Thanks!

All of the topics I intended to cover in the project were completed and the channel stands as more of a library of content to come back to as a resource rather than an ongoing search for new things to talk about all the time....and yes I am doing well and in good health! I stay involved on a daily basis now by answering comments and emails.

Agree!

Here is a link to the video I did entitled "Joseph's Seer Stone Culture": kzfaq.info/get/bejne/kNahoZNlsqzVnWw.html

Wow - I had to go check that out! Here is Acts 1:1-3 in the Geneva Bible: 1 I have made the former treatise, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 Until the day that he was taken up, after that he through the holy Ghost, had given commandments unto the Apostles, whom he had chosen. 3 To whom also he presented himself alive after that he had suffered, by many infallible tokens, being seen of them by the space of forty days, and speaking of those things which appertained to the kingdom of God. You are right - the KJV has infallible “proofs”, rather than infallible “tokens”. Thanks for sharing - this is really fascinating!

Glad to hear - thank you

Great to hear - thank you!

That is a good question and probably something I should have addressed in the video. My guess is these were 2 animals that Joseph didn’t have any knowledge or understanding of to use any type of adaptation (known as loan-shifting or semantic extension) like may have happened with some other things. Here is a great article from Wade Miller on the Scripture Central website entitled “Cureloms and Cumoms” in which he shares what archeology provides us with as to some possibilities of what these animals may have been: archive.bookofmormoncentral.org/sites/default/files/archive-files/pdf/miller/2023-06-01/11_cureloms_and_cumoms_54-70.pdf

As I explain in the first 11 minutes or so of the video, the comparisons I make are of Enoch material discovered after Joseph Smith’s death: 2 Enoch, 3 Enoch and the Book of Giants (found in the Dead Sea Scrolls). 1 Enoch was virtually lost to the western world until the Scottish explorer James Bruce brought a manuscript from his adventures in Africa to Europe in 1777. It was not translated in Europe into English until Archbishop Richard Laurence in Ireland translated it in 1821. The likelihood of Joseph Smith having access to this translation is rather remote (as I elaborate in the video), but just to take the argument off the table, I focused only on the Enoch discoveries that came after Joseph Smith died. Here is a helpful article describing these discoveries written by the scholar Jeffrey Bradshaw, entitled “The Rediscovery of Enoch”: latterdaysaintmag.com/the-rediscovery-of-enoch/

Agree!

Thank you and yes, please feel free to use any of the material!

Thank you. While there may be some similarities with pre-existence, there are a number of key differences in regards to reincarnation beliefs of Buddhists and Hindus. Here is a well written article in one of our church publications highlighting the similarities and the key differences (written by Spencer Palmer who has been a professor of comparative world religions at BYU): www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/08/i-have-a-question/what-exactly-is-reincarnation-is-it-contrary-to-the-teachings-of-the-gospel?lang=eng

Thank you for watching, commenting and most of all being open to our doctrine!

Yes - I think sometimes that is what is behind it

Thank you!

Thank you for watching and commenting! I will share how we would answer those questions, but to do so first requires explaining how we view the pre-mortal and post-mortal life, noting this is coming from a doctrinal perspective that might differ quite a bit from your background. Please stay with me on this because a number of things need to be explained so it will be lengthy, but then I will answer your questions at the bottom. We believe that we all existed as intelligences who were then born into God’s family as His spirit children. There we learned and progressed. We believe that we had agency to choose as spirits, between right and wrong. We believe God provided us with a plan (we call it the plan of salvation) in which we could progress further by coming to earth to obtain a physical body. We would have a veil placed over our mind so we couldn’t remember our pre-mortal life, allowing us to learn to experience the trials and oppositions of mortality, to learn to choose good and to follow God with faith, not by sight anymore. This would provide a deeper level of growth than could have been accomplished in the pre-mortal life. God knew we would make many mistakes while here on earth, but He provided a Savior for us, His only begotten Son in the flesh, Jesus Christ, which would allow us to be forgiven if we choose to follow Him. We believe that this plan was presented to us in the pre-mortal world and that there was an opposition to this plan, led by Lucifer before he was cast out, and became then known as Satan. While we don’t know exactly what he proposed, we are taught he sought to take away the agency of man. Lucifer, who wanted all the glory, essentially wanted to save everyone by not allowing agency, taking away the ability for us to truly grow. To have agency, you need to have 3 things: choices, freedom to choose, and consequences for the choices. My guess, especially based on what we see here on earth now, is Lucifer’s pitch was probably to take away consequences - everyone would be saved no matter what they did and without any requirements. It would have been an attractive sales pitch for those worried about failing here in mortality. We believe that the reward for us choosing God’s plan of salvation was to be able to be born into mortality on this earth. We believe those who did not agree with it and who maybe even tried, with Lucifer at their helm, to overthrow the Father’s plan, were cast down to earth, without receiving physical bodies. They became devils, allowed to be the opposition to good which is needed on earth for us to learn to use our agency to progress, strengthen our faith, and learn to become more like God. The scary arithmetic is that we believe 1 out of 3 spirit children rejected the Father’s plan and followed Lucifer. We believe that this “war in heaven” is what is described in Revelation 12 (vs 4 is where you read about the 1/3rd part, vs 7 the war and vs 9 the casting down to earth of Satan and all of his followers). Those who followed Satan and were cast down (like described in Revelation 12) are considered Satan’s angels (or better known as devils!) God has angels too whom He sends to visit the earth, with specific assignments to minister, strengthen, protect, warn or admonish His children. God’s angels are among His spirit children, either those who have not yet been born or those who have already been born and died, having been faithful to God’s plan. After death, we spend time in the spirit world, in a portion referred to as paradise, or another part referred to as spirit prison. Those in paradise have been faithful to God’s plan on earth and can serve as angels to teach and minister to those in spirit prison who never had a chance to know God’s plan on earth or who may have known it but never chose it. Prison is just a figurative word meaning their progress is stopped because they still need to be taught the gospel or repent and follow it. In this post-mortal spirit world, we can still repent and make progress with the help of angels who can teach and strengthen those who need it. For those who died in wickedness, spirit prison can be a hell for them as they will have to suffer great anguish for their sins that they would not repent of on earth. But if they do repent, and turn to Christ, they can be forgiven in the spirit world. Upon the resurrection and final judgement, we believe we don’t just go to heaven or hell. We believe there are 3 heavens or “degrees of glory” we are assigned to according to the degree we chose to follow Christ on earth and in the post-mortal spirit world phase. There is also a place referred to as outer darkness, where the very few will qualify to go - more on that belowl. In 1 Corinthians 15:40-42, Paul talks about the resurrections of the dead and different celestial bodies - comparing them in light or glory to that of the radiance of the sun, moon and stars (even the stars have light to us and are much better than darkness, but are a long ways in brilliance from the moon, and especially from the sun). He gives 2 of them names - Celestial and Terrestrial. We understand the last, that similar to the stars, to be the Telestial. Also, in 2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul talks about being caught up in a vision visiting the “3rd heaven”. If you want to read a description of a vision had by 2 individuals together - Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon in 1832, describing these 3 degrees of glory and who will be going there, along with outer darkness - it can be found in part of our canonized scripture known as the Doctrine & Covenants, specifically section 76 - here is a direct link: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/76?lang=eng Now that I have shared all of this background, I can address your two-part question. You asked first “if we have pre-earth lives in the spirit with the Father, how can such a large proportion of those follow evil and end up in hell?” Based upon our beliefs shared above, we would first acknowledge that anyone who is born on earth, followed God’s plan and chose Christ in the pre- mortal battle against Satan. We know this by the very fact that they were born and received a physical body. The devlis we don’t see, but are here, were punished by not being allowed to have a body and experience mortality. As far as who ends up in hell after this life, because we believe there is a post-mortal spirit world between death and the resurrection, people can change and repent there as well. Then after the resurrection, comes the final judgment where Christ is the judge, so it is hard for us to say who is going to which of the three kingdoms of glory or who will be among the very few who are cast down to outer darkness. The vision of the 3 degrees of glory and outer darkness mentioned above gives a very good idea of where someone will be assigned, but we have to be aware of that interim spirit world condition in which someone can change. Those in spirit paradise are working with and teaching those in spirit prison to try and help them change. We believe based on the descriptions, almost everyone will be rewarded with one of the 3 degrees of glory (although those assigned to the lowest will first have to suffer completely for their sins since they didn’t accept Christ’s atoning sacrifice on earth or in the post-mortal spirit world.) We don’t know what that suffering entails but even D&C 76:84 refers to their experience waiting in the spirit world to be some of the last resurrected as a “hell”. But even these people who lived wickedly on the earth and didn’t change in the spirit world end up after resurrection and final judgement in a “degree of glory” - the “telestial kingdom”, or lowest kingdom but still a degree of glory. D&C 76:89 says “And thus we saw, in the heavenly vision, the glory of the telestial, which surpasses all understanding” (imagine what the “moon” and “sun” glories must then be like!) The number who are cast into outer darkness is extremely limited, they are known as sons of perdition. They have committed what is known as the unpardonable sin, blasphemy against the Holy Ghost - see Matthew 12:31-32. In the link I shared above, see also vs 34-36 - Those who deny the Holy Ghost after having received it and crucify the Savior unto themselves will have no forgiveness and will be sons of perdition. Joseph Smith once elaborated on what this entails "All sins shall be forgiven, except the sin against the Holy Ghost; for Jesus will save all except the sons of perdition. What must a man do to commit the unpardonable sin? He must receive the Holy Ghost, have the heavens opened unto him, and know God, and then sin against Him. After a man has sinned against the Holy Ghost, there is no repentance for him. He has got to say that the sun does not shine while he sees it; he has got to deny Jesus Christ when the heavens have been opened unto him, and to deny the plan of salvation with his eyes open to the truth of it (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith Section Six 1843-44, p.358) So for the last part of your question - “Do the souls of irredeemably evil people like Hitler exist as premortal souls in hell before they’re born?”. We would say again that anybody born on earth chose God and Christ and their plan in the pre-mortal life. It’s hard to imagine that somebody like Hitler chose God’s plan in the pre-mortal world, but that is our understanding. Those who chose evil in the pre-mortal life are devils now and will never be born. As far as Hitler’s future, only Christ can be the judge and we believe all the above will apply. Hope that all helps - you may also enjoy 2 other videos I did on Restoring Original Christianity (in part 2 I discuss the 3 levels of heaven believed by the early Christians for example).

Great thought - thanks for sharing!

@@latterdaysaintsqa you are welcome! Sorry I am 4 years late! But I love your videos! Somehow I missed this one when it came out!!!

Thank you!

I try and list the source on each slide either at the top or bottom. You can find a helpful list of resources under the video description in the section titled resources. My top 3 book recommendations would be: Endowed with Power - How Temple Symbols Guide Us to Christ’s Atonement - C. Robert Line Sacred Symbols - Finding Meaning in Rites, Rituals & Ordinances - Alonzo Gaskill The Gate of Heaven: Insights on the Doctrines and Symbols of the Temple - Matthew Brown

Thanks for reaching out. You can find the building where your local congregation meets by using this link called the meetinghouse locator: maps.churchofjesuschrist.org I would also recommend visiting with the missionaries assigned to your area - you can request a visit by using this link: www.churchofjesuschrist.org/comeuntochrist/sg/form/request-missionary-visit

I've often wondered if there is something to that occasionaly! Here is a fascinating quote from President Eyring's last general conference address: I have been blessed to feel that peace every time I enter the sacred temple. I recall the first day I walked into the Salt Lake Temple. I was a young man. I looked up at a high white ceiling that made the room so light it seemed almost as if it were open to the sky. And in that moment, the thought came into my mind in clear words: “I have been in this lighted place before.” But then immediately there came into my mind, not in my own voice, these words: “No, you have never been here before. You are remembering a moment before you were born. You were in a sacred place like this where the Lord could come.”

Thanks - love the comment! You will also enjoy the video I put together entitled “Biblical Prophecies of the Restoration” - here is a direct link to it: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ZtugZNNjptGcoGw.html

Sorry if I didn’t articulate this more clearly toward the beginning of the video - all of the things shared in this video are specific items found in Enoch literature discovered after Joseph Smith died - specifically those things found in 2 Enoch, 3 Enoch, and especially the Book of Giants (found in the Dead Sea Scrolls discovery). Here is a deep dive on the topic if you would like to explore in-depth: “Could Joseph Smith Have Drawn on Ancient Manuscripts When He Translated the Story of Enoch?: Recent Updates on a Persistent Question - Jeffrey Bradshaw and Ryan Dahle - Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship 33 (2019): 305-374 journal.interpreterfoundation.org/could-joseph-smith-have-drawn-on-ancient-manuscripts-when-he-translated-the-story-of-enoch-recent-updates-on-a-persistent-question/#sdfootnote54sym

Thank you for sharing

Thanks for the comment and feedback. This was one of the earlier videos I did on the channel and I did enhance the audio (and where I was filming) shortly after this one. Although it was never perfect - which I addressed in the final video I did entitled Personal Reflections.

Thank you!!