Yes, Yet Even More Again on Sealing Power

Q.

This is an interesting post, Doug. The only way any accountable child of God born in this life is guaranteed to make it back to exaltation is for that person to have their calling and election made sure and then they must not commit murder or the unpardonable sin. Is the Lord saying that every son or daughter whose parents are sealed together in the temple and live all the covenants and thus having qualified themselves to have their lives and marriage sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise and thus qualify themselves to gain eternal life that their children, if they stray but do not sin away these blessings through murder or the unpardonable sin, that each and every child of God so blessed to be born to such parents have their calling and election made sure as well? I am just asking.


A.

If you are a late comer to this conversation I'd suggest reading the earlier posts on the subject.

It must first be pointed out that not even Joseph Smith always agreed with Joseph Smith. He learnt things as he went and thus changed his mind. Also both Brigham Young and Joseph Smith sometimes spoke in absolutes when I believe if questioned more extensively would have been less absolute. So it needs to be examined next to Scripture (the Standard Works).

Additionally it should be noted that Spencer Kimball only slightly endorses this belief. He says he has seen it with many (not all) and relates it to this life. Gordon Hinkley also only points out the good influence; not talking of it as an absolute.

Yet God's statement in regard Abraham supports an absolute idea. However it makes no mention of failure of any of the children if they commit the unpardonable sin. So we are still left with the question of Cain being the son of Adam (the Archangel Michael). He doesn't fit in the absolute of Genesis.

So while I find great reassurance in this, I still hold a bit of scepticism in giving it God's absolute seal of approval.

Will Polygmay Return?

Q.

Will polygamy return?


A.

Did it go somewhere? Just joking.

The only reason we don't practise polygamy is "inasmuch as laws have been inacted by congress." Today we live at a time when people are pushing for flexability on who a person decides to marry. We have recently seen this with the idea of homosexuals marrying.

While we don't agree with homosexual marriages, if we are to give the right to marry someone back to the people getting married, then plural marriage should be accepted.

A second point is that people today are into minding everyone else's business. This doesn't occur where we have serious matters on people's minds. Once the earth really starts to get into the bad times ahead how many wives someone has will be the least of their concerns. People will be too busy avoiding being killed, searching for shelter and foraging for food.

Also we find people living a strange kind of plural marriage today. For example I know one man who has 3 divorced women that he sleeps with on a rotating roster. He spends some days at his own flat between each female. He tells me this is common. And certainly I've seen enough men coming and going from divorced women's homes.

Amidst this a man can be travelling with what he claims to be his wife, sisters, neices, grandaughters, mother and/or grandmother. No one will know they are really all his wives if you have left your normal area. If any of them are pregnant then that can be contributed to the husband having to go away for work etc for a while after getting her pregnant. Any family resemblance of children to the father is natural as they are all closely related.

So there are several ways this could go on. It is obvious that plural marriage will be practised by some church members who are inspired to do so. But God may not call on us to make it obvious. Concerning the time of Christ's second coming we are told by Isaiah _

""And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparell: only let us be called by your name, to take away our reproach. In that day shall the branch of the Lord be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel. And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem." Isa 4:1-3

Notice that these people who are practising plural marriage are referred to as "holy."

Yet let me warn that the higher the law you attempt to live the greater the natural penalty for failing to live up to the standard required for living it. This can easily include death. Don't triffle with that which you don't understand. If you haven't been fully instructed of God or have more interest in marrying younger wives than older ones, don't touch it.

Tithing Paid on Gross or Net Income?

Q.

Should tithing be paid based on gross or net income?


A.

In most cases the gross income is the thing to base your tithing on. In some cases this can be a problem if you are in business and have to take costs involved into consideration. For example there is rent on the shop and delivery costs. Electricity, insurance, license fees, registration, and the list can seem almost endless.

It just needs to be remembered in judging these costs that you must stick to business expenses only as exceptions.

If you are a normal wage earner then your tax deductions are paid back to you in services. Your roads are repaired using these taxes along with defence, fire brigade, police services, licensing and registration of drivers and motor vehicles. Just to name a few. As all these services are required in your community you pay tax to have them continue. As you are benefiting they become part of your tithable income.

If you have unusual circumstances then you should see your bishop about your situation.

Is Bishop Confession Necessary?

Q.

Is Bishop confession really necessary for repentance? Or is confessing to the Lord, turning away from sin enough? Why do we need to confess to the Bishop when the Lord already knows what we did wrong and how we feel.


A.

Confessing to the Lord is important for all sins we commit. Yet some sins we commit we don't accept to forgive ourselves. Our heart has trouble accepting the repentance process under that circumstance. Our faith in the process isn't that good: Particularly when that action has made us lose the Holy Ghost as a constant companion.

By going to the bishop we have a chance to feel we are doing something about it. We also get that chance to rebuild our relationship with the Holy Ghost.

If you had the Holy Ghost as a constant companion before the action then you will miss that tremendously. The faster you can get it back the better. Fortunately I only went through it for a week one time (not a matter to see the bishop about) but that week was painful. In spite of having it back within a week it wasn't the same for over 2 months.

If you didn't have the Holy Ghost as a constant companion before the action then it is time you got it anyway, and going to the bishop and getting right will help. You may feel that you can take care of it on your own. But it isn't what your mind says, it is what your heart feels. And if you are in this situation you won't be listening to your heart well enough, at this stage, to know its real feelings.

I know it can be embarrassing telling the bishop about an action you don't feel very proud of. But this only further helps in the process of your repentance. It requires you to become more humble in this confession.