Competition

 SUNDAY3/19/17 T/F There is no competition between individuals in heaven.@@ TedF and HalD got so heated about that statement after HPG today. Vern says that is true. They say it is false. It took me years to internalize that concept when Mark Clayton was trying to help me understand it and apply it. It makes life and people so much more loveable to believe I am not competing with anyone. Just myself. Just myself to improve and make celestial. Learn how to love the celestial and find joy in it while in this life. They would not be convinced and neither would I. :) “I don’t want to hear it, I want to see it in writing.”-v I had to repeat that a couple of times. We’ll see if they got their dander up to actually find something and write it/print it. When Hal said Heavenly Father is trying to become like his Heavenly Father it went to a whole new dimension. Sorry that is out of my league. This dimension of earth life and our galaxy and universe is enough for me! He asked if I believed in eternal progress? I asked if God was omniscient? How can he be omniscient if he is still gaining knowledge? My BoM class has done a good job of recementing that concept in my understanding. HalD- If there were no competition it would be communism in heaven. @ So what do I believe and why? 1- Competition is only with ourselves. To make ourselves better. 2- Everyone runs their own race and does their reasonable best. Everyone who crosses the finish line wins. When does not matter. 3- There is no progression from one kingdom to the next. Three kingdoms: Celestial, Terrestrial, Telestial. 4- To reach the highest degree of the Celestial kingdom you must be married. 5- Heavenly father loves all his children endlessly. 6- God does have unconditional love but it does not mean what some people think it means. We still have to qualify to progress. We have to want/ desire and try until we succeed, but we can have his help. :) 7-I am unique. My spirit, my intelligence, is unique. I am good. I like and enjoy goodness. 8- I have not rebelled against God and I will not rebel against God. If I never rebel and live the gospel of JC and learn all truth I will enter the celestial kingdom. Hopefully accompanied. @@http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/Eternal_Progression

Eternal Progression Author: Adams, Lisa Ramsey @The principle of eternal progression cannot be precisely defined or comprehended, yet it is fundamental to the LDS worldview. The phrase "eternal progression" first occurs in the discourses of Brigham Young. It embodies many concepts taught by Joseph Smith, especially in his king follett discourse. It is based on the proposition that "there is no such thing as principle, power, wisdom, knowledge, life, position, or anything that can be imagined, that remains stationary-they must increase or decrease" [Can’t they increase by including more souls that follow?-v](Young, JD 1:350). @Progression takes many forms. In one sense, eternal progression refers to everything that people learn and experience by their choices as they progress from premortal life, to mortality, to postmortal spirit life, and to a resurrected state in the presence of God. Personal progression is possible in each of these states, but not the same kind of progression. Progression apparently occurred in the premortal life, for most spirits there chose to follow Christ and some were noble and great, while others chose to follow Lucifer. Entering mortality affords opportunities for further progression. Obtaining a physical body is a crucial step, enabling a person to experience physical sensations of all kinds and to progress in knowledge and understanding, all of which will rise with the person in the Resurrection (D&C 130:18). Brigham Young taught that even in mortality, "We are in eternity" (JD 10:22), and the object of this existence is "to learn to enjoy more, and to increase in knowledge and experience" (JD 14:228). "When we have learned to live according to the full value of the life we now possess, we are prepared for further advancement in the scale of eternal progression-for a more glorious and exalted sphere" (JD 9:168). @Life is never static. "One must progress or retrograde. One cannot stand still. Activity is the law of growth, and growth, progress, is the law of life" (A. Bowen, in Christ's Ideals for Living, O. Tanner, ed., Salt Lake City, 1980, p. 368). A person's attitude about ""eternal progression' will largely determine his philosophy of life…exalting, increasing, expanding and extending broader and broader until we can know as we are known, see as we are seen" (Young, JD 16:165). [v-Static. New concept. But how can being totally honest grow and progress? I don’t understand.]

@At the Resurrection and Judgment, people will be assigned a degree of glory. Further progress is believed possible within each degree. Marriage and family life, however, continue only in the Celestial Kingdom, allowing "eternal increase" through having spirit children (see Eternal Lives, Eternal Increase). "All this and more that cannot enter into our hearts to conceive is promised to the faithful, and are but so many stages in that ceaseless progression of eternal lives" (Young, JD 10:5). @No official Church teaching attempts to specify all the ways in which God progresses in his exalted spheres; "there is no end to [His] works, neither to [His] words" (Moses 1:38). God's glory and power are enhanced as his children progress in glory and power (see Moses 1:39; Young, JD 10:5)[This is the concept I have espoused.-v]. Ideas have been advanced to explain how God might progress in knowledge and still be perfect and know all things (see Foreknowledge of God; Omnipotent God; Omnipresence of God; Omniscience of God).[This was my big issue with HalD.-v] @The concept of eternal progression is a salient feature of the gospel of Jesus Christ, readily distinguishable from traditional Christian theology. The philosophical views of the Middle Ages were basically incompatible with such a concept, and the idea of progress that emerged in the eighteenth-century Enlightenment was that of social evolution (Bury, The Idea of Progress, London, 1932). The traditional Christian view has held that those in heaven enter "a state of eternal, inactive joy. In the presence of God they would worship him and sing praises to him eternally, but nothing more" (Widtsoe, p. 142). Latter-day Saints, however, constantly seek personal and righteous improvement not only by establishing Zion in this world, but by anticipating the continuation of progression eternally. BibliographyWidtsoe, John A. "Is Progress Eternal or Is There Progress in Heaven?" IE 54 (Mar. 1951):142; see also Evidences and Reconciliations, pp. 179-85, Salt Lake City, 1960.LISA RAMSEY ADAMS

March 12 12:41 PM Dear home teachees,

Gardine's have four girls starting at 15 years old. Joni miscarried last time. They live in Don Sadler's old house. He is an online attorney. Both Samuel Jardine was born last week!

Ken Perkins is still retiring. :-)

Funniest moment: Sunday school teacher Jesse said those of you who know me know I live the maxim quote never speak to words 11 will do quote. Or none.

Jesse's wife is out of town and he texted her that they made it to church early. They have five little boys! It's his wife asked how did you do it? Jesse responded we didn't have to wait for you. Vern – yikes!

Spiritual insight for me: 10 sections speak of the field as being white and ready to harvest. Jesse – what happens to the right crop if it is left unharvested?

Wasted…

Alex Gardine dared to send the book of Mormon to a business friend in Oklahoma last November. Yay!

March 19 2:42 PM Hey home teachees!

Dear absentee brothers,

I love you. I think you are wonderful.

I called Charlie on his cruise last week and left him multiple vmails on Sunday to report. But since I care about all six of you, why not be absolutely totally weird and share with all 6?

You need read no further if you are busy. Like I told Charlie last week this is all fluff.

Bishop joined TedF and I for choir performance and we were the whole men's section.

The HC had 30 minutes to fill today, after the choir number. He got emotional a few times and made TedF sitting next to me wipe his eyes and heave in his breathing. It was not an insensitive lecture but a touching address for most. Not me. I focussed otherwhere's today.

Lots of practical sharing in ShannonJ's SS lesson about missionary work and stakes.

Ted said he worked long on the priesthood lesson on prayer this week. Poor guy can't see to read the words of the hymns nor the lesson quotes. If it is the wrong word at least it sounds similar to the one it was supposed to be. I am proud of all the hours he puts into studying but. . .

Todd M went to the hospital to get some medicine for his heart. Jim Cox was the lone ranger of the HP.

Jim asked how many of us are indexing. Only 2 raised their hands. Next I would have liked him to ask how many attended the temple last month.

He then asked KentP how many indexing names is his goal for this week. Kent was taken aback. He wasn't expecting that question and wasn't sure he wanted to answer. He finally admitted he does 500 every 2 or 3 weeks.

He then asked me. I pulled a Sam Hales: I don't want to share my goal.

Marty Matthews had his fiancee with him today. No kids.

Anna Walker-12 spoke on gratitude. I sit behind the podium so I could watch her on her tip toes for the first minute or so, in her nervousness. She went quite fast and a bit soft.

JimC missed his assigned opening prayer in sacrament meeting. He prayed in SS and assigned himself in HP to make up for it. Bishop did a nice one in sacrament meeting.

Pat Hales accompanied the choir. She said she was nervous/ out of practice. RandalinH asked her to sub. RobynW had her slow down the intro.

TWO Hoppie boys blessed the sacrament today. I haven't noticed JoshH say the bread blessing before.

This was the 3rd week Elder Dallen Ricketts has tried to write the opening priesthood hymn on the board. He succeeded the first week. The second week it was just too long: Be Still My Soul. I invited him to only write as much as he felt he had time for this week. He did two lines. I put the hymn books on the table by the door this year so I don't have to do that. I used to like to but it gets old.

So what was the most uplifting thing about church for me today. I think it was our SS lesson. I am arriving at a new understanding: When the saints participate in the lesson what you are really getting is their testimony in one way or another. I was touched by some of those sharings. Especially Kathleen McDonald.

Quinn Carter did an announcement in SS about 2 stake youth mission opportunities, looking for families in our ward willing to help out.

Tim Gardner said there will be socializing in the park tomorrow night, whether or not we have cobbler available. Hal Demke has a son-in-law who might come and wants us to welcome him. Hal also offered to make ribs and Tim welcomed participation from the walking dead, HPs.

Hal Demke likes to tease. After the closing prayer he asked Ted about Notre Dame playing BYU and the priests or the elders praying for their team to win. I told Hal there is no competition in heaven. He and Ted totally disagreed with that! What do you think? @@MONDAY3/20 I sent that email to 10 brothers yesterday. In the original I told the 6 brothers that since they were not at church and I was Writing CharlieM hpgleader anyway, I was including them. next/Then I took off their names and tried to make it appropriate for VarloD, BruceR, EricY. The brothers that were missing this last day of Spring Break were: CharlieM, Roger Eves, Cameron Tolman, Tom Lamb, Allen H, Todd M, Duane D. I know the 7 will not be offended by being called Absentee brothers. But what about my home teachees? Oh well. If the shoe fits, wear it. @The principle of eternal progression cannot be precisely defined or comprehended, yet it is fundamental to the LDS worldview. The phrase "eternal progression" first occurs in the discourses of Brigham Young. Comment: I do not think this concept is fundamental to the LDS worldview. At least not the way HalD applies it. How do you like that phrase< cannot be precisely defined or comprehended >?  So why are we even bothering? “The concept of eternal progression is a salient feature of the gospel of Jesus Christ”, I don’t think so. I love the idea of preparing to come to this earth and preparing for the Celestial Kingdom while here and afterwards. But I am stuck with believing that God is omniscient. That HF already knows everything! I believe the only way he enlarges his kingdom and glory is in numbers. The more children he progresses the greater he is worshipped and glorified. So bps, I have not shared with you many mind benders. This is one! @ Here is a wonderful lesson. I found it while hunting omniscient. (3 Omnis: Omniscient, Omnipotent, Omnipresent) >Have students review 1 Nephi 9; Words of Mormon 1:1–7; Doctrine and Covenants 10:38–45. Ask: How did the Lord prepare more than a thousand years in advance to stop Satan’s plan to destroy the Book of Mormon?

Read the following statement by Elder Neal A. Maxwell, then a member of the Presidency of the Seventy:

“Few doctrines, save those pertaining to the reality of the existence of God, are more basic than the truth that God is omniscient [all-knowing]. ‘O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.’ (2 Ne. 9:20.) Unfortunately, this truth is sometimes only passively assented to by individuals who avoid exploring it and coming to understand its implications. Later on, such believers sometimes have difficulty with the implications of this core doctrine—which connects with other powerful doctrines such as the foreknowledge of God, foreordination, and foreassignment. The all-loving God who shapes our individual growing and sanctifying experiences—and then sees us through them—could not do so if He were not omniscient” (All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience [1979], 6).

Explain that Joseph Smith learned many valuable lessons from his experience with the lost 116 pages. Divide the class into two groups. Have one group read Doctrine and Covenants 3:1–10 and the other group verses 11–20. Have both groups look for verses that show the principles Joseph Smith learned from this experience, and suggest they underline them. Discuss their findings, and list them on the board. If desired, use the following ideas and questions to help your discussion.

1. The work of God cannot be frustrated or stopped (see D&C 3:1, 3).
• Why do you think the work of God cannot be frustrated or stopped?
• What do the scriptures teach about God that helps us understand how He can prepare for any future event?
• How does knowing that God’s work cannot be stopped help you trust in Him?
2. We should never ignore the revelations of God (see D&C 3:4–7).
• How many times did the Prophet Joseph Smith pray for permission to let Martin Harris take the plates? (Three; see Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual: Religion 324–325, p. 9.)
• Why do you think the Prophet didn’t accept the first answer the Lord gave?
• How do people today “set at naught the counsels of God”? (v. 7). Why do you think they do so?
3. We should trust God and accept His counsel instead of man’s (see D&C 3:6–8).
• How did the Prophet’s concern for Martin Harris get in the way of his fulfilling his duty to God?
• Martin Harris was much older than the Prophet and had done much to help the work of translation. What would be a good way to act if a person you respected asked you to do something contrary to God’s will?
4. We must be careful with those sacred truths that have been entrusted to us (see D&C 3:5, 12).
• What was Joseph Smith entrusted with?
• What are some of the sacred truths and possessions we have been entrusted with that we must guard carefully?
5. We all need to be careful or we may fall prey to Satan’s temptations (see D&C 3:4, 9).
• How is it that someone as great as the Prophet Joseph Smith could do other than what the Lord commanded?
• How do similar temptations come to us?
• How can we gain the strength and power to overcome the temptations of the devil?
• What does Doctrine and Covenants 3:9–10 teach us about God’s mercy?
6. Sin always has consequences (see D&C 3:14).
• What were the consequences Joseph Smith faced because of the lost manuscript?
• What are some of the consequences we face when we sin?
• Do those consequences always come immediately after we sin?
Explain that this experience taught the young prophet many truths, including the importance of relying on the Lord and not fearing man. Joseph Smith said that he adopted the following rule for himself: “When the Lord commands, do it” (History of the Church, 2:170).