I would like to think that he still is. He is very understanding, in fact, he is perfectly understanding. He knows every situation and he wants nothing more than for every single one of His children to be happy and to become like him. However, that is not his choice, it is ours. It is up to us through our actions to decide if we want to accept his truth and follow his commandments. It is not easy to obtain the ultimate goal, which is to become like him and have the same blessings that he enjoys. It isn't supposed to be easy. But God gives us every chance to make that decision to repent and follow him. I know you said no need for details, but I think it is hard to understand without the details, so I have decided to write down some of the details of my beliefs here anyway. So read if you want to, don't read if you don't want to.
Anyway, probably the most fundamental belief we have is that we are literal sons and daughters of God. Before we were born to this earth, we lived with him as spirits. We had no body yet, but we lived with him. He set forth a plan so that his children could obtain everlasting joy and enjoy all of the same blessings he has and so we can progress to become like he is. We could not do that without a body (because God has a glorified body of flesh and bones he is not just some spirit), so he would send us here to earth to obtain a body, and also to test our worthiness to live with him eternally and have those blessings of eternal salvation. The only way to do so is if we lived by faith. We would need to make decisions for ourselves and choose if we wanted to follow him. That, in a nutshell, is the purpose of this life, to obtain a body and prove ourselves. He knew, however, that we would make mistakes, and if we made mistakes we couldn't return to live with him because no unclean thing can dwell with God. So he said he would provide a Savior for us, Jesus Christ, who would perform an Atonement and meet the demands of justice and pay the price for our sins. Through the Atonement, if we repent we can become cleansed of our sin. Also, when he performed the Atonement, he died and overcame death and was resurrected, and because of that the gift of resurrection (reuniting body with spirit coupled with immortality) will be given regardless of your actions. Resurrection is a gift that will be given to all. When we die, as I mentioned, we go to the spirit world. Those who lived righteous lives, their spirit continues to live on in a state of happiness called paradise. They will be free from all sorrow. Those who died in their sins or without a knowledge of the truth, or those who rejected live in a state referred to as spirit prison. Here, these people will have an opportunity to repent and accept the truth, but do not reside in the same state of happiness as those in paradise do. Our spirits remain here until Jesus comes to earth again to usher in the Millenium (a 1000 year period of peace). Those who have accepted Jesus or lived honorable lives will be resurrected and will live during this Millenium. Those who lived in sin and rejected him and did not repent remain in spirit prison and are punished for their sins and will experience Hell. We don't actually believe in the same conventional hell that most christians do. When we speak of hell it is this spirit prison, which is temporary, and the 1000 year period when those who didn't repent will be punished and pay the price, also temporary. After that, we will each be judged according to our actions and will inherit a kingdom of glory according to those actions. There are three degrees of glory (or you could say three heavens). Only the highest is where we can acheive the ultimate goal to become like God and to live with our families for eternity and enjoy the blessings he does. This is called the Celestial kingdom. Those who repented and accepted the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ inherit this kingdom. Those who do not accept the fulness of the gospel but live honoroble lives inherit the one lower in glory, the terrestial kingdom. Those who rejected the gospel, continued in sin and did not repent in this life inherit the last kingdom of glory, the telestial kingdom. There are a select few who have committed sins so severe that they will not inherit a kingdom of glory and will go to what is called outer darkness, or you could say that is going to Hell permanently. For the most part, however, most will eventually live in a kingdom of glory, but only those in the celestial kingdom will receive all of the blessings that the Father has in store for us. So he really is quite understand and does love us so much that he has provided a plan where the vast majority of his children will eventually obtain a kingdom of glory. For some that will come after they pay the price for their sins, for others they will not have to pay the price if they repented. To me, this plan is very marvelous. Of course, the ultimate goal is the celestial kingdom, but if y

Aside from anything else, the arrogance of these 'churches' and cults' is mind boggling that they thing that their small number ( relative in the world )
are the small, correct, righteous chosen few!
Wow, just Wow.
They are all like thatlook at each fundy member of each 'Christian ' religion we have on here!
It beggars belief!'l

No need for details. I just thought for a moment that your God is a lot more understanding than the usual portrayal.

Not exactly. It certainly does matter what you do in this life. While there are some who won't have a fair chance. Many will, and they will have to choose to accept it and repent, or reject it. There is a penalty for those who do reject the gospel. If you want me to explain the full details of what we believe about the purpose of this life and what the details of the afterlife are, I will do so if you are interested. But it may take awhile for me to explain it clearly, so I will only take the time if you are really interested. But if not, suffice it to say that it does matter, but God will make sure everyone is treated fairly and will have their chance

In other words, there's no penalty for not being a Mormon in this life. It's the spirit world (after death) where finding out and accepting the truth
really
counts . In this life, you just happen to know it before others do.
That certainly sounds nicer than the doctrines of some other churches.

What I'm saying is we choose which influences we follow. Sometimes it can be confusing and hard to know if you are following the right path, because Satan who is the master of deception, is good at deceiving even the honest true seekers of truth. God is always doing what he can to lead people to the truth and listening to him will always get you to the same place. The hard part is actually discerning which voice is his. There are people who despite the best efforts, end up somewhere else. In those cases, it is important to recognize one of the traits that makes God who he is, is he is perfectly fair. Everyone will have their fair chance to accept the truth. If that doesn't happen in this life it will happen in the spirit world. I'm not sure how familiar you are with Mormon doctrine, but one of our beliefs is that when we die we go to the spirit world, which is a place our spirits go before they are reunited with the body and we are resurrected. Every single person on earth will one day be resurrected and the spirit world is the intermediate between death and resurrection. In this spirit world people who did not have a fair chance here will have one there to accept the Gospel.

There is the influence of Satan who is very deceptive and wants to do everything he can to make sure we don't find the correct path.
If God didn't let Satan stop YOU from finding the correct path, then how can He let Satan stop other sincere seekers from doing so?
It is important to recognize God gave us free will, so we choose what direction we want to go with our livesHe knew the only way we can succeed in that goal was by making the choice ourself to follow him. That is why he does allow people to go in another direction if they so choose.
Before, you said that people doing their "best to seek truth" sometimes get "to different places". But now you're implying that the people who REALLY care about God and the truth will get to the SAME place and become Mormons, and that people who end up in a church other than LDS do so because they prefer to choose something OTHER than the truth.

It is important to recognize God gave us free will, so we choose what direction we want to go with our lives. God sent us here to learn and grow with the ultimate goal to return back to him and progress to become like him so that we can have the same blessings he has. He knew the only way we can succeed in that goal was by making the choice ourself to follow him. That is why he does allow people to go in another direction if they so choose. There are more influences out there than just God. There is the influence of Satan who is very deceptive and wants to do everything he can to make sure we don't find the correct path. Could God come down to earth and hold a press conference and announce the one true religion? Theoretically yes, but that goes against everything he stands for and his plan for us. We need to walk by faith if we are to become like him.

However, like I said it is up to us individually to do our best to seek truth and sometimes that search does get people to different places, but I am confident that the book of Mormon is true.
Well, then, if there's only one truth, then God is letting a lot of earnest truth seekers down by letting them end up somewhere other than the Mormon Church.

I would be naive if I claimed otherwise. However, it has been my experience as a missionary that when people sincerely seek to know if it is true through sincere prayer they typically come to the same conclusion that I did. However, I do recognize that sometimes people do reject it after a study of the book of Mormon even after careful study. A lot of the time it is because of what they find online, which by the way the majority of information about Mormons on the internet is either flat out inaccurate or misleading or taken out of context. However, like I said it is up to us individually to do our best to seek truth and sometimes that search does get people to different places, but I am confident that the book of Mormon is true.

So if the Book of Mormon is true then my faith isn't misguided. I know without a shadow of a doubt the Book of Mormon is true, which is what gives me confidence
All right, then. Instead of that very subjective "evidence" you were offering before ("I have felt that lovehe had answered my prayers"), at least you are pointing to something concrete (The Book Of Mormon) that can be examined objectively.
I certainly won't attempt to do that. But you can't be unaware that a mountain of criticism of the Book of Mormon from many angles and from an array of sources is available on line for anyone to inspect. You said, "It is up to the individual to seek where truth lies." Would you agree that an honest and prayerful search for truth could lead someone to reject the Book of Mormon just as readily as it led you to accept it?

There is no sure way to know if your beliefs are misplaced. Ultimately it does require a tremendous amount of faith. It is through my faith and my experiences that I have had that give me confidence that my faith isn't misguided. And for my faith personally, it ultimately comes down to the Book of Mormon is true. The Book of Mormon is often referred to as the keystone of our religion. That is because whether or not our religion is true rests on the Book of Mormon. If the Book of Mormon is true, then Joseph Smith was a prophet and translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God, and then he truly saw God and Jesus Christ. If all of that is true, then it is also true that God, through Joseph Smith restored the true church to the earth. So if the Book of Mormon is true then my faith isn't misguided. I know without a shadow of a doubt the Book of Mormon is true, which is what gives me confidence

The only real way for you to know for yourself who is right or if we are all wrong is to study it out for yourself. You can study all about several religions and you can pray to know which is true.
Don't you think there are Muslims who have done exactly that? And those who converted to Catholicism? And Seventh Day Adventists? And Jehovah's Witnesses? And Quakers? And plenty of other religions that I haven't listed? Countless people study and pray for the truth, and end up in so many other religions different from yours.
When there are so many people who study and pray for the truth, and have felt God's love and have seen his helping hand in their lives, and have seen answers to their prayers,
but whose faith is
still
misplaced
, then how can you have any confidence that your faith isn't one of the many "misplaced" ones?

you seem to continue to be disrespectful
People arent going to respect your religious beliefs merely because you demand respect for those beliefs. If thats the only form of discourse youll accept, youll spend your life ignoring most everyone. Thats fine with others, not good for you. Your choice, of course.
they cannot both be true
Actually, they canfor those who believe in them. You yourself believe in ideas which the majority of your own self-proclaimed religious sect find risible. Yet theyre truefor you.
I truly believe there is only one that has the full truth
Your belief, unfortunately, is only thatyour belief. Its not truth. Its only your belief in what you deem truth.
I did read it and I disagree.
Your disagreement is a given. What you havent presented is any credible argument against the contention.
you seem to continue to just call me crazy and delusional
Playing the victim to avoid facing hard questions is a feeble position called poisoning the well. If youre comfortable with it, fine. But dont expect anyone to find it intellectually honest, never mind convincing.
I almost hesitate to share my experience, because I hold it sacred.
If it cant stand up to examination, it isnt what you think it is.
I don't know whether or not you were sincerely wanting to know and seeking with real intent
IMO theres no point exposing ones self to anything unless one genuinely wants to learn from such exposure. In the case of the Mormon literature (which also included A Marvelous Work and a Wonder), a close friend of mine, a recent convert to Mormonism, urged me to read them. Both out of respect for him and my own youthful enthusiasm for understanding the world around me, I was avid to do so.
if you really don't have a true desire to know, you won't receive your answer
Im afraid this applies to you as much as to me. You see, youve already decided. I havent. But I must tell you that Mormonism seems no more convincing to me than does Shinto or Buddhism or Islam or Taoism or Catholicism or Protestantism or any of the other religious persuasions known around the world. Nor for that matter are the ancient religions of the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, or Norse. And you may be sure Ive been exposed to fervent believers of all those credos.
It isnt that I find any of them without interest or, indeed, particles of truth. Its that all of them fail as credible overall explanations of reality.
The Dumpster gives a whole new meaning to "red" states.

First of all I wasn't responding to you, I have honestly been mostly ignoring you because you seem to continue to be disrespectful. Second of all, you tell me how it is possible that all religions be right? It isn't. Some Christians believe that infant baptism is necessary, and others believe it is an abomination. Those are contradicting beliefs they cannot both be true. Some religions believe in reincarnation, others don't. Both can't be correct. Either reincarnation is correct doctrine or its not. I do think that there are bits of truth to be found in any religion. However, I truly believe there is only one that has the full truth and I believe that to be the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
it is NOT ignorant to say truth can only come from observation and evaluation of reality. Truth cannot come from fantasyexcept the truth that fantasy IS fantasy and not truth.
I did read it and I disagree. I do think it is ignorant to say truth can only come from science when science can't possibly answer all of the questions out there. I have already said this clearly in some of my other comments, and I don't really feel like repeating it to you, especially since you seem to continue to just call me crazy and delusional.
Been there, done that. Ive read The Book of Mormon cover to cover several times. I remain unconvinced.
Well I'm sorry you weren't able to be convinced. I wish I could help you so I could help you know how you could have a different experience. I also read it cover to cover several times. I've read it probably abut 15-20 times. I had a very different experience. I almost hesitate to share my experience, because I hold it sacred. If all you are going to do is ridicule my experience I won't bother sharing it. If you would really like to know my experience I will share it with you. But I do commend you for reading. I don't know whether or not you were sincerely wanting to know and seeking with real intent as it says in the Book of Mormon. I served as a missionary for 2 years in Japan and I will tell you that every single person that I taught who sincerely read the Book of Mormon, truly seeking truth, and praying with real intent to know if it was true, if they did that they always received their answer that it was true. If you know of any missionaries in your area, I would encourage you to speak to them to see if they can help you have a special experience with the Book of Mormon. But if you really don't have a true desire to know, you won't receive your answer.

Can all of them be right? Of course not.
Excuse me? Of course not? This strikes me as a comment by someone with no critical understanding of their own chosen religion, much less of any other.
There is either one religion out there that is true, or they are all wrong altogether.
Again, this merely exhibits a thorough lack of knowledge regarding human thought, never mind human culture. My experience is that all religions are mixtures of enlightenment and nonsense.
What's ignorant is claiming there isn't more truth out there that cannot be obtained through scientific research
Did you even read my comment? Let me repeat it for you since, if you did read it, you apparently didnt bother addressing what it said:
it is NOT ignorant to say truth can only come from observation and evaluation of reality. Truth cannot come from fantasyexcept the truth that fantasy IS fantasy and not truth.
the difference is one of us is right. It's either that or we are both wrong.
See above. There is no one truth, at least when it comes to religious views. The only one truth idea is purely a misunderstanding of how truth actually works.
ultimately the only way you can know if I'm telling the truth is to try it for yourself
Been there, done that. Ive read The Book of Mormon cover to cover several times. I remain unconvinced.
to see what makes us different
I already know what makes you different. Problem is, you dont seem to know it.
The Dumpster gives a whole new meaning to "red" states.

the difference is one of us is right. It's either that or we are both wrong. I wouldn't resort to call him delusional, because that is disrespectful and I really don't think if someone is wrong that they are delusional. They just have their faith misplaced. The only real way for you to know for yourself who is right or if we are all wrong is to study it out for yourself. You can study all about several religions and you can pray to know which is true. We have missionaries in our church whose purpose is to help people who sincerely want to know to investigate our beliefs and help them pray to know if it is true and to help them find the answer. When it comes to things like religion, it ultimately the only way you can know if I'm telling the truth is to try it for yourself. So you are welcome to find the missionaries from the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints and investigate for yourself. I don't expect you to take my word for it, in fact I hope you don't. I want you to try for yourself to see what makes us different.

There is either one religion out there that is true, or they are all wrong altogether.
Then how is there any difference between you, who will say about God, "I have felt that love and have seen his helping hand in my life countless times. As I pray to him, he had answered my prayers every single time", and a Muslim who says the very same thing?
Is it that when HE says it he is deluding himself, but when YOU say it it's true?

Sorry, I must have missed your question. I was just responding the other response. As far as your question goes, there are several religions out there and belief systems. Can all of them be right? Of course not. That is impossible. There is either one religion out there that is true, or they are all wrong altogether. It is up to the individual to seek where truth lies. I believe I have found it in the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints (Mormons). So the answer to your question is I do believe the Muslims are wrong. I don't mean any disrespect. I think many Muslims are actually good people. But I don't believe in their religion though because I do think they are wrong. However, with that said, I do think that there are bits of truth in many religions. However, I don't believe they have the full truth. Anyway sorry if you thought I was ignoring you, that wasn't my intention

I will leave it at that.
A pity. I'd hoped you'd respond to my question.

My point here is evidence for God, although very prevent if you simply look around you, isn't evidence the same way scientific data is. It comes in a different form than scientific evidence and you may not call it evidence because it isn't empirical. The purpose of science is to attempt to explain how the world works. It doesn't attempt to explain why.
For example, science explains how our body works through the biological sciences. Science explains how something falls to earth through law of gravity. It doesn't explain why our brains work the way they do or why gravity exists or why this world was created. Surely the answers to those questions exist, but it didn't fall into the realm of science which is why I don't need to provide "credible evidence" for God's existence, at least not the scientific evidence you are looking for.
However it is extremely ignorant to only believe what science can prove. It is ignorant to say that truth can only come by means of science. Anything that is, is truth. That is true regardless of whether or not science can show that through empirical data. The pink elephant example that I gave earlier, if it truly existed on a distant planet, just because science didn't prove it, that wouldn't make that fact less true. To say so is ignorant. I seek truth wherever I can, and I recognize that truth can be found in many places, not just science. I believe I have found truth with my religion. I have had countless experiences that serve as evidence of God. It may not be scientific evidence, but it is evidence nonetheless.
Faith is not just blind belief. Faith is a hope for things which are not seen which are true. There is truth out there that cannot be obtained by means of science. Science is an amazing thing, but it is only a piece of the puzzle that is truth. By only relying on science is depriving you of more truth that is out there. There are questions that science will never be able to even attempt to answer. So you have two choices, live in ignorance, or go to other sources to find additional truth that science cannot obtain. The choice is yours and I will leave it at that.

What is your evidence that God doesn't exist?
I'm not claiming anything; I'm responding to your positive claim that some (or any) god exists, so the onus is on you to prove, with credible evidence, that such a being exists, not on me or anyone else to disprove.
Where is our credible evidence?
To me there are several evidences of God.
The delusions in your head don't matter - the only thing that does matter is you proving, with credible evidence, that your claim that any god exists valid and therefore justifiable.
Where is your credible evidence?
This whole earth and everything on it is evidence to me that there is a God.
This whole earth and everything on it is evidence only that this whole earth and everything on it exists, not that any god is responsible for that existence. You would need actual credible evidence to prove your claim that any god exists before further claiming any actions of that unproven god.
Where is your credible evidence?
However, it is important to note that just because there is no empirical evidence to support something, that doesn't mean that something isn't true.
You have provided no evidence of any kind for the claim that any god exists, and neither has anyone else in the history of mankind.
To claim that something is true, there necessarily must be credible evidence to prove that claim is valid, justified, ant to be believed.
Because if you believe things (and believe "in" things) with no evidence until and unless they are disproven, that puts you in the awkward position of simultaneously believing in any number of things, many of them contradictory; because, you know, they're all still un-disproven.
Where is your credible evidence?
For example, pretend that there was a planet in another galaxy that has a special kind of elephant that naturally had bright pink skin. There is no way for us to obtain empirical data for something like that, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
And the default position is still to withhold belief in the existence of such an entity until and/or unless we have any credible evidence for its existence.
The thing about science is it has to be something testable and potentially falsifiable. Because we have no way of disproving that species of elephant, it does not fall into the realm of science.
True; its existence, as well as the existence of any god, both instead fall into the category of blind speculation, because there is equal evidence for both - that is, none.
Where is your credible evidence for any god?
Religion is not science
No, it isn't; it is in fact merely blind superstition, the exact opposite of science, and to be dismissed as such.
because the knowledge and faith obtained in a religion is not obtained through the scientific method
"Faith" (belief in the absence of evidence) is not "obtained in" any religion; this irrational belief system is the basis of religion. Religion is derived from faith, not the other way around. You can't even get your myopically religious delusions straight. no wonder you're so confused
That doesn't make it false, because scientifically it is impossible to really disprove God.
Once again, the burden of proof is not on those who don't believe your unproven deistic claim to disprove that unproven claim; it necessarily is on you and those who claim this deistic existence to prove, with credible evidence - which no one has done yet, including you.
Where is your credible evidence?
I believe there are different types of knowledge. There is scientific knowledge, there is spiritual knowledge, and I'm sure there are other categories of knowledge we could categorize but right now I want to focus on spiritual knowledge.
What you "believe" is irrelevant.
The only type of "knowledge" germane to giving credence to your claim that any god exists is that which is based on credible evidence, of which you have provided none thus far.
Where is your credible evidence?
Spiritual knowledge is not obtained the same way as scientific knowledge
Wrong - scientific knowledge is demonstrable. "Spiritual knowledge" is a non-sequitur; a contradiction in terms; and at best a poor example of poetic oxymoron - like "a deafening silence", "military intelligence", "jumbo shrimp" - but far more egregiously used.
It does have similarities,
Wrong; there is actually no "similarity" between actual, demonstrable (i. e., scientific) knowledge and fake, imaginary "religious knowledge"
like you should study the scriptures and words of the prophets.
The atrocious grammar aside, the only context in which these should be "studied" is that of a College-level course in Philosophy or Comparative Mythology, which is where they belong.
You should also experiment on those teachings by living after a like manner and seeing how it blesses your life. You can look at those results and make some conclusions.
Or we could do much better by cutting out the unnecessary Religiosity middle-man and just live our lives espousing completely secular sentiments that by far pre-da

I even gave some examplesdid you read them?
Yes i did read them, and I even talked about your examples. I don't know if you actually read my post, but I talked about why the examples you gave about are not valid comparisons here. Religious claims are things you either believe or you don't. There may be experiences that you have or observations you make that give you greater reason to believe, but most beliefs cannot really be proven false. I talked about why in detail in my previous post and gave examples, did you read them? I think asking questions is never a bad thing and putting things to the test and examining them is a good idea. However, all I am saying is for religious claims those tests and examinations won't yield results that can disprove it typically, because ultimately it comes down to faith.

I only mention it when I respond to posts where you mention it. I mentioned it in my first response to your post where YOU mention science. And I do it to try to show that we use the concept of falsification in areas OTHER than just what most think of as science. I even gave some examplesdid you read them?
I think most theists sell themselves short by yapping on and on that this or that of their beliefs are not falsifiable. It's almost as if they have an inferiority complex or something. IF you are aware of things that make you think there is a god, then wouldn't it be the case that if those things didn't exist or if they were different, it would suggest to you there wasn't a god?