Charity's view of how a prophet receives revelation

[_charity]

Of course this idea is nonsense.

Just read the D&C... Joseph Smith is getting revelations all over the place where there is no evidence of a specific question and a yes or no answer.

Did Joseph Smith ask if Emma would be destroyed if she did not go along with his affairs with her household help and best friends? Did he ask if varoius men should go on missions so he could get their wives? Did BY ask if God was really Adam and get a "yes"? Did he ask if his translations were correct?

This idea is just silliness... seriously!

~dancer~

Just to be clear, I have heard that if one asks a question in prayer the HG will confirm with the burning in the bosom, or one will get a stupor of thought, however I have never heard that the HG is limited to this process.

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?"

[_beastie]

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?"

So apparently the answer is YES, Joseph asked God if Emma would be destroyed if she didn't accept his other wives.

What a guy, that Joseph.

[_Yong Xi]

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.

On my mission, I discovered that I was able to get a burning in the bosom anytime I wanted or needed one while using the above formula (it does take concentration). Once I got the hang of it, it wasn't difficult at all. Interestingly, a couple of days ago I tested to see whether I still had the ability. I was a little rusty, but eventually was able to put myself into a mental state that led to success.

What say ye believers? Am I a liar, deceived, lacking understanding or ????

[_charity]

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?"

So apparently the answer is YES, Joseph asked God if Emma would be destroyed if she didn't accept his other wives.

What a guy, that Joseph.

Honestly, beastie for someone as sharp as you, you say the dumbest things. Oh, wait. Was that sarcastic? I have trouble picking out sarcasm on message boards. The MA&D board at least lets us have a wide variety of smilies to help out.

So the answer is NO. Joseph asked a question and got a whole load of an answer. Just like he went into the grove to ask a simple question, "Which church do I join?" and got the entire restoration of the gospel.

LIke I said, be careful with what you ask.

[_Gazelam]

The Holy Ghost will also impress upon us what we should ask, and it is my understanding that Paul was stopped on the road in responce to the prayers of others.

[_Tidejwe]

By LDS definition, all prayers are answered, and the Holy Ghost must confirm truth no matter who is asking. Regardless of religious affiliation.

To play devil's advocate (I don't personally agree that God always has to be asked), one could argue that your comment is out of context. Sure, Moroni says that by the HG you can know the truth of ALL things, but many other scriptures appear to suggest that not ALL prayers HAVE to be answered in the way you suggest. Even the Brother of Jared asks the Lord what he should do for light, and the Lord ask him what he WANTS the Lord to do. He didn't solve the problem for him. There were probably many possible things. Bro of Jared came back with an answer, and the Lord agreed that was an appropriate resolution.

Also, in the Old Testament there's the whole: "God left him to try him, to know all his heart" (2 Chronicles 32:31) that suggests sometimes God let's people make decisions on their own to test and try them. If God told us every little thing we should do, then what would be the point of agency? Also, the D&C says we don't need to be commanded in all things.

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.

[_Moniker]

Sometimes it starts with the BYU athletic director going to the prophet and then the prophet going to God as was the case around 1977 or so.

Hahaha!!!

I tried to find a reference to this on my own. No such luck. What's the joke?

[_Tidejwe]

Sometimes it starts with the BYU athletic director going to the prophet and then the prophet going to God as was the case around 1977 or so.

Hahaha!!!

I tried to find a reference to this on my own. No such luck. What's the joke?

Referring to blacks and the priesthood ban. Standford refused to play against BYU because the church was racist. BYU athletic director begged the leaders (Hugh B Brown in particular) to remove the ban. Hugh B Brown Presented it to the Presidency and 12 and everyone agreed to remove the ban in 1968, except Harold B Lee, who vehemently dissented and convinced them out of it and pissed off Brown. Finally after Lee died, Kimball lifted the ban. In this case, Lee was the doubting Thomas. It's just ironic that the begging initiated from the BYU athletic director instead of the church leaders themselves.

Edit: If I recall correctly They begged Brown to remove the ban because McKay was mental and essentially incapacitated at the time so he had nothing to do with it and Brown was basically in charge during the time. So anyway, the joke is that God didn't tell the Leaders to remove the ban, the BYU admin asked God and then the BYU admin asked the church leaders to ask God. Apparently God confirmed it to all of them except President (Elder at the time) Harold B Lee. Thus...the doubting thomas...the one who wouldn't believe the others and dissented. In other words...why didn't God simply come out and tell the leaders first? Isn't that how revelation is supposed to work? Why was the BYU guy more inspired? Why didn't it come straight down to the other leaders first? That's how we're taught it's supposed to work...

[_msnobody]

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.

[_Tidejwe]

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...