Holy Ghost - AWOL again...

[_subgenius]

The fact that this thread is posted in the Celestial Forum prevents me from expressing my reaction to this sentiment. I hope you will use your imagination to conjure up a most graphic and vulgar expression.

sorry to have offended what must obviously be your more refined sensibilities.
But that does not change the simple fact that it is probable, there is no callousness in that towards the elder or those more intimately involved.

[_Drifting]

The fact that this thread is posted in the Celestial Forum prevents me from expressing my reaction to this sentiment. I hope you will use your imagination to conjure up a most graphic and vulgar expression.

sorry to have offended what must obviously be your more refined sensibilities.
But that does not change the simple fact that it is probable, there is no callousness in that towards the elder or those more intimately involved.

Subby, how would this Elder have chosen not to accept the help?
What did he do, ask in his prayers that the Lord not help him?

[_Morley]

The fact that this thread is posted in the Celestial Forum prevents me from expressing my reaction to this sentiment. I hope you will use your imagination to conjure up a most graphic and vulgar expression.

sorry to have offended what must obviously be your more refined sensibilities.
But that does not change the simple fact that it is probable, there is no callousness in that towards the elder or those more intimately involved.

Bold mine.

Since you're big on speculation, what do you suppose was this missionary's sin that was grievous enough to warrant his execution (or lapse in protection) by deity. Perhaps he touched himself?

M. Russell Ballard speaks of two missionary deaths in Bolivia here. Were these missionaries also at fault?

My brothers and sisters, since April’s general conference, some of our missionaries have found themselves in increasingly more difficult circumstances. As the adviser to the South America North Area Presidency, I was saddened, as I know you were, at the news that two faithful missionaries, Elder Todd Ray Wilson and Elder Jeffrey Brent Ball, lost their lives in Bolivia. The deaths of these two righteous young men while they were in the service of the Lord caused the entire Church membership to mourn. We grieve also for other missionaries who have died from illness or accident since the first of the year.

[_Darth J]

See: illusory promise

yes, it is sorta akin to that, but as with many such comments, it is not accurate.
glad to see, at least, you have a grasp of one's ability to choose.
However, it should be noted that the when "gift" is present one has the ability to disregard the Spirit's promptings.
The illusory promise allows for the one making the promise to have the option of delivery/performance...we have no reason to believe that such promise was not fulfilled and the elder chose otherwise, or was in a position to not act upon it.
There is also the possibility that the elder was receiving less and less promptings due to a worthiness issue.
Again, covenants from the Lord are not illusory they are, in fact, absolute.

What a wonderfully stupid thing to say. "Calling something an illusory promise shows you understand that we have the ability to choose."

In a contract, you do not have the ability to choose not to perform once the performance of the other party has been tendered. You are obligated to fulfill your duty to perform when the other side has provided you with consideration. That's exactly why an illusory promise is unenforceable: it removes mutuality.

A covenant with God is a unilateral contract. If you perform, then God has to keep his end of the deal. That's what the LDS Church teaches. Once you perform your part, you are entitled to performance from God.

D&C 82:10

I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.

Your statement gives God the choice of performance or non-performance even when a person is entitled to his or her part of the covenant.

you are "entitled" but that does not necessarily mean you will receive it or that you will accept it.

The meaning of the words you said is that God can simply decide not give you something you are entitled to. That's what an illusory promise is.

[_TrashcanMan79]

There is also the possibility that the elder was receiving less and less promptings due to a worthiness issue.

Yep, he totally got what was coming to him. Nice.

[_Darth J]

I think the take-away we get from Subgenius is that if you live you are righteous, but if you die you are a sinner.

[_malkie]

I think the take-away we get from Subgenius is that if you live you are righteous, but if you die you are a sinner.

Or that the god of Mormonism always has enough to accuse you of that he can strike you down (or allow you to be killed) at any time.

In other words there's just no pleasing him - we live or die at his whim.

[_subgenius]

Subby, how would this Elder have chosen not to accept the help?
What did he do, ask in his prayers that the Lord not help him?

first a question.
Have you ever had a bad experience and said to yourself "i knew i should not have done that" ?

[_subgenius]

I think the take-away we get from Subgenius is that if you live you are righteous, but if you die you are a sinner.

you are becoming quite reliable at drawing poor conclusions.

The major fallacy in the OP, and in your post, is that an incredible amount of assumptions are being made because of the lack of any real facts which would be pertinent in supporting the cynicism which is intended by the OP.

[_subgenius]

In other words there's just no pleasing him - we live or die at his whim.

clearly a false dichotomy
and a sad commentary on the usual level of discourse from the majority of bitter critics.