teddyaware

Through a modern revelation from God given to the prophet Joseph Smith on Sunday, August 7, 1831, the Lord revealed to the Latter-Day Saints that the Sabbath Day is to observed on Sunday, the first day of the week, even the day on which the Savior rose from the dead. 9 And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself aunspotted fromthe world, thou shalt go to the house of bprayer and offer up thy csacraments upon my dholy day; 10 For verily this is a aday appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High; 11 Nevertheless thy avows shall be offered up in righteousness on all days and at all times; 12 But remember that on this, the aLord’s day (remember it was Sunday), thou shalt offer thine boblations and thy sacraments unto the Most High, cconfessing thy sins unto thy brethren, and before the Lord. 13 And on this day (it was Sunday) thou shalt do none other thing, only let thy food be prepared with singleness of heart that thy afasting may be perfect, or, in other words, that thy bjoy may be full. (Doctrine and Covenants 59)

The word destruction strongly suggests that any remnant of the meridian Church of Christ’s mortal membership, as well as men holding Apostolic Melchizedek Priesthood authority, had been totally extinguished from the face of the earth as a consequence of the great apostasy. But this is untrue. The fact is that as long as the three Nephites and the Apostle John remained on the earth — all still technically living as mortals — it means four actual authorized living apostolic priesthood representatives of the meridian Church continued to exist on the earth in spite of the general apostasy. In fact, because he was still technically mortal, the Apostle John was was able to confer his Apostolic Priesthood authority upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in a direct line of succession from a living member of the the Meridian Church of Christ to living members of the latter-day Church of Christ, and do so without missing a beat. For these reasons the word dissolution is more appropriate because the keys of the apostleship can survive, and in this case did survive, the temporary dissolution of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In the event of cataclysmic loss of life, all that’s required for the proper Church organization to be reconstituted is for one remaining holder of the apostolic priesthood keys to take the initiative, under God, to call new apostles to form a new Quorum of the Twelve, and he can do it without the need for new authorized heavenly messengers needing to be resent to newly confer authority. The same can be said of the first Quorum of the Seventy, for they form a quorum of priesthood authority equal to that of the Quorum of the Twelve in the event that the Quorum of the Twelve needs to be reconstituted if there are no surviving members. The Lord is an organizational genius!

Very true, For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my firstborn in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad… (2 Nephi 2) It’s dirty work, with the worst possible “rewards,” but somebody’s gotta do it! Otherwise those who seek for eternal life would never have the trials of faith needed to prove themselves worthy of obtaining celestial glory. I wouldn’t want the job, but in the end I suppose it’s a good thing that there are some who are willing to play this absolutely essential roll. After all, could Jesus have ever become the Christ if it weren’t for the wickedness of his enemies?

1) It was your use of the abbreviation TK that caused my confusion. Your TK abbreviation is especially confusing because you said, “but the TK is actually just the same place as earth. You see, it appears you don’t realize that in LDS parlance this present fallen earth, to which you were obviously referring, is often referred to as a telestial world or a telestial kingdom, hence my confusion. So maybe now you can now understand why I was thrown? Perhaps in your inexperience you perceived you were being clear and concise in your language when you were actually being unclear and ambiguous 2) You seem to be unaware of the fact that in LDS theology the post-resurrection Telestial Kingdom of glory is considered one of the many mansions of post-resurrection salvation and heavenly glory to which the Savior referred when he spoke to his disciples about the nature of heaven. 3) I’m perplexed as to how you seem to have misinterpreted the following statement, “the post-resurrection Telestial Kingdom is a realm of peace and happiness that is far beyond present human comprehension” Could you please explain why you think the bolded statement is somehow referring to a state akin to Catholic purgatory?

The post-resurrection Telestial Kingdom is most definitely not at all ‘the same place as earth.” There are great differences between the pre-resurrection ‘telestial world’ on which we’re now living, and the post-resurrection Telestial Kingdom of heavenly glory. But it’s understandable that you’d be confused on this matter because you’re new to all of this. To set things straight, I’ll mention just a few of the differences: 1) The fallen telestial world is populated by mortal human beings, all of whom will die; meanwhile the post-resurrection Telestial Kingdom is populated only by immortal, resurrected human beings. 2) The fallen telestial world is the dwelling place of the devil and millions of his evil spirit followers who are filled with unquenchable hate and bent on revenge; meanwhile the devil and his evil spirit followers are not permitted to enter and wreak havoc in the post-resurrection Telestial Kingdom. 3) The fallen telestial world is a realm of great mortal suffering, sorrow and near-constant destructive conflict; mean while the post-resurrection Telestial Kingdom is a realm of peace and happiness that is far beyond present human comprehension. There are more differences, but the ones I’ve listed will suffice for now.

This is what I’ve been saying. Why in the world did the SEC allow the church’s system of reporting to continue for 22 years without ever calling them out for it? What excuse does the SEC have for allowing this supposed incorrect reporting to continue for so long? Is it that reports on accounts that amount into the tens of billions of dollars aren’t large enough to merit a closer scrutiny? And why wouldn’t the EPA managers and accountants not think they were in compliance when their reporting wasn’t called into question for more than two decades?! Nevertheless, the enemies of the church on this board will invariably jump to the worst possible interpretations on such things, without allowing any of the mitigating elements of a story to even begin to penetrate their prejudiced minds. Why? Because they’re desperate to lay hold on anything that could serve as a justification for their departure from the faith. The scriptures call such behavior the sin of “watching for iniquity.” One of the reasons why watching for iniquity is so evil is because its practitioners will glom on to any of the putative missteps or errors of their enemies, without stopping for a moment to think that it might be a good idea to reserve judgement and extend the benefit of the doubt for a while, lest an opportunity to bash the church be lost. Coincidentally, without even doing a search, two articles on the SEC came to my attention today, both of which assert that the SEC is an extremely corrupt and unethical organization. I’d gladly post links to these eye opening articles here, but the mods would call me out for being political. But all one has to do is a search under “SEC corrupted” and you’ll get enough hits to keep you busy for awhile.

And doesn’t at least some measure of responsibility lie with the SEC itself, because they allowed the now disputed reporting method to go on for 22 years?! Has any member of the SEC said, “when one considers the massive size of the church’s investments, we should have caught this questionable method of reporting much earlier, long before allowing it to become a headline issue in the media.” And I also think the church haters are making a mountain out of a molehill when you consider that the fine amounts to only $227,000 per year during the 22 years that the disputed reporting method was allowed to continue. That’s a very small fine to pay when the investment accounts total in the vicinity of $100 billion dollars. It amounts to a fine of only .000227% per year. I believe most of the bitter critics on this board are blowing this story so far out of proportion because they’re desperately trying to justify their exit from the church. But no matter how much they caterwaul and bellyache the church is going to marvelously triumph in the end and they’re going to miserably fail, the Book of Mormon so declares it. 15 For behold, saith the prophet, the time cometh speedily that Satan shall have no more power over the hearts of the children of men; for the day soon cometh that all the proud and they who do wickedly shall be as stubble; and the day cometh that they must be burned. 16 For the time soon cometh that the fulness of the wrath of God shall be poured out upon all the children of men; for he will not suffer that the wicked shall destroy the righteous. 17 Wherefore, he will preserve the righteous by his power, even if it so be that the fulness of his wrath must come, and the righteous be preserved, even unto the destruction of their enemies by fire. Wherefore, the righteous need not fear; for thus saith the prophet, they shall be saved, even if it so be as by fire. (1 Nephi 22)

Questions: 1) If the church’s pre-2019 manner of filing is now regarded by many as an egregious attempt at deception and obfuscation, why was the church able to file in said questionable manner from 1997 to 2019 without ever being called out on it by the SEC? 2) While some will point to the whistle blower’s more recent disclosures as the reason why the supposed “ruse” wasn’t caught sooner, nevertheless, why on earth didn’t the SEC catch such a glaringly obvious improper manner of filing for over 22 years? 3) Wouldn’t the fact that the church wasn’t called out on its putatively improper manner of filing for over 22 years likely cause the fund managers to think they were doing nothing wrong? 4) With such vast money sums of money being invested on an ongoing basis, why didn’t the SEC act prudently and do an audit to early on make sure the church was in compliance? All this has got me wondering if some at the SEC knew all along that the church wasn’t in technical compliance, but waited till now to spring it on the nation to embarrass the church. I wouldn’t put such cynical Machiavellian machinations beyond the lying, scheming, “gotcha culture” crooks who dominate “Foggy Bottom.”

I guess you missed my point. The Book of Mormon prophet Jacob powerfully testifies that if the fall of man had taken place without the mitigating effects of the atonement of Christ, all mankind would become so totally depraved that every man, woman, and child would irresistibly be drawn into hell and unavoidably become devils. This is Jacob’s teaching, not mine. If you have a problem with Jacob’s description of what existence would be like after the fall without the atonement, take it up with him if you happen to see him in eternity. I’m simply the messenger here, merely reporting what Jacob taught. If you think Jacob’s insights on the blessings that accrue to us through the atonement of Christ aren’t worthwhile and are doctrinally erroneous, go have it out with him in a scripture bash. O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more (I.e. if we were to remain in our fallen state without the benefits of the atonement of Christ) our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. 9 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness. (2 Nephi 9)

The concept of the total depravity of man is found in the Book of Mormon, but it’s presented only as a theoretical construct to teach the reader what the state of mankind would be after the fall without the benefit of the mitigating effects of the atonement of Christ. 7 Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement — for save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. Wherefore, the first judgment which came upon man must needs have remained to an endless duration. And if so, this flesh must have laid down to rot and to crumble to its mother earth, to rise no more. 8 O the wisdom of God, his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more (I.e. if we were to remain in our fallen state without the benefits of the atonement of Christ) our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the Eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. 9 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents, who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder and all manner of secret works of darkness. (2 Nephi 9) Thus would be the totally depraved state of fallen man without the infinite and eternal atonement of Christ.

Based on years of experience on this board, I can assure you that you’re wasting time and setting yourself up for endless frustration and heartache. The reason? There are progressives on this board who would rather see the traditional nuclear family go down in flames worldwide, and thereafter be compelled to live lives of abject misery forever rather than ever have to admit there’s anything divinely inspired and praise worthy in the traditional patriarchal order model of marriage and family life taught in the New Testament. Trying to debate with people who believe the scriptures are expendable and the patriarchal order of the priesthood is unessential is a fool’s errand. Apparently, according to this newfangled way of thinking, the Apostle Paul is viewed as pathetic spiritual Luddite who failed to anticipate that the patriarchal order he upheld would eventually be overthrown. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. (Ephesians 6)

Only someone who is being either willfully ignorant or unfair could possibly misconstrue Elder Peterson’s comments as being “hate speech.” In case you weren’t around when it was happening (I was), there was a priesthood ban in place, back in the days when Elder Peterson was an apostle, that the vast majority of members, including the General Authorities, believed to be divinely mandated. By calling attention to the precedent setting examples of priesthood banning and lineage cursing found in scriptures, Elder Peterson was simply offering some well reasoned possible justifications for why the ban existed. Like it or not, back in those days believing members of the church had to deal with the ban as an ongoing reality of life, but rather than leave everyone in the dark, without any attempt at explanation, Elder Peterson was at least trying to offer some logical, scripture based justifications for the ban that made perfect sense under the current circumstances. The focus of your displeasure shouldn’t be with elder Peterson but with the scriptures that provided him with so many examples of God’s past exclusivity that are even now being condemned by the politically correct as examples of “hate speech.” Elder Peterson is gone and the priesthood ban has been rescinded, but those pesky scriptures Elder Peterson cited as possible explanations for the priesthood ban still exist. You are highlighting the symptom rather than the source, the actual source of your discomfiture being those verses of scripture that testify God once focused a great deal on race.

The label ‘white nationalist’ has become a highly unfair catchall because in today’s environment the sincere belief that the Founding Fathers were inspired of God when they wrote and adopted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States will get an individual instantly labeled as a virulent white nationalist by the woke mob . Do you doubt that if a humble, decent Latter-Day Saint quoted the following words of the Lord Jesus Christ himself, at virtually any college campus in America today, that he wouldn’t immediately be branded as a dangerous “white nationalist” who deserves nothing less than cancelation and banishment? 80 And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood. (Doctrine and Covenants 101) and… 5 And that law of the land which is constitutional, supporting that principle of freedom in maintaining rights and privileges, belongs to all mankind, and is justifiable before me. 6 Therefore, I, the Lord, justify you, and your brethren of my church, in befriending that law which is the constitutional law of the land; 7 And as pertaining to law of man, whatsoever is more or less than this, cometh of evil. (Doctrine and Covenants 98) If it hasn’t happened already, I won’t be even slightly surprised if some day the woke members of the Church will demand that the above verses of holy writ be expunged from the scriptures so as not to offend those who assert that the Founding Fathers were the original proponents of white nationalism, even if it is the Lord who uttered those words. And mark my words, the day is also going to come when the preaching of the restored gospel will be banned as ‘hate speech.’ In your heart, you know I’m right.

I believe it’s highly likely that she’s another brazen liar like Rachel Richardson. But the strategy that lies behind the lie is the desire to publicize anew the controversial statements on race made by early LDS church leaders. By bringing to light those 19th century statements, her lie becomes much more plausible and believable. After all, all the gullible crowd needs to know is that past prophets and apostles did say those things and the lie becomes tantamount to being true..