Firsthand Accounts of the Second Anointing

Post by **_Sethbag** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:19 pm

I rather suspect that more members know about the possibility of getting one's "calling and election made sure", but vastly fewer would recognize it by the name "Second Anointing".

Post by **_Sethbag** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:21 pm

krose wrote:
Sethbag wrote:I'm sure most members assume that the GAs all have had it done...

Do you think that includes the 'Lamanite' elder who was thrown out?

I wouldn't know. If it's correct that during the 70s this ordinance had all but died out, and has since been revived and expanded, then who knows whether George Lee would have had this done? How long into this renaissance of 2nd Annointings was he still a 70 before being exed?

Post by **_asbestosman** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:36 pm

What is the point to CaEMS? Now one can sin and not have to worry about losing salvation? Seems like a great way to encourage rudeness, pride, and all sorts of miserable behaior since the one receiving it need not concern himself with repenting for it. That it's even possible to fall from this calling and election through denying the Holy Ghost makes me further question just what has been proven to get CaEMS.

Post by **_skippy the dead** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:41 pm

asbestosman wrote:What is the point to CaEMS? Now one can sin and not have to worry about losing salvation? Seems like a great way to encourage rudeness, pride, and all sorts of miserable behaior since the one receiving it need not concern himself with repenting for it. That it's even possible to fall from this calling and election through denying the Holy Ghost makes me further question just what has been proven to get CaEMS.

Maybe it's so they can go into politics without soiling their souls. *wink*

Post by **_krose** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:59 pm

asbestosman wrote:What is the point to CaEMS? Now one can sin and not have to worry about losing salvation? Seems like a great way to encourage rudeness, pride, and all sorts of miserable behaior since the one receiving it need not concern himself with repenting for it. That it's even possible to fall from this calling and election through denying the Holy Ghost makes me further question just what has been proven to get CaEMS.

This is a very good point. It seems to be no more than a big pat on the back for a life well lived.

Post by **_Sethbag** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:55 am

asbestosman wrote:What is the point to CaEMS? Now one can sin and not have to worry about losing salvation? Seems like a great way to encourage rudeness, pride, and all sorts of miserable behaior since the one receiving it need not concern himself with repenting for it. That it's even possible to fall from this calling and election through denying the Holy Ghost makes me further question just what has been proven to get CaEMS.

You might be right about the pride thing, but if the couples who usually get this are mostly old, lifelong members, chances are this isn't a huge problem. I think for a lot of them it's probably peace of mind. That is, trying to be as good of a Mormon as they possibly can can be stressful, once they're told they're in like Flynn, it's a load off. The stress level could go down.

Post by **_The Nehor** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 3:59 am

the road to hana wrote:
The Nehor wrote:
Sethbag wrote:One thing that ought to be mentioned is that from my understanding of LDS theology, there will be no difference between the exaltation achieved by one who has had their CAEMS on Earth while alive, and one who lives a live worthy of exaltation but who does not experience their CAEMS on Earth. The presumption is that this will occur for them either while they're in the spirit world, or after their resurrection, or whatever. So it's not really a "caste system" at least related to one's final reward, though here during this life it would certainly make those who experienced it feel like they were within a secret and elite "inner circle" of the church.

And, unlike earthly caste systems, the lower castes can't recognize immediately those who are in the upper caste, because those with their CAEMS don't wear it on their sleeve. I'm sure most members assume that the GAs all have had it done, but wouldn't necessarily suspect old Bishop Jones and his wife. But old Bishop Jones and his wife certainly would know where they stood. And those who hadn't had it would at least know that it's available, but that they hadn't gotten it.

Actually few members know about it. A few suspect there is something more, fewer know any details, and the rest just don't know.

You know what this means.....I'M PART OF THE ELITE GROUP THAT KNOWS ABOUT THE ELITE GROUP!!!! Mom will be so proud.

Do you know more about it today than you did yesterday?

No, I learned most of it a few years back by poking my nose around where it didn't belong.

Post by **_asbestosman** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:45 am

Sethbag wrote:You might be right about the pride thing, but if the couples who usually get this are mostly old, lifelong members, chances are this isn't a huge problem. I think for a lot of them it's probably peace of mind. That is, trying to be as good of a Mormon as they possibly can can be stressful, once they're told they're in like Flynn, it's a load off. The stress level could go down.

That's a nice angle. I think it could be nice to let people stress less about little things such as whether they remembered to do their home teaching, whether they are really humble engough (despite being very polite indiviuals), etc. I'd still think they should worry about when they commit serious crimes besides murder though. Or rather I think should be as worried about other serious crimes as they are with murder and denying the Holy Ghost.

Speaking of that, I met a woman (non-member) on my mission who was convinced that she had denied the Holy Ghost. We did our best to convince her that she couldn't have done so.

Post by **_Gadianton** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:23 am

At BYU, my Book of Mormon teacher talked about this ordinance. He confirmed what I knew to be true about it at the time, that in part, it involved "receiving the 2nd comforter", meanting a personal visitation by Jesus. He then indicated knowledge of a couple he felt had had the ordinance done.

As a point of trivia, I wonder how many Internet Mormons have had the ordinance?

I also wonder what a couple might think if they found out they had been nominated by a friend but the nomination got blackballed higher up?

It's definitely a good idea for the church to do it. I'd wager most of those who get it are mission presidents, heavy financial donators, and maybe temple presidents. Patriarchs, I kind of doubt it. I tend to think that the reward is a result of $$$$$$$$$, and that can come either through direct contribution, or service at a level that results in membership increases and hence more money.

Post by **_Mary** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 7:43 am

What annointed one said on the thread (interesting that he is probably English), seemed to fit my very small experience with this.

The SP's son, whom I was dating mentioned to me that the regional rep (back in the late70's) had been told about it from the GA's. The RR had told the SP, who must have told his son.

As I recall, it was connected to loyalty and service. Makes sense really.

Mary