From Evolution to Gaza

 

Going from Evolution to Gaza

      We have been told that evolution is scientific.  However, it is also a philosophy.  Etiologically, it replaces God our creator and claims that nature created itself.  Its goal is not to worship God but rather to worship self.  With evolution we try to become the most evolved, the strongest and most fit to survive.  Evolution consists of superior and inferior creatures.  The weaker must die off and make room for the stronger to keep progressing.  This was applied to slavery.  The black race was considered by many evolutionists to be inferior and less evolved.  They were almost thought of as less than human.  Some believed that the white race was more evolved and therefore slavery was justifiable.  

      Abortion has tied into this philosophy.  It has first been aimed at the Black and Hispanic population and then the Caucasian population.  It has been designed in such a way that the Black baby is 4 times as likely to be aborted as the white baby.  The Hispanic baby is twice as likely to be aborted as the white baby.  This has been a highly successful way to reduce the Black and Hispanic populations and has made our country more white.  Margaret Sanger was a eugenicist. It is a prime example of "white privilege".  

Abortion is appealing to many people because it gives god-like powers to mere people.  Usually God has the power to give and take life.  Abortion gives the power to give and take life into our own hands.  In other words we are acting in place of God.  It is on a higher level than hunting.  The deer and the elk were amazingly created by God.  As human beings, we are not only created by God but we are made in God's image according to the Genesis account.  This gives us a great amount of value.  Those who were designed by the wisest designer in the universe and made in the IMAGE of  the most valuable being in the universe, are HIGHLY VALUABLE!!  

Our country has a high homicide rate but it may partly be philosophical.  Abortion is not determined by who is superior or the most fit to survive.  It is often a matter of convenience.  If our neighbor is simply an evolutionary product of time and chance and simply an evolved animal who is not "convenient", then killing him might seem ok.  Again it gives a person the feeling of playing God by determining the life or death of another person.  A person could reason that since we have aborted 63 million human beings, what is wrong with taking one more life? 

The nation of Israel is in a similar category.  Many view them as an "inconvenient" part of the world.  They think that getting rid of this nation would solve many of the world's problems.  There is another aspect that appeals to people.  Israel has been God's chosen people for thousands of years.  Many times in history, God has acted on Israel's behalf.  Getting rid of God's chosen people would cause many to feel like they are more powerful than God himself.  Evolution works to abolish God and deify nature.  People think that getting rid of Israel would help us clear our minds of the God/human connection.

Politics is a strange animal.  One method used in politics is to accuse your opponent of doing exactly what you are guilty of.  Many people who are for the genocide of Israel are accusing President Biden of genocide in Gaza.  Israel is fighting against a terrorist group.  Those who do NOT want Israel to exist, are accusing Israel of genocide.  

The prophet Isaiah proclaimed that God has always been God and he will always be God.  He is not afraid that someone will evolve to His superior level.  He is not worried about tomorrow.  He has infinite power and knowledge.  When Cain murdered his brother Abel, God said that the voice of Abel's blood cried out to Him from the ground.(Genesis 4:10)  If the blood of Abel cried out to God from the ground, how much more does the blood of 63 million unborn Americans?  Matthew 10 tells us that God even knows when one sparrow falls to the ground.  Verses 30-31 says, "...even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."  

A day is coming when God will judge the whole world.  He will indeed show Himself to be the most powerful.  No one will take His place.  Lucifer tried to ascend to God's level.  The Bible prophesies that he will "be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."(Isaiah 14:15)  God has all wisdom and power.  From evolution to Gaza, God is and will always be God!

Gift of Repentance and the Bad Neighbor

        Some people are saying, "I am so thankful for the gift of repentance."  Many are seeking to be worthy through their good own works, but the law requires perfection.  When they cannot reach that perfection, some fall back on the "gift of repentance" idea.

        It is similar to having a bad neighbor.  Suppose your neighbor steals from you and a week later apologizes and returns your property.  The next week he steals from you again and again apologizes.  Every week you find him stealing and apologizing.  Soon you would start to believe that your neighbor is insincere and his apologies mean nothing.  If your neighbor declares, "I am so thankful for the gift of apologizing", you are not going to take him seriously.

        On the other hand, you would believe your neighbor was sincere if he apologized for stealing from you, never stole from you again and was a great neighbor for the next 30 years.  The need for daily repentance highlights a person's daily failure.  True repentance involves forsaking the sin.

        So where does real worthiness come from?  2 Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."  Why do many ignore this truth?  Romans 10:3 states, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."  

        Here is the question: Are we focused on ourselves or on Christ?  Are our eyes on our good works and many acts of repentance or are we focused on Christ and his work on our behalf.  We all must repent, but are we looking to Christ for salvation or are we looking to ourselves for salvation?  God saves in God's way which is through Christ Jesus.  We cannot save ourselves with even our best efforts. 

The Honored Dancer

           "And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod."(2 Samuel 6:14)  As King David celebrated the Ark of God, his wife Michal despised him.  She attacked his character and integrity.  She said, "...How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!"(2 Samuel 6:20)  David responded, "It was before the LORD...therefore will I play before the LORD.  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour."(2 Samuel 6:22)

        David was all in.  His heart was 100% with God! His wife Michal was half-hearted.  She did not approve of the king's level of worship. Jesus described being whole-hearted in Matthew 13:44-45, "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.  Again the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

        Jesus described a woman whose heart was 100% with God in Mark 12:41-44, "And Jesus sat over against the treasury, and beheld how the people cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury: For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living."

        Are we all in today?  Does God have all of our heart like King David or are we like the critical Michal, who was half-hearted and not wanting to go to far in worship?  Are we seeking the approval of man or the approval of God like King David, the honorable dancer!?

 

Lying, Dog-Faced Pony Soldier

Lying, Dog-Faced Pony Soldier

      In February of 2020, Joe Biden called Madison Moore a "lying, dog-faced, pony soldier".  She was a 21 year old economics student at Mercer University.  Sadly, no one had the guts to stick up for her as she was put on the spot in front of her school, the cameras and media and the entire country.  He also called Peter Doocy a "one horse pony" on December 22, 2020.  What was Joe Biden trying to accomplish with these insults to young people who were probably his grandchildren's age?

      People often use animal references to devalue another person's sense of worth.  Calling a young woman "dog-faced" is not saying that she is beautiful.  It is the exact opposite.  Many politicians feel that they are superior.  They view themselves as being part of an elite class.  They view regular people as inferior and less valueable.  When Biden was calling them names, he was trying to remind everyone that he is an elite person and they are nobodies.  The inferior nobodies have no authority to question anyone from the elite class!  So what is the worth of Peter Doocy and Madison Moore?  What is the value of the lowly, non-elite nobodies in this world?

      The "lower class" was addressed in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.  "Brothers, consider your calling: Not many are wise from a human perspective, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.  Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.  God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world - what is viewed as nothing - to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no one can boast in His presence.  But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us - our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, in order that, as it is written: The one who boasts must boast in the Lord." (HCSB)

      What about an axiological point of view?  God, the wisest designer, the most knowledgeable creator in the universe, created Madison Moore and Peter Doocy.  Insulting these young people is insulting what God has created.  Insulting what God has created is a way of insulting God.  You are judging God to be a poor creator.  

      The Bible goes even further to say that we are made in the image of God.  Christians believe God is the most valueable being in the universe.  So, essentially we are made in the image of the most valuable being in the universe!!  Genesis 1:26-27 says, "Then God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.... So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female."  In today's world, people often value those who agree with them and hate those who disagree.  In reality, the person whom you hate also has been made in the image of God and magnificently created by God!  

      James Chapter 2 declares that it is a sin to judge based on outward appearances.  Verse 9 says, "But if you show favoritism, you commit sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors."  Verse 5 says, "Listen, my dear brothers: Didn't God choose the poor in this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that He has promised to those who love Him?"  1 Peter 5:5-6 says, "...clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.... Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,..."  Proverbs 16:18 also says, "Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall."  

      Madison Moore and Peter Doocy seem like intelligent, hard-working, young people.  It will be interesting to see what they accomplish by the time they reach Joe Biden's age.

Of God, Of Man and Of the Devil

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      Joseph Smith prophesied about the Book of Mormon according to B. H. Roberts in his book A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Page 162-163 of volume 1 says, "Hyrum Smith is represented by David Whitmer as saying that it had been suggested to him that some of the brethren might go to toronto, Canada, and sell the copyright of the book (of Mormon) for considerable money, that is, sell the right to publish the book in the Canadian provinces, not dispose of the copyright absolutely.  He persuaded Joseph Smith to inquire of the Lord, with the result... that he 'received a revelation that some of the brethren should go to Toronto, Canada, and they would sell the copyright.'  Accordingly, Oliver Cowedery and Hirum Page, the latter being one of the eight witnesses, went to canada to sell the copyright, but failed.  David Whitmer represents that this failure threw the little group of believers into great trouble, and they went to the Prophet and asked him to account for the failure.  The prophet frankly acknowledged his inability to understand the cause of the failure, and inquired of the Lord.  He received for answer... this: 'Some revelations are of God; some revelations are of man; and some revelations are of the devil.' "  

      Joseph Smith was saying that a prophet can receive a revelation from God, from man and from the Devil.  Since his prophecy failed to come to pass, it could not have been from God.  The other two options that Joseph Smith mentioned are these:  The revelation can be "of man" or "of the devil."  The "group of believers" must have thought it impossible for Joseph Smith to speak a false prophesy.  They were troubled by the failure of the prophecy as well as not being able to get the Book of Mormon Published.  According to Joseph Smith, false prophesy is a possibility.  If it is possibly for Joseph Smith to be misled, is it possible for you and I to be misled?  Alma 30:53 says, "But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel,..."  In the same verse, Korihor states that he taught this deceiving angel's words and they were "pleasing".  2 Nephi 9:9 states that the devil "...transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men...."  2 Corinthians 11:14 says, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."  Joseph Smith and the "group of believers" realized that the prophecy was false because it did not come pass.  The venture was a failure.  Deuteronomy 18:22 says, "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."

Nephi's Trinity

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      Some sister missionaries came to my house to discuss salvation and their church.  As we sat on some patio chairs we talked about a variety of topics.  Are we equally made in God's image?  If God looks like a man, then I am made more in the image of God because I am a man.  The Book of Mormon does not support this notion.  How can both men and women be made in the image of God?  I began explaining that I could greet Sister B. in three ways.  I could say greetings Sister B. the soul, greetings Sister B. the body and greetings Sister B. the spirit.  That would be a awkward greeting but it would be technically correct.  Obviously we only greet people as one person - greetings Sister B!  We are a triune being.  We are three things, body, soul and spirit, and yet we are one being. We are made in the image of God by being a triune, 3-in1, entity.  God is God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.  We reflect him as a trinity.  We are made in His image in this way.  So men and women are equally made in image of God since both are triune beings.  I think Sister B. liked this explanation.  2 Nephi 31:21 says, "...And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen."  Some folks add words to the verse and say "one in purpose".  This changes the meaning of the verse.  The verse simply says, "...one God, without end...." and it means one triune God.
      We have to take time to listen to all three and work in harmony.  Our body might say, more candy would be great!  Our mind/soul might say that would not be a healthy choice.  Our spirit might say, this is a good time to pray.  We have to compromise and work together.  Perhaps this is why people are so complicated.  Our spirit and soul may be doing well but our body may be sick.  Our body and spirit may be doing well while our soul is in anguish over the loss of someone we love.  Our body and soul may be doing well while our spirit yearns to be closer to God.
      1 John 4:16 says God is love.  Moroni 8:18 says that God is an unchangeable being from everasting to everylasting.  How could God have been love before the creation of time, man and angels?  The Son loved the Father and the Father loved the Son and the Holy Spirit was working in harmony with that love.
      God, in his infinite wisdom, decided to make men and women, in His image as triune beings.  God is good and wise and powerful!  Praise his name!

Mormon Presidential Polygamy

Moroni's God

      Moroni had a vision of God.  He said, "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." (Moroni 8:18)  Others have spoken of an ascending God.  Lorenzo Snow stated, "As man is, God Once was; as God now is, man may be."  Others have thought that God started as a spirit being who later became a man and ascended to godhood.  The God of Moroni did not have to ascend.  He has always been God.  He is the unchangeable being who has existed "from all eternity to all eternity."
      Moroni's God is the Great Spirit revealed by Ammon in Alma18:26-29:  "And then Ammon said: Believeth thou that there is a Great Spirit? And he said, Yea. And Ammon said: this is God.  And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?  And he said: Yea, I believe that he created all things which are in the earth;..."  The exalted man that many people pray to did not create all things.  The exalted man did not create time and space.  He is limited to a physical body.  A physical body requires the existence of space to dwell.  It also requires time to exist in the created space.   The God of Moroni is not limited to a physical body.  He created physical bodies.  He created the time and space for physical bodies to exist in.  Before the beginning of time, he was God.  Before creation was created, he was God.  Moroni's God was revealed to the woman at the well in John 4:24, "God is Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth."
      For those who worship an exalted man, their god is simply one god of many.  Their god is the offspring of a father god.  This father god is the offspring of a grandfather god.  Their father god is simple one of many.  Moroni's God is spoken of by the prophet Isaiah.  "To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One." (Isaiah 40:25)  "...I the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he." (Isaiah 41:4)  "...before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.  I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour." (Isaiah 43:10&11)  "...I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." (Isaiah 44:6)  God, who is onmiscient, made this statement in Isaiah 44:8:  "...Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."  Isaiah 45:5&6 says, "I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:...That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the LORD, and there is none else."  Isaiah 45:21 says, "...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me."  The prophet continues this message in Isaiah 45:18&22, Isaiah 46:5&9 and Isaiah 48:11&12.
      The exalted/ascended man is a god that shares his glory.  His father shared glory with him.  His father's father shared glory with his father and so on through many generations of gods.  The God of Isaiah the prophet does not share his glory.  Isaiah 42:8 says, "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."  Isaiah 48:11 says, "...I will not give my glory unto another."
      2 Nephi 24:12-15 speaks of a glory seeker that wanted to be "like" the Most High.  "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."  God did not share His glory with Lucifer.
      In Genesis 11:1-9, there were glory seekers who became very proud.  The story is about the tower of Babel.  Verse 4 says, "...Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name,..."  Perhaps God saw in their hearts that they were trying to become LIKE gods.  Verse 7&8 says, "Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they many not understand one another's speech.  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth:..."  God did not share His glory with these tower builders.
      In the garden of Eden, the serpent came and tempted Eve with the forbidden fruit.  He gave her a promise of being like God.  He said, "For God doth know that in the day yea eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:5)  However, as a consequence for their sins, they were kicked out of their beautiful paradise, the garden of Eden.  God did not share his glory with Adam and Eve.
      In Luke 18:10-14, a pharisee felt exalted and proud.  He felt that he had ascended to a higher spiritual realm.  "Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week. I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
      The God of Moroni does not share his glory.  He is the only true God!  He is the Great Spirit!  He did not have to ascend into godhood. He is the "unchangeable being" who is God "from all eternity to all eternity."

Helpful False Prophets

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     Why does God allow false prophets to influence the church?  Do they have any purpose in the world?  They deceive people and lead them astray.  Why doesn't God just get rid of them all and make life easier?
      Dueteronomy 13:3 says that they are a test to show where our heart is.  "Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD you God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul."  We often judge people on their outward appearance but God looks at our hearts.  Jeremiah 5:31 tells us of Israel's poor spiritual condition.  "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?"  The Jews had fallen away from their God to follow the lies of false prophets and priests.
    In 1 Kings 22, false prophets were part of God's judgement on Israel.  The Israelite king Ahab wanted to go to war against the Syria.  About 400 prophets were prophesying victory for Israel.  Then the prophet Micaiah prophesied defeat for Israel.  In verses 19-23, Micaiah said, "...Hear thou therefore the word of the LORD:  I saw the LORD sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.  And the LORD said, Who shall persuade Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?  And one said on this manner, and another said on that manner.  And there came forth a spirit, and stood before the LORD, and said, I will persuade him.  And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.  Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil concerning thee."  King Ahab went to war anyway and died in the battle.  Israel was scattered.  This was God's judgement on Israel for their wickedness.
      Some assume that God will not allow the possibility of his people being affected by false prophets.  Dueternomy 18:20-22 did not give the Israelite people such assurance but rather told them how to respond to false prophets. "But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.  And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?  When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
    These examples show us that God does allow false prophets and that they may have a purpose.  They can expose the heart of God's people as a test.  They can also be a part of God's judgement as in the case of king Ahab.
   

Brother V & Veggies and Ice Cream

If

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Then

                                                        Photo by Alex Shu on Unsplash
      

Can you think of three people that have denied themselves of ALL UNGODLINESS?  We are not talking of 90%, 95%  or even 99% of ungodliness.  All means 100% of ungodliness.  Are there three people that you can think of that qualify?  Do you know three people who love God with ALL their might, mind and strength?  Again, we are not talking of those who love God with 50%, 80% or even 98%  of their might, mind and strength.  The word ALL means 100%.  If you are thinking of those three people, you can put them into Moroni 10:32.  It includes an if-then statement.  Keith Walker from Evidence Ministries compares this to an if-then statement about dinner: "If you finish your vegetables, then you can have some dessert.")  With your three, 100%, people in mind, we can read from Moroni 10:32, "...if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you,..."   When do you get the grace?  You get it after denying yourself of all ungodliness and loving God with all your might, mind and strength.  So who gets the needed grace?  Only the three people you thought of get the grace.  You may not have been able to think of anyone.
      This is the verse that Brother V. used with his revelation about grace in sacrament meeting.  In his grace revelation he learned that we cannot meet God half way.  It is not 50 - 50.  We cannot be saved by the law.  It is all about grace.  This is why Jesus was so hard on the pharasees.  They were keeping the law and trusting in their righteous works.  It was not about the law.  Jesus was accused of hanging out with sinners, gluttons and drunkards.  Obviously, they were the ones that realized they needed God's grace and mercy.  It was easy for Brother V. to find New Testament examples of God's grace and mercy.  It was harder for him to find them in the Book of Mormon.  But if you water down this verse in Moroni and twist it some, you can apply it to everyone.

Free Grace

      

Mormons have a better example of grace.  It is baptism for the dead.  The dead man or woman cannot do much.  They cannot pay tithes, pray, attend church, love others, speak kind words or show empathy.  They cannot even repent.  They can do nothing since they are dead.  When someone is baptized for them, it is simply a gift.  It is not earned in any way.  The worker does it for free for the dead person.  This is an act of pure grace.
      Brother V. had another revelation that we are not under the curse.  Now we know that you only have to kill one person to be a murderer.  You only have to steal once to be a thief.  You only have to sin one time to be a sinner.  If God is going to look into the dark motives of our heart, we are all in trouble.  Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, 'Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.'"  When Jesus hung on the cross, he hung there in our place.  We should have died on the cross for our many sins.  Again the Book of Mormon does not offer this to everyone.  In Alma 34, it is only for those who repent.  In Alma 34:35, an individual can choose to procrastinate repentance and wind up in hell as their "final state" of existence.
      Grace and freedom from the curse were two fine revelations by Brother V. in sacrament meeting.

Sacrament with 2 Gospels

   

  

Yesterday's sacrament meeting had two different speakers representing two different gospels.  It was a husband and wife team with two different viewpoints.  The wife spoke first.  She emphasized a pre-mortal life where we were the spiritual offspring of God in heaven before we came to this earth.  She generously said that we are all children of God.  She said that God's divinity is in our DNA.  Through the many good deeds of the members present, God was being presented.  His light or divinity shines through us as we are kind and loving.  This self-saving gospel is found in 2 Nephi 24:12-16 where an angel tried to ascend and become "like" God.  "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! Art thou cut down to the ground, which did weaken the nations!  For thou hast said in thy heart: I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."   (This passage is also found in Isaiah 14:12-16.)
       In the Garden of Eden, Eve was also presented with this self-saving gospel.  The serpent told her that she could be like a goddess through gaining knowledge.  Genesis 3:3&4 says, "And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil."
      Psalm 82:6&7 says, "I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes."
      The second speaker, the husband, presented a gospel of grace.  He questioned why the Jesus was so hard on the Pharisees when they were the ones who were keeping the law.  This is true - Jesus was hard on them.  Jesus said to the Jews in John 8:44, "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do...."  In Matthew 23:27-33, Jesus said "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.  Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.  Woe unto you, scribes and pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.  Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.  Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?"    He seemed to be saying that many were getting off track with 2 Nephi 25:23: "...it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."  He said there is no meeting God half way.  He said you cannot be saved through keeping the law.
      He also pointed out that Jesus was accused of hanging out with sinners too much.  He said it is about grace.  He said he was drawn to the New Testament Jesus and his emphasis on grace.  I agree with the speaker.  Jesus spent time teaching the woman at the well in John 4.  She had had 5 husbands and was with a man that was not her husband.  He did not tell her to get her life cleaned up and come back in 6 months to talk.  He talked and taught her about worship right then and there.  In  Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells us a story about a law-keeping Pharisee and a publican.  "And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee and the other a publican.  The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.  I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."  What a powerful story of God's grace?!
      In Ephesians 2:8-9, the Apostle Paul wrote, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
      In regard to the first speaker, the book of Mormon does not say that we are all God's children.  It commands us to repent and become a child of God.  Mosiah 7:24-26 says, "For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.  And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."
      In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul refuted the Jews.  The Jews were pushing circumcision which represented the mosaic law.  In Galatians 1:8 Paul said, "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."  
      May the Great God, the unchangeable being found in Moroni 8:18 draw us closer to Him through His Holy Spirit.  God's grace to all.

Problems with Garments

      So you are watching TV with your hubby and the Victoria Secret commercial comes on.  This is a bit of a problem.  The garments you feel secure wearing cannot compete with the fancy, cute underwear in the commercial.  The wife next door has a variety of cute outfits she wears but the garments limit a person to the more modest selections.  While the church commands you to wear one thing, the typical hubby would probably choose something more appealing to look at.  On the other hand, if one spouse is wearing the garments more often than the other, there is the judgemental aspect to deal with:  "Why are you not wearing the garments."
      Has a High Priest ever been commanded to not wear the garments?  This command if found in Leviticus 16:23:  "And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:"  In the next verse, he was to wash and put his own clothes back on.  I think this passage is highly significant.  Aaron, the high priest, was to take off the holy garments and leave them there when he went out of the holy place.  So Aaron dressed two ways.  He wore the priestly garments in the holy place and he wore his own garments when he was not in the holy place.  Ezekiel 44:19 again tells us, "And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments."
      There are bigger questions here, however.  Are you going to trust in some garments to protect you or are you going to depend on God's protection?  If the power of God cannot protect you, what can a hundred garments do?  Are you going to depend on a baptism to save you or on Jesus work on the cross.  Yes baptism is a commandment.  But if Jesus death is not enough what can a thousand gallons of water do?  Are you going to focus on a temple for celestial salvation or focus on Jesus.  Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "...let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;..."   Mosiah 3:17 says, "...there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."
      So back to the dilemma.  Do you wear the garments to please the church or the cute outfit to please your hubby?  The marriage relationship has been designed, instituted and ordained by God.  Are you working to strengthen what God has designed?
      What if you are a yes and yes person - need to please the church and the hubby?  Here is a 4 step plan.  1) Communicate with your spouse.  2) Come to an agreement.  3)  Follow the agreement.  4) If there is discontent or a judgemental attitude, repeat steps 1-3.  A happy marriage is a good thing.

Animalistic Priesthood holders

      

Animalism is a "preoccupation with or motivation by sensual, physical, or carnal appetites rather than moral, spiritual, or intellectual forces" according to Dictionary.com.  This describes two priesthood holders in 1 Samuel named Hophni and Phinehas.  The were sons of the high priest Eli.    1 Samuel 2:12-17 details their behavior:
"12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.

13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;

14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord."

      Not only did these priests harass and bully the people they also took advantage of women.  1 Samuel 2:22 says, "Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation."  These men were animalistic, following their carnal appetites.

      At the same time the Bible tells us a wonderful story about a random woman named Hannah from the tribe of Ephriam.  Her husband had two wives.  Her sister wife, Peninnah had children but Hannah had none.  Peninnah continually harassed her to tears for having no children.  She was completely miserable.  1 Samuel 10-17 describes her desperation:  

"10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.

11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.

13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad."

      God answered her prayer and she gave birth to a boy.  She named him Samuel.  Her family was not of the tribe of Levi.  Her husband was not a descendant of Aaron.  They were not involved with the priesthood work but she did give her son to God.  He lived and worked at the sanctuary with the priests.      Though we forget the story of the priests Hophni and Phinehas, we all remember the story of Samuel.  He grew up to become a great prophet and leader in Israel.  He anointed Israel's first two kings, Saul and David.  Please read this interesting story of Hannah, Samuel, Eli, Hophni and Phinehas in the first four chapters of 1 Samuel.  

      

Prophet of 1,000 wives!

Heber C Kimball believed that many wives would be available in the spirit world.  In the Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, page 209 we can read his Salt Lake City Tabernacle message.
      "Supposing that I have a wife or a dozen of them, and she should say, "You cannot be exalted without me," and suppose they all should say so, what of that?...Suppose that I lose the whole of them before I go into the spirit world, but that I have been a good, faithful man all the days of my life, and lived my religion, and had favour with God, and was kind to them, do you think I will be destitute there.  No, the Lord says there are more there than there are here. They have been increasing there; they increase there a great deal faster than we do here,...
      In the spirit world there is an increase of males and females, there are millions of them, and if I am faithful all the time, and continue right along with brother Brigham, we will go to brother Joseph and say, 'Here we are brother Joseph; we are here ourselves are we not, with none of the property we possessed in our probationary state, not even the rings on our fingers: 'He will say to us, 'come along, my boys, we will give you a good suit of clothes.  Where are your wives?' 'They are back yonder; they would not follow us.'  'Never mind,' says Joseph, 'Here are thousands, have all you want.'"
     Brigham Young walked this back some by limiting a man to 999 wives.
      "I met with the Quorum and Presidency in the temple....President Woodruff then spoke '...In searching out my genealogy I found about four hundred of my female kindred who were never married.  I asked Pres. Young what I should do with them.  He said for me to have them sealed to me unless there were more that 999 of them.'  The doctrine startled me, but I had it done,..."  Daily Journal of Abraham H. Cannon, April 5, 1894, Vol. 18, pp 66-67
      Brigham Young stated, "We are complained of for having more wives than one.  I don't begin to have a many as I shall have by and by, nor you either, if you are faithful."  (Journal of discourses, vol. 8, page 222)
      George Q. Cannon "...remarked that people wondered how many wives and children I had.  He may inform them, that I shall have wives and children by the million, and glory, and riches and power and dominion, and kingdom after kingdom, and reign triumphantly."  (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, page 178)

      The great prophet Moses gave a commandment about kings, "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away;..." (Deuteronomy 17:17)
      King Solomon had a thousand women!  Although he was the wisest man on earth, 1 Kings 11:3-4 tells us, "And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart.  For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father."  Because of this God promised to take the Israelite kingdom away from him and give it to one of his servants. (1 Kings 11:11)
      The Old Testament has a number of stories of disaster and heartache resulting from polygamy.  Let us go back to the beginning.  After God made Eve and presented her to Adam, he said, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)  He didn't say a thousand flesh but rather one flesh.
     

Is Easter Important?

      There were two missionaries praying.  One jumped up and said, "I have a vision from God."  He said God had revealed to him that the church should tear down the temples.  His friend responded, "You are my missionary companion, but you are NOT a Mormon."
      Two preachers were praying during that same week.  One jumped up and said, "I have a vision from God."  He said God revealed to him that they should take the story of Jesus' death on the cross out of their Bible.  His preacher friend responded, "You are a religious person but you are NOT a Christian."
      There can be fake Mormons, fake Christians and fake lemonade.  Real lemonade is made with real lemons.  Real Christianity has a cross.  As we read the Old Testament, the scriptures point to the cross, point to the cross and point to the cross.  The crucifixion is detailed 4 times in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.  The rest of the New Testament points back to the Cross.  In Corinthians 2:2, the Apostle Paul said, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."

Choose your God this day

    President Lorenzo Snow

 "As man is, God once was; as God is man can become".  These were the words of Mormon prophet and president Lorenzo Snow.  Moroni 8:18 speaks of another God who is not a changeable being:  "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." This God did not begin as a spirit being.  He was not required to take on the form of a man.  He did not have to ascend into exaltation.   He definitely did not have to become God.  He always HAS BEEN God and will always BE God.

      Have you been praying to an exalted man or the eternal God found in Moroni 8:18?  If you have been worshiping an exalted man, he is not the God found in Moroni 8:18.  It is a big temptation to seek our own glory and exaltation!   It is tempting to focus on a goddess wife.  It is very tempting to try to ascend to godhood over our own world.  REPENT, REPENT, REPENT!!!  Let us bend our knee to the great God that always was, always is and always will be God!  Let us submit ourselves to His will.  Let us only worship Him in all of His majesty!!!

"...and I will not give my glory unto another."  Isaiah 48:11

"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,"  Isaiah 46:9

"Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last."  Isaiah 48:12

"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded the, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me, I am the LORD, and there is none else."  Isaiah 45:5-6

"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else."  Isaiah 45:18

"...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.  Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else."  Isaiah 45:21-22

"To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?"  Isaiah 46:5

"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God."  Isaiah 44:6

"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it?  ye are even my witnesses,  Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any."  Isaiah 44:8

"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images."  Isaiah 42:8

"To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One?"  Isaiah 40:25

"...I am the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he."  Isaiah 41:4

"And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God.  And Amulek said: yea, there is a true and living God.  Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God?  And he answered, No."  Alma 11:26-29

Grace vs. Works - Featuring Joe the Gentile

LDS/Christian

Beginning Dialog

Gentile Joe - Do you have to go to the celestial kingdom to become a god?

LDS- Yes

Gentile Joe - Do you have to be forgiven of your sins to go to the celestial kingdom?

LDS - Yes

Gentile Joe - Do you have to truly repent to be forgiven of your sins?

LDS - Yes

Gentile Joe - Does true repentance involve forsaking sin?

LDS - Yes

Gentile Joe - Have you forsaken all sin?
LDS - No, nobody has.
Gentile Joe - If you haven't forsaken all sin, then perhaps you have not truly repented.  If you have not truly repented, perhaps you are not forgiven of your sins.  And if you are not forgiven, perhaps you are not headed to the celestial heaven.

Desire

LDS - Well, first we must have the desire to change?

Gentile Joe - Spencer W. Kimball said "Desire is not sufficient".  "The saving power does not extend to him who merely wants to change his life.  True repentance prods one to action."  (Miracles of Forgiveness pg.163)

Trying to do our best

LDS - We always have to try and do the best we can.

Gentile Joe - Kimball said "Trying is not sufficient".  He used the example of a soldier with his army officer.  "And army officer called a soldier to him and ordered him to take a message to another officer.  The soldier saluted and said, 'I'll try, sir! I'll try!'  To this the officer responded: 'I don't want you to try, I want you to deliver this message.'  The soldier, somewhat embarrassed, now replied: 'I'll do the best I can, sir.'  At this the officer now disgusted, rejoined with some vigor: 'I don't want you to try and I don't want you to "do the best you can."  I want you to deliver this message.'  Now the young soldier, straightening to his full height, approached the matter magnificently as he thought, when he saluted again and said: 'I'll do it or die, sir.'  To this the now irate officer responded: 'I don't want you to die, and I don't want you merely to do the best you can, and I don't want you to try. Now, the request is a reasonable one; the message is important; the distance is not far; you are able-bodied; you can do what I have ordered. Now get out of here and accomplish your mission.' "  Kimball went on to say, "To 'try' is weak.  To 'do the best I can' is not strong. We must always do better than we can."  (Miracles of Forgiveness pg.164-165)

Former sins return

LDS - Nobody is perfect.  No one can completely stop sinning.

Gentile Joe - Spencer W. Kimball focused on D&C 82:7.  This verse says, "Unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord you God."  He describes it in this way, "To return to sin is most destructive to the morale of the individual and gives Satan another hand-hold on his victim.  Those who feel that they can sin and be forgiven and then return to sin and be forgiven again and again must straighten out their thinking.  Each previously forgiven sin is added to the new one and the whole gets to be a heavy load."

      Here is my old, incorrect view of D&C 82:7:  If I were to repent of lying and stopped lying for 15 years, I would be doing well.  But if I then told another lie after that 15 years, the guilt of all my former lies would come back on me.  The Doctrine and Covenants passage does not separate sins into categories.  It simple says "sin".  If you repeat a sin, the guilt of all your former sins returns to you.

No Commandment

LDS - It is impossible to be 100% perfect.

Gentile Joe - 1 Nephi 3:7 says, "...the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."  This verse does not say we can accomplish half of the commandments God has given.  It does not say we should be able to accomplish 90% of God's commandments.  It says God has only given commandments that we can accomplish.

Sufficient grace

LDS - God gives us grace to follow the commandments.

Gentile Joe - Moroni 10:32 gives us an if-then statement.  We are all familiar with this if-then statement:  "If you finish all your vegetables, you can have some desert."  Moroni 10:32 is an if-then statement:  "...if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ;..."  According to this verse, God's grace is only sufficient for us if we do four things.  We must deny ourselves of ALL ungodliness.  We must love God with all our might, mind and strength.  Has anyone denied himself of all ungodliness?  Does anyone love God with all his might, mind and strength?  If we prayed for 20 minutes, could we have prayed for 25 minutes?  If we have fed the hungry, could we have done more?  According to this verse, who can really qualify for God's grace?

After all we can do

LDS - 2 Nephi 25:23 say, "...for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."

Gentile Joe - When will you have done all that you can do so you can be saved by grace?  What if you only accomplish 98% of all you can do?  Will the 98% be close enough to all you can do?

No unclean thing

LDS - I believe forgiveness is a long process.

Gentile Joe - If a person is in the process of forsaking sin, then they haven't completely forsaken sin.  Alma 11:37 says, "And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven?  Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins."

Forsake sin

LDS - I believe repentance is a gradual process

Gentile Joe - D&C 58:42-43 implies that there are two states - repenting and forsaking sin or not repenting and not forsaking sin.  These verses say, "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more.  By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins - behold, he will confess them and forsake them."

Unholy temples

LDS - I don't believe God expects us to be perfect.

Gentile Joe - Helaman 4:24 says, "...the Spirit of the Lord doth not dwell in unholy temples."

The heart

LDS - I believe that God looks at our heart.

Gentile Joe - That is true but Jeremiah 17:9&10 states, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?  I the Lord search the heart,..."  We can often look good on the outside and have bad things in our heart.  We can smile at someone and shake their hand but hate them in our heart.  We can lust after someone in our heart even though we do not act on those thoughts.  The heart is harder to manage.

A space of time

LDS - I believe that there will be a space of time between this life and the celestial heaven where we will gain more knowledge and have time to perfect ourselves.

Gentile Joe - If we were to compare 1st grade math to calculus, we could say that 1st grade math is easier.  It takes a larger knowledge base to pass calculus.  If you were to gain 10 times your current knowledge during that space of time, you would have 10 times as many commands to obey.  The more you know, the more responsibility you have. If you can't be perfect now, it will be much harder to be perfect with more knowledge.  Spencer W. Kimball also believed that it would become harder to repent after this life.  On page 11 of the Miracles of Forgiveness, Spencer W. Kimball quoted Apostle Melvin J. Ballard. "This life is the time to repent. That is why I presume it will take a thousand years after the first resurrection until the last group will be prepared to come forth.  It will take them a thousand years to do what it would have taken but three-score and ten to accomplish in this life."

Wages and Debt

LDS - I believe it is a combination of works and faith together.

Gentile Joe - Romans 4:4&5 says, "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.  But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness,..."

Submit to God's Righteousness
LDS - I do not believe that a person can just say a sinner's prayer and then go live anyway he wants to.  How can he be saved to the Celestial heaven?
Gentile Joe - According to the book of Mormon, that person is not born again.  Mosiah 27:25-26 says, "...Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."  Romans 10:3-4 tells us that we are to lean on the righteousness of God rather than our own righteousness.  "For they being ignorant of Gods righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."  When we become a son of God, we should have our eyes focused more on Christ and his work on the cross.  We should have less focus on our own works.

Schoolmaster

LDS - I believe we can draw closer to God by following his commandments.

Gentile Joe - The commandments can make us feel farther away from God.  As you go through the 10 commandments, you will probably find that you have broken most of them.  In Matthew 5:21&22 Jesus said, "Ye have heard that is was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgement: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."  In Matthew 5:28&29 Jesus said, "Ye have heard that is was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."  If I compare myself to somebody down the street, I might look pretty good.  When I compare myself to God's law, I look like a sinner.  Then I realize I desperately need a savior.  So the law points me to my need for Christ.  It is my schoolmaster. Galatians 3:24-25 says, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.""

Daily Repentance
LDS - God has given us the gift of repentance.  I repent of my sins everyday as part of my forgiveness process.
Gentile Joe - In April of 1995, Richard Scott quoted Joseph Smith in General Conference.  Joseph Smith declared: “Repentance is a thing that cannot be trifled with every day.  Daily transgression and daily repentance is not … pleasing in the sight of God.”  If you had a friend that confessed he lied to you, apologized and never lied to you again, you would call him a true friend.  If you had a friend that lied everyday to your face and apologized daily, you would never call him a genuine friend.  You would probably start avoiding that so-called friend.

Ephesians 2:8&9

LDS - I still believe that we are saved by grace after all we can do.

Gentile Joe - Ephesians 2:8&9 says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."