Comments for LDS Blogs http://ldsblogs.com Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:48:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on Joseph of Arimathea by Gary Thomson http://beliefs.ldsblogs.com/716/joseph_of_arimathea/comment-page-1#comment-147551 Gary Thomson Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:48:34 +0000 #comment-147551 My father died nearly 30 years ago. He was an avid genealogist and was able to trace 6 lines back to Adam. Including a line through Joseph of Arimathaea, like yourself. Would you provide me with your like to him? Thank you My father died nearly 30 years ago. He was an avid genealogist and was able to trace 6 lines back to Adam. Including a line through Joseph of Arimathaea, like yourself. Would you provide me with your like to him? Thank you

]]> Comment on Did God Create Evil? by Karen R. Merkley http://beliefs.ldsblogs.com/10887/did-god-create-evil/comment-page-1#comment-147535 Karen R. Merkley Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:56:00 +0000 http://ldsblogs.com/?p=10887#comment-147535 Thank you for this thoughtful response, Alex. So true. I think when we remove the divine law of agency--as you said well-- and the beauty of God's constancy in respecting that law so we can grow, we would come to the conclusion that He is missing or AWOL when He could have been there. Instead, He is very much there, as He was on the shores of Galilee during the storms, in the moment for Saul on the Road to Damascus, and eternally for each of us in the garden and on the cross. If we miss the need for agency--however raw the use or abuse of it is--we can then draw wrong conclusions and think He has betrayed our trust in Him or that He has abandoned us. This is far from true and if we remember Gethsemane, we are reminded that the notion that God doesn't care or has turned away is not true. The Savior suffered for our every hurt personally, so that distorted view of God absent in suffering or disregarding it, can not hold water. He does work the agonies of life into glories over time (as mentioned by CS Lewis & in the Book of Revelation)--not that the misery and consequences of others' choices won't be felt and dealt with by him, but that our suffering for others' wrong choices as well as for own foibles, will work to ends that are ultimately positive, and only love's pure joys will remain eternally (as the hymn records.) Thank you for this thoughtful response, Alex. So true. I think when we remove the divine law of agency–as you said well– and the beauty of God’s constancy in respecting that law so we can grow, we would come to the conclusion that He is missing or AWOL when He could have been there. Instead, He is very much there, as He was on the shores of Galilee during the storms, in the moment for Saul on the Road to Damascus, and eternally for each of us in the garden and on the cross. If we miss the need for agency–however raw the use or abuse of it is–we can then draw wrong conclusions and think He has betrayed our trust in Him or that He has abandoned us. This is far from true and if we remember Gethsemane, we are reminded that the notion that God doesn’t care or has turned away is not true. The Savior suffered for our every hurt personally, so that distorted view of God absent in suffering or disregarding it, can not hold water. He does work the agonies of life into glories over time (as mentioned by CS Lewis & in the Book of Revelation)–not that the misery and consequences of others’ choices won’t be felt and dealt with by him, but that our suffering for others’ wrong choices as well as for own foibles, will work to ends that are ultimately positive, and only love’s pure joys will remain eternally (as the hymn records.)

]]> Comment on Did God Create Evil? by Alex http://beliefs.ldsblogs.com/10887/did-god-create-evil/comment-page-1#comment-147534 Alex Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:56:53 +0000 http://ldsblogs.com/?p=10887#comment-147534 I have a friend that has suffered a lot because of questions like this one. Particularly because we often hear that God uses others’ bad choices to teach us. I have often wondered, “Why would the Lord help me find my keys after I pray to Him, but things like the Holocaust happened?” After much prayer, this is what I found: In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in a God who wants us to use our individual agency. The logical problem with associating my keys and big disasters, like the Holocaust, is that we put the choice back on God. By connecting the two ideas as parallel, we are pinning God’s desire for us to use individual agency against our perception of how we think He should use His agency, or free will. The fact of the matter is that God will help each individual, no matter the circumstances, to make correct choices within our sphere of influence. If someone is in wonderful, awful, or unlivable circumstances, they still have a range of choices, and God will help them make the right choice, but only if they want to and ask Him to help them. God did not create evil, nor does he use it as a teaching tool. However, if we want to use our agency, or free will, to learn from an negative experience, He will guide us in our choice to move forward. For my friend, this view of God that I presented to him may have made sense—or maybe not. However, I know that God is interested in my personal development enough that he will not prevent me from making good choices—or sometimes, bad choices. I can learn if I want to. I can find God if I want to. He will not interfere with my life with a miraculous display of power, but rather touch me softly after I’ve sought for His love. I have a friend that has suffered a lot because of questions like this one. Particularly because we often hear that God uses others’ bad choices to teach us. I have often wondered, “Why would the Lord help me find my keys after I pray to Him, but things like the Holocaust happened?” After much prayer, this is what I found:
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in a God who wants us to use our individual agency. The logical problem with associating my keys and big disasters, like the Holocaust, is that we put the choice back on God. By connecting the two ideas as parallel, we are pinning God’s desire for us to use individual agency against our perception of how we think He should use His agency, or free will.
The fact of the matter is that God will help each individual, no matter the circumstances, to make correct choices within our sphere of influence. If someone is in wonderful, awful, or unlivable circumstances, they still have a range of choices, and God will help them make the right choice, but only if they want to and ask Him to help them. God did not create evil, nor does he use it as a teaching tool. However, if we want to use our agency, or free will, to learn from an negative experience, He will guide us in our choice to move forward.
For my friend, this view of God that I presented to him may have made sense—or maybe not. However, I know that God is interested in my personal development enough that he will not prevent me from making good choices—or sometimes, bad choices. I can learn if I want to. I can find God if I want to. He will not interfere with my life with a miraculous display of power, but rather touch me softly after I’ve sought for His love.

]]> Comment on The Young Women Value of Divine Nature by Rebecca http://teens.ldsblogs.com/1558/the_young_women_value_of_divine_nature/comment-page-1#comment-147531 Rebecca Tue, 08 Nov 2011 00:07:19 +0000 #comment-147531 this actually reminded me of my personal progress value project, where in the divine nature project; i had to read matt 5:9 ehich says; "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of god." This relates to being a good example of a peacemaker. this actually reminded me of my personal progress value project, where in the divine nature project; i had to read matt 5:9 ehich says; “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of god.” This relates to being a good example of a peacemaker.

]]> Comment on The Relief Society Literacy Effort by Terrie Lynn Bittner http://new-members.ldsblogs.com/548/the-relief-society-literacy-effort/comment-page-1#comment-147501 Terrie Lynn Bittner Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:50:01 +0000 #comment-147501 Steven, you might note that the first paragraph mentions screen readers. Many people who are unable to read use a screen reader to read internet content to them. In addition, some readers will have friends who can't read or who don't read well and will read the article to that friend, to show them where to find help learning to read. After all, you read it--perhaps you know someone who could benefit from the program. Steven, you might note that the first paragraph mentions screen readers. Many people who are unable to read use a screen reader to read internet content to them. In addition, some readers will have friends who can’t read or who don’t read well and will read the article to that friend, to show them where to find help learning to read. After all, you read it–perhaps you know someone who could benefit from the program.

]]> Comment on The Relief Society Literacy Effort by Steven Hopkins http://new-members.ldsblogs.com/548/the-relief-society-literacy-effort/comment-page-1#comment-147500 Steven Hopkins Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:39:49 +0000 #comment-147500 This article is written specifically to an illiterate audience. That doesn't make a whole lot of sense. This article is written specifically to an illiterate audience. That doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

]]> Comment on Overcoming Fear With Faith by De Anna Nordland http://truth.ldsblogs.com/10865/overcoming-fear-with-faith/comment-page-1#comment-147400 De Anna Nordland Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:29:33 +0000 http://ldsblogs.com/?p=10865#comment-147400 this is a great post. It was really helpful. I think that having faith is the key to our lives. this is a great post. It was really helpful. I think that having faith is the key to our lives.

]]> Comment on The Robellini Tree and Light by Lesli http://families.ldsblogs.com/438/the_robellini_tree_and_light/comment-page-1#comment-147385 Lesli Tue, 13 Sep 2011 17:21:47 +0000 #comment-147385 exciting ways to share your faith and beliefs online and discuss how technology extends the prophetic voice why ? for "piano briefs" ? :D exciting ways to share your faith and beliefs online and discuss how technology extends the prophetic voice
why ?
for “piano briefs” ? :D

]]> Comment on Faithfully Answering a Mission Call: The Example of Paul by Kelly http://missionary.ldsblogs.com/995/faithfully_answering_a_mission_call_the_/comment-page-1#comment-147383 Kelly Tue, 13 Sep 2011 06:34:26 +0000 #comment-147383 Hello Kind Blogger, Thank you for taking the time to write this post about Paul four yrs ago! Thank you for making your site rank high with google so that could find it tonight and for your patience in building this useful tool. I have been trying to understand more about Paul as a missionary as I was recently inspired to do so, so this was very helpful. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. You're a fabulous missionary. Kelly Anderson, Alpine, Utah Hello Kind Blogger,
Thank you for taking the time to write this post about Paul four yrs ago! Thank you for making your site rank high with google so that could find it tonight and for your patience in building this useful tool. I have been trying to understand more about Paul as a missionary as I was recently inspired to do so, so this was very helpful. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed. You’re a fabulous missionary.

Kelly Anderson, Alpine, Utah

]]> Comment on Mormon Church Statistics by Craig http://gospel.ldsblogs.com/9638/mormon-church-statistics/comment-page-1#comment-147094 Craig Mon, 25 Jul 2011 04:31:14 +0000 http://ldsblogs.com/?p=9638#comment-147094 The growth of Temples and the increased attendance is the greatest sign of the vitality of the church. The growth of Temples and the increased attendance is the greatest sign of the vitality of the church.

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