Okay, I think at this point, I really need to take a few minutes and just give you some background on the LDS understanding of what God's purpose for humanity is, and how it differs from traditional Christianity's. Otherwise, most of my answers from this point forward really aren't going to make a whole lot of sense. I suspect my explanation is going to be longer than I'd like; unfortunately, I've never mastered the art of brevity.
Actually, I hardly know where to start, so I'm going to give you a brief (sort of) point by point synopsis, and then I can elaborate on any of these points if you'd like me to.
--Thank you for sharing your faith in a nutshell. It is very different than what I am used to in mainstream Christianity. Forgive me if my pendulum swings to far opposite.
I'll compare and contrast what you believe with mine, opinions, and questions. This won't be in all one post (had to use note-pad just in case I clicked the wrong button) but I hope my lack of brevity doesn't bother you as much either.
This will be in parts.
Part 1:
1. We (Mormons/LDS) believe that God created our spirits from highly refined matter that was co-eternal with Him. This highly refined matter could probably best be described as "truth and light." (I'm not sure, but that sounds to me like something a Buddhist might be able to relate to.)
-Two question marks went in my head about "truth and light" actually. Is it similar to when Jesus says "I am the light of he world"?
-I looked it up and it brought John 2:21 "But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God."
-Basically what you have done for Jesus you have done for god, and that is truth...and the light is possibly the awareness or realization of this truth?
-In Buddhism (always coming from my belief and opinion) truth would be the Dharma. Light, if I made a comparison, would be the Way (Realiziation as an intemediary to truth). Zen Buddhism talks about the Way. The Dharma or teachings of The Buddha are the Way to know the Buddha's mind, his enlightenment. In Nichiren Buddhism, we see that enlightenment as the Buddha's actual mind. So when we experience the light (revelation), it is our own mind which is that of The Buddha's.
-The truth, interpreted by Nichiren but expounded by The Buddha in the Lotus Sutra, they say that To chant (read, recite, and write) "Myoho Renge Kyo (The Lotus Sutra) with this is to inherit the ultimate Law of life and death (the Lotus). This is a matter of the utmost importance for Nichiren's disciples and lay supporters, and this is what it means to embrace the Lotus Sutra." Writings of Nichiren Diashonin (WND) 216
-I'd have to look it up, but I think in some lineages, Light is used in Buddhism. In the Pure Land sect they have, what I was told by the priest, more of a christian similiary. Heaven, concept of god, things of that nature. As for the original Buddhist teachings-Theravada, the word Light I haven't read. I'd have to ask.
2. We lived in spirit form with Him for who knows how many years (perhaps billions) before we were born. Although we had no physical bodies, our spirits were fully cognizant beings, capable of learning and understanding and decision-making.
-This is the first time learning this. I do agree that spirits are full beings, can learn, and make decisions. I can't really say to much about living in spirit for with god, though. I don't think Buddhism has an equivelant. I think Hindu does, which Buddhism takes a lot from; but, I'd have to ask. In Nichiren's point of view, he was influenced by the native beliefs of Japan such as Shintism. So, he did believe in the sun god and the moon god etc. We also believe in our ancestors; so, I guess you can say we are all one mind. But I wouldn't compare mind with god.
3. We actually chose to be able to experience mortality, knowing that it might include a lot of suffering (but probably hoping that it wouldn't). In other words, every person who has ever been born or will ever be born actually made the decision to do so.
-Interesting. This reminds me of the story of Lucifer and his decision to rebell against god. I'm sorry to compare it to Lucifer, do you think just as he has a decision, that is why you can make decisions before birth as well?
-In Buddhism, since everything is about actions, the decisions we make on earth tells us where we will be during rebirth in the next and next. So, I guess you can say we make decisions before hand. Then we also do so in the present, and to extend it, in the future as well. Kind of deep.
4. We knew that we would have to go through the ups and downs of life in order to eventually become like God, our Father in Heaven. The idea that it is necessary for us to experience an existence where we are exposed to both good and evil is fundamental to Mormon theology.
-That would mean the decision to come here on earth is to experience existence in order to know good and evil to be with god?
-Would it not make sense to live with god without going through the experience of pain etc?
-Would it be right to say it's worth staying with god rather than depart from him to experience bad, ask for his salvation, to be back with him again?
-In my point of view, that is kind of like wanting to experience suffering so I can create good karma rather than make good karma to prevent suffering. I was reading the Tibetan Book of Living and Death and the author was saying that Westeners are afraid of or in denial of death. They separate it from life (hence the "veil" between one world and the next, for example). So, the author tells us to practice ways to experience death so we are comfortable with rebirth and as a result, not unnaturally react to pain and suffering.
-It's an interesting comparison. I haven't read that in Mahayana Buddhism and definitely not in Nichiren.
5. Attaining exaltation was our goal, but we understood it came with risks. To begin with, we knew that God's standard for us was that we be "perfect... even as [He] is perfect." We also understood that there would be consequences for our disobedience and failure to perform up to God's standard.
-Is exaltation a way to be god? (I keep hearing myths(?) about LDS wanting to become god). I guess another way to ask, exltation a way to be perfect just as god? Not making yourself the creator but like Jesus one with the creator?
-In Buddhism we want to obtain The Buddha's enlightenment (ours) but not become The Buddha himself. Instead, some schools look to become Buddha's themselves. The school (and similiar schools) I practice with are more concerned with helping other people become Buddhas before ourselves. So, instead of exaltation to The Buddha's mind, we keep ourselves as a Bodhisattva, and help others to reach that exaltation before we do so.
-I am not sure, but I think when we do, we become Buddhas. There are some schools that say we are already Buddha's because of our pure nature (similar to what you are saying about a clean nature until the age of eight). We call it Buddha-nature. There's a lot of debate if this nature exist, what is it called, and so forth. I believe we all have it.
-I think we are in an agreement there about the pure nature.
6. The consequence for sin would be eternal separation from God or the payment of the debt owed for the sin's committed.
7. We had essentially two options: We could either accept the punishment for our sins (this would not be a "Lake of Fire" but the emotional torment and anguish we brought upon ourselves through our sins) or we could accept the gift of grace offered by God's Son, Jesus Christ.
-That makes sense. I actually think separate from god is worse than hell and fire to tell you honestly.
8. Because, unlike any of us, He was already perfect, He was in a position to be able to pay the price for us, thereby sparing us the punishment we would otherwise deserve. Furthermore, this is something that -- because of His absolute and unconditional love for us -- He actually wanted to do.
11. When we are baptized, we commit ourselves to our Savior, Jesus Christ. In so doing, we make a promise that we will do our best to live as we know we should. We believe that He, in turn, agrees to take our sins upon himself, freeing us from punishment and allowing us to be able to live knowing that our sins are forgiven. As I said before, we believe we are blessed even for our desire and effort to live in accordance with God's will.
-Tell me something. If I heard and read about someone on the other side of the world I have never met and found out he (or she) was perfect, what in my mind and motivation would I want him or her to take my sins because he written that he would do so?
-Say, I can't travel to meet him. I only know him from his ancestors ancestors and that wasn't that long ago. So, would it not be questionable to put trust and receive love from someone you have also a physical connection with?
-I've had one online crush and she is in Chili. We known each other for almost four years. I will never forget her. However, even though I know her personally, "met" her family, and comfort her through her mother's passing, that physical and literal (not just spirit-ual) connection, like a marriage, is needed to make that bond.
-Without that "ring" what motivates you or let's you know that what you read and experience is true of one person compared to another given they (any spiritual leader) is not present to share your hand?
continued...