Dad

I love you.
The Lord called you home today.
Your in a better place.
I'll miss you.

A Joe Moment

"...that the Saints have so cheerfully hearkened to counsel, and vied with each other in this labor of love, and in the promotion of truth and righteousness. This is as it should be in the Church of Jesus Christ; unity is strength. "How pleasing it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Let the Saints of the Most High ever cultivate this principle, and the most glorious blessings must result, not only to them individually, but to the whole Church--The order of the kingdom will be maintained, its officers respected, and its requirements readily and cheerfully obeyed." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret Book Company, 1976,pg.174, bold type added)

Let us define the meanings of the words in BOLD type:

cheerfully - state of mind; a shout for joy
hearkened - give heed
counsel - legal representative
vied - strive for superiority
promotion - an enterprise being promoted
unity - the quantity and interger
[interger - a whole number, not fractional]
cultivate - seek the society of
principle - rules of conduct or ethical behavior
kingdom - any society or classification
maintained - preserve; defend in argument, support
officers - an executive in a society
respected - treat with special consideration or high regard
requirements - demand; order to do something
readily - willingly
obeyed - comply with the command

(Webster Handy College Dictionary)

In other words....

The Saints have a state of mind to give heed to legal representatives, and strive for superiority with each other in this labor of love, within the enterprise being promoted. This is as it should be in the Church of Jesus Christ; the quantity and interger is strength. --How pleasing it is for brethren to dwell together as a whole, not fractional.-- Let the Saints of the Most High ever seek the society of the rules of conduct or ethical behavior, the most glorious blessings must result, not only to them individually, but to the whole Church. The order of this society will be preserved and defended, its executives treated with special consideration and high regard, and the demands willingly and joyfully complied with.

Now, this paragraph that good ole' Joe stated is not a very loving and Christ-like statement. The quote is deep rooted into the cult. God have mercy on those who believe in 'good ole' Joe!'

The Parable Of The Ten Virgins

"For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving into marriage...they knew nothing about what would happen...That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man...Keep watch...you must also be ready...The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of...At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom..." (Matthew 24:38-50, 25:1) (italics added)

"Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, "Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' But while they were on their way to buy the oil. the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' [You will not be known if you do not prepare.] "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:2-13) (Brackets added)

Not only are those who are in Christ Jesus in need to prepare spiritually, day by day, for the coming of the Son, but also physically and mentally for the tribulations that have already begun.

Take heed all those who are of the flock of the Shepard. The time is near for the gathering of His sheep. Listen, watch, and prepare; for the dreadful time of the earth's birth pains are upon us. It will bring those who are not prepared, misery. It will also bring those who are prepared in Christ a time of looking to the heavens for the coming of the Bridegroom. Have your lamps trimmed, filled with oil, and have extra oil on hand. Prepare so your lamp will not run out while in wait...

The parable of the ten virgins is all about our Christ. The Mormon community has decided to take these important verses of scripture and twist them around for their own selfish desires. Here are a couple of examples:

"Our number one responsibility is to see that we are converted, and then to convert others...Be converted, because no one can endure on borrowed light. You will have to be guided by the light within yourself. If you do not have it, you will not stand." (Harold B. Lee, Stand Ye in Holy Places, pg.954)

"Let me say to you, that many of you will see the time when you will have all the trouble, trial and persecution that you can stand, and plenty of opportunities to show you that you are true to God and his work. This [p.450] Church has before it many close places through which it will have to pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming, it will be necessary for you to have a knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such a character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not till you obtain it. If you do not you will not stand...Remember these sayings, for many of you will live to see them fulfilled. The time will come when no man nor woman will be able to endure on borrowed light. Each will have to be guided by the light with himself. If you do not have it, how can you stand." (Orson R. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, p.450)

The above title is linked to a very good web site that shows that the time of our Lord is extremely close. Please take the time to read it.

About Me

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Michigan, United States
I spent a lot of time deciding if I should write this blog or not. I'm not a great writer and I'm not going to pretend to be. I need to share what I have learned and I might not make some people happy with what I am saying. This blog is a way for me to release the thoughts and feelings that come with knowing I grew up in the wrong religion. A healing process if you will.

How To Read This Blog

Please start with the month of February 2007 and read backwards. This is the most effective way to understand, in order, why I say what I do.

Handmaidens Creed

1.I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit as one God without beginning or end.
2.I believe the Bible to be the Holy Inspired word of God with full truth and righteousness. No other writing is.
3.I believe that the work of the Lord comes first. Before any temporal thing or person.
4.I believe that grace is a gift and Christ gives that gift freely to all who believe.
5.I believe that the beauty of a woman is contained inside of her and not by what she looks like on the outside.
6.I believe that marriage is sacred and represents the Godhead on earth; two are one just as three are one.
7.I believe that love is more powerful than any other power. Remember, God is love.
8.I believe that tithing is not a part of God's new covenant, free will offerings are. And that doesn't mean just money.
9.I believe that the Aaronic, Levitical, and Melchizedek priesthoods are abolished and Christs Holy Priesthood whom Christ is the "Great High Priest" is eternal.
10.I believe that every believer is a priest in the "Priesthood of Believers".
11.I believe that when two are one, nobody is to separate the one.
12.I believe that Christ is the only way to heaven.
13.I believe that our bodies are temples, not man made buildings.
14.I believe that liars make fools out of others and the liar hates the fool.
15.I believe that all believers are in authority to preach the gospel.
16.I believe that the word 'organization' to describe Christs body is evil and has no place with God.
17.I believe the Americas are not the land of Zion and Christ will return to His origonal land-Israel in the Middle East.
18.I believe that God has set out correct ways of worshiping Him, not man.
19.I believe in holding to the truths of the Bible and not mans understanding of it.
20.I believe that the world is full of evil and Satan can easily gain control over the minds of those who do not profess Christ of the Bible to be their only Messiah.
21.I believe that Saints are those who know the real Savior, Jesus Christ, of whom the Bible speaks of; not the jesus of a cult.