Worth repeating right about here:
http://mormondiscussions.com/discuss/vi ... php?t=1742
Here is the third party doctrinal quote currently accepted as scripture:
I believe and accept the comforting statement of Elder Orson F. Whitney:
“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared—and he never taught more comforting doctrine—that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander, the eye of the Shepherd is upon them, and sooner or later they will feel the tentacles of Divine Providence reaching out after them and drawing them back to the fold. Either in this life or the life to come, they will return. They will have to pay their debt to justice; they will suffer for their sins; and may tread a thorny path; but if it leads them at last, like the penitent Prodigal, to a loving and forgiving father’s heart and home, the painful experience will not have been in vain. Pray for your careless and disobedient children; hold on to them with your faith. Hope on, trust on, till you see the salvation of God.”
(Jas. Faust - Conference April 6, 2003)
This has brought much comfort and hope to many LDS families struggling with children of rebellion, addiction and sinfulness of every description.
My mother had quoted this often to me over the years referring to my 3 other siblings, step brother, ex brother in law etc. Now she quotes it in reference to me. This doctrine has given her the warm blanket she needs to keep her from literally dying of a broken heart. She cries less tears of despair and more of joy because of it.
Hey?!
What a strange place this afterlife will be to discover Lehi and Sariah with all of their children, curse lifted from Laman and Lemuel - heirs to the kingdom.
Jacob's son's.. the original wild bunch.
Did Judas have righteous parents? Maybe not. Regardless, it would still have to suck to be him.
Then again, I thought this scripture meant something quite absolute:
32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world.
35 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.
(Book of Mormon | Alma 34:32 - 35)
or is this and the miriad of other verses only refering to those without righteous parents?
