Mormon Direction

I have recently come across spiritual testimonies by other Christians who had dream-visions experiencing hell. A dream-vision, or dreaming the dream, is a spiritual vision while asleep. Such events occurred throughout the Bible and Book of Mormon (Matthew 2:12 ; 1 Nephi 2:2 as an example). These spiritual testimonies that I have read related true accounts, but some tried to explain these experiences, in vain, with the scriptures. Even the detractors of these accounts tried to use the Bible to discredit them, also in vain.

When in the spiritual experience of a vision or a spiritual presence, the person is in the spirit of it. They are able, to some extent, perceive spiritually. Once out of the spiritual experience and back into their mortal awareness, they are out of spirit and any spiritual powers of perception also leave them. Any impression left by the experience can promote understanding of that experience, over time, if they handle the experience rightly. Trying to interpret the entire spiritual vision by their own power will fail because it becomes a private interpretation from a mortal perspective, not a spiritual perspective, the latter requiring spiritual development and personal change of the mind and heart.

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Here are some of my thoughts, a commentary, on prophecies and 2012.

I was pondering a few days ago when the thought came about prophecies, which said that we receive prophecies in accordance to our faith in God. This applies to all people in the world no matter the beliefs. Prophecies generally speaking, when given, are not meant to encompass all people. Said another way, there is not any one prophecy and one outcome that applies to everyone, save the prophecy of the second coming of Jesus Christ. I will explain.

Would it be proper for God to apply a prophecy to his faithful on one hand and to the people in the world of no faith on the other? Is this not what God spoke of, how the left knows not of the right?

Prophecy must fulfil its purpose, but it must apply in a just manner. Justice is one of God’s foremost requirements, to be just and true at all times. This is why God told us that he will judge each person in accordance to their faith and works. A prophecy to the wicked will certainly not apply to the faithful because that would be unjust. For example a prophecy of death and destruction because of wickedness would not be a just and fair prophecy to wield against the faithful.

When rain is to fall on the righteous and unrighteous, as described by the Bible, is a statement that refers to the principle of trial and tribulation given in a just and fair manner. All people will suffer trials in their life, yet trials for one person or a group do not apply to others, so the type and manner of the trial will vary in accordance to the people it affects. And so the same with prophecies.

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A dishonest man cannot claim honesty.

I have experienced such people, both in and out of the position of authority outside of the Church, but not in this Church, especially not with any person in the position of Church authority.

It seems that those who are not of God, not working to be his faithful are the ones most prone to this dishonest man syndrome. I have experienced this problem a lot with Anti-Mormons and some Ex-Mormons, because once they break the faith, their hearts and minds become focused on wrong things and wrong beliefs.

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…and a spiritual mind is one made by faith, not just belief.

Our weakness is found in the things of the carnal mind, the temporal desires that, at times, seem to overwhelm our spiritual focus and faith. It is through this one weakness, the state of mind and heart created by the carnal mind that Satan gets some of his best work done. This is where temptations and carnal desires are felt and experienced. Is it any wonder that the word of God clearly states that the carnal mind is an “enmity” to him?

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There are countless blogs, stories and claims from numerous disbelievers and contenders to our faith. In their ranks are some ex-Mormons, who through their discontentment and impatience, joined their ranks. (As I write this I keep getting the thoughts of the “large spacious building” in Nephi’s vision, 1 Nephi 12:18, and how these people who attack Mormons now live within that structure. )What I would like to do is provide to those who seek understanding, information on a method to detect and understand the true spiritual nature of these complainers. This so you can know by their fruits, who they are.

Complaining is one trait that these contenders use. It is a common trait used by everyone when they are upset about something and wish some answers, action or even justice. This trait is common among people in the world who rally the governments to change policies. There are complaint oriented commissions, complaint departments, complaint forms, etc. The practice of complaint is considered by the world as a “normal” thing and, in general, something that good people use. Despite how some evil people also use this method, it is still considered an acceptable thing.

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Prayer does work and when done properly it works very well. The workings of prayer are rather simple, but despite this simplicity, so many fail to understand how prayer works and many find that prayer works only sometimes if at all. The scriptures tell us that we are to pray often and diligently. This is not an idle direction from God neither is it contingent on personal preference. A person who prays rightly and often will find that his/her state of mind and heart will abide in the first commandment. Their faith will receive support and direction.

All faith that is not focused into proper works is a dead faith, but rather than getting into the doctrinal support and reason for proper and frequent prayer, I wish to write here a personal aspect of proper prayer.

Prayer has worked well for me, despite experiences where it appeared at times that what help I had asked for seemed to never come.

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One day, while in Church, a bishop, stake president or one of the General Authorities of the Church says or does something that upsets you or that you take issue with it. Before you know it you are at odds with the Church and even resign your membership.

Taking issue is dangerous to the health of your faith.
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There has been quite a debate about LDS ceremonial garments, routinely called “Mormon undergarments”. The use and purpose of these garments have been attacked, degraded, condemned and maligned by those who are “anti-Mormon” and even anti-Semitic style criticism.  The affect has been, to some degree, a thorn in the side of many latter-day Saints who struggle enough with their faith. It is the purpose of these attacks to degrade, malign and cause confusion, inserting doubt and even resentment into the minds and hearts of devout Saints.

Being human and mortal is tough all by itself, but when the natural weaknesses of mortality are bent and used by the selfish evil doers, it makes life all that much harder. With such a trait and characteristic of these “anti’s” one wonders why they are not seen for the malicious and destructive nature they are, but unfortunately many good people are badly affected by the misguided.
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