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In what could have a been a more "disarming" experience, a missionary who had climbed on top of a wall at the zoo was attacked and injured by a pair of lions.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7053 ... -says.html

My first reaction was that only a stupid kid would climb up the wall around a lion enclosure, but then pretty much all of us were stupid kids at 19 and 20. I guess sometimes God sends a miracle to save His children from themselves.

Runtu wrote:In what could have a been a more "disarming" experience, a missionary who had climbed on top of a wall at the zoo was attacked and injured by a pair of lions.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/7053 ... -says.html

My first reaction was that only a stupid kid would climb up the wall around a lion enclosure, but then pretty much all of us were stupid kids at 19 and 20. I guess sometimes God sends a miracle to save His children from themselves.

A better miracle would have been for Elder Oakey to have come to his senses and change his mind about climbing the wall.

Of course, a miracle for the lions would have been to allow them to finish the meal.

Hard to know what side to come down on in these matters. :)

Quasimodo wrote:A better miracle would have been for Elder Oakey to have come to his senses and change his mind about climbing the wall.

I just thought it was interesting that the article was all about the "miracle," and not about how stupid this kid was.

Runtu wrote:I just thought it was interesting that the article was all about the "miracle," and not about how stupid this kid was.

That'[s funny. The news I got was a worker went and got a gun and shot it into the air scaring the lions back. but I guess they can attribute it to whatever. Afterall that worker wouldn't have gotten a gun if the sister's didn't pray, huh?

"As soon as they said, 'amen,' the lion's mouth opened..."

Too bad God needed to wait until "Amen". Just think of how much better off the elder would be if God was happy with just "Dear Heavenly Fa-"

stemelbow wrote:

Runtu wrote:I just thought it was interesting that the article was all about the "miracle," and not about how stupid this kid was.

That'[s funny. The news I got was a worker went and got a gun and shot it into the air scaring the lions back. but I guess they can attribute it to whatever. Afterall that worker wouldn't have gotten a gun if the sister's didn't pray, huh?

This is how all faith promoting stories go, from the Gospel of Mark to the tale of dumb elder photography at the zoo.

Runtu wrote:

Quasimodo wrote:A better miracle would have been for Elder Oakey to have come to his senses and change his mind about climbing the wall.

I just thought it was interesting that the article was all about the "miracle," and not about how stupid this kid was.

:). Me too! You were correct about everyone being dumb at 20 years old. I'm amazed that I survived it. "There, but for the grace of God, go I"

Two sister missionaries with the group at the zoo said a quick prayer, Alan Oakey said.

"As soon as they said, 'amen,' the lion's mouth opened, and (Elder Oakey) fell back down in a safe area," he said.

Elder Oakey's companion eventually made it into the fray and used a bar to help pry open the mouth of the lion whose jaws were locked on the missionary's biceps.

Now wait a minute... either the kid fell back down into a safe area because God opened the lion's mouth... or the kid fell back down into a safe area because his companion pryed the lion's mouth open with a bar.

Can't have it both ways.

And missionaries get assaulted, raped, shot, mugged - they drown, fall off bikes, get in car accidents, etc. - all with less "miraculous" outcomes. What an arbitrary god if this was some kind of miracle ...

Baker wrote:And missionaries get assaulted, raped, shot, mugged - they drown, fall off bikes, get in car accidents, etc. - all with less "miraculous" outcomes. What an arbitrary god if this was some kind of miracle ...

The way I understand, if something good happens, it's a miracle; if something bad happens, it's part of God's plan and is meant to strengthen and teach us.