JOB 38: 22-23

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail
Which I have reserved against the time of trouble, against the day of battle and war?

Joseph and Emma’s first child, Alvin, was stillborn on June 15, 1828 (with birth defects). This is almost a year and a half after their marriage. There is nothing in the historical record to suggest that they had premarital sex.

Y chromosome DNA data is being studied WRT possible children of Joseph. The results, as reported in meetings of the Mormon History Association and the Journal of Mormon History, have all been negative so far.

1. I find it peculiar that my Stake Presidency brother takes handshake loan(s) from Mom and Dad, but never pays them back. He considers himself temple worthy; he attends regularly. It appears that Mom and Dad are financing his Mormonism, since he can’t pay for it himself.

2. Regarding divorce of Mormons, I find it peculiar that a former Bishop and now Patriarch would strike his former son-in-law’s name from the family’s genalogy and replace it with that of his daughter’s new husband.

3. I find it peculiar that Mormons hold Joseph Smith to be a hero, even though he could not pass today’s temple recommend interview. Could someone tell me/provide a link to find out who married Joseph and Emma? Also, any Y chromosome DNA data available on Joseph’s male children by his poligy wives? Though Joseph and Emma’s first offspring was stillborn, was it full term? If so, was the child born 9 months after their wedding, or before? In other words, did Joseph and Emma have premarital sex?

4. I find it peculiar that statuary of Joseph and Emma are extant at Church Headquarters, but a cursory search of Joseph Smith’s geneaology on the Church’s FamSearch web site suggests that Emma is not sealed/was a wife to the Prophet.

Want to suggest any other peculiarities?

A consequence of “coming unto him,” which all are invited to do, is being numbered among the disciples of Christ, being a member of that body. It’s not an incidental consequence; it’s one that permeates all our scriptures. Nephi set it out as one of his writing aims to show “that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith”.

At the same time came the [BCC posters] unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest [that is, the most chosen] in the kingdom of heaven [or on earth for that matter]?
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him [or her] in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children [and do your home and visiting teaching], ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself [or herself] as this little child, the same is greatest [most chosen] in the kingdom of heaven [and earth, for that matter--at least if they were born in the covenant in the United States, with Mayflower "legal" immigrant ancestors (who joined the Church at the time of Joseph Smith [if not before]), in an upper middle class active LDS home, in the latter-days, with a SAHM and two parent family, who avoid R-rated movies, caffeinated drinks, democratic candidates and Sunstone, use “thee” and “thou” when praying, and read only the KJV (and WSJ editorial pages)].

Now of course the plan is much more complex than that – I think the Lord often sends us hard cases on purpose – look at Laman and Lemuel. Indeed the scriptures often talk about all sorts of such things done in order to fulfil divine purposes, e.g. the scattering and gathering of Israel being both judgment and chastening on Israel, and blessing and reward for the Gentiles.

This is all conditional on continued righteousness, or may be changed by repentance, e.g. all Gentiles may be heir to the Abrahamic covenant – but they are not natural heirs, strictly speaking, but new comers. And of course if a person born naturally into the House of Israel is or becomes unrighteous, the blessings of the covenant are null and void, in fact judgment follows not just for punishment, but so that the Lord may redeem them, even through the most severe chastening, if at all possible.

A very complex subject that is the theme of about half of the Old Testament, some of the New, and much of the Book of Mormon. If you leave family relationships out the picture, most of those scriptures become meaningless. God most certainly has a design in the human family, and in human families.

If you are have troubles with download speeds from God (aka receiving personal revelation), well… um… didn’t you say something about the Word of Wisdom recently?… The Gift of the Holy Ghost only boosts our download capabilities if we keep our part of the agreement and all…