MG wrote: I ask this from a perspective of looking at time as part of an eternal now
The Mormon "eternal now" idea is sheer nonsense. Feel free to show otherwise by defining it.
(while doped up: "It's like, forever, you can't even see the edges of it because its expanding away from us so fast; there aren't even edges because it's forever; but at the same time, it's right in front of us! It is us! we are it -- it's us, everywhere, Holy crap, how f'd up is that?!)
How much time=eternity is where the Sorites paradox comes into play. Doesn’t it?
No. But, I'll give you this, it might make sense in Mormonism.
Mormon leaders waged a war of common sense on Christian theology. They tried to make theology concrete and work out logically in material terms. They didn't do a very good job, but that's beside the point. The point is, as you know from the D&C, Joseph Smith tried to solve the conceptual problems of infinity by simply banishing it:
6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.
7 Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.
11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.
What Joseph is saying here, while pretending to be getting a revelation, is that "eternal" and "endless" are rhetorical, and there really isn't a such thing. There IS an end to the torment, he implies. Eternity, apparently, doesn't really go on forever.
Oh sure, it's a very long time. Long enough that your heap problem is relevant to the Mormon idea of eternity.