The Word of Wisdom was given in our day as a blessing from the Lord to teach us the good ways to eat, what is good for us, and some warnings against evil and conspiring men in the last days. The liquor industry contains these kind of people, who care more for profits rather than the consequences of the excesses in our society using their products.

An 1830 Book of Mormon is not available at that number, but is quite a collectors item. You may have to pay a LOT of money for one of those! And you may be hassled depending on how you feel about those young missionaries, but I think you will be happy to talk with them if that is what you want. It's up to you.

Michael, or Adam, will return before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ at Adam-ondi-Ahman, and will turn over the keys of this world back to Christ, who gave them to Adam in the first place in the Garden of Eden.

I encourage you to read a parable from Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of 12 Apostles about a man who incurred a great debt, and a creditor who demanded payment

I believe that when we show forth faith in God through His Son Jesus Christ, that the Holy Ghost and angels are around us, and provide a shield which our adversary can not penetrate. They are like our armor of God which we have "put on." I believe that when our family has family prayer, and the Spirit of God is strong, that any evil spirits are obliged to wait far off in the distance! ...just my little theory, but most important of all, we can know that with faith on Jesus Christ we have nothing to fear from satan. Nothing at all, as long as we trust in Jesus Christ.

The proper way to fast is with real faith in Jesus Christ, the purpose and power behind the fast.

Blessings are conditional, however, and depend on our obedience to certain laws. We may receive a blessing or a consequence, and God will still love us no matter what.

As to other theological differences, I would suggest that you read an important document online at www.lds.org called Gosp el Principles to get a bigger idea of what things we believe.

God the Father revealed to Moses: Behold, this is my work and my glory: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Moses 1:39,
which is to say that man can become like God: immortal and living eternal lives.

If you would like to try a test, I would recommend reading the Book of Mormon in faith and earnest, and with a contrite and humble heart, not prejudiced, but to actually believe it _could_ be true, and let the Holy Ghost witness that to you. Trust in the Lord. Be believing as a little child, for that is what Christ taught us to do, and said that except we become as a little child we can in no wise inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. You try this test and see the result.

You can have faith in the words of God as they give you peace and comfort, and as the Holy Ghost witnesses the truths in them to your soul.

Those prophets in the Book of Mormon were very real, and the Lord wants us to know of the things that they had to teach, because it is especially applicable to us in our day. Read the Book of Mormon, and you will find out a message of how Jesus Christ is the God of this land, the land of America. You will find out about the importance of free agency and how we can stay out of captivity. You will read about real heros who exercised great faith in Christ, and did miracles that compare to those done in Mose's day. Miracles in Christ.

See also Revelation 14:6; Daniel 2:44­45; Isaiah 2:2­4; 2 Nephi 3:6­ 15

We use the King James version of the Holy Bible, as do many other Christian denominations. The Book of Mormon is another set of scripture which testifies of Jesus Christ, it is a second witness of this. The doctrines in the Book of Mormon are most likely compatible with those which you already believe. I invite you to scroll to the bottom of this page, click on the Book of Mormon, and order a free copy. You will feel the Spirit of the Holy Ghost as you read it and ponder its contents.

We don't judge people in this life. That is the job of Jesus Christ, and after everyone has lived their life here.

Sandra:
The modern prophets have repeatedly taught us not to use face cards. If we place our faith in tarot cards, ouija boards, and fortune tellers, etc., we may get answers, but we open ourselves up to deception because those are not the channel of the Lord. The Lord's channel is the Holy Ghost to us personally, and the prophet to the Church and world globally. He works through the Priesthood. An illustration of how this is set up, and how the foundation of the Church is Jesus Christ and His Apostles can be seen in the following graphic:

When people combine truth with error, they will most likely end up with error because the truth gets corrupted.

20 And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of the Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

As I think about my life, I can remember several instances where I have not readily accepted some of the things that have been taught, and only when I have humbled myself before the Lord in prayer, have I been able to be meek, submissive, and more willing to submit my will to the Lord.

Faith is a "hope for things which are not seen, which are true"
(Alma 32:21; see also Hebrews 11:1).

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that faith is a principle of power that motivates our day-to-day activities. When we have this kind of faith, there is no room for doubts and worries. And then things begin to work out as you can now testify.

Chrys:
I would suggest a reading of the Gospel Principles book on the subject of THE POSTMORTAL SPIRIT WORLD for details on portions of this subject. I have my thoughts on the matter as well.

When Jesus Christ visited the spirits in the Spirit World immediately after his crucifixion, and before his resurrection, he met with the righteous spirits (see D&C 137 for extensive details on this). He did not meet with the wicked. Father Adam was there, Abraham, Nephi, etc. including Joseph Smith the prophet of the Restoration.

Immediately after Jesus Christ was resurrected only 3 days later, so were the righteous spirits who had lived from Adam on down to the meridian of time. What this means, is that those with whom the Savior met in the Spirit World were also resurrected just after the resurrection of Christ. Yet they were commissioned to take the gospel of repentance to those spirits in prison that had not yet the opportunity to receive it. What this means, is that there are resurrected beings in the World of Spirits as well, who oversee and administer the missionary work and any other work that is taking place there pertaining to the salvation of mankind.

As you can see, this answer came from the writings of the prophets as well as the scriptures. A good resource when searching for specific information is a CDROM such as the LDS Collectors library reference which includes the scriptures.

D&C 19 makes it clear that suffering will take place, whether it be a small suffering and repentance in this life, or serious pain and suffering in the next if we reject Christ's atonement, or have sins that can not be forgiven here, like murder and denying the Holy Ghost.

It is good to have the records of what God spoke to His people from time to time, and to learn from those important lessons of the past, and apply them to our lives today!

To follow orders of one in authority over you, even if those orders are wicked, is not on the same level as purposefully harming a little child spiritually of one's own free will and choice.

Answerman: Thanks for the great site as it had a large part in the learning process leading up to my baptism. Great job!

David: I too can not believe that a prophet of God would behave in such a manner. But I just don't believe it is true. Call me a fanatic, I believe that much of what we hear and read in the media is slanted, biased, and sometimes just untrue. We need to always follow the guidance of the Holy Ghost in what we believe, and never, ever, trust in man.

All of this talk of them being resurrected now as the Book of Breathings is merely a falsehood put out by uninformed or ill- intending persons who have not learned that they do not match the specific descriptions that Joseph Smith wrote, nor do they believe in the power of God to communicate with His prophets.

So it can be with the scriptures, especially the weightier ones like Isaiah. Isaiah contains words specific to and helpful to the House of Israel, which we are. I would encourage you to ask the Lord for specific help, to strengthen your desire, until you can get to that point where the Holy Ghost makes you feel real good to read Isaiah, and you begin to understand the hidden truths contained in it. It is often meaningless just as words, but when the Holy Spirit gives understanding, it becomes much more exciting and rewarding.

Consider the teachings of the Prophet Brigham Young who taught that there is a savior and a tempter for every world:
But the fact exists that the Father, the Divine Father, whom we serve, the God of the Universe, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Father of our spirits, provided this sacrifice and sent his Son to die for us; and it is also a great fact that the Son came to do the will of the Father, and that he has paid the debt, in fulfilment of the Scripture which says, "He was the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." Is it so on any other earth?
On every earth.
How many earths are there? I observed this morning that you may take the particles of matter composing this earth, and if they could be enumerated they would only be a beginning to the number of the creations of God; and they are continually coming into existence, and undergoing changes and passing through the same experience that we are passing through. Sin is upon every earth that ever was created, and if it was not so, I would like some philosophers to let us know how people can be exalted to become sons of God, and enjoy a fulness of glory with the Redeemer. Consequently every earth has its redeemer, and every earth has its tempter; and every earth, and the people thereof, in their turn and time, receive all that we receive, and pass through all the ordeals that we are passing through. REMARKS BY PRESIDENT BRIGHAM YOUNG Delivered in the Tabernacle, Ogden City, July 10, 1870. (Reported by David W. Evans.)

I would also recommend meeting with the missionaries, reading a Marvelous Work and a Wonder (can get at deseretbook.com), and especially reading the Book of Mormon, which you can get for free at the bottom of this page by clicking on the link.

We are not at home here in mortality. We are spirit children of Heavenly Parentage and the righteous long for that homecoming to their Eternal Parents. This is why the revelations teach that holy men "confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13; see D&C 45:13). (source: Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.25)

Depending on how one feels about their religion, they may be on the path that they desire to be on, and have a measure of happiness.

Abraham 3:2 And I saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it;
3 And the Lord said unto me: These are the governing ones; and the name of the great one is Kolob, because it is near unto me, for I am the Lord thy God: I have set this one to govern all those which belong to the same order as that upon which thou standest.

This authority which Jesus gives to His servants the prophets and apostles, is the power to act in His name, and administer His church and Kingdom upon the earth.

The biggest change of all came when the Law of Moses was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, and a new church structure was established with Apostles. Change is a good thing, and it helps to provide opportunities for people to really prove their faith in God or in man. It requires people to really believe if a man is a prophet or not when change comes.

Alma 32:27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves--It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
29 Now behold, would not this increase your faith? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not grown up to a perfect knowledge.
30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now behold, will not this strengthen your faith? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.
31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
32 Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.
33 And now, behold, because ye have tried the experiment, and planted the seed, and it swelleth and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, ye must needs know that the seed is good.
34 And now, behold, is your knowledge perfect? Yea, your knowledge is perfect in that thing, and your faith is dormant; and this because ye know, for ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand.
35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good; and now behold, after ye have tasted this light is your knowledge perfect?
36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good.
37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit.
38 But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

There are answers to all of these questions. They have been answered thousands of times and in thousands of different ways. If the intellectual approach is the only one that will work with your friend for now, send him to farmsresearch.com, and if he will listen to pure testimony, bear yours to him of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, and maybe the Spirit can slice through the dark clouds of doubt and spark some faith.

D&C 89:4 Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation-
5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

You may also want to peruse www.lds.org to search the word "Christian" there, and see what the Apostles and Prophets have to say about it. President Gordon B. Hinckley recently stated:
Are we Christians? Of course we are Christians. We believe in Christ. We worship Christ. We take upon ourselves in solemn covenant His holy name. The Church to which we belong carries His name. He is our Lord, our Savior, our Redeemer through whom came the great Atonement with salvation and eternal life. (source: 168th Semi-annual General Conference, Oct 1998, Sunday Morning)

In the Doctrine and Covenants section 138 we learn that the gospel of repentance is taken to those in the Spirit Prison who are under the bondage of sin (v.57), and that repentance is possible. We also learn in the D&C 76 that those who are not valiant in the testimony of Christ in this life, but afterwards received the testimony (such as one who would procrastinate a vital ordinance of Christ), will inherit the Terrestrial Kingdom. This would point to an urgency to be faithful while in this life. A true disciple of Christ would not procrastinate important ordinances. If one hopes to even get to the Celestial Kingdom, they must be valiant in the testimony of Christ, courageous, brave, diligent! Such a person would also be a regular temple participant, and fulfill the ordinances by being obedient to them, for they are the will of Christ who revealed them in the first place.

Mosiah 18:5 Now, there was in Mormon a fountain of pure water, and Alma resorted thither, there being near the water a thicket of small trees, where he did hide himself in the daytime from the searches of the king.
6 And it came to pass that as many as believed him went thither to hear his words.
7 And it came to pass after many days there were a goodly number gathered together at the place of Mormon, to hear the words of Alma. Yea, all were gathered together that believed on his word, to hear him. And he did teach them, and did preach unto them repentance, and redemption, and faith on the Lord.
8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another's burdens, that they may be light;
9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life--
10 Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?
11 And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.
12 And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.
13 And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world.
14 And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit.
15 And again, Alma took another, and went forth a second time into the water, and baptized him according to the first, only he did not bury himself again in the water.
16 And after this manner he did baptize every one that went forth to the place of Mormon; and they were in number about two hundred and four souls; yea, and they were baptized in the waters of Mormon, and were filled with the grace of God.
17 And they were called the church of God, or the church of Christ, from that time forward. And it came to pass that whosoever was baptized by the power and authority of God was added to his church.

I would encourage you to read the Book of Mormon. Ignore all of the statements about the "numerous" changes that have been made to it. That is simply, not true. Modernizing the text by adding verse numbers, chapter headings, footnotes, reformatting, and a few clarifications and corrections to original printer's errors...puts things in their proper context. The Bible, on the other hand has numerous versions of translation, and not all say the same things. Which one is "infallible" in light of the many choices we have? Is the King James version that we use, the infallible one, or should we look to the NIV, or some other? The Book of Mormon, on the other hand, has one official version available, made accurate from the original manuscripts.

Are you fearful that these doctrines which you can't accept may take root in you? If you fear, you will never discover. I encourage you to have faith, and fear not what man will say, fear not the pride of the world, etc. Read the Book of Mormon with full purpose in heart, to know if it is true, not to know if it is false. If you approach things in a positive way, the Lord will be with you.

I love this song, and I love the prophet Joseph Smith, Jesus Christ's prophet, who was an obedient servant.

So in answer to your question, I think that it is very _possible_ that there were other people who came to this land that were not of the Jaredite civilization. It is a very large continent, and we have an account of how Coriantumr was found by the Mulekites and the record of that found by the Nephites several hundred years after the Lehi group arrived on the land. Mulekites came over and were discovered hundreds of years later by the Nephites as well. I suppose there were many groups that the Lord may have brought over to the land by different means.