Comments on: My theory of eternity http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:49:29 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: molly http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-116510 molly Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:42:44 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-116510 the best poem I've ever read about death was by Alfred Tennyson the best poem I’ve ever read about death was by Alfred Tennyson

]]> By: annegb http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70600 annegb Thu, 29 Nov 2007 01:01:27 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-70600 I think we'll be able to fly and we won't need cars. Sometimes I dream I'm flying around and those are just the coolest dreams. I think we’ll be able to fly and we won’t need cars. Sometimes I dream I’m flying around and those are just the coolest dreams.

]]> By: Bookslinger http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70594 Bookslinger Thu, 29 Nov 2007 00:08:52 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-70594 One of my exercises to get a bigger perspective, is to imagine having a conversation with one of the Nephites either in the spirit world or in the Celestial Kingdom. In learning their perspective and history, we will quickly be embarrassed of our focus on material possessions and comforts. It's a reminder to me that all the many things we have and do day-to-day are unheard of luxuries and outright miracles to people of previous generations. Think of how a person from a few hundred or a few thousand years ago would react to radio or TV, or a car, or to interstate highways. And then think forward to 1/2 way through the millennium, about 500 or so years from now. What will humans have invented by then, which teenagers will swear that they can't live without. For several weeks after getting back from my mission, I think I said a prayer of gratitude whenever I took a hot shower. And the thought of a hot shower as a luxury occurred to me for months and years after. We don't even have to wait for "eternity" (ie, after Judgement Day at the end of the Millennium). I think our outlook and viewpoint is going to have a huge shift as soon as we cross the veil into the Spirit World, or are "twinkled" in the millennium, and then have access to people who lived in various stages of earth's history. Having had things like an Ipod, or a Louis Vitton handbag during mortality will become meaningless at those cross-over points. And I think we'll have a huge wake-up call or shock when we realize we spent so much time and money on things that didn't matter, like paying to go see movies, or eat out, or any form of non-uplifting entertainment. I know I waste so much time (like blogging) when I could be out and about serving others in the ward, and in my neighborhood who need help or fellowship or friendship. I still have the banged-up car that I haven't fixed because I used the money to buy copies of the Book of Mormon. That's my reminder to try to spend my time and resources on things that matter in an eternal perspective. If I ever meet Nephi, or Ammon, or Mormon, or Moroni they are not going to care that I had (or didn't have) a really sweet Camry. In their day a horse was a luxury. But they will rejoice in that their records of the gospel and of their deeds became important to me and made a difference in my day. And I will rejoice meeting both the participants and the record-keepers whose stories made such a difference in my life and in my journey through the gospel and the plan of salvation. We will meet the writers of the scriptures that were intended for our day. And they will meet us, the people for whom their scriptures were intened. And we both will rejoice. One of my exercises to get a bigger perspective, is to imagine having a conversation with one of the Nephites either in the spirit world or in the Celestial Kingdom.

In learning their perspective and history, we will quickly be embarrassed of our focus on material possessions and comforts.

It’s a reminder to me that all the many things we have and do day-to-day are unheard of luxuries and outright miracles to people of previous generations.

Think of how a person from a few hundred or a few thousand years ago would react to radio or TV, or a car, or to interstate highways.

And then think forward to 1/2 way through the millennium, about 500 or so years from now. What will humans have invented by then, which teenagers will swear that they can’t live without.

For several weeks after getting back from my mission, I think I said a prayer of gratitude whenever I took a hot shower. And the thought of a hot shower as a luxury occurred to me for months and years after.

We don’t even have to wait for “eternity” (ie, after Judgement Day at the end of the Millennium). I think our outlook and viewpoint is going to have a huge shift as soon as we cross the veil into the Spirit World, or are “twinkled” in the millennium, and then have access to people who lived in various stages of earth’s history.

Having had things like an Ipod, or a Louis Vitton handbag during mortality will become meaningless at those cross-over points.

And I think we’ll have a huge wake-up call or shock when we realize we spent so much time and money on things that didn’t matter, like paying to go see movies, or eat out, or any form of non-uplifting entertainment.

I know I waste so much time (like blogging) when I could be out and about serving others in the ward, and in my neighborhood who need help or fellowship or friendship.

I still have the banged-up car that I haven’t fixed because I used the money to buy copies of the Book of Mormon. That’s my reminder to try to spend my time and resources on things that matter in an eternal perspective.

If I ever meet Nephi, or Ammon, or Mormon, or Moroni they are not going to care that I had (or didn’t have) a really sweet Camry. In their day a horse was a luxury.

But they will rejoice in that their records of the gospel and of their deeds became important to me and made a difference in my day. And I will rejoice meeting both the participants and the record-keepers whose stories made such a difference in my life and in my journey through the gospel and the plan of salvation.

We will meet the writers of the scriptures that were intended for our day. And they will meet us, the people for whom their scriptures were intened. And we both will rejoice.

]]> By: Bookslinger http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70591 Bookslinger Wed, 28 Nov 2007 23:45:37 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-70591 Annegb: So are you aiming for the 2nd or 3rd (non-exalted) level in the CK? Annegb: So are you aiming for the 2nd or 3rd (non-exalted) level in the CK?

]]> By: annegb http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70549 annegb Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:53:23 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-70549 No, I'm not going there. I don't want to be married and have kids for eternity. I want to have massages and sit in hot tubs and watch good movies and eat good food while philosophizing with Walt Whitman and CS Lewis. No, I’m not going there. I don’t want to be married and have kids for eternity. I want to have massages and sit in hot tubs and watch good movies and eat good food while philosophizing with Walt Whitman and CS Lewis.

]]> By: Stephen M (Ethesis) http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70547 Stephen M (Ethesis) Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:44:58 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-70547 That was well said. Very well said. That was well said. Very well said.

]]> By: Jacob J http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70459 Jacob J Wed, 28 Nov 2007 01:02:02 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-70459 Arlene, You rock. I know they say not to judge, but I think you are headed for the celestial. Arlene,

You rock. I know they say not to judge, but I think you are headed for the celestial.

]]> By: Dan http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70321 Dan Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:33:18 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-70321 John Bytheway once shared a poem. <blockquote>When you get to heaven, you will likely view, Folks up there whose presence, will be a shock to you. But keep it very quiet, and do not even stare, For there'll no doubt be many folks, surprized to see you there</blockquote> John Bytheway once shared a poem.

When you get to heaven, you will likely view,
Folks up there whose presence, will be a shock to you.
But keep it very quiet, and do not even stare,
For there’ll no doubt be many folks, surprized to see you there

]]> By: Dan http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm/comment-page-1#comment-70319 Dan Tue, 27 Nov 2007 00:30:10 +0000 http://www.mormonmentality.org/2007/11/26/my-theory-of-eternity.htm#comment-70319 Dude, you gotta get out of Utah. That's all I gotta say. Dude, you gotta get out of Utah. That’s all I gotta say.

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