darrel

We have been counseled to "sup daily" from the scriptures. in the last three years, I have read the Book of Mormon five times, the Old Testament 1 time, the New Testament 2 times, the D&C 3 times, and the Pearl of Great Price 3 times. I have also read the Articles of Faith and Jesus The Christ in that time. My goal is to try to finish all standard works each year. I also try to supplement my reading with "Good Books" on doctrine and inspirational topics. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.

I have not read it but it sounds interesting. Another book I like is The coming of the Lord by Gerald Lund. It also deals with prophesy and quotations regarding the events leading up to the Second Coming. It is an older book but is still in print as the information is timeless.

Welcome May. Sister Smith and I are in the Philippines serving a mission We are in Naic Cavite Luzon Philippines. What area do you live.

We would also know what we missed by not keeping the commandments so I guess it would also be "torment" without weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Damned! Progress stopped.

If you are too young to go on a FT mission then be the greatest member missionary ever. You can then share your missionary experiences and grow spiritually together.

President Hinkley gave a wonderful discourse on how to truly convert new members. This is in the May 1999 Ensign page 104 entitled "Find my lambs, Feed my sheep" Every home should have the book "Preach my Gospel" in it and members should be truly member missionaries. I would encourage all of you to read them. We too often put too high expectation on the full time missionaries for conversions. They set goals for baptisms and knock on doors to find contacts. This is the hard way and is very ineffective because there is little member involvement. A good Ward/Branch mission plan will set the baptism, activation, priesthood, tithing, temple goals. Then the missionaries can help the ward reach those goals. They beg for our help but we should be begging for their help. They are to Teach and Baptize the referrals we give them. The responsibility is the full time members are to make them "No more strngers and foreighners but fellow citizens with the saints". Full time Elders and Sisters are only in an area a short time but the members are there long enough for the full conversion to take place. The prophet is the prophet to the world. Bishop's flock is everyone within his ward boundry. We are to let our light shine that others may see our good works. This has been a missionary church from the beginning. Each member is a missionary.

I would think your boss would be delighted if you said to him " I saw you at church (last week etc) and want to tell you I am an inacive member but want to come back. Do you have any advice that will help me" The Lord will bless you and him to say and do the right thing.

30,000 christian denominations today, wow. It seems to me that the many churches today have their roots in another church which they branched off from. I have an old magazine article which shows a pedigree of many major religions with the branches tracing to the Great Scism. Do you think that number includes every corner and shopping center church started by someone whose family and friends are his congregation.

This is amazing to me. Thank you Faded. It seems as though the church ruled more as a political and dominating influence with the main goal of obtaining wealth. A far cry from the teachings of the Savior. I can see the Hand of the Lord these events and in starting to inspire early reformers to move away from the ultimate rule and dominance of the Catholic Church. I heard or read somewhere that early reformers, (I'm not sure which) said that the changes they were making were not the true doctrine and gospel as taught in the bible but only wanted to move the away from the rule of the church.

I find it very interesting that the various claims to the "Authority" to carry on Christ's Church do not follow the example of Christ. If we so strongly believe in the unchanging nature of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son as taught in the scriptures, it appears that the changes that were made were not even close to the organization or pattern established by Christ himself. After the time of the "Great Scism", how long before there began to be protesters to the church?

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (Moroni 7:45). Charity is the pure love of Christ.

I wondered where the word Pope came from. We cannot find it in biblical references that I know of. We understand that the authority to pass on the Melchizdek Priesthood was lost with the death of the Apostles. How can the claims for authority by the "churches" after that be considered valad. Also is it true that much of the ritual of the churches was introduced as a carryover from pagan ritual.

You certinly have the agency to do what you think is best. I would be very cautious that whatever I did would not cause a young man to fall away. My own sons are not active because of this situation. The spirit of Love and direction of the Holy Ghost are most important weapons we need to approach these issues. This is why those with priesthood responsibility should be the ones to address it.

Home teaching:) Certainly priesthood bearers must be worthy (D&C 121:37). However we need to be careful not to set ourselves up to judge them. Others have said it is the Bishop, a judge in Israel, and the Lord who are to judge. So unless we have the direct responsibility in our stewardship to them, we must remember we too have sins and beams in our own eye and will be judged accordingly.