LDS and ex-LDS Self-Medication

[_Gazelam]

"It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and godesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship." (The weight of glory and other addresses)

The command Be Ye Perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were "gods" and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him - for we can prevent Him, if we choose - He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or godess, dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (through, of coarce, on a smaller scale) His boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and in parts very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said. (Mere Christianity, 174-175)

"For no matter how much we may like to pussyfoot around it, all of us who postulate a loving God and really think about it eventually come to a single terrifying idea: God wants us to become Himself. We are growing toward Godhood."

[_Gazelam]

Gazelam wrote:

John chp.8
...
this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act
...
One always has to wonder what it was he was writing on the ground.

The woman was a professional, a whore. (See the definition in another thread!)
He was writing the list of her clients. (the consumers) The scribes and Pharisees around Him.

I always have to wonder, who was the other, "in the very act".

Another great question! And your theory as to what he was writing is a good one, especially as to what may have happened to the one she was caught with. Dirty politicians.

[_Jersey Girl]

Gaz

I have no idea what question you asked that I did not answer. I looked back through our exchange here and saw nothing.

Questions would be a series of words followed by a little squiggly thing that looks like this:

?

In between the questions, were also comments. You didn't respond to those either. Not to worry, I won't continue in these exchanges with you further.

See ya

[_Gazelam]

Its not like you to run away simply because the evidence against your stance is overwhelming Jersey.

Oh well.

[_Jersey Girl]

Its not like you to run away simply because the evidence against your stance is overwhelming Jersey.

Oh well.

No running away involved at all, Gaz. I'm not willing to continue with someone who ignores what I've written.

[_Gazelam]

Is this what your refering to?:

Gaz: He prayed for us to be able to have the strength to do so:
John 17:19-23
19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

Jersey Girl: This is an encouragement to emulate, Christ. To accept the indwelling and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Emulate, Gaz, not become a god. What does "glory" mean to you? That you attempt to live a Christ like life or that based on what you do in this world, you will be exactly like Christ? Do you honestly think that you can ever be exactly like Christ? If so, I'd like to know how you hope to do that.

Im not sure where to start with this. We're talking about the entire plan of salvation here, so the question to me seems almost rhetorical.

"The Glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth, Light and truth forsake that evil one." (D&C 93:36-37) Intelligence is the light and truth which comes from Christ who is the way, the life, the light, and the truth of the world.

In the gospel sense, intelligence is far more than the capacity to know and understand, and the intelligent man is one who does more than aquire knowledge. Satan has a great deal of knowledge, but intelligence is the proper use of knowledge that leads to righteousness and the ultimate attainment of exaltation. The Devil has tremendous power and influence because of his knowledge, but he is entirely devoid of intelligence.

An intelligent person is one who applies his knowledge so as to progress in the things of the Spirit; he glories in righteousness.

"Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."{ (D&C 130:18-19)

Glory is also described as Light. Intelligence, Light, and truth are used interchangeably.

D&C 50:23-24
And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.

D&C 88:67
And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light ccomprehendeth all things.

Ether 3:14
Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people. Behold, I am Jesus Christ. I am the Father and the Son. In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

With this in mind, lets look at the words Christ said in regards to the one he sought to emulate.

John 14
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
• • •
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man ccometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
• • •
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
• • •
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
• • •
23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

You ask if a person can be like Christ, does the scripture above not state clearly that we are expected to emulate him to the point that the Father can dwell in us in the same way he dwelt in the Son?

Gaz