JAHS

D&C 131: 1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees; 2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]; It seems pretty clear that there are three levels in the Celestial kingdom, but I have often wondered myself if that is what is meant in that scripture. If there are three levels in the celestial kingdom, who would be the ones who would go to each of the other two levels and what would they do there(ministering angels perhaps?) The Gospel Topics doesn't say anything about the three levels in the Celestial Kingdom. William Clayton is the one who recorded this statement made by Joseph Smith in an informal setting and it is possible that he was just referring to the three main degrees of heaven. Joseph Smith never talked about it anywhere else.

It's not a bad thing but I just can't imagine how a resurrected couple of exalted beings with bodies of flesh and bone can create spirits instead of flesh and bone children the same way mortals create children with physical bodies. Somehow they have to take a pre-existing intelligence and change it into a spirit child that has a male or female gender.

Why do you think it requires "functions of the celestial body" for the procreation of spirit children? After Eve took the forbidden fruit and became mortal, God said to her: "I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children;" (Gen 3:16). If God is going to "greatly multiply" the sorrow(pain) associated with child-birth, does this not suggest that perhaps before becoming mortal, there was a way to do it without all the pain associated with a mortal life? I doubt there is any pain at all and can't see how it would involve a process similar to mortal birth; although it apparently does involve participation of both heavenly parents to create the spirit children. But not endless celestial sex as some critics like to call it.

When he says, "I take it " appears to be a guess rather than a statement of fact. The Matthew scripture just mean that no one can get married in heaven. It does not mean we can't be married in heaven which is true for those in the lower kingdoms. During the time of Jesus the terms "marry" and "given in marriage" would mean the same thing. A man married a woman, and the woman was given to the man for marriage. The tradition being that a father gives his daughter to marry the man. This happens in this life. So it is possible to be married in heaven for those in the celestial kingdom.

And here comes the expected empty apologies: Cincinnati and Arizona apologize for religiously derogatory language by fans toward BYU

It might silence a few, but not all. A persons brain is not fully developed until after 25. They don't fully understand the consequences of what they do or say. Skills needed to understand and manage emotions and impulses begin to mature between 13-20 and then later on complex functions like decision-making, problem-solving, and abstract thinking increase.

There seems to be cases where different translations can lead to different interpretations. Consider this verse in different translations: Psalm 51:5 Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me." (King James) Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me". (New International Version) I've been out of step with you for a long time, in the wrong since before I was born. (The Message) Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me. (New Amer. Std Bible) For I was born a sinner-- yes, from the moment my mother conceived me. (New Living Translation) See, I was born in sin and was in sin from my very beginning. (New Life Version) I have sinned and done wrong since the day I was born. (Contemporary English Version) I know I've been a sinner ever since I was born. I've been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me. (New International Reader's Version) Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. (New Revised Standard Version) The King James version refers to the fact that as a consequence of the Fall of Adam, sin is present in the world and therefore all children are conceived in sin. David's mother lived in a sinful world and therefore David was concieved in sin. He did not mean that it was a sinful act for his mother to conceive him(Heb 13:4). In Psalms 51 David is pleading for forgiveness from God after being with Bathsheba and is explaining to God that since he was born into a sinful world, he has a propensity for commiting sins himself. Here is a clasic case where a different Bible translation gives us a completely different meaning for a scripture.

Try not to get whiplash reading these two stories: ‘Moved beyond words’: University of Cincinnati officials grateful for Latter-day Saint food donation to Bearcat students in need Cincinnati fans engaged in offensive chants directed toward BYU during football game against Cougars Of course there will be apologies and fines but it will not change their behavior.

Actually, most of the time I don't think many people even notices if a person goes on a mission or not. I know I don't. I would like to have gone on a senior mission with my wife but she passed away too soon for that. I don't think God favors anyone based on missionary service. He knows our hearts and judges us based on who we become rather that what we do.

I think it goes back to the charge Jesus gave His apostles who were also priesthood holders. It's an important part of the job description.

That might be true but is that the real reason they lowered the age? This UK News article seems to think so: Mormon church makes major rule change in bid to get more women serving missions The church still says women are not obligated to serve.

Me to. They are not necessarily unhappy dreams, but they do make me think, I already served my time, why I am here doing this again?

During the 50's the length of a mission was up to 3 years depending on the location of the mission. In the 60's foreign missions were 2.5 years to give them time to learn the language.

I still think they likely followed normal protocol and after making a decision took it to God in prayer and got confirmation that it was the right thing to do.

I remember on my mission back in the early 70's in Austria, we couldn't get it live so audio recordings of the conference sessions, translated to German language, were made available and the wards gathered together on a couple Sunday mornings to listen to the recordings. Somone with a slide projector would show photos of the speaker on a screen while we listened. Of course the speaker wasn't moving but that not much difference from what we see now. 😉

We all know and believe they are prophets of God. They don't have to proclaim that to us when they make decisions. As such they do not pull large moves like this "out of thin air". Can we not just expect that they received revelation from God to make this move? I expect more information will be forthcoming on this. The media are just concerned with getting out the main subject of the decision, without giving a lot of reasons.

Isn't latter-day revelation from our current prophets great in sorting out these issues and doing what is best for the church at this time?

Here is a letter from the FP about this but it was in 2021. The reason I guess is that only ordinances of an eternal nature should be performed in the temple.

I don't think so. Policies and traditions might change but they would not do things the Lord has said no to. Priesthood Saturday night session was no more than a tradition. Our priesthood sessions are now every other Sunday at Church where we discuss what the leaders have said at conference.

Church discontinues Saturday evening session The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Wednesday that in an effort to emphasize the morning and afternoon sessions of the faith’s semiannual general conferences, Saturday evening sessions will be discontinued. “The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has decided that beginning in April 2026, general conference will no longer include a Saturday evening session,” wrote President Dallin H. Oaks and his counselors, President Henry B. Eyring and President D. Todd Christofferson in a statement on ChurchofJesusChrist.org. ---------------------------- I miss having the Priesthood session and the ice cream afterwards.

If they are going to make a joke about the Church it should at least be funny. 🙄 “He who takes offense when offense was not intended is a fool, yet he who takes offense when offense is intended is an even greater fool for he has succumbed to the will of his adversary.” ― Brigham Young

Joseph Smith is known to have said that the German translation of the Bible is the most correct.

Elder Gérald Caussé called to Quorum of the Twelve Apostles SALT LAKE CITY — Elder Gérald Caussé, currently the Presiding Bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has been called to serve as the newest member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Elder Caussé was called on Thursday and set apart by President Dallin H. Oaks, president of the church, and other members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. “I’ve always had a testimony of Jesus Christ,” Elder Caussé said Thursday. “He’s always been in the center of my life. I know Jesus Christ lives. And I know He’s our Savior and Redeemer. What a wonderful thing it is to be a witness of Christ. That’s the best responsibility or stewardship we might have in our lives.”

He does have a pretty long resume of education and experience.

Yes I thought the same thing. Church members are not promoted or demoted; just a change of assignments. It is his perception as an historian rather than as a Church member. He is or was a member of the Church and has written a lot on Church history.