Travis

Why is faith in Jesus Christ so important? Why does God not simply reveal all things to everyone, making faith unnecessary? Does God intentionally obscure information to pressure a choice between faith and unbelief? If so, why? Let's start with Alma 41 for answers to these questions. At the last day we will all be raised, or resurrected, to a state consistent with the desires of our heart while in this life. If "the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good...and if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil...The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil" (v. 3-5) God already knows our hearts. He knows our inmost desires. We, however, do not know our own hearts. But because of our experiences in mortality, the true desires of our hearts will be revealed by the choices we make and we will come to know who we truly are at the core of our beings. Abinadi speaks to this in Mosiah 16:1 "The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just." So what does this have to do with faith? Lehi speaks directly to this question in 2 Nephi 2:16, 27 "Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other...wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil." By not revealing all things to us fully, which would eliminate the need for faith, God provides a context for us to be "enticed by the one or the other" so we can, in truth, choose for ourselves. So we can answer the questions above clearly: Yes, God does withhold knowledge, pressuring us to make a choice between choosing righteousness or wickedness based on desire. Because we must make that choice, over and over again throughout life, without all the knowledge of God, our choices become a reflection of our true desires for good or evil, rather than a selfish race for the prize or fear of punishment. Those who genuinely "hunger and thirst after righteousness" will be led by the promptings of the Holy Ghost, which requires faith, to follow Christ. The good news is, we get to choose! We are not coerced by God. We have every reason for optimism and hope! If we examine our hearts and consistently push ourselves to choose good and seek God, He will send the Holy Ghost to enlighten our minds, direct our path, and help us grow into truly Christlike beings! Without the need for faith, this simple and beautiful process would not be able to play out. As I reflect, I feel to exclaim with Lehi "behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things." (2 Ne 2:24)

@ferrell_travis You should contact your Church leadership and give them your message. What a dumb statement. Your church is promoting a satanic depopulation anti family depopulation replacement migration LGBTQ massive starvation UN Agenda 2030 global slavery. Repent youtu.be/t_puLRjfulQ

I’ve tried to stay out of this little controversy, but I will say this: Every criticism I’ve seen of this particular story appears to be based on projection. People are filling in the gaps in this short story with personal biases. Let’s respect this couple and the choices they’ve made. Let’s give them the grace we hope for. Let’s applaud them for striving to live their covenants in the best way they know how in their unique circumstances. Let us love them as Christ does. That is all.

@rogerecoff Where in the scriptures can you find this list of requirements?

If Mormons were true Christians then they would not: 1)proclaim the Book of Mormon to be true 2)proclaim Joseph Smith was a true prophet 3)teach tithing as a command 4)follow drink restrictions 5)Practice temple rituals 6)Sing praises to Smith 7)follow modern “prophets”

@jaxmarie82 Thank you. Well said.

Families come in all shapes and sizes. This is literally a home with a mother and father in it. Why all the hate? MYOB and be a peacemaker!!!

@realdeseretbro My rule: Faith before politics

@ferrell_travis Nah. It’s clear what is going on in the Church

@patgotweet @JabronicusFinch Yes

@JabronicusFinch @ferrell_travis 1- there have been tons of criticism toward “Nate” 2- there’s not a single thing that gets posted that is not carefully reviewed. It’s not just the PR department.

@patgotweet @Everyday_Powers A very good point

@Everyday_Powers @ferrell_travis And I’m wondering how people have missed the innumerable posts, articles, talks on the traditional family. 🤷🏼‍♀️

@CaliMed348 Thank you

@ferrell_travis Very thoughtfully articulated, I really think you've encapsulated the crux of the issue. Either this story is about A and people also wanted it to include B and C, or have objections based on details that were not shared in the post

@silly_tester @ChamoisWowois @Everyday_Powers

@ferrell_travis @ChamoisWowois @Everyday_Powers Travis. You are a closet homosexual

@silly_tester Second paragraph in my OP is not about the couple. Third paragraph is.

@ferrell_travis Dude. It’s not about the couple!!!! It’s about the church posting this narrative as well as the other one from BYUi

@VerityBryant91 You are proving my point. Every criticism I’ve seen of this particular story appears to be based on projection. People are filling in the gaps in this short story with personal biases.

My argument is not with this particular couple. It is with the church. This message is contrary to everything we have been taught about this issue. It is also very insulting to women, like me, whose families are raised and who obeyed the counsel we were given at the time. This implies that staying home is fine...if you are a women with no talents or dreams. What a terrible message.

No. An absolute would be “every criticism is based on projection” which is not what I said. My “missed the point” responses are not for comments challenging specifics but for comments responding to an argument I did not make. There are a number of comments here that I did engage with, disproving your claim.

@ferrell_travis @JabronicusFinch You are using absolutes: “Every criticism I’ve seen of this particular story appears to be based on projection. People are filling in the gaps in this short story with personal biases.” And when someone challenges specifics. You say, “you missed the point.” 🤷‍♂️🤦‍♂️

@ferrell_travis I asked grok whether the post implies it is good for women to work. immediately it spits out: Yes, the post implies that it is good (or at least a positive, sacred choice) for women to work. Here's why, based on the exact content from the official (etc)

@Zion_GPT @JabronicusFinch Only to those who do not understand the point (assuming honest intent). Not my job to continue explaining in the absence of good faith questions.

@ferrell_travis @JabronicusFinch You say “you missed the point of my post” a LOT.

@ChamoisWowois @Everyday_Powers Thank you for proving my point

@ferrell_travis @Everyday_Powers The church is the one who used them as a vehicle to backtrack on a century's worth of teachings that we should put aside worldly goals and feminist ideals in order to create a family with a traditional structure.

@faisidro I think you are reading conflicts into this situation unnecessarily. That was kind of the whole point of my post. Everyone should just take a step back and look for their own hidden biases and separate the actual messaging from the meanings we project onto the messaging.

@ferrell_travis I fully support Church changes, but this feels disconnected. We just got an apostolic warning about birth rates not following the world's trend, and then this communication drops right after. I completely get why everyone is talking about it.

@TheCaptTenneal @Everyday_Powers Then I am unconvinced you comprehend the point.

@ferrell_travis @Everyday_Powers Read. Reread. Point stands.

@ChamoisWowois @Everyday_Powers They deserve an apology from the church members who have piled on, but they won’t get one. They don’t need an apology from the Church.

@ferrell_travis @Everyday_Powers Which is why the church owes this couple an enormous apology. I've said it many times, I don't have anything against this couple and wish them all the best in their journey. But there are so many deep implications that come from the the church highlighting this story as an ideal

@Thenameisal92 The implication is in the eye of the beholder

@ferrell_travis this post MOST DEFINITELY implies it's good for women to work, and quite obviously too

@ferrell_travis Good post. And most of the comments seem to just prove the point.

@DanielM65604046 @WiseSerpent1 False equivalence

@WiseSerpent1 @ferrell_travis If two women want to get married and get impregnated by random strangers to start a family let's respect their choices duurrrhhhhh