Howdy. WWWland. Discussions Starting with the 13 Articles of Fath & ALSO Went to SLC in January...

...to visit my family, mormon sites, and mostly for the Sundance 2010 Film Festival. I had a wonderful time visiting with my parents and spent one day on Temple Square by myself and the next with my mom and dad. I was amazed at how cavernous the new Conference Center is 1.4 million square feet!!! We had an amazing guide who also taught us alot about Aaron Friebergs paintings associated with the Book of Mormon. I didn't know Frieberg was LDS...That was new to me...such a respected artist. Oh there's one painting in the Church Office Building I always used to stare at as a child..the one in the main lobby of Christ and his foot...the foot follows you...if you've been there you know what I mean...I'll post those two somewhere in this blog at a later date. First I want to start the blog stating the Mormon Articles of Faith...and base the first entries off these because over the past 26 years of living outside my parents abode, some still ring true even though I live a gay-male lifestyle. Here they are:

The Articles of Faith of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:

1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.

2. We believe that men will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.

3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.

5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.

6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.

8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.

9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.

11. We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.

12.We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.

13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Joseph Smith

I"M GOING TO START with explaining my own interpretation of each per post. OK here goes kiddies!!




1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.



MY INTERPRETATION: I do believe in the HOLY TRINITY. However, I've personalized it.



I do believe in a supreme leader, guidance counsellor, someone who is higher up in intelligence, experience, more-knowing than I, and a father figure...This is who I believe is GOD, The Eternal Father, sometimes referred to as Elohim.



JESUS CHRIST, I equate as being "the older brother" who looks out and protects his younger siblings and is the second in command from a male perspective. (PLEASE NOTE: I DO BELIEVE females play a HUGE role within a family structure. They carry a spirit/body and introduce this child onto our world.) I think of Jesus as being the older brother we wish we had. Even though he may not be perceived as "perfect" by all, is in my mind and heart. Someone who is counted on carry us, help guide us through our trials and good times here on Earth. Someone who also loves us unconditionally; knows of our differences and secrets from a sibling side...different from parent and child.



The HOLY GHOST, I think of as a shaman, a "still small voice", the conscience. An entity who's form we currently do not picture but who is an ecclesiastical leader who's word is made known through prayer and insight and by self-education and being able to make decisions based on the good of character, belief, and what works.



Now, how does the HOLY TRINITY fit into being gay, hiv/aids exposed in this era of time??? That's a good question.



For me, they are the silent heavenly leaders throughout time that western society has believed in through varying ways...mostly through eclesiastical leaders...priests, bishops, popes, kings...interpreters before the masses were literate.

After, during this "information age" where we can google, "wiki", search, blogg, facebook, twitter, and question anyone anywhere...including outerspace...if someone is there with a computer. We as a human race have;through our current media structure, translation software, and technology been able to share how we all feel, what subjects we want to discuss in varying levels of depth. This means that those who "may" feel ostrosized/different in person have the ability to use an alter ego online....so even though I came out and said I am gay...as an IM (Instant Messenger) I could discuss using another persona and probe other peoples beliefs, etc.



That being said, even though I am a sexual being (should I choose) with the ability to procreate, single, homosexual-identified male, these do not preclude me from being part of the greater social religious network of humanity. I identify with many "straights"/"bisexuals"/closeted/homosexuals/asexuals/"downlow"/and I'm sure "straight"for-pay and "gay"for-pay humans: male/female and surgically-altered. I do not find me to be a deviant sexual being...rather I'm proud of my sexual identity, it is a part of my self expression.

ALRIGHTY, enough for today. :)