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BYU devotional, Elder Glenn L. Pace: The divine nature and destiny of women
LDS Church News ^ | March 9, 2010 | Marianne Holman

Posted on 03/12/2010 7:02:37 AM PST by Colofornian

Women have a sacred role in the sanctification and purification of men, Elder Glenn L. Pace of the Seventy told students and faculty during the campus devotional in the Marriott Center at BYU on Tuesday, March 9.

Reflecting on the love he felt from his mother, sister, wife and daughters, Elder Pace spoke of the positive influence women have had on his life.

Speaking specifically about a time when his daughter fell asleep in his arms, Elder Pace noted the comfort it must have brought his daughter to be held by her father. He realized afterward that even greater was the peace and comfort she brought to him.

Looking to the Savior as an example, Elder Pace spoke of the love and respect He bestowed upon women.

"As we read about these associations, our focus is generally on what He teaches them and the love and understanding He gives them," Elder Pace said. "Have you ever considered the possibility that these women provided immense comfort to His burdened soul? It is my belief that He needed them as He journeyed toward living a perfect life in order that He could provide the ultimate sacrifice."

Just as the Savior needed righteous women, so do men today in purifying and sanctification in their lives.

Sharing excerpts from the story of the creation found in the book of Abraham, Elder Pace told of how the earth was created — before Eve — where Adam had been placed in the Garden of Eden. In the garden, Adam was enjoying a utopia in physical surroundings as well as open communication with God. Still, it was not complete without Eve.

"I believe the Father's statement 'It is not good that the man should be alone' (Genesis 2:18) had a much more profound meaning than the obvious biological implications," he said. "It also went further than providing Adam with company. Adam's ability to obtain the purification necessary to get back into the presence of God was dependent upon his continuous association with Eve."

In order for men and women to obtain the highest degree of celestial glory, there is need to be married, Elder Porter said.

"There is a limit to our spiritual development as long as we are single. There is a spiritual development which can only be obtained when a man and a woman join their incomplete selves into a complete couple," he said. "Just as conception requires the physical union of male and female, perfection requires the union of the very souls of male and female."

Although single men and women can accomplish great things on their own, they are incomplete until united intellectually, emotionally, physically and most important, spiritually, he said.

"The world we live in has gone awry with its focus on the physical part of the male and female relationship. If there is too much focus on the physical, the vital areas of intellectual, emotional and spiritual union are not being placed in an environment where they can flourish and grow."

Elder Pace spoke of the obsession the current society has on "making love," rather than developing a complete relationship that enables "expressing love." Because melding divine natures is a necessary element in bringing about perfection, Elder Pace said, individuals must guard against any deterioration of those natures.

"If the world keeps chipping away at the divine nature of women, it is probable that our relationships in marriage will not bring about the sanctification necessary for exaltation or, at a minimum, the process will be delayed," he said.

Referring to the phrase, "men have the priesthood and women have been given the blessing of procreation," Elder Pace spoke of the importance of each role in a relationship, and the ability couples have to complement one another in their eternal roles.

"It is the marriage ceremony in the temple where husband and wife receive the power to perfect their relationship and, thereby, obtain their exaltation."

As individuals work together to become a whole, as the Lord has commanded, they work together to become a combination of complementary capacities and characteristics.

"Sisters, I testify that when you stand in front of your heavenly parents in those royal courts on high and you look into Her eyes and behold Her countenance, any question you ever had about the role of women in the kingdom will evaporate into the rich celestial air, because at that moment you will see standing directly in front of you, your divine nature and destiny."


TOPICS: Current Events; Other Christian; Theology
KEYWORDS: antimormanfatwa; antimormonbias; antimormonbigot; antimormonblather; antimormonjihad; antimormonjihadist; antimormonmanifesto; antimormonpenchant; antimormonrant; antimormonthread; antimormonzealot; bfl; blah; blahblah; blahblahblah; blahblahblahblah; blahblahblahblahblah; boorish; christian; geeihatemormons; hateful; lds; meanspirited; mormon; mormon1; mormonhatingtroll; mormophobia; mormophobic; narrowminded; religiousintolerance; ugly; women
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To: Godzilla
The second issue you lists, follows my “Mormon Christians” concept. I feel there are folks who view themselves as traditional Christians in the LDS, and are by choice or ignorance, not paying attention to the doctrine. Perhaps they like the lifestyle, the impressive buildings who knows but they seem totally out of phase with what they chosen religion really represents, and indeed of display an almost protestant tone in their words.

Rather odd, but never underestimate the power of PR.

141 posted on 03/12/2010 4:24:29 PM PST by ejonesie22 (Palin bashers on freerepublic, like a fart in Church...)
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To: MissesBush

Mormons do NOT worship the Christ of the Bible, esp the New Testament. To claim otherwise is ignorant or misleading.

The LDS ‘christ’:

is a created being...
had to earn His godhood...
is in reality a lesser god (only gets the Terrestrial kingdom)...
one of three gods...
was probably married and a polygamist...
is a ‘creditor’ we have to pay back...
didn’t NEED to die on the Cross because He atoned for sin in the Garden...

The Christian Christ, however:

has Always been God...
is not created...
Co-equal with the Father and the Spirit, one God...
didn’t sin...
paid for all of our sins on the CROSS, not in the Garden...
and all we have to do is believe.

NOT THE SAME CHRIST IN ANY WAY.


142 posted on 03/12/2010 5:13:39 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: MissesBush

True Christians are generous and large in spirit, not denying others of their relationship with God and Christ just because there are differences in how you relate to them.

- - - - - - -
We are not denying you anything, Mormons are denying themselves a relationship with God and Christ by running after a gospel of works, rather than the Gospel of Grace.


143 posted on 03/12/2010 5:14:54 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: MissesBush

It is utterly crappy and childish to claim Christ all to yourself and others who think like you and to deny him to anyone else. That is NEVER anything Christ taught nor is it Christian.

- - - - - - - - -
Ummm.... Jesus said “I am the way, the Truth, and the Life, no man comes to the Father BUT BY ME”.

Not ‘temple rituals’, not good works, not tithing, not a denomination, not visiting teaching, not extra scripture. CHRIST ALONE THROUGH FAITH ALONE.

Once again it is the LDS that reject the true Christ in favor of their religion.


144 posted on 03/12/2010 5:17:10 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: Edward Watson; Godzilla

What other Christian Church in history has NOT viewed women as inferior to men?

- - - - - -
The New Testament Church.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:28, NIV).

And most modern Evangelical churches do not see women as inferior in the least.


145 posted on 03/12/2010 5:23:11 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: Edward Watson; Godzilla

I do not believe Catholicism or Protestantism are correct, but I do not write about them the way you do concerning my faith

- - - - - - -
Catholics and Protestants aren’t claiming to be MORMON, now are they?

And how do you feel about all the FLDS and other LDS breakoffs?


146 posted on 03/12/2010 5:24:44 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: Edward Watson; colorcountry; Godzilla

Were you baptised by someone who received his authority straight from Christ?

- - - - - - -
If you were baptized LDS then you certainly weren’t. Smith didn’t get His made up preistcraft from anyone but Satan.

And if the 3 Nephites and John the Beloved never died, then the LDS claim that the ‘priesthood’ left the earth is invalid any way.

How do we know our Christ is not the same as the LDS Christ? Easy, the Bible makes it clear and the LDS Christ does not resemble the Christian Christ in the least.

The LDS are the ones going around stating that in order to be ‘exalted’ a person has to join the LDS church and that there is no salvation (exaltation) outside of the LDS church. Talk about arrogance and hubris!!

And you are right about one thing, one cannot give what one does not have. So, the LDS cannot give authority they do not posses.

And your appeal to Pascal’s wager is untenable. Mormonism doesn’t make you ‘safe’ at all, quite the opposite.

For if the LDS are right then we get a ‘lower kingdom’ but still go to Heaven. However if we are right (as the Bible states) the the LDS have put their faith not in Christ alone but in a church and its rites and rituals and THAT will damn them to an eternity in a very real Hell.

Your own emphasis on the NEED for ordinances shows that you do not place your trust in Christ but rather in a religion.

Typical.


147 posted on 03/12/2010 5:48:28 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: Elsie

I knew I could count on you. ;)


148 posted on 03/12/2010 5:49:21 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: colorcountry

But, but if he told the truth, no one would join! At least according to my Mission Prep professor.


149 posted on 03/12/2010 5:50:45 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: MissesBush; colorcountry

You are new here. CC was LDS most of her life, I was LDS for several years. I was faithful, devout, had a strong testimony and was a ‘worthy’ member. I didn’t leave because I wanted to sin or because I ‘couldn’t live up to the standards’. I knew LDS doctrine and understood it better than most of my friends who were BIC.

Leaving the LDS and becoming a Christian was one of the hardest and most rewarding things I have ever done because I had to come to the realization that I could do NOTHING at all to ‘help out’ in my salvation (exaltation). But I also learned that while the LDS think they know Christ they only know ABOUT Him. They have no idea who He really is, they cannot because they twist, distort, or throw out Bible verses that disagree with their made up theology.

I could never return to the spiritual void of the LDS now that I know Christ and have a personal relationship with Him.

Leave the church alone? Not hardly. I was lied to my the LDS missionaries, I was lied to by my leaders about LDS history and it wasn’t until I set out to be an LDS apologist that I discovered the foundation of lies that the LDS is built on.

Say you bought a car from a dealer, the dealer promises you that the car is new, in perfect condition, never been in an accident, all checked out, full warranty. You pay A LOT of money for this car.

Shortly after buying the car, it breaks down, the engine is shot, the fluid leaks, the radio quits working, and the transmission slips. You go back to the dealer and he just shrugs and says “it’s your problem now”. You do research and found out the car was totaled. There is no warranty and nothing you can do to get your money back.

How would you feel? Would you warn others about this crooked dealer? Of course.

That is all we are doing. We are warning others about the LDS church.

And I do not expect you to respond. Most LDS do not, just for the simple reason they are afraid of finding out the LDS church isn’t true. That is a scary thing. Faith is not based upon feelings yet the LDS cannot see that. They put their faith in their feelings and the rites and rituals rather than trusting the Word of God.

Tragic, really.


150 posted on 03/12/2010 6:11:07 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: ejonesie22
I feel there are folks who view themselves as traditional Christians in the LDS, and are by choice or ignorance, not paying attention to the doctrine.

I would place this first because of the many Christian term they use - but in their world they are completely redefined so as not to match Christian definitions.

151 posted on 03/12/2010 6:14:00 PM PST by Godzilla (3-7-77)
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To: Godzilla; MissesBush; colorcountry

I am told by mormon missionaries that mormons worship only heavenly father - is worshiping Christ something new?

- - - - - - - -
McConkie spoke against worshiping Christ,as have other LDS leaders. But if MB is a fairly recent convert she may not be aware of it. I am constantly amazed at how little the LDS actually know about their teachings, doctrines and history.

From: http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=6843

Now, it is no secret that many false and vain and foolish things are being taught in the sectarian world and even among us about our need to gain a special relationship with the Lord Jesus. I shall summarize the true doctrine in this field and invite erring teachers and beguiled students to repent and believe the accepted gospel verities as I shall set them forth.

Doctrines of Eternal Life

Let us set forth those doctrines and concepts that a gracious God has given to us in this day and which must be understood in order to gain eternal life. They are:

1. We worship the Father and him only and no one else.

We do not worship the Son, and we do not worship the Holy Ghost. I know perfectly well what the scriptures say about worshipping Christ and Jehovah, but they are speaking in an entirely different sense—the sense of standing in awe and being reverentially grateful to him who has redeemed us. Worship in the true and saving sense is reserved for God the first, the Creator.

Our revelations say that the Father “is infinite and eternal,” that he created “man, male and female,”

And gave unto them commandments that they should love and serve him, the only living and true God, and that he should be the only being whom they should worship. [D&C 20:17–19]

Jesus said:

True worshippers shall [note that this is mandatory] worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

For unto such hath God promised his Spirit. And they who worship him, must worship in spirit and in truth. [JST John 4:25–26]

There is no other way, no other approved system of worship.

5. Christ worked out his own salvation by worshiping the Father.

After the Firstborn of the Father, while yet a spirit being, had gained power and

intelligence that made him like unto God; after he had become, under the Father, the Creator of worlds without number; after he had reigned on the throne of eternal power as the Lord Omnipotent—after all this he yet had to gain a mortal and then an immortal body.

After the Son of God “made flesh” his “tabernacle,” and while he “dwelt among the sons of men”; after he left his preexistent glory as we all do at birth; after he was born of Mary in Bethlehem of Judea—after all this he was called upon to work out his own salvation.

Of our Lord’s life while in this mortal probation the scripture says:

He received not of the fulness at the first, but received grace for grace;

And he received not of the fulness at first, but continued from grace to grace, until he received a fulness.

Finally, after his resurrection,

he received a fulness of the glory of the Father;

And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him. [D&C 93:12–14, 16–17]

Note it, please, the Lord Jesus worked out his own salvation while in this mortal probation by going from grace to grace, until, having overcome the world and being raised in immortal glory, he became like the Father in the full, complete, and eternal sense.


152 posted on 03/12/2010 6:20:57 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: reaganaut

Ah now there you did it again - posting real mormon information rather than cutting and pasting from some anti site.


153 posted on 03/12/2010 6:23:34 PM PST by Godzilla (3-7-77)
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To: Godzilla

LOL. I just can’t help myself. The ‘anti’ sites have nothing on the damning evidence of the LDS’ own writings.


154 posted on 03/12/2010 6:25:11 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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To: reaganaut
The ‘anti’ sites have nothing on the damning evidence of the LDS’ own writings.

hehehe, worth repeating.

155 posted on 03/12/2010 6:56:03 PM PST by Godzilla (3-7-77)
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To: Edward Watson; reaganaut
And you are right about one thing, one cannot give what one does not have. So, the LDS cannot give authority they do not posses. [reaganaut]

Christians of his time who were baptised and ordained by people who received the authority from Christ himself. Was he talking to you in the 21st century? No. Why then are you arrogantly claiming YOU are one of the “royal priests”? Were you baptised by someone who received his authority straight from Christ? [edward watson]

#1:
Do you agree that the original Mormon leaders, if their authority was genuinely of God, needed to adhere to the standard of authority being passed down according to Doctrine & Covenants 86:8? [That the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers???]

Question: Did the fathers of the original Lds general authorities have such authority conferred upon them via the lineage of their fathers? [Yes or no?]

#2:
Where did the Mormon jesus get his priesthood authority from? Elohim?

If so, where did the Mormon Elohim get his priesthood authority from? Either...
...(a) his father who was a god?
or (b) perhaps another who was His god?
[Apparently so: Joseph Smith taught:
(a)"...If Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and John discovered that God the Father of Jesus Christ had a Father, you may suppose that He had a Father also. Where was there ever a son without a father? And where was there ever a father without first being a son? (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 373) +
...and (b) "The heads of the Gods appointed one God for us... (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 372)]

Where did the Mormon jesus' grandfather-god get his priesthood authority from? His god, who emerged out of some "council of gods?"
[Apparently so: Smith taught: "The head one of the Gods brought forth the Gods...Thus the head God brought forth the Gods in the grand council." (ToPJS, p. 348)]

So re: the "council of gods" who emerged, where did they get their priesthood authority? A head god somewhere?
(According to that previous quote, apparently so)

So, tell us, EW, where or how did the "head god" get or have the ability to exercise his priesthood authority? Did he always just "have it?"
[Apparently not: Smith taught: "Which priesthood continueth in the church of God IN ALL GENERATIONS, and is without beginning of days or end of years. (D&C 84:17; cf. "The Priesthood is everlasting--without beginning of days..." (ToPJS, p. 158 --repeats it similarly on p. 208)]

Do you realize the import of all this? Here you chastise Reaganaut that she needs to receive direct hand-me-down authority from one who is authorized, and yet you can't tell me who the original authorized god was or his original "priesthood" jumpstart framework, can you?

Well, I'll tell you right now who the HEAD, ULTIMATE GOD is, the ONE who is...
...THE "Alpha" of gods;
...the ONE who is THE FIRST;
...the ONE who is THE BEGINNING...

Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."
...among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man," dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest....17When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last." (Rev. 1:6-8, 13, 17)

"Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. (Rev. 22:12-13)

Jesus Christ (Rev. 1:6) claims to be "the Lord God" (Rev. 1:8) and identifies HIMSELF as...
...the Alpha,
...the First,
...the Beginning in ALL of the above verses!
HE is the ONE who has made us to be a kingdom and PRIESTS to serve his God and Father (Rev. 1:8).

156 posted on 03/12/2010 7:01:08 PM PST by Colofornian (If you're not going to drink the coffee, at least wake up and smell it.)
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To: reaganaut; Paragon Defender; Godzilla
I shall, for the education and edification of the Lurkers and our LDS friends, post the web addresses of the two best and most oft used “anti-Mormonism” sites on the web:

http://www.lds.org

http://www.fairlds.org/

As our new friend Paragon Defender has asked, and I encourage as well, please, those wanting to learn about the Latter Day Saints visit these "anti-mormonism" sites and learn the truth...

And as you discover new facts and develop questions, feel free to ask any of our Mormon friends for explanations.

You will be amazed at what you will learn...

157 posted on 03/12/2010 7:09:26 PM PST by ejonesie22 (Palin bashers on freerepublic, like a fart in Church...)
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To: ejonesie22

are you giving away the secret handshake again?


158 posted on 03/12/2010 7:26:03 PM PST by Godzilla (3-7-77)
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To: Godzilla

oops...


159 posted on 03/12/2010 7:33:41 PM PST by ejonesie22 (Palin bashers on freerepublic, like a fart in Church...)
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To: Godzilla; ejonesie22; Paragon Defender

I made a reference to one of them earlier in a post to PD and no one commented on it.

*Sigh*


160 posted on 03/12/2010 7:35:53 PM PST by reaganaut (Ex-Mormon, now Christian - "I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see")
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