13 thoughts on “Administrative: How to Contact Us”

1. I want to say something. You guys are nicer than Times and Seasons. I don’t say that as a specific criticism towards any one person, but you guys are not as rude or condescending and there is not the level of contention that I sometimes find on that most interesting blog.

   Way to go.

2. I think your “Words of Wisdom” feature in the sidebar is excellent! How did you do it? Did you select the quotations/scriptures yourselves? Thanks for including the feature on your blog. I really enjoy reading it.

3. Thanks to both of you.

   Heather,

   Yes, all of the scriptures and quotes were submitted by the Millennial Star’s contributing bloggers. The way the feature is designed, new quotes can be easily added at any time as we go along, so over time you’ll see new quotations that we hope will be uplifting and enlightening.

   Thanks for participating with us.

4. Also, feel free to submit quotes of your own to us at editor at millennialstar dot org.

5. who is Gordon B. Hinkly???
   i hear his name so much, but who is he?
   can someone email me an answer please?

6. Hi folks – I’m very sorry to post an off-topic comment, but I’m completely out of my element in LDS circles and I’m not even sure where to begin looking.

   So – up front: I am not a Mormon. I’m a protestant seminary student, but I need to learn more about Mormon beliefs, and I’d really like to get it from the horses mouth, so to speak. And hopefully, someone who reads this can help me.

   Basically, I am looking for a book(s) on Mormon theology (specifically, what Mormons believe about God, Christ, salvation, etc) – I NOT all that interested in the history of the Mormon church (which seems to be what most of the books out there focus on).

   I would really like to find something that Mormon’s themselves would point to as “yes! that says well who we are!” I’ve already done some searching on Amazon, and I’m having a difficult time figuring out what’s considered “orthodox” in LDS circles.

   So if you have any suggestions or pointers, I would appreciate it greatly! You can email me w/ info…

   Thanks much,
   Christian

7. Following is an article/announcement about the release of Opening the Heavens, one of the most influential LDS Church history books ever released. I think your readers will be interested in knowing about it. Please let me know if you have any questions.

   Thanks,
   David Johnston

   Accounts of Divine Manifestations

   Opening the Heavens: Accounts of Divine Manifestations, 1820-1844 brings together accounts of key events of the Restoration, making these precious documents available in one place for the first time. In these accounts, readers find the original words of Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery, and many others. Documented here are Joseph’s many visions, his translation of the Book of Mormon, the restoration of the priesthood, the manifestations at the Kirtland Temple dedication, and the mantle of Joseph passing to Brigham Young. Reading the accounts contained in Opening the Heavens brings to life the truth of the Restoration.
   “The value of these documents is immeasurable,” said John W. Welch, professor of law at Brigham Young University and Editor in Chief of BYU Studies. “In the history of world religions, no other body of foundational documentation rivals it for its immediacy and size. Think, for example, how few documents have survived from the time of Mohammed. And what would New Testament scholars give for a single letter from Mary about the raising of Lazarus? Or a brief report from Peter to the Twelve about what he had just seen and heard on the Mount of Transfiguration? In the case of Joseph Smith and the key events of the Restoration, we enjoy, by comparison, an overwhelming abundance.”
   Opening the Heavens starts by presenting and examining the ten accounts of Joseph Smith’s First Vision. In these accounts, Smith related to friends, the general public, visitors, and journalists the experience he had in 1820 when God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him.
   “Readers can examine for themselves the different elements present in each account. No single account tells the whole story. At the same time, all the details in each of the accounts add significantly to the entire picture,” said Welch.
   The second key event of the Restoration readers can explore in Opening the Heavens is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. Included are more than 200 accounts from individuals who were close to events surrounding the translation of the Book of Mormon in 1829. These historical records concur that the Book of Mormon was dictated in an amazingly short period of time.
   Translating the Book of Mormon was not an easy process for Joseph Smith. As evident in the following account by Emma Smith, Joseph encountered some difficulties translating the Book of Mormon because of his lack of education:

   When my husband was translating the Book of Mormon, I wrote part of it, as he dictated each sentence, word for word, and when he came to proper names he could not pronounce, or long words, he spelled them out, and while I was writing them, if I made any mistake in spelling, he would stop me and correct my spelling, although it was impossible for him to see how I was writing them down at the time. Even the word Sarah he could not pronounce at first, but had to spell it, and I would pronounce it for him.

   When he stopped for any purpose at any time he would, when he commenced again, begin where he left off without any hesitation, and one time while he was translating he stopped suddenly, pale as a sheet, and said, “Emma, did Jerusalem have walls around it?” When I answered “Yes,” he replied “Oh! I was afraid I had been deceived.” He had such a limited knowledge of history at the time that he did not even know that Jerusalem was surrounded by walls.”

   David Whitmer recounted how Joseph could only translate when he had an intense focus on the Lord’s work and not on worldly matters. Whitmer said:

   At times when Brother Joseph would attempt to translate,…he found he was spiritually blind and could not translate. He told us that his mind dwelt too much on earthly things, and various causes would make him incapable of proceeding with the translation. When in this condition he would go out and pray, and when he became sufficiently humble before God, he could then proceed with the translation. Now we see how very strict the Lord is; and how he requires the heart of man to be just right in His sight, before he can receive revelation from him.

   Oliver Cowdery, shortly before his death, testified that the translation of the Book of Mormon was accomplished through divine means. He said “I am a dying man, and what would it profit me to tell you a lie? I know…that this Book of Mormon was translated by the gift and power of God. My eyes saw, my ears heard, and my understanding was touched, and I know that whereof I testified is true. It was no dream, no vain imagination of the mind,—it was real.”
   Opening the Heavens also contains accounts of many other visions, angelic visitations or visual revelations experienced by Joseph Smith and other early members of the Church. Thirteen-year-old Mary Elizabeth Rollins was present during a meeting of the Saints at the Isaac Morley farm in 1831 when Joseph had one of these visions. She recalled Joseph speaking solemnly during the meeting.

   “All at once his countenance changed and he stood mute. Those who looked at him…said there was a search light within him, over every part of his body. I never saw anything like it on the earth. I could not take my eyes off of him. He got so white that anyone who saw him would have thought he was transparent. I…thought I could almost see the bones through the flesh. The Prophet stood silent for several minutes before he asked those present if they knew who had been in their midst. Martin Harris told them it was the Savior, to which the Prophet responded that God had revealed that truth to Martin. He then said, “Brothers and Sisters,…the Savior has been here this night and I want to tell you to remember it. There is a vail over your eyes for you could not endure to look upon Him.”

   BYU Studies, which prepared the book for publication, is a major publisher of books on LDS history, culture, art and beliefs. Opening the Heavens is copublished by BYU Press and Deseret Book. The book can be purchased at byustudies.byu.edu, the BYU Bookstore, Deseret Book, and Seagull book.

   ————

   Contact
   David Johnston
   422-5194
   david_johnston@byu.edu

8. Re previous comment from Emily: “We have about 30, 000 registered users in our network”

   LOL!! If the calibur of your users was high quality, you wouldn’t have 30,000 because they would have been paired off by now!

9. Dear People

   I have been given the task of getting links for our websites that have good page rank on the links directories.
   In addition we have many categories so your site will be place on an appropriate page.

   If you would like to trade links please send me your website details.
   If you are not the right person please pass this on to your webmaster.

   Best Regards,
   Helen Williams

10. Dear People

    I have been given the task of getting links for our websites that have good page rank on the links directories.
    In addition we have many categories so your site will be place on an appropriate page.

    If you would like to trade links please send me your website details.
    If you are not the right person please pass this on to your webmaster.

    Best Regards,
    Helen Williams

11. Good service

12. Maybe the reason that God’s Army 2 hasn’t done well at the box office is because many of us were disappointed and offended by God’s Army 1 — particularly the horrible portrayal of the Mission President and having the elder’s father serving time or child molestation. Shame on you

13. I’m trying to locate an article titled “Rationality of the Atonement” published in 1845. How can I find this? Is it even possible to find?

    Thanks,
    Colette

Comments are closed.