It is with sadness that I note the deaths of 3 LDS missionaries in 5 days. On Monday (1/2/2006) Morgan W. Young was shot and killed in Virginia, being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was reportedly killed by a man fleeing the scene of a drug deal gone bad. On Friday (1/6/2006) Bradley J. Isle and Jonathan R. Talmadge were killed in a head-on collision in New Zealand.
My prayers go out to the grieving families of these young men. May they be comforted by the God of all comfort.
It is really sad when we read about anyone being Killed. I would like to ask
though where is the Hope in mormonism for these young men? Here is why I ask
this.
We read in the Book teachings of the Prophet Joseph smith, pg 107
That it states Alvin, JS brother made it into exaltition with out ever even
having been baptised for the remission of sins. Yet we read here in the book
Achieving a Celestail Marriage.
The Prophet spencer kimbal pg 30 says he makes it very clear we must do
certain things to enter the temple to be saved. also he gives a list called
(TEMPLE RECOMMEND INTERVIEW) which is 6 things. it says here When you are
interviewed for a temple recommend you will be asked about,
1. Church attendance
2. Payment of tithes and offerings
3. Loyalty to Church leaders.
4. Moral cleanliness.
5. overall faithfulness and worthiness.
6. Obedience to the Word of Wisdom.
Then we read in Gospel Principles pg 125 WE MUST KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF
GOD. To make our repentance complete we must keep the commandments of the
Lord (see D and C 1:32). we are not fully repentant if we do not pay tithes
or keep the sabbath day holy or obey the word of wisdom. we are not
repentant if we do not sustain the authorities of the church and do not love
the lord and our fellow man.
Lets add to that also pg 241 Eternal marriage is ESSENTIAL FOR EXALTATION.
Our exaltation dependeds on marriage then over on pg 242 it says “and in
order to obtain the highest, a man MUST ENTER INTO THIS ORDER OF THE
PRIESTHOOD [MEANING THE NEW AND EVERLASTING COVENANT OF MARRIAGE]; “and if
he does not, he cannot obtain it” D and C 131:1-3
Then Joseph F Smith says in the Book Doctrines of Salvation that not even
half the latter day saints will be saved. My points and questions are as
follows. Why is it Alvin made it into the 3rd heaven without even being
baptised for remmision of sins, yet we must follow the 6 laws laid out as it
were to enter the temple, in order for a shot at the 3rd heaven. If we must
do all those things listed in order to make our repentance sure, then we
dont know if the MM who was killed did all of them, but if he did not then
where is his hope.
Also If Marriage is a Major Requirment and is a must do, then what about the
young unmarried Mormon? And why did JFS feel not even half the LDS will be
saved? There is much it seems we must do in order to be saved. Also I know
mormons will or might say, there is baptism for the dead. While LDS believe
that, their in no mention of doing proxy marraiges in order to obtain the
3rd heaven. And with that said. If it were as simple as doing a proxy
baptism and proxy marraige, why even bother being an atcive LDS member if we
can be saved by proxy everything? Rick b