Why don’t Mormons demand more from their prophets?

[Dr. Shades]

Just because an infinite mind created us with a purpose doesn't mean the purpose aligns with our own well-being.

Ha! That reminds me of a Facebook post I made on February 26, 2015:

What if germs, viruses, and bacteria are God's chosen creations and the purpose of life is merely to serve as their breeding grounds?

[dastardly stem]

Believing Mormons, in my experience, see it as God using a prophet strategically to get the most out of His teachings. If anything Mormons should be demanding more from God since the prophet is limited to only being able to do as much as God gives. And God is stingy. I offer MG's comments to me in the "Questions for Mo Experts" thread as a demonstration. God doesn't give people answers...at least not much on Mormon thought, or anyone's religious thought for that matter. He's very finicky and represents the most difficult of high-maintenance. He's not responsive because people ask things which if answered would get in His way...apparently. I don't think prophet's can help that. They seem to be tasked with the duty of keeping people down as God instructs, otherwise the whole system would fail. On Mormon thought demanding something from a prophet is demanding God upset His whole plan to cater to a prideful useless average believer.

As i see it the problem is much less about the concept of prophets and more so about the concept of God.

[sock puppet]

A plumber that doesn’t fix your leaking pipes and tells you to have the faith not to be healed is not a good plumber.

An electrician that doesn’t fix your sparking breaker and tells you that it’s not really sparking is not a good electrician.

A prophet who doesn’t prophesy, is not a good prophet.

Self help truisms are not prophesy. Diatribes on morality and rumination on culture wars are not visions from a seer. Take your vitamins is not a revelation. Demands for blind obedience and tithing from those who can least afford it are what you would expect from cult leaders.

Mormons should expect more. Especially at the cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars over their lifetimes. If all they get out of it is community and warm fuzzy feelings, there are many more cost effective options on the free market.

Would Mormons really welcome a revelation? Would that not upset the applecart that many (perhaps, most) of them like just as it is? For example, a revelation that God wants his temples opened to all of his spirit children here on earth. That would upset many that like to feel that they are special because they are recommend holders.

I think that many, many Mormons like things just as they are and would find any changes of significance to be unsettling. Look at the lead balloon that was the announcement of no more Saturday night Priesthood sessions at General Conferences? Nelson had to walk that one back because of the blowback (i.e., fewer speaking opps for the Big 15).

Nelson's nibbles on the fringes went one nibble too far and failed.

Why don't Mormons demand more from their prophets? Many, many of them don't want more. They just want a figure (currently, Nelson) to idolize. That is the need that the "prophet" fills for them.

[MG 2.0]

Whether there is purpose to the universe is above my paygrade. I don't have a clue.

And thanks for that also. This helps me understand better where you’re coming from.

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

Believing Mormons, in my experience, see it as God using a prophet strategically to get the most out of His teachings. If anything Mormons should be demanding more from God since the prophet is limited to only being able to do as much as God gives. And God is stingy. I offer MG's comments to me in the "Questions for Mo Experts" thread as a demonstration.

I also would invite people to read all of my comments in that thread to get a thorough and complete contextual view of what I said.

Regards,
MG

[Rivendale]

Believing Mormons, in my experience, see it as God using a prophet strategically to get the most out of His teachings. If anything Mormons should be demanding more from God since the prophet is limited to only being able to do as much as God gives. And God is stingy. I offer MG's comments to me in the "Questions for Mo Experts" thread as a demonstration. God doesn't give people answers...at least not much on Mormon thought, or anyone's religious thought for that matter. He's very finicky and represents the most difficult of high-maintenance. He's not responsive because people ask things which if answered would get in His way...apparently. I don't think prophet's can help that. They seem to be tasked with the duty of keeping people down as God instructs, otherwise the whole system would fail. On Mormon thought demanding something from a prophet is demanding God upset His whole plan to cater to a prideful useless average believer.

As i see it the problem is much less about the concept of prophets and more so about the concept of God.

I would really like a believer to describe what transcendental element is gained by using faith. What mechanism is activated? In all areas of a person's life there are abstractions that have real testable value. Math as an abstraction has impacted humanity yet resides nowhere. Faith in something despite the evidence seems to be so ephemeral that it needs daily and weekly reinforcement to maintain effectiveness. I guess I can't escape empiricism and lack the humility of seeing how religious/philosophical methods work.

[MG 2.0]

Would Mormons really welcome a revelation?

This answer to this question is dependent, at least as far as I can see, on whether or not one believes in revelation from God (number 1) and whether or not one believes that the restoration narrative holds water (number 2).

Then there’s this:

We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

It’s not rocket science.

Regards,
MG

[Kishkumen]

Which restoration narrative? That also makes a difference. Some may subscribe to other ideas of what the restoration was. Others may have different views on the succession. So, it is not all that simple really. It may be simple to you, MG 2.0, because of your particular beliefs, but other have ideas that seem just as valid to them. So, you can believe in revelation and the restoration and yet not agree with your particular conclusions about the leadership of the LDS Church.

[dastardly stem]

Believing Mormons, in my experience, see it as God using a prophet strategically to get the most out of His teachings. If anything Mormons should be demanding more from God since the prophet is limited to only being able to do as much as God gives. And God is stingy. I offer MG's comments to me in the "Questions for Mo Experts" thread as a demonstration. God doesn't give people answers...at least not much on Mormon thought, or anyone's religious thought for that matter. He's very finicky and represents the most difficult of high-maintenance. He's not responsive because people ask things which if answered would get in His way...apparently. I don't think prophet's can help that. They seem to be tasked with the duty of keeping people down as God instructs, otherwise the whole system would fail. On Mormon thought demanding something from a prophet is demanding God upset His whole plan to cater to a prideful useless average believer.

As i see it the problem is much less about the concept of prophets and more so about the concept of God.

I would really like a believer to describe what transcendental element is gained by using faith. What mechanism is activated? In all areas of a person's life there are abstractions that have real testable value. Math as an abstraction has impacted humanity yet resides nowhere. Faith in something despite the evidence seems to be so ephemeral that it needs daily and weekly reinforcement to maintain effectiveness. I guess I can't escape empiricism and lack the humility of seeing how religious/philosophical methods work.

Couldn't agree more, Rivendale.

[MG 2.0]

Which restoration narrative? That also makes a difference. Some may subscribe to other ideas of what the restoration was. Others may have different views on the succession. So, it is not all that simple really. It may be simple to you, MG 2.0, because of your particular beliefs, but other have ideas that seem just as valid to them. So, you can believe in revelation and the restoration and yet not agree with your particular conclusions about the leadership of the LDS Church.

As I’ve mentioned on this board repeatedly…if you count in the old board…I think that fruits matter. Compare the fruits in the way Jesus prescribed in the New Testament. The CofJCofLDS bears the fruit necessary to bring the largest number of souls into the household of faith and Kingdom of God.

And even at that the numbers are small. Narrow is the way and few there be that find it.

So if you do believe in revelation and the restoration narrative it seems highly unlikely that the fruits of other restoration churches provide the necessary outcomes and means to bring that gospel to all the world.

Regards,
MG