The Content Of God's Revealed Word, Being The Standard Works.

[pcarthew]

Dear Board members,

I have not posted here for a very long time, not because I have not wanted to particularly but as you all are aware life is very hectic. As I have had brief moments I have occasionally come back here to one of my favourite blog sites. I find this generally a very thoughtful and repectful forum.

Just recently I had an accident, it was serious, it involved a serious back injury where I had to have emergency surgery on my spine. I had paralysis in my left leg before my surgery and as I laid in the ED it began to migrate into my right leg. I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough, or those so gifted nurses, doctors and surgeons who after operating on my spine have brought back full movement to my left leg and foot. I truly stand all amazed at my blessings. Now in rehab I have lots of time to think and laying here on my back with my iPad, I wanted to post here to get some feed back on the above topic.

1. Why do we have the current content have, and not more or less?

2. Why don't we have more detail about say, the pre-existence and premortal life?

3. Why in some ways does it seem to lack detail about certain doctrines, but others are crystal clear that nearly all sects agree on?

4. Why like in the New Testament does it not declare the Christ was Jehovah , for instance.?

5. Why would it not in the New Testament talk about Christ being Married? Setting the perfect written doctrinal example of marriage and family

6. With the enormous content that we have, why do so many look to periphial issue?

These are just a couple of question, I have my own thoughts and feelings, BTW I believe deeply what we have as the standard works to be fully true and correct. I am just interested to know what others might think and feel about this question of why we have what we have not more, not less.

To finish off my opening paragraph, I just want to say I know God blessed all those medico's who worked on me and I know their hands were guided. My surgeon commented to my wife immediately after surgery how he was surprised how straight forward the surgery went for such complex surgery. I truly love my Heavenly Father. Thank you for taking the time to read this.

[Storm Rider]

Hello & Welcome back,

 

Health is seldom really appreciated until it is endangered by disease or accident.  Those of who go through such experiences often have some of our strongest, most poignant spiritual experiences at these times. 

 

I don't think I have the answer, but I have some answers that work for me.  

1. The scriptures we have are dependent upon many things: a) that which we are able to bear, b) that which we need most, c) that which allows us to demonstrate our faith in our Father in Heaven, his Son, and the Holy Spirit.
2. It is curious what the prophets chose to write and those things that they omitted. I suspect some things were omitted because they were so evident, so obvious, they did not record them. I also suspect that the records we have are a reflection of what the writers felt was most important. 
3. The fullness of times has a purpose; it is to bring the major doctrines together and as the dispensation continues all things will be revealed. The reverse is true also; other dispensations had specific truths revealed and not others.  We are born into the dispensations that would try us most.
4. I am not sure the name of God or Jesus is really so vital; however, I do think the New Testament makes clear who is Jehovah and who is not within the Godhead, see Revelations.
5. This may be one of those things that was so obvious as to not think it was necessary; this is my personal assumption on this specific topic.
6. Peripheral issues is what divides the majority of the Body of Christ. The Trinity, an acknowledgement that there are three, separate, distinct members of the Godhead, but must also be meet some degree of the definition of monotheism is such a doctrine; but it is also vital in the evolution of the Catholicism and most of the Reformation. I am not implying that this doctrine is a peripheral doctrine per se, but it is not nearly as important to me as the divinity of Jesus Christ, him crucified, and that he rose again. Humanity likes to divide itself into groups. This drive may be a subset of the teaching of opposition in all things.

Recovery from serious health issues take time; there is great wisdom in letting go of expectations while still maintaining a drive to work hard to regain the health we had.  Focus on the fundamentals of health and just take all things one step at a time without pushing yourself to jump ahead. This is the kind of race where speed is not nearly as important as consistency.  

 

You are in my prayers,

[pcarthew]

Hello & Welcome back,

 

Health is seldom really appreciated until it is endangered by disease or accident.  Those of who go through such experiences often have some of our strongest, most poignant spiritual experiences at these times. 

 

I don't think I have the answer, but I have some answers that work for me.  

• The scriptures we have are dependent upon many things: a) that which we are able to bear, b) that which we need most, c) that which allows us to demonstrate our faith in our Father in Heaven, his Son, and the Holy Spirit.
• It is curious what the prophets chose to write and those things that they omitted. I suspect some things were omitted because they were so evident, so obvious, they did not record them. I also suspect that the records we have are a reflection of what the writers felt was most important. 
• The fullness of times has a purpose; it is to bring the major doctrines together and as the dispensation continues all things will be revealed. The reverse is true also; other dispensations had specific truths revealed and not others.  We are born into the dispensations that would try us most.
• I am not sure the name of God or Jesus is really so vital; however, I do think the New Testament makes clear who is Jehovah and who is not within the Godhead, see Revelations.
• This may be one of those things that was so obvious as to not think it was necessary; this is my personal assumption on this specific topic.
• Peripheral issues is what divides the majority of the Body of Christ. The Trinity, an acknowledgement that there are three, separate, distinct members of the Godhead, but must also be meet some degree of the definition of monotheism is such a doctrine; but it is also vital in the evolution of the Catholicism and most of the Reformation. I am not implying that this doctrine is a peripheral doctrine per se, but it is not nearly as important to me as the divinity of Jesus Christ, him crucified, and that he rose again. Humanity likes to divide itself into groups. This drive may be a subset of the teaching of opposition in all things.

Recovery from serious health issues take time; there is great wisdom in letting go of expectations while still maintaining a drive to work hard to regain the health we had.  Focus on the fundamentals of health and just take all things one step at a time without pushing yourself to jump ahead. This is the kind of race where speed is not nearly as important as consistency.  

 

You are in my prayers,

Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I cannot believe how aligned you are with my own personal feelings on the question. You are so inspired when you mentioned about poignant spiritual experiences. When my injury occurred I cannot even begin to explain the pain. My oldest son Ben, was first on the scene, I was experiencing agony like never before, he knelt down beside me and placed his hands on my head and blessed me the at that moment through the power of the atonement I would be given extra strength to bare the pain until the paramedics arrived. At that moment I instantly felt the burden of my pain lifted through that promised strength in the blessing. During this great physical distress I was overcome with the love of our Saviour. It actually felt a little strange, the intense pain still existed, but an increased ability to bare that burden of pain I was immediately blessed with. Now in my rehab, my love is deeper for my Saviour than I ever could imagine. You counsel about correct focus on getting better is also true and most welcome. God bless you for your kind words.

[Tacenda]

First and foremost welcome back, you will have great support from the board members here. One in particular, would be Pa Pa, he experienced a terrible back injury and was laid up for several months using an Ipad also to communicate on the board.

Last night I watched 20/20 and it featured Mulala, a young Muslim girl at the time and now, that openly complains that girls were not educated enough. On her way home from school, I believe, with a bunch of other girls her age sitting on a big truck with benches...a member of the Taliban, they think, with a machine gun hopped on the truck and asked where Mulala was, somehow he found her and shot her point blank in the face. The bullet entered just right of forehead. Though it caused her face to go numb and loss of hearing she has fully recovered with physical therapy and more surgery. There was a reason she lived, God wanted her here. It was miraculous that she survived, doctors said. Thank heavens for the blessing your son gave and the relief from pain, and that you are walking again. Sometimes there are hidden blessings in tragedies.

About your questions, I'm not very equipped to answer them but others here know their scriptures and writings, that should prove helpful!

[danieldemol]

Dear Board members,

I have not posted here for a very long time, not because I have not wanted to particularly but as you all are aware life is very hectic. As I have had brief moments I have occasionally come back here to one of my favourite blog sites. I find this generally a very thoughtful and repectful forum.

Just recently I had an accident, it was serious, it involved a serious back injury where I had to have emergency surgery on my spine. I had paralysis in my left leg before my surgery and as I laid in the ED it began to migrate into my right leg. I cannot thank my Heavenly Father enough, or those so gifted nurses, doctors and surgeons who after operating on my spine have brought back full movement to my left leg and foot. I truly stand all amazed at my blessings.

Thank God for science

Now in rehab I have lots of time to think and laying here on my back with my iPad, I wanted to post here to get some feed back on the above topic...

...4. Why like in the New Testament does it not declare the Christ was Jehovah , for instance.?

Technically the NT says YHWH, not Jehovah, although this doesn't answer your question.

5. Why would it not in the New Testament talk about Christ being Married? Setting the perfect written doctrinal example of marriage and family

It is an interesting question given that if the Gospel weren't going to talk about marriage because it was obvious then it wouldn't have mentioned the marriage of people far less important than Jesus himself. Edited October 13, 2013 by danieldemol

[canard78]

1. Why do we have the current content have, and not more or less?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.
2. Why don't we have more detail about say, the pre-existence and premortal life?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.
3. Why in some ways does it seem to lack detail about certain doctrines, but others are crystal clear that nearly all sects agree on?
We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

4. Why like in the New Testament does it not declare the Christ was Jehovah , for instance.?
We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

5. Why would it not in the New Testament talk about Christ being Married? Setting the perfect written doctrinal example of marriage and family
We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

6. With the enormous content that we have, why do so many look to periphial issue?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

 

The pure and living waters that God pours down on his children always has to go through an imperfect human funnel. But one thing that has come through consistently and with most clarity is: charity never faileth. Everything is minor detail of far less consequence.

[Tacenda]

1. Why do we have the current content have, and not more or less?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

2. Why don't we have more detail about say, the pre-existence and premortal life?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

3. Why in some ways does it seem to lack detail about certain doctrines, but others are crystal clear that nearly all sects agree on?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

4. Why like in the New Testament does it not declare the Christ was Jehovah , for instance.?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

5. Why would it not in the New Testament talk about Christ being Married? Setting the perfect written doctrinal example of marriage and family

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

6. With the enormous content that we have, why do so many look to periphial issue?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

The pure and living waters that God pours down on his children always has to go through an imperfect human funnel. But one thing that has come through consistently and with most clarity is: charity never faileth. Everything is minor detail of far less consequence.

Yep, that about sums it up!

[pcarthew]

1. Why do we have the current content have, and not more or less?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.2. Why don't we have more detail about say, the pre-existence and premortal life?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.3. Why in some ways does it seem to lack detail about certain doctrines, but others are crystal clear that nearly all sects agree on?We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

4. Why like in the New Testament does it not declare the Christ was Jehovah , for instance.?We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

5. Why would it not in the New Testament talk about Christ being Married? Setting the perfect written doctrinal example of marriage and familyWe see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

6. With the enormous content that we have, why do so many look to periphial issue?

We see through a glass darkly and we prophecy in part.

 

The pure and living waters that God pours down on his children always has to go through an imperfect human funnel. But one thing that has come through consistently and with most clarity is: charity never faileth. Everything is minor detail of far less consequence.

Agreed, and it is also by pray, faith and righteous works that we work the missing pieces out

[thesometimesaint]

Welcome back, and best wishes for a full and complete recovery.

[CV75]

I wanted to post here to get some feed back on the above topic.

I wish you the best in your continued recovery!

 

Some thoughts on your thoughts:

 

1. Where “whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture,” it continually comes from the servants of the Lord. So we have plenty of this in all the media and decisions through which the will, mind, word, voice and power of God are manifest (D&C 68:4). I see the standard works as a substrate or catalyst for such inspiration, and so not so great a volume of them is required to enjoy advanced spiritual reasoning and expounding, as the Holy Ghost provides this to any of the saints as needed.

 

2. Related to the above, the detail we need is provided by the Holy Ghost. Everything we gain in the matters of the Lord begins with faith, which starts very small (as a mustard seed), and so requires a corresponding amount of scripture. Also, often the magnitude of scripture we see is relative to the eye of beholder. Some get so much out of a single verse.

 

3. I think where there is a unique revelation in our standard works, the detail will seem relatively greater than that which is already shared with the rest of Christendom. I think this has to do with restoring truths that had been lost (they might need more detail), and revealing new truths that are part of the dispensation of the fullness of times.

 

4. Christ declared Himself as Jehovah when He said, “Before Abraham was, I am.” (John 8:58).

 

5. Maybe for the time it was written, marriage was so clearly a given that it didn’t have to be spelled out. This might be the same reason it isn’t spelled out in our latter-day standard works. But He did refer to Himself as the bridegroom and the Church as the bride, which doctrinally is consistent with how we should engage in marriage and family.

 

6. I think the “peripheral issues” can be compared to participating in any worthy endeavor such as work, hobbies, recreation, volunteering, etc. to which we apply the righteousness we have gained from scripture and the covenants. They contribute to our becoming more like Christ. But if they become a waste of time, that is human nature.

Edited October 13, 2013 by CV75

[The Nehor]

1. Why do we have the current content have, and not more or less?

2. Why don't we have more detail about say, the pre-existence and premortal life?

3. Why in some ways does it seem to lack detail about certain doctrines, but others are crystal clear that nearly all sects agree on?

4. Why like in the New Testament does it not declare the Christ was Jehovah , for instance.?

5. Why would it not in the New Testament talk about Christ being Married? Setting the perfect written doctrinal example of marriage and family

6. With the enormous content that we have, why do so many look to periphial issue?

 

1. Because we are sinful and the more we get the greater would be our condemnation for not living it. As to why not less we merit what we got.

 

2. To keep us from despair at how much we have temporarily lost.

 

3. To give us room to stretch ourselves and receive revelation.

 

4. Because Jehovah is not in all cases the Son. The distinction was made that all instances in which Jehovah appeared in the scriptures it is the PreMortal Christ and some people go way beyond that. Joseph Smith referred to the Father as Jehovah more then once.

 

5. You'd have to ask Matthew, Mark, Luke, and/or John. They wrote what they thought people needed to hear.

 

6. What peripheral issues?