Awakened

This is also correct but I think there's more to being in God's presence than just a simple avoidance of guilt.

Right off the bat, I really don't like how he's written this piece. I'm looking for a summary of it and it doesn't seem to be at the beginning and it's not at the end. And at the beginning, he starts this story up and it really just sounds like a load of waffling. What exactly is this article proposing here?

I've been thinking about this a long time here. And while I have been, I've also been looking high and low for the quote I mentioned in the OP, but alas I cannot find it at all. Nevertheless, at the same time, I also feel like I have misunderstood my own question. I think that even if we were Heavenly Father's presence, we would still definitely have agency as we know and feel that we aren't actually deprived of his love then. But if we WEREN'T in his presence AND we remembered and felt just a hundredth part of a finite portion of God's love, how could we resist doing whatever we could to get back into his presence? Also think about the fact that God's love for us is literally infinite. And then think about this. In D&C 19, there is this passage that we all know. It talks about the pain Jesus Christ had to suffer when performing the Atonement. This revelation was directed at Martin Harris who, at the time, had committed a serious sin and was experiencing great distress just from that. And that was, as we see, the smallest portion of pain that is felt compared to the full reality that Christ took upon himself. Now, we also know that there is an opposite in all things. Alma 36:21 clearly states, "Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy." It makes very much sense that in contrast to such pain, there is an equal amount of such relief, happiness, love, and bliss. And this combined with knowing that God's love for us is truly infinite stands to reason that, again, were we to remember the love that we felt in a much greater amount than we usually do, we would do anything to get back to him, including taking our own lives. It could also be that even in our premortal lives, the love of our Heavenly Parents that we felt was carefully limited in order to give us agency, and as we progress and continually choose the right, we can feel that love in greater and greater amounts. This would also explain how Satan and a third of the hosts of heaven could possibly have done what he did in the presence of his father and his god.

It is said (I think by Joseph Smith although please let me know if I'm wrong) that were we to feel even just a small little fraction of the love God has for us, we would all willingly commit suicide just to see him again. If this is true, does that mean that whenever we are in the presence of our Heavenly Father or even within his love, none of us could ever resist obeying him? But then, why did Satan go so far as to completely go against God? Perhaps technically God's love doesn't take away our agency but it's so wonderful that most souls, not all but most, can't resist it and thus it's partly why our minds are veiled in this stage of our lives.

wat r u casul? Everybody knows Ninja Gaiden Black/II is the best.

Pffftt... I very strongly suspect that's what's going on too, judging from the things I've read, mainly Key to the Science of Theology by Parley P. Pratt. But even if it was, that's far from the scariest thing I've seen in my life. Some of the stuff I've heard about IRL from my close family... And I've felt things... Demonic things... Words cannot describe it very well but it is a laughing crying screaming insanity. Like your life is become a spiraling nightmare you cannot wake or escape from. that you're helplessly watching. And if you don't wanna sleep tonight, read up on cult abuse. It's so incredibly bad that many minds literally FRACTURE to deal with the pressure, hence Dissociative Identity Disorder, AKA multiple personality disorder.

What "ghost stuff"?

Who said that? Outer Darkness is for the worst. Who exactly warrants that here, only Christ and Heavenly Father knows. But I certainly don't see why not. In fact, I'm pretty certain there are demonesses out there, considering what I've read and heard about. And make no mistake, I'm more than sure they're just as equally and utterly nasty and twisted and malevolent as their male counterparts.

Alright, this isn't really a reply to this topic as it is to Zara as a whole. I noticed your topic about women being better than men. I used to think like that too. A lot. I literally began to have suspicions that perhaps men should be serving women and letting them lead us, it was that extreme. And you know what? It was wrong. This goes back into the plain ol' thinking that someone else is somehow better than us, more spiritual than us, more qualified to be in the Celestial Kingdom, more etc. Perhaps we even unconsciously see them as perfect. and in such cases, then begins the horrible thinking that we're not and we'll never be as good as that person or persons. THIS IS A LIE. Let me tell you what the truth is. Everyone sins. EVERYONE. We all sin constantly. Only Jesus Christ was the only person who lived on this world who was perfect. And that's it. Period. And you know what the Lord also said? "For I the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (emphasis added) He said that right in the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants. So, everyone is equally guilty. (Not counting the Unforgivable Sins) Everyone is equally separated from God. And there is no way we can "earn" our way back into the Celestial Kingdom by our own merits and/or power. The moment you first sin, that's it. You're out. Doesn't matter how small it was. Doesn't matter how many times it was committed. If you've sinned even once, you're finished. This is the justice of God in its pure form. The justice of God leaves none standing but the one and only Christ. So what are we to do? How can we possibly return back to our loving Father? How could we ever do it? And the good news, the glorious wonderful answer, is Jesus Christ. His mercy. His Atonement. He will get us safely back. How? The first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. Faith in Christ, repentance, baptism by water, and baptism by fire. This is the ageless message for our world. One that applies to everyone. Something that EVERY SINGLE PERSON on this earth needs to understand fully and completely. This is our ticket back home and this is the only way. And simultaneously, it is the best way. So, anyway. Back to what I was originally saying. Are women better than men? NO. Are men better than women? NO. No one is better than the other. Again, we are all equally separated from our dear Heavenly Father. We are all equally loved, which is an infinite love. An Eternal love. We all equally need our brother, Savior, and Lord, Jesus Christ. And He is asking us to follow him. To learn from him. To lovingly and respectfully accept his sacrifice and be justified and purified, both. And in any case, if Women are so much better than men, then why is the Savior that we chose in the beginning, male? It's such an inferior gender after all. How could it possssibbbllyy be? I just don't know. XP

True indeed. But every one of us has something we seriously struggle with. whether it be in-born disability, addictive personalities, bad parenting, poverty, or even war. Homosexuality is just another personal struggle, albeit a tough one.

http://www.joshweed.com/2012/06/club-unicorn-in-which-i-come-out-of.html ^ I think that should be required reading for LDS'. TL;DR - "Here is the basic reality that I actually think many people could use a lesson in: sex is about more than just visual attraction and lust and it is about more than just passion and infatuation. I won’t get into the boring details of the research here, but basically when sex is done right, at its deepest level it is about intimacy. It is about one human being connecting with another human being they love. It is a beautiful physical manifestation of two people being connected in a truly vulnerable, intimate manner because they love each other profoundly. It is bodies connecting and souls connecting. It is beautiful and rich and fulfilling and spiritual and amazing. Many people never get to this point in their sex lives because it requires incredible communication, trust, vulnerability, and connection. And Lolly and I have had that from day one, mostly because we weren’t distracted by the powerful chemicals of infatuation and obsession that usually bring a couple together (which dwindle dramatically after the first few years of marriage anyway)."

I think people take homosexuality way too seriously, from both sides of the camp. It's just a dumb sexual attraction. It's not supposed to be a way of life.

I believe we're supposed to invite the Holy Ghost into our lives, follow Jesus Christ and do whatsoever things we do with the father in mind in Christ's name, and worship Heavenly Father. An even better question is, do we worship Jesus Christ as well or just Heavenly Father? And what exactly does worship mean? Or should mean in the scriptures? This is actually a question I've seriously been thinking about lately.

Christ needed to die to gain power over death. Same thing for sin and the suffering that comes with it. Why it exactly had to be done this way is a little unknown. However, after having thought about this, I've come to the firm conclusion that suffering and sin has to go SOMEWHERE. If it could just be vanished away immediately, it would render sin completely meaningless. And without sin and suffering, there is no contrast to happiness and obedience. Then there would be no law. And if there is no law, there is no order. And if there is no order, there is no God.

Wow. XD Don't envy you guys. But yeah, thank you for the work you guys do. I really appreciate this forum and it needs to stick around.