I believe Amonhi is a prophet(s) and their teachings are greater to me than most others, I truly feel the God’s love through many of their teachings.
I also believe that Denver has many good things we can apply.
I believe that the Christ Spirit has fallen on many people and I can testify of that Spirit as it witness to me.
I do not believe there is anyone greater than Jesus Christ for us. I believe he is our Father and there is no substitute for him in any way. I believe he is the Mightiest of the mighty and strong ones, and to him I bow in reverence and to no one else. I do not care how great any of the other prophets who will be raised up to help in the work think they are. I know of many, and although I can love and respect you I will not follow you. My allegiance is to my Father and God Jesus Christ.
To all, many righteous prophets will rise, I believe it is necessary for the work, but we are all in a still in formation not fully in ourselves. And above all we are servants, and teachers only. No prophet is supposed to be put on a pedestal and made into an idol.
Please aware the God desires a nation of prophets, he wants all of us to see eye to eye. This is the main key isn’t it to for all of us to be prophets!!!
I believe we are all at different growth levels and we should be allowed to believe what we do. I think the soul grows by itself as it encounters truth and grabs onto the light it can deal with.DC 1
19 The aweak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man bshould not counsel his fellow man, neither ctrust in the arm of flesh—
20 But that every man might aspeak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
Numbers 11
29 But Moses replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all the Lord’s people were prophets and that the Lord would put his Spirit upon them all!” 30 Then Moses returned to the camp with the elders of Israel.
When I follow a prophet I follow their words that are testified to me by the Holy Ghost. I don’t follow everything they say or believe everything they say unless it has been testified to me personally.
To all, remember the important thing is the message not the messenger. Our main focus is the Savior and no one else. He and he alone saves and redeems us and no one else.
I don’t belong here. I feel that this place was created for those who want to follow Michael in an unhealthy way. I won’t do that or ascribe to that.
I don’t believe in the preeminence of the Bible.
I believe in the standard works, I believe that Joseph Smith established a great church that brought many people together and had a lot of good things going for it. I am greatful to have been a part of the church. I learned about the Savior there and the value of the Family, the importance of children, etc. I also believe that church is not doing good anymore.
I believe in Joseph Smith as a great prophet, and I will believe any truth from whom ever it comes as long as it is testified by God to me.
I love the book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Peal of Great Price. The Spirit has testified to me of many of the truths with it. I don’t believe these truths sit below the Bible.
I don’t believe we should ever force or manipulate others into believing as we do. I felt that here.
I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like methodism and not like Latter day Saintism. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of their church. I want the liberty of believing as I please, it feels so good not to be tramelled. It don’t prove that a man is not a good man, because he errs in doctrine.
Good bye thanks for the small good moments here, I am glad I met you.Loosing Agency from Amonhi group
We all have given up a portion of our agency and live in that state today, right now. An extremely important teachings required to live in Zion or the Celestial Kingdom and become free is that if we are influenced by others, we have lost a portion of our agency. Although this may sound extreme or impossible, it is not.
By influenced I DO NOT mean persuaded. When we are persuaded, then we still have our agency and are acting according to our own free will. When we are influenced, it means that we do not agree but feel expected, shamed, coerced, manipulated, blackmailed or influenced against what we ourselves truly want inside.
I am saying that acting according to what we want for the reasons we want is having a free will. This appears to be "splitting hairs" doctrine, and it may be from where we are in understanding and experiencing the "independence of Heaven".
Here is how the Lord described this form of controlling others.
QUOTE
That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man. D&C 121:37
I am referring to the minute degrees of dominion or compulsion caused by others Not attempting to persuade us but using fear, shame, guilt, hate, position, or any other tool of Satan to create unquestioned compliance.
QUOTE
No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile- D&C 121:41-42
If we simplify the above into its weakest form of control, we see that it is saying,
"No influence, (no matter how small), ought to be maintained, (whether it can be or not), by virtue of the priesthood, (because of positions/keys held in the priesthood). So, to interpret this into practicality:
- Priesthood leaders including the prophet, Christ or our heavenly parents should not expect us to obey us because of their positions over us.
- We should not feel obligated to obey anyone except our own conscience and desires.
- Parents should not enforce compliance with statements like, "Because I said so!" which is influential, but not at all persuasive.
- We should learn to listen to and recognize how we really feel when others are clamoring to get us to obey or conform. The more we can act according to our own wills and not the influence of others, the more free we are.
The failsafe is that if your free will removes the free will of others, then you are not abiding the Celestial law and do not qualify to live in a society of Free people.
The Law of Universal Application says that the principles of happiness and truth are found by universally applying only a single principle of your own beliefs on others from their view point and determining how they will act on them toward me. If I am pleased with the results, then I have found a principle of happiness or truth which will help me live in a perfect society. (THIS IS IMPORTANT for all seekers who want to live with the Gods in harmony.)
For example:
My Test Principle - God doesn't like the blacks, neither should I, maybe I should destroy them!
Apply it universally to all groups:
Blacks - God Doesn't like whites, neither should I!
Hindus - God Doesn't like the Mormons, neither should I!
Women - God doesn't like the Males, neither should I!
any other group that I might be offending or blessing, should end up offending/blessing me...
The true principle would be:
My Test Principle - God like the blacks, so should I, maybe I should love them!
Apply it universally to all groups:
Blacks - God like whites, so should I!
Hindus - God like the Mormons, so should I!
Women - God likes like the Males, so should I!
any other group that I might be offending or blessing, should end up offending/blessing me...
The reason I bring up the Law of Universal Application is that if my beliefs cause others to have less agency, then when I apply this law to others, the result is that others cause me to have less agency.
- It is ok to manipulate my children...
becomes:
- It is ok for my children to manipulate me... (Not a happy stat to be in...)
- Those whom I lead should obey me because I lead them, even if they don't agree or like it.
becomes:
- I should obey those who lead me because they lead me, even when I don't agree or like it. (Doesn't promote happiness.)
- Parent to a child - "Because I said so and I am the boss of you!"
becomes:
- Child to a parent - "because I said so and I am the boss of you!"
And to illustrate my main point...
- You and the majority say to a smoker - "You should feel guilty, ashamed and sinful for smoking!"
becomes:
- A smoker speaking with the majority - "You should feel guilty, ashamed and sinful for NOT smoking! Our religion says God wants us to smoke...'
The correct way:
- You and the majority say to a smoker - "Let's consider the effects of smoking and see if we can be persuaded to do the best thing..."
becomes:
- A smoker speaking with the majority - "Let's consider the effects of smoking and see if we can be persuaded to do the best thing..."
It equally applies to all people with the same results on me, it provides the most comfortable situation for me to live in! I would love to be part of that society! This is then a correct way to interact so that I can live in a society I like....
So, is our agency taken/given by others? Every day! If we had the choice, we would live in a society that made us feel comfortable being us. By others not persuading us and interacting with us the way we want, we know we do not have complete agency. We have to fight to have agency, which none of us likes to do.
We currently manipulate, influence each other without persuasion. This is not a free or celestial Society. Loosing our agency begins when we feel uncomfortable, (because of outside influences, expectations, obligations, duties, shames, guilts, etc.), making the choices we want to make. The very fact that we feel uncomfortable is a sign that we are being influenced and not persuaded. If we were persuaded, then we would do it happily and willingly. We would be free agents unto ourselves, uninfluenced by others. It is the Celestial way, and the hidden the way of the priesthood of God.
We loose complete agency when we are not capable of choosing what we want. For example,
- When the influential pressure of outside forces is too great for us to act against. In addition, the greater the influence, that lower our ability to choose for our selves and receive the natural consequences of God's laws.
- When our bodies influence us against our own desires or ability to choose. The greater the addiction, the lower our agency. Even Coke, the drink can take or limit our agency.
- Laws enforced with do not permit choice limit our agency. Sure we can choose against the laws, but just as the priesthood or government of God should not maintain influence by virtue of the priesthood positions, neither should the law maintain influence by virtue of the majorities opinion. Protect life, liberty, property and the pursuit of happiness. Far too often our laws do not protect the pursuit of happiness but deny that pursuit.
We are not a free people"¦ and often times, we have less freedom in the Church than outside the church. This is not meant to be and the people of the world will never demand to be governed by the Priesthood until it becomes a haven of freedom for all people and beliefs. This is a requirement for the millennium"