The LDS members and the Kingdom of God

[_jo1952]

Is there a perfect way to interpret scripture? If we know for sure the true meaning of the Word just what does that do for us? I mean does a doorway open to heaven and we take the next bus? I don't think we are to have a perfect understanding. I think the conflict among believing Christians as to the message in scripture tells us something. It tells us that on this earth we don't have a guide book. I think we have a guide but no guide book. So by faith we believe and by the spirit we are guided. I think we accept those things which are a mystery and accept that many things will not be filled in in our life in the flesh. So just what are we to know and just what do we do to make the best of this situation? To start with we believe by faith (not evidence) that there is a God. And we embrace the top two commandments. Love your God and love each other. But what happens to us if we actually embrace the top two commandments? Can we love each other if we wallow in the flesh? I don't think we can love all mankind if we embrace the cesspool of lusts and evil. We must somehow divert ourselves from this world so we can actually do the commandments of God. I think we must see each other as spirits and not the surface behavior that we project. If we achieve this in love are we not already in the Kingdom? Yes we may still be in the flesh and tempted by the world but can it actually pull us back? Is there a place that we can go in belief and in works that sets us up on the glide path to the kingdom?

I believe there are very specific reasons we are given various commandments. And so I also believe that the two greatest commandments have the greatest importance. If, in faith, we are sincerely seeking truth, we will also be sincerely trying to keep those two commandments. I believe they self-create the openings through which the Holy Spirit can then allow Truth and the knowledge of the Kingdom of God to freely enter those openings; as much as we are able at that very moment to bear. The closer we get to perfecting those commandments becomes proportionate with our increasingly seeking; thus the more and more Truth and knowledge we receive. They are all connected. I think all commandments are actually gifts; and these two greatest commandments hold the keys to opening our hearts and minds to the greatest amount of Truth and knowledge our physical body and mind can be prepared for.

Blessings,

jo

[_Drifting]

Is there a perfect way to interpret scripture? If we know for sure the true meaning of the Word just what does that do for us? I mean does a doorway open to heaven and we take the next bus? I don't think we are to have a perfect understanding. I think the conflict among believing Christians as to the message in scripture tells us something. It tells us that on this earth we don't have a guide book. I think we have a guide but no guide book. So by faith we believe and by the spirit we are guided. I think we accept those things which are a mystery and accept that many things will not be filled in in our life in the flesh. So just what are we to know and just what do we do to make the best of this situation? To start with we believe by faith (not evidence) that there is a God. And we embrace the top two commandments. Love your God and love each other. But what happens to us if we actually embrace the top two commandments? Can we love each other if we wallow in the flesh? I don't think we can love all mankind if we embrace the cesspool of lusts and evil. We must somehow divert ourselves from this world so we can actually do the commandments of God. I think we must see each other as spirits and not the surface behavior that we project. If we achieve this in love are we not already in the Kingdom? Yes we may still be in the flesh and tempted by the world but can it actually pull us back? Is there a place that we can go in belief and in works that sets us up on the glide path to the kingdom?

I believe there are very specific reasons we are given various commandments. And so I also believe that the two greatest commandments have the greatest importance. If, in faith, we are sincerely seeking truth, we will also be sincerely trying to keep those two commandments. I believe they self-create the openings through which the Holy Spirit can then allow Truth and the knowledge of the Kingdom of God to freely enter those openings; as much as we are able at that very moment to bear. The closer we get to perfecting those commandments becomes proportionate with our increasingly seeking; thus the more and more Truth and knowledge we receive. They are all connected. I think all commandments are actually gifts; and these two greatest commandments hold the keys to opening our hearts and minds to the greatest amount of Truth and knowledge our physical body and mind can be prepared for.

Blessings,

jo

Hmmm...who is closer to the Kingdom of God?
a. The illiterate, uneducated, non seeking unreligious sinner who helps out in the evenings at the homeless shelter.
b. The very literate, well educated, high seeking, religiously inclined person who does nothing to help others?

[_Franktalk]

Hmmm...who is closer to the Kingdom of God?
a. The illiterate, uneducated, non seeking unreligious sinner who helps out in the evenings at the homeless shelter.
b. The very literate, well educated, high seeking, religiously inclined person who does nothing to help others?

The answer is (a) by a mile. The person (a) is closer to having it right. But neither is walking with God. If you do the commandments of God without knowledge then you have written on your own heart those things God loves. But if you obtain knowledge of the commandments of God yet do not change your heart then you do not love God. That person may be in love with the idea of God.

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

[_gdemetz]

But Frank, the "itching ears" want to hear that they can be saved in their sins so that they don't have to change their lifestyles. They want to hear that they don't have to keep the commandments and endure to the end, as Chist stated! They want another way!

[_Albion]

No, gdemetz....only you persist in mischaracterizing the Christian life as such....."...they want to hear they can be saved in their sins so that they don't have to change their lifestyles." The person who professes Jesus and does not live a life in accord with that profession is readily open to the charge of not having a saving experience with Jesus in the first place.

[_Drifting]

Hmmm...who is closer to the Kingdom of God?
a. The illiterate, uneducated, non seeking unreligious sinner who helps out in the evenings at the homeless shelter.
b. The very literate, well educated, high seeking, religiously inclined person who does nothing to help others?

The answer is (a) by a mile. The person (a) is closer to having it right. But neither is walking with God. If you do the commandments of God without knowledge then you have written on your own heart those things God loves. But if you obtain knowledge of the commandments of God yet do not change your heart then you do not love God. That person may be in love with the idea of God.

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

I agree.
Now we have to explain why the Church spends a disproportionate amount of time and money on teaching/learning rather than doing good works unto the poor and the needy etc.

[_Franktalk]

But Frank, the "itching ears" want to hear that they can be saved in their sins so that they don't have to change their lifestyles. They want to hear that they don't have to keep the commandments and endure to the end, as Chist stated! They want another way!

As you know scripture only offers one path. I believe in almost universal salvation but all of that we be done inside of the rules as established by God. We are free to ignore the rules and stagnate here on earth. Others having seen that the rules are no burden make lots of progress.

[_Franktalk]

No, gdemetz....only you persist in mischaracterizing the Christian life as such....."...they want to hear they can be saved in their sins so that they don't have to change their lifestyles." The person who professes Jesus and does not live a life in accord with that profession is readily open to the charge of not having a saving experience with Jesus in the first place.

I have always viewed indulgences as a way for the early church to obtain money from the people who did not want to change their ways. In this the church directly interfered with God's plan of salvation. They offered a path that did not exist. What say you?

[_Franktalk]

I agree.
Now we have to explain why the Church spends a disproportionate amount of time and money on teaching/learning rather than doing good works unto the poor and the needy etc.

I think Christ gave us some idea why we do this.

Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Also what is more important, the feeding of the body or the feeding of the soul?

[_Drifting]

I agree.
Now we have to explain why the Church spends a disproportionate amount of time and money on teaching/learning rather than doing good works unto the poor and the needy etc.

I think Christ gave us some idea why we do this.

Mat 18:12 How think ye? if a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Also what is more important, the feeding of the body or the feeding of the soul?

Clearly feeding the starving man is more important than clothing the rich; teaching the active; or peddling words and religion.