#3 Nephi

[pressforwardsaints]

"For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.

Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine.

And this is my doctrine, and it is the doctrine which the Father hath given unto me; and I bear record of the Father, and the Father beareth record of me, and the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and I bear record that the Father commandeth all men, everywhere, to repent and believe in me.

And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God."

— 3 Nephi 11:29-33

[mosesonethirtynine]

2024 Youth Theme

Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.

3 Nephi 5:13

[demigodofhoolemere]

11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires. 12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones. 13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children. 14 In righteousness shalt thou be established; thou shalt be far from oppression for thou shalt not fear, and from terror for it shall not come near thee. 15 Behold, they shall surely gather together against thee, not by me; whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. 16 Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created waster to destroy. 17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall revile against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

3 Nephi 22: 11-17

[darth-caillic]

Introducing Nephi and Padma Tui // Feather Fall

On the list of things that could have gone wrong on his sister's birthday getting kidnapped by a bunch of mind flayers and having worms stuffed in their heads was just about the worst if you asked Padma.

Well, on the bright side, he wasn't dead and hadn't been turned into a mind flayer themself. So that was a plus.

Now Padma just had to handle the squabbling half-elf and Githyanki while trying to find his sister. Oh well, Padma always loved a challenge.

+

Nephi doesn't hate her birthday or anything. She just finds them a bit pointless after a hundred years. But Padma insisted and it was always nice to spend the day with her brother.

What Nephi does hate is getting kidnapped, falling into trees and then being held at knifepoint by snotty high elves.

What a day... happy fucking day.

The New Taglist: Let me know if you want to be removed/added: @bisexualterror @thehedgehogat221b @margoshansons @waterloou @aceyanaheim @jedi-valjean @asirensrage @arrthurpendragon @foxesandmagic @bi-ologistofthehills @sterling-writes @bluejay-in-write

[senterya]

reading phangs fanfic in the evening was a mistake. I have to be up in four hours but my head is swimming with story ideas for Mentearch and Nephelia. dysfunctional courtier power couple my beloved.

[obsessingoverl]

The best way to be a Disciple of Christ is to allow yourself to be an instrument in his hands

[warlordarcher]

What was the reason pokkel wanted to become a hunter? What exactly is he searching for? What is his big hunt after?

Pokkle's father is a Hunter of Fantastic Beasts and his mother is an investigator. The two of them met while working, she left her office and began to travel with him, becoming a field investigator, while it was the father who took risks for the discoveries, she documented everything and then published a book. Eventually, at some point during one of their travels, Pokkle was born. They knew how risky it was to care for a baby in the environment in which they worked, so they settled in a small town near a forest, while the father went back and forth from exploration to exploration.

When Pokkle was a child, his father would return and make sure to tell all of his adventures in detail while the little boy listened in wonder. When he grew a little older, his father began to take him camping in the forest, showing him and teaching him the smallest and most common animals, and when night fell, they would light a bonfire and he would tell him the most daring adventures with creatures that seemed like they came from a fantastic story book

After a couple of years, Pokkle's younger brother was born, and the father now took them both camping when the little one was old enough.

One night, the father told them a story that he still could not live. He told them about a legend of a beast that very few people had claimed to have known/seen, but no one has documented it. Those people's stories always sounded different. He was going to be the one to discover the truth, and his wife was the one who was going to document it. Pokkle was always enchanted by his father's hunting life and dreamed of becoming one and having his own discoveries. He wanted to know all the possible creatures the world had.

One day, the father returned from an adventure very injured, but unlike other times, this time he was left with serious consequences, for which he could not continue going on an adventure. That didn't stop him though. He focused on searching for that particular legendary beast.

But one night, he claims that he saw that creature in the distance. But even though he tried to chase it, he never caught up, his body wasn't responding the way he expected and he simply ended up collapsed on the ground. Upon returning to his house when he recovered, he told the story to his family, and although they did believe him, the town began to see him as if the previous accident had damaged his brain and made him crazy.

Pokkle got his Hunter license and set out on his adventure to try to discover that legendary beast. He dreams of being able to record and document it. Meanwhile, he enjoys discovering other beasts and makes a living working for a group of investigators.

[rhunae]

Multiplayer with the hubby, I'm playing a tiefling bard, and he's playing a human druid. Bard has some really fun dialogue choices. He used the default name, Tav. Her name is Nephi.

[mindfulldsliving]

Satan's Influence and Righteous Choices: 3 Nephi 6 Insights

When we dive into 3 Nephi 6, we see a familiar pattern among the Nephites: periods of prosperity followed by devastating spiritual decline. As humans, we're often swayed by temptation when life seems easy, leading us astray.

Exegetical Insights: Understanding Temptation in 3 Nephi 6 In 3 Nephi 6, we’re given a vivid depiction of how Satan’s temptations can lead us to willfully sin against God. The chapter shows a society thriving in prosperity, yet gradually falling under the influence of pride and greed. The temptations they faced aren’t confined to ancient texts; they’re part of our modern spiritual struggle too.…

[driftwooddestiel]

at this point commerce class is just mormonism table work time for me . today i wrote a ton about the exploitation of vulnerable communities by the church and then went digging around the official lds website to get sources for all my claims . can confirm that the book of mormon is an incredibly boring read

[pressforwardsaints]

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always, lest ye be tempted by the devil, and ye be led away captive by him.

And as I have prayed among you even so shall ye pray in my church, among my people who do repent and are baptized in my name. Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.

And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words unto his disciples, he turned again unto the multitude and said unto them:

Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.

Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;

And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you."

— 3 Nephi 18:15-20

[loveerran]

LDS Doctrine, 8yr-old Transgender Children and Policy

One of the most shocking things about the new LDS policies for transgender children, is the policy that appears to deny or severely restrict their access to baptism. I discussed that briefly here (last year and recently). This post looks more at the doctrinal side of the question.

LDS doctrine has been amazingly clear and consistent on the treatment of little children prior to the age of accountability (defined as 8yrs-old in Doctrine & Covenants 68) from the very early days of the church. I honestly feel this issue has some nuance, but the church has been absolutely unwavering in stating the tenet that children under the age of 8 cannot sin, or even if they can their sin is swallowed up in the atonement of Christ automatically.

I might personally believe that accountability for actions is a continuum based on the light and law an individual has received (2 Nephi 9:25-6, Luke 12:47-9, Romans 4:15, 5:13, DC 137:7 – a continuum applying to all individuals, regardless of age). However, LDS doctrine and statements are emphatic in declaring the complete innocence of little children, and that the atonement covers them completely until the child is 8 years old:

Moroni 8:8,11-2,14,19 (verses 20+ are much harsher) “...wherefore little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin… their little children need no repentance… little children are alive in Christ, from the foundation of the world… little children cannot repent; wherefore it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them…”

DC 20:71 “No one can be received into the church of Christ unless he has arrived at the years of accountability before God, and is capable of repentance”

DC 68:27 “And their children shall be baptized for the remission of their sins when eight years old, and receive the laying on of the hands”

DC 74:7 “But little children are holy, being sanctified through the atonement of Christ; and this is what the scriptures mean”

See also Mosiah 3:16, Mosiah 15:25, DC 29:46-7, DC 137:10, JST Genesis 17:3-11, etc.

Taken together, little children are whole and clean through Jesus Christ until they arrive at the years of accountability and are capable of repentance. And that age is 8 years old. Church leaders have repeatedly restated this:

Dallin H Oaks: “We understand from our doctrine that before the age of accountability a child is ‘not capable of committing sin’” (Dallin H. Oaks, “Sins and Mistakes,” Ensign, Oct. 1996, 65)

Bruce R. McConkie “There comes a time, however, when accountability is real and actual and sin is attributed in the lives of those who develop normally. It is eight years of age, the age of baptism.” (Bruce R. McConkie, “The Salvation of Little Children,” Ensign, Apr. 1977, 6)

And we can even see this in the policies laid out in the current General Handbook of Instructions:

31.2.3.1: Children who are Members of Record

(note: children of record are children whose names are on the rolls of the church prior to baptism at age 8)

"In the interview, the bishopric member ensures that the child understands the purposes of baptism (see 2 Nephi 31:5–20). He also ensures that the child understands the baptismal covenant and is committed to live by it (see Mosiah 18:8–10). He does not need to use a specified list of questions. This is not an interview to determine worthiness, since 'little children need no repentance' (Moroni 8:11)."

(bold emphasis mine)

But for the first time in our history, we have an exception to this rule, and it applies only if the child is transgender. Instead of a meaningful interview with the local bishop or one of his counselors about following Jesus, a transgender child (and only a transgender child) who dresses differently or uses a different name and pronouns must have a worthiness interview with the regional Stake President directly. There is no other ‘sin’ that calls for this, even when little children have somehow perpetrated horrible crimes. If the Stake President finds the child worthy (is this even possible under the new guidelines??), he recommends the child for baptism to the First Presidency. The First Presidency is the highest council/court in the church, from which there is no appeal. The First Presidency then chooses whether or not to permit the child to be baptized. This new policy is spelled out in the Handbook:

38.2.8.9: Individuals Who Identify as Transgender

"Any exception to this policy requires the approval of the First Presidency. To request approval, the mission president, or the stake president for an eight-year-old, interviews the person. If he finds the person to be worthy and if he recommends baptism and confirmation, he submits a request for approval to the First Presidency using LCR."

(bold emphasis mine)

In the past, the church has denied baptism to the children of polygamists and to the children of gays (possibly others). In those cases, it could always be said the child’s parents were at fault, not the child themselves. This new policy is a marked departure from that and, in my opinion, is inconsistent with the church’s doctrine. I hope to see this policy adjusted as other policies have been when they do not align well with our core values and doctrines.

Love,

Erran

[demigodofhoolemere]

1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words he turned again to the multitude, and did open his mouth unto them again, saying: Verily, verily, I say unto you, Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged; and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye — and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly the cast the mote out of thy brother's eye.

3 Nephi 14: 1-5, compare Matthew 7

[darth-caillic]

Tui Family Tree (not including extended family)

[latter-day-saint-nick]

3 Nephi 18:25

Hmm...

[nerdygaymormon]

Unfortunately, we have a tendency to look for differences and to classify people in categories, we determine who isn't worthy to participate in church or to receive God's blessings. This is the opposite of what we're called to do.

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"For the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."--Samuel (1 Samuel 16:7 KJV)

"Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."--Christ (Matthew 19:14 NIV)

"Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."--Christ (Matthew 22:39 KJV)

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."--Christ (Matthew 25:40 KJV)

"By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another."--Christ (John 13:35 KJV)

"Love does no wrong to others"--Paul (Romans 13:10 New Living Translation)

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."--Paul (Galatians 3:28 NIV)

"he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile"--Nephi (2 Nephi 26:33)

"We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men;"--Joseph Smith (Articles of Faith 13)