tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.comments2023-10-26T05:12:19.629-07:00PonderItBradley Rosshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06030210881782328907noreply@blogger.comBlogger684125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-78674210635038271552020-05-14T15:57:26.400-07:002020-05-14T15:57:26.400-07:00Theist Think Tank raises the same tired objection ...Theist Think Tank raises the same tired objection of faith versus works. Mormons think they can work their way to heaven, he tells us. The problem is, the scriptures tell us we will be judged by our works. But that doesn't mean we work ousr way to heaven, does it?<br /><br />If someone murders someone, will they inherit heaven? They may gain some sort of salvation, but they won't be sitting on the Lord's right hand throughout the eternities. Nor partake of God's greatest blessings no matter how much they repent.<br /><br />The scriptures say we will be judged according to our works, or deeds. Paul therefor writes, "righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds: to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life. But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; but glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile." (Romans 2)<br /><br />Thus, as Robert Millet explains, faith and works are like two blades of a pair of scissors. Which one does the cutting? ✋🏻😎 <br /><br />--<br /><br /><br />John Roberts 👀https://www.blogger.com/profile/01713751168258439316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-91322717498690219672019-02-18T08:36:28.417-07:002019-02-18T08:36:28.417-07:00I like your idea of the brassmith guided to make t...I like your idea of the brassmith guided to make the Liahona; I had come up with the same idea. Like the other post, though, I imagined him being led to the camp and prompted to leave his precious gift outside the tent. It must have been hard to leave it there, not knowing what would happen to it, but he had faith. Perhaps he did feel a sense of joy in knowing it had a purpose, a place to go. It will be great to find out the whole story some day!Violahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10087566614461105220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-44633990579963901992018-03-16T12:12:38.949-07:002018-03-16T12:12:38.949-07:00It appears that writing appeared on the pointers t...It appears that writing appeared on the pointers to give guidance. Notice in the BoM, Nephi refers to the pointers and then says "and there was written upon them" them, being the pointers. This goes right along with Nibley's description of how they used to write words on arrows, shoot them or throw them, and see which answer stuck. Having words on arrows for guidance would have been customary for them.<br /><br />1 Nephi 1:16<br />28 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.<br /><br />29 And there was also written upon them a new writing, which was plain to be read, which did give us understanding concerning the ways of the Lord; and it was written and changed from time to time, according to the faith and diligence which we gave unto it. And thus we see that by small means the Lord can bring about great things.<br /><br />Also, there is an LDS blogger who claims to have seen early biblical events in vision, and he saw that Rachel (Jacobs preferred wife) saw in the Liahona that she would someday be able to bear children for Jacob (she had been barren). He said that the Liahona was her father Laban's and that it had come down through the family. Thats the same family as Abraham, which was the firstborn lineage down from Enoch to Noah, to Eber (Hebrews) to Abraham's older brother (Laban's father). He also said it was the object that Rachel snuck and hid away from her father when they left. Then it was buried with her when she died, and I guess the implication was that an angel delivered it to Lehi.<br /><br />I don't endorse this source or this answer, but at least it's out there.JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08212448213328741060noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-47000955181168647432016-06-29T13:36:10.227-07:002016-06-29T13:36:10.227-07:00Good point, Bryant. I suppose Brother Guy is wrapp...Good point, Bryant. I suppose Brother Guy is wrapping that up in the concept of "testing" our assertions. Bradley Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06030210881782328907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-25264727099215333792016-06-29T13:23:02.910-07:002016-06-29T13:23:02.910-07:00Science does more than just describe, though. It a...Science does more than just describe, though. It also predicts. The prediction part is important.Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16060152533681515365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-80808575475377347212016-03-20T14:26:15.892-07:002016-03-20T14:26:15.892-07:00I like the story but I like to think that the bras...I like the story but I like to think that the brass-smith would have been woken up in the middle of the night and inspired to wander in the wilderness. I imagine a greater test of faith for that man. The reward being that he eventually came a across a camp. All hi doubts subsided and his faith triumphed. He smiled as he left the device at the door of one if the tents and quietly slipped back into the night. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05173595078588539229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-73508418884180901162013-01-20T18:05:32.323-07:002013-01-20T18:05:32.323-07:00Thanks for your comment, Linda, and thanks for sto...Thanks for your comment, Linda, and thanks for stopping by!Bradley Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06030210881782328907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-22529646364609152042013-01-18T13:54:39.676-07:002013-01-18T13:54:39.676-07:00Almost seven years later! I am non-Mormon but thro...Almost seven years later! I am non-Mormon but throughout high school in the 1960's and as an older adult in this century, Mormons have always been more friendly than the average person in the community. I was in a ladies's book/discussion group in my (Presbyterian) church and also invited to join a book club that was all Mormon ladies...the Mormon group by far the more genuinely friendly! No, they were not trying to convert me as I had from the onset told them I would "never become a Mormon". Linda in Californiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00588780949967322043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-57845565389175570882012-06-26T13:23:22.788-07:002012-06-26T13:23:22.788-07:00Good question. I can only guess that we weren'...Good question. I can only guess that we weren't continually in his presence.Bradley Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06030210881782328907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-19249795164305354242012-06-25T22:40:51.834-07:002012-06-25T22:40:51.834-07:00What about the fact that no unclean thing can dwel...What about the fact that no unclean thing can dwell in the presence of God? How could we all be sinning and remain in the presence of God?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-3788116991844657542012-03-17T20:42:44.515-07:002012-03-17T20:42:44.515-07:00Read Tom Mueller's article in the New Yorker,A...Read Tom Mueller's article in the New Yorker,Aug 13, 2007, or his book.Steve Srhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08991870904888238940noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-33383992907628076102012-03-15T07:29:21.930-07:002012-03-15T07:29:21.930-07:00I think we all want morality and goodness in our l...I think we all want morality and goodness in our leaders. Unfortunately, politicians must play dirty in order to rise through the ranks. It's a tough issue; does fidelity influence a politician's character, or can he (or she) compartmentalize all aspect of their relationships and job. I think he all dream of a truly good leader who reflects higher values.Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08882656660662477880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-18101664263130497522011-09-16T12:47:32.871-07:002011-09-16T12:47:32.871-07:00Years later, thanks for this post! Very interestin...Years later, thanks for this post! Very interesting indeed.Benjhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17928636773728687189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-12703387709112322882011-03-04T12:42:14.910-07:002011-03-04T12:42:14.910-07:00Thanks for the reviews! Also for those looking for...Thanks for the reviews! Also for those looking for arrangements of lds hymns from various composers there's freemusicformormons.com<br />Enjoy!roger the ward choir music guyhttp://freemusicformormons.com/lds-ward-choir-musicnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-189537835306480122011-03-01T21:23:49.240-07:002011-03-01T21:23:49.240-07:00I hit submit too early. So yes, I think truth can...I hit submit too early. So yes, I think truth can be taught in parables but it only counts IF everyone knows it's parable. Otherwise, I do feel like it's not being as honest as we could be.SMJHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10976190469000525775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-62034258421808180102011-03-01T21:21:59.644-07:002011-03-01T21:21:59.644-07:00The Mormon Battalion/handcart thing drives me abso...The Mormon Battalion/handcart thing drives me absolutely nuts. I just about lost it at Martin's Cove this last summer. It wasn't pretty. Let's just teach the truth because the truth is more powerful than any story.SMJHhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10976190469000525775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-55035958663130197832011-02-17T19:27:11.471-07:002011-02-17T19:27:11.471-07:00Scholars make a lot of claims that go against the ...Scholars make a lot of claims that go against the teachings of the church. As a stake president I always remind members that it is not possible for people to know what happened 2,000 years ago and that we need to follow the spirit.Stake Pres.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16681281146162453967noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-77275161588097000622011-02-07T23:31:24.219-07:002011-02-07T23:31:24.219-07:00I've never heard of the roosters not being all...I've never heard of the roosters not being allowed in Jerusalem. I did, however, read something recently which said that according to the laws and customs of the Jews, no trial was supposed to take place at night because the judges and priests hadn't yet offered their morning sacrifices. Seeing as Christ's trial took place at night, a herald crying out and marking the permissible time for such activities to begin would make that detail a little more prominent in the text.<br /><br />However, the thing historians have to remember is that they can offer no more certainty than anyone else. Absence of proof is not proof of absence, and the best way to get a definitive answer is to pray and ask to be instructed by the Spirit. He does answer questions like these--whether directly, or by leading us to where the answers may be found.Heather M. Collinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13376753658671316403noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-26767986289283756502011-02-07T12:57:41.630-07:002011-02-07T12:57:41.630-07:00I've never heard that the boys leaving the gir...I've never heard that the boys leaving the girls to pull the carts alone was to symbolize them being taken away to join the Battalion - rather, that it symbolized how many women had lost their husbands due to illness, mob attacks, etc. and were having to go the journey alone. Either way, I know that segment of the trek has been a huge testimony builder for many of the youth.<br /><br />This is a great article - thanks for sharing it!Tristi Pinkstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12122250747480013804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-19550511462247917882011-02-07T09:22:28.141-07:002011-02-07T09:22:28.141-07:00I haven't seen those videos. Thanks for bringi...I haven't seen those videos. Thanks for bringing them to my attention. I've heard Darius talk before and I've been very impressed with him. I own a copy of the video he did with Margaret Young, "The Untold Story". That had some good info in it.Bradley Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06030210881782328907noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-92162762393648409112011-02-05T00:23:55.556-07:002011-02-05T00:23:55.556-07:00I just ready your post, and thoroughly enjoyed it ...I just ready your post, and thoroughly enjoyed it (even though it was written a few years ago). Have you watched the "Blacks in the Scriptures" DVD? You should get it, if you haven't. blacksinthescriptures.com. Marvin Perkins and Darius Grey (both Mormon African Americans) put it together. I think it speaks volumes that the church allows them to speak at large firesides across the country with content that would quite surprise you.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10411350965330128525noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-7598289207308821082011-01-30T18:41:43.077-07:002011-01-30T18:41:43.077-07:00I just created a site similar to this that indexes...I just created a site similar to this that indexes the music of several different composers, if anyone is interested. http://freemusicformormons.com/lds-ward-choir-music<br /><br />cheers!kirbson12https://www.blogger.com/profile/16969654332283053996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-58916519510659402752011-01-10T15:27:55.356-07:002011-01-10T15:27:55.356-07:00Huh. The only thing I've heard is that Herod d...Huh. The only thing I've heard is that Herod died in 4 B.C.Bryanthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16060152533681515365noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-51388238646022397242011-01-04T18:16:16.797-07:002011-01-04T18:16:16.797-07:00www.faithsongmusic.comwww.faithsongmusic.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6613185.post-54430907965410296452010-12-02T11:14:01.440-07:002010-12-02T11:14:01.440-07:00Gentle
Like a gentle wind can blow The clouds fr...Gentle <br /><br />Like a gentle wind can blow The clouds from the sky, Like a gentle touch can ease The pain of good-bye, Like a gentle smile embraces Empty souls in lonely places, We should be more gentle with ourselves. <br /><br />Like the friend who gently Builds us up when we're down, Like a gentle kiss can turn Our world all around. We've been hurt by others often, We've forgiven and forgotten, We should be as gentle with ourselves. Life can be hard but we Need not be so hard on ourselves, If we will see... <br /><br />Like the Shepherd leads his flock With gentle commands, With his gentle voice that Only hearts understand, One thing we can know for certain, He has borne the awful burden So we can be gentle with ourselves. <br /><br />One thing that I know for certain: He will bear my every burden, So I can be gentle with myself <br /><br />By Michael McLean can be found on his CD "The Collection, Vol. 1)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com