Sticky issues — Answers from modern revelation
Sticky issues and how to address them (answers from modern revelation):
- Abortion: The Church’s stand on abortion. (Doctrine and Covenants 59:6)
- Angels: Surely angels no longer appear to mankind. (Moroni 7:29)
- Answers: There are no clear, definitive answers to religious questions today. (Doctrine and Covenants 101:32-34)
- Apostasy: Apostasy that has occurred due to family tradition. (Doctrine and Covenants 138:44)
- Apostasy: Apostasy due to following worldly philosophies and influences. (Joseph Smith History 1:19)
- Apostasy: All churches are ‘true’. There is no ONE church that is correct. (Doctrine and Covenants 1:30)
- Apostasy: There is no one specific church that is more ‘true’ than others. (Doctrine and Covenants 1:30)
- Apostasy: It is proper and even expected that there are many churches. (2 Nephi 26:20-21)
- Apostasy: I have my own beliefs, or I have formed my own beliefs. (1 Nephi 13:41, Doctrine and Covenants 1:16)
- Apostasy: Organized religions or churches are not necessary or needed. (2 Nephi 28:7-9)
- Atonement: Is there really a need for an atonement? (Alma 7:11-13)
- Authority: It is self-serving to think that ‘true authority’ can only come from God. (Article of Faith #5)
- Authority: I can and should interpret the Bible by myself. (Alma 13:20)
- Authority: How does God reveal His will? (Doctrine and Covenants 28:2, 7)
- Baptism: What is the proper mode, power, and result of baptism? (3 Nephi 11:25-26)
- Baptism: Is baptism really a commandment? (3 Nephi 27:20)
- Baptism: What are the rewards of baptism? (2 Nephi 31:12, 3 Nephi 11:33)
- Baptism: Why is baptism necessary? (2 Nephi 31:5, 9, 10)
- Baptism: When should baptism be performed? (Mosiah 18:10, Alma 7:15)
- Baptism: Does baptism really require certain authority to be performed? (Doctrine and Covenants 22:1-4)
- Baptism: At what age should baptism be performed? Is Infant baptism appropriate? (Moroni 8, D&C 68:25-27)
- Baptism: Was baptism performed in Old Testament times? (Moses 6:64-68)
- Baptism for the dead: Is baptism for the dead proper? Why is it performed? (Doctrine and Covenants 128:6-8)
- Baptism for the dead: When were baptisms for the dead first performed? (Doctrine and Covenants 127:4)
- Baptism for the dead: Where and how should baptisms for the dead be performed? (Doctrine and Covenants 124:33)
- Bible: We already have one, and we don’t need another one. (2 Nephi 29)
- Bible: You say that some precious parts have been removed? (1 Nephi 13:24-29)
- Bible: I can interpret it myself! (Alma 13:20)
- Book of Mormon: Why do you feel that we need more scripture? (2 Nephi 29:8-10)
- Book of Mormon: I feel that the Book of Mormon adds to the Bible inappropriately. (1 Nephi 14:25-27)
- Book of Mormon: The Book of Mormon has the words of Jesus, and you can know that it does. (2 Nephi 33:10-11)
- Book of Mormon: Do you claim that Jesus visited the Americas? (3 Nephi 15:21-22)
- Chastity: Is it possible to be chaste and also participate in plural marriage? (Jacob 2:27-30)
- Chastity: What is the the law of chastity and what are the consequences of breaking this law? (3 Nephi 12:27-30)
- Chastity: How can I can I obey the law of chastity? (Doctrine and Covenants 121:45)
- Chastity: Is it possible to be forgiven for breaking this particular law? (Doctrine and Covenants 42:22-26)
- Chastity: Why does this commandment receive so much emphasis? (Alma 39:3-5)
- Christ: Salvation is found only in Him, and in no one else or anything else (2 Nephi 33:10-11)
- Christ: We must heed the Book of Mormon’s teaching concerning Christ! (2 Nephi 25:26)
- Christian: Are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS Christians? (2 Nephi 25:26, Helaman 5:8-12)
- Christians: I feel that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are not Christians! (3 Nephi 11)
- Church attendance: What is the purpose of Church attendance? (Moroni 6:5-6)
- Church attendance: When should I attend church? (Mosiah 18:25)
- Church attendance: Who can and should attend? (Alma 6:5)
- Church attendance: Why is church attendance needed or even necessary? (Doctrine and Covenants 59:9)
- Churches: I feel that ALL churches and religions lead to God. (Doctrine and Covenants 1, Joseph Smith History 1)
- Churches: The Book of Mormon teaches that ‘there are only two churches’. (1 Nephi 14:10)
- Churches: Why are there so many different churches? (2 Nephi 28:1-16, Joseph Smith History 1:5-10)
- Church: What is the proper name of the Lord’s church? (3 Nephi 27:3-11)
- Color: Shed some light on the question of persons of color and the Priesthood. (Official Declaration # 2)
- Color: Is there a relation between persons of color, Cain’s mark, and darker skins? (Alma 3:6)
- Commandments: How do you explain contradictory commandments? (Bible Dictionary, page 670)
- Creation: What role did Jesus play in the Creation? (3 Nephi 9:15, Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24)
- Creation: How many things were created? (Moses 3:5)
- Creation: How many worlds are there? (Moses 1:33)
- Dancing: Is it evil or harmless? (Doctrine and Covenants 136:28)
- Dinosaurs: Explain the existence of dinosaurs in light of Bible teachings? (Doctrine and Covenants page 197, note)
- Divorce: What are the appropriate conditions for divorce? (3 Nephi 12:31-32)
- Evolution, organic: How do you explain evolution in light of Bible teachings? (Doctrine and Covenants 101:32-34)
- Exaltation: Can men and women truly become gods and goddesses? (Doctrine and Covenants 76:58)
- Exaltation: What exactly is exaltation? (Doctrine and Covenants 132:19-23)
- Exaltation: What are the three degrees of glory? (Doctrine and Covenants 76:50-90)
- Exaltation: What is celestial marriage, and how does it lead to exaltation? (Doctrine and Covenants 131:1-4)
- Faith: Why is faith in God so necessary? Why do we need it? (Ether 12:6)
- Faith: I want a sign or a miracle first, then I will have faith and will believe. (Doctrine and Covenants 63:7-12)
- Faith: Faith without works is dead. (Moroni 7:33)
- Faith: Doubt your doubts first, not your faith. (Alma 56:47-48)
- Fall: What exactly is the ‘fall of Adam and Eve’? (2 Nephi 2:22-26)
- Fall: Did the human race descend from Adam and Eve? (2 Nephi 2:20)
- Fall: Was the Fall of Adam and Eve a good thing or a bad thing? (Moses 5:10-11)
- Fall: is Adam truly God? Didn’t Brigham Young teach that doctrine? (Doctrine and Covenants 107:51-55)
- Family: My family is opposed to my joining the LDS Church! (Matthew 10:34-38)
- Few: Why so few members of the LDS faith, ‘the only true.. church’? (1 Nephi 14:12, Doctrine and Cov 128:22)
- Gather Israel: Why and how are we to help gather Israel? (Doctrine and Covenants 133:26-35)
- God: Is there truly a God? (Alma 30:40-49)
- God: What does God look like presently? (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22, Joseph Smith History 1:17)
- God: What does Jesus look like presently? (Doctrine and Covenants 110:1-4)
- God: God does indeed have a personality and passions? (Alma 12:15, 3 Nephi 17:20-22)
- God: How does God rule, reign, and act? (Mosiah 4:9)
- God: What is the nature of God? (Doctrine and Covenants130:1-3 and 130:22-23)
- God: You cannot see God and live! What about Joseph Smith? (Exodus 33:11-20, Joseph Smith History 1:17)
- Godhead: Three separate beings in the Godhead? (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24, Joseph Smith History 1:17)
- Godhead: How can three beings be referred to as one God? (2 Nephi 31:21, 3 Nephi 28:10-11)
- Godhead: How can Jesus be both the Father and the Son? (Mosiah 15:1-5, Doctrine and Covenants 93:3-5)
- Healing: How is a person healed? (Doctrine and Covenants 42:48-51)
- Healing: How does one bless a person to be healed? (Doctrine and Covenants 42:44)
- Hell: What is hell actually like? (Doctrine and Covenants 19:15)
- Hell: Who will actually end up in hell? (Doctrine and Covenants 76:84)
- Hell: Is consignment to hell actually ‘eternal’, or will hell have an end? (Doctrine and Covenants 19:6-12)
- Hell: Who will be in hell forever? (Doctrine and Covenants 76:31)
- Holy Ghost: Who is the Holy Ghost? (Doctrine and Covenants 130:22)
- Holy Ghost: What is the mission and role of the Holy Ghost? (2 Nephi 33:1, Doctrine and Covenants 39:6)
- Holy Ghost: How does the Holy Ghost influence our thoughts and feelings? (Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3)
- Holy Ghost: Did Nephi actually see and talk with the Holy Spirit? (1 Nephi 11:11)
- Holy Ghost: Did the Holy Ghost function here on earth before Jesus’ mortal ministry? (Moses 1:24, Moses 5:9)
- Idolatry: What is an ‘idol’? (Doctrine and Covenants 1:16)
- Idolatry: Should statues, paintings, or flags be considered ‘idols’? (John 3:14-15, Mosiah 13:12, Alma 46:12-13)
- Infant baptism: Most Christian religions ‘baptize’ infants. Why don’t the Latter-day Saints? (Moroni 8)
- Jehovah: Do you claim that Jesus Christ is Jehovah? (1 Nephi 19:10-13, Doctrine and Covenants 110:1-4)
- Jehovah: Salvation is possible only through Jehovah, Jesus Christ. (2 Nephi 22:2, 2 Nephi 25:20)
- Jehovah: Jehovah is Jesus Christ, according to the Bible. (Isaiah 45:22-23, Romans 14:10-11)
- Jehovah: Jehovah states that “I am He that gave the Law”. (3 Nephi 15:1-5)
- Laying on of hands: How does one perform an ordination? (Alma 6:1)
- Laying on of hands: How is the Holy Ghost received? (Moroni 2:1-3)
- Laying on of hands: What is the purpose of the ‘laying on of hands’? (Bible Dictionary, page 723)
- Less-active members: Wo unto him or her. (2 Nephi 9:27)
- Less-active members: A sacred invitation to ‘come back’. (Mormon 9:27)
- Less-active members: Now is the time to hearken and to believe again! (3 Nephi 28:34-35)
- Marriage: God blesses marriages. (4 Nephi 1:11)
- Marriage: We are counseled to marry within the Church and to make sacred covenants. (Alma 3:8-9)
- Marriage: What are the appropriate conditions for divorce? (3 Nephi 12:31-32)
- Marriage, civil: Why is civil marriage necessary? (Doctrine and Covenants 49:15-17)
- Millennium: What exactly is the Millennium? (Doctrine and Covenants 29:9-13)
- Millennium: What will life be like during the Millennium? (1 Nephi 22:24-26)
- Millennium: What will happen at the end of the Millennium? (Doctrine and Covenants 43:30-33)
- Millennium: What is the goal or purpose of the Millennium? (Doctrine and Covenants 77:12)
- Miracles: Are miracles happening today, in our time? (Moroni 7:29)
- Miracles: It is true that belief must precede miracles. (Doctrine and Covenants 35:8)
- Miracles: Do theyreally happen? (3 Nephi 17:6-10)
- Miracles: Faith is a prerequisite to the blessing of miracles. (Ether 12:12)
- Offended: I have been offended at church and will not be returning. (Mormon 9:31)
- Petitioning the Lord: Should we petition the Lord, ask for specific blessings? (Mosiah 27:14)
- Plates of gold: Really? Show them to me and then I will believe. (2 Nephi 27:6-23, Mormon 8:13-26)
- Plural marriage: Why was it practiced by early members of the LDS church? (Doctrine and Covenants 132:61-63)
- Plural marriage: How can you or your church justify the practice of plural marriage? (Jacob 2:29-30)
- Plural marriage: Do the scripture allow for or call for plural marriage? (Doctrine and Covenants 132:34-38)
- Plural marriage: If it is a correct practice, why are you not practicing plural marriage now! (Official Declaration #1)
- Prayer: What precisely is prayer? (Bible Dictionary, page 752)
- Prayer: Why is prayer necessary? (2 Nephi 32:8-9)
- Prayer: How can prayer benefit or bless me? (Doctrine and Covenants 31:12)
- Prayer: How or in what manner should I pray? (3 Nephi 18:19-20)
- Prayer: What do I do if my prayers are not answered? (Luke 22:42, Moroni 10:3-5)
- Prayer: How does God answer prayers? (Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3, Doctrine and Covenants 11:12-14)
- Prayer: When should I pray? (Alma 37:37, Doctrine and Covenants 6:36)
- Premortal life: Where was this premortal life and what did we do there? (Doctrine and Covenants 138:56)
- Premortal life: In a real way, men and women are spirits. (Doctrine and Covenants 93:33)
- Premortal life: What does the phrase ‘we were born spiritually before we were born physically’ mean? (Moses 3:5)
- Premortal life: What exactly was the ‘war in heaven’ or the ‘war in premortal life’? (Doctrine and Coven 29:36-38)
- Premortal life: What are ‘intelligences’ that existed in premortal life? (Doctrine and Covenants 93:29)
- Priesthood: What exactly is the priesthood? (Doctrine and Covenants 84:17-20)
- Priesthood: How does one obtain the priesthood? (Doctrine and Covenants 20:60)
- Priesthood: What is the purpose of the priesthood? (Doctrine and Covenants 86:10-11)
- Priesthood: Who can hold the priesthood? (Official Declaration #2)
- Priesthood: How was the priesthood restored? (Doctrine and Covenants 13:1, Joseph Smith History 1:68-73)
- Priesthood: How was the Melchizedek Priesthood restored? (Doctrine and Covenants 27:12)
- Priesthood: What is the difference between the Melchizedek and Aaronic priesthoods? (Doct and Cov 107:1-17)
- Priesthood: How is the priesthood structured? (Doctrine and Covenants 20:34-67)
- Priesthood: What is the ‘oath and covenant’ of the priesthood? (Doctrine and Covenants 84:33-44)
- Priesthood: How does one honor and respect the priesthood? (Doctrine and Covenants 121:34-41)
- Priesthood: Should women be allowed to hold and exercise the priesthood? (Doctrine and Covenants 107, insert)
- Prophets: What is a prophet? (Jacob 4:4)
- Prophets: Why do we need prophets? (Doctrine and Covenants 5:9-10)
- Prophets: Do prophets truly see God? (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-24, Doctrine and Covenants 110:1-5)
- Prophets: Do prophets exist on the earth now, today? (Doctrine and Covenants 1:17-18)
- Prophets: Can more than one prophet preside at the same time? (Doctrine and Covenants 43:1-6)
- Prophets: What are the consequences of rejecting prophets or their teachings? (Doctrine and Covenants 1:14)
- Prophets: All the words of true prophets will be fulfilled! (Doctrine and Covenants 1:37-38)
- Prophets: Biblical prophecies will all be fulfilled as well. (Doctrine and Covenants 84:2)
- Prophets: Modern day prophecies will all be fulfilled. (Doctrine and Covenants 87:1)
- Questions: There often is no clear answer to a difficult question. (Doctrine and Covenants 101:32-34)
- Repentance: What is repentance, why necessary, how to repent? (Doctrine & Covenants 58:42-43, Bible Dictionary page 760)
- Repentance: We are commanded to repent or face spiritual destruction. (Alma 9:1-34)
- Repentance: Alma shares a wonderful 20-step repentance process. (Alma 13:27-30)
- Restoration: What is the restoration? (Bible Dictionary, page 761)
- Restoration: Why was the restoration needed or necessary? (Doctrine and Covenants 138:44)
- Restoration: What exactly was restored? (Doctrine and Covenants 128:17-18)
- Restoration: Who participated in the restoration, how were things restored, and when did it take place? (3 Nephi 29:1, Doctrine and Covenants 13 and 110)
- Resurrection: What is the resurrection? (Alma 40:23)
- Resurrection: Who exactly will be resurrected? (Alma 11:44)
- Resurrection: How is the resurrection made possible? (2 Nephi 2:8)
- Resurrection: Why is resurrection necessary? (2 Nephi 9:6-7)
- Resurrection: Was Jesus truly resurrected? (3 Nephi 11:10-14)
- Resurrection: Is reincarnation possible? No. (Alma 11:45)
- Revelation: What is revelation? (Jacob 4:8)
- Revelation: Who can receive revelation? (Bible Dictionary, page 762)
- Revelation: Why does revelation seem to be limited to only certain things? (Doctrine & Covenants 93:27-28 and 101:32-33)
- Revelation: How can we receive revelation? (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61)
- Sabbath: What exactly is the Sabbath? (Doctrine and Covenants 59:9)
- Sabbath: How do we keep the Sabbath holy? (Doctrine and Covenants 59:9-15)
- Sabbath: What is the purpose of the Sabbath? (Moroni 6:6)
- Sabbath: What does the Sabbath symbolize? (Bible Dictionary, page 765)
- Sabbath: What blessings come as a result of keeping the Sabbath day holy? (Doctrine and Covenants 59:23)
- Sacrament: What is the Sacrament? (Doctrine and Covenants 20:40)
- Sacrament: Why do we partake of the Sacrament often? (Doctrine and Covenants 20:75)
- Sacrament: Why do we use water instead of wine as a Sacrament emblem? (Doctrine and Covenants 27:2-4)
- Sacrament: What were Jesus’ instructions concerning the Sacrament? (3 Nephi 18:1-14)
- Scripture: What exactly is scripture? (Doctrine and Covenants 68:4)
- Scripture: Is there authority to be found within the scriptures? (Doctrine and Covenants 18:34-36)
- Scripture: What is the purpose of reading the scriptures? (2 Nephi 32:3)
- Scripture: Who should read scripture? (3 Nephi 10:14)
- Scripture: How often should we read the scriptures? (Doctrine and Covenants 26:1)
- Second Coming: When will the Second Coming occur? (Doctrine and Covenants 1:12, Joseph Smith Matt 1:40)
- Second Coming: What events will precede the Second Coming? (Joseph Smith Matthew 1:26-36)
- Second Coming: What will it actually be like when the Second Coming occurs? (Joseph Smith Matthew 1:41-43)
- Science and non-believers: How do we mesh religion and science? (2 Nephi 9:28-29, Alma 30)
- Science: We don’t know all things at this time. (Doctrine and Covenants 101:32-3
- Spirit: Does man have a spirit or does he not have a spirit? (Genesis 2:7, see notes)
- Spirit world: Where do we go when we die, and where is the spirit world? (Alma 40:11-13)
- Spirit world: What is it like in the spirit world? What are the conditions? (Doctrine and Covenants 138:50)
- Temple work: Why do we have temples in these times? (Doctrine and Covenants 124:40-41)
- Temple work: What is the purpose of going to the temple? (Doctrine and Covenants 95:8-9)
- Temple work: What are the benefits of temple service for us and for our ancestors? (Doctrine and Covenants 2:1-3)
- Tithing: Why is the payment of tithing required today, what blessings come from paying tithing? (3 Nephi 24:8-12)
- Tithing: Tithing is actually an ancient law. (Alma 13:15)
- Tithing: Why is it based on income and how is tithing money used? (Doctrine & Covenants 119:4 and section 120)
- Tongues, Gift of: What is the gift of tongues? (Article of Faith #7)
- Tongues, Gift of: This gift is manifested when it is appropriate & circumstances call for it. (Doctrine & Covenants 109:36)
- Tongues, Gift of: What is the purpose of this gift, is it a spiritual gift? (Doctrine and Covenants 46:24-26 and 90:11)
- Visions: Why are visions given and to whom are they given? (1 Nephi 5:4, Joseph Smith History 1:16-20)
- War and death: Why does God allow wars to happen? (1 Nephi 14:10)
- War and death: What is the purpose of war? What are the causes of war? (Alma 46:12, Moses 6:15)
- War and death: Should we serve in the military? (Article of Faith #12)
- War and death: Why must the innocent die? (Alma 14:8-11)
- Women in the Church: What is the role of women in the Church? Become goddesses? (Doctrine & Covenants 132:19-20)
- Women in the Church: Women should be on a status equal to men! (2 Nephi 26:33, Alma 11:44)
- Women and the priesthood: Should women hold and exercise the priesthood? (Doctrine and Coven 107 note)
- Word of Wisdom: What is the Word of Wisdom? (Doctrine and Covenants 89)
- Word of Wisdom: Why is it necessary for us to observe the Word of Wisdom? (Doctrine and Covenants 1:31)
- Word of Wisdom: Is it an ancient law? Should we not eat meat? (Doctrine and Covenants 49:18-19)
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