Yeah, I'm definitely not saying God never punishes people. The scriptures, as you mention, are pretty clear about that. I just think we sometimes make out God to be someone who delights in punishing people, almost as if whenever he gets a spare moment he likes to poke people with hot irons or something. I have a hard time believing that. Yes, there will be a time when people will suffer. The scriptures seem to say it will be worse than anything we can imagine. But that suffering will end. Sins can be "paid" for by either Christ or by ourselves. When that "payment" is done, we end up in one of two categories: outer darkness or the Telestial Kingdom. I think the final state of people in outer darkness was what I was trying to describe. At some point people will just be left alone. Outer darkness seems to even give a mental picture of that state. Any further punishment is doled out by ourselves at that point.dastardly stem wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 12:52 pmIt appears God has prepared for them a place of eternal punishment, or as termed in the D&C God's punishment. To me I get the impression he delights in punishing those who dare question HIs ways, or push against Him. I suppose it would be much nicer if there wasn't a torturous place where people go to be punished as if they are burning forever in fire. But that is what he teaches.
Anyway, I would say, if one believes in God, Mormonism and all of that, it'd be really really good to ignore most of scripture, ignore most of what the prophets say and imagine a much better God, a much better religion. I don't think you're alone among Mormons who do that (nor, to broaden the scope, alone among Christians who do that). Others do as well and it's encouraging. Hopefully that view spreads among the other believers and leaks into the hearts of the leaders, so they too can preach a new and improved religion. Of course, I'd still suggest it's much better to drop it all, completely. But, I also accept religion is here to stay. Take what you can and make the most of it.
Of course, some people have a hard time with God punishing anyone, even people who will eventually go to the Telestial Kingdom. I personally think I've made peace with why God would have to punish people, sometimes rather harshly, but I can understand why others may have a hard time with that.