What is a reasonable amount of time to forgive a spouse for being unfaithful?
Dear Gramps, questions: 1) In Leviticus, chapter 12, it refers to the time a woman was considered unclean after giving birth. Why was that length of time twice as long for the birth of a baby girl than for a baby boy? 2) Have you any idea what would be considered a...
Why should we believe Joseph Smith saw God or Jesus?
Gramps, Have you ever seen Satan? Have you ever seen God or Jesus? If you are honest, you will answer, "no." I have to ask myself whether or not Mormons should believe Joseph Smith did. The church doesn't like us to talk about it, but he did have a reputation for...
What is the Church’s position on tattoos, rhinoplasty and other cosmetic surgery?
Question Dear Gramps, I've written before and I have another question. Is there an official church position in regard to tattoos? Before I joined the church I had one and am considering having it removed. Also, how about things like rhinoplasty and other...
What is the Church’s belief on suicide?
Gramps, What is the Church's belief on Suicide? A Catholic friend of mine recently took his own life and his wife and child asked me what our church believed is his fate. Their Priests said because he took his own life he was going to hell. How can I help this family?...
Is there an official Church statement concerning talking about doctrine outside of Church meetings?
Gramps, Is there any official Church statement or quote from the brethren concerning talking about Church doctrine outside of Church sanctioned meetings. It seems I heard something like this, that it is requested so we don't start talking about things we shouldn't or...
Does it mean I won’t get married if not mentioned in my Patriarchal Blessing?
Question Dear Gramps, I am pretty worried because in all my friend's patriarchal blessings it's written that the Lord is preparing a good husband for them and that one day they will get married. But in mine there is nothing about that. Does it mean that I won't get...
Are members discouraged from being organ donors?
Question Gramps, I do have a question for you! I remember being taught at some point that as LDS we were discouraged from being organ doners. If this is correct (and I might have just heard something wrong) could you please tell me why? Are there scriptures or...
Does it mean anything if a tribe was not mentioned in my Patriarchal blessing?
Dear Gramps, In my Patriarchal Blessing there was not a tribe mentioned. Do you know what this means? Thanks Lorraine, from California Dear Lorraine, It has no significance. Normally, one's tribe is mentioned in a patriarchah blessing. It would not be out of place for...
Isn’t the living allowance that General Authorities receive considered pay?
Question Gramps, I have had a few people ask the question, "How can your church continue to say you have a lay ministry when your general authorities receive a living allowance. Is this not considered pay?" Bob Answer Dear Bob, Certainly at least...
Did Joseph Smith die a poor man?
Question Gramps, I am always arguing with my mother on The Book of Mormon and other LDS issues. She is a nonmember who tries to prove that Joseph Smith is a fraud and that the whole church is a fraud. I love her arguing because it makes my testimony stronger every...
What happened to Hyrum Smith’s five children?
Dear Gramps, My husband and I teach an adult institute class on the History of the Church. Someone asked us what happened to Hyrum Smith's five children that he had by his first wife Jerusha. Jerusha died and then Hyrum married Mary Fielding who was the mother of...
What is the Church’s stand on hypnosis?
Question Dear Gramps, I was wondering. What is the Church's stand on hypnosis? Or do they have one? Is it okay to use to overcome bad habits? Would you be making yourself vulnerable to someone else's suggestion, thus compromising your free agency? I'm just not...
If we are punished for our own sins and not for Adam’s (or Eve’s) transgression, then why is it that we must work by the sweat of our brows and in sorrow bear children?
Dear Gramps, If we are punished for our own sins and not for Adam's (or Eve's) transgression, then why is it that we must work by the sweat of our brows and in sorrow bear children? Chip @deseretonline.com Dear Chip, When Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden, the...
What is the church’s position on the death penalty?
Question Dear Gramps, What is the church's position on the death penalty? If the atonement was made for all, why is it necessary for the church to believe in sustaining the law for the death penalty rather than taking a position against it, as it seems...
Why are we cautioned against the use of face cards?
Dear Gramps, I hope you can answer a question that has always elicited a horrified expression from others before, but no one has ever been able to answer it in the 36 years that I have been an active member of the church. Why, in particular, are we cautioned against...
Why do we celebrate Christmas in December?
Question Dear Gramps, I was wondering why we celebrate Christmas in December instead of in April when Jesus Christ was really born? Ann Answer Dear Ann, No definite date has been established for the birth of the Savior. Our notion that he was born...
What is the distinction between the mark and curse when it comes to color of skin?
Gramps, I very much appreciated your insight to the individual who asked about the curse on Cain. I had not before understood the distinction between the mark and the curse. This reminded me, however, of another subject with which I am uncomfortable, and that is the...
What is the rationale for being “buried in the earth” instead of cremated?
Dear Gramps, The questions that I have had the last few years regarding cremation were answered in your past questions. However, I am hoping that you will be able to provide additional insight to help me more fully understand. It seems to me that whether a body decays...
How can I define the value of prayer to a nonmember diagnosed with cancer?
Dear Gramps, How can I define the value of prayer to a nonmember who has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy and radiation. Her prognosis is not good. She asks the question...If we lived with Heavenly Father before coming to this earth,...
Why does genetical research show that American Indians are of Asian descent and not Hebrew?
Gramps, How do you explain the remarkable coincidences between Ethan Smith's (minister to the Cowdery family) view of the Hebrews written in 1825 to Joseph Smith's Book of Mormon written in 1830? Also, why does genetical research show that American Indians are of...
Why was the tabernacle so elaborately decorated for Brigham Young’s funeral?
Question Gramps, We were in Priesthood meeting last Sunday and our lesson was the last one in the Brigham Young manual. My question is in regards to the picture of the tabernacle where Brigham Young's funeral services were held and it was elaborately decorated for...
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