

EllenMaksoud
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Posts posted by EllenMaksoud
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An interesting read from the Huffington Post which bluntly attempts to cast doubt on both Christianity and Mormonism:
There are two books. I think one is the book of Barabas, and the other is the book of Nicodemus. Both refer to him but one says he was taken up and the other says he was crucified. I looked all this up the other day, but did not write it down.
Then of course there are the Four Gospels. I am not very pleased with the 4th century Cannonization, or what happened in the 7th Century. Aw, I guess I needd t study more again.
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Ellen, what faith are you? I gather you're either Muslim or a Mormon living in a Muslim country.
I live in America. I practice a bit of Islam and a bit of Mormonism. I think the Muslim way of relating to and praying before God, (Allah SWT) is superior, however do not like the Muslim way of relating to Jesus Christ. As to Mormonism, I had a couple things happen to me that were amazingly Old Testament, and thankfulness fills me for it. I do not agree that Jesus was the God of the OT. Most Mormons I know have wonderful utility with the BOM but don't seem to have much facility with the Bible. They do not seem to understand that the BOM says it is a "Further revelation of Jesus Christ", and does not replace the Bible. In examining the Mormons, one must look at the products of the church in the last 180 years, and I can say without reservation that Mormons are some of the sweetest, most loving people I have ever encountered, and I have lots of experience encountering different Christian and non-Christian groups.
This is probably derailing so we can PM if you wish.
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In the Church at large we do not practice washing the feet of others. If it occurs anywhere else in the Church, the temple for example, it occurs only rarely. We don't really have anything similar to Maundy Thursday where feet are washed of others in celebration of Christ washing the feet of the first Apostles.
On the Camino de Santiago de Compostela in the Hospital de San Nicolas, a restored church, the monks will often wash the feet of all the pilgrims who stay. There may be another albergue where they wash the feet of each pilgrim. It is a very touching event and almost every pilgrim I have talked to about their eperience has been touched deeply by such an experience.
Thank you for saying that. I was about to feel extremely hurt because there is yet one more thing I can not participate in. I'm having a warm chocolate and going to bed.
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I don't need to define religion to anyone but myself. Do we need religion to have a true and healthy relationship with God? If so, where is the evidence to back that up.
I am not a communist nor believe in their crap.
I asked about religion, not about church. if you want me to define religion, you define church.
The Mormons have been kind and loving to me and that is very difficult for me to understand. Still, there are things that I do not understand, or do not believe in the church. It is clear to me that God PUT me here, and my understanding is not a requirement.
As to religious organizations, perhaps if you are strong enough and enjoy a strong enough connection with God, maybe you do not need organized religion. Look at some of the prophets of the Old Testament. One of them sat under a tree and asked God to take him. He did what God asked but had no congregation at all.
If you go back to the beginning of Genesis, you will see that God saw that Adam was not doing well being alone, so he created Eve. And, in my opinion, on his second try, he made improvements.
So, I think that God allowed Churches because we need companionship, not him. OR, did he create mankind to have communion with someone?
BUT, we must resist the "Golden Calf Syndrome", as is first seen in Exodus 32, that is present in every church and Mosque I ever attended. It is a clear danger that we will wind up worshiping our pastors and prophets more than God. Personally, I think it is dangerous error to worship anyone but God (Allah SWT to me).
Now that I have you sufficiently confused, I will end this treatise.
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@ EllenMaksoud, I don;t know why you wrote such a hostile and angry reply towards me over a question I asked. My question was not insulting nor aimed at anyone. It was very generalized with the only intent to seek insight. Why you posted such a rude reply aimed at me as if to be intentionally insulting is unknown.
Well, it was not intended to be hostile and angry, that is why.
These are questions that every one of us should be asking of ourselves daily.
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Property rights as you have explained them before could not have worked in either Kirtland or Nauvoo, because plural marriage was not legal according to the government (but instead was a purely religious relationship even if those involved considered it as lawful as anything the government might pronounce upon it because they saw it as God's law they were obeying) and would not have guaranteed a woman her rights even if the marriage wasn't secret in the first place.
I'll try to reference this a third time. It is a wiki and the title is: "Married Women's Property Acts in the United States". From the text of the article it seems to me that the laws were fluid during the time that the church was being formed. Remember that communication was slow, so it is possible, that due to confusion, some might have used that to provide credence to the idea of polygamy. It does not bother me one way or the other. I tried to cut and paste the URL to this board but either wiki or this board has issue with that use of it.
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The temples will be open in the Millenium, and we do posthumous work for those who cannot do it for themselves.
This passage was also in response to a question about those not keeping their covenants. There will be opportunity for all,things to be restored to their proper order. The only way to be alone forever is to knowingly reject Christ or voluntarily give up blessings He offers.
I am not a life long Mormon so can not knowledgeably discuss certain matters.
Twice I have put in a reference about women's property rights, and it just goes away. Hmmmm
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Ellen, if it's practiced in heaven then I'll do it.
Matt 22:30 KJV. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Look it up. Remember, according to Mormon doctrine, the Book of Mormon does not replace the Bible (in as much as it is translated correctly). The Book of Mormon is a "Further Revelation of Jesus Christ". To me, Polygamy was clearly for this earth. I am 67 and alone. If I had a chance to live in a household with other women with one man around ... well that's about all I could stand. You bet, I would do it. It would be a sort of non consummated polygamy.
Now remember, in the era in which the church was forged, women's property rights were up in the air. Look it up in Wiki "Married Women's Property Acts in the United States".
So, doubtlessly women needed relief. I don't think he meant any harm, but that he was seeking to protect the women involved.
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I am not planning on leaving church. I very much enjoy attending church and serving there. The people, message, opportunities to learn and serve are all great. I enjoy it alot. I am just wondering if someone who is a believer and baptized and all, left church, is that a bad thing? Even if they kept their faith strong and read the Bible and continue to practice their faith and all, would they me in a bad place in there relationship with God? With their salvation?
I thought I quit a time or maybe two but I'm still here.
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Someone washed my feet about 20 years ago. It was sobering. I wonder why it is not done now?
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Or is it still a heavenly commandment for exaltation? D&C 132 talks about it and Brigham Young in his Journal of Discourses said that the only people who become gods are the ones that enter into polygamy. We don't practice it anymore, except for those that lose a loved one and then remarry like 2 of my uncles, but should worthy men members expect to be provided multiple wives in heaven to help populate their multiple worlds with spirit children? It does make sense, but it sounds kind of unfair to the women of the church. How does this all work out?
I think it is pretty simple. Go read Jacob. As to what made Joseph Smith advocate it? You, be the judge. In certain extreme circumstances would you do it? I would.
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Question: What is the biggest threat to religion these days?
( I am not Mormon, but I still respect the religion and have friends who are. So the differences between faiths to me is not something I feel I would used against another faith. However, that’s just me. What threatens religion in our so called modern age? )
Well, Mr Non Mormon, go look at the Holy Bible then. Do we practice the love of God, or are we a shadow of it. Are we white washed sepulchers? Do we strain out gnats but swallow camels? Do you pray daily? Do you study the scripture? Do you practice mercy even to the poor.
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No. They led us towards freedom of religious expression without which it would have been very difficult to restore the gospel to the earth.
They got much doctrine wrong, but they frequently paid with their lives so people could believe differently from the majority.
I don't give them much credit doctrinally. But I give them full credit for the paths they opened and the price they paid.
One thing is clear and well documented. Much of what happened to early Mormons was in clear defiance of First Amendment Rights, full stop. Of that I am certain.
I've heard very interesting stories from older Saints, about how the power of men in the earlier parts of the 20th century was much less questioned. Of course part of that may have simply been a part of the fabric of American culture then. Remember, women did not get the vote until the 20's, although Utah tried to do that much earlier. My own Mother did not know that she could own property or vote until the 1950's, and my step father took advantage of that.
In the last 30 or so years, I believe that Mormons are closer to being on the true path, and so many other denominations are a clown show. Mormons have picked up a societal reproach over their stand on certain social issues. And much to my and other's surprise, it is clear that the Mormons should not back down.
I think that a lot of this cringing and worrying about those issues amounts to showing fear before the enemy.
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G-d, as reported in Genesis 2:
So, "G-d's" proceedure was nothing like mans, I assume.
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I realize that polygamy can be problematic for some people. However, I have a tough time condemning it when so many of the ancient prophets and men of God practiced the same thing. Social mores are rather fluid and can change and mutate into all kinds of weird relationships that are deemed acceptable.
It is hard for me to become exercised over this particular issue. I would not want to practice it for all the tea in China, but I understand how others might find it a comfortable fit for them. Frankly, I have a tough time condemning our wayward brothers and sisters that practice it today.
I live in the Middle East and it is practiced here today without any apparent argument or condemnation from those that live it.
Our Puritan heritage makes must of us quite strict in what we deem acceptable and what we deem unacceptable. God does not seem to mind one way or another when it comes to committed relationships between a man and a woman or women IF they are married.
Um, so who did the first marriage ceremony?
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It was explained to me thusly:
It'll be necessary in exaltation for men to have multiple wives simply because there won't be enough worthy men to go around. The reason given was that men are more carnal by nature, and fewer males than females will make it to that point.
Now, gentlemen of this thread, I sure mean no insult to you.This is simply what I was taught long ago by my Home Teacher when I broached the subject. It made sense to me, and I've never had a problem with the idea since then.
OH, I love your point of view after being force fed the Islamic idea that fewer women will get to Jenna (Heaven) than men because we are more easily driven to sin.
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Makes me wonder if he was raised without love, tenderness and affection in an emotionally sterile home.
Chapter 5 of "The God Delusion" may provide some insight to that question. His father was military, and the family was in Kenya during WWII. Just guessing but from some of the things he says in that book, I would guess that his father was over bearing, rigid, and unaffectionate and perhaps abusive. One of the campaigns he was involved in had a moto that stated, "There's probably no God, so stop worrying and enjoy your life". This isn't of the extreme, God hater sentiment, that I had heard before.
And, Darwinism might be a fairly accurate description of what actually happened, except I insist that God caused it all.
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But accurate
I still don't understand this. I didn't understand his blog. I never heard of either of them. Is this important?
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Here's his own take on the events surrounding the excommunication of he and his wife:
http://www.totheremnant.com/2014/10/40-days-on-death-row.html
So, I looked at the links and google. What? Anyone have a 50 description of the issues?
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Now that same-sex marriage is increasingly becoming the law of the land, will religions and religious ministers be forced/coerced by government to perform and/or recognize same-sex marriages?
I hope not, but take a look at this (emphases added):
Some trenchant observations on this story here:
So what do you think? Are we headed down that road? If so, how will this play out? Will "public accommodations" laws be used to compel religious groups to violate the tenets of their belief systems? Will tax exxemptions be threatened for religious groups who resist demands that they recognize/perform same-sex marriages? Will religious groups be denied access to public facilities unless they knuckle under on this issue?
And how would this play out specifically for the LDS Church? Unlike most other Christian ministers, Latter-day Saints who are authorized to perform marriages (sealers, bishops, etc.) do not, indeed cannot, charge for their services. This might end up being a significant think, since the Knapps in the story above are being targeted specifically because they provide a service in exchange for a fee, which triggers public accommodation laws.
Thoughts?
-Smac
OK, what about the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution? I can see a distinction between a church and a pseudo Justice of the peace. It is not a religion. The rest of this business I am staying out of.
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I'm real slow but I finally understand why mercy can not satisfy justice. The reason is because at the Judgment Bar we have no power to restore what we have taken from someone. Christ can restore the damage done but not the person standing at the bar. If a man has his life destroyed by lies and loses everything but a few souls around him that love him the liar can not give back that which he has taken. If you believe a lie and destroy a person's life it is the same thing. Have I got it right?
I've seen no evidence that mercy, even contriteness and repentance can restore past conditions. It is almost like a law of physics that when there is an imbalance, the only thing that can restore it is reaction. The oposite is one of the most widespread heresies of the denomination I was in.
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Yes, but doesn't the clone have to have a spirit of its own? Where does that come from? It can't be separate and alive and not have a spirit...
GG
I do not know of any human clones that are old enough to show if they have a spirit. I don't doubt that someone will clone a human.
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I do believe in a God that obeys the laws of physics
From my old Fundamentalist Evangelical days, I once heard a man speak about a so called Jewish story about the end of days. It went something like this: Man first created a doll. then he did things to it and it mimicked life. It first said, Master, then Brother, then Servant, meaning that it would first serve humanity then be our equal then this "Golum" would rule us. Another story that circulated around the same time was, "The Ashes of the Red Heifer". My old denomination was very into fantasy theology.
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Perhaps you should add a few more little red devils to fully follow Nehor's advice???
LOL I've never actually seen daemon possession, and I am not sure I believe in it. Most of the time when things go wrong, it is just stupidity or bad people. The shaitun does not have to work too hard with humans. "We are prone to wander".
Oh there is evil in the world, no doubt about it. But people usually do that work for the shaitun. The people that thought I was possessed, were just knuckle heads. They can only hurt you if you let them.
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The Rich And The Poor - Lds Statements
in General Discussions
Posted
In my opinion, this post is wrong headed, though I doubt that a single person will agree. Women with children should not be working outside the home, save for volunteering when the children are not there. It is a mistake for Mormons to adopt the values of American culture, and now we are seeing the error more and more.