In one of Plato’s many writings, he creates a dialogue between himself and a guy named Meno. In the dialogue they are discussing “virtue” and what it means.  In their debate they eventually get to the point where Plato has to expand on what it means to learn and to have knowledge.

Plato argues that nobody really learns, but that they only remember things that are already known by their immortal soul. He proves this by taking an uneducated slave boy and, through a series of simple questions from Plato, the boy proves the Pythagorean Theorem (a complicated theorem in geometry).

I was watching Sariah roll over from her back to her tummy for the first time today and was wondering:

1. What was motivating her to turn over since there was nothing she could see from her tummy that she couldn’t see from her back)
2. How did she learn, without anyone helping or teaching her, all the complicated muscular interactions and positioning necessary to push up to her side, get her arm out from underneath her body and complete the rest of the roll?

Maybe Plato was right and all she needed was the first couple movements to jar her memory. Kind of like when somebody makes a random comment and suddenly you remember a dream you had the night before.

Or maybe she was just sick of seeing my ugly face going PEEK-A-BOO!!! HEY SARIAH!!! PEEEEEEEEEK-AAAA-BOOOOOO!!!! and out of desperation/motivation found a way to turn away from me.

I guess I already know the answer to my question… I just don’t remember it.

Attached below is the BoJ Constitution and another document with information about posting to our blog. If you have any questions, just ask in the comments, and they should be answered shortly.

BoJ Constitution
Blog Syndication Feature

So, the purpose of inviting you all here is to generate some ideas on a direction that we can go with this. We are entertaining any ideas here, whether it be as drastic as a complete merge or as subtle as a few cross-posts. Please throw in whatever you can think of and we can iron out details as we go.

I'll stop there so that I don't taint the idea pool.

Thanks for your input everybody!

First, I am of the opinion, or belief, that word usage in the Book of Mormon is deliberate, purposeful and meaningful. In my view, this belief is justified from the fact that after Joseph’s translation, he said the following: “[T]he Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth….” That is bold. From this statement, and my general understanding of the book, I derive my approach.

With that said, for the purpose of this post I would like to focus on the word usage in one specific verse: Alma 42:24. It reads, “For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own….” (Emphasis mine). Plainly stated, the Book of Mormon seems to suggest a connection between the attributes (or natural laws) of justice and gender. Justice equates with masculinity, while mercy equates with the feminine.

Assuming the Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, this word usage cannot possibly be a mistake on the part of Joseph. I could offer other arguments for why the usage is not mistaken, but you get the point. The question remains though: what are we to learn about the connection? Is it important? Your thoughts?

First, I am of the opinion, or belief, that word usage in the Book of Mormon is deliberate, purposeful and meaningful. In my view, this belief is justified from the fact that after Joseph’s translation, he said the following: “[T]he Book of Mormon [is] the most correct of any book on earth….” That is bold. From this statement, and my general understanding of the book, I derive my approach.

With that said, for the purpose of this post I would like to focus on the word usage in one specific verse: Alma 42:24. It reads, “For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own….” (Emphasis mine). Plainly stated, the Book of Mormon seems to suggest a connection between the attributes (or natural laws) of justice and gender. Justice equates with masculinity, while mercy equates with the feminine.

Assuming the Book of Mormon is the most correct of any book on earth, this word usage cannot possibly be a mistake on the part of Joseph. I could offer other arguments for why the usage is not mistaken, but you get the point. The question remains though: what are we to learn about the connection? Is it important? Your thoughts?

The War Prayer
by Mark Twain
a.k.a. Samuel Clemens
(1835-1910)

It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and sputtering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spreads of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country and invoked the God of Battles, beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpouring of fervid eloquence which moved every listener.

It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety’s sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came-next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their faces alight with material dreams-visions of a stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender!-then home from the war, bronzed heros, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation — “God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!”

Then came the “long” prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was that an ever–merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory -

An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher’s side and stood there, waiting.
With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal,”Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!”

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside — which the startled minister did — and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said

“I come from the Throne-bearing a message from Almighty God!” The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. “He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd and grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import-that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of-except he pause and think.
“God’s servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two- one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of His Who hearth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this-keep it in mind. If you beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor’s crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.
“You have heard your servant’s prayer-the uttered part of it. I am commissioned by God to put into words the other part of it-that part which the pastor, and also you in your hearts, fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: ‘Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!’ That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory-must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!

“O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle-be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it-for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

(After a pause)

“Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits.”

It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

3 Ne. 12: 44

44 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

The War Prayer
by Mark Twain
a.k.a. Samuel Clemens
(1835-1910)

It was a time of great and exalting excitement. The country was up in arms, the war was on, in every breast burned the holy fire of patriotism; the drums were beating, the bands playing, the toy pistols popping, the bunched firecrackers hissing and sputtering; on every hand and far down the receding and fading spreads of roofs and balconies a fluttering wilderness of flags flashed in the sun; daily the young volunteers marched down the wide avenue gay and fine in their new uniforms, the proud fathers and mothers and sisters and sweethearts cheering them with voices choked with happy emotion as they swung by; nightly the packed mass meetings listened, panting, to patriot oratory which stirred the deepest deeps of their hearts and which they interrupted at briefest intervals with cyclones of applause, the tears running down their cheeks the while; in the churches the pastors preached devotion to flag and country and invoked the God of Battles, beseeching His aid in our good cause in outpouring of fervid eloquence which moved every listener.

It was indeed a glad and gracious time, and the half dozen rash spirits that ventured to disapprove of the war and cast a doubt upon its righteousness straightway got such a stern and angry warning that for their personal safety’s sake they quickly shrank out of sight and offended no more in that way.

Sunday morning came-next day the battalions would leave for the front; the church was filled; the volunteers were there, their faces alight with material dreams-visions of a stern advance, the gathering momentum, the rushing charge, the flashing sabers, the flight of the foe, the tumult, the enveloping smoke, the fierce pursuit, the surrender!-then home from the war, bronzed heros, welcomed, adored, submerged in golden seas of glory! With the volunteers sat their dear ones, proud, happy, and envied by the neighbors and friends who had no sons and brothers to send forth to the field of honor, there to win for the flag or, failing, die the noblest of noble deaths. The service proceeded; a war chapter from the Old Testament was read; the first prayer was said; it was followed by an organ burst that shook the building, and with one impulse the house rose, with glowing eyes and beating hearts, and poured out that tremendous invocation — “God the all-terrible! Thou who ordainest, Thunder thy clarion and lightning thy sword!”

Then came the “long” prayer. None could remember the like of it for passionate pleading and moving and beautiful language. The burden of its supplication was that an ever–merciful and benignant Father of us all would watch over our noble young soldiers and aid, comfort, and encourage them in their patriotic work; bless them, shield them in His mighty hand, make them strong and confident, invincible in the bloody onset; help them to crush the foe, grant to them and to their flag and country imperishable honor and glory -

An aged stranger entered and moved with slow and noiseless step up the main aisle, his eyes fixed upon the minister, his long body clothed in a robe that reached to his feet, his head bare, his white hair descending in a frothy cataract to his shoulders, his seamy face unnaturally pale, pale even to ghastliness. With all eyes following him and wondering, he made his silent way; without pausing, he ascended to the preacher’s side and stood there, waiting.
With shut lids the preacher, unconscious of his presence, continued his moving prayer, and at last finished it with the words, uttered in fervent appeal,”Bless our arms, grant us the victory, O Lord our God, Father and Protector of our land and flag!”

The stranger touched his arm, motioned him to step aside — which the startled minister did — and took his place. During some moments he surveyed the spellbound audience with solemn eyes in which burned an uncanny light; then in a deep voice he said

“I come from the Throne-bearing a message from Almighty God!” The words smote the house with a shock; if the stranger perceived it he gave no attention. “He has heard the prayer of His servant your shepherd and grant it if such shall be your desire after I, His messenger, shall have explained to you its import-that is to say, its full import. For it is like unto many of the prayers of men, in that it asks for more than he who utters it is aware of-except he pause and think.
“God’s servant and yours has prayed his prayer. Has he paused and taken thought? Is it one prayer? No, it is two- one uttered, the other not. Both have reached the ear of His Who hearth all supplications, the spoken and the unspoken. Ponder this-keep it in mind. If you beseech a blessing upon yourself, beware! lest without intent you invoke a curse upon a neighbor at the same time. If you pray for the blessing of rain upon your crop which needs it, by that act you are possibly praying for a curse upon some neighbor’s crop which may not need rain and can be injured by it.
“You have heard your servant’s prayer-the uttered part of it. I am commissioned by God to put into words the other part of it-that part which the pastor, and also you in your hearts, fervently prayed silently. And ignorantly and unthinkingly? God grant that it was so! You heard these words: ‘Grant us the victory, O Lord our God!’ That is sufficient. The whole of the uttered prayer is compact into those pregnant words. Elaborations were not necessary. When you have prayed for victory you have prayed for many unmentioned results which follow victory-must follow it, cannot help but follow it. Upon the listening spirit of God the Father fell also the unspoken part of the prayer. He commandeth me to put it into words. Listen!

“O Lord our Father, our young patriots, idols of our hearts, go forth to battle-be Thou near them! With them, in spirit, we also go forth from the sweet peace of our beloved firesides to smite the foe. O Lord our God, help us to tear their soldiers to bloody shreds with our shells; help us to cover their smiling fields with the pale forms of their patriot dead; help us to drown the thunder of the guns with the shrieks of their wounded, writhing in pain; help us to lay waste their humble homes with a hurricane of fire; help us to wring the hearts of their unoffending widows with unavailing grief; help us to turn them out roofless with their little children to wander unfriended the wastes of their desolated land in rags and hunger and thirst, sports of the sun flames of summer and the icy winds of winter, broken in spirit, worn with travail, imploring Thee for the refuge of the grave and denied it-for our sakes who adore Thee, Lord, blast their hopes, blight their lives, protract their bitter pilgrimage, make heavy their steps, water their way with their tears, stain the white snow with the blood of their wounded feet! We ask it, in the spirit of love, of Him Who is the Source of Love, and Who is ever-faithful refuge and friend of all that are sore beset and seek His aid with humble and contrite hearts. Amen.

(After a pause)

“Ye have prayed it; if ye still desire it, speak! The messenger of the Most High waits.”

It was believed afterward that the man was a lunatic, because there was no sense in what he said.

3 Ne. 12: 44

44 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;

A few of my recent posts and comments have involved my understanding of the doctrine of the premortal existence. And when things have stalled out in the discussion, or in some cases started the discussion, it was based in part on differences of opinion as to just what the doctrine was. In an effort to gain a better understanding for myself as to what the important parts of this doctrine are, I did a search at lds.org. I was able to find a great article from the January 1989 Ensign titled ‘The Restoration of Major Doctrines through Joseph Smith: The Godhead, Mankind, and the Creation’ by Donald Q. Cannon, Larry E. Dahl, and John W. Welch. It can be found here. It is about 8 pages long, and I would like to review the major points of the article as they relate to the doctrine of the preexistence.
One of the first things that caught my eye was the doctine of the pre-mortal existence of Jesus Christ. The article contains the following:

Premortal existence. Jesus was in the beginning with the Father and was the Father’s firstborn spirit child. (See D&C 93:21; John 17:1, 4–5; Col. 1:15–16.) He volunteered and was chosen, sustained, and foreordained in the premortal existence to be the Savior of the world. (See Ether 3:14; Moses 4:1–4; Abr. 3:22–28; 1 Pet. 1:20.) He created the earth and is thus called the “very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth.” (Mosiah 15:4; see also Mosiah 3:8; Hel. 14:12; John 1:1–3.) He was Jehovah—the God of the Old Testament, the Holy One of Israel. As Jehovah, he “gave the law” of Moses and “covenanted with [his] people Israel.” (3 Ne. 15:5; see also 2 Ne. 25:29; D&C 110:1–4; 1 Cor. 10:1–4.)

One interesting point in this paragraph was Jesus being in the beginning with the Father AND was the Father’s firstborn spirit child. Is there a contradiction here? My take on this is that Christ has an eternal intelligence just like everyone else, and was in the permortal existence as a spirit child of Heavenly Father for such a long time that we may consider it to be from the beginning. But I personally believe that the spirit body of Jesus was a created spirit child of heavenly parents just like all of us were. Later on in the article the authors pointed out that Joseph received knowledge that ‘man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be’ (D&C 93:29). So the fact that Jesus was in the beginning with God, does not necessarily make him different from us on it’s own.

Another point of interest for me was a quotation that I had never seen regarding the preexistence of the Holy Ghost. Joseph Smith was quoted as saying ‘the Holy Ghost is yet a spiritual body and waiting to take to himself a body’ (Ehat and Cook ‘The Words of Joseph Smith’ p. 382). I wish I would have found that for my Holy Ghost speculation post. Perhaps I will add that as a comment on that post.

This is getting a little long. One last paragraph that strengthens my belief in a literal spirit birth in the preexistence:

From revelations given to Joseph Smith (see D&C 131–32) and from his own comments about them, plus subsequent statements from later prophets, (Teachings 300, Origin of Man, Doctrines of Salvation 2:68-69) we know that spirit bodies are procreated by resurrected, exalted couples who have “a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.” (D&C 132:19.) Spirits are “begotten and born of heavenly parents, and reared to maturity in the eternal mansions of the Father.” (Origin of Man) In our own primeval births, the eternal intelligence part of us was “organized” and provided opportunity to become part of God’s plan of salvation—with the potential to become like him. This doctrine is ennobling and intriguing—a subject that we hope will be among the many great and important things about which God will yet reveal more. (See A of F 1:9.)

The doctrine of the preexistence is a critical one, and very important to everything that comes after. I consider it one of the great contributions of the restoration of the gospel. I would be glad to hear your comments on this article and my little review of it.