As long as people have believed in a benevolent God (in other words, from the days of Adam), they have also struggled to explain why there has to be so much suffering in the world. Some have suggested that all suffering is the result of sin. Others dismiss the whole concept of sin and say that everything is just obeying natural laws. (more…)
Or, Our Eternal Household Argument Debate Discussion…
Is communism the Law of Consecration in action? Or, lacking national/worldwide conversion to the gospel and our belief system, is it simply forcing people to make good choices and do “the right thing”, mirroring in theory a certain plan put forth by a certain guy who didn’t get the job?
At what point do we stray from “esteeming our brother as ourselves”(D&C 38:24) and “being one” (D&C 38:27, Moses 7:18), and enter into “Satan’s counterfeit for the gospel plan….the greatest anti-Christ power in the world today”(President Marion G Romney, 1979)? President Ezra Taft Benson said there is no Utopia to be found “when capitalism and free enterprise are overthrown, private property abolished, the family as a social unit eliminated, all classes abolished, all governments overthrown, and a communal ownership of property in a classless, stateless society established”. So then which, if any, of those things could we institute to show service and compassion without endangering freedom and liberty?
We are counseled to work for all we receive, be self-reliant and independent, and give service. So what recourse would there be when one refuses to do those things but continues to benefit from the productivity of others? Should we allow families to suffer and perhaps die because they refuse to put their two bits in the kitty? What if there’s only one pair of gloves and every person is in need of them, how do you decide that one? Should people really be rewarded with more because they work harder or longer(actions), or should we leave it to a higher authority to decide what we earn based on the content of our character and our dedication(intents)? In a mortal world, who should that authority be? Does anyone else’s head hurt from thinking too much? Who wants a doughnut break? Chocolate or sprinkles?
Mo Mommy has been around the ‘nacle a while. She’s a 30-year old momma with a husband in Iraq. Her personal blog is found here. And most importantly, Susan thinks she’s a cool chick (which means you do to). These are not the droids you are looking for.
Welcome!
The line is perhaps a little funny, and usually meant to be so. But I wonder. Can we discount the reality of the adversary? The the answer can be found in this jewel of a quote from Nephi (2 Ne 28:22). One of the Devil’s best moves has been to convince people that the horned, cloven-footed guy with a funny tail doesn’t exist and there are no consequences to breaking the commandments. The really clever move was to etch the caricature of him so deep in our culture - and thus our collective subconscious - even while his existence was not in doubt that it’s hard to remember sometimes that he is in fact nothing like the popular culture has portrayed for the last millennium or so. I don’t know what he looks like, but I suspect he wouldn’t raise too many eyebrows if we were to see him around here. It’s been said that he can appear as an angel of light (2 Ne 9:9), so I don’t expect him to advertise his intentions by his appearance. (more…)
There is a common understanding among us that the goal of our lives is to become perfect. It is understandable, of course, with Jesus saying it right in the Sermon on The Mount (see Matt 5:48). This exhortation should be viewed in light of other recorded inspired counsel and understanding. (more…)
California LDS members watched a live broadcast concerning Proposition 8 in their chapels last night featuring Elders Ballard, Cook, Bednar and L. Whitney Clayton of the Presidency of the Seventy. Over the course of the evening, the brethren addressed the points made in Rusty’s email (see The Email Forward Has Convinced Me. Too Bad I Don’t Live in California) and unequivocally cited them as real potential dangers should the proposition fail (they also mentioned the skewed, world-influenced views some of the saints have adopted regarding SSA). (more…)
I have thought more about building Zion, based somewhat on Elder Christofferson’s conference talk. He mentioned that one qualification for being a Zion society is being one. I think the potentially most expansive scripture on unity is found in Jesus’ prayer in Gethsemane as recorded in John 17. He prayed “that they be one, as we are” (v. 11), and “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us” (v. 26). Related to that is the idea that we are not “of this world” (v. 16). The contrast between worldly self-centeredness and self-serving and the Zion ideal is radical. (more…)
I would love to give a blow-by-blow account of how I experienced the first day of conference. I’d like to share some observations of what made the strongest impressions from Saturday’s sessions.
Elder Anderson talked about choosing to have faith - one of the things I’ve realized in later years that is required. We may surf on the crest of a powerful spiritual experience for some time, but then time comes when we have to choose. And confirm that choice over again. (more…)
Lately I have been hearing about a lot of traditions followed by members of the Church when General Conference time comes around. One family I know gathers all family and extended family members together for a large breakfast Sunday morning, then watches the Sunday morning session together. Another does the same thing with dinner and the afternoon session. Many families gather all their male members to attend the Priesthood session together. I have also heard from fathers who conduct interviews with their children (sort of a spiritual “check-up” and a time to give a father’s blessing if needed) between conference sessions. Do you have personal or family General Conference traditions? What are they?
That headline is John Baptist (slightly) paraphrased from Matt 3. I have lately been reviewing ideas about repentance. There is hardly any disagreement among Christians as to the necessity to repent. I checked the PMG for a reference, and didn’t have to go further than page 8 to find a good definition:
“Repentance involves a change of heart and a desire to forsake sin and serve God. It involves humbly yielding to the Spirit and submitting to God’s will. It requires that people increase their commitment to live in agreement with God’s will. Repentance requires a sincere and lasting change of thoughts, desires, habits, and actions. It is a positive experience that brings joy and peace.”
