The link goes to my rendition of D&C 87, the Prophecy on War, what it means and how it applies to us today. Comments here are definitely welcomed.
http://joelsmonastery.blogspot.com/2013/04/d-87-prophecy-on-war.html
Other posts by Rameumptom
https://www.millennialstar.org/author/rameumptom
We are taught rather boldly in the scriptures that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10). We’re also taught that God’s plan is a “plan of happiness.” We here talk of the “happiness” prepared for those that serve God. It’s almost indisputable that we are promised happiness if we but follow God’s commandments. Many are feeling disappointed by these promises, because they feel they’ve done everything they are “supposed” to do, and feel deeply unhappy. Where’s the happiness that was promised them?
I read a blog post today written by a mother who found child raising to be a very unpleasant and at times miserable experience. She hated changing diapers, she hated entertaining her children all the time, and she resented being “pressured” into motherhood and away from other pursuits. The tone of the post expressed a feeling of betrayal—she was supposed to be happy as a mother and a gospel-living saint, but wasn’t. And worse, she had sacrificed her ambitions for it. She was feeling trapped by her parental obligations and stymied in her non-familial pursuits (pursuits she believes would have made her more happy). So clearly either she’s broken or the Gospel’s broken (or at least the way we teach it). At least, that was the implicit conclusion of the blog post.
I completely believe the promises made in the scriptures: the Gospel does bring us happiness. But I believe that we often define happiness entirely differently than God does. Continue reading
When many, both in and outside of the Church, think of Mormons, the last thing that comes to mind is a sense of humor. Jokes are more likely to be aimed at them. There might be stereotypes of happy couples with smiling children or cheerful young men and women, but this image won’t include laughter. To some extent piousness has infiltrated the subconscious of the Latter-day Saints a little too much. A good joke might be hard to find among serious calls to repentance.
As questionable as speculation, I wonder if the Prophet Joseph Smith would approve of the member’s seeming lack of joviality. He certainly didn’t like the lack of that quality when he was alive. Brigham Young learned from him that music, theater, and dancing were not of themselves sinful like he was taught growing up. Life is to be enjoyed within reasonable limits and not pined away in perpetual sorrow. Continue reading
I teach writing. In the past, when student write arguments on marriage, it’s usually the typical arguments for or against same sex marriage.
This year, I’ve had more than a handful of students write arguments that marriage, whether same sex or not, is discriminatory, because it gives exclusive benefits not available to non-married people. Marriage needs to go!
[Now, before you decide that this is a “see how the push for same-sex marriage is undermining marriage itself” post, please read on..] Continue reading
Professor Bart Ehrman is sharing parts of his upcoming book, How Jesus Became God, where he discusses various ancient Jewish and Christian beliefs. In one blog post, he writes:
Other Angels as God and Human Continue reading