BruceRGilbert

This is another part of my icon that I was unable to fit into the limited space given on this Forum. I recognize the importance of LOVE and I acknowledge that one can, also, know by experience. You make a valid point. I do feel; however, that we learn using both: the Mind and the Heart. Comprehension is of the MIND, Understanding is of the Heart, and Realization is of the soul -- being the spirit and the body combined. A hug is just a touch without the understanding of the Heart. We have that dual nature about us. We had it as intelligences: light of truth with the Light of Christ.

Please note that the Prophet states that Testimony is to know and to feel. It is with the MIND that we know and it is with the HEART that we feel. These are two witnesses within ourselves that agree in one. This process is like LIGHT, that was mentioned above, Illumination for enlightenment and Heat for warmth and peace.

If I were to guess, I would call it the family of Ahman; otherwise, Alma 37:11.

The still, small voice is the voice of our conscience by virtue of the Light of Christ. An analogy would be in order: (The Father is the Owner of the Radio Station; The Savior is the Chief Executive Officer and The Holy Ghost is the Radio Announcer who speaks to us via the Light of Christ which fills the Universe. We are the Radio Receivers.) The messages that we receive can be directly from the Holy Ghost or He may convey the message from the Savior or the message can originate from The Father. And, yes, we have to be in tune in order to receive the message. The MIND in terms of enlightenment and our HEART in terms of peace, will bear witness unto us that something is true. As the slide says, "There must always be at least two witnessed. Doubt / Uncertainty is a 'stupor of thought.' External witnesses are valuable when it comes to the bearing of testimony.

Pertaining to things I'd like to see in the life to come--I would like to fully develop my intelligence to be more like my Heavenly Parents: I would like to have the power to "translate" through time: forward and backward; dilate or compress (in order to make a moment into a century or make a century into a moment so that I could index to certain events.) I would like to "transcend" through space so that I could visit the least kingdom, as well as the greatest one. I would like the power to "transfigure" myself so that I could be an intelligence, or a spirit or a human soul or a perfected 'spiritual body.'

The Lord is saying that He leaves these sayings to ponder in our hearts. I am pondering them and would request further input.

Thank you for your response. With respect to your post that says "but rather every one of them receives a full visit from the Lord. Nobody gets left out," Is it one visit, two visits or three? (Based on the following verse:) The first visit would be the "beginning at the first, and so on unto the last." Would the second visit be in reverse order, "from the last unto the first?" In the contrary, would this be like a circle or a clock that He moves from the last to the first to begin again? Of course, the "first unto the last" would infer another "forward" moving visit." So what is your take on it, in your opinion is it three visits or a reset and two visits?

Thank you for your response. I'm just not sure that this earth is the "first vineyard" based upon the following verse: Wouldn't this indicate that this earth is the twelfth?

What are the Twelve Kingdoms in the Parable in Doctrine and Covenants 88? It is my hope that someone has an understanding of the significance of this parable.

The following is a simile of the "Fountain of All Righteousness" being Faith, Hope and Charity. This illustrates how these principles apply to our progression and remain as "pillars" In the lower, right-hand corner is a birds-eye view of the spiral staircase and is likened to God's eternal round progressing from Faith, Hope and Charity endlessly. The next diagram shows how the symmetry works for the scripture about knowledge and intelligence

Forgive me for retrogressing, but I prefer to use scriptural definitions for various principles. The definition of faith has already been given in several posts. Faith is a principle of action. It is a virtue like Hope and Charity: These three principles or virtues bring the "fountain of all righteousness." They are in operation throughout our progression. In one instance it says that you have to first have hope (verse 40) and, then it says that without faith there cannot be any hope. So, which comes first hope or faith? Don't get caught in the sequential trap. These virtues aren't sequential. They are of different dimensions. We can sometimes understand things by their opposites: (Note: Intellectual refers to the "mind" and Emotional refers to the "heart.") By inspection we see that a Faith is of the mind and is just as much a principle of action as it's opposite: Fear. Hope is of the Heart because it's component is Care. Now to use the scriptural definition of Truth: Truth is a correct knowledge of things in the present, past, and future. Please note that Faith is vain and fruitless if it operates on anything but Truth. By symmetry, Knowledge is gained by diligence and Intelligence is gained by obedience. Obedience is in accordance to the knowledge gained. Intelligence is the Light of Truth. (A conscious awareness of internal and external things in the time domain.) Therefore, What? It seems to me that truth has to be a static, not dynamic, thing that would not change in the sphere that it is placed in. So, Faith that is based on Truth is no longer Faith, but Knowledge. The proper application of that Knowledge is Intelligence. The proper application of Intelligence is Wisdom.

You cannot have a family without a Mother AND a Father.

The Savior's More Sure Word of Prophecy gave Him the assurance that He was the Son of God. Peter, James and John received the assurance that they would have Eternal Life; receiving the Holy Spirit of Promise.