# GatheredIn.One > Archaeology Theology Reformation Prophesy ## Posts - [Book of Mormon Geography Scriptures & Notes](https://gatheredin.one/3815/book-of-mormon-geography-scriptures-notes/): [A] Aaron, city/cities of Alma 8:13; 50:14 Ablom Ether 9:3 Agosh Ether 14:15–16 Akish, wilderness of Ether 14:3–4, 14 Alma, valley of Mosiah 24:20, 21 Ammonihah, city of Alma 8:6–13, 16–18; chs. 9-14; 15:1, 15; 16:2-3, 9, 11; 25:2; 49:3, 10-11 Amnihu, hill -Amlicites come upon it, and battle Alma and his Army. -Very near Zarahemla, (“up” from Zarahemla) -Directly east of River Sidon (Alma 2:17) Alma 2:15 Amulon, land of Mosiah 23:31; 24:1 Angola, city of Mormon 2:4 Ani-Anti Alma 21:11 Antionum, land of Alma 31:3; 43:5, 22 Antiparah, city of Alma 56:14, 31–34; 57:1-4 Antipas, mount Alma 47:7, 10 […] - [Notes on Joseph Smith's Polygamy: A Timeline](https://gatheredin.one/6705/a-timeline-of-joseph-smiths-polygamy/): [See the Timeline in Google Sheets document] The history of polygamy in the LDS Church is certainly interesting. Perhaps more than any other issue, it has given me a somewhat naturalistic view of the church and church history. It has helped me to reevaluate my views on God, revelation, prophetic gifts and spiritualism. (I still have many strong spiritual beliefs) As I’ve gotten older and learned more, I’ve been forced to nuance my once highly orthodox views. I’ve replaced my view of Joseph Smith as a god-like Saint who stood next to Jesus in wisdom and righteousness to a view that […] - [The Priesthood of God & Its Relationship to the Only True Church Doctrine](https://gatheredin.one/5984/the-priesthood-of-god-its-relationship-to-the-only-true-church-doctrine/): 45 “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood…” (D&C 121:45). Like many modern books and movies I believe Lord of the Rings teaches an important gospel message. One of its central themes revolves around the idea that power corrupts—so it’s up to the strong and wise to keep it in the hands of the weak and humble until the time that it can be “cast down” by perfect equality and fellowship. I believe this message is very important when it comes to understanding Christian priesthood, and is a theme that runs throughout LDS scripture. […] - [Re-examining what the scriptures say about the "Only True Church" Doctrine](https://gatheredin.one/5922/reexamine-lds-the-only-true-church-doctrine/): 67 Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church (D&C 10:67–68). Introduction In this article I hope to prove from the scriptures that the “only true and living church” mentioned in D&C 1 and alluded to in other parts of LDS scriptures is actually a heavenly or “spiritual church” which the temporal or earthly church is commanded to align with in order to be numbered with—and NOT an exclusivist Christian […] - [Open Letter to LDS Apostle Jeffrey Holland](https://gatheredin.one/5877/open-letter-to-lds-apostle-jeffrey-holland/): Dear Elder Holland: You have long been one of my heroes. Your leadership while at BYU was remarkable. Your approach as a speaker and writer to challenging issues has usually in my experience been both enlightening and uplifting. I particularly remember hearing you speak while I was in university in the early 1980s respect the nature of human dignity, the challenges you faced as a graduate student laboring through “dark” times during which you did not have enough time or energy to go around, and other related things. You encouraged me while in similar circumstances – a young family, not enough […] - [Needed Reformation in the LDS Church - Specific Actions](https://gatheredin.one/5735/needed-reformation-in-the-lds-church-specific-actions/): I’m an active Mormon, and I care quite a bit about my faith (maybe too much!). As I’ve looked deeply at Mormon history over the last decade, it seems to me that Mormonism has changed doctrine and practice about as fast as the members overwhelmingly desired it (or social pressure required it) —and to me, this seems just as one would hope of a religion that professes to follow ‘the plan of moral agency’ (D&C 101:78; 93:31; Moses 4:3). I believe scriptures supports the idea that divinity gives a lot more leniency for religious leaders to make decisions than those leaders typically dare admit. And […] - [On the Great Whore & Counterfeits in the Church.](https://gatheredin.one/5658/of-porn-prophets-counterfeits-in-the-church/): I don’t like to label things as evil. I like the detached scientific view where everything on earth is working together in a balanced ecosystem according to natural laws– to “God’s” laws if you will. Each plant and animal follows the natural laws of instinct, and the fittest survive maintaining the balance. The lion is certainly the lamb’s enemy when the lion is hungry, but calling one of them good and the other evil is simply a matter of perspective. The fly would certainly be justified in teaching its children that the venus flytrap is a bad evil thing… but an […] - [Monte Alban Oaxaca as the City & Land of Nephi](https://gatheredin.one/22165/monte-alban-oaxaca-as-the-city-land-of-nephi/): Outline of Correlations of Monte Alban with City of Nephi Summary of Archeological Findings Archaeologists from the University of Oklahoma recently pinpointed the location of a buried building about 30 centimeters beneath the surface of the Main Plaza at Monte Albán — one of the first cities to develop in all of pre-Hispanic Mexico. The team used three geophysical prospection techniques — ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistance and gradiometry — to locate the square structure, which is estimated at 18 meters on a side and with stone walls more than a meter thick. OU researchers are the first to employ gradiometry and […] - [Joseph Smith Quotes on Book of Mormon Geography](https://gatheredin.one/449/joseph-smith-quotes-on-book-of-mormon-geography/): Quotes by and attributed to Joseph Smith relative to the geography of the Book of Mormon. - [The Law of Love Vs. Special Privilege. A discussion on Homosexuality, Morality and Religious Law](https://gatheredin.one/4458/the-law-of-love-vs-special-privilege-a-discussion-on-homosexuality-morality-and-religious-law/): Over the last few years I have put a lot of thought into the dualism of justice and mercy, or more particularly between Christ’s law of love vs. the concept of special privilege. Nowhere is the dichotomy between these principles more visible than in the personal, religious and cultural debate surrounding homosexuality. How do we reconcile the Christian principles of universal love with the also seemingly “christian principles of special privilege. Does God favor certain people because of behavioral choices or proclivities and relegate or exclude others for the same reasons? If so, how can he be a all-loving God? I don’t pretend there […] - [Christ as the Only Path to the Father](https://gatheredin.one/3887/christ-as-the-only-path-to-the-father/): Does one have to be Christian to be saved?  Did Christ teach that you had to believe in him in order to go to heaven? Scriptures such as John 14:6 which says “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” is one example of a verse seeming to suggest that only Christians can go to heaven or that all must go through Jesus to get there. Terms such as “only begotten son” (or monogenēs: John 1:14; 1:18; 3:18; Heb 11:17; 1 Jn 4:9), similarly suggest to many that salvation […] - [MesoAmerican/Mayan influence on Mississippian Culture](https://gatheredin.one/3806/mesoamericanmayan-influence-on-mississippian-culture/): from https://www.facebook.com/notes/suppressed-histories-archives/mound-building-in-north-america-is-old/375806979116303/ Recently, claims of Maya migrations to Georgia have gotten a lot of attention. A long-standing pattern interprets North America as a backwater that absorbed influences from Mesoamerica, repeatedly assumed to be more advanced. in “America’s Lost City,” Andrew Lawler lays out a body of archaeological evidence for major mound complexes in Louisiana and Illinois that predate the Maya and even Olmec ceremonial complexes. (Sorry, link does not give the full article: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/334/6063/1618.summary)   First, the great ceremonial center of Cahokia was even larger than first imagined. They started excavating East St Louis in a big rush before the building of a […] - [An LDS perspective on the 'Law of One' Material](https://gatheredin.one/3679/an-lds-perspective-on-the-law-of-one-material/): The Law of One is kinda crazy. I include it in my list because of its profound and cohesive cosmology. It can be hard to read at times because of its strange wording & topic selection... - [Behind the Veil: The Purpose of Religion, The Purpose of This Life](https://gatheredin.one/3431/the-purpose-of-this-life-behind-the-curtain/): -the movie wizard of oz teaches a deep truth, that all which the masses perceive as reality is really just fire, smoke and mirrors and that there is an intelligent transdimensional man behind the curtain who is really creating the illusion. -the movie ‘the matrix’ teaches this same lesson but with a slightly more dark perception about the reality behind the illusion. ‘Reality as we know it is an illusion’, and for the sincere seeker of truth there is a path to see behind that illusion and by understanding the principles which govern it, you may ascend to the same level […] - [Seeing The Face of God...](https://gatheredin.one/3177/seeing-the-face-of-god/): Introduction There are many, many, many people in this world who honestly claim to have seen God or Christ. The vast majority of these occurrences happen during near-death experiences or in visionary states of altered consciousness. (see near-death.com for examples) A few even occur in full consciousness with natural eyes just as one man would talk to another. Those of different religious persuasions have these very real experiences too, although they call the light being/beings which they see by different names according to their religious biases.  If you are not already familiar with the God-encountering experiences of the differing religious icons of the world (such […] - [Multi-dimensionality and the relativity of fundamental units in physics](https://gatheredin.one/2863/multi-dimensionality-and-the-relativity-of-fundamental-units-in-physics/): NOTE: This article is out of date.  See the more recent version found here. Introduction Although my degree is in geology & geophysics, and not nuclear or astrophysics, I’v always had a keen interest in physics and would love to go back to school one day and get a graduate degree somewhere in that field. My advanced physics, geochronology and geophysics classes in college really interested and excited me. As I went through school I was flooded with ideas and insights and had strong impressions of where modern physical understandings were lacking. As the internet grows I have found I am far from alone. I have […] - [Bible Chronology / Timeline from Adam to Zedekiah](https://gatheredin.one/474/bible-chronology-timeline-from-adam-to-zedekiah/): Overview I’ve spent a good 15 years trying to test a literal biblical timeline against contemporary ancient king lists, timelines, archaeological evidence, geological evidence and other modern channeled texts. One of the things that’s really stuck out to me in studying Egyptian, Greek, Babylonian and Akkadian histories is that these ancient people used cultural genealogies to legitimize their authority in the same way that modern Western culture uses science to claim cultural superiority. Each of them followed a similar template of claiming direct descent from the ancient heroes and demigods–passing through the ancient cataclysms–straight to their established rulers and religious priesthoods. For them it was a form […] - [Thoughts on Spirituality & Religion (Part 1. Supernatural Experiences)](https://gatheredin.one/2724/my-testimony-or-spiritual-experiences/): As I explain in my ‘What is Truth‘ article, I’ve spent a lot of time and energy in my life trying to figure out how all truth in this world fits together into one cohesive whole. To me, that seems to be the highest idea LDS people learn in our church, taught to us in our highest temple ordinance just before we symbolically pass through the “veil” into the presence of “God”. I’ve read a good amount of most of the world’s religious works. I’ve had visions of spirits, I’ve heard voices, I’ve battled demons, I’ve dabbled in the hidden mysteries, and I’ve […] - [Bible & Book of Mormon Chronology / Kings of Israel](https://gatheredin.one/2683/bible-book-of-mormon-chronology-kings-of-israel/): Biblical Timeline from Abraham to Hoshea, through the Kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. See Bible Chronology / Timeline from Adam to Zedekiah for more complete biblical timeline through kings of Judah and much more detail.  check out our genealogical correlation chart for a genealogy of all of these timeline together. Gen. Descendant of Adam Notes about Life Life Span Begat son at age… Age Made King Total Reign Beg Reign   (Yr BC) DEATH (Yr BC) Scripture reference’s) which give exact ages/dates. 20 Abraham 175 100 75 ? 2022 BC? 1847 BC? Gen 21:5   25:7,8 21 Isaac 180 60 60 ? 1922 BC […] - [Book of Mormon Chronology: Jaredite Timeline](https://gatheredin.one/2672/book-of-mormon-chronology-timeline-of-jaredites/): Timeline Chronology for the Jaredite culture from the Book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. See link for general Bible timeline. The Book of Mormon Jaredite King List gives only 7 exact dates (lifespans and reigns) for the Jaredite Chronology. The only real markers we have to build a working chronology from are firstly, the date of the “dearth” or famine and megafauna extinction given in the narrative of Heth Ether 9:30–34. It’s important to note that it’s well established that Mastodons and other megafauna went extinct in most of continental North America at about 11-8,000 BC and the paleoindians role […] - [Needed Reformation in the LDS Church- A Rant](https://gatheredin.one/2613/needed-reformation-in-the-lds-church/): Introduction With both religion and politics in order to create a group that can really make a difference in the world (or as I presume be exalted in the next life), it is often more important to be unified than to be “right” or perfect according to some subjective standard.  Unity should be the ultimate goal, and wisdom, love and power exercised within the framework of free-agency are foundations upon which we build toward that goal. According to numerous scriptural sources, this is actually what allows people after death to raise to higher more blissful levels of heaven. I think perhaps the religious term […] - [Arguments Against Unrestricted Free Speech & Bad Behavior](https://gatheredin.one/2565/arguments-against-unrestricted-free-speech/): Society has placed certain restrictions on the availability and use of certain addictive or harmful drugs for very good reasons.  The use and distribution of both drinking and cigarette smoking are prohibited to people under a certain age… for good reason.  Youth have historically been shown to be more easily manipulated and coerced into participating in personally or socially destructive behavior… Similarly all free speech is not protected by the constitution.  In matters of national security there are many secrets and types of information which are classified and may only be spoken of by those authorized to do so.  Sharing or […] - [Sectarian Scum](https://gatheredin.one/2556/sectarian-scum/): I was walking across a bridge one day, and I saw a man standing on the edge, about to jump off. So I ran over and said “Stop! don’t do it!” “Why shouldn’t I?” he said. I said, “Well, there’s so much to live for!” He said, “Like what?” I said, “Well…are you religious or atheist?” He said, “Religious.”I said, “Me too! Are you christian or Buddhist?” He said, “Christian.” I said, “Me too! Are you catholic or protestant?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, “Me too! Are you Episcopalian or baptist?” He said, “Baptist!” I said,”Wow! Me too! Are you baptist […] - [Ask Sister Christensen: How Can I Make My Prayers More Powerful?](https://gatheredin.one/2236/ask-sister-christensen-how-can-i-make-my-prayers-more-powerful/): reposted from The BunYion Dear Sister Christensen, I’m in desperate need of your help! You see, I’m relatively new to the church and my Bishop just asked me to offer the prayer this Sunday in Sacrament Meeting. I’m nervous beyond belief! It seems like every member of the church offers such beautiful prayers, and I know that mine don’t sound nearly so spiritual! Could you help me deliver some spiritual oomph during my prayer this Sunday? Sincerely, Mary, the Soul’s Sincere Desire Dear Mary, What an excellent topic! Of course, the most spiritual way of praying is by using the Church’s […] - [Ordain Children Movement Gains Momentum](https://gatheredin.one/2233/ordain-children-movement-gains-momentum/): reposted from The BunYion SALT LAKE CITY — Another group protesting for ordination was turned away from General Conference over the weekend: not Ordain Women, but Ordain Children. The group is composed of more than two hundred children ages four to eleven. Six-year-old Timmy Johnson of the Bountiful 8th Ward leads the group. His mother whispered in his ear as he released this statement: “I know that children can have the priesthood. I know Jesus loves kids more than grown-ups. I love my mother and father and sisters and brothers and dogs. Nameofjesuschristamen.” Many have struggled to understand the demands of […] - [The Rameumptom](https://gatheredin.one/2227/the-rameumptom/): A narrative from the pages of Dialogue:A Journal of Mormon Thought: (minor edits by me) See https:/5922/scriptural-commentary-on-only-true-church-doctrine/   “What’s a Rameumptom, Dad?” “Well, the Book of Mormon says it was a place where the Zoramites stood to worship and pray.” “But my church teacher said it was a tower that evil people used.” “I can see how someone could think that. The Book of Mormon says the people who used it were wicked and perverse.” “What made them wicked?” “It says they were lifted up in pride and boasting and their hearts were set on getting rich. It seems like the Rameumptom and their religious […] - [Emanuel Swedenborg and Mormonism](https://gatheredin.one/2112/emanuel-swedenborg-and-mormonism/): Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) was a Swedish philosopher and scientist who, at 56, had a spiritual awakening and wrote numerous books on his theological views and related topics. Swedenborg claimed to be able to visit heaven and hell at will. His works were widely read after his death and likely had a substantial influence on Mormon Doctrine. - [The Oahspe Text and Mormonism](https://gatheredin.one/2100/the-oahspe-text-and-mormonism/): Oahspe has more supporting information for esoteric Mormon doctrine than any other book I've read. Outline 1. Oahspe's view of the great spirit, or most high god, and how it accords with Mormonisms... - [A Bit on Moral Purity](https://gatheredin.one/1856/a-bit-on-moral-purity/): What is purity? Much like “truth”, purity is another word which often is hijacked and convoluted by society and/or organized religion. In a religious context, purity is most often associated with innocence, virginity or sexual abstinence.  The suggestion by religion often is that one who is “pure” is one who has not been “corrupted” by sin, forbidden sexuality or “Babylon” or the wicked world. I believe that although these colloquial definitions can be related to moral purity, they essentially miss the mark on a concept which is vitally important to one’s personal progression. More properly, purity is defined as a state of […] - [The Mormon Temple Ceremony and FreeMasonry](https://gatheredin.one/1839/mormon-temple-ceremony-and-freemasonry/): Freemasonry’s Ancient Origins The idea that masonic ritual originated in the 15th or 17th centuries is an ignorant one. Although it might be said that the modern freemasonry organization, as it is presently constituted, is a modern invention– much of the symbolism, ritual and tradition come from far older traditions. Many aspects can be definitively traced back through medieval orders like the Knights Templar to Roman Mithraism and then back to Persian/Armenian religious ritual and Egyptian mystical religious traditions. If you haven’t looked into the early Roman Mithraic cults of Europe, you need to read the Wikipedia article now. After that, […] - [Commentary on the LDS Articles of Faith](https://gatheredin.one/1782/commentary-on-the-lds-articles-of-faith/): LDS Articles of Faith with my commentary 1 We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost. All of these are profound esoteric symbols of which volumes could be written. They are not simplistic dogmatic statements of one sided mortal-like individuals. God is the Creator and the Creation . He is a composite of all that is . He is in the Sun, moon and stars and the power by which they were made. He is in the Galaxy and the power by which it was made and so forth. He is […] - [Is The LDS Church the Only True Church? Understanding Religion and Truth.](https://gatheredin.one/1677/the-only-true-church/): I hope in this article to try to share some things that have helped me figure out how my religion fits with all the other religions in the world (pluralism); thoughts which have helped to break down barriers that inhibited my abilities to accept, love and learn from aspects of humanity not sharing my faith. Ideas that made me afraid of learning and seeking for truth. In a way I am trying to stand between believers and unbelievers and help them see eye to eye. As an active member of the LDS Church, I hope that by reading and thinking about this article, other active members will also […] - [Death… How to deal with it.](https://gatheredin.one/1642/death-where-is-thy-sting/): I read a facebook post that made me think a bit about death today. Its a topic I’v ruminated on many times over the past decade or so. A facebook post of a friend’s sister who lost their teenage daughter unexpectedly made the pain of death real again for me. The Pain Its not rare that I get a bit frustrated with this world and wonder what the heck I’m doing here. Sixteen years ago my dad was killed. For sixteen years I’v searched for answers. For sixteen years I’v studied the scriptures, I’v studied life after death experiences, I’v studied […] - [The Lower & Higher Priesthoods](https://gatheredin.one/1616/the-lower-higher-priesthoods/): This article is convoluted. Rewrite. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction... (James 1:27)”   Introduction Organized earthly religion is a schoolmaster or preparatory gospel that tries to bring us up to a higher form or truer, heavenly religion; which is essentially a harmonic, balanced life which is at-one or unified with all of creation. The truths of this principle are hidden in the scriptures and symbols of all earthly religion–but more especially in the LDS Church and temple ceremony.  Most LDS members are well aware of the offices, functions, […] - [Galactic Wave Interference Patterns and Their effect on Global Conciousness](https://gatheredin.one/1598/galactic-wave-interference-patterns-and-their-effect-on-global-conciousness/): Oaspe gives a very unique and informative cosmology. One of the most intriguing aspects of this cosmology is the concept of Dan Times. These are periods of time (averaging 3000 years), in which the solar system in it’s galactic orbit makes a complete cycle from a place of high spiritual energy and enlightenment through a space of spiritual darkness or entropy, and back. 1. First, the earth plieth in a circuit around the sun, which circuit is divided into four arcs called spring, summer, autumn and winter. 2. Second, the sun, with his family, plieth in a large circuit [around a […] - [The Holographic Nature of DNA, the Brain & the Universe](https://gatheredin.one/1553/the-holographic-nature-of-dna-the-brain-the-universe/): ReBlogged from lightworkers.org THE GENETIC ODE The secret of life! How long mankind has yearned to know its essence and how to extend lifespan and improve health. The discovery of the DNA helix in 1953, by Watson and Crick revealed the shape of this magic molecule. The following 50 years of research has directly led to our ability to read the human genome. We can now decipher its creative meaning and imitate its creative evolution. Genetic engineering is no longer a chimera or scifi dream, but a stark reality. In terms of genetics, we are moving from the machine age to […] - [Hagoth, The Book of Mormon and the Polynesians](https://gatheredin.one/21882/hagoth-the-book-of-mormon-and-the-polynesians/): There are many quotes by LDS Apostles & Prophets concerning the relationship between modern Polynesian people, modern Mesoamerican people and Book of Mormon peoples. Apart from quotes by Joseph Smith and his pre-1844 contemporaries (quotes of which are covered in my Joseph Smith Quotes on Book of Mormon Geography article) the one of the first quotes on Mexico was Brigham Young, Jr. who spoke in Mar 1883 of how “The leaders of the Church have in view the 5,000,000 of Lamanites located in Mexico” In the dedicatory prayer of the Mexico City temple, president Gordon B. Hinckley said, Bless Thy saints […] - [A Discussion on Sexual Media and Pornography](https://gatheredin.one/1496/an-lds-perspective-on-pornography/): What to do about Porn. The advent and spread of internet pornography is a radical, polarizing social experiment whose impacts are just now beginning to be widely pondered, studied, discussed and learned from. What are we to make of it? There are literally tens of millions of people out there dealing with the effects of this issue and many are screaming what are we going to do about this?! My experience with porn comes from an environment of strong religious biases, so you’ll see that my remarks are targeted toward helping those in similar circumstances. In my experience it is those […] - [Human Relationships & The Microcosmic Connection To Atomic Bonding](https://gatheredin.one/1478/relationships-the-microsmic-connection-to-atomic-bonds/): I like to think that relationships or the bonding of people follow the same rules of physics as the relationships or bonding between atoms and cosmic bodies. That cosmic bodies, humans, and atoms all share a “fractal” (ie. microcosmic) relationship and thus share inherent similarities and adhere to similar physical laws. Atomic and cosmic bonding, are of course governed and categorized by differences in energy potential. In humans we call this same potential energy attractive desire. We all have different polarities which dictate this attractive desire, and our level of polarization varies throughout our lives. Our relationships or human interactions become […] - [Mormon Doctrine and New-Age Principles](https://gatheredin.one/1446/mormon-doctrine-and-new-age-principles/): I’ll have to finish this article some time when I really have some time, but as I’v been reading a lot of spiritual texts lately I’m amazed at how similar a lot of the channeled new age material is to Mormon Doctrines and Scripture. I’m also a bit amazed by the animosity I’ve encountered in some articles written by Mormons against new age religion and philosophy. This article is my attempt to begin to translate some of the principle of New Age Religion into Mormon terminology and vise-versa.  My hope is that it will help people see the way that these two […] - [Mormonism and visitors from outer space](https://gatheredin.one/1429/mormonism-and-visitors-from-outer-space/): I have been thinking I should write an article on this lately, but figure its a bit fool hearty and futile. It’s such a complex and polarizing subject that to treat it properly to a wide audience would be practically impossible. I have been woken up many times in the early mornings over the last few years by an inner voice teaching me some pretty amazing things. I am then usually serendipitously led by the Spirit to more enlightening material to read during the day which sheds light on the foggy morning discussions. At times I have pretty distinctly felt a […] - [Women and the Priesthood](https://gatheredin.one/1423/women-and-the-priesthood/): ——–under construction————-   finish later I think it is appropriate to compare the issue of Women and the Priesthood to Blacks and the Priesthood. I think there is a lot in the church that is essentially “traditions of men” carried over from Gentile Christianity. I think that Joseph Smith was incredibly progressive in trying to break some of these long held traditions with revealing principles such as a “heavenly mother”, and the role of “prophetesses” among the church. I think most the church and its leaders are largely ignorant of the precedences set by Joseph Smith in essentially giving both Blacks and Women […] - [Notes on Intimacy](https://gatheredin.one/1414/notes-on-intimacy/): I ran across this excerpt from the Kolbrin text and thought I would jot it down, since it brought out a lot of thoughts I’v had lately and reinforces some principles I would like to teach my daughters when they are mature enough. I think for young woman beginning to discover boys, the following information might be of value… SCL:31:2 Earth knows no greater joy than that of contented wedded love. Such love is a beaconlight to all mankind; it guides the caravan of its journeying with a pure and sacred flame. Sweet, hallowed love has a temple in the heart […] - [Is Pornography or Nudity Bad?](https://gatheredin.one/1362/is-pornography-or-nudity-bad/): Is Pornography or Nudity Bad/Evil? This is a very interesting question which I’v been wanting to write a blog post on for a long time. I believe the answer to this question reveals the root of sexual desire and addiction in our society. With the almost inescapable presence of nudity and sexuality in TV, Music, Internet, Public Places it is a moral question that most individuals in our society must decide for themselves, and a conversation that is being neglected both within ourselves, our families and our religions. I find it interesting because it has been made so complicated by Western […] - [The Chinese Language and the Bible/Adamic Language](https://gatheredin.one/1325/the-chinese-language-and-the-bibleadamic-language/): I’ve been seeing a number of new web sites talking about the chinese language and the bible. They all seem to reference the same research done by C. H. Kang, Ethel Nelson in his book, The Discovery of Genesis : How the Truths of Genesis Were Found Hidden in the Chinese Language. The arguments have been debated, and could be easily explained away except for that I keep seeing evidence for this in mystic writings. The best example is this section from Oahspe. 19/3.6. Behold the multiple (Yi ha) language of the tribes of Shem! Side by side with the tribes […] - [The Book of Ben Kathryn and the future of the United States](https://gatheredin.one/1293/the-book-of-ben-kathryn-and-the-future-of-the-united-states/): The Book of Ben Kathryn suggests in its prophesies that America will divide into 5 segments of some sort within the next 3 generations. This isn’t a stretch of coarse, as similar divisions are common in most major historical empires and republics. The USSR, for instance, split into 15 completely autonomous nations or republics after 75 years. The British commonwealth, split into even more units after 150-250 years of growth, however each unit had differing levels of autonomy. History will tell whether this prophesy comes true, as well as the specific character of our dissolution—but if history is any indicator, our division […] - [Charity, Kindness, and the Divine Center](https://gatheredin.one/1289/charity-kindness-and-the-divine-center/): Charity, Kindness, and the Divine Center Finding the hidden gate to exaltation has to do with maneuvering our way through the opposites and imbalances of life. In our present state of existence there are two primary spheres. One is mortality or the physical world in which we live. The other is immortality or the hidden spirit world where we go when we die. Neither is heaven, both are still lost and fallen. The goal is not the Spirit world, it is the resurrection. It is this true heaven found through the resurrection which should be the goal found only through the straights […] - [Book of Mormon Geography: An Internal Model](https://gatheredin.one/9934/book-of-mormon-geography-internal-model/): – Quick links/ Jump to Section: Narrow Neck Ammonihah Antionum Aaron Melek Mulek Noah Bountiful Southwest Cities East Sea Cities Gideon Jershon Jerusalem Helam, Alma, Amulon Ishmael River Sidon Head of Sidon Manti Nephi Zarahemla Land Many Waters Cumorah Hill Shim Wildernesses (side) Defensive Lines West [Sea] Cities Moron Sidom Seas East & West Mormon Overview Chapter 22 of the Book of Alma gives the best overall layout of the geography of Book of Mormon lands. In the chapter, Mormon takes a break from the narrative to explain the following important geographic relationships. (see ch.22 exposition) The Land of Nephi’s borders […] - [The Power & Responsibility of Parenting](https://gatheredin.one/1283/the-power-responsibility-of-parenting/): I have spoken before about how in heaven, our own attitudes and perceptions create our reality. This should not be hard to believe, since the same is essentially true in mortality. Two individuals may go through the same experience, and yet have completely different attitudes, memories, interpretations and such. Color blindness is only one example of how even our senses skew perceptions. One could say that it was two different experiences, because each perceives their own reality vastly different. I recently read something which took this concept a step further. I have at times been quite confused as I read many […] - [Relative Relationships, Fractals, Spiritual Centers/Chakras, and the endocrine system](https://gatheredin.one/1258/relative-relationships-fractals-spiritual-centerschakras-and-the-endocrine-system/): I need to finish and expand upon this sometime. Relative Relationships/Fractals The eastern concept of chakras is largely based on he idea that the body follows a fractal relationship with the universe. A fractal is a mathematical construct or set that typically displays self-similar patterns or a pattern that is exactly the same at every scale. This is why it is also called the Law of relative relationships, or a system which shows the same relationships at every scale. Plato elaborated on this observed phenomena and coined the words microcosm and macrocosm. A tree is a great example of a fractal […] - [Judas, The Sons of Perdition and Service to Self](https://gatheredin.one/1247/sons-of-perdition-and-service-to-self/): “During the Transformation the Service-to-Others find each other and take up abiding with each other, to the exclusion of abiding with those who are still spiritually undecided. Of course, as these individuals are usually a mainstay for others, the spiritually undecided clamor for their time and attention, but are increasingly given self help instructions and sent on their way. In fact, the spiritually undecided find the environment provided in a Service-to-Other community to be a drag, dull. No confrontations, everyone dedicated and preoccupied, just not lively enough. The Service-to-Self are generally driven from the ranks of both the Service-to-Other and the […] - [ Milton Friedman on the Free Market System](https://gatheredin.one/1202/milton-friedman-on-the-free-market-system/): This is a young Phil Donahue interviewing Milton Friedman thirty years ago (and Donahue was as far left-wing as they get, as you can see here). With clarity, Mr Friedman makes the case for the free market economy. - [Scriptural Prophecy (List of all Fulfilled and Future Prophecy in Scripture)](https://gatheredin.one/17773/scriptural-prophesy-list-of-all-fulfilled-and-future-prophesy-in-scripture/): Overview This document is a compilation of all the prophecy, (both fulfilled and future) found in Judeo-Christian scripture. Many of these suggested prophecies create a “chicken and the egg” scenario, where an unbeliever would suspect the fulfillment was self-fulfilling and came only because of the prediction, whereas a believer would see the fulfillment as an independent validation of an independent prediction. With neither scenario being provable. In a few instances of particularly impressive prophesy, unbelievers almost universally move the goal posts, arguing that the prophecy must be from after the event, such as the Cyrus prophecy. But once again it’s impossible […] - [Accounts of Destructions & Darkness at Christs Death from Around the World](https://gatheredin.one/13918/accounts-of-the-darkness-earthquakes-at-christs-death-from-around-the-world/): Long ago in ancient Peru, there was a legend of a time of worldwide darkness. It is said the sun was gone for five days. Stones knocked against one another. Shepherds were attacked by their own sheep whether they were running away in the fields or hiding in their homes. Even the mortars and pestles (grinders and their bowls) are said to have rebelled against their owners. In another Peruvian story, it is said that there was a people before the Incans. These ancient people experienced a period without light. So they prayed until the sun finally rose from Lake Titicaca, and in […] - [Eternal Progression, Degrees of Glory, and the Resurrection: A Comparative Cosmology](https://gatheredin.one/1174/eternal-progression-degrees-of-glory-and-the-resurrection/): Introduction This article seeks to present a new and comprehensive cosmology as seen from an LDS viewpoint, but using the best of non-LDS sources for greater understanding. Cosmology is defined as “the study of the origin, evolution, and eventual fate of the universe”, but in religious terms it is more properly an understanding of how man, god and religion fit into the origin, purpose and destiny of the human soul within the universe. LDS people call this “Eternal Progression” within The Plan of Salvation. Joseph Smith’s view of eternal progression added a lot to the existing cosmology of Catholicism and Medieval […] - [The Multi-Dimensionality of Matter](https://gatheredin.one/725/the-multi-dimensionality-of-matter/): Physicist are only now beginning to place the multidimensionality of matter onto a scientifically viable framework. New innovations in String Theory (link) are showing mathematically that matter must exist in multiple dimensions given the changing states of the material universe from pure energy to denser matter. This idea is of course no surprise to the religions of the earth, as they have been teaching multiple dimensions for millennia (“why are heaven and hell invisible? Because they exist on another plane”). Finish this later…. Here’s the general gist…. Matter is divided into octaves in the same way that light is divided into […] - [Parallels between the Creation Drama, Israel's History and Personal Progression](https://gatheredin.one/1150/parallels-between-the-creation-drama-israels-history-and-personal-progression/): The Garden of Eden is dualistically a type of pre-mortal life in nearly all types. Adam/Abel-Seth/Noah/Abraham – The covenant is first established in the Garden of Eden/Holy Land/Temple Mount/Etc, promised made to Adam/Abram’s posterity for obedience (first Aaronic Covenent), Abram pays tithes/Adam makes sacrifice, Abel & Noah also, a sign given in return (rainbow, promise of seed, appearance of God), Abram/Isaac & Adam/Abel put on the alter by father, Noah & Moses put in an Arc (corresponding to the law being put in the Arc of the covenant, covered with a Kapora/mercy covering). Animal skin/12 fig leaves sown to cover Adam […] - [Daniels 70 week prophecy and the war of Gog and Magog: The Book of Ben Kathryn's cipher to biblical prophecy](https://gatheredin.one/1137/daniels-70-week-prophecy-and-the-war-of-gog-and-magog/): Introduction There is an “end time” conflict in the works according to a very interesting and unique new Jewish prophesy. Likely escalating in the next two decades—it is said to be the prophesied epic biblical war of “Gog and Magog”. But the new Jewish prophetic text suggests it will not occur like most people think. It will not begin or end with the evangelical “rapture” or the Second Coming as many people imagine it. Nor has it anything to do with any kind of end of the world apocalypse or nuclear holocaust.  In fact, as the events unfold exactly as Ezekiel and other biblical and Islamic prophets foretold, […] - [Aztec, Mixtec, Maya & Early Spanish Codices, Manuscripts and Histories](https://gatheredin.one/13392/aztec-mixtec-early-spanish-codices-and-histories/): To see digital versions of the originals, see ‘Codices of Mexico‘ by the INAH (Historical Archives of the Mexican Government) To see a pretty good list of most if not all known atztec, mixtec and maya codices, see this wikipedia article & its links. The Codex Borbonicus by Unknown Nahua Scribe (1507?) The Codex Borbonicus is an extremely important codex because it is written in the native style from the Mexica perspective (unfortunately no pre-conquest codex form Tenochtitlan has survived to the present day).  In addition, it contains Spanish annotations which can thus help us in reading other pre-conquest codices.  This […] - [The Old World Mesopotamian & Egyptian Empire Dating Problem](https://gatheredin.one/1126/the-mesopotamian-empire-dating-problem/): Mesopotamian archeology is a mess. It contains by far the greatest density of prehistoric archeological ruins on the planet and yet the history we have pieced together is a mixture of nineteenth and early twentieth century well meaning bible believing archeologists who have distorted and twisted the evidence to make it correlate with the bible story, combined with equally well meaning Hellenists and Egyptologists who have correlated all archeological finds with the unfortunately incorrect dates of a handful of ancient king lists and histories (read on for proof). On top of all this you have a new breed of scientist and […] - [The 'Times of the Gentiles' and Daniel's Seventy Weeks Prophecy](https://gatheredin.one/1109/the-times-of-the-gentiles-daniels-70-weeks-prophesy/): 24 “Seventy weeks [sevens/hebdomads] are decreed for your people and your holy city to finish transgression, to put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the Most Holy Place. 25 “Know and understand this: From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven ‘sevens,’ and sixty-two ‘sevens.’ It will be rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble. 26 After the sixty-two ‘sevens,’ the Anointed One will be put […] - [Book of Mormon Archeology Unearthed](https://gatheredin.one/1069/book-of-mormon-archeology-unearthed-wreferences/):   The views of this article are not entirely shared by the site author. – INTRODUCTION It may be helpful to read Introduction to scriptural archeology for an introduction to this article covering important background information on why archeological dating methods give screwed results and on the geographical alteration of the narrow neck of land. (To clarify dates, throughout the rest of the text scriptural/historical dates are preceded by S/H; while archaeological dates, including carbon dates, are preceded by A/C. In printed versions, footnotes which reference scriptures are in red; footnotes which reference archaeological sources are in black). THE SCATTERING AT […] - [Donations](https://gatheredin.one/1055/donations/): Anyone who enjoys my plugins, programming, research or wants to encourage my efforts in some direction can donate to the cause by using the PayPal donation service. Donations are a way to say “keep up the good work, it is useful and we appreciate it!” It has an powerful effect on my mentality and helps me see where I should focus my energy. If you would like to show your appreciation in other ways, you could just leave a comment below that says something nice. 🙂     PayPal Donation Service - [Footnote Test & Heading Test (H1, H2, etc)](https://gatheredin.one/1048/footnote-test-heading-test/): ss=”wp-block-paragraph”>I have a number of articles with footnotes [1] that I wanted to post to my site, but I didn’t want to reformat them all and manually add the needed html. So I tried a number of footnote plugins like FD Footnotes, Footnotes for WordPress, WP-Footnotes and the YAFootnotes [✔] Plugin, but none of them were exactly what I wanted. I wanted a footnote plugin that would dynamically display the footnotes when you hovered or mouseovered the footnote link[✔]. I also wanted to be able to put the footnote text either inline OR at the bottom and have the plugin dynamically […] - [Background to 'Book of Mormon Archaeology Unearthed'](https://gatheredin.one/896/background-to-book-of-mormon-archaeology-unearthed/): This content is password-protected. To view it, please enter the password below. Password: - [Internal Geography of the Bible](https://gatheredin.one/22324/internal-geography-of-the-bible/): The bible has a consistent internal geography which would make locating it possible, even if we only had a vague idea of where in Eurasia it occurred. First, the cardinal directions of the Bible are well established by hebrew meanings in the words themselves with… But even if that wasn’t the case, Psalms 139:9–10 defines east as where the sun rises. “If I go east where the sun rises or go to live in the west beyond the sea, even there you will take my hand and lead me.”    Its established again in Isaiah 45:6, “so that from the rising […] - [The Priesthood and the Power of Oneness](https://gatheredin.one/788/the-priesthood-and-the-power-of-oneness/): A Philosophical Foundation Each world cycle is composed of two parts. A dividing era, and a unifying era. A fall/division and a redemption/at-one-ment. Our source and our destination is oneness. Before this world was, we were one with God (in a sense), and all who take part in the redemption are seeking to bring all intelligence back into that oneness. So how is this accomplished? I think the best way to see it is to take a lesson from nature… A snowflake, as well as most minerals, need a “seed”, or nucleus around which to grow. Most scientists believe that particles […] - [The Parallel Between the Times of Israel and Times of the Gentiles](https://gatheredin.one/779/the-parallel-between-the-times-of-israel-and-times-of-the-gentiles/): “I give you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived” (D&C 52:14) One type or pattern that is helpful in understanding the role of the Gentile Christian Church in relation to Israel and the Great Apostasy is the pattern or type between the Times of Israel (from Abraham to Christ) and the Times of the Gentiles (from Christ to near present). These two biblical ‘epochs’ are exact mirrors of each other. By looking at the similarities in these two times and organizations one can see how higher beings must have led the Gentile Church (Catholic Church) and […] - [The Scattering and Gathering of Israel (Jacob 5)](https://gatheredin.one/771/the-scattering-and-gathering-of-israel-of-jacob-5/): [This article is a draft.  It needs a lot of work]. IntroductionThis topic is highly speculative, but a lot of fun nonetheless.  In this article I walk through the Bible, as well as other religious and channeled works (such as Jacob 5 in the Book of Mormon), to detail the movements of a group of ideologically guided peoples (The House of Israel) throughout the earth since the days of Abraham who truly felt it their divine mission to civilize the entire earth, and spread their unique history and worldview. Understanding the depth to which these people believed this divine charge perhaps […] - [The Spirit Body Interface](https://gatheredin.one/763/the-spirit-body-interface/): The other morning I woke up with a fairly sophisticated idea of how this interaction works. I will attempt to teach it in the same way it was taught to me, although as I have thought about it the more I realize how much more there is to this. The first idea to understand is that all matter and realities exist in differing densities often called dimensions. For example the mortal world exists in one density or dimension and the spirit world exists in another. The same is true for the three degrees of glory of heaven and hell. Each exists […] - [Not Selling Gifts for Money](https://gatheredin.one/759/not-selling-gifts-for-money/): (good thoughts from http://www.greaterthings.com/NDE/Denise_Mendenhall/comments/gifts_not_for_sale.htm) My Peace I Give Unto You by Robert Adlai Lake With Doug MendenhallAs I have read the Mendenhall’s book, “My Peace I Give Unto You,” one of the most profound lessons I am learning for myself is in regards to money and gifts. Doug has successfully learned in a couple of years or less what I wasn’t able to learn in some fourteen years of labor in a ministerial capacity. When his daughter returned from death due to a diabetic coma, she told him that the Lord did not want him to work for money any more. […] - [The Principles of a Zion Community](https://gatheredin.one/756/the-principles-of-a-zion-community/): Sooner or later we're going to get around to writing the hundreds of pages that are sitting in my head nagging me to share.Stuff on historical attempts, early church implementations, forgotten principles, political structuring, urban planning, population planning, principles of ethics, pre-millennial implementations based on existing organizations and cities, how heaven is structured and how to mirror that structure. etc, etc. etc. - [God's Wisdom- Israel's Lack of Food & Water in the Exodus](https://gatheredin.one/743/gods-wisdom-the-exodus/): As Israel left Egypt, God had completely spoiled the empire. The ruler was dead and all of his army. The land was desolate and would take hundreds of years to recover. Yet their idols and houses and temples were still there, still intact. It is very possible, even likely, that Israel considered heavily going back to Egypt to rule over the broken Egyptian people and take the nice homes and live in ease. It is very possible that some among them were even making such plans as they stirred up the congregation to murmur. Yet the manner of the exodus assured […] - [Footnotes Plugin](https://gatheredin.one/693/footnotes-plugin/): This page is a compilation of all the wordpress footnote plugins. I need to pick the features I like best and try and combine them in a plugin that fits my needs. YAFootnotes Plugin http://www.stratos.me/wp-plugins/yafootnotes/ My Favorite because it is the only plugin that does footnotes that are NOT INLINE with the text. So I can keep them at the end of the article where they belong. Now if I can just edit it to use javascript to give mouseover/hover text & a admin page it would be perfect. 1. Usage: NOT Inline, after text. inline footnote link is double braces/curly […] - [Spiritual cosmology and its connection to Ancient mythology](https://gatheredin.one/627/spiritual-cosmology-and-its-connection-to-ancient-mythology/): On earth there are three states of matter which mirror the greater states and densities of matter and human existence. Earth – Water – Air Flesh – Blood – Spirit Corpor – Atmospherea – Es Solid Earth, Liquid Water and Gaseous Air are symbols which were created to point us to the three states of inter-dimensional matter as explained best in Oahspe (If you haven’t read this reference you will likely be lost reading this article- ref). These densities are labeled solid “corpor”, liquid-like “atmospherea” which is an intermediate state always expanding or contracting toward on of its two extremes, and […] - [The Dispensation of the Fullness of Times](https://gatheredin.one/602/the-dispensation-of-the-fullness-of-times/): This comes from http://ldolphin.org/studynotes/purpose.htm and is pretty good for only relying on the bilble…. If we are to understand and appreciate God’s working in our lives we must come to an understanding of His will and purpose. Everything which God has and will do is to one glorious end. This end is His “Eternal Purpose” (Ephesians 3:11). According to the Bible “He has made known to us the mystery of His will … that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He will gather together in one, all things in Christ, which are in heaven and on earth” (Ephesians 1:9–10). […] - [How Symbols, Gods & Religions Become Idols (And the relation to Moral Relativity)](https://gatheredin.one/575/how-symbols-beoome-idols/): Truth as a whole is an abstract principle, and because of this is hard to explain in concrete words. In order to try and explain it, we must invoke symbols, which are ‘an approximation’... - [The Aaronic & Melchizedek Priesthoods](https://gatheredin.one/565/the-aaronic-melchizedek-priesthoods/): work in progress…. finish this some time. Rename this to order of the priesthood or something.     In the LDS Church the Priesthood is divided in two primary divisions, the Aaronic and Melchezidek Priesthood. LDS Scripture teaches us that the Aaronic Priesthood is a “Lower” and “Temporal” Priesthood set to preside over temporal matters; whereas the Melkezidek Priesthood is a “higher” “spiritual” priesthood designed to preside over spiritual matters. I believe that these two priesthoods were meant to be profound symbols pointing us to two distinct aspects of religion; namely that there is a “temporal”, earthly or humanistic aspect of religion, and a “spiritual”, heavenly or […] - [Timeline Test](https://gatheredin.one/541/timeline-test/): This is a post to test the WordPress Simile Timeline plugin. I like this timeline and want to do a lot with it. more later [similetimeline] - [New Insights](https://gatheredin.one/539/new-insights/): “16/6.2. But once again, false Lords and false Gods began to set up kingdoms of their own, in heaven and in the cities of mortals. And, lo and behold, every one called himself either Thor or Apollo. And the spirits who manifested in the temples and for the oracles, all gave one of these names. And mortals who were obsessed, believed themselves to be the reincarnation of Apollo or Thor; the obsessing spirits calling themselves by these names” Reincarnation is half true and half false. Those who at the end of a Dan (millennium) will not accend (follow god), stay behind […] - [Introduction to The Gospel of The Holy Twelve](https://gatheredin.one/526/introduction-to-the-gospel-of-the-holy-twelve/): The Gospel of the Holy Twelve is a disputed apocryphal publication, written by a former clergyman, Rev. Gideon Jasper Richard Ouseley (1834–1906) and was published in 1901. It is purported to be a text channeled to Ouseley by a number of deceased mystics who retrieved the texts from Tibet... - [The Kolbrin: Background and Synopsis](https://gatheredin.one/523/introduction-to-the-kolbrin/): The Kolbrin, much like the Book of Mormon, comes from a large collection of manuscripts and tablets engraven on metallic plates ... - [Book of Mormon Geography Scriptures](https://gatheredin.one/430/book-of-mormon-geography-scriptures/): This is a complete list of all known references to the geography of the Book of Mormon lands. Each scripture reference has been linked to LDS.org for easy access. - [Scientific vs. Scriptural Timelines](https://gatheredin.one/424/scientific-vs-scriptural-timelines/): Today in the Christian & Muslim worlds there are two predominate world-views seeking to explain the history of the world. One is the religious view offered by traditional Christian & Muslim theologians based on faith-centered interpretation of scriptural evidence. The other is the naturalistic view offered by Scientists based on a logical interpretation of empirical evidence. Which do you find yourself believing more?  Can they be harmonized?  See our article ‘How Old is the Earth? How the Bible Timeline Fits with Earth’s Geologic & Archaeological Prehistory‘. The religious take on history: 5000-4000 B.C. God, having power over atoms and element, creates […] - [Building Zion: The Latter-day Saint Legacy of Urban Planning](https://gatheredin.one/416/lds-legacy-of-urban-planning/): Essay by Craig D. Galli originally published BYU Studies Vol. 44 No. 1 pages 111-136 on the Mormon history of urban planning in the mid-west and intermountain west. Gives good examples of Joseph Smith initial ideals of a Zion community... - [Correlations Between Scriptural & Radiometric Dates.](https://gatheredin.one/354/scriptural-correlations-radiometric-dating/): This content is password-protected. To view it, please enter the password below. Password: - [The Difference Between the Priesthood & Prophets](https://gatheredin.one/326/the-difference-between-the-priesthood-prophets/): Understanding the difference between... - [Difference between translation and transfiguration](https://gatheredin.one/299/difference-between-translation-and-transfiguration/): Transfigure: Trans=change, carry. Figure=form, image. Thus it is to change ones form, or in christian scripture to changed or resurrect from a lower form to a higher form while still in the physical body. Translate: Trans=change, carry Late=over, slow, dead/death. In this sense, to translate is to carry over or be changed over. Death is a form of translation for the spirit, but in the LDS sense it means to be physically carried over the threshold of death WITH ones body. ————————————————————————————- So Christ was transfigured on the mount of transfiguration, Moses was transfigured on Horeb, but Enoch, his city, Moses, […] - [More on Eternal Progression](https://gatheredin.one/292/more-on-eternal-progression/): link to this after main eternal progression article. Your former picture is not so much correct; to picture the earth as the center between good and evil, heaven and hell; the water between earth and air if you will. This can possibly bring about an incorrect image of eternity (as it has in my case). It is more correct to view things as follows. Good and evil, the light and darkness exist on all planes, even in Etherea or the celestial most rarified planes (as you would call it). But the farther in the rarified direction you move, the smaller the […] - [The Anti-Christs (Demiurge)](https://gatheredin.one/167/the-demiurge/): There are three divine beings. The true Gods (the I AM’s), the false gods/idols (the demiurge/anti-Christs), and the dark lords (Satans). The Satans live in the realm of darkness (hells), the true gods and false gods both live in the realm of light, but the false gods become the Devils of the next cycle. The true Gods are what they are. They do not crave or like worship. They are simply the beings of the higher levels who do their best to serve and help those of the lower levels progress (because that the type of people they are). The false […] - [LDS Eternal Marriage & its Relation to Sexuality](https://gatheredin.one/149/on-marriage/): As commonly occurs when I pray or ponder about a question for a time, the other morning I woke up with a very clear picture of the following concepts.  I hope I can pass the principles on as well as they were given to me. It had to do with the simpleness of the concept of the LDS doctrine of eternal marriage”. I was shown how teachings from several different sources all fit together in one simple and common-sense picture of what eternal marriage is all about, and how the current LDS view of it approximates the truth, but with misunderstanding. As with […] - [Desire & Anti-Desire](https://gatheredin.one/105/desire-anti-desire/): On earth we are attracted to the qualities and things we find desirable and repulsed by the things we find undesirable. But both desire and un-desirableness are two sides of the same fruit. It is the ‘very desirable’ fruit which Eve partook of which brought death into the world. Thus to overcome the death of this new world we must overcome the good and evil which is the fruit of desires of this new world. Both desire and anti-desire. In short you must overcome and outgrow it. A young man or woman may desire a certain new pair of in-style shoes […] - [More on the Resurrection](https://gatheredin.one/98/more-on-the-resurrection/): God gives to all men according to their understanding. He teaches Japeth through philosophy without religion because that is what they want. He teaches Ham through polarizing opposites because they cant yet walk a straight line. He gives Shem the greater light through both religion and philosophy because they have found the more balanced middle path. But the greatest of all is those who have not only found the middle (straight and narrow) path, but have actually entered the straight gate which is Christ. To these he gives opportunity of escaping the earthly cycles of death and rebirth into death. To […] - [Introduction to Oahspe](https://gatheredin.one/94/introduction-to-oahspe/): Oahspe is a restorationism text brought forth entirely through revelation (automatic writing) to John Newbrough in 1880. The book was reportedly revealed through angel messengers, who instructed the author not to form a church ... - [To Go No More Out. Reconciling Reincarnation & Resurrection](https://gatheredin.one/88/to-go-no-more-out/): Five times in the Book of Mormon, and once in the New Testament we are introduced to the phrase “to go no more out”, which I suggest may be telling us much more than we might initially guess. In fact, the restorationist texts, The Gospel of the Holy Twelve suggest that the phrase (as well as a few other cryptic references to a type of reincarnation) might be a remnant of one of the many “plain and precious truths” that the Book of Mormon tells us were eradicated from the Jewish canon & theology by pre-exilic Jewish reformers. This misunderstanding and bias against the concept of […] - [Additional Prophesies of the Book of Ben Kathryn](https://gatheredin.one/81/additional-prophesies-of-the-book-of-ben-kathryn/): For an introduction to the Book of Jachanan Ben Kathryn Go Here. The primary proof of the validity of John Ben Kathryn as a prophet will be final destruction and restoration of the modern nation of Israel. ” AND the word of the LORD came unto me, saying: Give ear, my servant, if any of the elders of Israel come before thee to prove thee if thou hast spoken in my name, or to say outright thou hast not spoken in my name, sit before them and say… 4 Even soon do I bring my word to pass, and ye shall […] - [Introduction to The Book of Ben Kathryn](https://gatheredin.one/79/introduction-to-the-book-of-ben-kathryn/): The book of Ben Kathryn is one of the most interesting books I have featured on this site. It purports to be a modern revelation to Judah, written in both Hebrew and English it reads like a book out of the old testament, containing many interesting prophecies and predictions. - [The Book of Enoch](https://gatheredin.one/74/the-book-of-enoch/): The Book of Enoch is part of the Dead Sea Scroll Library and was in wide use before the time of Christ. The book has survived in various forms in the Syriac and Ethiopian churches but fell into apocryphal status among the western churches. BOOK OF ENOCH Section I. Chapters I-XXXVI INTRODUCTION [Chapter 1] 1 The words of the blessing of Enoch, wherewith he blessed the elect and righteous, who will be 2 living in the day of tribulation, when all the wicked and godless are to be removed. And he took up his parable and said -Enoch a righteous man, […] - [The Doctrine of the Priesthood](https://gatheredin.one/54/the-doctrine-of-the-priesthood/): DOCTRINE OF THE PRIESTHOOD A. Definition. 1. A priest is a member of the human race who represents some portion of the human race before God. He was always a male until this dispensation, never an angel or female. 2. A priest must partake of the nature of the persons for whom he acts or represents. Heb 7:4–5, 14, 28, 10:5, 10-14 all state that a priest must be a member of the human race. Heb 5:1–6, “For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both […] - [Two Types of People](https://gatheredin.one/35/two-types-of-people/): There are two types of people in this universe.... -there are chaotic polarizers and, -there are harmonious unifiers... Polarizers are selfish haters... Unifiers are unselfish lovers... Ask yourself which camp you are supporting. All the matter in the universe is in motion, it is either moving outward, and expanding affected by - [Prophecy in the Book of Ben Kathryn](https://gatheredin.one/3/prophesy-in-the-book-of-ben-kathryn/): In light of all that is going on nationally and internationally I felt I should write this to help others try and get a perspective on the possible future of our nation and world. As I talk to friends and family, I find that very few grasp the gravity of our nation’s financial insolvency - [The Famine Stela Supports Joseph Smith's Book of Abraham](https://gatheredin.one/26840/understanding-joseph-smiths-book-of-abraham/): The Category Error of the Skeptic: Why Joseph Smith’s Book of Abraham Is a Masterclass in Ancient Syncretism If you’ve ever spent time reading skeptical critiques of Latter-day Saint scripture, you know the routine. A critic holds up Facsimile 1 or Facsimile 2 from the Book of Abraham, points to a modern Egyptological textbook, and declares with triumph: “Joseph Smith got it all wrong! An Egyptologist looks at this image and sees Osiris, Anubis, Khnum, or Horus—not Abraham, Yahweh, or the idolatrous priest of Elkenah!” It sounds like a slam dunk on the surface. But beneath that confident assertion lies a […] - [GatheredIn.One / ZionCamps Gatherings: A Zion-based Caucus System for The American Independent Party](https://gatheredin.one/26766/gatheredin-one-zioncamps-gatherings/): Reclaiming the Principles of Common Consent, Parliamentary Tradition, and Local Governance Welcome to the Assembly Welcome to the foundational guide, legislative blueprint, and community hub for our upcoming civic reenactment. In an era increasingly defined by political gridlock, institutional centralized overreach, and a growing disconnect between the citizenry and the corridors of power, this exercise offers an intentional retreat into the mechanics of self-governance. We are bringing together passionate individuals to participate in a structured, immersive environment designed to mimic the foundational legislative mechanics that forged the American Republic. Borrowing the highly participatory architecture of the historic Utah Caucus system and […] - [Archaeological Sites of Aztlan and West Mexico](https://gatheredin.one/26630/archaeological-sites-of-aztlan-and-west-mexico/): The use of urns as a funerary element in Loma del Tecomate, Chametla, Sinaloa Gerardo Valenzuela Jiménez, Víctor Joel Santos Ramírez The First Archaeological Surveys in Chametla: The town of Chametla, meaning “place where chia is ground or prepared,” is located in the southern region of the state of Sinaloa, 36 km from the municipal seat of El Rosario, in the lower reaches of the Baluarte River. Archaeological and ethnographic remains have been found there, revealing the history of the region’s ancient inhabitants, a story that has been gradually recounted by the local people from the early decades of the 19th […] - [Populations in the Book of Mormon](https://gatheredin.one/26548/populations-in-the-book-of-mormon/): History is full of examples of human populations jumping from a couple of thousand to well over a million in fewer than two hundred years, provided they have a high birth rate, ample agricultural land, and systems that keep infant mortality, war and pandemics at bay. Introduction Estimating the population dynamics within the Book of Mormon requires balancing explicit textual data with anthropological realities. The narrative describes a trajectory that expands from a single family group into massive, institutionalized empires capable of fielding armies in the hundreds of thousands. By analyzing the numeric references to troop strengths, casualties, and migrations within […] - [Islam and the Book of Mormon](https://gatheredin.one/26334/islam-and-the-book-of-mormon/): “For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem” (Isa 2:3) The following concept came to me in a strong dream. That I was to preach this at some point, of how the LORD will use Islam in the Latter-days. The Book of Mormon IS FOR ISLAM–just as it is for the seed of the Lamanites in America, it foreshadows their destiny. The Lion and the Lamb: The Book of Mormon as a Typology for the Modern Clash of Civilizations — Islam vs. Christianity The Book of Mormon identifies itself primarily as a […] - [What is the Largest & Tallest Pyramid in Mesoamerica?](https://gatheredin.one/26304/what-is-the-largest-tallest-pyramid-in-mesoamerica/): The difficulty in ranking the world’s great pyramids stems largely from the “hidden” labor and geological shortcuts utilized by ancient engineers. While a structure like the Great Pyramid of Giza is composed entirely of quarried stone transported to a site, many North American giants, such as Tonina in Mexico, are essentially “sculpted” hills. By terraforming an existing limestone ridge into a series of seven massive terraces, the Maya created a towering acropolis that reaches higher than almost any other in the Americas. However, because much of its internal mass is a natural hill rather than transported material, purists often debate whether […] - [Three Churches in ONE. The Trinitarian Nature of the Church](https://gatheredin.one/10539/three-churches-in-one-the-trinitarian-nature-of-the-church/):   The following article explores a nuanced perspective on the structure of the LDS Church and all religious organizations, suggesting that what appears to be a single institution is, in reality, three distinct spiritual “churches” existing simultaneously. The Hidden Triad: Three Distinct Churches Within the One While casual observers and many adherents see the Church as a monolithic organization defined by its leadership and ordinances, the scriptures reveal a far more complex spiritual topography. Throughout religious history, the divisions of humanity have often been presented in dualistic terms—Heaven and Hell, the saved and the damned, or the wheat and the tares. […] - [95 Thesis of LDS Church Restoration & Reformation](https://gatheredin.one/25920/95-thesis-of-lds-church-restoration-reformation/): Out of love for the truth and from a desire to elucidate it, the following statements are offered for the reformation of the Restoration, seeking to universalize and enrich the LDS faith by aligning its traditions with its founding revelations. The Nature of the Church and Repentance Limits of Priesthood Authority Symbols and Ordinances Fear vs. Love in the Afterlife The Fallacy of Institutional Remission The True Cost of Mercy The True Treasures of the Church Sharp Questions of the Layman Final Exhortation Let us, through our repentance on these things show the Jew, Gentile and Muslim the correct gate to […] - [Why the Giza Great Pyramid is a Mathematical Masterpiece (Pi, Phi & The Secrets Behind its Construction & Geometry)](https://gatheredin.one/25314/why-the-giza-great-pyramid-is-a-mathematical-masterpiece-pi-phi-the-secrets-behind-its-construction-geometry/): . The Great Pyramid is a Scaled Model of our Earth If you multiply the Great pyramid’s dimensions by (43,200 or the number of seconds in a 1/2 day), you arrive at the dimensions of the Earth with startling accuracy. Evan more accurate is scaling by the number of square feet in an acre of 43,560, a number whose source has been lost to time, but undeniably is related to the same ancient concept of tying earth rotational speed (time) to distance (area). Take the earth, chop it in half, set it on the ground and make the circle square but […] - [Pre-Christian Prophesies of the Messiah (Christ)](https://gatheredin.one/24773/pre-christian-prophesies-of-the-messiah-christ/): -TO ADD. (Mythraic Prophesies, and their connection to Judaism)-BOM prophesies (also Isaiah)-Kolbrin prophesies. Several major archeological and textual finds dating to the 2nd and 1st centuries BCE (the “Intertestamental Period”) show that Jewish groups were already interpreting their law, sacrifices, and rituals as a “blueprint” for a suffering or sacrificed Messiah. These texts provide a “bridge” between the Old and New Testaments, proving that the idea of a sacrificed Messiah wasn’t a later Christian invention, but a pre-existing Jewish expectation. 1. The Dead Sea Scrolls (The “Pierced Messiah”) Discovered in 1947, these texts date from roughly 250 BCE to 68 CE. […] - [The Tucson Artifacts & Other Pre-Columbian Relics in North America](https://gatheredin.one/22873/the-tucson-artifacts-and-the-book-of-mormon/): Introduction The Tucson artifacts, sometimes called the Tucson Lead Crosses, Tucson Crosses, Silverbell Road artifacts, or Silverbell artifacts, were thirty-one lead objects that Charles E. Manier and his family found in 1924 near Picture Rocks, Arizona. The find consisted of thirty-one lead objects, including crosses, swords, and religious/ceremonial paraphernalia, most of which bore Hebrew or Latin engraved inscriptions, pictures of temples, leaders’ portraits, angels, and a dinosaur (inscribed on the lead blade of a sword). One contained the phrase “Calalus, the unknown land”, which was used by believers as the name of the settlement. The objects also have Roman numerals ranging from 790 to 900 inscribed on them, which were sometimes interpreted to represent the […] - [The Lost Global Empires: Emerging Historical Evidence for Extensive Pre-Columbian Contact](https://gatheredin.one/22886/radhanites-and-emerging-historical-evidence-for-the-book-of-mormon/): The following evidence is taken not only from archaeological evidence found at sites like La Venta, Chalcatzingo, Izapa, Tucson, Chaco, etc… But from MANY obscure ancient histories which are now being translated to English and finding exposure through the internet. Book like the Lenape (Delaware Indian) Wallam Olum or ‘Red Record‘, ixtlilxochitl’s Histories, the Harleian genealogies and the Bonedd Gwŷr y Gogledd (The Descent of the Men of the North), compiles into genealogic histories at wikitree.com, and geni.com (with an incredible number of cited medieval sources, see Theodoric I De Toulouse for instance) extensive excerpts and Jewish information coming from books […] - [NO. The Western Interior Seaway Did NOT Exist Just Before the Time of Christ.](https://gatheredin.one/22739/no-the-western-interior-seaway-did-not-exist-just-before-the-time-of-christ/): In this article, I will attempt to show as persuasively as possible, the INSURMOUNTABLE problem behind the idea proposed by Michael P in his YouTube video titled “Where was the west sea in The Book in Mormon?” As a prelude, let me start by saying I love the inquisitive, problem solving approach Michael P is aiming at in this video and all his videos. But let me also make clear, that as a geologist who has worked for the Geologic Survey for 20 years specializing in geologic teaching and visualizations, Michael just doesn’t understand the science behind what he’s proposing. I’ve […] - [Some of my Favorite LDS Conference Talks](https://gatheredin.one/22560/some-of-my-favorite-lds-conference-talks/): Perhaps one of the most amazing talks by Thomas B. Monson on faith, loving each other, living each day to the fullest. link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMi_-khK6CA https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1978/04/evidence-of-things-not-seen?lang=eng https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1986/10/god-will-yet-reveal?lang=eng - [Issues with the Session's Universal Model](https://gatheredin.one/22399/issues-with-the-sessions-universal-model/): The following are posts written by Barry Bickmore. A Geology professor from BYU. (I took a mineralogy class from him, his very first year of teaching, and can personally attest to his awesome character and intellect). I reproduce them here in case his blog disappears, and because they are kind of hard to find on his blog so I like to have them all on one page thats easy for me to wade through and outline. See his blog, called ‘Climate Asylum’ at this link. [add a personal note, add ward radio video and disclaimer. Add my comment from it.] The […] - [A Detailed Breakdown of Alma 22 & Other important Internal Geography Scriptures in the Book of Mormon](https://gatheredin.one/21458/alma-22-in-the-continental-model/): GENERAL LAYOUT OF LANDS FROM Alma 22 27 And it came to pass that the king [of the Lamanites] sent a proclamation throughout all the land [of Nephi–see verse 1], amongst all his people who were in all his land, who were in all the regions round about, LAND OF NEPHI BORDERED BY SEA ON BOTH SIDES-which [land of Nephi] was bordering even to the sea, on the east and on the west, [east sea & west sea],-and [his land of Nephi] which was divided from the land of Zarahemla by a narrow strip of wilderness, NARROW STRIP OF WILDERNESS RUNS […] - [The Book of JACHANAN BEN KATHRYN](https://gatheredin.one/19636/the-book-of-ben-kathryn/): The Book of JACHANAN BEN KATHRYN  LDS EDITION ©Lance Weaver Containing revelations given to Jachanan Ben Kathryn, modern prophet to the house of Judah. “for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem” (Isa 2:3) – INTRODUCTION: Please follow the link to Introduction to The Book of Ben Kathryn for valuable introductory information. – JACHANAN BEN KATHRYN (Yohanan, Son of Kathryn) Revelation given to the modern prophet, Jachanan (John) Ben Kathryn. Written unto the house of Judah (Jews), in preparation for the things which  shall shortly come to pass. Judah (the present-day nation of Israel) is chided for their traditions and rejection of the Lord’s Law & […] - [Excerpts From Nabion](https://gatheredin.one/19479/excerpts-from-nabion-org/): ספר יוחאנן בן קאתרין – ספר בן-קאתרין (Hebrew: Book of Jachanan Ben Kathryn) המשא דבר-יהוה  אשר היה אל-יוחאנן בן-קאתרין בת יעקב ואור-המשיח בן קארל הירש בן אברהם הוילער משרעינערס (סצ’ראינאר) שהיו בבוריסלאו, בן הלל, כאשר מסה ראשון יהוה  אותו מגוים ונוטה רוחו לדרוש את יהוה. זה בא לראשונה כאשר הוא היה על בן ל שנים, אומר במפורש: אתה בודאי תהיה עדי לישראל The Prayer of the Prophet for the final Week The prayer of the prophet, the son of Kathryn, at the beginning of the final hebdomad, October 31, 2010. (5771) Thou hast not found righteousness that shouldest choose it. Nor […] - [Distances in the Book of Mormon. Is a Fully Limited Mesoamerican Model Really Reasonable?](https://gatheredin.one/18956/distances-in-the-book-of-mormon-is-a-fully-limited-mesoamerican-model-reasonable-answer-no/): Introduction & Outline Much like Israel in the Bible, one can assume from the short number of days travel stated in the Book of Mormon text that the distances between primary lands in the text such as the Land of Zarahemla and the Land of Nephi are regionally limited. The 21 days journey mentioned in the text between Nephi & Zarahemla for instance, virtually assures an area of between 200 and 500 miles. However, to suggest as many have that the text never once mentions a region, journey, travel or war exceeding 400 miles seems incredibly unlikely when compared with what […] - [No, Teotihuacan is NOT the Gadianton Robbers of the Book of Mormon](https://gatheredin.one/18488/no-teotihuacan-is-not-the-gadianton-robbers-of-the-book-of-mormon/): Ask yourself… does this sound like Mormon is talking about the largest nation state on the continent at the time? Or is he talking about a guerilla group of robbers like the FARC? “18 And these Gadianton robbers, who were among the Lamanites, did infest the land, insomuch that the inhabitants thereof began to hide up their treasures in the earth; and they became slippery, because the Lord had cursed the land, that they could not hold them, nor retain them again.” (Mormon 1:18) – Are the Teotihuacanos in the Book of Mormon? Some Book of Mormon geography researchers have suggested […] - [The Geologic Underworld of Jerusalem: The Caves, Tunnels & Tombs of Mount Zion & Israel's Heritage](https://gatheredin.one/17733/the-geologic-underworld-of-jerusalem-the-caves-tunnels-tombs-of-mount-zion-israels-heritage/): Overview Jerusalem’s history is richly intertwined with the unique geology up on which in sits. From it’s spectacular abundance of limestone’s from which it is built, to its karst systems housing the spring water Hezekiah’s Tunnel The ancient water systems of Jerusalem have a complex history. The main water source of the original City of David was the Gihon Springs located at the base of the eastern slope of the city in the Kidron Valley. The Gihon Springs provided water year round by gushing forth several times a day. This water then naturally flowed into the Kidron Valley. In the earliest […] - [Olmec Epigraphic Ties to the Far East](https://gatheredin.one/17712/olmec-epigraphic-ties-to-the-far-east/): by Bibhu Dev Misra Olmec Ganesha Let us turn our attention to a curious Olmec clay figurine, which Zecharia Sitchin described as a “toy elephant”. It was spotted by Sitchin, when he had visited the Anthropology Museum in Jalapa, Veracruz.[7] However, when he had returned to the museum in 1999, the toy elephants were nowhere to be seen. Apparently, they had been removed for an “overseas exhibit”, never to be seen again. An elephant figurine in Mesoamerica raises uncomfortable questions, since elephants had disappeared from the Americas at the end of the last Ice Age at around 10,000 BCE.[8] How would the Olmecs, who […] - [The REAL Age of Göbekli Tepe (NOT 9500 BC!)](https://gatheredin.one/17410/the-real-age-of-gobekli-tepe-not-9500-bc/): Göbekli Tepe (known as Girê Mirazan or Xirabreşkê in Kurdish) is an archaeological site in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey ‘supposedly‘ dating to the Neolithic. German & Turkish archaeologists led by Klaus Schmidt have dated the site to the Pre-Pottery Neolithic between c. 9500 and 8000 BCE largely based on radiocarbon samples and the absence of pottery (see dating details). However, several clues of the Göbekli Tepe archaeological site in Turkey make it very likely that the site is NOWHERE NEAR as old as generally believed. And undoubtedly dates to the Bronze age instead of the Paleolithic. In fact, it is incredibly common for sites in the near-east with known historic dates laying within […] - [Native American Myths & LDS The Three Degrees of Glory](https://gatheredin.one/17033/native-american-myths-lds-the-three-degrees-of-glory/): Adapted from an article by Jason Jarrell and Sarah Farmer. The authors of Ages of the Giants: A Cultural History of the Tall Ones in Prehistoric America The Ho-Chunk & Mesoamerican/Egyptian Connections Among the Siouan speaking Ho-Chunk people of the Eastern Woodlands, Great Lakes , and the Plains is a belief which consists of a tiered or layered cosmos comprised of three basic “worlds”. The Sky World is the region above, where birds and flying things live. It is also the habitation of the great Thunderbirds, the stars, the sun and moon, and the creator. The Earth World is the domain […] - [Parallel of Egyptian Monumental Kinglists](https://gatheredin.one/16921/parallel-of-egyptian-monumental-kinglists/): A visual comparison of the cartouches on the three inscribed king list. The three major New Kingdom king lists inscribed in stone are: The Abydos and Saqqara lists contain two rows of cartouches organised with the names of the pharaohs inscribed in sequential order on a single flat wall. The Karnak list contain 4 rows inscribed on three connected walls and the cartouches are not in sequential order. It is further divided into a left and right part where the pharaohs face the same direction. For more information about the lists, check their respective page. Pharaoh Abydos Saqqara Karnak Narmer mni — — […] - [Egyptian Pharaoh Kinglist Parallel](https://gatheredin.one/16863/egyptian-pharaoh-kinglist-parallel/): As mentioned on the Manetho excerpts page there are no surviving copies of the original Manetho, we must rely upon excerpts and fragments copied by later authors. The four of any significance were Eusebius, Syncellus, Africanus and Josephus. Below are the excerpts of Manetho preserved in their respective larger works. To read their full works (and not just the Manetho excerpts see the following links.Eusebius Chronicle (Public Domain Armenian Version by Robert Bedrosian, King lists starts on page p.39) Or download it as a pdf file.  The transcription of the word ka became kheres in Greek, and the -ra at the end of a name was dropped, so […] - [Excerpts from Manetho](https://gatheredin.one/16794/excerpts-from-manetho/): As there are no surviving copies of the original Manetho, we must rely upon excerpts and fragments copied by later authors. The four of any significance were Eusebius, Syncellus, Africanus and Josephus. Below are the excerpts of Manetho preserved in their respective larger works. To read their full works (and not just the Manetho excerpts see the following links.Eusebius Chronicle (Public Domain Armenian Version by Robert Bedrosian, King lists starts on page p.39) Or download it as a pdf file. The History of Manetho as preserved by Josephus in ‘Against Apion‘(Text below is mostly from Loeb Classical Library edition, 1940, public domain. footnotes […] - [Egyptian Chronology Resources](https://gatheredin.one/16785/egyptian-chronology-resources/) - [The Reliefs of Dur-Sharrukin as Plunder from Solomon's Temple](https://gatheredin.one/15645/the-jerusalem-temple-at-assyria/): Background The following information came to me in a dream. I was awoken early in the morning to a voice in my head not unlike other experiences I have had from time to time when working on religious research or scripture/archaeological correlations. This voice spoke with me about the eagle and handbag motif I had recently been studying from the Assyrian temple compound of Dur-Sharrukin and its relationship to the Mesoamerican site of La Venta’s bird masked relief with a similar hand bag. After tracking the similarities between these reliefs and the temple rites found in the Kolbrin, I began assuming […] - [The Mystery of the Secret Mithraic Initiation Temple/Chambers of Rome in the 1st-3rd Centuries](https://gatheredin.one/14766/the-role-of-israel-christianity-in-the-mithraic-initiation-halls-of-rome-in-the-1st-3rd-centuries/): Did these initiation/temple rites play a role in the Christianization of the Roman Empire? Adapted from an article written by Flavio Bariero. The spread of a Greco-Mithraic cult throughout the Roman empire corresponded almost exactly with the destruction of the Jewish temple and State in 70-130 AD (as well as Roman-Armenian wars), and lasted until the edict of Constantine and Christian legalization and spread of the Roman state. During this period literally hundreds of underground “Mithraic Initiation Chambers” were built and maintained throughout the empire, mixing motifs of Greco-Roman Mithraic religious motifs, with fully biblical iconography. They seem to concentrate not […] - [Re-examining what the scriptures say about the “Only True Church” Doctrine](https://gatheredin.one/14687/re-examining-what-the-scriptures-say-about-the-only-true-church-doctrine/): lass=”wp-block-paragraph”>67 Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church (D&C 10:67–68). Introduction In this article I hope to show from numerous scriptures in the New Testament, the Book of Mormon & the Doctrine & Covenants that the “one true church” of Jesus Christ mentioned in most of LDS scriptures appears to be a non-denominational “spiritual church” or heavenly church which manifests as a cultural movement and NOT an exclusivist Christian […] - [A Revised Egyptian Chronology. Errors in Early Iron Age through Bronze Age Radiocarbon Correlations.](https://gatheredin.one/12927/pre-christian-era-variations-in-radiocarbon-dates/): Overview Near-eastern prehistory is in need of a significant chronological overhaul. Egyptian & Babylonian timelines as well as global radiocarbon date correlations for our modern views of prehistory are off by at least 500 years. This largely because of previously unrecognized mistakes in the ancient Egyptian timeline which were then propagated into most other near-eastern prehistory timelines and even radiocarbon correlations curves. These timeline mistakes were made as early as 70 AD in the writings of Josephus (and later Christian redactors of the Greco-Egyptian historian Manetho) whose desires to correlate biblical events such as Moses & the Exodus into Egyptian history […] - [Understanding the Translation Process: Did Joseph Smith use the Urim and Thummim & Gold Plates or Rock in a Hat? (And why the 116 pages weren't retranslated)](https://gatheredin.one/14119/understanding-book-of-mormon-translation-did-joseph-smith-use-the-urim-and-thummim-gold-plates-or-rock-in-a-hat/): . Now the first that my husband translated, was translated by use of the Urim, and Thummim, and that was the part that Martin Harris lost, after that he used a small stone, not exactly, black, but was rather a dark color. (Emma Smith to Emma Pilgrim, 27 March 1870,” in Early Mormon Documents, 1:532) . UNDERSTANDING THE TRANSLATION PROCESS.The 116 pages were nearly verbatim translations of the ancient record, through the Urim & Thummim (crystal seer stones attached to metal frames, hidden with the plates). The Book of Mormon we have today, on the other hand, may not be a […] - [The Calixtlahuaca Roman Figurine: Evidence of Transoceanic travel to Mesoamerica.](https://gatheredin.one/14114/the-calixtlahuaca-roman-figurine-evidence-of-transoceanic-travel-to-mesoamerica/): Summarized version of a paper presented by Romeo H. Hristov and Santiago Genovés T. at the 66th Annual Meeting of the Society of American Archaeology in New Orleans, LA, April 22, 2001) From the early sixteenth century until the present many hypotheses of Pre-Columbian transoceanic contacts have been discussed (Sorenson and Raish 1996). With the only exception of the well-established Medieval Norse contacts with North American Indians (McGee 1984) all of the mentioned hypotheses share a common critical weakness: the lack of support in direct archaeological evidence, that is, genuine Old Word objects found in Pre-Columbian archaeological contexts (Willey 1985: 358). […] - [Questions, Answers and Random LDS Apologetic & Theological Musings](https://gatheredin.one/13961/questions-answers-and-random-lds-apologetic-theological-musings/): Expansion Theory. (write a brief overview here) Preparatory Gospel Model (for understanding humanistic aspects of the restoration) Summarize Oahspe and how higher heavens do not commune with individuals who are not representing a cohesive group of inquisitive believers. Quote the law of one and rule of squares concerning ‘the call’. Basically make an argument about how the early church was not created by god or the Lord per se… but a few individuals (both on earth & heaven) trying in their own humanistic way to ‘lay the foundations’ of an organization that will have power to ‘make the call’ at the […] - [Old World DNA in America & The Book of Mormon](https://gatheredin.one/22969/old-world-dna-in-america-the-book-of-mormon/): Mounting DNA evidence from Donald Yates DNA consultants, DNA testing company. Introduction DNA evidence for the plausibility of pre-Columbian transoceanic contact and the Book of Mormon is Mounting as the science progresses. By looking at allele marker mutations instead of just haplogroups (which are more often diluted out of small gene pools in a few dozen generations of mixing) DNA consultants, a Colorado DNA testing company specializing in integrating genetic and genealogical information into customized personal ancestry reports. Started by Donald Yates, the company is one of the few with scientists & researchers actively exploring the pre-Columbian diffusionism theory and thus […] - [Site Explorer](https://gatheredin.one/13598/mesoamerican-archaeological-site-explorer/) - [North America Prehistory Summary & Timeline](https://gatheredin.one/13576/north-america-prehistory-summary-timeline/): Maize was domesticated during the Archaic period, before 4300 BC, but it took a long time to trigger changes commonly associated with agriculture: sedentism and pottery. The First Agricultural Communities Use of pottery marks the beginning of the Preclassic at 2500 BC. A later, but important, Preclassic innovation was the prismatic obsidian blade beginning c. 1500 BC. The first permanent agricultural communities appeared around 1600 BC; small clusters of wattle and daub houses surrounded by gardens, such as at San José Mogote (Oaxaca), where larger structures had specialized communal purposes. Some rare items hint at wealth differences but no large residences […] - [Ixtlilxochitl's Toltec History (Obras Historicos)](https://gatheredin.one/13337/ixtlilxochitls-toltec-history/): English translation from the Works of Ixtlilxochitl (1610). Read Ixtlilxochitl & Evidence for the Book of Mormon in Mesoamerican Codices for more detail and introductory information on Ixtlilxochitl and his writing’s relationship to the Book of Mormon. See “Notes” at the end for important notes on likely date corrections. The first published Spanish version of Ixtlilxochitl's Aztec History from 1848 Kingsborough's Antiquities of Mexico. And a quick and dirty google translation of it here. The 2nd Spanish version of Ixtlilxochitl's 'Obras Historicas', compiled by Alfredo Chavero in 1891, book here. Footnotes partly by John Pratt from his page here. Chapters section […] - [Ancient Puebloan (aka. Anasazi) Timeline](https://gatheredin.one/13307/ancient-puebloan-aka-anasazi-timeline/): This timeline goes along with our Book of Mormon timeline. Most notable is the idea that the Book of Mormon account of happenings after the Time of Christ which are dated in the text from 0 – 380 CE, correlate with the events among the Toltec, Chichimec/Aztlan culture of West Mexico, Southwest cultures and Cohokia which radiocarbon date from about 800 – 1180 CE. Two theories are provided to explain the dating discrepancy. A Word Document of this (in reverse order and more easily readable) available here. 1599 CE – Don Juan de Oñate and 129 soldiers attacked and captured Acoma […] - [Book of Mormon Geography Found- Mexican Highland Continental Model (summary)](https://gatheredin.one/13279/book-of-mormon-geography-mexican-highland-model-summary/): by Lance Weaver Outline This article is only a very rough draft or summary of a much larger book I’m writing which I don’t expect to finish for at least a decade. Honestly, the work I feel I’ve been giving is a bit overwhelming, so be patient and if the Spirit moves you to offer help, it’s welcome.   . . Introduction This article presents the new Mexican Highland-continental model Book of Mormon Geographic correlation. With this model, essentially every culture the text mentions end up being a major culture found by modern archaeologists. In fact, essentially all the largest North […] - [Book of Mormon Exhaustive Timeline](https://gatheredin.one/12735/book-of-mormon-exhaustive-timeline/): Pioneering Phase Perhaps (12,000 or 3100-2920 B.C.?) 180 years? Jaredite dates are highly speculative. Formation Phase 600 years? Early Formation (Sub-phase–300 years) B. Late Formation (Sub-phase–300 years) Disruption Phase Perhaps (2320-1720 B.C.)? 600 years? Jaredite dates are highly speculative. Early Disruption (Sub-phase–360 years) Late Disruption (Sub-phase–240 years) Jaredite dates are highly speculative. Elaboration Phase (1720-1120 B.C.) 600 years Early Elaboration (Sub-phase–270 years) Late Elaboration (Sub-phase–330 years) Jaredite dates are highly speculative. Decline Phase (1120-570 B.C.) 550 years Early Decline (Sub-phase–270 years) Late Decline (Sub-phase–280 years) . Jerusalem and environs 600 BC, Jerusalem Between 600 and 592 BC, In the wilderness 592 […] - [Mesoamerican Prehistory Timeline](https://gatheredin.one/12720/mesoamerican-prehistory-timeline/): List of Peoples (These links connect to the beginning of the period in which the group is mentioned. Only one reference is provided per group, normally the time of the group’s first or major appearance in the archaeological record.) Aztecs, Chichimecs, Chontàl Maya, Esperanza Phase People, Huastecs, Itzà Maya, Izapàn Maya, Kaqchikèl [Cakchiquel] Maya, K’ichè’ [Quiché]Maya, Mam, Maya, Mixe-Zoqueans, Mixtecs, Mogollón, Olmecs, Otomí, Pipìl, Pokomàm Maya, Putùn Maya, Purépecha, Spanish, Tapachultecs, Tarascans, Teotihuacanos, Tèpenacs, Toltecs, Totonacs, Tzutuhìl Maya, Zapotecs. List of Periods Geological Background Early Hunters 11,000± – 7,000± BC Archaic (Incipient Farming) Period 7000± – 2000± BC Early Formative (Pre-Classic) […] - [How Old is the Earth? How the Bible Timeline Might Fit with Earth's Geologic & Archaeological Prehistory](https://gatheredin.one/12094/how-old-is-the-earth-how-the-bible-fits-with-earths-geologic-history/): . . Introduction I believe the Hebrew Old Testament was created as a response to ancient-academic histories. Just as Pharaoh Ptolemy commissioned Manetho to write Aegyptiaca, the History of Egypt in the 3rd century BC, modern scholarship seems to point toward Ezra as they key figure in assembling a sizable team of Israel’s best post-exilic scholar-priests to write the history of the world through the Jewish lens from the libraries and best resources they had in 491 BC. (Before both Herodotus’ Histories & Menetho’s Aegyptiaca, & drawing heavily from older histories compiled by priest/scholars of kings Josiah & Hezekiah.) This view […] - [The Aztec/Mayan Calendar (And its similarities to the Hebrew/Biblical Calendar & Book of Mormon dates)](https://gatheredin.one/11680/the-aztec-mayan-calendar-its-similarities-to-the-hebrew-biblical-calendar-and-book-of-mormon-dates/): Summary Introduction Mesoamerican calendars show an astonishing amount of similarity to the Hebrew/Biblical and ancient near eastern & Chinese calendars. Really, its hard to believe these calendar systems developed completely independent of each other without some type of diffusionary influence. Of particular significance is “K’atun Wheel/ Calendar Round” (or u kahlay katunob) and its similarity to the Hebrew lunisolar 70 week (490 year) sacred/prophetic calendar of Dan 9:24–27 used by the Jews to foretell the end of each age and coming of the Messiah. In addition to the Mayan numeric system which is surprisingly similar to Egyptian numbering (the fraction zero […] - [House of the Prophets](https://gatheredin.one/11600/meet-the-prophets/): In Mormonism, we sometimes forget our prophetic roots and confuse the concept of the prophetic leading high priest (of which there is only one per priesthood sect - D&C 107).... - [Ixtlilxochitl & Evidence for the Book of Mormon in Mesoamerican Codices](https://gatheredin.one/11507/ixtlilxochitl-evidence-for-the-book-of-mormon-in-mesoamerican-codices/): – 16. “It had been 166 years since they had adjusted their calendar with the equinox and 270 years since the [first inhabitants] had been destroyed when the sun and the moon eclipsed and the earth quaked and rocks were broken into pieces and many other signs that had been given came to pass, although man was not destroyed. This was in the year CE Calli, which, adjusted to our calendar, happened at the same time that Christ, our Lord, was crucified. And they say that this destruction occurred in the first few days of the year.” (Fernanado Ixtlilxochitl, Summaries, Obras históricas […] - [Oh ye fair ones: The implications of racism and genocide on Book of Mormon DNA evidence](https://gatheredin.one/11439/implications-of-racism-and-genocide-on-book-of-mormon-dna-evidence/): Summary Both anthropological DNA evidence and racism mentioned in the Book of Mormon are EXACTLY what we should expect from a Jewish colony in the Americas. The racism mirrors that found in the Bible, and proved to be prophetic in that all those Israelites who mixed with the surrounding natives were absorbed into their culture and DNA, and those who stayed pure were made extinct through a genocidal campaign, just as they had been warned in Deuteronomy 7:3–8, 28:15-68. Introduction Given recent DNA research of places like Britain, a scarcity of Middle Eastern (Lehite) DNA in Native American populations is exactly […] - [Mormon Modesty (What I'd Like My Daughters to Know)](https://gatheredin.one/11142/mormon-modesty-what-id-like-my-daughters-to-know/): This is mostly a rough draft of my thoughts on modesty and advice for my daughters. Things I hope they’ll remember as they navigate this difficult issue. 1. THERE ARE NO ABSOLUTES in dress standards. In the 1800s LDS and Christian women had a FAR different standard of modesty than today.  In fact, even today, LDS and Christian saints in some parts of the world are expected to dress differently and cover more or less of themselves than in other parts of the world. And I get that the unequal expectations on girls and women in dress standards seems unfair. But […] - [Were the Book of Mormon Nephites actually Toltecs & Anasazi? Evidence for the Final Exodus and Battles](https://gatheredin.one/11023/book-of-mormon-nephite-destruction-outline-narrow-neck-exodus/): THIS ARTICLE IS UNFINISHED AND UNDER HEAVEY CONSTRUCTION. Why do some Aztec chroniclers put the Aztec Migration from Aztlan at 439 AD and others put it seven hundred years later at 1168 AD? Could a difference in Calendars be causing us to overlook the overwhelming evidence for the Nephite destruction in the Book of Mormon? . Overview It’s really kind of crazy comparing the Aztec migration histories, with the archaeology concerning warfare and social collapse in the twelfth century and the final genocide story of the Book of Mormon. In the Continental Model I give two possible timelines for the final […] - [What I'd Like My Kids to Know About Love](https://gatheredin.one/7295/what-id-like-my-kids-to-know-about-love/): To My Kids…    about this crazy thing called love. Guys…  I’m not sure if your adolescence will be anything like mine. I know there’s a lot of different ways to guide your life that are all unique and beautiful in there own way.  I hope at very least I can give you a feeling of being loved and valued as you grow up.  And I also hope I can impart some life-learned wisdom to give you a head start on your journey. I know when I was an adolescent, I was very confused about love. It made little sense to […] - [Arguments For and Against the Authenticity of the Book of Mormon](https://gatheredin.one/10886/arguments-for-and-against-the-authenticity-of-the-book-of-mormon/): Overview Despite the Book of Mormon being the source of the strongest spiritual awakening of my life,  I likely would believe the Book of Mormon to be a non-historical or mythical spiritualist channeling instead of an actual history –were it not for this model and a few of the key evidences offered in this section.  I’ve found that the predominate Heartland and limited Mesoamerican models out there seem to conflict with the overall impression, scope and internal model of the book (as I’ve delineated in this article). However, this unique continental geography model overcomes those limiting issues as it essentially matches every major Book of Mormon city and culture […] - [The Mexican Highland-Continental Book of Mormon Geography Model (book drafts)](https://gatheredin.one/10868/book-of-mormon-geography-mexican-highland-model-full/): by Lance Weaver The following is a draft version of my under construction Book of Mormon geography book, entitled, The Book of Mormon Mexican Highland Continental Model. It is a work in progress currently doubling as a video and in person presentation. Currently at over 200 pages, when finished it will be published as one or two coffee table books, as well as YouTube video summaries of my model. Use keyboard arrows to advance slides once the viewer has focus. Or see the PDF below (same book) . . . This below is an out of date version of the above […] - [Introspection (my story?)](https://gatheredin.one/10594/nameless/): This content is password-protected. To view it, please enter the password below. Password: - [Reform Overly Rigid View of the Nature of the Godhead](https://gatheredin.one/23554/reform-overly-rigid-view-of-the-nature-of-the-godhead/): The Church should continually work to UNDO the Nicene Creed, instead of creating their own version of it as we sometimes do. Allowing space for MULTIPLE working orthodox Christologies, which help us LEAD greater Christianity into more knowledge instead of simply alienating ourselves from them. Joseph Smith restored at least TWO seemingly distinct Christologies, just as the early pre-Nicene Church had. The first of these was at least on the surface similar to the standard Nicene view, where the Father was “a personage of Spirit,” and the Son “a personage of Tabernacle.” (See Lectures on Faith) Christ being “both the Father […] - [FOUND ZION with systems to promote volunteerism & humanitarian work](https://gatheredin.one/9309/create-a-system-to-promote-activism-and-unsolicited-volunteerism/): With the Church’s Fast Sunday program, we can create an unparalleled system for global Humanitarian work. The church needs to refocus it’s humanitarian mission and integrate it with Fast Sunday and Fast Offerings. Much like the Church’s JustServe.org portal (made after this reform item) the Church needs to use their immense resources to become the world’s #1 portal to charitable work and giving. They are already fulfil this role in the state of Utah, but can do much more to play their part as as a ‘Joseph of Egypt’ who through foresight and revelation saves the Nations from disaster and starvation. […] - [Reexamining the Pride in the LDS Only True Church Doctrine](https://gatheredin.one/10003/pride-in-the-lds-only-true-church-doctrine/): 67 Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. 68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church (D&C 10:67–68).   Introduction Perhaps ironically, most us Mormon’s aren’t keen about challenging religious authority or tradition.  That being, I wanted to begin by shamelessly using a cliche disney movie theme to hit home on a few important points. Specifically I would like to use the lesson taught in Pixar’s Brave to suggest that Mormon tradition & pride has created some really serious […] - [Never Glorify Murder or Violence](https://gatheredin.one/9829/never-glorify-murder/): In LDS theology, it’s quite common for leaders and teachers to use biblical examples of murder and genocide as example’s of the faithfulness of individuals in scripture[1]. Scriptural stories such as Abraham’s attempted murder of his son, the Levites’ murders at Sinai, Nephi’s murder of Laban, or the Israelite’s genocidal campaign during the conquest of Palestine are constantly used as examples of how obedience to “god” is more important than the sixth commandment or teachings of Jesus. These types of teaching are common among radicalized Islam and Christian fundamentalist sects and have served as the basis for numberless heinous acts of violence and brutality […] - [Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo (notes on the LDS Gospel Topics Essay)](https://gatheredin.one/9747/plural-marriage-in-kirtland-and-nauvoo/): This is a ver batem, yet annotated version of the article Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo at lds.org. Spin notes are derived largely from Mormonism 101, with edits and adaptations by the current author. To display the annotation which illustrate the “positive spin” of the Church Essay, click on the note numbers at the end of a paragraph (Spin Note 1, Spin Note 2, etc.). Click again to hide the note. The annotations are not part of the original article. Latter-day Saints believe that monogamy—the marriage of one man and one woman—is the Lord’s standing law of marriage. In biblical times, the Lord […] - [Disavow Priesthood Racism](https://gatheredin.one/9620/disavow-priesthood-racism/): With the recent Church Essay regarding Blacks and the Priesthood, this reform is now done! (although the church still needs to apologize and explain the incorrect scriptural interpretations which were used to justify the racism) The LDS Church needs to completely disavow it’s historically preached doctrines concerning priesthood racism. Excluding “Blacks” from the priesthood is based on several very faulty assumptions. That Blacks of African decent are descended directly from the biblical Cain, Ham or Egyptus. That Christ did not open the doors for the priesthood to be given to all the worthy races of the earth instead of just the tribe of Levi. […] - [Why Does The LDS Church Need Reforms](https://gatheredin.one/9564/why-does-mormonism-need-reforms/): Read here for an explanation of why reforms are continually needed in religions led by the divine Spirit. - [Comparing Book of Mormon Geography Models](https://gatheredin.one/9552/comparing-book-of-mormon-geography-models/): TABLE OF CONTENTS/LINKSIssues with most modelsThe heartland modelLimited Mesoamerican models2 Cumorah theoryThe Sorenson/Grijalva modelsThe Usumacinta modelsThe Mexican Highland model Introduction Among Book of Mormon enthusiasts, there are two primary camps of belief concerning where the events in the book took place. One camp, called the Heartland group, believes the Book of Mormon took place in the ‘heartland’ or center of the eastern United States. This group uses archaeological evidence of ancient Hopewell, Adena and middle woodland cultures to support their model’s claims. A second, more academic group of Book of Mormon enthusiasts believe the Book of Mormon took place entirely in […] - [Make Women Truly Equal](https://gatheredin.one/10800/make-women-truly-equal/): Reform Action #7 of 20   (see all reforms) This is a difficult topic and I need more revelation to treat it properly. As I’ve written and re-written these reform ideas, the Spirit has continually impressed upon the idea that there are deep mysteries concerning the true nature of female priesthood (as intimated in the temple) unknown to most which keep this topic in a state of misunderstanding. It may boil down to the fact that women lead in the spirit world and men lead in the physical world & the way in which women are treated by ‘those in authority’ […] - [The Cosmology or Times and Seasons (& Biblical 'Weeks' Prophetic Calendar)](https://gatheredin.one/9335/cosmology-of-the-times-and-seasons/):   . Facsimile 3 and the Cosmology or Times and Seasons of Ancient Egypt & Israel The Cosmology of the ancients was built upon the earth 24,000 year precession cycle. This might be a little hard to believe at first, but follow along and I’ll show exactly how the Israelite ancient prophetic calendar was based on the earth’s Procession cycle. I’ll also show through both LDS scripture and some of the more sophisticated modern channeled material (such as Oahspe & the Law of One), that Joseph Smith’s amazing translation of Facsimile 3 was either based on some interesting ancient text Joseph […] - [Reform Monetary Policy](https://gatheredin.one/9307/decentralize-the-monetary-system-and-allow-stakes-far-greater-latitude/): Create transparency in Church monetary policy. Take steps to decentralize the monetary system and allow stakes far greater latitude in deciding how much money to spend on structures (meeting houses, temples, etc) & programs. Do a better job of separating “for-profit” arms of the Church. The presiding bishopric, not the traveling twelve should be involved in these “temporal matters”. NOTE: I believe this reform will occur naturally as political persecution ramps up in the coming decades during the final decline of the US government. (and subsequent rise of Zion.) I also believe the monetary centralization has & will play an important role in future […] - [Reform the teachings and strictures concerning sexuality, health and substance abuse](https://gatheredin.one/9305/reform-the-teachings-and-strictures-concerning-sexuality-health-and-substance-abuse/): Reform Action #12 of 20   (see all reforms) The church needs to do a better job in NOT confusing standards, traditions or church rules with God’s commandments. The Jews of Jesus day had done such a poor job at this, that they rejected Christ when he refused hold Jewish rules on the same level as God’s scripturally delineated commandments. All church’s (including ours) of necessity create useful cultural standards not explicitly laid out in scripture. But we need to be careful that these do not become ‘commandments’ in the minds of members or leaders such as the Jewish rules of […] - [Reform institutionalized temple worship & especially temple preparation](https://gatheredin.one/9303/reform-institutionalized-temple-worship-especially-temple-preparation/): Reform Action #12 of 20   (see overview page) Reform over-institutionalized aspects of temple worship (especially reforming temple weddings to accord with the doctrine of sealing’s.) In my view, going along with the solid principles taught in the Gospel of the Holy Twelve & Oahspe, sealings and endowments should not be performed until an initiate is ready to graduate from the lower preparatory law of carnal commandments (administered by the Aaronic/Ward Priesthood) to the higher and freer law of Christ & love later in life (administered by the Melchezidek/Stake priesthood). See reform ‘#Teach The Higher Law’ for details. The current “assembly […] - [Stop readily excommunicating or marginalizing dissidents](https://gatheredin.one/9299/stop-excommunicating-or-marginalizing-dissidents/): Stop excommunicating or marginalizing dissidents so often and easily. Excommunication should conform strictly with the principles delineated in D&C 42:20–28 and D&C 102. Public or private differences of opinion are not grounds for excommunication. Witch-hunts should be avoided at all costs. The church is meant to be a ‘type’ or example of perfect government, there must be effective channels for group secession and re-absorption to and from the ecumenical union. Reasoning: Jesus did not excommunicate Judas, even though he knew he would betray him to be murdered. The excommunication of the September Six and countless other dissidents in the LDS church […] - [Emphasize that ordinances are symbols, not ends of themselves](https://gatheredin.one/9291/emphasize-that-ordinances-are-symbols-not-ends-of-themselves/): Stop teaching that LDS temple and ordinances are required to make it to the Celestial Kingdom and start emphasizing that these things are important symbols which aid in salvation and eternal union but are not a requirement for it per se. Reasoning: In Joseph Smith’s vision of the Celestial Kingdom given in D&C 137:1–10, Joseph sees his brother Alvin (who was never baptized) in the celestial kingdom, with Adam, Abraham, Christ, God and Joseph’s parents. He marvels how his brother could be in the Celestial Kingdom seeing he was not baptised— and is told essentially that God knows people’s hearts and that all with good works and […] - [Stop being dishonest concerning one's witness of Jesus Christ](https://gatheredin.one/9289/stop-being-dishonest-concerning-their-witness-of-jesus-christ/): LDS members (and even leadership) need to stop bearing false witness or being subtly dishonest concerning the particulars of their witness of Jesus Christ, God and the truth of the church. When someone is called as a ‘witness’, their job is to witness what they have seen, felt and experienced — clearly and unambiguously, honestly and without misleading innuendo. A real witness, does not ‘keep secret what they have witnessed’.  Such a person… is no longer a public witness ‘to all the world’. Reasoning: The purpose and calling of a witness o an Apostle was according to the Bible, and is […] - [Put a greater emphasis on service, humanitarian work and giving](https://gatheredin.one/9287/put-a-greater-emphasis-on-service-humanitarian-work-and-giving/): SEE reform item: FOUND ZION with universal system to promote activism and unsolicited volunteerism Put a greater emphasis on service, humanitarian work and giving. (I think we’re making progress?!) Reasoning: It’s funny how quickly people sense whether you are trying to sell them something. We need to focus a lot more on the newly added 4rth mission of the church “care for the poor and needy“, and realize this is the number one way to “perfect the saints” and “proclaim the gospel”.  Missionaries need to spend a lot more time doing humanitarian work; a FAR greater percentage of tithing money needs to […] - [Teach and encourage the practice of economic equality through the Law of Consecration](https://gatheredin.one/9285/teach-and-encourage-the-practice-of-economic-equality-through-the-law-of-consecration/): Teach and encourage the practice of economic equality through the Law of Consecration in its proper framework under the United Order. Completely ignoring this law separates the church from the heavenly organizations which helped to found it. Failing to even teach (let alone practice) this system robs the church of possible heavenly blessings and puts us on par with other Christian organizations which preach the Christian gospel but are not practicing the New Testament system (Acts 2:44) which remedies economic inequality—the single largest cause of social instability & collapse.  See D&C sections 42, 51, 78, 82, 104. see also Enrichment L. ALL […] - [Be completely transparent about church history](https://gatheredin.one/9283/be-completely-transparent-about-church-history/): Be completely transparent about church history. (we’re making huge progress on this!) Reasoning: I believe Mormonism has done itself an enormous disservice by pushing a “faith promoting” (sanitized and correlated) view of its history. By hiding the entirely fallible nature of Joseph Smith and other church leaders, we have perpetuated the false dichotomy of “either it’s all true or it’s all false”. It’s important for member to understand that prophets (those with the gift of revelation) are prone to big mistakes in learning to use their spiritual gifts. They can get mixed signals, and they can inject their own bias or […] - [Reform unscriptural truth & priesthood claims](https://gatheredin.one/9281/reform-the-churchs-unscriptural-exclusive-truth-priesthood-claims/): Reform Action #3 of 20   (see overview page) Reform any unscriptural exclusive truth & priesthood claims.  D&C 10:67–68 says clearly “Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church. Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.” We need to take a hard look at the ways we might be ‘declaring more or less than this” in our teachings.  Specifically we need to reframe three completely unscriptural teachings related to this scripture. The teaching that Mormonism is the […] - [Work to Eliminate Any Cult-like Behaviors](https://gatheredin.one/9468/dont-behave-like-a-cult/): “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by (ie. instead it should be held by] persuasion… love, kindness and pure knowledge…” (D&C 121:41) Reform Action #1 of 20   (see overview page) The word “cult” typically has a fairly derogatory meaning. So most of us Latter-day Saints really take offence to those who stigmatize our religion with this label.  On my mission I was simply baffled by how so many other Christians could call us this with real concern. It wasn’t until years later when I started looking at the practices of fundamentalist […] - [Eliminate autocracy by balancing consensus rule (democracy) with guidance from ordained leadership](https://gatheredin.one/9279/eliminate-autocracyunrighteous-dominion-and-more-properly-balance-agency-and-consensus-rule-common-voice/): 34 And now, I give unto the church in these parts a commandment, that certain men among them shall be appointed, and they shall be appointed by the voice [ie. vote] of the church (D&C 38:34) Reform Action #4 of 20   (see overview page) Reform governance in seasoned regions of the church, working to eliminate autocracy & “divine dictatorship” and implement the democratic principles revealed in our scripture. Restore the law of common voice where possible in the selection of many congregational-level callings. Do better at respecting difference of opinion and re-instituting the vote as a major form of decision making. (this does not […] - [Restore the balance of power between stake and central church priesthood leadership](https://gatheredin.one/9277/decentralize-and-pull-down-the-power-which-has-become-too-lofty-and-autocratic/): D&C 107 explicitly dictates that the "stake high council" is to be entirely "equal in authority" to the traveling twelve (12 apostles), first presidency & central stake in Zion. The church needs to obey this scriptural mandate for essential autonomy or balanced power of the "Stake" structure.  The revelations given to Joseph Smith on the Church political structure far more resemble the Evangelical government structures than the current LDS or Catholic hierarchies with a perfect balance of power between the Stake government and the central church government. - [Remove the doctrine of muted prophetic infallibility](https://gatheredin.one/9275/remove-the-doctrine-of-muted-prophetic-infallibility/): Reform Action #6 of 20   (see overview page) Remove the muted doctrine of prophetic infallibility from our scripture and teachings. (“Muted” meaning on the surface we say it’s not a doctrine we promote or believe, but we actually subtly promote it using muted language.) Church leaders and members often use the following excerpt from Wilford Woodruff’s Official declaration 1 (which aimed to end the church practice of polygamy) to suggest that God would never allow the church leadership to lead the church contrary to the will of God. Or in other words the prophet is infallible to leading the church astray. The Lord will never permit me […] - [The Mentinah Archives & The Highland-Continental Model](https://gatheredin.one/26994/the-mentinah-archives-the-highland-continental-model/): The debate surrounding the geography of the Book of Mormon has historically been divided into two primary camps: the Mesoamerican model, which places the scriptural events in the jungles of southern Mexico and Guatemala, and the Heartland model, which locates them in the rivers and mounds of the American Midwest. Both models offer compelling archaeological insights, yet both often struggle to accommodate the full continental scale and the “sea to sea” migrations described within the text itself. However, a revolutionary geographic framework known as the Highland-Continental Model has emerged. Grounded in extensive research, historical timelines, and archaeological correlations, this model is […] - [Book of Mormon Stories Unearthed - Bibliography](https://gatheredin.one/9040/book-of-mormon-stories-unearthed-bibliography/):   SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY Following is a selection of books which have superb information on their selective topics and which should be available at a local library or bookstore (or the internet) for those wanting to learn more.  A complete bibliography of all referenced books, papers, and articles follows.  In both bibliographies I have first given the nickname used for the book in the paper’s references.   The Book of Mormon The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1981. The Book of Mormon is referenced more than any […] - [Economic Socialism in LDS Scripture](https://gatheredin.one/9005/economic-socialism-in-lds-scripture/): The socialistic systems advocated in LDS scripture are not necessarily “socialism” per se, in the most accepted modern economic definitions. Production did not need to be controlled by the state by and large. BUT, a form of socialism was certainly advocated, were excess income (the share one earned which was “above” or more than the “needed” median income for ones situation) was to be consecrated into a socialistic system “a bishops storehouse” which was really just a spiritualized name for a credit union/bank. The Doctrine and Covenants make it clear that Zion cannot be established unless it accepts by covenant and […] - [Making Sense of the Numbers of Genesis](https://gatheredin.one/8988/making-sense-of-the-numbers-of-genesis/): Among the greatest stumbling blocks to faith in the Bible are the incredibly long ages of the patriarchs and the chronologies of Genesis 5 and 11 that seem to place the age of the Earth at about 6,000 years ago. The key to understanding the numbers in Genesis is that, in the Mesopotamian world view, numbers could have both real (numerical) and sacred (numerological or symbolic) meaning. The Mesopotamians used a sexagesimal (base 60) system of numbers, and the patriarchal ages in Genesis revolve around the sacred numbers 60 and 7. In addition to Mesopotamian sacred numbers, the preferred numbers 3, […] - [The Sin Next To Murder](https://gatheredin.one/8612/the-sin-next-to-murder/):   The hallmark of religious fundamentalism is promoting a worldview that does not accord with reality. In fundamentalist religions, things that don’t matter much, get blown out of proportion and things that cause social collapse, war and anarchy are dismissed as inconsequential.  For Christians, the Jewish religion at the time of Christ is a classic example. Jewish leaders executed the pacifist Christ because he dare heal on the Sabbath and declare himself Messiah, and yet allowed the insurgent Barnabas (and many like him) go free. The country was teetering on the brink of rebellion, anarchy and war, and yet the religious fundamentalist leaders were […] - [A Closer Look at D&C 1:30 and What It Says About the Only True Church](https://gatheredin.one/8505/a-closer-look-at-dc-130-and-what-it-says-about-the-only-true-church/):  30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually— (D&C 1:30) As an obvious allusion to the 3 in 1 nature of multiple beings in the ONE god of Alma 5:13, In this scriptural exegesis, I suggest that D&C 10:52–63, clearly suggests that the “only true and living church on […] - [LDS Scripture Supporting Universalism](https://gatheredin.one/8482/lds-scripture-supporting-universalism/): LDS Scripture fully supports a version of Religious Universalism.  Despite many traditional exclusivist teachings from its leaders (going all the way back to Joseph Smith), its scriptures clearly teach a form of universalism. Teaching that Christ will eventually save all mankind (except for a select few who chose Satan’s plan of totalitarian manipulation and enslavement). And that sectarian religious membership on earth means very little in the larger scheme of eternal progression. 42 That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him; 43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, […] - [The Narrow Neck as Baja and the Sea of Cortez](https://gatheredin.one/7866/finding-the-book-of-mormon-narrow-neck/): Book of Mormon accounts are always “BY” the narrow neck, never ON the narrow neck.“Where the sea divides the land”, NOT where the land divides the seaNarrow Passes are never said to be ON the narrow neck . . Overview I believe many of the best correlations between the Book of Mormon’s internal geography and modern archaeological findings have been missed or passed over by Book of Mormon geographers almost exclusively because of misunderstandings surrounding the ‘Narrow Neck of Land’ mentioned in the text. Although it’s easy to see how the language of Alma 22 may give the impression that the […] - [Redefining the LDS View of the "Great Apostasy"](https://gatheredin.one/7653/redefining-the-lds-view-of-the-great-apostasy/): In this article I hope to unravel some of the contradiction found in many versions of the LDS “Great Apostasy” doctrine, adopted from the popular protestant views by early church leaders during Joseph Smith’s time. Instead of ‘great’ or universal apostasy, LDS scriptures actually teach a unique blend of dispensationalist/covenant theology which means that instead of a complete loss of priesthood or rejection of God’s favor on, and covenant with, his church (from 33 AD-1820 AD); only Israel and the Jewish-Christian Church with its distinct promises & functions was in fact rejected & destroyed in the centuries after Christ. God’s covenant […] - [My Testimony of the LDS Church & Religion (Part 2. My Beliefs)](https://gatheredin.one/7820/my-testimony-of-the-lds-church-religion-part-2-my-beliefs/): This article is a continuation of the article, My Testimony of the LDS Church & Religion (Part 1. Supernatural Experiences) My Faith in God As I’ve tried to explain in my article on Eternal Progression and Comparative Cosmology, I believe as Hindu, Buddhist and Biblical & LDS verses suggest, that the Most High God IS essentially an infinite intelligence which permeates the universe (ie. see D&C 88:6–13,47. see also Oahspe & The Law of One); or in other words the incomprehensible intelligent aspect of creation or the whole of the infinite Universe of which we are all a part—like individual cells in a body; but I also believe there is a […] - [An Answer to the CES Letter & Mormon Truth Claims](https://gatheredin.one/5907/an-answer-to-the-ces-letter-mormon-truth-claims/): . The CES Letter is a popular summary of arguments made by critics of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was written by Jeremy Renold’s— originally as an honest request to a CES director for answers to the issues it raises. The CES letter does a good job of compiling, summarizing and explaining many of the largest issues surrounding LDS theology and more especially LDS history and its conflicts with LDS truth claims. However, this letter does not do a good job of giving any context for the issues it brings up.—and as such it is one sided and […] - [Separating Religious Faith from Objective Proof (choosing our Foundations of Faith)](https://gatheredin.one/7774/separating-religious-faith-from-objective-proof-choosing-our-foundations-of-faith/): I’ve come to realize over the years that well meaning LDS leaders have led many members to base their faith and worldviews on false dichotomies and binary thinking which can be tragically deadly to faith in religion, revealed scripture and God. It’s something I believe we need to change. Allow me to explain what I mean by this. In the Book of Mormon, LDS people are given an insightful metaphor on how to build our testimonies and worldviews concerning matters of faith. In the Book of Helaman, the ancient spiritual leader Nephi gives his sons the following advice, 12 And now, my sons, remember, […] - [Why Stay LDS (with tips for challenging, and handling challenges to your faith)](https://gatheredin.one/7574/stay-mormon-advice-on-handling-a-faith-crisis/):   - [The Two-Party Illusion](https://gatheredin.one/7490/the-two-party-illusion/): by Jeff Thomas, Editor, International Man “There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties, each arranged under its leader, and concerting measures in opposition to each other. This, in my humble apprehension, is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil.”  –   John Adams The Great Illusion of the two-party system is that it allows the voter a choice – usually between a liberal and a conservative government. The reality is that, whichever party wins the election, the government is, in truth, a totalitarian one. The “choice” is a mere distraction […] - [Disavow Polygamy as a Lower Law](https://gatheredin.one/9453/disavow-polygamy/): Reform Action #2 of 20   (see overview page) In this theological essay, I’d like to make a case for the idea that regardless of whether God did or ever has sanctioned polygamy as a lower law—admitting that early Church leaders screwed up with instituting polygamy does not need to destroy anyone’s faith in Joseph Smith, the LDS church or the church’s founding revelations. Much like admitting King David sinned with Bathsheba or that small parts of the Mosaic law were uninspired cultural norms wrongly attributed to God (think Numbers 5:11–22), or that the old LDS doctrines of racism through priesthood […] - [Understanding the Mormon God](https://gatheredin.one/7395/understanding-the-mormon-god/):   Mormon’s often boast that our concept of a God with a body is more true than other religion’s concept of a God without a body. But I believe Joseph Smith introduced an amazingly pluralistic concept that actually reconciles monotheism and polytheism as well as the incorporeality and anthropomorphism of God; that earth’s God is just an exalted earth-man operating within a chain of higher eternal beings extending and existing infinitely. This concept is supported and explained in more detail in other restorationist movement texts such as Oahspe (see Chap 7 Book of Jehovah). But few LDS members really think about the […] - [Bridging the Homosexuality Divide- An LDS Perspective](https://gatheredin.one/6883/in-response-to-lds-reactions-to-the-legalization-of-same-sex-marriage/): Homosexuality and the church has again entered the public eye. I’m hoping I can throw some compassion on this polarizing topic here by reminding LDS people to be loving, civil non-dogmatic, understanding and not so quick to make up excuses or use self righteous language.  It might help us in this aim to remember that similar polarized arguments accompanied the 1870’s cultural issues of Mormon polygamy, slavery abolition, and the 1960’s issues of African American intermarriage and civil equality and later priesthood equality. We should remember that because polygamy unwittingly legitimizes lesbian acts among plural wives, Mormon’s were actually the first religious and political group in […] - [The Xochicalco Stela, Padilla Plates & Reformed Egyptian/ Hebrew in Archaeological Findings](https://gatheredin.one/21307/xochicalco-stela-and-reformed-egyptian-in-mesoamerica/): Is there any evidence that supports the statements both in the Book of Mormon and by the Prophet Joseph Smith that these ancient Book of Mormon people wrote in the above-copied characters, called by the Nephites, “reformed Egyptian”? Over 120 years later, these Archaeological discoveries provides evidence that indeed, these ancient people did write in the same characters as copied by Joseph Smith off of the Book of Mormon plates. And the location of these Book of Mormon ‘Reformed Egyptian’ and Hebrew artifacts coincidentally matches with the geography of our Mexican Highland model. . The Guerrero ‘Lock’ A stone called the […] - [Q&A: Questions and Answers to Debatable Book of Mormon Geography Topics](https://gatheredin.one/16339/qa-questions-and-answers-to-debatable-book-of-mormon-geography-topics/): Collection of Facebook and other social media conversations with other Book of Mormon Geography enthusiasts. Q: Could John Sorenson’s logic concerning ‘Nephite North’ being an example of ancient Egyptian directionality be valid?A: This highlights one of the primary weaknesses/problems of the Limited Mesoamerican models. Especially the Sorenson Grijalva Model.You have to assume that the loose translation of the Book of Mormon changed the world pyramid to tower, and deer/etc to horse and all the other cultural world translations to modern equivalents, but then you have to also believe that the Nephite directional system was NOT translated to modern equivalents but left […] - [Animals in the Book of Mormon](https://gatheredin.one/1456/animals-in-the-book-of-mormon/): Many Book of Mormon critics try to show issues or anachronisms with the lists of animals found in its narrative.. But here we show that well known new world animals serve as evidence for each of the animal types mentioned in the text's translation. - [A Thoughtful Response to the LDS Temple Recommend Questions](https://gatheredin.one/6787/a-thoughtful-response-to-the-lds-temple-recommend-questions/): Did you know: Temple recommend questions were first instituted by Brigham Young a decade after the Saints came to the Salt Lake Valley (1857) and have evolved significantly over time. Early interviews included questions about branding an animal that you did not own and using another person’s irrigation water. Since then, the temple recommend questions have changed significantly. My Complicated Thoughts on the LDS Temple Recommend Interview My thoughts and relationship with the LDS temple recommend questions have evolved a lot over time.  I generally think they were pretty much exactly what I needed as a youth. I’m excited for my […] - [Clearing up Misunderstandings in the LDS View of the Afterlife](https://gatheredin.one/6778/misunderstandings-in-the-lds-view-of-the-afterlife/): Perhaps more than any other area of religious theology, understandings of the afterworld have repeatedly been used by fundamentalist traditions and individuals to manipulate adherents into conformity with their assorted religious and cultural mores, laws and customs. From the practice of some Evangelical fundamentalists of condemning to Hell those who don’t “profess Jesus as Lord”, to the past practices of some Catholic literalists of condemning even children who die without baptism to Limbo—nearly all the world’s large religious traditions develop popular myths and egocentric beliefs about what it takes to go to a good place when we die. Like Muslims, Catholics and Jews, Mormonism […] ## Pages - [Needed Reformation In The LDS Church](https://gatheredin.one/needed-reformation-in-the-lds-church/) - [Contact or get involved with Gatherin.One](https://gatheredin.one/contact-or-get-involved/): If you would like to contact me or any other of the site authors, here are some options. I love feedback and I love talking with and connecting with those who follow my work! But be warned, I’m a father of four with a career and several side businesses that can take up a lot of my time and leave me too busy to respond to everyone. 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