tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post7802788835179643257..comments2024-03-13T12:52:19.391-07:00Comments on Pure Mormonism: The Opposite of FearAlan Rock Watermanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comBlogger80125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-9224806205138638742015-01-16T00:22:07.296-08:002015-01-16T00:22:07.296-08:00Wow. This is such a moving post!!!! I felt the S...Wow. This is such a moving post!!!! I felt the Spirit sooo strongly and felt so edified and I too felt the desire to do good and to do as Jesus would do.<br />Never stop blogging Rock! <br />The words God gives to you touch many people, even here in New ZealandAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08005878453522631361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-30995049141517220052014-07-18T21:50:38.881-07:002014-07-18T21:50:38.881-07:00Maybe love is not always about giving people what ...Maybe love is not always about giving people what they physically need or want....but about teaching eternal spiritual truths. Jesus said that the "Poor" will always be with us but will the Son of man?Minerals Liberiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10641231774224870686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-88697558278374733272014-07-02T22:15:26.577-07:002014-07-02T22:15:26.577-07:00Wow, Rixa, I'm really impressed that you put y...Wow, Rixa, I'm really impressed that you put yourself out there like that. And you have us beat by a mile. We once took in a family we found standing outside a Taco Bell in unbearable heat with all their luggage lying at their feet.<br /><br />Seems they had been traveling out from the east with another couple, and that couple was arrested here in Sacramento on some warrant. The car was impounded, and that left this couple with their three young kids stranded in Sacramento with no money and no way to get home.<br /><br />They were drinking from cups of ice water they had obtained from inside Taco Bell, but were hungry, hot, and tired.<br /><br />Anyway, we weren't that well off ourselves, but we packed them all into the car and took them home so they could shower, eat, and rest for a week or so. Then when they were able, we drove them to a better freeway location and left them with more food and a little money and sent them off with prayers. <br /><br />We heard from them after they got back home, and were grateful they made it okay. We couldn't do as much for them as they deserved, but at least we got them off the street until the heat wave passed.<br /><br />Anyway, your story is inspiring, and you're right; we always benefit from these friendships. The rewards of becoming acquainted with those who might have been strangers is a great reward.<br /><br />One day I'll tell about the guy I picked up in a blizzard and took home with me who we're pretty sure turned out to be an angel. Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-54477438105004438702014-07-02T20:37:03.731-07:002014-07-02T20:37:03.731-07:00I know I'm late to the party, but your post to...I know I'm late to the party, but your post touched me so much that I wanted to comment. (I've been reading through lots of your older posts for fun, hence the late comment). <br /><br />I love what you said about giving to the poor/needy being an act of love that we do eagerly, not to "get blessings." Not because we "should," but because it's a natural outgrowth of Christian love. Anyway we had the opportunity to invite a family of 10 to stay with us for several months over this last winter. We didn't know them beforehand...they had taken all of their 8 children out of school and traveled all around the country having a grand adventure and somehow squeaking by. They stopped for several weeks in our little town because the dad had served a mission here 25+ years ago. They were living in a campground. I heard through the Mormon grapevine that there was a family living in a campground and I wanted to meet them. So I brought some bread and showed up unannounced and started chatting. We invited their family over for dinner a few times. <br /><br />A few weeks passed by. WE continued to have them over for dinner, etc. We really liked them and enjoyed their company. So when the weather turned quite cold (near the end of October) we invited them to move in with us (our own family has 4 little kids) making 16 people in one house. They stayed for a bit over 3 months...basically all during the Winter Of Eternal Horribleness aka the Never-Ending Polar Vortex. <br /><br />Sure, sometimes I got a bit overwhelmed by all the people and noise in the house. Sometimes I just wanted my house back to myself. (This happens even when my own family are visiting!) But overall it was a really fantastic experience, and I feel that we benefited from having this lovely family as much as they did from us. The mother was an intensely spiritual woman, a healer and visionary. We had many deep discussions, and she shared what she had learned about communicating with God and with angles and about healing and working miracles. <br /><br />Anyway, this is a really long-winded way of saying: helping the poor/needy ideally won't be where you think of yourself as "such a good person to be helping the less fortunate" (patting self on the back) but one in which you are both enriched from the exchange. Rixanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-76575906621425163252013-10-14T00:42:13.264-07:002013-10-14T00:42:13.264-07:00The change of the name from Book of Commandments t...The change of the name from Book of Commandments to Doctrine and Covenants reflected a change in the contents of the book. The Book of Commandments contained only revelations. The Doctrine and Covenants contained the “Lectures on Faith”—seven theological treatises—in the first part, which was titled “On the Doctrine of the Church of the Latter-day Saints”; and the revelations, or “PART SECOND, Covenants and Commandments” in the second part. The title, “Doctrine and Covenants,” probably came from the titles of the two parts of the book. In 1921 the “Lectures on Faith” were removed from the Doctrine and Covenants, “not because they were called in question, for they are excellent lectures of great value on the the principles of faith, but because they were not revelations.” (Hyrum M. Smith and Janne M. Sjodahl, Doctrine and Covenants Commentary, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1957, p. xvii.) http://www.lds.org/ensign/1984/12/the-story-of-the-doctrine-and-covenants?lang=eng<br />LCHoffnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-48322456375075735492013-05-21T04:36:30.195-07:002013-05-21T04:36:30.195-07:00Thank you for the kind words and heartfelt blessin...Thank you for the kind words and heartfelt blessing,Scott. Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-89593522274698236622013-05-21T00:17:39.255-07:002013-05-21T00:17:39.255-07:00Incredible! Very inspiring, Rock! The detail you p...Incredible! Very inspiring, Rock! The detail you provide in your blog just gives me a great sense of the amount of Love you have for others and the amount of Faith you have gained in trusting God to bless you and keep you and protect you. You have inspired me to be a better person. I have been reading many of your posts and I agree with most everything you have shared. Thank you so much for your inspiring Guidance. I pray that our Father may continue to bless you in your faith. When you talked about your Baptism by Fire, I could feel it. I know what that is like. It is very real. I hope that I can follow your example and do more good works.<br /><br />Here is one of my favorite verses from the Book of Mormon: Mosiah 5:15: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/5.15?lang=eng<br /><br />"Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen."<br /><br />God bless.<br /><br />ScottAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05124282799296089867noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-48255489106494389292013-01-17T07:36:33.692-08:002013-01-17T07:36:33.692-08:00The Garden of Eden idea came from a protestant min...The Garden of Eden idea came from a protestant minister who's article I read. It made me really think about my attitude about life. I agree that if we promise to help someone in need and don't, we allow the to suffer and in a sense we throw ourselves "under the bus"- in the long run of course.<br /><br />I read a story by a lady who had gone through a lot of trials in her life. She had been betrayed by about everyone in her life and became very bitter. She did not like how she felt so she prayed to the Lord for help and He helped her come to an understanding that helped her heal from the pain of life's vicissitudes (being thrown under the bus). The thing that stuck out to me the most was when she said that we all have to walk the path of life under our own power, but that when we see someone stumble and fall we can help the get up so that they can continue their journey. She realized that she couldn't and shouldn't carry them - that is Christ's job - but could and should help them get up. Gary Huntnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-59403096827205446742013-01-16T14:16:08.049-08:002013-01-16T14:16:08.049-08:00Thanks Gary. I agree with your Garden of Eden idea...Thanks Gary. I agree with your Garden of Eden idea. We need to remember we are not on the same plane of existence as God is or as we were in the Garden of Eden. Where I come from, if you promise to help someone but don't help them when they need you the most, you have thrown them under the bus. However my ways are not God's ways. Thanks again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-55000311587063063572013-01-16T14:13:20.979-08:002013-01-16T14:13:20.979-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-17390674095225449162013-01-14T21:30:33.375-08:002013-01-14T21:30:33.375-08:00Weston:
I agree with you. I think most of us have...Weston:<br /><br />I agree with you. I think most of us have been taught that if we do this, that and the other thing, in other words obey all the rules our leaders teach us, that we would be blessed beyond our wildest dreams. The fact is that there are no guarantees in life except "death and taxes." <br /><br />On my mission when things were not going well we would tell each other, "keep going Elder, you will be blessed, maybe not in this life but in the next." It became kind of a joke. You know, something to say to keep our sanity.<br /><br />One thought which comes to mind is that maybe we, as a Church, are looking back to the Garden of Eden as the ideal and not looking forward to returning to live with God.<br /><br />Thanks for your comments.<br /><br />Gary Huntnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-26636711713294154352013-01-14T09:37:52.525-08:002013-01-14T09:37:52.525-08:00I understand what you're saying Rock, but unfo...I understand what you're saying Rock, but unfortunately God is not always there for us when we need him. I believe we need to teach this more often in Church. In several scripture our church uses, God tells us if we ask in faith, we will receive. Tell that to the guy being tortured to death in a Viet Cong prison camp, who screams out, "God smite them dead!" Or the father who prays and weeps and prays and weeps over a sick child, a child who later dies. God is NOT always there for us, no matter how much "faith" we have, this is a fact of life we need to talk about more often, but nobody has the balls to say it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-65315649154764939692013-01-09T22:26:33.823-08:002013-01-09T22:26:33.823-08:00Still waiting to hear from you, JR.Still waiting to hear from you, JR.Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-77680364035198696922013-01-09T22:25:46.342-08:002013-01-09T22:25:46.342-08:00Weston, it's nice to see you have some compass...Weston, it's nice to see you have some compassion under that rough persona of yours. <br /><br />I do differ with you on one point, however. It is not God who throws us under the bus. He does not work against us. Call it life, fate, or simply the vicissitudes of life, but it isn't God. God is there to give us love and comfort when life throws its worst at it. But God is not the one throwing the curves.Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-38956869722771583252013-01-08T00:54:05.009-08:002013-01-08T00:54:05.009-08:00Very nice stuff..Very nice stuff..Play angry Birdshttp://www.parksonsgames.com/abtradingcards/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-60033800681498055422013-01-04T11:01:15.920-08:002013-01-04T11:01:15.920-08:00Hang in there JR. This world is a tough tough pla...Hang in there JR. This world is a tough tough place. No matter how many Sunday School Lessons you sit through that teach about the blessings the Lord gives you for doing good works, the bottom line is: The Lord throws His children under the bus all the time. He has thrown me under the bus so many times I don't even keep track any more. But I am also able to pull myslef out every time. Don't give up, be a fighter. Look at the animal world our Lord has created, the ones who fight survive. Keep fighting, and don't stop praying, and you will pull through. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-30177731592648305262013-01-03T20:46:11.468-08:002013-01-03T20:46:11.468-08:00JR, I have no easy answers why bad things happen t...JR, I have no easy answers why bad things happen to good people, but I did read this comment to Connie and she would like to talk with you. Please email me with your phone number and Connie will call you on Saturday or Sunday.<br /><br />RockWaterman@gmail.comAlan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-8616391182052797712013-01-03T16:01:41.427-08:002013-01-03T16:01:41.427-08:00What am I doing wrong? Even though we don't h...What am I doing wrong? Even though we don't have enough for us we still help others. Do I not have enough faith? If so how do I get the faith and exercise it? I really want to know. We have always been loaded down with medical bills. We have sacrificed to help family and never got anything in return and never expected it (except grief and ill will). We do everything we are supposed to do and yet the universe is always working against us. Years ago we asked for church help and were treated badly so I won't ever ask again. The debt started when we lost our second born after 6 years of marriage and barely starting a new job. Our portion to pay was over $200,000.00 plus funeral expenses. No help from family or anyone. Never recovered from it. We are are having major health issues and have major medical debt now, and helping our ill uninsured child get the help he needs. We rescue abused animals, help others, let my husband's family take advantage of us (about to cause us a divorce), etc. I know there are people worse off than me. But for once I would like a little help so I can take care of my kids and meet their needs, which we can't right now. What do I need to do to open the blessings we so desperately need? I don't help others and do what I do to expect blessings, I do it because my conscious won't let me do otherwise. I'm a softie and want to help everyone. But now my family needs help. I am very tired of everything working against us no matter what we do. JRnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-74896490921019761472013-01-03T10:34:13.436-08:002013-01-03T10:34:13.436-08:00You know you love my inriguing comments. Who else...You know you love my inriguing comments. Who else would read your tasteless blog if I didn't show up once in a while to spice things up a bit? Maybe next time I will post a picture of myself shirtless. That will really get you some hits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-12257950512138198702013-01-02T13:38:05.189-08:002013-01-02T13:38:05.189-08:00Weston, you have not been blocked. Whenever the to...Weston, you have not been blocked. Whenever the total comments on a piece exceeds 200, it turns a page. Look for the instruction "Load More" right under the last comment; that'll get you to the additional comments under my piece on Tithing where you will find your little masterpiece posted for all the world to see.Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-34749469207940901112013-01-02T11:35:53.591-08:002013-01-02T11:35:53.591-08:00Blcoked?Blcoked?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-27673853267843262852012-12-03T02:33:16.337-08:002012-12-03T02:33:16.337-08:00Thank you, Kerri! That is an astounding miracle -a...Thank you, Kerri! That is an astounding miracle -and so recent, too. God bless you back.Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-24441166536347095162012-12-03T00:19:46.271-08:002012-12-03T00:19:46.271-08:00To add my timely bit of testimony of FAITH and LOV...To add my timely bit of testimony of FAITH and LOVE, I will be brief. In early October my 5-yr-old had a unique and critical accident at the factory my husband owns & operates (visiting daddy at work, his favorite thing). He had to be life-flighted from our nearest hospital to a children's hospital and no medical professionals had any logical hope of our son surviving. Even the flight, let alone this once-in-history emergency surgery. I had lots of thoughts drift through my mind, constantly praying, and sometime during the surgery I remembered words about faith from the Savior. So many. And I decided that logic (and really worry/fear) be damned (excuse the phrase), I was going to believe that we would receive the miracle we wanted. It was transformative. Long story short, our son was completely, COMPLETELY restored. But MORE THAN THIS, I came to see & feel (over the three weeks in the hospital) the absolute LOVE that was directed to our family, mostly through prayer, and by thousands of people all over the world, most of whom didn't know my family at all. I learned a precious lesson about us all truly being brothers and sisters and love being our connection to each other, if we'll just let it. I came home from the hospital feeling we were blessed much more than what the trauma was, and despite the looming $250,000 in medical bills, as we are uninsured. I could not doubt that God would continue to provide, as we continue to believe (and be generous). And so He has. <br />I have to also say that November was, for me, a much more difficult month than October. I think because those prayers stopped. But also because I have not found ways to express this new understanding of love, and of faith. <br />I found this blog via link to a many years' earlier post and have since read many posts, but only today read this one, which I feel is so confirming and reassuring to me at this time of "dip" after a "high". Thank you, and bless you & your dear wife!kdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10285220457127627315noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-61901856932139801992012-11-29T18:40:47.571-08:002012-11-29T18:40:47.571-08:00We аbѕolutely lоve уour blog and fіnd mοѕt of your...We аbѕolutely lоve уour blog and fіnd mοѕt of your post's to be precisely what I'm looking for.<br />Do you offer guest wгitеrs to wгite cоntent аvailablе <br />fоr you? I wоuldn't mind publishing a post or elaborating on a number of the subjects you write related to here. Again, awesome web log!<br /><br />https://twitter.com/i80equip<br /><i>Feel free to visit my webpage</i> - <b><a href="https://twitter.com/i80equip" rel="nofollow">bucket truck sales</a></b>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1342380624800894371.post-62459650094868558482012-11-18T21:07:34.437-08:002012-11-18T21:07:34.437-08:00(JewelFox Continued)
You misquote me as saying &q...(JewelFox Continued)<br /><br />You misquote me as saying "the government can't solve our problems." <br /><br />What I said was "the government won't SAVE us," and read in context you will recall that this was in reference to the unavoidable devaluation of the dollar that is certain to occur within the next few years. When the inevitable happens, the government will not be ABLE to save us, and it has nothing to do with who won or lost the last election. The problem is systemic, and has been building for decades. Many, many financial experts don't believe we can dodge this bullet, and arguing party politics in this matter is a waste of time.<br /><br />Quite recently, noted commodities trader Ann Barnhardt gave a presentation explaining why this juggernaut is unstoppable. It's titled "The Economy Is Going To Implode-And You Deserve To Understand Why."<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WraPInMTGwU<br /><br />Settle in, because it's a two and a half hour presentation, but if you wish to take the blinders off, I recommend you devote the time.<br /><br />If you want some shorter analyses, There are plenty of other experts who, unlike the paid network and corporate shills, will tell you the truth about what is about to happen to you. While on Youtube, search the names Peter Schiff, Gerald Celente, Max Kiser, the late Bob Chapman, and our own Joel Skousen, for starters. Take a look over at LewRockwell.com and scan the articles.<br /><br />Even now those receiving food stamp assistance are finding those coupons are not buying the same amount of groceries they did last month or the month previous, and this before hyperinflation is even under way.<br /><br />Those dependent upon government aid may continue to receive their checks in the mail, they just won't buy nearly as much as they used to. This has nothing to do with whether you believe socialism is working in other countries. The system cannot sustain itself indefinitely, we appear to be approaching the tipping point. <br /><br />I repeat: the government won't save us. It will not be able to.<br /><br />You accuse me of insulting people like you, JewelFox, which puzzles me. I AM people like you. From your letter I deduce you have had some very difficult times; so have I. But from the tone of your letter I also gather you see me as in league with your oppressors. <br /><br />The lesson I had hoped to convey in my post was that even if we have nothing of monetary substance to give to someone else, we can still offer love and encouragement. We can still offer a smile and a good word. Money is helpful, but it's not the only thing. Look outward, Angel. Alan Rock Watermanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04971243364867111868noreply@blogger.com