Interesting thought. I’m going to take some time and study the verses you outlined. Thanks for your comment.

I like your thoughts on the unique world on which we live. I have considered the same subject from time to time. I’ve never read the quotation from Brigham Young until now. Thanks for including the footnote. If you haven’t considered it already, you may want to take a look at the Lord’s likening of the vast worlds of his creations or kingdoms to fields in D&C 88:45-62. Shortly thereafter he refers to this world as his last kingdom (88:70,74). If you accept the idea that this earth is his last kingdom, and then reread the order in which he visits his kingdoms or fields, it may yield some interesting insight.

Mark IV-thanks for coming by.

He seeks to heal us where we have been hurt. Some are able to achieve that in this life. For others, it will be the next before they are able to understand and forgive. The forgiveness I’m referring to is forgiving oneself. Cheers.

I sincerely doubt that the Lord will question us about our leanings toward liberal or new order. What He will look at is our heart. Is it purified? Have we honored His sacrifice by accepting the cleansing power of the Holy Ghost. That rite, performed by Jesus Christ, himself, (3 Nephi 12:1) represents the highest prize for the humble seeker of happiness.

Excellent comment. I’ve been thinking about this topic for some time. Individuals, families, and the church need to sincerely welcome those who have taken detours and are now returning. I went on a detour and know first hand what you are saying.

Thanks for commenting.

When I left the church, I felt an exultant freedom. Paul says that when we were servents of sin we were free from righteousness. Didn’t have to worry about tithing, chastity, or any of the rest. But what was is the end of that? The wages of sin are death. This is the sad thing that everyone will ultimately learn.

When I left the church, I had a strong testimony, but events in my life, including sins that I had comitted but also things that had happened outside my control, had brought me to a dead end. Difficulties in my life and ironies, contradictions: a very very beyond difficult marriage, and things which, in spite of my genuine efforts I could not seem to bring to a resolution through my best attepmts at righteous living, created enormous tensions for me. When I left the church those were all temporarily lifted. Throughout those final years in the church, I sought and found the Spirit, but I never was able to engage spiritually in those deeper regions where I was hurting the most. I didn’t know how to be healed. We think that the Prodigal Son naturally would have been better off if he had stayed home. But remember that while out engaged in riotous living he ultimately found his broken heart and contrite spirit. The Lord does work in mysterious ways. We should be so careful that we do not hedge up another’s way with the things we say and the attitudes we take towards their freedom. Rather, our arms should be open all day, willing to forgive even before the first signs of contrition, willing to take in despite another’s flaws, violent emotions, wrong thinking, whatever. It is interesting that Christ reminds us that the Father causes the sun to rise and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust, and shortly thereafter tells us to be perfect as He is perfect. We should most of the time be working on our own manifold sins.

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I agree with your thoughts on categorizing and pigeon holing people. I think brother and sister are the best way to refer to others.

I’m persuaded that those who like to refer to themselves with terms to set themselves apart from the rest are in need of spiritual experiences that come via the Holy Ghost. Spiritual experiences unite us in faith, whereas conservative, liberal, and intellectual labels seem to reduce faith and increase our tendencies towards the natural man.

Love your site. Great pics of the family.