Not hearing the HG

[_moksha]

I always feel that when I give out love, I get God's love in return.

[_ajax18]

I always feel that when I give out love, I get God's love in return.

Is that why you give out love? Sorry I couldn't resist. I love playing that game.

[_James Clifford Miller]

From the LDS perspective....

What would disqualify someone from receiving inspiration, or understanding information from HG?

There is a long list. Depression. Stress. Just plain not listening. Sin.

What would help folks be more able to hear messages of inspiration?

Quiet time. Sincere intent. Gratitude for blessings.

There are folks who claim to KNOW of truth based on their witness of the HG yet these folks may be enormously prideful, cruel, nasty, mean-spirited, angry, and rude. Some folks may be living lives that are not in harmony with the teachings of Jesus, sinning in all sorts of ways and yet they believe God is talking to them and telling them one thing of another.

I can't resist. What about a married man who has relationships with other men's young wives, does this behind his wife's back, and lies about it to her and his fellow men? Would that disqualify him from hearing the HG?

James Clifford Miller

[_Inconceivable]

I know what cuts me off quickly. I have no idea for anyone else. It seems to vary.

Nehor,

You know you don't believe what you just wrote. You can make judgements without judging (condemning) others. Your formula is a universal template. Why? You have been taught that "God is no respecter of persons" neither is He the "author of confusion".

Seriously. You lied. According to your simple (and reasonable) belief, I assume you have now lost at least a portion of companionship of the holy ghost.

Go ahead. Ask him... after you repent.

TD,

I think you are on the right track.

[_truth dancer]

I had a bishop who was having an affair with a woman in the ward while bishop... how inspired was he?

In one ward a priesthood leader was sexually molesting girls at the high school in which he taught... how inspired was he?

If I recall correctly there was a stake president in Idaho, who, a couple of years ago was convicted of sexual assault... how inspired was he?

Does the inspiration just go away during the "sin" and return as soon as the sin is over... whether the "sin" be nastiness or sexual assault?

In other words, so long as the sin isn't occuring during the very moment inspiration is needed, the sinner is good to go and inspiration/revelation is working great?

I guess James, this means that so long as Joseph Smith wasn't sinning while looking in the hat his inspiration was accurate.

Interesting....

~dancer~

[_The Nehor]

I know what cuts me off quickly. I have no idea for anyone else. It seems to vary.

Nehor,

You know you don't believe what you just wrote. You can make judgements without judging (condemning) others. Your formula is a universal template. Why? You have been taught that "God is no respecter of persons" neither is He the "author of confusion".

Seriously. You lied. According to your simple (and reasonable) belief, I assume you have now lost at least a portion of companionship of the holy ghost.

Go ahead. Ask him... after you repent.

TD,

I think you are on the right track.

I did not lie. In generalities you are right. Sin is usually fairly obvious but the specifics related to losing the Spirit vary. Gluttony, for example, dulls some but not others. Light friendly banter dulls some. Tiredness dulls it for some and amplifies it for others. For some fasting can do amazing things. Others find it harder.

Yes, things like lying, sexual sin, spewing hatred, wallowing in anger and self-pity dull the Spirit universally. I wasn't referring to just those though.

[_The Nehor]

I had a bishop who was having an affair with a woman in the ward while bishop... how inspired was he?

In one ward a priesthood leader was sexually molesting girls at the high school in which he taught... how inspired was he?

If I recall correctly there was a stake president in Idaho, who, a couple of years ago was convicted of sexual assault... how inspired was he?

Does the inspiration just go away during the "sin" and return as soon as the sin is over... whether the "sin" be nastiness or sexual assault?

In other words, so long as the sin isn't occuring during the very moment inspiration is needed, the sinner is good to go and inspiration/revelation is working great?

I guess James, this means that so long as Joseph Smith wasn't sinning while looking in the hat his inspiration was accurate.

Interesting....

~dancer~

I suspect that sometimes the Lord overrides out worthiness in order to keep his Church working. Still, sometimes the lights go out. The best representative story in scripture is King David. After Bathsheba David just did one idiotic thing after another with only hints of his former greatness. His judgment was just off.

The Spirit usually stays away or is weakened after the sin. The exception is the impetus to repent which usually strengthens though it diminishes if it is unheeded.

[_Inconceivable]

I know what cuts me off quickly. I have no idea for anyone else. It seems to vary.

Nehor,

You know you don't believe what you just wrote. You can make judgements without judging (condemning) others. Your formula is a universal template. Why? You have been taught that "God is no respecter of persons" neither is He the "author of confusion".

Seriously. You lied. According to your simple (and reasonable) belief, I assume you have now lost at least a portion of companionship of the holy ghost.

Go ahead. Ask him... after you repent.

TD,

I think you are on the right track.

I did not lie. In generalities you are right. Sin is usually fairly obvious but the specifics related to losing the Spirit vary. Gluttony, for example, dulls some but not others. Light friendly banter dulls some. Tiredness dulls it for some and amplifies it for others. For some fasting can do amazing things. Others find it harder.

Yes, things like lying, sexual sin, spewing hatred, wallowing in anger and self-pity dull the Spirit universally. I wasn't referring to just those though.

I think you're right. If your statements are true, they are global/eternal principles. At least I found this to be a fruitful litmus test - to gauge my own spirituality/worthiness as well as those that I was asked/commanded to trust.

My point being, when we know enough about a person's behavior and their level of understanding/awareness of righteous principles (charity, morality, integrity), you pretty much get a snapshot of how bright their light is to be guided themselves as well as lead others.

The hierarchy avoids making the discussion of how to determine a leader's revelatory/inspirational strength. Why? There is a line where we may begin to draw a pass/fail for many of them.

After judgeing the founders' behavior (not the founders, but their behavior), I concluded that they must necessarily be blind guides. This is why I have left the church.

[_The Nehor]

I know what cuts me off quickly. I have no idea for anyone else. It seems to vary.

Nehor,

You know you don't believe what you just wrote. You can make judgements without judging (condemning) others. Your formula is a universal template. Why? You have been taught that "God is no respecter of persons" neither is He the "author of confusion".

Seriously. You lied. According to your simple (and reasonable) belief, I assume you have now lost at least a portion of companionship of the holy ghost.

Go ahead. Ask him... after you repent.

TD,

I think you are on the right track.

I did not lie. In generalities you are right. Sin is usually fairly obvious but the specifics related to losing the Spirit vary. Gluttony, for example, dulls some but not others. Light friendly banter dulls some. Tiredness dulls it for some and amplifies it for others. For some fasting can do amazing things. Others find it harder.

Yes, things like lying, sexual sin, spewing hatred, wallowing in anger and self-pity dull the Spirit universally. I wasn't referring to just those though.

I think you're right. If your statements are true, they are global/eternal principles. At least I found this to be a fruitful litmus test - to gauge my own spirituality/worthiness as well as those that I was asked/commanded to trust.

My point being, when we know enough about a person's behavior and their level of understanding/awareness of righteous principles (charity, morality, integrity), you pretty much get a snapshot of how bright their light is to be guided themselves as well as lead others.

The hierarchy avoids making the discussion of how to determine a leader's revelatory/inspirational strength. Why? There is a line where we may begin to draw a pass/fail for many of them.

After judgeing the founders' behavior (not the founders, but their behavior), I concluded that they must necessarily be blind guides. This is why I have left the church.

I did not come to this conclusion.

[_Inconceivable]

.."not the founders, but their behavior"

I am quick to add:

Even if I have crossed the line and condemned the founders (ie walking/talking/pooping like a duck makes it a duck) , my personal status is immaterial. It does not lessen the gravity of behavior or retroactively repair their conduit to inspiration/revelation.