Trailing Clouds of Glory

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Trailing Clouds of Glory

• Khinckley1_at_yahoo.com

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Imitations of EternityWilliam Wordsworth

• Our birth is but a sleep and a forgetting
• The soul that rises with us, our life's star,
• Hath had elsewhere its setting,
• And cometh from afar
• Not in entire forgetfulness,
• And not in utter nakedness,
• But trailing clouds of glory do we come
• From God who is our home.

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Gospel of ThomasSummarized by Mark McConkie

• This is an allegory of a king's son who is
  required to leave his father's kingdom, where
  he enjoyed great wealth, to obtain a pearl.
  The pearl, quite obviously, is a symbol of his
  own soul. His parents see that he is properly
  provisioned for his journey. Before leaving their
  presence he is required to surrender his splendid
  robe. This robe, or garment of light, we are
  told, had been woven to the measure of his
  stature. He also enters into a covenant with them
  to obtain the pearl and return that he might once
  again enjoy their presence and wear his splendid
  robe. The covenant is written upon his heart.
• Though the way is hazardous and difficult, an
  intimate friend referred to as "an (anointed
  one)" warns him of the dangers that beset him.
  Notwithstanding all this he soon forgets his
  identity as a king's son and his mission to
  obtain the pearl. At this point a council is
  held it is attended by his father, his mother,
  his brother (the crown prince), and many other
  great and mighty ones. They determine to send him
  a letter imploring him to awake and remember who
  he is and what king he serves. He is encouraged
  to remember his splendid robe and to so conduct
  himself that his name might be written in the
  book of heroes, and that with his brother he may
  be an heir to his father's kingdom.
• Thus reminded, he commences again his efforts to
  obtain the pearl, which he must wrestle from a
  terrible serpent. This he is able to do only by
  naming his father's name, that of his brother,
  and that of his mother. Having obtained the pearl
  he flees Egypt, sheds his dirty and unclean
  garments, and is further guided by the letter. At
  this point he is greeted by messengers from his
  parents, who clothe him once more in his royal
  robe, and he returns as an heir to his father's
  kingdom.

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Orson F. Whitneys Question

• Why are we drawn toward certain
  persons,
  and they to us, as if we had always known each
  other? Is it a fact that we always have? Is there
  something, after all, in that much abused term
  "affinity"? . . .
• After meeting someone whom I had never met before
  on earth, I have wondered why that person's face
  seemed so familiar. More than once, upon hearing
  a noble sentiment expressed, though unable to
  recall that I had ever heard it until then, I
  have found myself in sympathy with it, was
  thrilled by it, and felt as if I had always known
  it.
• The same is true of some strains of music they
  are like echoes of eternity. I do not assert
  pre-acquaintance in all such cases, but as one
  thought suggests another these queries arise in
  the mind "The Undiscovered Country,"
  Improvement Era, vol. 23 (December 1919), p. 100

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Joseph F. Smiths Response
                                                                                                                              
     

• If Christ knew beforehand about his mission so
  did we. But in coming here, we forgot all, that
  our agency might be free indeed, to choose good
  or evil, that we might merit the reward of our
  own choice and conduct.
• But by the power of the Spirit,
  we often catch a spark
  from the awakened
  memories of
  the immortal soul, which
  lights up our whole being as
  with the glory of our former
  home.

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Lorenzo Snow

• We were selected, ordained, and set apart
  in the premortal life according to
  our worthiness and preparation and training
  to come forth when our preparation fitted clearly
  into the great plan of our Father.
• And as we live worthy the Holy Spirit brings this
  knowledge to this body, and that is the only way
  we become acquainted with the knowledge of our
  spiritual understanding.
• This body must get acquainted with former
  pre-existent experiences through being revealed
  to, and made a part of, this flesh. Journal of
  John Whitaker, 6 April 1894

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Bruce R. McConkie

• ... When we pass from preexistence to
  mortality, we bring with us the traits and
  talents there developed. True we forget what
  went before because we are here being tested,
  but the capacities and abilities that then were
  ours are yet resident within us.
• Mozart is still a musician Einstein retains his
  mathematical abilities Michelangelo his artistic
  talent Abraham, Moses, and the prophets
  their spiritual talents and abilities
  ....
• And all men with their infinitely varied talents
  and personalities pick up the course of
  progression where they left it off
  when they left the heavenly realms

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Popular LDS Doctrinal Misconceptions

• Magic Baptismal Water
• Burning in the Bosom Thing
• Two Plan Theory
• 2 Ne 217an angel of God had fallen from
  heaven wherefore, he became a devil, having
  sought that which was evil before God.

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Elder Neal Maxwell

• It is extremely important to get
  straight what happened in that premortal
  council. It was not an unstructured meeting,
  nor was it a discussion between plans, nor an
  idea-producing session, as to how to formulate
  the plan for salvation and carry it out.
• Our Fathers plan was known, and the actual
  question put was whom the Father should send to
  carry out the plan.

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Moses Chapter 4

• 1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying
  That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name
  of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from
  the beginning, and he came before me, saying
• Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son,
  and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul
  shall not be lost, and surely I will do it
  wherefore give me thine honor.

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Moses Chapter 4

• 2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my
  Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto
  meFather, thy will be done, and the glory be
  thine forever.

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Moses 4

• 3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against
  me, and sought to destroy the agency of man,
  which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also,
  that I should give unto him mine own power by
  the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he
  should be cast down
• 4 And he became Satan, yea,
  even the devil,
  the father of all
  lies,
  to deceive and to blind
  
  men, and to lead them
  captive at his will, even
  
  as many as would not
  hearken unto
  my voice.

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Question
We dont want to change

• How could a third part of heaven stand in the
  presence of the Father, bathed in premortal
  light, and choose to follow Lucifer?

Satan lies to us
We harden our hearts against further light
We choose to believe the lie- It tickles our
ears
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Jeffrey R. Holland