Spirituality or just emotion...?

[_just me]

What is this? Another newbie! Why we so lucky??? Welcome to the board, Sheryl!

[_Franktalk]

What is this? Another newbie! Why we so lucky??? Welcome to the board, Sheryl!

We are truly blessed to have her here. I just love her insight into things we have no eyes to see.

[_jo1952]

Well the Church seems to agree with me.

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

All honest seekers of the truth can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost, leading them to Jesus Christ and His gospel. However, the fulness of the blessings given through the Holy Ghost are available only to those who receive the gift of the Holy Ghost and remain worthy.

After a person is baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders lay their hands on the person's head and, in a sacred priesthood ordinance, confirm him or her a member of the Church. As part of this ordinance, called confirmation, the person is given the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The gift of the Holy Ghost is different from the influence of the Holy Ghost. Before baptism, a person can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost from time to time and through that influence can receive a testimony of the truth. After receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, a person has the right to the constant companionship of that member of the Godhead if he or she keeps the commandments.

I believe we are splitting hairs here. Also, simply by using the quote above, you have not addressed the reasoning and logic of my point about Joseph Smith. I would also like to point out that inasmuch as no member of the Church is perfect, this is an indication that they are not yet perfectly keeping the commandments. Therefore, just because they may have the right to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, I do not know of any members who have actually enjoyed His constant companionship. This would also explain why there are individuals who are NOT LDS who appear to have more experiencing of the Holy Ghost, and have more Truth being revealed to them by the Holy Ghost, than members of the Church do. The ordinance of receiving the Holy Ghost is NOT a guaranty that the Holy Ghost will guide and direct them. If an individual is attached to the world, the Holy Ghost is not going to be able to communicate with him. Seeing as how, at any moment, we can switch from serving God to serving Satan and then back again, I believe that many LDS do not understand the concept behind this ordinance, or how it works.

Also, consider how, when we perform ordinances for the dead, there will be individuals who ARE exalted. If the understanding you take from the above quote is accurate, then how is it possible for someone who has already died, and thus did NOT have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, still be exalted?? Just ponder and reason this out!

Love,

jo

[_jo1952]

What is this? Another newbie! Why we so lucky??? Welcome to the board, Sheryl!

Hi Just Me!

I just invited her last night, and I can see that she came over as soon as I told her about this website.

She is one of the most beautiful spirits I have ever been blessed to know. I am so excited that she is here!

Love,

jo

[_sheryl]

Shalom Sheryl!

I was wondering as I read your post if this could help explain the seven spirits of Christ?

Love,

jo

Shalom my friend!

How astute of you! Indeed that post was referring the seven spirits of Christ. Christ (what can be called the 8th Heaven or the Kingdom of Heaven) is rayed out into seven heavens, or seven spirits, which also comprises our inner bodies. The inner and the outer being the same. It is very mysterious!

The material or physical then houses the seven rayed spirit, is a temple for God's Spirit, so that we can say our vital or emotional body at its highest point is the first heaven. The mental body the second, and then we get into our subtle bodies.

Peace.
Sheryl

[_moksha]

The material or physical then houses the seven rayed spirit, is a temple for God's Spirit, so that we can say our vital or emotional body at its highest point is the first heaven. The mental body the second, and then we get into our subtle bodies.

Peace.
Sheryl

Is this the point where Jupiter aligns with Mars and peace will guide the planets?

[_jo1952]

Is this the point where Jupiter aligns with Mars and peace will guide the planets?

Hi Moksha!

I know that you meant to poke some fun here, but I believe that we can actually learn from cosmology. Everything in the physical world patterns what is in the spiritual realm. I think that when we view evidence of ancient peoples whom we perceive believed some pretty strange or weird stuff (which we label as being mythical), that there are actually some elements of Truth in them. We do not have all of the sacred records or traditions that were handed down from generation to generation of mankind. But I do know that it is man's pattern to begin changing their traditions and corrupting them. However, I think that, for the most part, what ended up being taught actually has roots in Truth which was taught to the their original fathers.

Christendom may wave away paganism in disgust (which I think is actually due to our fear and not understanding them correctly); yet I believe that even though some of those beliefs evolved into abominations like human sacrifices, that they, too, originated with at least some Truth which has become buried and now manifests itself as something unrecognizable; unless we search deeply into them.

As far as cosmology goes, I think there is much more to it than we are currently able to understand. I believe that herein lie many of the prescious things which have been lost - which is why we do not understand or make connections with these other religions and practices and traditions. Yet, even among the labeled "myths", we do see similarities in Christian beliefs; and this is why, at least in my mind, that we DO see similarities.

I have discovered that in reading some of the other books which were not canonized because they were considered more as narratives rather than teaching any doctrine, that there are elements in them which actually agree with scripture presented in the Bible. If nothing else, they provide some very interesting reading which you can leave yourself to pondering and reasoning over. Some of it may inspire you to pray about it. I would include the books of Enoch in these studies. I have also enjoyed reading Jasher - though not canon, once again I found that it presented information which could easily fill in some of the gaps of some of the stories presented in the Bible, without taking away any of the spiritual messages taught in the Bible.

Love,

jo

[_Drifting]

jo, do you believe the cosmology outlined in the Book of Abraham?

[Guest]

Though I have only been posting on this board for a few days, I have already commented on at least one other thread about this very issue. I like to refer members who are mistaken about this, back to Joseph Smith himself. He did not "receive" the Holy Ghost until years after he had been called and was being prepared to assist God in restoring His Church. Also, it is very clear in the Bible that the witness on the earth is the Holy Ghost. He is here 24/7 and is available to everyone. He reveals whatever Truth Father directs Him to to whomever Father deems is ready and able to receive. You do not have to be a member of the Church, or even be a member of ANY church to be able to receive the Truth Father thinks you are ready for.

I have known individuals who have had much more experiencing of the Holy Ghost than members of the LDS Church.

Love,

jo

jo, If I recall correctly jihadists who turn into suicide bombers, do so on the back of claimed confirmation by the Holy Ghost (or their name for this) that they are indeed doing God's will.

Are they mistaken?
If they are mistaken, how can one possibly distinguish between the Holy Ghost giving a feeling of God's truth and some other spirit or self indulgence giving a false feeling of truth?

p.s. I like your posts even if I don't agree with some of it.

[_jo1952]

Shalom my friend!

How astute of you! Indeed that post was referring the seven spirits of Christ. Christ (what can be called the 8th Heaven or the Kingdom of Heaven) is rayed out into seven heavens, or seven spirits, which also comprises our inner bodies. The inner and the outer being the same. It is very mysterious!

The material or physical then houses the seven rayed spirit, is a temple for God's Spirit, so that we can say our vital or emotional body at its highest point is the first heaven. The mental body the second, and then we get into our subtle bodies.

Peace.
Sheryl

Hi Sheryl,

This absolutely fascinates me. Inasmuch as I believe that there are literal AND spiritual meanings in all of scripture, I feel as though the Holy Ghost has now been leading me to more of the spiritual as opposed to helping me understand the physical patterns. It is as though this was to help prepare me for the next levels of understanding. Does this make sense?

I would love to further explore this mystery - as I had always just glossed over the seven spirits of Christ simply because I could not relate to the words. But now, I feel that there is a great deal to be understood here. It has been something Frank and I have pondered quite a bit about. Also, inasmuch as it is in the last days of the physical existence of earth before the Millenium, at which time these mysteries will begin to open up to us, I believe that this is what is happening right now.

However, I feel impressed to share that we should follow the inspiration of the Holy Ghost to determine what would be appropriate to discuss in open format.

Shalom!!

jo