Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

This is the key. If we will humble ourselves, and come unto Christ, he will make weak things become strong unto us, and we can move on to the next challenge. It seems to me, that once we overcome a certain weakness, the temptations grow stronger and more difficult, as the Lord leads us along the path to growth and perfection.

Jesus Christ taught the Nephites:

3 Nephi 12:48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

The Book of Mormon speaks to this topic, where the prophet Alma taught that when a person dies, they go to the place prepared for them. He said:

Alma 34:35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

And so the wicked go, off to the Spirit Prison where Lucifer and his angels reign, to spend some time with them. How awful. They become subject to him, until they can be delivered if possible, only in and through the name of Christ. Every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ. Until then, they must suffer in the presence of the dark. What an awful place. Who knows what happens there. Missionaries have been sent there, beginning in the meridian of time (with Christ's visit to Paradise, see 1 Pe 3:18-20, and D&C 138).

If this place, the Spirit Prison, would not motivate one to repent, and come unto Christ, even if a little too late, I don't know what would. In this manner, Lucifer becomes an "agent" if you will, to motivate others escape from his awful grasp. All of us here on this earth followed Christ in the Pre-Existence, so we have got to expect that going to this place with Lucifer and his angels is terrible, and people will seek deliverance. We would want to avoid that, and we can if we stay clean through the merits of Jesus Christ.

About the quote you mention, in the olden days, that was the penalty for a variety of things, "death on the spot." you got this penalty for so many things, including adultery. It was the ecclesiastical law implemented in the society led by Moses, their prophet. Today, we live according to the laws of the Constitution, and "death on the spot" was not applicable in Brigham Young's time, but was mentioned by him probably to emphasize the seriousness of the spiritual ramifications pertaining to such a marriage then. It was akin to marrying outside of the Church in Moses time, which was forbidden, because of the omission of the Priesthood in the home. At the time of Brigham Young, the law/policy concerning the Priesthood was still in effect, and when the revelation RE the Priesthood was received in 1976 it was discontinued.

As to not believing it anymore, well, I believe it was appropriate then, but is not today, because God has manifested His will concerning it in 1976. There has been made a change.

The J of D is fairly accurate. We just need to understand them, and their relative context, and the people of the day and the times. Church doctrine is really anything that the Holy Ghost bears witness to, because a living prophet can speak church doctrine before it is in print. But typically, the Church doctrine is specified in the scriptures and official statements of the First Presidency.

Joseph Smith was a young boy, a young and relatively inexperienced boy prophet, who when compared to the older and wiser men of today in their eighties, made some choices to talk about his experience that brought on great persecution. Joseph was surprised at their reaction (the men in their eighties would not be surprised!), because he only was trying to tell them the truth of his experience, but the ministers of the day held his experience in contempt. They persecuted him, and incited the people against him. It never ended until his murder at Carthage.

The prophets of today are under no command to share the details of their experiences with Deity. Surely if they did, persecutions would be heaped upon them. I can tell you, that my faith says they have not only seen Jesus Christ, but they regularly receive instruction from Him. This IS the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. They haven't said that they have seen Him to anyone, I just know it by faith. They do regularly testify that they know He lives, all the time.

There are numerous miracles in the Church today. The energy of Gordon B. Hinckley at 88 is a miracle. He seems late fifties to early sixties to me. A miracle.

The miracle of the Book of Mormon! Of a Church restored! The truths that we have because of these things, are they not spiritual miracles? The physical signs exist as well, as countless thousands have been miraculously preserved by the power of the Priesthood through blessings. I have had many miracles in my own personal life as well. Angels do visit the common people of the Church. Such an one is just under strict command not to noise it abroad. It is sacred. It is personal. To share these things with the masses is to cast pearls before swine, as Christ put it.

The barges mentioned in the Book of Mormon record had holes/doors for the purpose of getting fresh air. The light inside the barges was provided by a miraculous rock lighted by the finger of the Lord. The discussion about windows and glass, etc., and how they had not been invented yet... well, I can't help but think, how can that be known for sure?! Lack of evidence is no proof of non- existence. Just means that they haven't found the evidence yet!

I remember that idea, and doing it myself at one time! It was a good idea, and I recall thinking then that it didn't matter too much what the sequence was...there is so much great scripture in the Book of Mormon, it is hard to go wrong. Just point to just about any verse, and I think it will work fine!

As to being deceived, we have been taught in the Book of Mormon the way to know good from evil. The ancient American / Nephite Prophet Moroni taught:

Moroni 7:13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.

23 But ye shall pray for them, and shall not cast them out; and if it so be that they come unto you oft ye shall pray for them unto the Father, in my name.

When we meet together for Church, we are instructed to fellowship with all, and cast no one out. That is the kind of thing that the Zoramites in Ammonihah did to the poor class of people in their wicked church: they cast them out because of their poverty. The wicked people in that city were eventually destroyed in one day by an army of the Lamanites as the Lord finally withdrew his preserving hand from them.

They most certainly could leave the garden of their own free will, but who would want to do that given the beautiful conditions? As to having children, again, they knew not good or evil and were as little children, and did not even know that they were naked (according to the biblical record).

To not know that one is naked, and to not even be ashamed, well, the only comparison I have with this state of mind is the three or four year old and younger child, who have no shame or concept of what it means to be naked. They don't care or think about it.

If Adam and Eve were in that condition, procreation was not, could not, possibly be upon their minds at the time. They had to partake of the fruit. Afterwhich they immediately became aware of their naked condition and hid themselves. Then procreation was instigated.

The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi taught that if they had not partaken of the fruit:

Joseph Smith History 1:33 He [Moroni] called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people.

Ether 8:24 Wherefore, the Lord commandeth you, when ye shall see these things come among you that ye shall awake to a sense of your awful situation, because of this secret combination which shall be among you; or wo be unto it, because of the blood of them who have been slain; for they cry from the dust for vengeance upon it, and also upon those who built it up.
25 For it cometh to pass that whoso buildeth it up seeketh to overthrow the freedom of all lands, nations, and countries; and it bringeth to pass the destruction of all people, for it is built up by the devil, who is the father of all lies; even that same liar who beguiled our first parents, yea, even that same liar who hath caused man to commit murder from the beginning; who hath hardened the hearts of men that they have murdered the prophets, and stoned them, and cast them out from the beginning.
26 Wherefore, I, Moroni, am commanded to write these things that evil may be done away, and that the time may come that Satan may have no power upon the hearts of the children of men, but that they may be persuaded to do good continually, that they may come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved.

We stand a chance only if we do our duty. If we get involved. We need to be the government, for ours is a Constitutional government, a Republic, not a Democracy! We the people are the government, and we have elected representatives locally and in Washington. If we do our duty, and hold fast certain congressional feet to the fire, to keep their promises and do their sworn duty to uphold the Constitution, then freedom can be preserved. If we can preserve our liberty, then we will have no problems. But if we lose our liberty to the secret combination or conspiracy that currently seeks the overthrow of all people and nations, not just the United States, but all nations, then we lose on our religion as well... which is the whole reason that this Country was formed by the Lord. Let us do our duty.

Might I make a suggestion? There is only ONE organization that I know of, which is identifying this and doing something organized and significant about it. It is the John Birch Society, and I encourage all people to look into joining with it. You might want to check out Title of Liberty.com if you have not already done so, and see what so many good prophets have said about our liberties, and how to preserve them. We most definitely need to fight socialism, which is communism under another name, because it will lead to a loss of our liberties.

When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses.

Note the 16, 17, 18, 21, 23 verses:

"16. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;
"17. Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
"18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.* *
"21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
"23. ...If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God;

(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Three 1838-39, p.150)

The Book of Mormon teaches that many of the prophets had this privilege.

Ether 12:38 And now I, Moroni, bid farewell unto the Gentiles, yea, and also unto my brethren whom I love, until we shall meet before the judgment-seat of Christ, where all men shall know that my garments are not spotted with your blood.
39 And then shall ye know that I have seen Jesus, and that he hath talked with me face to face, and that he told me in plain humility, even as a man telleth another in mine own language, concerning these things;

We can expect no different today. There will be people who are fixed at persecutions, lies, and deceit, and there is nothing we can do to change that. We must endure.

Did Joseph Smith marry women who were already married.... ahhh, that is the latest big question. Ask yourself "does this make sense?" With so much propoganda out there smearing the good name of Joseph Smith, I am glad that there is the Book of Mormon, a testimony of the truthfulness of the work for which he was the leader, under Jesus Christ. Bring your testimony back to the basics, and you will know what to do with these other stories. Whatever we choose to nurture our minds with, will determine our future. Ask yourself, do you want to turn into a antagonistic militant bent on persecuting happy families? If so, keep reading their material until you are a convert to it. If you don't like what you see, if what they stand for is negative, then why sign up for it?

Know this, there are falsehoods in the world as well as truth. Knowing that, your biggest challenge is securing for yourself, the ability to know truth from error, and to have the gift of discernment. Korihor, in the Book of Mormon, paid no attention to these things, and was more easily deceived by the devil, as he began to teach that there was no Christ. He had the "facts" on the matter.

He was persuasive.

He was wrong.

He said concerning the Nephites belief in Christ:

Alma 30:15 How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ.
16 Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so.
17 And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to the management of the creature; therefore every man prospered according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.
18 And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms-- telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof.
Alma 30:27 And thus ye lead away this people after the foolish traditions of your fathers, and according to your own desires; and ye keep them down, even as it were in bondage, that ye may glut yourselves with the labors of their hands, that they durst not look up with boldness, and that they durst not enjoy their rights and privileges.
28 Yea, they durst not make use of that which is their own lest they should offend their priests, who do yoke them according to their desires, and have brought them to believe, by their traditions and their dreams and their whims and their visions and their pretended mysteries, that they should, if they did not do according to their words, offend some unknown being, who they say is God--a being who never has been seen or known, who never was nor ever will be.

Boy, was he dead wrong, yet he had his "facts" which could not easily be disproven. That is why he had some success.

If you were a person who did not believe in God, how would I prove to you that God exists? I would persuade in the energy of my soul. I would not bother to "rationalize" about it, but would boldly state my position on the matter. I now boldly state my position on the matter of Joseph Smith. He was a prophet of God, and did no wrong. I do not believe he married other living men's wives. That makes no sense to me in light of the many glorious manifestations that the Lord has given to me pertaining to how the Lord approves of Joseph Smith. His Spirit, the Holy Ghost has plainly manifested to me that Joseph Smith died a most true prophet.

Matthew 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

D&C 49:6 And they have done unto the Son of Man even as they listed; and he has taken his power on the right hand of his glory, and now reigneth in the heavens, and will reign till he descends on the earth to put all enemies under his feet, which time is nigh at hand--
7 I, the Lord God, have spoken it; but the hour and the day no man knoweth, neither the angels in heaven, nor shall they know until he comes.

If you remain faithful, you will most definitely have your chance to have a family! During the Millennium there will be opportunities galore, much more than today, even though today too is a season of a 1000 opportunities as our prophet Gordon B. Hinckley has told us. I believe him. We have so much opportunity. Even in adversity we can raise a family. In fact, that is the sort of thing that can bring a family very close together if they are faithful. It is nothing to be feared. If we go forward with faith, we will be blessed and we will stay close to the Lord. We will get all our hearts desire, in the Lord.

1 Nephi 7:6 And it came to pass that as we journeyed in the wilderness, behold Laman and Lemuel, and two of the daughters of Ishmael, and the two sons of Ishmael and their families, did rebel against us; yea, against me, Nephi, and Sam, and their father, Ishmael, and his wife, and his three other daughters.

We rely on God, and understand that God speaks through a prophet as He has always done (see Amos 3:7). We respect this practice of the Lord. It in no way means that we blindly follow, but we follow the counsel that comes from the prophet, in faith. In other words, as what he says is in harmony with the revealed will of the Lord, it is easy to accept what he says. If he reveals a new doctrine, then we also rely on the Spirit to manifest to us that it is indeed God's will. To blindly follow is something that we do not do. We are instructed in all things to know for ourselves. Would to God that all of us could be prophets.

Jesus is one with the Father. How could he be a "lesser" being and have such a status? Jesus taught the Nephites:

3 Nephi 11:36 And thus will the Father bear record of me, and the Holy Ghost will bear record unto him of the Father and me; for the Father, and I, and the Holy Ghost are one.

The Atonement is effective for all mankind who repent and believe in Jesus Christ, both past, present and future. But we do not understand that our future sins are erased, only on conditions of complete and full repentance _after_ the sin.

I would recommend that you also visit www.lds.org and read the Joseph Smith History pages. There is much information there that answers many of these questions. We consider all scripture as accurate in things that matter most, namely, they contain the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and are sufficient to teach the manner of person that we must be.

3 Nephi 12:48 Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

10 of these sons tribes were scattered and "lost":

1 Nephi 22:4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away.
5 And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men.

D&C 42:33 And again, if there shall be properties in the hands of the church, or any individuals of it, more than is necessary for their support after this first consecration, which is a residue to be consecrated unto the bishop, it shall be kept to administer to those who have not, from time to time, that every man who has need may be amply supplied and receive according to his wants.
34 Therefore, the residue shall be kept in my storehouse, to administer to the poor and the needy, as shall be appointed by the high council of the church, and the bishop and his council;
35 And for the purpose of purchasing lands for the public benefit of the church, and building houses of worship, and building up of the New Jerusalem which is hereafter to be revealed--

Leviticus 16:15 Then shall [Aaron] kill the goat of the sin offering, that [is] for the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat:
16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy [place], because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.

Anciently and before the great and last sacrifice of Jesus Christ, animal sacrifice according to the Law of Moses was done to symbolize the sacrifice that Jesus Christ would make for the entire world. It was the law of that day, and today we have a different law, to offer up our sacraments regularly according to the new law of the gospel. But the law of Moses pointed to Christ, reminding those covenant children of the House of Israel that Jesus Christ would suffer for sins and be sacrificed. Because of the blood of Jesus Christ being shed, He having suffered for our sins, we can have hope to return to the Father if we repent and follow Jesus Christ in all humility and with full purpose of heart. Nephi taught:

1 Nephi 22:3 Wherefore, the things of which I have read are things pertaining to things both temporal and spiritual; for it appears that the house of Israel, sooner or later, will be scattered upon all the face of the earth, and also among all nations.
4 And behold, there are many who are already lost from the knowledge of those who are at Jerusalem. Yea, the more part of all the tribes have been led away; and they are scattered to and fro upon the isles of the sea; and whither they are none of us knoweth, save that we know that they have been led away.
5 And since they have been led away, these things have been prophesied concerning them, and also concerning all those who shall hereafter be scattered and be confounded, because of the Holy One of Israel; for against him will they harden their hearts; wherefore, they shall be scattered among all nations and shall be hated of all men.

2 Nephi 29:13 And it shall come to pass that the Jews shall have the words of the Nephites, and the Nephites shall have the words of the Jews; and the Nephites and the Jews shall have the words of the lost tribes of Israel; and the lost tribes of Israel shall have the words of the Nephites and the Jews.
14 And it shall come to pass that my people, which are of the house of Israel, shall be gathered home unto the lands of their possessions; and my word also shall be gathered in one. And I will show unto them that fight against my word and against my people, who are of the house of Israel, that I am God, and that I covenanted with Abraham that I would remember his seed forever.

3 Nephi 17:4 But now I go unto the Father, and also to show myself unto the lost tribes of Israel, for they are not lost unto the Father, for he knoweth whither he hath taken them.
5 And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus spoken, he cast his eyes round about again on the multitude, and beheld they were in tears, and did look steadfastly upon him as if they would ask him to tarry a little longer with them.

3 Nephi 21:24 And then shall they [the GENTILES] assist my people that they may be gathered in, who are scattered upon all the face of the land, in unto the New Jerusalem.
25 And then shall the power of heaven come down among them; and I also will be in the midst.
26 And then shall the work of the Father commence at that day, even when this gospel shall be preached among the remnant of this people. Verily I say unto you, at that day shall the work of the Father commence among all the dispersed of my people, yea, even the tribes which have been lost, which the Father hath led away out of Jerusalem.

So we can see that some of this is done after the Millennium has begun, for it involves the building of the New Jerusalem. The gathering of Israel continues after Jesus Christ comes again to rule and reign on this earth. Indeed, the Jews will not recognize the divinity of Jesus Christ until AFTER He comes again in His glory, when he puts an end to the Abomination of Desolations in Jerusalem, which is yet to come again, and the Jews say to Him:

I am not a Lamanite, but I would be very excited and feel very privileged to be a Lamanite in these days. The promises to the Lamanites are HUGE and great, and it is an exciting thing to be a part of so many scriptures unfolding at this time concerning them. The Book of Mormon gives many scriptures that speak to the things that will involve the Lamanites in these, the last days, and those leading up to the return of Jesus Christ. We know from this record, that in the days just before Jesus Christ manifested Himself to the Lamanites and Nephites, that the Lamanites were for the most part, more righteous than the Nephites at that time. (see Helaman 6:1)

Samuel the Lamanite that went to preach to the Nephites, was a Lamanite. So we see, that skin color matters nothing to the Lord.

But the promises to the Lamanites of today...they are great! Here are some of those promises:

D&C 49:24 But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose.

Alma 9:16 For there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites;
17 And at some period of time they will be brought to believe in his word, and to know of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers; and many of them will be saved, for the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name.

Helaman 15:12 Yea, I say unto you, that in the latter times the promises of the Lord have been extended to our brethren, the Lamanites; and notwithstanding the many afflictions which they shall have, and notwithstanding they shall be driven to and fro upon the face of the earth, and be hunted, and shall be smitten and scattered abroad, having no place for refuge, the Lord shall be merciful unto them.
13 And this is according to the prophecy, that they shall again be brought to the true knowledge, which is the knowledge of their Redeemer, and their great and true shepherd, and be numbered among his sheep.

The resurrected Jesus Christ spoke to those who remained after the destruction in America shortly after His death, and these consisted of Lamanites and Nephites, and they were a remnant of the House of Jacob (or Israel), and as we know, only the Lamanites eventually survived, so He was speaking about them here:

3 Nephi 20:14 And the Father hath commanded me that I should give unto you this land, for your inheritance.
15 And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people--
16 Then shall ye [the Lamanites], who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
17 Thy hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
18 And I will gather my people together as a man gathereth his sheaves into the floor.
19 For I will make my people with whom the Father hath covenanted, yea, I will make thy horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass. And thou shalt beat in pieces many people; and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth. And behold, I am he who doeth it.
20 And it shall come to pass, saith the Father, that the sword of my justice shall hang over them at that day; and except they repent it shall fall upon them, saith the Father, yea, even upon all the nations of the Gentiles.
21 And it shall come to pass that I will establish my people, O house of Israel.
22 And behold, this people will I establish in this land, unto the fulfilling of the covenant which I made with your father Jacob; and it shall be a New Jerusalem. And the powers of heaven shall be in the midst of this people; yea, even I will be in the midst of you.

3 Nephi 28:1 AND it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?
2 And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.
3 And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest.
4 And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto the three, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?
5 And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not speak unto him the thing which they desired.
6 And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.
7 Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.
8 And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.
9 And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall dwell in the flesh, neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world; and all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand.

And so they are here, as angels of heaven, and they can show themselves as they will...

It seems to me that there are many theories of man that get tried in the line of duty. For how many "programs" have we tried from time to time pertaining to the kingdom of God on earth, and our theories been tested in action. When we are inspired with good ideas, they are not yet proven, and fall into the category of a theory. Even though we may be absolutely sure it will work, it is still a theory until proven.

For example, Ammon had a theory that if he went to the Lamanites, subjected himself to the king, that he might find favor with the king, somehow. He most certainly did find favor with the king, for after the miracle of the Lord in preserving Ammon's life in defending the king's flocks, King Lamoni thought he was the Great Spirit. Talk about a theory working perfectly. We can learn from this theory proven by Ammon, that missionary work can be extremely effective if we find and are instrumental in the conversion of a very influencial person. Nearly the whole kingdom of the Lamanites was eventually converted over this theory.

(It should be known that they reckoned their time from the birth of Christ, the time when the sky stayed bright as noon all night when Christ was born, as a sign to them... therefore, the time of reckoning was from April 6 when Christ was born AND resurrected. April 6 is the key day. See 3 Nephi 2:8 and D&C 20:1)

Nearly a year later, the resurrected Christ visited them (see 3 Nephi 10:18)

3 Nephi 8:3 And the people began to look with great earnestness for the sign which had been given by the prophet Samuel, the Lamanite, yea, for the time that there should be darkness for the space of three days over the face of the land.
4 And there began to be great doubtings and disputations among the people, notwithstanding so many signs had been given.
5 And it came to pass in the thirty and fourth year, in the first month, on the fourth day of the month, there arose a great storm, such an one as never had been known in all the land.
6 And there was also a great and terrible tempest; and there was terrible thunder, insomuch that it did shake the whole earth as if it was about to divide asunder.
7 And there were exceedingly sharp lightnings, such as never had been known in all the land.
8 And the city of Zarahemla did take fire.
9 And the city of Moroni did sink into the depths of the sea, and the inhabitants thereof were drowned.
10 And the earth was carried up upon the city of Moronihah, that in the place of the city there became a great mountain.
11 And there was a great and terrible destruction in the land southward.
12 But behold, there was a more great and terrible destruction in the land northward; for behold, the whole face of the land was changed, because of the tempest and the whirlwinds, and the thunderings and the lightnings, and the exceedingly great quaking of the whole earth;
13 And the highways were broken up, and the level roads were spoiled, and many smooth places became rough.
14 And many great and notable cities were sunk, and many were burned, and many were shaken till the buildings thereof had fallen to the earth, and the inhabitants thereof were slain, and the places were left desolate.
15 And there were some cities which remained; but the damage thereof was exceedingly great, and there were many in them who were slain.
16 And there were some who were carried away in the whirlwind; and whither they went no man knoweth, save they know that they were carried away.
17 And thus the face of the whole earth became deformed, because of the tempests, and the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the quaking of the earth.
18 And behold, the rocks were rent in twain; they were broken up upon the face of the whole earth, insomuch that they were found in broken fragments, and in seams and in cracks, upon all the face of the land.
19 And it came to pass that when the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the storm, and the tempest, and the quakings of the earth did cease--for behold, they did last for about the space of three hours; and it was said by some that the time was greater; nevertheless, all these great and terrible things were done in about the space of three hours--and then behold, there was darkness upon the face of the land.
20 And it came to pass that there was thick darkness upon all the face of the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof who had not fallen could feel the vapor of darkness;
21 And there could be no light, because of the darkness, neither candles, neither torches; neither could there be fire kindled with their fine and exceedingly dry wood, so that there could not be any light at all;
22 And there was not any light seen, neither fire, nor glimmer, neither the sun, nor the moon, nor the stars, for so great were the mists of darkness which were upon the face of the land.
23 And it came to pass that it did last for the space of three days that there was no light seen; and there was great mourning and howling and weeping among all the people continually; yea, great were the groanings of the people, because of the darkness and the great destruction which had come upon them.
24 And in one place they were heard to cry, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and then would our brethren have been spared, and they would not have been burned in that great city Zarahemla.
25 And in another place they were heard to cry and mourn, saying: O that we had repented before this great and terrible day, and had not killed and stoned the prophets, and cast them out; then would our mothers and our fair daughters, and our children have been spared, and not have been buried up in that great city Moronihah. And thus were the howlings of the people great and terrible.

It is the same Melchizedek Priesthood that has always been, even among the righteous Nephites and Lamanites.

D&C 107:3 Before [Melchizedek's] day it was called the Holy Priesthood, after the Order of the Son of God.

I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentance gives!
He lives, He lives who once was dead,
He lives, my ever-living head.
He lives, to wipe away my tears,
He lives, to silence all my fears.
Oh sweet, the joy this sentance gives
I know, that my Redeemer lives!

So will it be for anyone else who does not repent, they must suffer even as Christ suffered. (see D&C 19)

Yet we know from the scriptures that Jesus did not go to heaven, but to the Spirit World (see 1 Peter 3:18-20, 4:6). It was after the three days his body lay in the tomb that He was then resurrected and glorified before His Father's throne. So what did Christ mean when he said "today" in paradise? Well, there are two divisions in the Spirit World, a Prison and a Paradise.

2 Nephi 9:13 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.

D&C 68:25 And again, inasmuch as parents have children in Zion, or in any of her stakes which are organized, that teach them not to understand the doctrine of repentance, faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of the hands, when eight years old, the sin be upon the heads of the parents.

Jeremiah 24:1 THE LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs [were] set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

In 600 B.C. Lehi and others left Jerusalem to begin their journey to the Americas; shortly thereafter, Nebuchadnezzar overran Jerusalem, destroyed the Kingdom of Judah, and carried the remaining remnants of Israel into Babylonian bondage. Seventy years later, under Cyrus the Persian, they were permitted to return to their native habitats and to rebuild the Temple at Jerusalem, where they continued to be known as the people of Israel although in reality they were somewhat less than two of the tribes of that once mighty nation. (Articles of Faith, pp. 314-316.)

Nebuchadnezzar in successive invasions, in 597, 586, and 581 B.C., overran the kingdom of Judah, destroyed Jerusalem, and took the Jews captive and transported them to Babylon, there to live in bondage. How filled with tears and sorrow are these sad words of the ancient covenant people, serving as slaves to Gentile overlords in Babylon, the center of worldliness: By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our has upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?" (Ps. 137:1-4.)

Physical evidences may open your friends mind to other possibilities, but only until one comes unto Christ on His terms is there any value in it. Christ said:

Matthew 18:3 Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

3 Nephi 11:37 And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.

Have you considered that a similar account of killing, even a much more serious account, is given the in the Old Testament? After the 10 commandments were given through Moses...

1 Samuel 15:1 SAMUEL also said unto Saul, ...hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the LORD.
3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

2 Nephi 31:5 And now, if the Lamb of God, he being holy, should have need to be baptized by water, to fulfil all righteousness, O then, how much more need have we, being unholy, to be baptized, yea, even by water!
6 And now, I would ask of you, my beloved brethren, wherein the Lamb of God did fulfil all righteousness in being baptized by water?
7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.

When Jesus was with his Apostles, they had him for their guide. He was a member of the Godhead, and it was a very special thing for him to be in their midst. After he was resurrected, they bestowed the gift of the Holy Ghost upon each other as is recorded in the Book of Acts, and the Holy Ghost became their guide. Even so, the second comforter (Jesus Christ) was promised to those who believe and hunger and thirst after righteousness:

The Second Comforter
Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Section Three 1838-39, p.150
The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted.

When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses.

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