TWIGGY - How come Revelations 2-3 states that in Heaven, God dwells with all contra D&C 76?

JOEL - We believe these chapters in Revelation are talking specifically about the Celestial kingdom where God will dwell with all who have earned that particular reward, whereas D&C 76 describes the different kingdoms of heaven and who will go there.

TWIGGY - Why do Latter-day Saints believe that the Holy Ghost is different from the Holy Spirit? The word in Greek can be translated as both Ghost and Spirit and thus, they are the same.

JOEL - We don't believe they are different. The Holy Spirit and Holy Ghost are two names for the same third member of the Godhead.
The Holy Ghost (also called the Holy Spirit or Holy Spirit of Promise) is the third member of the Godhead and can be a constant companion for those who have been baptized and have receiced this gift by the laying on of hands.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, (Acts 8: 17-18, Acts 19:6)

Both the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and covenants use these terms interchangebly but are talking about the same thing. For example:

"Take upon you mine ordination, even that of an elder, to preach faith and repentance and remission of sins, according to my word, and the reception of the Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands; (D&C 53: 3)

and

"For he shall lay his hands upon thee, and thou shalt receive the Holy Ghost, and thy time shall be given to writing, and to learning much." (D&C 25: 8)

Sometimes the Holy Ghost(or Spirit) is confused with something else we call the "Spirit of Christ" (also called the "Light of Christ"). The Spirit of Christ is that influence that eminates from Christ Himself and gives all mankind a sense of right and wrong.

"That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." (See John 1:1-9)

"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God." (Moroni 7:16)

Occaisionally the term "Holy Spirit" might also be used when speaking of the "Spirit of Christ". The scriptures are not always precise in the use of such terminology, which can lead to some confusion. One must consider the context in which the term is used to understand which "Spirit" it is talking about.

TWIGGY - How come the NT writers and early Christians believed the sacrament (Eucharist) repersented them taking of the blood and body of Christ and its purpose was for them to remember the sacrifice of Christ while the the sacrament in LDS belief is just a physical reminder of covenants made at baptism?

JOEL - We take the sacrament for both reasons; the primary and most important reason is to remember Christ and His sacrifice.

"For, behold, I say unto you, that it mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink when ye partake of the sacrament, if it so be that ye do it with an eye single to my glory - remembering unto the Father my body which was laid down for you, and my blood which was shed for the remission of your sins. (Doctrine and Covenants 27: 2)

Renewal of our baptismal covenants is only a secondary reason.
Speaking of the Sacrament President Brigham Young declared:

"It is one of the greatest blessings we could enjoy, to come before the Lord, and before the angels, and before each other, to witness that we remember that the Lord Jesus Christ has died for us. This proves to the Father that we remember our covenants, that we love his Gospel, that we love to keep his commandments" (Teachings of Presidents of the Church:Brigham Young [1997], 151).

TWIGGY - How come LDS feel that Murder is unforgivable - Matthew 12:31 and Jeremiah 33:8 seems to imply against it. Also, why do LDS teach that the denial of the Holy Ghost is also unforgiveable? In Luke, it is about the end times during judgement, not during a mortal's life time?

JOEL -
"Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men." (Matthew 12:31)

"And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me." (Jeremiah 33:8)

The way we understand this is explained in our scripture:

"The blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, which shall not be forgiven in the world nor out of the world, is in that ye commit murder wherein ye shed innocent blood, and assent unto my death, after ye have received my new and everlasting covenant, saith the Lord God; and he that abideth not this law can in nowise enter into my glory, but shall be damned, saith the Lord." (D&C 132:27)

Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost and murder are the only sins we believe that there is no forgiveness for, and this only applies to those who have become members of God's church or "have received the knowledge of the truth"(Heb. 10:26) and received His everlasting covenant(D&C 132:27).

So it is possible that someone who murders or commits any other sin, who is not a member of the church, can receive forgiveness for all sins as the scriptures say.
Where Christ talks about this in Luke 12, in the whole chapter He is talking about things to do and watch out for in this lifetime. I don't see how one can interpret it to mean at the end at judgment day.
Also consider Verse 32 of Matthew 12 which says:

"And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come."

This verse appears to say that it is unforgiveable in both this lifetime and in the next life, not only at judgment day.

TWIGGY - How come Mosiah 26:23 seems to suggest that God creates sin?

JOEL -
"For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand." (Mosiah 26:23)

It sounds like it's saying He created sins if you only read this one scripture, but if not taken out of context you will see that God is talking about those of His church whose sins He will forgive(verse 22). "Them" refers to the people He created, not their sins.

TWIGGY - According to the Bible, works occur after saving faith - Eph. 2:7-9. How come Benjmain's speech indicates differently in the Book of Mosiah 1-6?

JOEL -
"That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph.2:7-9)

The LDS also believe that we are saved by grace and that works can occur before and after faith. We are saved by grace but our works come into play in determining which kingdom of heaven we end up in(1 Cor 15:40-42)

"For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." (2 Nephi 25: 23)

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."(Matt. 7:21)

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. (Rev 20:13)

Please see my section on Grace, Works, and Salvation at this page.

TWIGGY - If, as LDS apologists claim, that all prophecy, counsel, etc are conditional, what about D&C 1: 37,38 and similar verses in the Bible that states that all prophecy, etc will be fulfilled?

JOEL -
"Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (D&C 1:37,38)

As it says, the "prophesies and promises" of God will all be fulfilled in some way. But we might not understand how or realize when they will be fulfilled. We cannot rely on our own judgment to determine this.

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation." (2 Pet. 1:20)

Other things besides prophesies and promises, can have conditions. For example, when He gives instruction about something He wants someone to do. In Doctrine and Covenants 114, David W. Patton was instructed by God to serve a mission in the spring.Unfortunately he died before he could do this. This was not an unfulfilled prophecy, it was simply something God wanted him to do that did not happen because of opposing conditions relative to living on this world.

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