Posted on 04/15/2010 8:56:50 AM PDT by T Minus Four
Think of the Salt Lake Temple as a designer bottle holding a one-of-a-kind fragrance.
Think of the gardens and buildings of Temple Square as bubble wrap around that container.
Think of the City Creek Center to the south, the Church Plaza to the east, the Conference Center to the north, and the Family History Library and Church History Museum to the west as a firm, sturdy box around all of it.
When something merits that much protection, you have to figure rough bumps and bounces are coming down the road.
I get a feeling the LDS Church sees turbulence ahead -- nasty weather -- and it is making preparations.
It's not about being defensive and keeping things out.
It's about being protective and keeping precious things safe.
When the chilly winds blow, forest creatures gather all that's life-sustaining about them.
Horses in the fields cluster together to stand against the hail.
I feel the LDS Church battening down the hatches for bad weather.
The Tabernacle Choir, which was performing musical versions of Robert Frost poetry and other secular works, now releases CDs filled with songs of faith, assurance and the need to rely on the Divine.
I feel protection is the point behind the long row of sentries -- those Mormon temples -- that stand along the Wasatch -- the new Brigham City temple, new Payson temple, the new remade Ogden temple and all the others.
I feel protect precious things is the point of the new mission statements of LDS businesses, the point for books that are picked for publication and the lessons selected for manuals.
Part of the world would divide and conquer.
The church would gather and protect.
Something uneasy this way comes. Not a vilent clash as in Jerusalem -- where cultures fight openly. We won't be seeing stone throwers in the streets of Salt Lake City.
The battle here won't be about territory.
It will be about choices -- about the advent of a bolder, more self-indulgent popular culture.
The church can see the writing on the wall -- often literally.
And graffiti on the temple will never do.
It's time -- as the old hymn has it -- to "safely gather in, ere the winter storms begin."
The plan is not to force people away.
The plan is to keep what's on the inside safe from harm.
And if that means putting up ramparts and watchtowers, so be it.
Even heaven, if you believe the stories, is a gated community -- not to keep people away, but to safeguard the gentle hearts of those who dwell there.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-mail: jerjohn@desnews.com Jerry Earl Johnston chronicles his take on the Mormon experience in his column “New Harmony,” which appears on MormonTimes.com on Wednesdays and Sundays.
Are you wheelchair accessible? ... I’m contemplating a road trip out that way before selling my little moho and settling in for rusty retirement.
Amazing how one tiny little word can cause so much trouble.
Oh. You mean the graffiti they alluded to? That’s a surprise - never heard about it happening on the news.
Just wow.
Yeah, Smith added a lot to his ‘translation’ of the King Jmaes Bible. Check out the hundreds of added words at the end of the Book of Genesis, by which Smith fabrciated a prophecy of his advent! Joey has a very uncomfotable eternity ahead of him.
Formed, Begotten
1 Pet. 1
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1 Jn. 4
9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Heavenly Father begotten His only Son Jesus Christ. Jesus was the only begotten Son that was formed by Heavenly Father.
My understanding is that LDS don’t understand that angels and humans are entirely different kinds of created beings. You are one or the other - humans can’t become angels and vice-versa (despite all the heart-breaking baby obituaries).
Now I also understand that Jesus was the “oldest” of the bazillion spirit babies born of “heavenly father” and his multitude of wives.
Stop me if i have this wrong. But Lucifer was the second oldest?
Anyway, it occured to me that the mormon jesus wasn’t any more special than any of the other bazillion spirit babies, he just happened to be first. It could just a well have been any of the other half a bazillion spirit BOY babies. Just luck of the draw being first I guess.
Also, I am still wondering what happened to heavenly father’s wives after all the spirit babies were born. again, I’m not positive i have this right, but all bazillion must have been born before the Earth began to be populated, right? They went thru the whole “war in heaven”. A third became damned, led by satan, a third were valiant and would be born to Mormons, and a third were sort of wishy-washy and were sent to be born to “gentiles”
OK, I lose the flow here. How did the Earth get populated in the first place? Who did the first spirit babies get born to?
And back to the first question - what did the wives of heavenly father do after all the spirit babies were born? I thought the highest purpose for a Mormon woman is to have children. Once that’s done, are they put out to pasture for eternity? They must be “sealed” to heavenly father so he can’t just turn them our can he?
Jesus was the Firstborn of every creature, he was the first individual born of the Father. He was with the Father in the beginning, and is referred to as the Only Begotten of the Father who was in the bosom of the Father. None are like him, he is Divine.
Jesus was and is unlike any other any other of God’s offspring. He is the ONLY Begotten, so that makes different him from everyone else.
Jesus was divine from the very beginning. He is the Only Begotten of the Father who was in the bosom of the Father and was foreordained from the beginning to be be the Savior — “Foreordained before the foundation of the world”(1 Peter, 1:20). He is the creator of the universe and everything in it. He is perfect in every way and has all power, glory, might and dominion. So he stands apart from any other person or creature.
I don’t know anywhere where Lucifer is referred to as the “second oldest”. LDS Scripture states only that Lucifer was an angel in authority in the presence of God. (Doctrine and Covenants 76:25)
well, my point is, it could just as well have been Mike or Charles.
It's all interesting, but the Christian belief is that Jesus is eternal. No beginning, no end.
Youre wishy washy Charlie Brown..
:)
what did the wives of heavenly father do after all the spirit babies were born?
_________________________________________
Relief Society silly Gentile...
Lots of basket weaving...
Baking muffins...
Baking goodies for the Flying Inman Tea Parties...
LOL
after all sex in the mormon after life is just for procreation .. RIIIIIGHT ???
HEY...
Joey Smith didnt know this back in 1830...
But now in 2010 the mormon man-god doesnt even need useless moody thick ankled floppy boobed women at all...
he can just “marry” thousands of Pitrie dishes and make his “spirit babies” that way...
Principle baby...its the PRINCIPLE...
WOW mormonism is a whole lot of FUN...
:)
But please add that your weak jesus is the mormon jesus:
***
Statements such as this one are called dissing another’s faith.
Somewhere over the years those who opposed the LDS their exchanges went from disagreements to engaging in fallacy, specious arguments, taking things to extremes.
Somehow many of you like to claim that you are Christians thinking it is ok to misrepresent the LDS by giving the appearance that that is the LDS actual position with out conscience.
If many were so sure of their arguement they would not have to resort to all of these maneuvers.
Many may have oppinions all they want, but when shifts the premeis it is called altering the facts!
BTW the Jesus that the LDS believen is the Same Jesus in the Bible.
I mean the prose, premise and epilogue. I have no idea what the writer was saying:
Think of the Salt Lake Temple as a designer bottle holding a one-of-a-kind fragrance.
Think of the gardens and buildings of Temple Square as bubble wrap around that container....
And if that means putting up ramparts and watchtowers, so be it.
Even heaven, if you believe the stories, is a gated community — not to keep people away, but to safeguard the gentle hearts of those who dwell there.
I am really going to stop engaging in discussion due to the fact many of you think it is ok to diminish the spelling of the Lord name using small letter towards the LDS faith and the Godhead.
Hurling insults at the GA and others who are member who you do know personally and never did anything to you personally accept has a different point of view.
If you want to rewrite you question in a respectful manner than I will be glad to answer you inquire.
Many have accused the LDS of being superior but who is doing the belittling towards the LDS faith.
Many of you have never been to a LDS meeting and only know by what others shared who might have jaded oppinions.
Some here like to use a strawman approach to undermind the LDS love for the Bible this kind of behavior is not a Christian act.
Just because we also recognized which others who have written the Bible down through the years does not mean the LDS thinks less of it.
Should study the writers down through the ages and their translation.
worth a repost:
“You changed the Gospel of Christ for a system of man-made works! You accepted every heresy known to the Church. You changed the image of God into an exalted man. You changed my Son into a created thing! Repent today.”
LOL! Sure thing. The mormons do however take the lead on white short sleeve shirts for bikers. Overwhelmingly so. I don't trust any of the brainwashed numbers of cult "members". And I don't know who does. Just a cult where the horrifically confused follow some schmoe named Joe. btw........where is planet Kolob? Will someone please tell me?
there are some sheep in wolves clothing among them.
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Right there. And for both of them I question their faith. They have both ‘sold out’ and are getting their politics into their ‘faith’. That is dangerous.
The rank and file Evangelicals don’t agree with them for the most part and some who do are waking up.
You gentile. ,-)
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She’s Jewish??
:D
Thanks OO. And a church that teaches the Bible alone is the best church to go to.
I think that reason alone is why Calvary Chapels (and others that teach Verse by Verse) in particular are growing so much in UT. The LDS and those who have left are STARVING for basic Biblical Studies.
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