The record indicates the call, charge, and message of many prophets, all following the biblical model for messengers from God.<br /> <br /> The concept of prophetic records being in a book other than the Bible is undoubtedly foreign to many Christians. Mormons believe that such a concept is consistent with Christianity, however, because God loves all His children, and it makes logical sense that He would select messengers (prophets) to minister to those children, as well. It is important that such selection would exhibit the same characteristics as the selection of prophets in the Bible—and Mormons feel that such consistency is evident in the Book of Mormon.<br /> <br /> The Old Testament prophet Isaiah told of a future time in the history of the world when the words of prophets would &quot;speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.&quot;<br /> (Old Testament | Isaiah 29:4)<br /> <br /> Mormons believe that the coming forth of the Book of Mormon is part of the fulfillment of this prophecy by Isaiah. It was written on golden plates so that the record could be buried and preserved, and was translated by the prophet Joseph Smith in 1829. Those who read it with sincere intent to learn about Jesus Christ find that it does ring true and have a &quot;familiar spirit.&quot; They learn that those Book of Mormon prophets foresaw the turmoil and confusion of our day, and gave us messages of hope, faith, and inspiration concerning how to draw closer to Jesus Christ as individuals and families.<br /> <br /> ==Latter-day Prophets==<br /> Besides the prophets of the Bible and the Book of Mormon, Mormons recognize modern prophets. These prophets, like those in ancient times, are viewed as messengers of God; as His servants chosen to convey messages from the Lord to His people and to the world as a whole.<br /> <br /> The first prophet in modern times is [[Joseph Smith]][http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=1&amp;topic=facts], and his call, charge, and message is consistent with the pattern established for prophets in the Bible. Since the death of Joseph Smith in 1844, an unbroken series of prophets have led the Mormon Church:<br /> <br /> * [[Brigham Young]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=2&amp;topic=facts (1844-1877)] <br /> * [[John Taylor]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=3&amp;topic=facts (1877-1887)]<br /> * [[Wilford Woodruff]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=4&amp;topic=facts (1887-1898)] <br /> * [[Lorenzo Snow]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=5&amp;topic=facts (1898-1901)] <br /> * [[Joseph F. Smith]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=6&amp;topic=facts (1901-1918)] <br /> * [[Heber J. Grant]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=7&amp;topic=facts (1918-1945)] <br /> * [[George Albert Smith]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=8&amp;topic=facts (1945-1951)] <br /> * [[David O. McKay]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=9&amp;topic=facts (1951-1970)] <br /> * [[Joseph Fielding Smith]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=10&amp;topic=facts (1970-1972)] <br /> * [[Harold B. Lee]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=11&amp;topic=facts (1972-1973)] <br /> * [[Spencer W. Kimball]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=12&amp;topic=facts (1973-1985)] <br /> * [[Ezra Taft Benson]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=13&amp;topic=facts (1985-1994)] <br /> * [[Howard W. Hunter]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=14&amp;topic=facts (1994-1995)] <br /> * [[Gordon B. Hinckley]] [http://www.lds.org/churchhistory/presidents/controllers/potcController.jsp?leader=15&amp;topic=facts (1995-present)] <br /> <br /> These prophets have dedicated themselves to their appointed mission of helping the people of the world prepare for eternal life and for the second coming of Jesus Christ, delivering the message that the Lord would have delivered. The living prophet continues to receive revelations, selects leaders by the spirit of prophecy, and serves as the principal teacher of the Church.<br /> <br /> ''See also [[Quotes from the Prophets]] and [[Choosing a Prophet]]''<br /> <br /> ==External Links==<br /> *[http://www.josephsmith.net/portal/site/JosephSmith Joseph Smith - Home]<br /> *[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith Wikipedia - Joseph Smith, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]<br /> *[http://www.josephsmith.com/ Joseph Smith - American Prophet]<br /> *[http://comevisit.com/lds/js3photo.htm Joseph Smith Daguerreotype]<br /> *[http://scriptures.lds.org/js_h/1 JS-H 1]<br /> *[http://www.jefflindsay.com/LDSFAQ/FQ_prophecies.shtml Fufilled Prophecies of Joseph Smith]<br /> *[http://www.lightplanet.com/mormons/people/joseph_smith/index.html Joseph Smith - Lightplanet]<br /> *[http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/mormon/history/history3.shtml BBC - Religion &amp; Ethics - The Story of Joseph Smith]<br /> *[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0845622.html Joseph Smith]<br /> *[http://www.answers.com/topic/joseph-smith Joseph Smith: Biography and Much More From Answers.com]<br /> *[http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Joseph_Smith,_Jr. Joseph Smith Jr. - Wikiquote]<br /> *[http://lds.org/library/display/0,4945,104-1-3-1,FF.html The Testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith]<br /> *[http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/w/o/wol3/smithj2.htm Joseph Smith - bellsouth]<br /> *[http://www.beliefnet.com/story/181/story_18153_1.html Joseph Smith: Prophet, Revelator, Human; Interview with Richard Lyman]</div> Reiddp https://www.mormonwiki.com/wiki/index.php?title=Exaltation&diff=4771 Exaltation 2006-05-17T20:34:01Z <p>Reiddp: </p> <hr /> <div>Exaltation is eternal life - the kind of life God lives. Our Heavenly Father's plan enables us to return to live with Him forever as exalted beings, ultimately becoming gods ourselves, if we follow His plan for His children. Central to His plan is the atonement of Jesus Christ. Exaltation is only possible through the merciful grace of Christ's infinite atonement.<br /> <br /> The atonement of Christ is the greatest gift ever given to mankind, and the most important single event in human history. During the atoning sacrifice of our loving Savior, he suffered the punishment for all of the sins of mankind. Because of this payment to the demands of the eternal law of justice, the atonement of Jesus Christ provides a way so that men and women may repent of all their sins and become &quot;perfect in Christ.&quot; Exaltation means becoming perfect even as Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are perfect, not through our own power or ability but through the power and authority that Jesus Christ has been given by Heavenly Father.<br /> <br /> Exalted beings receive a fulness of joy, love, knowledge and power, and live in eternal family relationships. They dwell in the presence of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and rejoice with them in everlasting celestial life.<br /> <br /> John the Revelator saw visions of the end of the world and of the glories of exaltation. He wrote of the Savior's promises to the faithful in the following passages:<br /> <br /> &quot;Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.&quot; (New Testament | Revelation 3:12)<br /> <br /> &quot;Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.&quot; (New Testament | Revelation 3:20 - 21)<br /> <br /> &quot;He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.&quot; (New Testament | Revelation 21:7)<br /> <br /> It is impossible for mortal man to understand the feelings of joy and love that exalted beings will have, but Mormons believe that all men and women ought to make every possible effort to study Christ's teachings, follow his example, and prepare themselves to live as John also describes:<br /> <br /> &quot;Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.&quot; (New Testament | 1 John 3:2 - 3)</div> Reiddp