Mindful Latter-day Saint Apologetics
Providing thoughtful and faithful responses to criticisms and questions of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ
Apologetics is not a system of reason and logic to win intellectual arguments. It is to persuade people to commit themselves over to critical thinking and examination of the value and unique the worldview is. How valuable and beneficial a particular political viewpoint is beneficial.
Charity is the heart and soul of service and ministry. Without compassion and mercy, no other spiritual gifts have any purpose or meaning - not even our own faith in God. The Apostle concludes that there are three important things in our lives: Faith, Hope, and Charity. His conclusion is that Charity is the greatest of the three.
The world offers us all the desires and appetites that leave our bellies full and our flesh satisfied. Unfortunately, it is only temporary and we continue to remain hungry and thirsty for more of those things of the world. When we are tempted, it may come in guise of satisfying some desire. We develop an appetite for it. Eventually, it leads us to experience death of our sense of self through Jesus Christ.
Genuine faith stems from genuine humility. Our humility and faith is shaped from those trials we face in our lives. We are richly blessed beyond measure. The challenge is to keep ourselves humble regardless of how blessed we are. I also want to add that humility is the means in which we shore up treasures in heaven and not here on earth (see Matthew 6:19-20). It is not one of many Christian Virtues. It is the root of all Christian virtues. Humility is the root of genuine faith in God.
The greatest desire is for us to attain a high level of masculinity that is influential, impacting, and inspiring. By becoming a man of influence we are cultivating a true attribute of Christ-like integrity. This significant attribute provides a means by which we are able to influence our family, workplace, and community at large.
As we see, the nature of sexual integrity and teaching of the law of chastity - especially among young people - is quite paramount to the foundation of Christian faith. It is not so much a teaching of oppressing someone. It is not a damaging mindset as the writer of ex-mormon blog insinuates. Neither is this based on fairy tales related to realizing a sense of authentic happiness. Sexual integrity and the teachings of the law of chastity has significant foundation in developing a resilient and healthy lifestyle. One that avoids giving into sexual temptation.
Nationalism, or patriotism, is the hallmark of how individual citizens show their support for the Government. This is extended when we see how those in position of authority utilize wisdom and discernment in securing public interest. This includes maintaining the freedom of one's conscience and the expression of one's conscience. What this brings up is the nature of whether Government's role is to implement rights to the individual. Today, we see turmoil over the misuse and abuse of Government influence in who has the right and who does not possess the right.
Many times, in the course of online discussions, it may become natural to forget the other person is an individual. Specifically when we are engaged in online discussions. By being mindful of the other person - we are being understanding of their own uniqueness, fears, hopes, particular problems they are bringing to us concerning some of the teachings and doctrines. Through our example of mindfulness, we hope to build trust in order to enrich and deepen the conversation to a more personal level of discussion.
I am unapologetically raising my daughters with a strong conviction and bold faith that is based on love and righteousness in Jesus Christ. They ought not to walk in fear of God. Hope they do not come to a place where they believe that God is awaiting to punish them for every wrong behavior or act they commit. Instead, my hope that if they do walk in error that they are courageous enough to seek out their Loving Heavenly Father and walk in forgiveness and repentance.
In the previous essay, Christianity and the presenting problem of poverty in America today, we explored the question as to who is considered poor and impoverish; as well as, what lead to their state of poverty. The summation of this essay provides insight in two things: Poverty is defined by an individual (or family) lacking… Continue reading The Christian Ethical dilemma and obligation in how to alleviate American Poverty
According to report by the US Census Bureau, released in 2012, the official figures of American's experiencing poverty is about 46.2 million; or, about 15% of the US Population. Moore reflects how poverty threshold increases since the government started tracking poverty records, beginning in 1969. Furthermore, Moore reflects how the increase in America's poverty may be attributed to the ripple effects from the Great Recession. Quoting Professor Mark Rank of Washington University in St. Louis, the reason for increase in poverty is not due to individuals working less, or are not working harder, it is because there appears to be a lack in decent paying jobs.
Despite the efforts of this article, as well as many other articles that have been published, critics continue to address the same arguments from a modern day thinking and perception. For instance, if Dr. Samuel Cartwright were alive today, his medical diagnosis would be laughed at, his essay would not be published in any respectable journal, nor would the so-called Dysaesthesia Aethiopis be labeled as a mental illness. Today, Josiah Priest’s thoughts on the origin of the African race would not receive any respectable consideration. Yet, these two men received attention for their valued opinion and research in a society that held to views that treated the African American race as being inferior. The argument critics use is called a presentist argument and simply means that one argues from a position of a modern perception and reality in order to interpret a past perception and reality that vastly differs from today’s acceptable social norm.
Mindful Latter-day Saint Apologetics 
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