Comments on Life On Gold Plates: I see through a glass darkly and I kinda like it

thanks dan, do you know the ref for that quote?

2009-12-02T17:27:50.851-07:00

thanks dan, do you know the ref for that quote?

I enjoyed this article. It reminded me of a talk I...

2009-12-02T13:07:50.149-07:00

I enjoyed this article. It reminded me of a talk I read recently by Wilford Woodruff about the revelation topic. He spoke about the challenge members of the church had in relation to the manefesto that was revealed about polygamy. I would recommend a read through some time.

One of my favorite things he states is "The Latter-day Saints should not get the idea that the Lord has forsaken his people, or that He does not reveal His mind and will; because such an idea is not true. The Lord is with us, and has been with us from the beginning. This Church has never been led a day except by revelation. And He will never leave it. It matters not who lives or who dies, or who is called to lead this Church, they have got to lead it by the inspiration of Almighty God. If they do not do it that way, they cannot do it at all. The Lord will not fail in these last days, and He will fulfill all that He has promised through His Prophets and Apostles, until Zion arises in its glory, and the Bride, the Lamb’s wife, is prepared for the coming of the great Bridegroom."

Poor cinepro. Needed an infallible prophet and was...

2009-11-16T16:10:00.479-07:00

Poor cinepro. Needed an infallible prophet and was sorely disappointed. ;)

Great post, LOAP. It should find a wide readershi...

2009-11-16T13:58:53.462-07:00

Great post, LOAP. It should find a wide readership, since people who follow false prophets (i.e. all the non-LDS) deal with those same issues as well.

Nice discussion, Blair. Patience is a virtue, and ...

2009-11-09T12:37:35.429-07:00

Nice discussion, Blair. Patience is a virtue, and sometimes one needs decades of it. That may be decades for the Church to come around to a different way of doing things. Or it might be decades for us to come around and see that the Church was doing it right all along.

When church leaders venture into the political are...

2009-11-08T21:57:42.926-07:00

When church leaders venture into the political arena is where members are most frequently challenged.

Prop 8, and a number of other political issues through the years have proved to be problematic for some members.

As I have observed this, I've noticed that those who are well versed in the scriptures generally find it easy to agree with our leaders positions.

For example, having a son or daughter who is gay can create a dilemma. Among those I know who are in this situation I've observed that those who are well versed in the scriptures, though torn, have lined up with church leaders on prop 8.

Of course, my observations are dearrived from a small sample, but I think the counsel to study the scriptures puts those who do in a better position to understand the mind and will of God. This is accomplished at two levels, 1) when we consistently study the scriptures with an eye of faith we intellectually become like those who wrote them, 2)scripture reading invites personal revelation.

I've experienced this many times, even as recently as last week. I'd prayed about a fear I have and while reading from the BoM felt the impression of the Spirit reconfirm something I already knew, but needed to relearn via the Spirit so that my fear could be calmed. Sometimes knowing something intellectually does not allow one to exercise sufficient faith until they learn, or relearn it via the Spirit.

Al, revelation comes that way for me most often as...

2009-11-07T18:56:04.764-07:00

Al, revelation comes that way for me most often as well.

Awesome topic. I have never receieved what I would...

2009-11-07T01:06:44.916-07:00

Awesome topic. I have never receieved what I would call "revelation" typically. But i do however have moments where I can not deny what my spirit resonate with in. That is between me and the Lord, and what pertains to my particular situation, thoughts, feelings. I havent read much on Brigham Young, but I enjoyed that passage. thanks.

Agreed Stephen.

2009-11-05T21:51:17.567-07:00

Agreed Stephen.

I liked this, though and they are cognizant of the...

2009-11-05T17:17:33.497-07:00

I liked this, though and they are cognizant of the fact through their faithfulness, there is no fear seems to reflect on going forward in the trust of the Lord and in influencing our leaders.

Jeremy, Pres. Hinckley was pretty straight-forward...

2009-11-05T14:05:11.738-07:00

Jeremy, Pres. Hinckley was pretty straight-forward in explaining that much of the day-to-day revelation he received for the Church came through the Holy Ghost and not through an encounter with God directly. For example, he made a large distinction between the revelation on lifting the priesthood ban versus the revelation to make a less-drastic procedural change. My .02

Two points: 1) "I don't know how often a prophet ...

2009-11-05T13:56:24.048-07:00

Two points:

1) "I don't know how often a prophet or president of the Church would be in direct communication with God face to face." Before leaving for the mission field, my father was privileged to sit in the SLC temple with other Elders and a few GA's to ask "any" question on their mind. One Elder asked when the then-current prophet had last received a direct revelation from the Lord. The GA thought about it, and then answered, "just yesterday."

I think our Prophet talks to the Lord on a daily basis and guides as as he sees fit. However, the Lord probably does not reveal ALL things to the Prophet as he is required to live by faith also.

2) "But what if you take some personal responsibility and you take an issue up with God and arrive at a different conclusion than the prophets?" This was the scenario with a friend of mine in Arizona with the equivalent of Prop 8 being pushed there. Elder Packer visited my friend's Stake and encouraged the membership to vote to maintain traditional marriage.

My friend, who is also an attorney, studied the legal question out in his mind and felt that what Elder Packer was encouraging the membership to do was incorrect. He was visibly torn between his faith and his conscience. Although he ended up voting as Elder Packer had encouraged, he clearly did so begrudgingly.