Before sin

[Idea]

Believing something does not make it true.

Agreed. So what does it take to know something rather than just believe in it?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
(New Testament | Matthew16:14 - 19)

Knowing something is based on revelation. God is not dead nor does he sleep... as I just told another.. He is alive and well, will, and can actually answer questions for those who come to Him honestly seeking truth and guidance...

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
(Book of Mormon | Moroni10:4 - 5)

 

[sentipente]

Knowing something is based on revelation.

Disagree. You know by testing. Revelation is all around us but we cannot know until we test what we think we know from the available revelation.

 

[Idea]

This is the test:

Follow the commandments - actually become Loving, selfless, humble, pure, clean. Love those who hate you...lose yourself to find yourself. Put others needs above your own. Love as the Savior Loved.

How many people actually perform this test? This is where all the problems arise... to overcome our nature, and take on God's nature - to use our free agency for something other than a self-promoting purpose...

ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost

A testimony does not come by borrowed light. I can only suggest that I know that God is 100% perfect, Loving, and Just. That He is not responsible in any way for creating any evil whatsoever. The only way for this to be possible is that God is not the only self-existent being. He did not create everything, He did not create evil.


People don't like this answer - they want someone else to blame for their problems, it is a hard thing to accept that "we" are the monster, that our problems are of our own making, and not inflicted on us by someone else. No one wants that kind of responsiblity, no one wants to be the monster...

first cast out the beam out of thine own eye;
(New Testament | Matthew 7:5)

we are all blinded by beams... there is no one who does not need the Savior.


It took me a long time to find this answer, I had to be humbled, to recognize the monster that was within myself, a hard thing to admit being at fault... but I am finally coming to a place where I can know my Heavenly Father and Savior - no hypocrisy, not blaming them for anything - to trust that they actually do Love, and are Loving. I do not care much for the details of what everyone understands except in this - that they understand God is Love. Nothing else - just pure perfect Love. That He wants the best for us, that we can trust Him in everything.

 

[RMDY]

but why would Peter under the direction of the Holy Spirit compare Jesus as the Day star with Lucifer the Devil?

Bright Morning Star could be a title, a poetic description.