#i really love the gospel that it teaches

[dearest-valentine]

.

#religion talk up ahead mostly of the lds (mormon) church #but anyway if you post/reblog anything that's critical or demeaning towards the church i would appreciate if you tagged it #i understand and acknowledge and criticise the church for actions they've taken and words they've spoken #and know that several queer folk and people of colour have had negative experiences with it #organised religion will be corrupt #that is the way of men #however #i really love the gospel that it teaches #and it makes me sad when the men who lead the church misinterpret it #the church i was raised in and taught from gave me only positive experiences #even if i do not officially associate it i do consider myself lds/mormon because of my religious beliefs being heavily affected by it #i was not raised in a war or stake that preached hateful speech of any groups #and i am very thankful for this because i know others have #it comes down to experiences #but if you reblog anything that is demeaning or hateful towards the church i ask you to tag it #because i have to be in the right mental space for that lol #i do not ignore these things but i don't want them to be the first thing i see when i open my dash either #smth like anti-mormon or exmo #i have those blocked

[godhasatenderheart]

I implore you gently to read your Bible today. If you’ve never read the Bible before, you can start with the first four books of the New Testament. These are called the gospels. They teach you about who Jesus was, what He did, and what He said. I think you will be pleasantly surprised and how much you agree with Him. God is not what you’ve been told He is! He is on your side and loves you deeply.

You can also read the Psalms. These are songs written primarily to or about God by David, an ancient king. They’re quick and easy and really useful when you’re feeling strong emotions. David is often depressed, despairing, and angry in these songs. But you get to see the journey through David’s relationship with God between each psalm. I think you will find these relatable. There are so many of them that have comforted me while I was in a terrible mental state. There are many joyful ones too.

If you need some help, message me. God bless you. 🩷

#g #christianity #god #jesus christ #bible #scripture #christian

[de4dlyniightshade]

I’d really just like to request your most feral Spencer Reid headcanons. SFW, NSFW, raunchy, tame - whatever. Just your like “I will fight anyone who disagrees, they are fact” type headcanons.

(Because I reread all your headcanons and love every single one)

I BEEN WAITING ON SOMEONE ASKING THIS! i've also just been meaning to make a hc post.

i was gonna split them into nsfw and sfw but they just ended up all mixed together 0-0

submissive and breedable spencer truther til i fucking die i'll get him pregnant don't play with me.

loves messy kisses like spit running down his chin, tongues down each others throat, desperately gripping at each other type of kisses.

maybe just me projecting and taking what mgg said as gospel truth but i fully believe that spencer loves a curvy woman, not even just for sexual reasons he also loves to rest his head on a nice big pair of boobs or thighs.

speaking of, boob guy! shamefully, but still a boob guy! adores groping your boobs whenever he can and would have your boob in his mouth 24/7 if he could, has literally fallen asleep with his head under your shirt and your nipple in his mouth.

munch! like the biggest munch ever, loves nothing more than coming home from a long day and burying his face between your thighs or having you ride his face.

knows full well that toys are his teammate and not his competitors and has no insecurities about you using toys on yourself or owning any.

does not care how well groomed you are, if you asked him what he preferred he'd be like??? it's literally none of my business???

needs lots of reassurance during sex, he just likes to know that he's doing good and making you feel good throughout the whole thing.

doesn't like talking about his sex life, especially with derek, no matter how hard he pressed and pries spencer wont let anything but the bare minimum out.

i imagine he's more drawn to a commanding woman, someone who will take the lead and teach him because of his inexperience and finds that he actually loves being dominated and hardly has any desire to dominate you.

really vocal! even though i've already said it like twice he just is, i can feel it in my bones, he's just such a whiny little baby and can't help but moan loudly any time you're touching him.

is completely against the idea of road head until you do it while you're on a long drive and it both changes his life and almost ends it bcs he swerved into the other lane which was luckily empty.

still gets shy when you kiss him in front even the team even years down the line.

learns to cook so he can make you breakfast whenever you're staying at his apartment.

on the same lines, lovesss morning sex, just that feeling of not wanting to get out your warm bed into the cold air, savouring the warmth in the best way possible.

had no idea what queefing was real until it happened and he was like genuinely so fascinated rather than disgusted.

i feel like spencer would own a bird for sure, not just bcs of gideon but he did help him realise how cool birds are which made him get one, probably a cockatiel or parrotlet with some silly name like dave.

all bark, no bite. likes to act a big game in front of others but the second you're alone he's begging and calling you mommy.

loves nothing more than waking up before you, pressing a kiss to your forehead before carefully and quietly getting out of bed to make you breakfast with the intention of bringing it to you but when you wake up before him and sneak up behind him to wrap your arms around his waist he can't help but melt.

very open to experimenting further down the line, anything you want to try he'll try at least once, except for blindfolds on himself, would be completely open to blindfolding you though.

loves public touching, not outright sex but he'd love when you subtly brush your hand over his crotch or take a handful of his ass in a public place.

teaches you how to knit and cries when you actually make him something like a sweater or even just a hat bcs he realises that's why you wanted to learn in the first place.

can't ride a bike.(this is definitely me projecting bcs i can't but i just feel like he can't okay)

lana enjoyer!!! especially if you are, he just wants to understand all the things you love and if you love lana so does he, he'd love to hear you ramble about your favourite songs and would take note of them and listen to them asap and tell you he loves them even if he didn't like some that much bcs he loves how happy it makes you.

wouldn't want to introduce you to his mother too soon but if you ended up meeting her by chance he'd be sweating buckets in case you didn't get along but you two just bond over your adoration for him and he's just so happy about it.

probably took a while to warm up to physical touch in the beginning bcs of his germophobia but when he finally does he regrets not doing it sooner.

washes his hands every single time before touching you sexually, not even for his benefit, he just wants to be as safe as possible with you.

loves elvis and almost proposes on the spot when you offer to dance with him to can't help falling in love, secretly sheds a few tears while you waltz around his apartment in your pyjamas.

okay i've definitely left stuff out that i've thought of but this is long asf so i'll leave it there😭

#💌 headcanon segment!!!∩^ω^∩ #spencer reid #criminal minds #criminal minds fandom #spencer reid fandom #mgg #dr spencer reid #spencer reid criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #spencer reid fanfiction #spencer reid one shot #spencer reid smut #spencer reid fanfic #spencer reid x reader #criminal minds oneshot #criminal minds smut #criminal minds fic #criminal minds fanfic #spencer reid fic

[orpheuslament]

i know this isnt an original thought & its probably been said before in better ways but tradcaths & co completely misinterpret the figure of jesus christ. he was just a guy who wanted to help people & who surrounded himself with broken souls because he could see the goodness in everyone. was he really the messiah & the son of God? who knows. but at its core what the gospels teach is that every single being on earth is worthy of love & compassion & kindness. it baffles me how absolutely perverted or just downright ignored this message has come to be

#sorry #dante.txt #the word made flesh

[astralnymphh]

Ellie trying to teach kiddo how to play guitar for the first time..♡♡

YES YES YES ok so obviously, context preluding, we're (voices in my head) thinking older kid. seven maybe? around there. ♡

"kay' so, press here.. and your middle here— andd.." the delicacy of her long digits shrouded over a pair of stubby ones, pinching and plucking them to particular spots along a column, "there— go ahead n' strum."

ellie was dead set determined on teaching the mastered art of acoustic guitar to your kid. like— earthbent on it. a promise spoken to soil and vicariously explored through you, and now your sweet baby. your little–more–than–a–babbler, little–less–than–a–tween now sat atop you and ellie's shared bed, just between the hurl and crease of blankets bedraggled, and with a bay oaken apparatus as big as them sloped in their lap— the one joel bestowed. and you always idled as a bystander, watching, leaning on that jutted doorframe.

their blunt fingertips pecked the chords in a row, the lovely resonance lighting something in the white of your child's eyes, "woahh, that sounded like how you play it.." they awed, their jupiter-like eyes darting up to hers for a token of validation— 'did i do it right mom?'

a token she gave, pearl teeth revealing under the fat stretch of her coral lips, "yeah buddy, cus' you're a natural." oh my goddess, the enthusiasm cracking in her voice. ahh, swoon.

"yes.." they exclaim quietly, their forearm perched on the guitars waist pulling back and jubilating with a backwards fist pump. just like mom.

'picturesque, beyond camaraderie', you deemed the whole diorama before you; streaky mix of light and gray–blue shade over their features, faces that proclaim content, the narrow sliver separating their knees, matching criss–cross apple sauce positions, the oval crater both their weights burdened in the mattress, the macro view. 'heartwarming, entangling endearment', if you cherry–pick the easily neglected traits; synchronized cocks of their heads whenever a strum rings, fiddly tapping of her fingers on their tucked shin and how it lowers into a full grasp when she expresses avidly how proud she is, thumbprint–sized dimples mirrored on both margins of their mouth, and funnily— the mismatched socks on hers and their feet. one a pattern of dinosaurs, one a spangle of stars. in gospel truth, they are a likeness of the same flesh and bone, indistinguishable. undeterred by the genetics, the same person.

"keep it up n' maybe we can start a band together." ellie proposes, clear as spring bloom to be an fun promise, nothing sworn, but the idea swirls their young mind a kernel of imagined prospect. she and they upon a stage, grandpa in the crowd, his smile tender in wrinkles boosting morale among the many elated face.

"really?" and he sounds so filled of that idea, eyes popping from their hold.

"mhm," she untucks her own feet and sprawls them, stooping her torso straight and lightly booping them on the nose, a golden orb so happy left under that gesture, "only if you pick a cool name." and weighing her elbow into her thigh, head laying and perched.

"oh, i'll pick a better name than you can."

and suddenly her head is perking back up, "what's that spose' t'mean?" 'offended.

"you tried to name mr. snuggles 'bootyhole bandit'!"

"ey' you can't say that word!" she grimaces fakely atop a curling lip and squints her thick auburn worms, positioning balled fists on her hips like a distressed mother. so esentially just mimicry of you. oh, how ellie cackled buffoonish along with your kid on any occasion you held a scold to their faces, pointer at their noses.

"pbbhhhh." their tongue peeks out and a known all-too-well blowing sound grates the air, only to be tackled by your lanky-limbed girl, guitar discarded to the sloven pillows far opposite of you.

this shall be an anecdote, unforgettable. "hmph, dorks."

have I worsened your domestic!ellie fever yet?

#ellie williams #⤹𓍢ִ໋aestras asks #ellie williams x reader #ellie tlou #lesbian #sapphic #ellie x reader #ellie williams x fem!reader #ellie williams fic #ellie williams fanfic #ellie williams fanfiction #ellie williams blurb #ellie williams drabble #domestic!ellie #parent!ellie #tlou ellie #ellie the last of us

[katakaluptastrophy]

TLT meta post suggestion: explain the biblical significance of Paul to someone who knows jackshit about Christianity?

Paul is what happens when a clever person with establishment clout has a searing moment of metaphysical transformation that allows them to become a real nuisance...

The very TL;DNR version of Paul in Christianity (Bible!Paul, if you will) is that he was once an observant Jew called Saul who was involved in persecuting the early church. But one day, while enthusiastically doing this, he is struck blind by a huge flash of light and hears the voice of Jesus. From that point on he is known as "Paul", becomes an enthusiastic follower of Jesus, and helps to spread the gospel. Specifically, he is referred to as the 'apostle to the gentiles', taking the teachings of Jesus beyond its early Jewish roots to the wider Mediterranean world.

On a basic level, Necro!Paul being 'Paul' is probably a reference to that blazing moment of transformation - Bible!Paul is both continuity and change: the same passion, but expressed very differently. Well-educated, willing to cause trouble, and energised by something beyond the human norm.

But it's their speech to Ianthe where the Biblical stuff really starts to come through. It's worth noting that letters written by Bible!Paul (or 'written by him') account for nearly half of the books of the Christian New Testament and are hugely foundational in Christian theology.

And Necro!Paul's speech to Ianthe is full of Biblical references:

"I know how hard it is for you to kick against the goad," said the new person. "But there are more worlds than this. Come with us. We are the love that is perfected by death - but even death will be no more; death can also die."

That first line, 'kick against the goad', is a direct reference to Paul's 'Road to Damascus' moment where he hears Jesus:

I saw in the way a light from heaven above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me, and them that were in company with me. And when we were all fallen down on the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me in the Hebrew tongue: Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? It is hard for thee to kick against the goad. And I said: Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord answered: I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. - Acts 26:13-15

To kick against the goad (or, in the slightly more colourful language of the KJV 'kick against the pricks') is to engage in an excercise in futility. It's a reference to an ox goad, a sharp instrument used to steer oxen in farming, which would hurt the animal if it tried to kick against it instead of following where it was being directed.

It's an acknowledgement that Ianthe is doing something that rubs profoundly up against the metaphysical grain, that her own proud self-direction will only hurt her in the end.

'More worlds than this' is a reference to Hamlet, which Dulcie of course also quotes in TUG. (Hamlet rather seems to haunt the question of the River Beyond, but that's not what we're discussing right now...)

'We are the love that is perfected by death' is, I suspect, meant to reference two different Bible verses. The first is:

Put me as a seal upon thy heart, as a seal upon thy arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy as hard as hell, the lamps thereof are fire and flames. - Song of Solomon 8:6

Despite centuries of the church trying to claim that it's about the spiritual relationship between God and man, the Song of Solomon is now generally accepted to be a sexy poem about sex. So that's an interesting thing for the fusion of Palamedes and Camilla to quote... But perhaps more salient here is what's contrasted to the strength of love and death, which is jealousy and hell. Ianthe is being offered a chance at redemption - which is of course Bible!Paul's whole thing - which she summarily rejects. I'm sure, given NTN ending with Harrow going off to, one assumes, er, harrow hell, that this won't be relevant at all...

The other verse that 'love that is perfected by death' may be referencing is:

In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world. Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity. Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us. If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not? And this commandment we have from God, that he, who loveth God, love also his brother. - 1 John 4:17-21

The quotation in the Douay-Rhiems translation (apparently the preferred translation of lesbian necromancers in space, if Gideon the Ninth is anything to go by) is a little opaque, but 'charity' is an old timey way of translating 'love'. Essentially, this passage says that those who love God and are loved by God do not need to fear the day of judgement, and clarifies a bit about what it means to love God.

There are two things that are important.

The first is that this is from 1 John. There are five Biblical texts associated with St John: the Gospel of John, the Book of Revelation, and three Epistles (letters). Revelation is John's vision of the end of the world - and if you're wondering whether it's relevant that The Locked Tomb features a guy called John who ends the world, yes, it is - but the Epistles were written right at the end of his life. And 1 John has two themes that might be relevant to The Locked Tomb: the first is the question of what it means to love god (spoiler: the answer is not 'dinner and a movie'), and the second is whether your actions matter.

The second thing that might be relevant here is that just before this in 1 John 4, there is a warning about not heeding false prophets. Specifically, it warns about the antichrist. You know, the thing Necro!John says he was repeatedly accused of being? The point is that love - love properly understood - can protect you from the wiles of the antichrist. Probably not a relevant theme as we head off into the 'you have not yet begun to witness the horrors of love' book where people are presumably facing down a pretender god...

The final part of Paul's speech to Ianthe - 'death will be no more' - is also Johannine: this time from Revelation:

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and death shall be no more, nor mourning, nor crying, nor sorrow shall be any more, for the former things are passed away. - Revelation 21:4

This comes from a section where the Biblical John watches as the old world is destroyed and the new Jerusalem descends from Heaven. Death and sorrow are ended, and the righteous will rule with God. The sinful have a less fun time of it, involving fire and brimstone and 'the second death'. If that sounds familiar, it's because Necro!John cribbed that particular bit when making up his shoddy Space Catholicism (TM). (The implications of this really deserves a much longer treatment, so watch this space...)

One of the nice things about Tamsyn Muir's Biblical parallels is they're not generally exact. But it's perhaps relevant to note that amongst Bible!Paul's rather dramatic adventures are quite a few instances of casting demons out of people, starting at least one riot, shipwreck, and an "Incident at Antioch". Also...it's probably not relevant that the writings of St Paul were the turning point in the conversion of St Augustine...specifically a section about how the end of the world is nigh so you'd better get your act together...

All in all, Paul is...a very niche joke about Plato, hopefully not a joke about Dune, and mostly very, very apocalyptic. A new beginning at the end of the world! An offer of redemption to those swimming against the current! A warning to false gods! A sign that the end is nigh! All of which suggests Alecto the Ninth is going to be a wild ride (as if we didn't know that already).

#the locked tomb #tlt meta #tlt paul #john gaius

[gojo-mochi]

⭐️ Choso, or you 😌💅

Hehe you get a BIG fat smooch from me anytime <;3

It was your first Christmas with Choso, teaching him about human traditions. You made him wear a reindeer headband and matching sweaters with you. He was a little confused about what everything meant, but he did it nevertheless, putting up stockings for Kechizu, Eso, and Yuuji. Telling you what he would give each of his brothers as their Christmas gift. Choso was definitely in the giving spirit—perhaps a little too much, though. In the days leading up to Christmas, he would give you anything he found—flowers from the side of the road, coffee or tea every day, his jacket, his scarf. You had to stop him from taking the skin off his back, honestly.

“Cho.. I’m really glad you're enjoying and getting into the holiday spirit, but this is getting a little too much.” You gently put a hand on his arm, squeezing it and looking up at your boyfriend’s pouting face. The cat in his hands, still sinking, fangs on his hand with unusual force, but Choso didn’t seem to notice the pain. “But I thought this little creature was cute like you." Choso jutted out his bottom lips, and you’re sure it wasn’t on purpose, but that didn’t negate the psychic damage it did to you. You patted his arm and made him lower the poor cat; it hissed at the two of you and ran away.

“I know, love. But you saw that collar on it? That means it has a home to go back to, with people who love and will miss them, and we can’t just kidnap it and take it with us.” Choso follows every word that hangs from your lips like gospel. You could practically hear the gears turning in his head as he looked at you and then at where the cat ran off to. You squish his cheeks in your head and make him look at you. “No, that does not mean you can gift me a collar.” Choso stared at you for a moment, opening his mouth, but you cut him off before he could speak. “And no, that does not mean you need to wear a collar."

Choso put his hands over yours, using his cursed blood technique to warm up his skin so you two would stay warm in the winter cold. “But how would people know that I have a home to go back to? And someone that loves me there too.." Choso sounded so genuine as he spoke, most likely because he was, that it made your heart jump miles high. You give him a peck on the nose and squish his cheek lovingly in your hands. “I think people will know either way, love.” Especially with the way Choso tends to stick by your side all the time. Choso returns the smooch back tenfold, arms wrapped around your waist as he spins you around in the snow. You two decide to go home once the snowfall starts to get heavier. “I still think a collar would look good on me, though…” 

You return to your shared home, knocking off snow from your boots and shrugging off your coats. “Let me go make some drinks for us.” You wander to the kitchen with Choso not far behind, grabbing things from the shelves for you, ingredients, and stirring the pot like the good boy he was. As you were settling down on the couch, you suddenly remembered a holiday tradition that you forgot to show Choso. You quickly grabbed his arm and tugged him to a doorway. You point upwards at the mistletoe that you tacked on there a while ago and forgot about. “See that? That’s called a mistletoe, and it’s a tradition that whoever gets caught standing under the mistletoe together must kiss.”

Choso looks up at the mistletoe and then backs down at you with a confused look on his face. “But I like kissing you all the time; does this mean I can only kiss you when I’m standing under this?” He looks a bit horrified at the idea that he can’t kiss you all the time like he wants to anymore. You giggled at his expression: “No, no. It just means you have to kiss me when we get caught under this, not that you can only kiss me under it.” Choso makes an "ah" face and looks back up at the plant, seemingly admiring it. You shake your head lightly and tap his shoulder. “Cho~ We’re both standing under right now; you know what that means now, right?” 

Choso's eyes widen a bit, and he blushes. "O-oh, right." He murmurs, leaning down, a hand on your cheek, his thumb swiping gently over the swell of your skin. Tilting your head a bit so he can perfectly mold his lips onto yours. He takes his time with parting, letting his lips linger on you until the very last second. As he lets go, he looks around the house and asks.

“Can we put more of these up?”

#choso fluff #choso x reader #jjk fluff #jjk x reader #softy's mistletoe event

[yermes]

PAC: ☕️

Sometimes you are the lesson.

Sometimes in life you are the lesson. You teach people how to love you teach people how to change and then you leave. People have and always will be such a funny thing but your fingerprints leaving traces on their existence is very real.

Disclaimer: please take what I say with a grain of salt and not as the gospel. I just want to share some ideas of practicing and giving advice using the medium as often as I can with school, work, and my own personal studies and practice. But I am working on sharing my notes soon so that will be exciting! Liking and sharing does a lot 🥰

Socials: TipJar | Insta

Pick a meme

1 2 3

The cards

The Gent + The Garden 🎩 🪴 

You draw people out and make the outside of their shell more of a safe place. When theres a party you are and kind but you never really belonged to the group as much as you belonged to the social aspect. You share yourself with others and sometimes a hand when they need.

Clover + Dog 🐕 🍀 

You bring luck, joy, and true friendship to the ring. People love you and love hanging out with you and your loyalty is always unquestioned. When people need a true friend you provide it

Lily + bear 🌸 🐻 

You have a strong moral code and people admire that. You teach people to be their best selves and that they can always be better than they are.

Extras: 🎣

Story/vent:

I have been so sad recently but ily

#suitlifeofgerm #askgerm #pick a card #daily card #pick a picture #germ reads #shadow work #tarotoftheday #pac #lenormand deck #lenormand #divination #cartomancy #pick a reading #pick a deck #daily card pull #pick a photo #pick a pile reading #tarot deck #tarot community #tarot blog #tarot witch #free tarot #tarot spread #daily tarot #tarot reading #tarot cards #tarot #tarotblr #tarotcommunity

[momentsbeforemass]

In name only

In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns about opposition. About the pushback that always comes whenever we try to live our Faith.

Some people love the pushback that comes with division. They’re addicted to casting themselves as heroic figures taking a stand against…something.

So they use their beliefs as wedge issues to create it.

Weaponizing their faith to separate people (even fellow believers) into supporters and opponents. Us versus them.

Purity testing so they can brand people as “Christians in name only.”

That’s not what Jesus is talking about. How do I know this? Two big reasons.

First, purity testing is idiotic. Because, as St. Paul tells us, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” None of us can pass the test.

We don’t like admitting it, but none of us deserve any of the graces that God so extravagantly pours out on us. None of us are good enough, on our own (hint – what was Good Friday about?).

God’s extravagance flows out of God’s love for us. Not out of any merit we might think we have.

The most common response to this by fans of purity testing? The silly (and unbiblical) practice of comparing sins.

Claiming that someone else’s sins are worthy of damnation. While smugly lying to ourselves about how what we’re doing is no big deal. Probably not even really a sin. 

C.S. Lewis rebuts this nonsense brilliantly in the Screwtape Letters.

“It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is the edge the man away from the Light…Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.”

The other big reason? Today’s Gospel is part of a larger teaching. The same one where Jesus commands those of us who would follow Him to “Love one another, as I have loved you.”

Sort of the opposite of weaponized faith and wedge issues.

Because “Love one another, as I have loved you” is missing something. Something that we all too readily read into it – Exceptions. Qualifiers. Disclaimers.

The way we live our lives? It’s like we think it says, “Love one another, as I have loved you, except for ___.” And then we fill in the blank with whoever we’re playing us versus them games with.

Why? In a word, pride. The oldest and dreariest sin.

The one that always ends up with us worshipping ourselves.

Whenever we start smuggling in exceptions. So we can feel better about ourselves, by pretending we’re better than someone else. We’ve fallen victim to pride.

And if we keep going down that road?

We’ll soon find that we are the Christians in name only.

Today’s Readings

#Christians in name only #Love one another #Exceptions #C.S. Lewis #G.K. Chesterton #God #Jesus #Catholic #Christian #Church #Christianity #Catholicism #Moments Before Mass

[queerstake]

As a queer drawn to the faith and trying to deal with the messiness of entering into everything, I've been trying hard to read more of the Book of Mormon because I only have a very vague understanding of it's Whole Deal, but executive dysfunction, ADHD, and honestly, a million other excuses are making it very difficult. Are there any good resources for walking through the fundamentals? Childish but I feel like I'm disappointing the Lord if I'm not more on top of this.

Hi anon! I totally get it and yes, I can think of a few ideas!

If you're looking for ways to understand the BoM (or even just general doctrine) from more of a bird's eye view:

I hope you don't find this silly, but when I was a kid, the church published an illustrated children's version of the BoM that's obviously way quicker to flip through. It might be harder for you to find those exact editions I read as a kid if you don't have ready access to a church library, BUT I found this!! It's (almost) the ENTIRE BoM illustrated and summarized and it's online!

Looks like they put out videos too that summarize the BoM beginning to end. Here's a link to the video series. I haven't seen these, so I can't vouch for them, but they might be helpful! Similarly, there's a BoM in 60 seconds video you might find helpful.

If you'd benefit from a schedule, the church is currently studying the BoM in sunday school! The past few years, we've been using a study guide called Come Follow Me with weekly assigned reading chapters. I've actually been working on posts about CFM as they relate to queer mormon theology, but I haven't had much posted yet since I've been having a rocky start to 2024. As things improve, I'll be able to hopefully even establish a schedule on this blog!

I'm not sure if missionary lessons is something you're interested in at this point, and it's definitely not something you ever need to do, but the missionary lessons themselves are a pretty good doctrine intro if you're looking for just Mormonism 101 in a digestible way. The missionaries teach out a book called Preach My Gospel, which is available right here. You'll be interested in the lessons, which are found in Chapter 3. If you just scroll down, you'll see some of the links are labeled Lesson instead of Chapter--just click on those bad boys. And if you have any doctrinal questions, I'm always MORE than happy to talk about the church! You'll probably get a faster answer DMing me personally at @logans-mormon-blog, but I'll always answer asks here as soon as time permits.

If you're looking for easier ways to finish the BoM from beginning to end:

The BoM on tape. The church has an audiobook version available on the Gospel Library app and other audio apps like Spotify.

The Reader's Edition. If you can get your hand on a reader's edition, a lot of people find this is an easier way to plow through the BoM. What's special about this one is that it's formatted not like scripture but like prose, and it really does change the reading experience!

I don't know if this helps any, but I struggle with some of the same issues as you and I'm always bitterly disappointed when I'm not able to move mountains. If I had my way, I'd be the most well-read scriptorian of all time and this blog would be updated constantly. But life often doesn't shake out that way. I spend way more time than I want to with my brain entirely burned out of my head. So you're not alone, if that's any comfort. I think God gets it--he made our brains, after all, and knows how hard it is to wrestle with. It's easier said than done, but don't beat yourself up. God loves the both of us and he's the most perfectly patient person who's ever lived. He's not frustrated or disappointed with our efforts. Religion exists, in my opinion, to help improve and enrich our lives, not make them more challenging OR even to make them perfect if we only could just run fast enough. I too wish I could be more diligent and on it, but shit happens, right? And we're not on earth to be perfect, we're here to be happy and to learn. When Joseph Smith was translating the BoM, God told him "Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end." D&C 10:4. We're doing our damndest, and that's all God even wants from us.

If anyone else has more resource ideas, please let us know!

-Logan

#queerstake #tumblrstake #lds #mormon

[hhighkey]

Tanjiro + 2 surprise characters of your choice crush headcanons?

AN// yes!! wasn’t sure if you only wanted demon slayer characters but always feel free to request again :)

Demon Slayer Headcanons

THEY HAVE A CRUSH

With Tanjiro, Rengoku, Sanemi

Kamado Tanjiro

total sweetie to you

definitely always nervous around you - literally sweating bullets you’re concerned

inosuke will literally be yelling at him in the back ground to make a move

he bring you flowers

totally makes cute bracelets for you

braids your hair

combs your hair

type to draw fake tattoos on you as him marking you

if you’re not a slayer definitely teaches you self defense- it’s fun to watch you attempt to use a sword

if you are one, definitely wants to train with you

him having a crush on you means lots of hugs - literally whenever he sees you or has to leave

will try to sneakily put an arm around you in any situation he’s not good at being sneaky

likes it when you hold onto his arm

always walks on the outside

pats your head

i feel like he gets jealous easily

not necessarily the best at sorting through those emotions so he may lash out or ignore you if he’s jealous

he’s an emotional, strong headed boy who will do anything for those he loves, and you’re no exception

will absolutely move mountains for you

needs lots of words of affirmation

just wants you to smile

and boy takes forever to ask you out so you may have to take the reigns there

he just needs a little nudge

Rengoku Kyojuro

your biggest supporter!!

doesn’t matter if you’re a civilian or a slayer he’s got your back

he’ll legit just show up at your place with flowers asking you on a date

his smile will never falter around you

listens to every word that escapes your mouth like it’s his gospel

you will never doubt what his plans are as he courts you

you’re basically all he thinks about when you’re together and apart

thinks about outfits he can buy you, food to bring you, date ideas

absolutely obsessed with you, your happiness and safety

and you’re all he talks about

everyone’s getting annoyed regardless of if they know you already or not

tengen has been trying to convince him to ask you out already for weeks and he’s losing his mind

both of you are well aware of your crushes on each other but both are slow asf on making moves

you would die of embarrassment if he turned you down so you’re not risking it even if he’s constantly taking you places

and rengoku is scared

every day he falls for you more and more

but that’s more attachment and worry

what if you get sick like his mom?

what if his family situation makes you run away?

he has you meet his brother and dad before going any further

it doesn’t go great but also not terrible … so no complaints really

he’s actually happy when he sees you and senjuro interact

he’s a gentlemen through and through so it’s a slow process with him i firmly believe he has a lot more going on emotionally than the show shows so like huge walls that need to be broken down there

but finally as you’re sitting out on the engawa at your place watching the stars, he gets on his knees in front of you so you’re eye level

his normal confidence has turned into nerves

“i hope you’ll hear me out as i confess to you!”

duh

his lips are so warm

his body is so big and warm

he feels so perfect

and you’re so tiny in his grasp and he makes you his ah

y’all break apart, breathing hard as he’d kissed you with all his might

he’s grinning as he kisses your forehead

“i’ll love you forever,”

Shinazugawa Sanemi

i think sanemi would be confused by his feelings

why is his chest tight?

why does his heart race when you’re around?

why does he always look for you whenever he’s back from a job?

oh no

he refuses. no he will not allow himself to even indulge in the thoughts of you

he’s gotta make himself hate you now

that’s his solution to this

so he’s a total bitch to you

just will say hurtful things he knows will get to you because he knows you so well

but at first you think you can see right through this act

but you’re tired of his abrasiveness after weeks of him being different with you

so you just decide to give up which shinobu supports fully

he immediately notices your lack of presence, how you avoid him, hell you won’t even look at him anymore when you’re in the same room

he’s confused and sad

idiot

so he storms up to your estate one day, banging away on your door

you’d been napping and so confused about what all the noise was

a wild eyes sanemi is there as you open your door, immediately pushing his way in

“where the fuck have you been?” he yells

“what?”

“you won’t even look at me!”

“you’re mean to me,,, why would i?”

“no i’m not i love you-“

oh shit

both you just stare at each other in shock by his words

“you’re a jerk you know that, you can’t be mean to someone just because you like them!” this makes you cry

you’ve been on a roller coaster because of him and all because he was being a pussy about his feelings

straight up doesn’t know what to do when you start crying

when he tries to hug you, you push him away

so he tries again and this time you can’t escape from his strong arms

“i’m sorry, let me make it up to you,”

he’s gonna have to do a lot of shit for you to forgive him - whoops

#demon slayer headcanons #demon slayer #rengoku kyojuro #rengoku headcanons #tanjiro headcanons #tanjiro kamado #sanemi headcanons #sanemi shinaguzawa #tanjiro x reader #rengoku x reader #sanemi x reader #demon slayer x you

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Due to flare ups, I’ve been thinking more about my relationship with my disabilities and my relationship with God — any good resources/book you can recommend?

Hey there, sending love and solidarity as you go through flare ups and as you explore all this <3

You came to the right place — disability theology is one of my great passions! Here are my recs for you. If anyone has more resources to add on or insights for anon, please share!

For starters...

First, you might enjoy wandering through my #disability theology tag over on my other blog, which includes excerpts from various disability theologians.

Or reading through / praying with the disability text prayers I shared here last July for Disability Pride Month, which were written by a variety of disabled folks.

Since it's Lent, Unbound's Disabling Lent: An Anti-Ableist Lenten Devotional is timely!

___

Memoirs Exploring Christian Faith & Chronic Pain / Illness

My Body and Other Crumbling Empires, Lyndsey Medford (2023)

This memoir connects faith, chronic illness (especially autoimmune disorders), and the sickness at the heart of Western Empire / the Protestant work ethic.

How can we learn to work with instead of against our bodies? How can we rebuild our world to treat all bodies with the love and gentleness they deserve? .

This Here Flesh, Cole Arthur Riley (2022)

An incredibly beautiful book, poetic and searing...explores the goodness of embodied life and intersections between disability (particularly chronic illness), Blackness, queerness, womanhood, and more.

Each chapter focuses on a different emotion (anger, joy, lament, love...) to teach us how to honor and listen to what we feel in our bodies.

CW for accounts of sexual assault and other forms of and abuse and trauma, as well as accounts of antiblack racism. .

Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I've Loved, Kate Bowler (2018)

If you've been steeped in any kind of prosperity gospel, "if you pray hard enough you'll be healed" type Christianity, I highly recommend this book.

Bowler writes with gentle honesty about how her chronic pain and then cancer compelled her to move away from that kind of harmful Christianity into a faith with room for doubt, grief, and a God that holds her in her suffering.

___

Disability Theology — Books, Podcasts, Videos

Disability: The Inclusive Church Resource edited by Bob Callighan (2014)

If you're interested in the perspectives of various disabled Christians, I love the range of voices they brought into this text! A great intro to how theology and church life impact disabled persons and how our churches must re-form themselves with disabled persons at the center. .

My Disabled AND Blessed YouTube series

I've got multiple YouTube videos that draw from various disability theologians!

I especially recommend my introduction to reading the Bible with a disability lens — stressing how different biblical authors hold different views around disability; so what's God's overall message? — and my video on Luke 14's parable of the banquet!

If you have questions about or struggle with the Gospels' healing narratives, I also recommend my livestream on that topic. .

My friend Laura's Autistic Liberation Theology Podcast (you can listen wherever you get podcasts)

Laura explores scripture through the lens of an autistic trans person who uses a wheelchair and has multiple chronic & mental illnesses.

I especially recommend their episode on "the Gethsemane of things," which takes an honest look at pain and where God is in our suffering. (Most of Laura's eps don't have transcripts, but I shared an abridged version of this ep on my podcast and it has a transcript)

"I am not your ornamental prophet" is also a great episode for thinking about what pressures are put on disabled persons and how to construct boundaries for yourself .

The Mad and Crip Theology Podcast

This podcast interviews the authors who are published in the Mad and Crip Theology journal, which is really cool! You can watch episodes with captions on YouTube, or listen wherever you get podcasts.

A good starter episode: this one "on Queer and Crip Sexuality and the Disabled Christ" .

Some eps of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

While my own podcast largely centers trans perspectives, disability comes up frequently as well! Each ep has a transcript. These are the disability-focused ones:

"No End to Transphobia without Uprooting Ableism — exploring embedded forms of oppression"

"Our Pride Is Not a Sin — a Queer and Disabled Christian Lens"

"Goodness Embodied — an intersex, nonbinary first human and a disabled risen Christ"

"Marginalized Bodies as Spectacle and the good news in Jesus's disabling wounds"

"Eli and the prophet Elijah"

“Secular” books that helped shape my own theology

What Can a Body Do? How We Meet the Built World, Sara Hendren (2020)

Fantastic book digging into recent disability history, present, and future with focus on the “misfit” theory of disability where body and world interact with each other disharmoniously, and the creativity disabled people employ to make them more harmonious  .

Exile and Pride, Eli Clare (1999)

One of my favorite books of all time. Connects disability, queerness, rural life, trauma, and more. Clare is one of the originators of the concept of the “bodymind” (though he talks about that more in one of his later books)

___

Wanting even more resources? Here's my google doc with aaaaall the disability theology stuff — plus some helpful disability 101 stuff to share with loved ones!

Praying for comfort, wisdom, and community support for you as you journey! Please feel free to drop by again with any questions that come up or to share any insights you've gained any time <3

#disability theology #disabled AND blessed #disabled christians #faithfullydisabled #resources #recs #books #this reminds me i've been meaning to share more excerpts i've gathered from disability theology books... #anyone interested in that should go follow my other blog a-queer-seminarian and i'll start posting some in the coming days...

[fyeahbachisagi]

Hi...if you don't mind, can I ask something from Blue Lock? What do you think are Bachira and Isagi’s greatest personality strengths and weaknesses? Why? What do you love about their dynamic? Sorry if you've answered these questions before.....

(This has been in my drafts for over 6 months jhdfgjhdgjhfd)

Bachira

Strengths:

He is so mentally strong. Even as a child, he wouldn’t let other kids’ words get to him. He never backs down from a challenge, and also quickly picks himself up. Even when he felt lost in the 4v4 match during the second selection, he was able to shake it off fast and force a rebirth.

Weakness:

... We haven’t seen much of Bachira in the manga recently, so I can’t tell. And after second selection, it’s hard to pinpoint a weakness he has. He has lost multiple games in the NEL arc, but I believe that’s more of the writer’s problem and not really in his character itself.

But if it’s not a writing problem… then perhaps his weakness is that his goal is not clear enough. He’s getting stronger and evolving his monster, and like everybody else in Blue Lock, he is aiming to be the #1 striker but… I guess his goal is not concrete or focused enough? (Or it just seems that way coz we are hardly privy to Bachira’s thoughts.) I really don’t know.

Isagi

Strengths:

Everything he does, he does for the sake of winning. And it’s this one-track mind that lets him excel at Blue Lock. His insights on the game also gives him the confidence to direct other players, allowing him to use anything and anyone to his advantage.

Weakness:

He thinks of everything that Ego says as some kind of gospel. He never once questioned the man’s teachings because, at the moment, it serves him well. The one time he went against Ego was probably during the U20 match, but back then Ego was just pretending to throw in the game, so I’m not counting it.

I’m not updated on the manga, so I don’t know how he’s playing right now but… As long as Ego’s philosophy keeps him winning, Isagi will never be able to see past it. If one day he loses despite following everything Ego says to the letter, then it’s gonna break him immensely.

And he will lose. He must lose if Kaneshiro wants to keep the story going after the NEL arc. The protagonist cannot win all the time. And once you’re at the top, the only place left to go is down.

BachiSagi

I am a sucker for friends to lovers, but even more so for teammates/partners to lovers. Two individuals diligently working on themselves so they can stand by each other’s side as equals. Supporting each other every step of the way and inspiring each other to aim even higher. That’s the good stuff.

#elaine2895 #blue lock #bachira meguru #isagi yoichi #bachisagi #isabachi #blue lock manga #blue lock spoilers #miyamiwu.msg #miyamiwu.meta #miyamiwu.src

[yandereunsolved]

In reference to your post about Hylian sign: 

BotW Link signing is really popular fanon I think, and I myself like the idea a lot. I wrote a miniscule amount about it a long time ago, but I like the hc that BotW Link's vocal chords were irrevocably damaged during the Guardian showdown and the shrine of resurrection couldn't repair them enough to facilitate speech, so he had to fumble through learning sign after waking up. I also agree with your take about Hylian sign language being relatively unknown.

Not only does Hyrule not have the networks for teaching that we do, (the internet or modern educational tools for example) but it would be harder to spread, and visual languages don’t do amazing in textbooks.

Plus I have a personal headcanon, that due to the elongated ears of Hylians, (meant for hearing the words of the goddess or something) they have advanced hearing, and therefore hard of hearing/deafness is a much rarer affliction and there is much less need for sign language. 

As for Nintendo implementing something like this in their games, I agree that it would be an awesome thing to see, but I doubt Nintendo would ever do it.

Portraying a visual language like sign would require them to create conversation-specific character models for every sign made, individualized to each different character speaking (unless they used the exact same character model) which would greatly extend the process of creating dialogue. Not that a AAA company like Nintendo couldn’t pull it off, but it would be a much bigger expenditure of resources to implement than just…dubbing over moving mouths. 

(Plus they would be forced to either default to a specific localized sign language for every model or create their own language, which…creating a visual language with rules and syntax and signs is much more complicated than writing an alphabet.

Not to mention that Link has always been a blank slate, even in his gender lol. I doubt they’d apply such a polarizing (is that the right word??) trait to him. Seeing a disabled character in general is probably wishful thinking with Nintendo, but..I agree it’s an awesome headcanon and would be so cool to see portrayed one day.

…Sorry for saying so much lol. I didn’t realize I had so many thoughts on HoH Link..

I absolutely love your thoughts. Like, I do. That's the reason I posted my thoughts in the first place. I wanted to know what others thought ofc.

I do agree about the character modeling. I didn't know much about it so thank you for sharing the info. I do believe the word 'polarizing' would be correct because of how disabled characters are portrayed in media. If Nintendo just said one of the Links is HOH and uses sign language—it would cause an uproar.

I'm not a master in politics or anything but lately anything progressive has been labeled as 'woke' by more extremist and right-wing groups online. Not that I am trying to bring politics into this, but I'm saying that the uproar would be due to mostly grifters hoping on the bandwagon of 'represention evil, they are just doing it to appease the masses.'

I personally am always a fan of representation and even if it is wishful thinking, I still think it's a nice wish to have. I'd personally say that as well as what you already said about him becoming HOH. I think the goddesses may have had an unintended affect on it as well. Think about it. Rarely are mortals actually spoken to by the goddesses. Due to the constant exposure of hearing divinity is hearing could have also waned. (The pressure of a mortal hearing divine gospel isn't an easy one. Even if he is the chosen hero.) Second, for specifically BOTW Link I also think his lungs would be weak after a 100 years of sleep, so he wouldn't be able to form words or even groan or grunt correctly until further along in his journey.

Even if it wasn't portrayed in a game it'd be cool to see it in an animation released by Nintendo or at least some more information in something official. It could also just be a fan-made thing. Which would be really cool to see a Fandom come together to do something like that.

I guess I had a lot of thoughts. I usually proofread for grammar mistakes, but I'm tired. So don't mind the mistakes in grammar. :)

#botw link #the legend of zelda #thanks anon for the helpful info #:) #thank you #really #I enjoyed your input #legend of zelda #loz #loz botw #legend of zelda fandom #loz fandom

[wowbright]

Fic: Agency

Fandom/pairing: Glee, Kurt/Blaine

Event: december klaine fanworks challenge 2023

Words: ~ 500 words                                           

Rating: Teen and Up

Summary: Blaine’s father apologizes to him.

Warnings: Discussion of funerals and natural death of non-canon character

Notes: This is part of my Mormon!Klaine universe. It takes place after Out of Eden, which I am still in the process of posting to AO3. It’s among the possibilities for their future. This is basically a monologue, but intended as part of a one-on-one conversation between Blaine and his dad.

“And that moment when my father finally went into the ground, I thought that's when I would lose it,” Blaine’s dad said. “Because he was really gone from this life, and I would never see him again. But as I tossed my handful of dirt in, I had the most unexpected feeling. It was a relief. I was relieved that he was gone. And it wasn't just for his sake, with the thought that his pain was over and he was in a better place. But it was also for my sake, and the sake of our entire family. When we closed the earth over him, we ended his reign over us. My entire life, I had lived to please him. I told myself it was to please God. Only, what God wanted and what my father wanted had always matched up a little too perfectly for my comfort. But I'd ignored that uncomfortable feeling, because that's what the church teaches us to do—discomfort leads to contention, and contention is of the devil.

“But now he wasn't my priesthood leader anymore. He could no longer speak to me for God. And I realized I finally had that thing that the church teaches us we all have: agency—the freedom to make our own decisions. All my life, I had thought I was doing such a bang-up job of living according to the gospel. But I had never taken responsibility for my own decisions or my own soul. I had never thought or questioned or struggled in the ways that Joseph Smith or Nephi or Christ himself modeled for us. I loved my father, and I still love him, but I finally started to understand the damage that living to please him had done to my soul.

“And I wish I could say that I figured out all the corollaries in that same moment. I wish I could say that my vision suddenly enlarged and I understood that you and Cooper and your mother were all graced with the same agency. But the closest I got to that was thinking about what it might be like for you in the same position, throwing dirt over my casket. Would you feel the same relief? I hated the idea that you would, but I didn't know how to change it, because I went from being my father’s servant to my own, all twisted up trying to figure out the difference between agency and selfishness. And I still hadn't figured it out when you got back from your mission—I don't claim to have it all figured out now, either—but when I Iearned about Kurt … I was selfish. I was still thinking about you and Cooper like my father thought of his children—measures of his own success, trophies meant to enlarge his kingdom. It is a horrible way for a parent to view their children. It's shameful. I hate to think on the things I’ve done and said to you both. But I have to, because I’ve sinned against you, Blaine, again and again, and I need to repent of it.”

#december klaine challenge 2023 #day 3: enlarge #mormon!klaine #wowbright writes fic #klaine fic #klaine fanfic #klaine fanfiction

[rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw]

Saturday Afternoon Session

Conducting Gary E Stevenson

All Glory, Laud, and Honor

David A. Bednar

Be Still and Know that I Am God

Inner Spiritual Stillness of the Soul

Be Still = focusing on the Savior

Truth faith is focused in and on our Lord Jesus Christ

Spiritual stillness = the opposite of inner turmoil

A proper foundation ensures that the structure will remain sturdy and stable over time – requiring an attachment to bedrock.

We build the foundation – the Savior is the rock upon which we build

Faith is built upon the Savior

Sacred time and holy places are the same – focus your time and attention on God and His heavenly Plan

Sometimes being still means on the inside not the outside

Jesus is not the foundation He is the Rock upon which we build.

We may be perplexed by our trials and circumstances, but we will never be in despair.

The gospel doesn’t keep you from trials, but allows you to deal with them with the help of the Lord

Massimo De Feo

My physical sight is not good – what about my spiritual vision? Do I need any treatment there.

Can you see Christ spiritually, not physically? Or are you like the pharaseees?

We keep a clear spiritual vision when we focus on Jesus Christ and stay true to what we know to be true.

What we know to be true: Love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Don’t listen to the voices in the world that say that loving everyone isn’t reasonable/necessary/possible.

Declare your testimony in its entirety; don’t let anyone silence you

We keep a clear spiritual vision when we hear the voice of the Lord and allow Him to guide us.

Keeping a clear spiritual vision is about focusing my sight always on Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is the answer for everyone

God Loved Us So He Sent His Son

Brent H Nielson

Witnesses of Christ

There has never been a better time to be a member of the church than today

335 operating and announced temples!!!

You should leave the bubble

The truth of God will go forth everywhere

You and I are witnesses

Gathering israel has both missionary work and family history work

We are armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory

Jose L Alonso

Where do you find peace?

If we put the Savior at the center of our lives, we can find peace

Feeding 5000 men – plus women and children (Matt 14:21). Jesus gave thanks to his father, he was grateful rather than complaining that was all they had. 

Solutions to our trials often don’t come from ourselves – but in God

“Imagine how much love he has for us if Christ was looking for peace and solitude, and he welcomed everyone to heal and help them”

When we encounter challenges, turn beyond them to Christ, and trust in his help

Even when looking for peace and solitude, Christ focused outside of Himself and welcomed everyone to heal and help them!

Adopting a Christ-centered perspective helps us turn trials into victories

Christ is a Healer, and we are ever-present in His mind and heart

Praise to the Lord the Almighty

Gerritt W Gong

194 years since the restoration of the gospel!

Things will work together for our good

Sometimes we just need to have someone there when we’re upset – and that someone can always be God

Trusting the Lord can include trusting Him with our suffering and anger and misery

When we work together for good, we minister as Jesus Christ would

Spiritual First Responders

Going from neighbors who bring cookies to trusted friends

What happened there and then can bless us here and now

Michael T. Nelson

We can be trustworthy, beloved leaders of youth like Helaman and the stripling warriors: build relationships with them, council them, support them

Parents have a primary responsibility for teaching their children

No one serves in the church alone

Heavenly Father wants us to reach out to others, including the youth

Help them learn who they really are through how you feel about them

Follow promptings, even though we’re not perfect, to build relationships of love and trust

No program can replace the influence of loving, covenant keeping adults

How Great the Wisdom and the Love

Quinten L Cook

My focus should be on the Savior and on the Saviors Atonement

We are all children of a loving Heavenly Father

The Savior is the Keeper of the Gate

And He is the one who also pleads in our behalf

Being one with Christ = loving and building community

Requirements for baptism are uniquely simple – repenting before God

D&C 25 basic doctrine of the restored Church

All are invited to partake of the Lords Goodness and all are alike unto God

None are forbidden

All accountable persons are required to atone for their sins

All have a choice – all have agency

Essential to the plan of salvation

All are able to use their agency and ACT

Exercise our moral agency to choose Christ and keep His commandments

2 Nephi 26:33

Both poor and rich have the same spiritual requirements

Many things occur of which we have little to no control

There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Without agency we could not learn, progress, or choose immortal life

We Will Sing of Zion

#genconf #tumblrstake #ldsconf #church of jesus christ of latter day saints