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The Savior

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Dear Gramps, I read recently that the crucifixion of Christ didn’t atone for all sins. Some sins, such as murder, require a blood sacrifice. This is the idea behind capital punishment. I find this all very confusing.  Could you possibly shed some light on the issue? Thanks, ac [answer]

 

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Dear Brother Gorton, I read with interest your response to a question related to the atonement of Christ. Would you please enlarge upon that answer by replying to my inquiry? My understanding of the Savior’s experiences during the last few hours of his mortal life is that our sins were paid for by His unspeakable agony in Gethsemane, and his torturous death upon the cross was solely for the purpose of overcoming physical death; He being the “first fruits of the resurrection.”  However, your answer and quote from 1 John indicate Jesus’ death on the cross was part of the needed price of the redemption of mankind from sin, and not Gethsemane alone.  Please explain the purpose for these two events in the mission of Jesus. Gratefully, Richard E. Davis [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, I love your column. A question came up in Sunday School when we were studying the Book of James. He exhorts us to “be slow to wrath.” A great deal of contention arose between those in attendance in the ensuing discussion. One said that Brigham Young had stated that we should never show our wrath toward another. Was James, then, indicating that it is okay to be angered to the point of showing one’s wrath, or that we should be SO slow at getting to wrath that we never actually get there (thus, fulfilling Brother Brigham’s counsel.) Also, did not the Savior exhibit his wrath against the moneychangers in the temple? I would appreciate any comments you might have. Thank you, Robert J. [answer]

 

bullet Gramps, Question:  Do you feel the inhabitants of these other worlds went through the same process of a pre-existent state, were given a choice to follow the Savior and if so chose would gain a mortal state, then an immortal state and will face a final judgment such as we have been promised. If so, after their mortal existence ended, perhaps many millions of years ago, have they been awaiting the atoning sacrifice that Jesus made on this earth, in order to gain their eternal or other rewards? Gene [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, I was stunned reading Nephi the other day where Jesus Christ destroyed entire towns, women and children. I asked my Mormon neighbor, who rhetorically asked about Sodom and Gomorrah. But I was shocked that the Savior of the World, the Prince of Peace, and the King of Forgiveness would do such a thing. I am bitterly confused. Chuck from Texas [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, Thank you for your answers! It is great to have a resource like this to get answers to things that I have been searching for years. This time I have a few unrelated questions. The first relates to questions previously asked about Satan and Christ and their influence in other worlds. I had heard at one point that our world was the only world wicked enough to crucify Christ, but will be the only one righteous enough to receive Him again. Is this true? And where can I find any documentation about it? The second question I have is about the waters. Missionaries are told many stories of other missionaries that have died because they got too close to water and that Satan has control over the water, so missionaries should stay away from water (such as rivers, oceans, lakes). I have found very little documentation about this. Rev.8: 10-11 talks about the curse on the waters and History of the church v.5: 56 talks briefly about it as well, but I think I'm missing some information. Could you please give me some more leads/answers if you have any? I have more questions, but I will save them for later :) Thanks. Jana Lee [answer]

 

bullet Gramps, When Nephi was praying the night before Christ was born, Christ as a Spirit appeared before Nephi. Was this Christ as a pre-mortal spirit or was it an angel speaking as first person for Christ? Roger from California [answer]

 

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Dear Gramps, Our church (LDS) believes that Jesus Christ is the son of our Heavenly Father, two separate and distinct individuals. I also believe this and always have, even before I was converted a year ago.  But a massive contradiction exists in our own Book of Mormon; I can almost name the 100 or so verses from the King James, such as Psalms 110:1 and Hebrews 1:3 and many others where it is directly obvious that they are two separate persons. HOWEVER: Whenever any of the Book of Mormon prophets discuss Jesus Christ’s relationship to the Father, they are ALWAYS described as being the same person. Mosiah chapter 15 being the worst example of this (Look at the chapter‘s leading description - “How Christ is both the Father and the Son”).  We also see near the end of the Book of Mormon that Christ himself states that he himself IS the Father. This flies in the face of Joseph Smith’s first vision and the entire King James Holy Bible.

Since the Book of Mormon is the book we really like to get others to believe, how am I to answer the question of my peers when explaining the Gospel to them when they ask: “I read your Book of Mormon, and there’s not a single example of Heavenly Father and Christ as being two separate people, which your church claims is the case. Not only that, but every time the two are mentioned, the prophets claim IN DETAIL that they are ONE IN THE SAME. Your own church is wrong according to its own book!”

This issue causes me lots of confusion and difficulty, and no one can answer this question adequately.  Your turn. Bob, from Washington [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, I occasionally listen to an Evangelical “Christian” radio talk show on my commute home from work. The other night the statement was made by one of their respected theologians that the greatest exception Evangelicals take with Mormons is that we (LDS) don’t believe in the divinity of Jesus! Granted, I didn’t get in on the beginning of the conversation, but they talked for a full 15 minutes without once mentioning Mormons. Do you have any thought on what he might have read or heard that could POSSIBLY have given him that idea? I thought I had heard them all, but that takes the cake! Samantha, from California [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, Was the Savior crucified on a Thursday or Friday? I feel it was a Thursday. Read Matthew 12:40. “For as Jonas was 3 days & 3 nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of Man be 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth.” The world and Church say Friday. Any thoughts on this? Thank you once again for your time and consideration. Roger, Brea CA [answer]

 

bullet Hi Grampo, Just a quick question. If Jesus chased the people who were trading with money out of the temple (with a great big stick I might add) how come it is acceptable for money to be changing hands in the modern temple in the cafes and the clothes hire? Love and cheesecake, whitestuff, from Queensland, Australia [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, My question is: Do you have any information on the validity of the Savior traveling the world with Joseph of Arimethia and his tin trade… and the Savior showing up in India and Britain before his ministry started? And was his family wealthy? Thank you. Rick, from Arizona [answer]

 

bullet Gramps, I’ve always been told that Jesus was born on April 6th. Is this true and is there any historical evidence to support that? And when was he actually resurrected? I understand that Easter is based on the moon changes and not on the actual date. Thank you again for all the hard work you put into this wonderful column. RI, from New Jersey [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, Why wasn’t the Savior baptized when He was eight?  Since we are to follow His example this is confusing. It is my understanding that baptism was around even before the Savior’s time.  If it was, then at what age were people baptized? Just wondering. Thanks. Jean, from Georgia [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, I have heard it said that the Savior brought the Melchizedek priesthood with him from the pre-existence, that he wasn’t ordained here on earth. Is there any reference or information on this topic at all that you know of? FH, from California [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, Does the New Testament story of Christ clearing the temple fit as scriptural justification for dealing with bad situations through violent acts? It appears that Christ was doing what we might call “losing his temper” in that episode. The people doing business in the temple made no physical threat to the savior, yet he reacted with violence to protect his home. What does this say about both physical and verbal violence in our homes? Anonymous, from Nebraska [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, I have some coworkers that would like to see some “proof” behind my claims that the wine at the last supper that the Savior drank was non-alcoholic grape juice. They say that they want to see it in writing by some “scholar” that is not a member of the LDS faith. I was told this by my mission president in Tennessee. Where can I find somewhere in writing to support this? Thanks, Kris, from Utah [answer]

 

bullet Gramps, Could you tell me where I may find references to Jesus Christ written while he was on the earth or very shortly after his resurrection that are not part of scripture? Anonymous, from California [answer]

 

bullet Hi! I’m a bit confused about something: I’ve been told that we have always been sons of God, since we were spiritually born of Him. But I read John 3:16 the other day and it says Jesus is the only Son of God. Could you explain this to me? Thanks! Confused Brendan, from Australia [answer]

 

bullet Dear Gramps, Some of my friends have suggested that Christ not only appeared in Israel and America, but also in other places upon this earth. It sounds logical, but is there any kind of evidence or are there any statements made by the authorities on this? Thanks! Mathea, from the Netherlands [answer]