Robert E. Lee and the problem of judging a life

Posted on September 30, 2009 by Geoff B.

Who am I describing?

1)He was one of the most efficient killers in history. His military tactics were ground-breaking in their horror and involved the deaths of literally tens of thousands. His actions caused millions of slaves to remain in chains for many additional years. He forced an army to keep on fighting until they were a starving, ragged, barefoot mob, and then they suffered a humiliating surrender.

2)He was a gentle, honorable, God-fearing man who prayed regularly. In all of his actions, he thought he was being guided by the Almighty. In terms of his personal behavior, he might have reminded us of our modern-day prophets. He is considered a genius, and his tactics are studied worldwide. He defended his country against a foreign invasion and fought with honor. He was such a natural leader that his men would cheer whenever he came into view. He was a loyal husband and father, and was revered until his death.

As you may have guessed from the title of this post, both descriptions apply to Robert E. Lee, the leading general of the South through most of the Civil War.

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Come unto Jesus

Posted on September 27, 2009 by Brian Duffin

As a missionary, I was taught that my purpose was to invite others to come unto Christ through the ordinances of baptism and confirmation. Some of the sweetest and most tender experiences in my mission came by way of these sacred ordinances.

Saturday night, I was privileged to attend the convert baptism of a young single adult in my ward. This young man’s story closely paralleled the conversion story of my wife, with his parents also being in opposition to his baptism as my wife’s parents were to hers.

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Guest post: consecration and free agency — an honest inquiry

Posted on September 25, 2009 by Geoff B.

This is a guest post by Doug Daley, who describes himself as a “happily married father of three beautiful daughters. I live in scenic Vermont where I serve in local and stake callings and work as an electrical engineer.”

By Doug Daley

In a recent discussion posted by Geoff B, it was noted that many smart people have very different views of politics. My limited time here on Millennial Star has also demonstrated to me that many Mormons have vastly different views on politics.

It seems that when it comes to social issues we can all agree that helping people is a good and Christ-like thing. Unfortunately, it tends to get very contentious when methods of carrying out this goal are discussed. I have spent some time thinking about what if any impact the gospel principles should have on my political thoughts. In the course of thinking through this issue I have come up with a question that I can not reconcile but that I suspect many contributors to M* can. As such, Im turning to one and all for help, so please educate me, but be polite.

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Friday Forum: Doctrine & Covenants 107:27 “Unanimous Decisions”

Posted on September 24, 2009 by JA Benson

Discuss Doctrine and Covenants 107:27

And every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the ^aunanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other—

Comments? Anyone?

Random Mormon Poll #12: Keeping the Sabbath day holy

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Brian Duffin

The Sabbath is the Lord’s day, set apart each week for rest and worship. In Old Testament times, God’s covenant people observed the Sabbath on the seventh day of the week because God rested on the seventh day when He had created the earth. The Lord emphasized the importance of Sabbath observance in the Ten Commandments:

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

“Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

“But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

“For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8–11).

After the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, which occurred on the first day of the week, the Lord’s disciples began observing the Sabbath on the first day of the week, Sunday (see Acts 20:7).

In the latter days, the Lord has commanded us to continue observing the Sabbath. He has promised that if we obey this commandment, we will receive “the fulness of the earth” (see D&C 59:16–20).

Because the Sabbath is a holy day, it should be reserved for worthy and holy activities. Abstaining from work and recreation is not enough. In fact, if we merely lounge about doing nothing on the Sabbath, we fail to keep the day holy. In a revelation given to Joseph Smith in 1831, the Lord commanded: “That thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; for verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High” (D&C 59:9–10). In harmony with this revelation, we attend sacrament meeting each week. Other Sabbath-day activities may include praying, meditating, studying the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets, writing letters to family members and friends, reading wholesome material, visiting the sick and distressed, and attending other Church meetings.

“Sabbath,” True to the Faith, (2004),145–47