This response begs the question: Just how spiritual are you? I have found most of scripture has a spiritual context. In fact layered. A layer that applies to the actual situation and the people in historical context. Then a layer which applies to us as an individual at any point in history. Then a spiritual layer which can be many things. There may be an illusion to powers behind the events. There may be application to the Kingdom of God. There may be application between God and man in general. There may be a type of the physical characters representing future events with different people. Then there may be a layer of understanding that applies to groups or nations. And of course there is always the possibility that the events are a pattern that will repeat over and over throughout all history. Then there is the possibility that the events or statements apply as prophecy.

So with your bracketed response I have to ask you just how spiritual are you?

I ask this because:

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

For me the Bible is many tens of thousands of pages long in meaning and messages. I do hope it is the same for you.

I believe that each book of the Bible is unique and from God for some specific purpose. I do not feel that anyone copied MARK but wrote as led directly by the Holy Spirit. Each contain eyewitnessed accounts. God wants us to study. He does not lay everything out on a silver platter --- cut and dry. The Bible is a living book. Non-believers try to come up with logical rationalizations for what they cannot understand.

Very well stated. The only thing that I would add is that there are many messages woven in scripture.

Albion,

I have come to find that there are not only patterns and types in the Bible; there are also layers and layers of understanding to be had in its teachings. At first blush, your interpretation is the one most will see. In reality, though, even very committed spouses, who are actively engaged in their belief system, are not immune to trials. It is the trials which we learn from. There are still divorces because the trials can become too much for even the very devoted to both God and to each other. Ideally, trials will bring about more love and devotion for God and for each other. Even though (using your words) "a full and happy married state falls under God's gracious gift", not all of the members of the body of Christ are able to realize this gift. Sadly, of course, the same can be said of God's most wonderful gift of all to mankind.

I believe the Bible contains messages which interconnect with each other like the pieces of a puzzle. As such, I think it is reasonable to try to find the spiritual message in all passages. I think there is a reason that the versions of the Greek words used in Peter's message do have both a temporal and spiritual meaning. However, I only point to them to help support my comments in my posts. It has been my experience that the more Truth the Holy Ghost reveals to me, the easier it becomes to discern the myriad of spiritual layers contained in scripture.

Blessings,

jo

That's true Jo. However, some of the things we have tried to teach them are not that complicated, and such that a person should be able to comprehend, with the exception of the very brainwashed and spiritually blind. This is sound doctrine:

1- We will all eventually have resurrected bodies, both male and female.

2- The testify that "neither is the man without the woman or the woman without the man in the Lord."

3- The scriptures also state that some were given the PRIESTHOOD authority of the sealing power to bind WHATSOEVER they bound on earth in heaven.

4- The scriptures also state specifically that the husbands and wives become "HEIRS TOGETHER of the grace of life."

In my honest opinion, only the grossly spiritually blind can not endure the very sound doctrine here!!!

I understand that is what you choose to 'believe' and 'feel'.

I guess my points were related to what is factually known and can be shown to be accurate.

Franktalk, I find your above post both boastful and offensive yet so typical of Mormons who appear to demonstrate an attitude that only they have this special spiritual gift to understand the more esoteric aspects of scripture. I boast in nothing, have nothing to commend me, except the shed blood of Christ my savior. That said, while it is interesting to conjecture on words used in scripture, verses must be read in context and the context of this chapter in Peter has to do with earthly blessing showered on believers...in this particular instance the blessing of marriage where two believers joined together in marriage inherit, share, God's grace upon their union.

Albion, does the word "heirs" mean anything to you? Did you read my previous post? The word heirs means that they will inherit that life!!!

gdemetz, just go read the chapter in context. Taking one verse to support a suspect doctrine just doesn't cut it. I repeat, the chapter is about blessings to believers of which marriage, in this life is one. There is no other context and trying to stretch it to fit some extra Biblical belief doesn't change that.

Really ignorant, Albion! Try to answer the four points which I made on that post!It is absolutely not out of context! Heirs of the grace of life is just like stating heirs of eternal life! You definitely need that braille version!

Context, gdemetz, context...I know Mormons have a hard time with that when it comes to their "proof texts" but it's all about context. Oh, and did I mention context?

But within what context are you framing the use of context...contextually speaking of course...?

gdemetz is factually bankrupt.

Drifting, I guess my problem with Mormon proof texts is that so often they ignore the flow and purpose of a passage. Based on the merest glimmer of a word or phrase that they like, Mormons seem to seize on it as support for some purely LDS doctrine or practice totally ignoring the context in which the words are used. The chapter in Ezekiel has nothing whatsoever to do with a book, doesn't even mention the word or even use a word that could be mistaken for book, but is seized upon as somehow upholding the Book of Mormon. Mormonism doesn't fit the description of the tiniest hair on the tail of a dog yet they claim to wag the entire religious dog. Last week, I was in the holocaust museum in Jerusalem wondering how in creation people could be so inhuman to other human beings when the realization came that that it was only by taking away the very humanity of their victims that the Nazis could justify their actions. While I don't liken Mormons to Nazis, I do liken the process to Mormonism. The big lie of Mormonism is that all Christendom is corrupt, that all who profess it are an "abomination". With this lie in place and swallowed it is easy to then supplant the Christian message with the bizarre beliefs of Mormonism because they have instantly removed the core (humanity parallel) foundation of the opposition. Smith was nothing if not devious.

Yes, but that has never really been the currency with you guys.

Please...whatever you do...whatever you say
Please...do.not.ever.lapse.into.stembelisms.....

I have LOTS of problems with Mormonism. But one that stands out is that Mormons will take an oddball verse concerning being baptized for the dead as literal. But then they seem to accept the beginning of Genesis as figurative. And yet there is verse after verse with the sons names and number of years listed.... I don't get it.

I read that in context, Albion! It is you that seems to need an English comprehension course. What about those four points Albion?! What about "ordinations," Albion, and what about all the other FACTUAL BIBLICAL QUOTES I GAVE YOU!

Bc is referring to Bibles without the Apocrypha. Mormons simply will not accept such non-canonical books of obscure or dubious authenticity.

Good Morsha! I like that little penguin!

What I have seen in your posts is basically worldy interpretations of scripture. How can a person's spirit become spiritually reborn when all they see in scripture is worldly meaning? Because that is the level of understanding they are ready for. Father will let the Holy Spirit know when to reveal more Truth; when Father deems the individual is ready. That Truth includes both worldly and spiritual Truth and understanding.

We are all blind; some more than others. It just depends upon where we are in our journey. We are blind to whatever part of Truth has not yet been revealed to us. Because we are blind to it, we cannot see it; thus, we don't even know that we are blind to it.

I have learned not to place God in a box; especially not in a box that I have made, or that any man has made. I think the reason that the two great commandments are so extremely important is multi-layered. One seems pretty basic in that in order for us to become "one" with God, we need to become "one" with each other. Another layer is the fruit of trying to keep those commandments. I say this because when we are asked to forgive others who have hurt us, or to love others we completely disagree with or who have entirely different world views, we MUST open our minds and our hearts and expand in order to learn how to love them. With our minds and hearts opened, the Holy Spirit is then able to communicate with our spirit and teach us more and more Truth. If our hearts and minds are closed, He cannot teach us any more than we already know. Thus our blindness and our ability to have blindness removed pretty much depends upon us and how well we keep the two great commandments. I am not very good at this; but I am getting better at it. I have noticed that the harder I try to keep these commandments, which consequently opens my heart and my mind, the more Truth is revealed to me through the myriad levels of understanding in scripture which would otherwise remain hidden.

There is great wisdom is those commandments.

Blessings,

jo

Hi Moksha (btw, your avatar is soooooo cute!!!)

D&C 91

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you concerning the Apocrypha—There are many things contained therein that are true, and it is mostly translated correctly;

2 There are many things contained therein that are not true, which are interpolations by the hands of men.

3 Verily, I say unto you, that it is not needful that the Apocrypha should be translated.

4 Therefore, whoso readeth it, let him understand, for the Spirit manifesteth truth;

5 And whoso is enlightened by the Spirit shall obtain benefit therefrom;

6 And whoso receiveth not by the Spirit, cannot be benefited. Therefore it is not needful that it should be translated. Amen.

I believe there are some LDS, as well as some non-LDS, who are enlightened enough by the Spirit who are able to gain benefit from the Apocrypha. That is because the Holy Spirit will make apparent to them what is true and what is not true. In fact, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, those who have achieved at least a good level of spiritual awakening, CAN begin to discern Truth wherever it is. This is something which the LDS do; that is, we seek Truth wherever we can find it.

The more Truth that is revealed to an individual, the more their spirit is awakened; and the easier and easier it becomes to discern Truth whenever he/she comes across it.

Blessings,

jo