Why don’t Mormons demand more from their prophets?

[MG 2.0]

I hear what you’re saying. Hypothetically from a faithful, active and believing perspective how would you explain this (what you’re saying).

I’m wondering if you’ve thought about a plausible answer to this question.

From a faithful/active/believing perspective: A lack of worthiness and faith.

Thanks for that??

Regards,
MG

[MG 2.0]

* * *When you look at the early days of the church, meetings were commonly filled with heavenly visitations.* * *
Revelation was once holy writ.

Manifestations of the spirit were once speaking in tongues, and angelic visitations.

Now, it’s all spiritual Twinkies and building announcements, and being conditioned to cry.

* * *

With each generation, the corporate Mormonism of the CofJCofLDS seems to manage to take a little bit more of that magic away, correlating belief into milquetoast pablum, where the heavens, God, and the designated messengers on earth are allowed to point to words and acts, and declare it to be more than the mediocracy that it so plainly is. A game of the emperors new clothes, with each "wise man" speaking with reverence as they plagiarize common wisdom, and shallow platitudes, looking down and claiming that they don't throw pearls before swine.

BKP: It's too sacred to talk about.

In some cases, maybe. I think it’s rather obvious that miracles such as those described in days gone by are fewer. The question is, why?

Has technology and hubris replaced some of those attributes that resulted in a need/faith/belief that allowed us to access the powers of Heaven more readily?

Nowadays do we even feel the compunction to do so?

Regards,
MG

[sock puppet]

BKP: It's too sacred to talk about.

In some cases, maybe. I think it’s rather obvious that miracles such as those described in days gone by are fewer. The question is, why?

Has technology and hubris replaced some of those attributes that resulted in a need/faith/belief that allowed us to access the powers of Heaven more readily?

Nowadays do we even feel the compunction to do so?

Regards,
MG

If Mormon God had something to say, why would technology get in the way?

[Dr Exiled]

With each generation, the corporate Mormonism of the CofJCofLDS seems to manage to take a little bit more of that magic away, correlating belief into milquetoast pablum, where the heavens, God, and the designated messengers on earth are allowed to point to words and acts, and declare it to be more than the mediocracy that it so plainly is. A game of the emperors new clothes, with each "wise man" speaking with reverence as they plagiarize common wisdom, and shallow platitudes, looking down and claiming that they don't throw pearls before swine.

This is the key to Mormonism and is part of what I experienced as a missionary. Take the ordinary and dress it up in spirituality and call it revelation or inspiration. The scheduling changes become miraculous. Word changes must have been from God. One needs a good cheer leading section and the ordinary turns visionary.

While on my mission, I would give the Book of Mormon to an investigator and on return, I would ask for any good experience that the investigator had while reading the Book of Mormon or at any time while I was away. This good feeling could be literally anything and I would call it an answer that the Book of Mormon is the word of God and then I would rush to set a baptism date. This fraudulent system worked. It was straight out of the missionary guide. Our AP mastered it to perfection and many joined. I was in his area after he left, doing the same thing, when the poor Bishop told me to slow down because he couldn't keep up. My callous response was to tell him to do the best he can but that I wasn't going to refuse someone baptism. I wanted numbers and numbers I got.

[Chap]

think it’s rather obvious that miracles such as those described in days gone by are fewer.

Um, ra-ther!

Edward Gibbon raised this question in his great work 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' (6 vols, from 1776 to 1788), chapter 15:

https://www.ccel.org/g/gibbon/decline/v ... chap15.htm

This bit is particularly relevant Bold emphasis is mine.

The duty of an historian does not call upon him to interpose his private judgment in this nice [='delicate'] and important controversy; but he ought not to dissemble the difficulty of adopting such a theory as may reconcile the interest of religion with that of reason, of making a proper application of that theory, and of defining with precision the limits of that happy period, exempt from error and from deceit, to which we might be disposed to extend the gift of supernatural powers. From the first of the fathers to the last of the popes, a succession of bishops, of saints, of martyrs, and of miracles, is continued without interruption; and the progress of superstition was so gradual and almost imperceptible, that we know not in what particular link we should break the chain of tradition. Every age bears testimony to the wonderful events by which it was distinguished, and its testimony appears no less weighty and respectable than that of the preceding generation, till we are insensibly led on to accuse our own inconsistency if, in the eighth or in the twelfth century, we deny to the venerable Bede, or to the holy Bernard, the same degree of confidence which, in the second century, we had so liberally granted to Justin or to Irenaeus. (81) If the truth of any of those miracles is appreciated by their apparent use and propriety, every age had unbelievers to convince, heretics to confute, and idolatrous nations to convert; and sufficient motives might always be produced to justify the interposition of Heaven. And yet, since every friend to revelation is persuaded of the reality, and every reasonable man is convinced of the cessation, of miraculous powers, it is evident that there must have been some period in which they were either suddenly or gradually withdrawn from the Christian church. Whatever era is chosen for that purpose, the death of the apostles, the conversion of the Roman empire, or the extinction of the Arian heresy, (82) the insensibility of the Christians who lived at that time will equally afford a just matter of surprise. They still supported their pretensions after they had lost their power. Credulity performed the office of faith; fanaticism was permitted to assume the language of inspiration, and the effects of accident or contrivance were ascribed to supernatural causes. The recent experience of genuine miracles should have instructed the Christian world in the ways of Providence, and habituated their eye (if we may use a very inadequate expression) to the style of the Divine artist. Should the most skilful painter of modern Italy presume to decorate his feeble imitations with the name of Raphael or of Correggio, the insolent fraud would be soon discovered and indignantly rejected.

Basically he is saying "It appears that at some period after the time of the apostles, real miracles no longer occurred. So why did nobody notice?"

[Doctor CamNC4Me]

I saw this and thought it appropriate to tuck into this thread:



Perhaps the low expectations were set by the og Mormon scryer?

- Doc

[sock puppet]

I saw this and thought it appropriate to tuck into this thread:



Perhaps the low expectations were set by the og Mormon scryer?

- Doc

That looks like Joseph Smith's Greatest Hits, Vol 1.

[Kishkumen]

If you expect nothing, you will not be disappointed.

[malkie]

If you expect nothing, you will not be disappointed.

I usually express this as the unrecorded beatitude:

Blessed is the pessimist, for he expects little and thus is seldom disappointed.