Charity's view of how a prophet receives revelation

[_charity]

.

I think the point Charity is trying to make is that God doesn't necessarily intervene in something unless it's going to affect/hurt someone's salvation. It doesn't restrict God from personally choosing to reveal something new if he so desires, but that God simply allows the leaders to direct the church the way they best see fit in general. Answering when asked, and intervening when necessary. If something isn't crucially devastating, and He's not asked about it, perhaps He lets it play out. At least that is how I understand Charity's POV. Correct me if I'm wrong Charity.

I think I can live with that.

[_bcspace]

Charity has basically said that God will not reveal something to his prophet until the prophet asks a specific question about it.

I don't agree that this is always the case and I'm pretty sure Charity doesn't either. However, I notice Jesus not teaching the apostles everything all at once and in fact, some doctrines and parables were not revealed until they did indeed ask questions. So it can be seen that God does operate in this way, if not all the time.

[_charity]

What with asking heavenly father for revelation on what location to send the numerous LDS missionaries, I don't imagine HF has much time for revealing any other newbies.

I spoke with someone who knew people on the council assigned to it. Supposedly they just pray before they start, and at least many years ago, they used to just run the names by the openings and simply assign them to where they "FEEL GOOD" about assigning them (after reviewing how they rate how good they are with a language, and how badly they want to learn one, what they studied in high school, and who their ancestors are). Shouldn't the spirit be able to tell them where to send the people without knowing the languages and how good they are at them and how much they want to learn one? I remember being confused when I read some of those questions on my mission papers...

There was an article in the New Era within the last year. It quoted Elder Eyring describing the process. The assigned apostle goes into a room with a computer and a sheaf of missionary application, and one by one gets inspiration as exactly where that missionary should go. He said something aobut how the strength of the witness would be startling except for the fact that it happens over and over again.

[_ludwigm]

Of course this idea is nonsense.
...
This idea is just silliness... seriously!
~dancer~

Joseph was praying all the time. You don't know what those prayers were about. And to suggest that the answer had to be specific to a single question if ludicrous. When a kid asks, "Where did I come from?" How often are they told "Pennsylvania?"

"Joseph was praying all the time"
- - even while he took the 30+ woman "all those that have been given unto my servant Joseph"

- Rabbi! May I smoke while I read the Torah?
- No! No! It would be a sin.
- Rabbi! May I read the Torah while smoke ?
- You may always read the Torah!

[_ludwigm]

What with asking heavenly father for revelation on what location to send the numerous LDS missionaries, I don't imagine HF has much time for revealing any other newbies.

...

There was an article in the New Era within the last year. It quoted Elder Eyring describing the process. The assigned apostle goes into a room with a computer and a sheaf of missionary application, and one by one gets inspiration as exactly where that missionary should go. He said something aobut how the strength of the witness would be startling except for the fact that it happens over and over again.

In the beginning, the inspiration said the lexicographical order - until one set of missionaries have found this out. Today, the computer helps to change the order randomly.

[_charity]

What with asking heavenly father for revelation on what location to send the numerous LDS missionaries, I don't imagine HF has much time for revealing any other newbies.

...

There was an article in the New Era within the last year. It quoted Elder Eyring describing the process. The assigned apostle goes into a room with a computer and a sheaf of missionary application, and one by one gets inspiration as exactly where that missionary should go. He said something aobut how the strength of the witness would be startling except for the fact that it happens over and over again.

In the beginning, the inspiration said the lexicographical order - until one set of missionaries have found this out. Today, the computer helps to change the order randomly.

I actually prefer to listen to someone who has some actual knowledge of the process, rather than someone who hasn't a clue.

[_Tidejwe]

There was an article in the New Era within the last year. It quoted Elder Eyring describing the process. The assigned apostle goes into a room with a computer and a sheaf of missionary application, and one by one gets inspiration as exactly where that missionary should go. He said something aobut how the strength of the witness would be startling except for the fact that it happens over and over again.

Speaking of how they choose missionaries...I've always wondered about mine. I was called to Haiti, and there were missionaries who got their calls 2 months before me and my friend (who came to the MTC with me at the same time to the same mission) went in the MTC. My friend and I submitted our papers, and got our calls back within 1 week, to enter the MTC within 3 weeks, and we weren't even going to be 19 until 2 months after we entered the MTC. We got our calls to go in 2 months before the guys who got their calls 2 months before us (ie they had to wait 4 months to enter the MTC after they got their calls).

I always wondered why they didn't just call the other elders to enter the MTC in September instead of us, and then send us in November when they went? Instead we had a weird rush job on both of us having us start our missions at age 18 and 10 months, and only giving us 3 week notice while the other guys had to sit around for 3-4 months before they could start theirs. If they'd done it the other way around both groups of missionaries would've had about 2-3 months notice each instead of one having 3 weeks and one having almost 4 months. :S Besides, if we went in November instead, we would've been 19, and at the age we're supposed to be before starting our missions.

Not that I'm personally complaining. To a non-believer it would seem like bad organization, to a believer it seems like there was something specific my friend and I both needed to go early for so they called us ahead of the other guys even though they got their calls first. Anyway, at the least it shows that it's not simply some organized computer doing the calculating placing people randomly or it obviously wouldn't have sent me before I was 19 and only given me 3 weeks notice.

Heh, as I said, I sure didn't complain. I was glad to leave quickly, and I was excited to be going to a really dangerous mission! :)

[_ludwigm]

...

...

I actually prefer to listen to someone who has some actual knowledge of the process, rather than someone who hasn't a clue.

What does "actual knowledge" mean in the frame of Mormonism? There are too many word, expression and sentence with different meaning.

[_truth dancer]

Joseph was praying all the time.

You don't know how often Joseph Smith was praying. And to pretend to know is ludicrous.

You don't know what those prayers were about. And to suggest that the answer had to be specific to a single question if ludicrous.

I'm not the one who claims to an answer had to be specific to a single question.

Charity... YOU are the one who claims that no one will get an answer unless they ask the specific/right question, and a question the HG can confirm or not.

Or are you now changing your opinion on this matter?

To help us understand you....

What question might Joseph Smith have asked that resulted in the revelation that Emma would be destroyed if she didn't go along with Joseph Smith's multiple sexual/marital partners?

~dancer~

[_the road to hana]

The following is a list of scriptural passages which indicate that the need to ASK.

D&C 8: 1
1 Oliver Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith

D&C 14: 5
5 Therefore, if you will ask of me you shall receive; if you will knock it shall be opened unto you.


D&C 42: 3 For verily I say, as ye have assembled yourselves together according to the commandment wherewith I commanded you, and are agreed as touching this one thing, and have asked the Father in my name, even so ye shall receive.

D&C 42: 61 If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, bknowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the cmysteries and dpeaceable things—that which bringeth ejoy, that which bringeth life eternal.

D&C 103: 31 Behold this is my will; ask and ye shall receive; but men do anot always do my will.

1 Ne. 15: Do ye not remember the things which the Lord hath said?—If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask me in bfaith, believing that ye shall receive, with diligence in keeping my commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you.

3 Ne. 16: 4
4 And I command you that ye shall awrite these sayings after I am gone, that if it so be that my people at Jerusalem, they who have seen me and been with me in my ministry, do not ask the Father in my name, that they may receive a knowledge of you by the Holy Ghost, and also of the other tribes whom they know not of, that these sayings which ye shall write shall be kept and shall be manifested unto the bGentiles, that through the fulness of the Gentiles, the remnant of their seed, who shall be scattered forth upon the face of the earth because of their cunbelief, may be brought in, or may be brought to a dknowledge of me, their Redeemer.

Moro. 10: 4
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 eaith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

D&C 18: Ask the Father in my name, in faith believing that you shall receive, and you shall have the Holy Ghost, which manifesteth all things which are expedient unto the children of men.


And then of course there is this one:

Doctrine and Covenants 9: 7-8 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

Oh, yes. Joseph wasn't just taking a walk through the trees and God hit him with a lightning bolt. Joseph was ASKING.


And for the crude among you, Joseph was ASKING about plural marriage in the Old Testament when he was given the answer. Just shows you better be careful what you ask about.

Is it worth stating the obvious that all of these scriptures listed above are LDS scriptures, one way or the other from the hand of Joseph Smith?