Comments on: One of the best things in life

By: Dyllon

Dyllon — Fri, 06 May 2011 00:45:48 +0000

What about Jesus saying that in heaven there will be neither marriage nor giving in marriage and that we will be like Angels?

By: Kassie

Kassie — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 17:59:41 +0000

Chris- I am so sorry you lost your father at such a young age. It must be very difficult. I was 32 when my father died and I still miss him terrribly. You asked why Mormons grieve at funerals or in private when someone dies and my answer would only be to speak to my own personal experience. I believe we grieve because we miss this person, and it saddens us to know they are no longer part of our lives. The hope of being together after death (for me) makes it not seem quite so bad. Pathological grief reaction happens to Mormons just as it does to other people. Some recover well, and move on, and others do not. I only know that if I thought I would NEVER see my sister again it would be much worse for me.
As to your question about visiting people in other kingdoms. I have never really heard this addressed by the Church leaders so I will defer to a priesthold holder here who will know more about this particular doctrine than I do. It’s a great question Chris! And I am curious to hear what someone else with more knowledge than I have will answer! Anybody?

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:47:43 +0000

@Kassie

I’m glad that you find comfort within your religion. But when you pity those people who don’t believe in “eternal” families, it’s kind of off-putting. My father died from cancer when I was 11. I do not believe in an afterlife. Am I depressed that I won’t see my father again? No. Because I know that I won’t. I know this may sound depressing to you. But it is reality. Please know that many people who have lost loved ones who are not of your religion are not depressed. Sure there is a time for grieving… and do you not also grieve as well? Which confuses me a little… why do I see Mormons grieve at funerals or in private (I have personally witnessed grieving Mormons) if they truly believe what they believe? I do not fault them for grieving. It’s only natural.

I have since let my father go and I am at peace that I know that he is no longer in pain.

Switching gears a little… is it Mormon doctrine that people in the Celestial kingdom can visit those in the lower two kingdoms?

By: Kassie

Kassie — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:35:00 +0000

after being married for 22 years (in the temple) and being blessed with 9 children who are all sealed to us because they are BIC (born in the covenant) I cannot begin to tell you the comfort we have in the LDS church because we know we will all be together in eternity. I lost a sister at age 6 due to a heart condition. It was devastating to our family (I was one of only 4) but the consolation of knowing she will be with our family in eternity is what got my mother and father and siblings and I through a horrendous experience. I feel so saddenned when I see families lose a family member and believe “that is it. we will never see her again.” How horribly depressing! Familes are forever!

By: Chris

Chris — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 15:00:25 +0000

I’ve been married for just over a year now. I can remember many people telling me that there is a lot contention in marriages … like we’ll start to bicker about many of the little things. The husband does things one way. The wife does those things another way… and then there’s disagreement and arguing. I think this stems for unrealistic expectations of one another. These expectations are very difficult to fulfill. And any unfulfilled desire will inevitably lead to a not-positive emotion. Removing expectations and replacing them with preferences, I think, is one of the keys to a lasting marriage. Is this a principle taught by Jesus? Perhaps it is a form of love…

By: Bret Spencer

Bret Spencer — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:32:00 +0000

Considering that those teachings of Christ include respect, love and tolerance (and much more), anyone who practices even one of those ideals ought to be happier than otherwise whomever they may be or whatever else they may believe. And it is always the case that people find those ideals in a great variety of sources depending on the life of an individual whether it be the Bible, Koran, Torah or life experiences.

By: RTC

RTC — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:06:00 +0000

You’re right – religiously heterogeneous families are less happy (Lehrer, Evelyn L., and Carmel U. Chiswick. 1993. “Religion as a Determinant of Marital Stability.” Demography 30.).

As for never saying that Mormons have a monopoly, you’re right, but this is awfully close, “Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Though, ironically, atheists are less likely to divorce than are evangelical Christians… Go figure?!?)

By: Thaddeus

Thaddeus — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 22:01:00 +0000

I gave one example to show that the Church does not encourage this disunity, but it may be perceived that way. In any part-member family, the relationships will be strained. This is true of Jews, Baptists, Muslims and many other religions.

Mormons don’t have a monopoly on happy families and I never claimed that.

By: RTC

RTC — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 21:21:00 +0000

So, let me see if I got your response straight: Apostate spouse leaves, it causes tension, but only because the “apostate” is trying to “force” his beliefs on his “believing” wife. It could never be because the believing “spouse” is trying to force his/her beliefs on the apostate? (Note: That is exactly what happened in every divorce I’ve seen resulting from one spouse losing faith and the other staying – it was the Mormon insisting on the divorce and not the other way around; and in most cases, the apostate was still willing to go to church, raise the kids Mormon, etc., but the believing spouse just couldn’t take living with a non-believer). So, it seems to me like you are putting all the blame on the apostate and none of it on the Mormon. This seems like black and white thinking – Mormons can do no wrong, ergo, it must be the non-Mormon who is at fault.

Also, you really want me to believe that the only happy families are Mormon families? That means 99+% of the world is wallowing in misery and their family lives suck. That, Thaddeus, is patently absurd! Mormons do not report themselves to be any happier than non-Mormons, nor do they rate their marital satisfaction as higher. (Again, look up Tim Heaton’s work on this – it’s a scientific and statistical question, not a question of what you want to believe.)

By: Thaddeus

Thaddeus — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 20:13:00 +0000

A Family is only happy in an atmosphere of love and respect. A critic of the Church may think he is doing his wife a big favor by "helping" her out of delusion, but consider how she feels. Attacked. Scorned. Made to feel stupid. (His reliance on rational arguments blinds him to her feelings). She is put on the defensive. Suddenly her husband is not supporting her and she pulls away from him so as not to be hurt any more.

The critic, still hoping to open his wife's eyes now sees his wife pulling away from him in favor of the Church. He blames the Church further. All he sees is the stranglehold they have on her.

In such a circumstance it would be difficult to maintain any semblance of a happy family.

Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.