#clearingmisconceptions

What is Halal Meat? Clearing Up Misconceptions of Halal Meat

Have you ever wondered what the word "halal" means when you see it on food packaging? 

Halal is an Arabic word referring to the Islamic guidelines for preparing permissible meat.

For meat to be considered halal, the animal must be slaughtered specially. First, the animal must be treated humanely and killed quickly with a very sharp knife.  Also, the person slaughtering the animal must say a prayer to God while doing it.  So when you see the word halal on meat packaging, it means the animal was slaughtered according to Muslim traditions.

Is not that of the Restoration of the Gospel and Joseph Smith. The most important message we preach as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the message of the Gospel.

That God loves us so He sent His Son - JESUS CHRIST - to live, love, suffer, die, and rise again as the living Christ in order to justify us according to the fulfilled law and sanctify us by the Holy Spirit.

We preach Jesus Christ. There is no other name by which salvation comes. There is no greater message.

But we preach the Restoration of the Gospel by the prophet Joseph Smith to help bring us to that clear and true message. The Church is not salvation. The Church is an organization to help our relationship with Jesus Christ, our salvation. It is a place where we are taught truth. And we invite you to learn more.

I think the post about Identity is the one you are referring to. And I posted it orginally so I will respond to this.

It DOES matter what we do. It is very important. And you are absolutely correct. Faith without works is dead.

BUT although our actions may define us. They have nothing to do with our UNCHANGEABLE identity. Our identity changes in life. Because we change. I was a slut, now I am numbered with the saints. I was a student, now I will be a missionary. I was a girlfriend, now I'm single. The things we do, DO define us. When I was dating someone, I was a girlfriend. The action implied what I was. So when we make sinful choices, we are not followers of Christ. That would be an incorrect identity. Does that make sense?

BUT we have an UNCHANGABLE identity. And that has nothing to do with our actions. God is our Father and he loves us. He loves EVERYONE. The Bible tells us that nothing can separate us from His love. That is doctrine.

If God is our Father and He loves us, then one thing is sure... We are His children and we are loved. This can also be found in scripture and is doctrine.

God is unchangeable. So although we change and our actions change and some of our identities change, THAT NEVER DOES.

As one of the leaders in the Church has said repeatedly: "True doctrine understood changes behavior more than the study of behavior ever could." And that is our goal. To help you realize that UNCHANGEABLE identity because once you realize that, it changes your actions. And that changed me from "slut to saint".

Repentance is first returning to God. Then it is changing your ways. God always comes first. We don't change and then return to God, that doesn't work. We backslide much more when we do that. And I say this as someone who has been through a repentance process guided by church leaders.

Repentance is something you do. But repentance is also something that happens to you. The Church Reference Library defines repentance as "much more than just acknowledging wrongdoings." It also goes on to explain the real meaning of the word from its Greek roots. "It denotes a change of heart and mind which gives you a fresh view of God, yourself, and the world in general." Repentance is not only an action but a state of being. And it changes those changeable identities. But it's something you do when you realize how much God loves you. Being a son or daughter is not dependent on their actions. It is dependent on the fact that they have parents. We have a God who is our Father. And it doesn't depend on what we're doing. But when we realize that it can lead us to become much better people.

I apologize for the confusion that may have arisen out of my post. We answer questions mostly from those who are struggling with their faith, with their identity, with the very basics of the Gospel. And that is what we are trying to help with. We are trying to reach out to those on Tumblr who don't feel good enough to come to God or be a part of His Church. Who believe that His love is dependent on their actions. That they need to change first before praying. There are a lot of people who feel this way on Tumblr and it breaks my heart every time I hear their trials.

So we call ALL people to come to Christ. No matter what you are doing right now. My favorite scripture is 2 Nephi 26:24

He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.

There is not one of us that God forbids from coming to Him. He loves us.

When I became a nanny, I started to act like a nanny in a way I had never before. And when I realized I was a daughter of God and that He loved me and nothing was going to change that, I started acting like a daughter of God in a way I had never before.

Our actions do define us. But our identity guides our actions. And our identity as beloved sons and daughters of God NEVER changes. So those actions shouldn't either.

Thanks again. I'm glad that you sent this in because I don't want anyone taking the wrong message away from what I am saying. I know there were probably others who were confused as well. Thank you.

I was recently reading an article in which an “ex-mormon” said that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is all about appearances. He said that there is so much pressure to be worthy. He said that everyone hides their sins. He said that if you make a mistake or if you aren’t married in the temple, then it’s a public shame on your family. He said that the Church makes you feel miserable and tells you that you will never be happy if you are “unworthy”.

This is so far from the truth.

Perhaps some members of the Church are teaching this. And perhaps some members are feeling this way. We are all flawed.

The official Church doctrine lies in the Word of God. At the heart of doctrine is the Gospel:

God loves us so He sent His Son Jesus Christ to live, serve, suffer, die, and rise again for us so that we can be reconciled with God.

We, as humans, try to hide our sins. God brings that darkness to the light. He puts it out there for everyone to see. He makes the cross public. He emphasizes in scripture that we have fallen. The Bible tells us to confess our sins. All scripture tells us that we should NOT hide our sin. That we should NOT be concerned in keeping appearances. But that we should bring the dark parts of our soul out so that the light of Christ can light it up. The Gospel tells us that we are sinners. Why bother hiding it if God, the Almighty, knows?

And why do you feel so pressured? While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Not when we cleaned up our act, prayed, and were worthy. But while we were sinners. We are not compelled because we have to gain grace. We are compelled out of gratitude for grace. Yes, I want to live a Christ like life. But not out of pressure to be worthy. But out of gratitude for Christ making me worth something.

A public shame? No. Perhaps you feel that way. But that is not the doctrine of the Church. People make mistakes. How can we shame people for a splinter in their eye when we have a beam in our own? We are taught to love all of God’s children. No matter their mistake. Why?Because that’s how God loves us. And if the Almighty loves each of us, we ought to love each other.

The Church does not teach that you will always be unhappy. Far from it. We teach that happiness lies ahead for us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

I was so troubled to hear of a man who no longer believes in God because he never truly understood the Gospel. The Gospel is GOOD NEWS.

But I answer questions. And if you ask a question genuinely, I will research it. No matter how intimidating it may be.

Polygamy.

So first off, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not practice polygamy today. Many people say that the practice ended simply because of political pressure. That is incorrect. Polygamy was never a commandment to the Church. In Biblical times, Abraham, Jacob, and other servants of God righteously practiced polygamy.

It is not a commandment for the Church. It never was. Even in Biblical times.

Abraham had multiple wives, not for sexual gratification or the lust of his own carnal nature. His situation was different. It was not right for all godly men to have multiple wives. It is not the ideal form of marriage. But it was righteous in his situation.

I do not know why God would ever allow a man to have more than one wife. I do not fully understand polygamy. I won't even pretend that I do. But I do trust God. I have faith that He knows more than I could ever know. He knows what each person needs at each moment.

Church members who practiced righteous polygamy in the early days of the Church, were tried. It would be foolish for us to believe that it was easy for them. Imagine it. It would be hard for you if God asked you to. Like many of the things God asks of us, it was hard and foreign. It was a trial. For both the men and the women. But at the time, there was a situation.

Also, the Church teaches (as Christ taught) that we should obey the laws of the land. And thus, we do not practice polygamy.

... Now for what I actually learned most about when studying.

We have to stop looking at things as a "we can, we can't" set of rules. Yes, God has a law. He has principles of righteousness. But all of that is dependent on first and foremost the Gospel. And then the Doctrine.

I compare this to a building. We have a foundation that everything is based upon. It sustains us. This foundation is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. That God loves us so He sent His Son to take our shortcomings, our pains, our weaknesses, our sins upon Him. Then we have the walls. They hold us together. They support us. They support the roof. This is the Doctrine. True and Biblical Doctrine. Then there is the roof. This protects us. It shelters us. It is the Principles, what we see as the rules. For example, we have the principle of modesty. This is not doctrine. This a principle of righteousness.

We focus so much on principles.

Let us return our focus to the Gospel. Let it teach us doctrine. And then let us act on principle.

I have discussed it in previous posts but an unbaptized young man that is in the youth group I lead told me this: "It makes sense to me. The Gospel proves death powerless in baptisms for the dead." And that is when it hit me. Yes.

We always talk about how God is just so He would provide a way for those who don't hear His Gospel to be baptized. We talk about how He is merciful so He always those who would have accepted the Gospel but did not know to partake in baptism. We talk about the great plan of redemption.

But what about this... Christ conquered death. Death has no power over us. Death cannot take our salvation. Death cannot damn us. Death cannot eliminate hope.

We do not only have hope in this life. We have hope in the next.

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."

-1 Corinthians 15:19

This is the very chapter in the Bible that references baptisms for the dead. It goes on to say...

"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory?"

1 Corinthians 15:54-55