Response

***Caution, I don't know the official church doctrine/standing here and if I am wrong I apologize. You can always research your own answers at www.lds.org***

This post is in response to a video and comments found at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1-F_ih1ePY

I welcome all comments and hope that I will be able to answer your questions.

I guess first, I would like state that I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I believe that it is very easy for us to believe we have found the things for which we are looking (i.e., she states that she was "looking for false prophecies by Joseph Smith"). She cites Doctrine and Covenants 84:4-5 and speculates that it refers to a temple that is to be built in Far West (see other prophecies about the gathering of the saints to Far West). The Kirtland Temple was finished within a couple of years.

She references several verses in Revaltion 21:

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband

22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.

I believe that the new Jerusalem must be built as a gathering place for the Saints and at the "time of burning" which is spoken of in the Bible, the righteous Saints will be brought up with the Lord and the earth and heaven will pass away (see verse 1). The return of this city is what John sees in verse 2. Verse 22, the purpose of temples is to prepare us with the covenants and ordinances necessary for eternal life. Therefore, when the new Jerusalem returns to Earth, there will not be need of temples.

As for the last bit, about following by blind faith, I do have something to say. I would say that we should do things because we have a testimony that they are true. I am one who grew up in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I served as a missionary to the Hispanic population in the Cincinnati, OH area for two years. I returned home at the age of 21 in 2005. Since then, I have struggled to live by the standards of the Gospel and have found varying levels of satisfaction with my life. When I sin, there is an inner peace that I lose as I allow Satan to possess a portion of my heart.

2 Nephi 4:27-28:

27 And why should I yield to sin, because of my flesh? Yea, why should I give way to temptations, that the evil one have place in my heart to destroy my peace and afflict my soul? Why am I angry because of mine enemy?

28 Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.

I know that I could give up at any moment and the feelings of guilt would eventually subside and I would be numb. However, this is not my intention in life. I am here to grow and to learn. I will continue to fight against Satan and his servants. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that the revelations given through the prophets in the Doctrine and Covenants are true. I know that the Bible is true. I know that I cannot force anybody to believe my words. I cannot force anybody to believe the words of the Lord. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God who was prepared in a good Christian home to bring forth the restoration of the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.