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What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 10:28 pm
by _just me
Today in one of the testimonies there was what I assume is a true story. If the take away lesson is what I think it is supposed to be I am kinda disturbed by it.
A man was serving in WWII. He was a good Mormon boy. He obeyed the commandments and kept his covenants. He expected that God would protect him for his faithfulness.
He ended up being wounded badly enough to be removed from combat and taken to a medical post (or whatever). He lay their wondering why God would forsake him and fail to protect him when he had been so faithful.
Two days later his entire unit was killed in battle.
The man had a testimony that God loved him on an individual basis for the rest of his life.
This is the story told today in my own words. It really wasn't embellished much more than that.
The reason I find this disturbing is because I *think* the message being sent is that God made sure he was wounded so that he would be out of battle and not get killed with his unit two days later. I am also disturbed because it seems to be saying that the rest of the unit was full of people not worth saving.
I can see how stories like this can be faith promoting and give people goosebumps, but they really don't reflect well on God.
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 11:00 pm
by _zeezrom
Interesting.
To a lessor degree, might we not say this about any miracle? Why did God help my neighbor find her ring while I lost mine?
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 11:07 pm
by _harmony
just me wrote:Today in one of the testimonies there was what I assume is a true story. If the take away lesson is what I think it is supposed to be I am kinda disturbed by it.
A man was serving in WWII. He was a good Mormon boy. He obeyed the commandments and kept his covenants. He expected that God would protect him for his faithfulness.
He ended up being wounded badly enough to be removed from combat and taken to a medical post (or whatever). He lay their wondering why God would forsake him and fail to protect him when he had been so faithful.
Two days later his entire unit was killed in battle.
The man had a testimony that God loved him on an individual basis for the rest of his life.
God loved the rest of his unit too.
It's called dumb luck and everyone has equal access.
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:36 am
by _Socrates
just me wrote:Today in one of the testimonies there was what I assume is a true story. If the take away lesson is what I think it is supposed to be I am kinda disturbed by it.
A man was serving in WWII. He was a good Mormon boy. He obeyed the commandments and kept his covenants. He expected that God would protect him for his faithfulness.
He ended up being wounded badly enough to be removed from combat and taken to a medical post (or whatever). He lay their wondering why God would forsake him and fail to protect him when he had been so faithful.
Two days later his entire unit was killed in battle.
The man had a testimony that God loved him on an individual basis for the rest of his life.
This is the story told today in my own words. It really wasn't embellished much more than that.
The reason I find this disturbing is because I *think* the message being sent is that God made sure he was wounded so that he would be out of battle and not get killed with his unit two days later. I am also disturbed because it seems to be saying that the rest of the unit was full of people not worth saving.
I can see how stories like this can be faith promoting and give people goosebumps, but they really don't reflect well on God.
Do some have so little confidence in God's eternal reward, they must look for current rewards to bolster their belief?
Will God's eternal reward subtract out the rewards given in this life?
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:45 am
by _zeezrom
Sacrates,
Go to
www.LDS.org and have a look at the videos. Today's church is mostly about rewards today. Plan of happiness is the new term used.
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:16 am
by _LDSToronto
just me wrote:Today in one of the testimonies there was what I assume is a true story. If the take away lesson is what I think it is supposed to be I am kinda disturbed by it.
A man was serving in WWII. He was a good Mormon boy. He obeyed the commandments and kept his covenants. He expected that God would protect him for his faithfulness.
He ended up being wounded badly enough to be removed from combat and taken to a medical post (or whatever). He lay their wondering why God would forsake him and fail to protect him when he had been so faithful.
Two days later his entire unit was killed in battle.
The man had a testimony that God loved him on an individual basis for the rest of his life.
This is the story told today in my own words. It really wasn't embellished much more than that.
The reason I find this disturbing is because I *think* the message being sent is that God made sure he was wounded so that he would be out of battle and not get killed with his unit two days later. I am also disturbed because it seems to be saying that the rest of the unit was full of people not worth saving.
I can see how stories like this can be faith promoting and give people goosebumps, but they really don't reflect well on God.
I can't imagine this is a true story. The incredible amount of guilt this poor bastard would feel would outweigh any sense of reward that this 'blessing' bestowed.
H.
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:17 am
by _Socrates
zeezrom wrote:Sacrates,
Go to
http://www.LDS.org and have a look at the videos. Today's church is mostly about rewards today. Plan of happiness is the new term used.
Where is the sacrifice in that?
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:20 am
by _just me
I can't imagine this is a true story. The incredible amount of guilt this poor bastard would feel would outweigh any sense of reward that this 'blessing' bestowed.
The story teller claimed it was a male family member of hers...grandpa, uncle? Can't remember.
Still coulda totally been fake. Random fake faith destro...I mean promoting rumor.
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:22 am
by _Scottie
About 10 years ago, a scout was lost in the Uinta mountains in Utah. As far as I know, they have still never found his body.
A couple years later, another scout was lost in the same mountains. They found this scout a couple of days later.
The news was just FULL of pious reporters saying how God still answers prayers!!
I can't help but wonder how the parents of the first scout felt. God sure didn't answer the prayers for THAT scout, now did He?
Re: What is the take away from this story told in SM?
Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 3:25 am
by _Morley
Scottie wrote:About 10 years ago, a scout was lost in the Uinta mountains in Utah. As far as I know, they have still never found his body.
A couple years later, another scout was lost in the same mountains. They found this scout a couple of days later.
The news was just FULL of pious reporters saying how God still answers prayers!!
I can't help but wonder how the parents of the first scout felt. God sure didn't answer the prayers for THAT scout, now did He?
The first scout's parents were probably saying to each other, "Damn, why didn't we think of that? We should have prayed!"