authority, and a glimpse over the rim.
I don't normally write here on a variety of subjects in one post, but I have a feeling to do so tonight.
On Wednesday night, Sarah and I attended the Kansas City Missouri Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Temples are special houses of worship for the Latter Day Saints, not a place where you go to "church", we feel they are truly "The House of the Lord" (it is even written on each temple). For more on temples, you can check out this video, or let me know of whatever questions you have, and I would be glad to do my best to answer them.
https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/temples
Again, no young men in white shirts will call as a response to you checking it out, only if you want, or they are randomly in the area.
Wednesday night was special as it was the last night for the former temple presidency. Temples are presided over by Temple presidents and counselors, who are called by God through His prophet on the earth. We have good friends that were in the Presidency, and Wednesday was their last shift in that capacity. It was so good to see them. They have served for many years, and are being given the opportunity to serve elsewhere.
Thursday morning, I reported for my shift at the temple, as one of those that help the members who come. A new presidency in place, the authority was the same, just different people. This is a wonderful transition that I was thinking on as a remembered the fifth Article of Faith. So much, I know. The Thirteen Articles of Faith were given by the Prophet Joseph Smith in response to a question on the beliefs of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Let me quote it here:
We believe that a man most be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, except for a small number of general authorities, most of those who serve in the church are lay people, meaning they don't get paid. Our current Bishop in Paola is a manager in manufacturing, others are called, whether to lead congregations, or to teach 3 year old children, by the proper authority.
The following is feeling and opinion, mine, and mine alone. While there is some doctrine, it is mixed with opinion, and query. If you want to know the specific doctrine, you can ask, and I will delineate that.
I wanted to write on some thoughts that I have been having. To do that, we need to review one of my favorite hymns in the Latter Day Saint hymnal. #284.
This song has a haunting melody, and haunting lyrics. W.W. Phelps wrote a masterpiece that is rarely sung, as the lyrics invoke questions that are not easily answered.
1. If you could hie to Kolob in the twinkling of an eye
And then continue onward with that same speed to fly
Do you think that you could ever, through all eternity
Find out the generation where Gods began to be?
2. Or see the grand beginning, where space did not extend?
Or view the last creation, where Gods and matter end?
Methinks the Spirit whispers, "no man has found 'pure space'
Nor seen the outside curtains, where nothing has a place."
3. The works of God continue, and worlds and lives abound;
Improvement and progression have one eternal round
There is no end to matter; There is no end to space;
There is no end to spirit; There is no end to race;
I am not a scientist, nor pretend to be, but for some reason, I was trying to reconcile how some are so quick to dismiss the existence of God, and how he fits into science. Please forgive my ignorance, but as I was thinking of this song, I was asking myself "how did matter begin?" We know that matter does not go away when it is consumed, like burning a log in a fire, it just changes form as it is broken down. So where did it come from? This is a question that I have heard many ask regarding God: "How did God come to be?" or before God, what? I do not pretend to have scientific answers, but I am not sure that anyone can have those answers. Thus the haunting nature of the song. Does matter end? Scientifically, I am fairly sure that I am on solid ground by saying, no. With God, it is the same. God is eternal, without beginning, without end. And yet, the song.
At this point, I will remind that this is not a statement of doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I certainly would not pretend to be some sort of spokesman for said church.
My understanding of our progression is that we are spirit children of our Heavenly Father. We had lived in His presence, and had learned from Him. He presented a plan, for us to come to earth and to learn and grow. Our Father knew we would make mistakes in our learning, and He provided a Savior, his only begotten in the flesh, to live and die for us. To take upon himself the sins of the world, if we would but repent, and strive to live his law.
We also believe that we are promised "all that the Father hath" (D&C 84:38) if we do these things, and as children of God, it would seem reasonable that we have so much capacity beyond this mortality. But beyond that, what? and how? Most will say, that relying on faith is just weak sauce for "I don't have an answer, so I just have to believe". I would cry BS. I have faith in God, but I also have some knowledge of Him, not knowledge that can be proven with eyes and ears, but it is no longer faith alone that I have.
The remaining two verses of the song:
4. There is no end to virtue; there is no end to might;
There is no end to wisdom; there is no end to light
There is no end to union; there is no end to youth;
There is no end to priesthood; there is no end to truth.
5. There is no end to glory; there is no end to love;
there is no end to being; there is no death above;
There is no end to glory; there is no end to love;
There is no end to being; there is no death above.
There is so much we don't know. It is only by earnest seeking that we can find those answers that we need. God answers prayers. For each of us it is different, and He answers in His time, according to our faith.
Here is a beautiful instrumental of the tune for the song by the incomparable Lex de Azevedo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OdUBvB3Ots
On Wednesday night, Sarah and I attended the Kansas City Missouri Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Temples are special houses of worship for the Latter Day Saints, not a place where you go to "church", we feel they are truly "The House of the Lord" (it is even written on each temple). For more on temples, you can check out this video, or let me know of whatever questions you have, and I would be glad to do my best to answer them.
https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/temples
Again, no young men in white shirts will call as a response to you checking it out, only if you want, or they are randomly in the area.
Wednesday night was special as it was the last night for the former temple presidency. Temples are presided over by Temple presidents and counselors, who are called by God through His prophet on the earth. We have good friends that were in the Presidency, and Wednesday was their last shift in that capacity. It was so good to see them. They have served for many years, and are being given the opportunity to serve elsewhere.
Thursday morning, I reported for my shift at the temple, as one of those that help the members who come. A new presidency in place, the authority was the same, just different people. This is a wonderful transition that I was thinking on as a remembered the fifth Article of Faith. So much, I know. The Thirteen Articles of Faith were given by the Prophet Joseph Smith in response to a question on the beliefs of the restored Church of Jesus Christ. Let me quote it here:
We believe that a man most be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, except for a small number of general authorities, most of those who serve in the church are lay people, meaning they don't get paid. Our current Bishop in Paola is a manager in manufacturing, others are called, whether to lead congregations, or to teach 3 year old children, by the proper authority.
The following is feeling and opinion, mine, and mine alone. While there is some doctrine, it is mixed with opinion, and query. If you want to know the specific doctrine, you can ask, and I will delineate that.
I wanted to write on some thoughts that I have been having. To do that, we need to review one of my favorite hymns in the Latter Day Saint hymnal. #284.
This song has a haunting melody, and haunting lyrics. W.W. Phelps wrote a masterpiece that is rarely sung, as the lyrics invoke questions that are not easily answered.
1. If you could hie to Kolob in the twinkling of an eye
And then continue onward with that same speed to fly
Do you think that you could ever, through all eternity
Find out the generation where Gods began to be?
2. Or see the grand beginning, where space did not extend?
Or view the last creation, where Gods and matter end?
Methinks the Spirit whispers, "no man has found 'pure space'
Nor seen the outside curtains, where nothing has a place."
3. The works of God continue, and worlds and lives abound;
Improvement and progression have one eternal round
There is no end to matter; There is no end to space;
There is no end to spirit; There is no end to race;
I am not a scientist, nor pretend to be, but for some reason, I was trying to reconcile how some are so quick to dismiss the existence of God, and how he fits into science. Please forgive my ignorance, but as I was thinking of this song, I was asking myself "how did matter begin?" We know that matter does not go away when it is consumed, like burning a log in a fire, it just changes form as it is broken down. So where did it come from? This is a question that I have heard many ask regarding God: "How did God come to be?" or before God, what? I do not pretend to have scientific answers, but I am not sure that anyone can have those answers. Thus the haunting nature of the song. Does matter end? Scientifically, I am fairly sure that I am on solid ground by saying, no. With God, it is the same. God is eternal, without beginning, without end. And yet, the song.
At this point, I will remind that this is not a statement of doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and I certainly would not pretend to be some sort of spokesman for said church.
My understanding of our progression is that we are spirit children of our Heavenly Father. We had lived in His presence, and had learned from Him. He presented a plan, for us to come to earth and to learn and grow. Our Father knew we would make mistakes in our learning, and He provided a Savior, his only begotten in the flesh, to live and die for us. To take upon himself the sins of the world, if we would but repent, and strive to live his law.
We also believe that we are promised "all that the Father hath" (D&C 84:38) if we do these things, and as children of God, it would seem reasonable that we have so much capacity beyond this mortality. But beyond that, what? and how? Most will say, that relying on faith is just weak sauce for "I don't have an answer, so I just have to believe". I would cry BS. I have faith in God, but I also have some knowledge of Him, not knowledge that can be proven with eyes and ears, but it is no longer faith alone that I have.
The remaining two verses of the song:
4. There is no end to virtue; there is no end to might;
There is no end to wisdom; there is no end to light
There is no end to union; there is no end to youth;
There is no end to priesthood; there is no end to truth.
5. There is no end to glory; there is no end to love;
there is no end to being; there is no death above;
There is no end to glory; there is no end to love;
There is no end to being; there is no death above.
There is so much we don't know. It is only by earnest seeking that we can find those answers that we need. God answers prayers. For each of us it is different, and He answers in His time, according to our faith.
Here is a beautiful instrumental of the tune for the song by the incomparable Lex de Azevedo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OdUBvB3Ots
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