yay for b-day cake!

Your response to the many scriptures I listed about our relationship to God is philosophical, not scriptural. Where in the bible does it equate our relationship to God as something philosophically similar to ANY example you gave (dog vs. master --human)? Are dogs made in our image? In fact, God gave us dominion (much like his role in the universe) over the animals...so we are different---we are simply FALLEN. And why are we fallen...? Was that an accident. While you reject the plan of Salvation set forth in the restored gospel...your interpretations (not singly yours, but of the bulk of 'Christianity') do not provide any answers for why God placed us in the garden...and what our purpose is in the next life...the restored gospel says unequivocally that exaltation is incumbent upon our having family relationships--that are eternal....while you suggest our purpose will be....? Furthermore, the restored gospel provides a way back for EVERYONE who has ever lived---while Mainstream Christianity prescribes a very heartless black and white solution: heaven and hell...and no clear answers for who is going where. that's problematic if you want to assert that God is a loving God...because He wouldn't leave such matters to be unclear when it involves the souls of mankind for Eternity. There would be a clear plan, that EVERYONE can understand.

"were the pharisees literally sons of the devil? "

No...it's certainly symbolic language for their behavior--but correlation in language does not equal the causality of mankind (the nature of our Creator, and our relationship to Him). There are plenty of scriptures that outline this relationship (namely those I listed above that span the entire bible)---including modern revelation which you have chosen to reject. Whereas the Pharisees reference was isolated--not a pattern in the bible for those choosing wickedness. The relationship of Christ to the Father is outlined OVER AND OVER in the New Testament...the case could be made that the NT is really a testament of Jesus Christ OF HIS FATHER...not of Himself. His very last moments on the cross illustrate the beauty and harmony in his ultimate submission to HIS Father.

"Take Genesis 3:22, if we look at the whole verse we see the how we became like God. We knew good from evil."

Exactly. We needed to be tested...to see if we would submit our will to God in an environment where we have temptation and free agency...we know pain, therefore we appreciate joy--and vice versa. This is at the very root of the doctrine of gods in embryo. We are learning to become stewards of all that the Father has---receiving His throne as JOINT-HEIRS WITH CHRIST. This life is testing our willingness to make and keep sacred covenants.

" Take Galatians 4:7 and Romans 8:17 if we look at the context we see that we are heirs with Christ through our adoption not our birthright."

right...but adoption into the House of Israel...which is the inheritance given to Abraham (the Celestial kingdom). So basically, we are adopted into the same house as the Jews---last shall be first, first shall be last...but nevertheless we ARE adopted...this is no different than birthright! the blessings are still the same! That's the miracle of the atonement...What a work He has accomplished! Exaltation of those that least deserve it if they submit and become like a child--meek and submissive. If we merely choose Him through submission--we can be exalted WITH Christ.

"In Acts 17 Paul is quoting pagan poets and showing how silly such a view is when we see that they are worshiping stone and bronze images in Athens. "

Yes... So while God wants us to understand our potential (as Paul is teaching)...He doesn't want us to worship ourselves or false gods because it is only through His Son, Jesus Christ--that we can realize this potential! It isn't either or, it is BOTH. We have divine potential, but that is ONLY accomplished through the atonement of Jesus Christ. This is at the very core of what the temple teaches--with rich symbolism.

'Furthermore just because someone or something bears the image of another does not mean that the image is a child of that which it represents? If that were the case your avatar icon would be your child.'

That logic does not follow the teachings of the restored gospel. The restored gospel teaches a family relationship...no one has suggested that we BECOME GOD...we BECOME LIKE HIM---this is taught in the bible. So my avatar might be changed to a family portrait instead of just myself. The bible also teaches that the earth would be utterly wasted at his coming without the promise of Elijah (families being saved--hearts of children turn to fathers) Luke 1:7, Hebrews 11:40, Malachi 4:6, these all correlate to D&C 110:15

I'll have to respond to your baptism comments later, my kids are bugging me to take them swimming :) Have a nice day

yes, we loved it! Thank you---he loves bathtime---so anything to heighten the experience! Thank you, I thought I sent you an email :( my bad!

Love ya,

Amanda

Mormon's don't think we are God's in embryo with a capital 'G'--that's an extremely misleading construct...we believe we are the children of God--no 'god's' before God---That doesn't mitigate our Eternal potential as His children!

Mainstream Christianity's explanation for this relationship is extremely esoteric to me. I don't mean that to be patronizing...it simply does not make sense, and is not verified by the Holy Ghost (I'm speaking for myself here). Cogent? I'm not so sure I agree. Mormon doctrine has never suggested we are 'Gods'..but rather 'gods' in EMBRYO (that's two degrees of separation from the Father--not equal to, let alone before or greater)...so how does that break the first commandment? Especially considering what the bible teaches about our potential:

1 Jn. 3: 2 when he shall appear, we shall be like him. (like Him? that violates the 1st commandment!)
Ps. 82: 6 ye are gods;, and all of you are children of the most High.
Gal. 4: 7 if a son, then an heir of God; through Christ. (an heir of God? that's in violation!)
Acts 17: 29 we are the offspring of God.
Gen. 3: 22(Moses 4: 28) man is become as one of us.
Lev. 19: 2(1 Pet. 1: 16) be holy: for I . . . am holy. (we are asked to be holy like Christ? that's in violation!!)
Matt. 5: 48(3 Ne. 12: 48) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father;. (perfect? That's in violation!)
John 10: 34(Ps. 82: 1-8; D&C 76: 58) Is it not written in your law . . ; Ye are gods
Rom. 8: 17 heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.
2 Cor. 3: 18 changed into the same image from glory to glory.
Rev. 3: 21 him that overcometh will . . . sit with me in my throne. (sit in God's throne? that's a violation!)

By your arbitrary standards, these verses would also be breaking the 1st commandment. There is nothing blasphemous about doctrine that proclaims we are sons and daughters of the Most High---it's supported by scripture! Even in His creation of Adam and Eve--God says He made Adam in His image---you could also say that is blasphemous! How could Adam and Eve be created in the image of God--isn't that idol worship? God is breaking His own commandment? Since your application of the 1st commandment is far from systematic--it's difficult to understand how you reason this to be the case. Only LDS doctrine is scrutinized--but we won't apply the same standard to what the bible actually teaches? That is not cogency, it's confusion.

It is categorically false doctrine, and deception from the adversary that our creation was like God planting flowers in a garden---we aren't REALLY His children--that's just symbolic language for His 'creation' (not saying we are literal children in glory--not yet..but that was the purpose of the atonement, to be Resurrected in Glory--so it's literal in terms of potential)...like Him drawing stick figures on a piece of paper! And families aren't Eternal---our most loving and important relationships in this life tragically do not continue in the next life--in fact, marriage is a sacrament in this life but upon death God issues a bill of divorce?
Matthew 16:
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

How would you interpret this verse? What kinds of things are bound in earth that have eternal consequences? What do 'keys' mean in this verse specifically? This is important, and I know you are an extremely insightful ambassador to your faith--so I look forward to your response.

Also, where do we get that 'one' baptism Paul speaks of?

"So if God is without beginning or end, how could He have a body of flesh that is corporeal?"

That statement reads like I thought Thomas Aquinas was asserting God had a corporeal nature--when in fact he is asserting that corporeal nature is for creatures of 'time'--yet LDS believe in the corporeal nature of God. My question was rhetorical, in nature--a challenge to LDS doctrine, and simultaneous challenge to the definition of corporeal nature and overall nature of God...but even now as I read it--maybe my caffeine high is skewing my perception because it's confusing even me. So the diagram and quote was intended to show the non-answer of the 'answers' given by the doctrine of the trinitarian God. I do know what I intended to say--but am confused myself in how I said it--let me get a good nights rest and re-evaluate the message--and where I went wrong in communicating it.

Don't tell my bishop that I'm drinking caffeine!

well, I'm sure there is always room for improvement! My main concern is gun safety--which comes with the regular use of guns...shooting and just learning about them.

Liberals seem to think that gun safety means scaring people into thinking guns are some kind of esoteric threat to mankind...when the real threat is ignorance and lack of preparation.

It seems that most people who are afraid of guns...hardly use them. The more I use them, the more comfortable I am with arming myself. My little brother (27, so not that little anymore) has a permit to carry a concealed weapon...he showed it to me a couple of weeks ago. I am at ease knowing that when in a potentially harmful situation that my brother not only has a weapon, but knows how to use it safely and effectively.

I'm actually a pretty good shot...just don't have my own gun yet.

ha ha!

SERIOUSLY!

The media is so oooey goooey it makes me literally sick. If only Katie Couric was within vomit-shot...

I don't care if Judge Sotomayor was the first alien to land on planet earth, and brings with her the cure for cancer and immigration policies---her own comments and philosophy are damning. Where is the ACLU?

Everyone is guilty of B.O. at times, no?

I hope it doesn't come to a civil war...but liberals are foolish to think they can oppress and opine without real consequences from real people that don't give a rats arse about their worldview--I care about my children and their future. I'm saving to buy a gun, maybe two.

it's true!

All I can say is that when it comes to my freedoms...no judge can take it away, or deem my perspective to be inferior to anyone but God. So in that way, let him nominate anyone he wants to---I'll just buy more guns :)

Holla!