G.O.S.P.E.L. Explained by Brad Wilcox

[CV75]

1 hour ago, Sara H said:

I think the reason why the whole baby blessing thing gets under my skin so much is because there have been a few times when I have actually seen the mother being granted the permission to stand on the outside of the circle while holding the microphone. This is one of the things that makes the whole process so upsetting to me. I'm sorry, but just typing that statement made me feel a little bit irritated. One of those times, my husband and I went on a trip of a few hours to attend a blessing of my nieces baby girl. She had a very difficult cesarean delivery, and her newborn was monitored in the neonatal intensive care unit for approximately two weeks. I was looking forward to seeing the baby get blessed as she made her way down the aisle of the chapel and then climbed the steps to stand beside the podium; however, as they handed her the microphoneand not the baby, I experienced a feeling of anger that I had never experienced before while I attend church. Even now, I'm not entirely certain that I really comprehend what went on with my feelings on that particular day.

Feelings can be like that. Emotional reactions to the same situation differ between individuals, along with the many other mental properties we possess. I include spirituality as one of those, though some may see it in a different class altogether. But because they all work together, whatever our predominant mode might be trained on any given subject could override the other processes and define our conclusions concerning what is right and wrong, just and unjust, the roles of God or the devil in our justifying or amending our reactions, etc.

[Pyreaux]

4 hours ago, Sara H said:

But we DO IGNORE anything sacred that isn't taught in our church. In our church, a Christian is baptized and confirmed the same way an atheist is. Does the Christian get to skip the first few missionary lessons because he/she is a Christian, while the atheist has to take all of them? Does the newly baptized Christian get to enter the temple before the newly baptized atheist because of a lifelong Christian background? Not in my experience. 

But God doesn't ignore it in the sense they can be blessed, receive occasional inspiration and miracles, and are saved from being punished for their sins. I'd imagine in the Spirit World it might be easier to get them to the Celestial Kingdom than the atheist, since they already believe in Jesus, they just didn't have the access to the ordinances.

[Sara H]

19 hours ago, Pyreaux said:

I'd imagine in the Spirit World it might be easier to get them to the Celestial Kingdom than the atheist, since they already believe in Jesus,

In my perspective, an atheist is just as capable of navigating the spirit world as a Christian is, and the steps are exactly the same. It should come as no surprise that our doctrine teaches that in order for an atheist who has passed on to the spirit world to be able to accept the gospel, he or she will need to be baptized by proxy. And this is also the first step for a Christian, regardless of whether or not they believe they have already been baptized on this physical plane. Because once an atheist is in the spirit world, it is evident that their atheist beliefs here on earth were entirely erroneous, one could say that it may be simpler to baptize an atheist in the spirit world. On the other hand, a Christian may still be a bit hesitant. 

[Pyreaux]

6 hours ago, Sara H said:

In my perspective, an atheist is just as capable of navigating the spirit world as a Christian is, and the steps are exactly the same. It should come as no surprise that our doctrine teaches that in order for an atheist who has passed on to the spirit world to be able to accept the gospel, he or she will need to be baptized by proxy. And this is also the first step for a Christian, regardless of whether or not they believe they have already been baptized on this physical plane. Because once an atheist is in the spirit world, it is evident that their atheist beliefs here on earth were entirely erroneous, one could say that it may be simpler to baptize an atheist in the spirit world. On the other hand, a Christian may still be a bit hesitant. 

“… A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge” (History of the Church, 4:588)

“Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.” (Doctrine and Covenants 130:18–19)

A Christian reading the Bible every day mastering their sinful nature isn't at any advantage in the afterlife than the atheist?