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Finn the human wrote:My mission president told us that we could sure lie to him, but not to Jesus. I think that's the gold standard when it comes to discernment. You can fool mere mortals, but good luck trying to fool Jesus.

"The gift of discernment enables a bishop or branch president to know truth, to understand the differences between good and evil, and even to know what is in a person’s heart. Because he has this gift, we can seek his counsel and he can tell us what the Lord would have us do to grow spiritually." - Official LDS Church Manual "Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood", Part A, History and Organization of the Priesthood, 8: Duties of the Bishop and the Branch President, 57

"A bishop is also ordained a high priest so he can preside over all members in the ward (see D&C 107:71–73; D&C 68:15). A bishop is a judge in Israel (see D&C 107:74) and interviews members for temple recommends, priesthood ordinations, and other needs. It is his right to have the gift of discernment." - Official LDS Church "Gospel Principles," Unit Five: The Church of Jesus Christ, 14: Priesthood Organization, 85

It is abundantly clear that presiding priesthood leaders are given the gift of discernment."- Elder Gene R. Cook, “Seek Out Your Spiritual Leader,” Ensign, May 1978, 64

"Countless are the devious ways of stealing. Fortunate indeed are they who, through righteous living and the gift of discernment, can clearly distinguish between honesty and dishonesty."- Apostle Marion G. Romney, “A Glorious Promise,” Ensign, Jan. 1981, 2

"After enumerating various spiritual gifts, the Lord provides this counsel concerning your bishop or any other presiding priesthood leader: 'And unto the bishop of the church, and unto such as God shall appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the church, are to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God.' (D&C 46:27.)

"There is a power of discernment granted 'unto such as God shall appoint … to watch over [His] church.' To discern means 'to see.'” "President Harold B. Lee told me once of a conversation he had with Elder Charles A. Callis of the Quorum of the Twelve. Brother Callis had remarked that the gift of discernment was an awesome burden to carry. To see clearly what is ahead and yet find members slow to respond or resistant to counsel or even rejecting the witness of the apostles and prophets brings deep sorrow."

"Recently President Hinckley reminded the Brethren that, while we are men called from the ordinary pursuits of life, there rests upon us a sacred ministry. And we take comfort in what the Lord said to the original Twelve: 'Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you.'"

"Each week we meet together in the temple. We open the meeting by kneeling in prayer, and we close with prayer. Every prayer is offered in the spirit of submission and obedience to Him who called us and whose servants and witnesses we are."

"We know that we hold the power of the priesthood 'in connection with all those who have received a dispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation.' We think of those who have preceded us in these sacred offices, and at times we feel their presence." - Boyd K. Packer, “The Twelve Apostles,” October 1996 General Conference Address, also Ensign, Nov. 1996, and again in Ensign, Sept. 2005, page 16

"President Monson says softly and with some emotion. 'In my patriarchal blessing as a boy, I was promised that I would have the gift of discernment. I have to acknowledge that such a declaration has been abundantly fulfilled in my life.' Indeed, President Monson’s life—certainly his life as an Apostle and member of the First Presidency—seems in a sense to be one long, extended chronicle of the promptings of the Holy Spirit, with the many inspirational and varied miracles which have resulted from his response to those promptings." - Apostle Jeffrey R. Holland, “President Thomas S. Monson: Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith,” Tambuli, Oct. 1994, 16–17

"On one occasion the Prophet Joseph Smith was invited to preach the gospel to a group of Native Americans. They could not understand English, and he could not speak their language, so he paid a special government agent to interpret his words. The Prophet spoke for a few minutes, and the agent then interpreted the Prophet’s message. When the people showed resentment and anger at the Prophet’s message, the Spirit revealed to him that the agent was telling lies in order to turn them against him. Joseph pushed the interpreter aside and then preached a sermon to them. They understood every word."

"What spiritual gifts did the Prophet Joseph Smith use during this incident? Discernment, revelation, gift of tongues, and teaching." - Official LDS Doctrine Manual "Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood," Part B, Gospel Principles and Doctrines, 34: Spiritual Gifts, 281

"Remember, the Lord knows all things and will not be mocked. We are trying to help you. Never lie to try to obtain a call, a recommend, or a blessing from the Lord.” "If you approach the matter as outlined above, the member has the responsibility to interview himself. The bishop or stake president has the right to the power of discernment. He will know whether or not there is something amiss that ought to be settled before a recommend is issued." -Apostle N. Eldon Tanner, “The Blessing of Church Interviews,” Ensign, Nov. 1978, 40

ldsfaqs wrote:I don't know why you people think the Church's job is to be "lie detectors".
It's not.

The only "standard" the Church employ's is to take people at their word unless they have evidence and testimony otherwise.
So, what part of this is "lie detecting" to you people?

Discernment is a very specialized and unique gift, and it's entirely up to God to give it, and the person's ability to recieve it.
Further, you have no clue the amount of times the power of discernment works, but the leader can't do or say anything about it unless they have specific evidence. In other words, it would often be inappropriate for them to ask someone if they are a man, or ask a person if they are a child molester..... It's not like they are going to "admit it", and such amounts to an accusation without PROOF.

So, stop being bigots..... People "discern" all the time, and it doesn't just happen in the Church, yet there are many factors involved.

ldsfaps wrote:So, stop being bigots..... People "discern" all the time, and it doesn't just happen in the Church, yet there are many factors involved.

Franktalk wrote:Discernment is something that God directs to an individual. But the church can have an umbrella of discernment as well if the priesthood is operational. The problem is the church is currently in unbelief and under condemnation. The work of the Father has not commenced for the church. So where priesthood may have discovered this deception it could not due to no power being in the priesthood at this time.

Only when the church turns from unbelief will any discernment be available. A sign that the church has corrected its path is given in Ether 4 12-17. Since that sign has not come forth from the church and does appear to be available anytime soon we should expect more of this.

Mormon Think wrote:

Franktalk wrote:Discernment is something that God directs to an individual. But the church can have an umbrella of discernment as well if the priesthood is operational. The problem is the church is currently in unbelief and under condemnation. The work of the Father has not commenced for the church. So where priesthood may have discovered this deception it could not due to no power being in the priesthood at this time.

Only when the church turns from unbelief will any discernment be available. A sign that the church has corrected its path is given in Ether 4 12-17. Since that sign has not come forth from the church and does appear to be available anytime soon we should expect more of this.

Ahhh, I knew there must have been a good reason.

Bill

Mormon Think wrote:

Franktalk wrote:Discernment is something that God directs to an individual. But the church can have an umbrella of discernment as well if the priesthood is operational. The problem is the church is currently in unbelief and under condemnation. The work of the Father has not commenced for the church. So where priesthood may have discovered this deception it could not due to no power being in the priesthood at this time.

Only when the church turns from unbelief will any discernment be available. A sign that the church has corrected its path is given in Ether 4 12-17. Since that sign has not come forth from the church and does appear to be available anytime soon we should expect more of this.

Ahhh, I knew there must have been a good reason.

Bill

grindael wrote:

Mormon Think wrote:
Ahhh, I knew there must have been a good reason.

Bill

So what about Jo's failed gift of discernment? He elevated John C. Bennett to the FIRST PRESIDENCY! Has the church been in condemnation since the BEGINNING? This is so laughable.