JOEL - The spirit is a testifer of a truth that is revealed to you. It is verified by a warm comforting feeling deep within your chest and a feeling of peace in your soul. You know it is of the Holy Ghost when it comes as a gospel truth is revealed to you; or a sudden understanding of a gospel principle; or when receiving an answer to a prayer. Feelings associated with other things like an inspirational movie or listening to music, while similar, are mostly just a physiological response to your emotions.

TROY - I read the life after death book Embraced By the Light written by Betty Eade. I was wondering if she is a member and if you think the experience is real? I was wondering why the Lord would reveal so many new things to her to tell the world and not give that information through the prophet.

JOEL - Betty Eadie is a member of the LDS church, and her experience has been criticized by people of other Christian churches as being a fabrication of her own mind, influenced by her Mormon upbringing.
It is hard to know just how real her experience was. Some of the things she relates seem to be in contradiction to a few LDS doctrines. It very easily could have been a fabrication of her mind, much like a dream. But God does sometimes reveal things to people through dreams. Church leaders have usually explained that experiences like these are personal revelations that are only meant for the individual having the experience. Any important information or truths regarding our eternal life and the hereafter would be revealed through the prophets. Therefore what she was shown may or may not have been a true visit into the afterlife. But it does make for interesting reading for church members.

TROY - Will women ever recieve the preisthood?

JOEL - No. But if they did I am sure our home teaching statistics would greatly improve :-)

TROY - In the book Prophecy which has many quotes from General Authorities I was left with the impression that the big war towards the second coming is going to see the Russians as the enimies to the US. DO you think this is still relevant today or was that written in the time of struggles between the Russians and USwhich may be based on theories.

JOEL - It is possible that some of the opinions were influenced by the conditions that existed at the time. The scriptures only say that there will be "wars and rumors of wars", and that "nation shall rise against nation" (Matt. 24:6-7), but do not really specify who will be the main participants. The Doctrine and Covenants adds a little more information when it says:
"And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion," (D&C 45:26)
So it sounds like everyone will be involved in some way.

TROY - If I'm an unworthy priest and I bless the sacrament is that sacrament valid for the rest of the congregation?

JOEL - Yes it is, as long as the members of the congregation are worthy to take it, because the Sacrament is a personal thing between you and God. Perfection is not a requirement for priesthood bearers to be permitted to function in various ordinances and callings. Even though priesthood bearers are imperfect in many ways, the Lord allows them to carry out his work. While local leaders will want to do everything they can to see that only worthy brethren administer the sacrament, the ordinance does not become invalid if someone involved is unworthy at the time he participates. The same thing goes for baptisms, ordinations, etc. The sanctity of the ordinance may be violated, but not the validity. The priest will be held accountable for performing the ordinance unworthily.

TROY - Do you think the prophets today see heavenly Father or Jesus or Angels or is that only at times when big revelations are needed. They never seem to mention it anymore like the old prophets did like Joseph F Smith.

JOEL - It's possible that they have, but it would be a very personal experience that would lose its sacredness by telling everyone about it. Visits from God and angels, that we are told about, normally only come when some very important truth needs to be revealed to the church or some new ordinances or keys need to be passed on to the church leadership. This has not really been necessary since Joseph F. Smith recieved his revelation about the Spirit World (D&C 138). But I do believe it is possible that the Savior has revealed Himself to some of our prophets in a personal way for their own benefit.