Prophets, Revelation, and Extreme Future

[_truth dancer]

The future fascinates me. I'm slightly obsessed with pondering how humankind will evolve over the next hundred or thousand years, even beyond.

James Canton's, Extreme Future, got me thinking about prophets and revelation and what is ahead.

One of the primary reasons the LDS church didn't work for me was because it seemed to be from an alternative universe (smile) or something... the story, the teachings, the "truth" didn't seem to fit my personal experience of real life, and the world in which I exist.

So, as I read, The Futurist Magazine, Kurzweil, Canton, or other considered forecasts and predictions of what is ahead, I have to wonder why the prophet of God is not helping our world? Or why Christ isn't helping out?

It just seems like the one and only true prophet of God, the one through whom Christ is speaking, might have something to share beyond number of earrings and what color shirts men should wear to church.

Yes, the prophets have told members to get food storage, (I personally think saving money is a better way to prepare for emergencies unless the world is completely destroyed and without food but this is beside my point). They have discussed getting out of debt, staying away from tawdry media, going to church, paying tithing, not shopping on Sunday, reading the Book of Mormon, going to the temple, etc. etc. but nothing that really will make a significant difference in terms of what humankind is facing at this moment and will face in the future.

On the other hand, researchers and futurists like Canton and Kurzweil have a good sense of what is to come, how to prepare, and how to survive into the next century, both individually and collectively. They are hired by leaders of countries, the largest businesses in the world, and others who want to prepare for what is ahead.

If a prophet were actually in direct communion with the God of the Universe wouldn't there be something.. anything that could help our species? (I'm not talking about not smoking or having FHE, I'm thinking in terms of global warming, alternative energy sources, sustainability, managing global connectivity, dark networks, terrorism, etc. etc.).

On a side note, on 9-11, James Canton was scheduled to return to San Francisco from NY on the flight that was headed toward the White House. On 9-10 he finished his work therefore changed his flight to go home a day early which ultimately saved his life.

Maybe God wanted him alive to help us out? Maybe he is a real prophet?

It just seems to me if Christ cared about humankind now would be a good time to help out a little. :-) As it is, thankfully, we have some pretty smart women and men who can give us a sense of what is ahead and how to prepare for it.

~td~

[_Yoda]

I don't really have any solid answers for why God does not intervene more. I do believe in life after death and the importance of family. This is not based on the Mormon ideal, but rather the fact that my greatest personal joys come from my family and from music.

There have been challenges in my life when I have keenly felt the presence of my deceased grandmothers guiding me through. Who knows? Maybe it's just my way of coming up with a survival technique, but it works for me.

[_Scottie]

But, God intervenes every day! Why, just yesterday, I lost my car keys and I prayed to find them, and voila!! They were in my jacket pocket!! Miracles still happen!!

Just go to any Utah hospital and you'll be hard pressed to find a Dr that doesn't believe in the healing power of the priesthood.

[_truth dancer]

I don't really have any solid answers for why God does not intervene more. I do believe in life after death and the importance of family. This is not based on the Mormon ideal, but rather the fact that my greatest personal joys come from my family and from music.

There have been challenges in my life when I have keenly felt the presence of my deceased grandmothers guiding me through. Who knows? Maybe it's just my way of coming up with a survival technique, but it works for me.

Hi Liz,

Actually, I'm really thinking more about prophets than God They seem completely, utterly oblivious as to what is coming. I have yet to hear any of the leaders of the church address the serious issues we are and will be facing in the near future. Going to the temple is not going to impact humankind in any serious or even minimal way. Not drinking tea is about as far down a concern as dusting a chandelier on the Titanic.

In regards to feeling deceased spirits, divine beings, or other worldly entities... people all over the world, in virtually every religion (and even the non-religious) experience these sorts of things. I know quite a few people who are absolutely positive they have had numerous past lives, I know people who are certain they can commune with the dead, and others who believe they are guided by totems. So, yes, I do think humans have an ability to experience these types of events... what this means is still up for debate! (smile)

~td~

[_harmony]

A few things:

1. I don't think we have any economists in our upper leadership, so they were as unpleasantly surprised as the rest of us at how bad it is. I mean, what good does it do to have a direct line to God, if you don't understand what he's trying to tell you?

2. This may be the Big One that our leaders have been predicting for years, telling us to get our food supply, have 3 months of savings, update your resume and (for the women) dust off your degree. Of course, they said the same thing back in the early 80's when inflation went over 20%, at 9/11, and every time the market has hiccuped since. The old "cry wolf" lesson comes to mind. At some point, people stop listening.

3. Predicting the downfall hasn't been hard. Getting some revelation on how to survive the downfall isn't forthcoming. And I think the reason why is that, personally, I don't think our comfort and material possessions matter much to God. People in Haiti get along just fine without the vast majority of our material possessions, so why should God care about our big screen tv's with the same intensity as their unplumbed huts?

4. I think the church is going to hunker down. They might have to dip into their reserves in order to make it through. With the higher numbers of unemployed, there will be less tithing, and there will more and more impact on the bishop's storehouse. Those of us who are still working will be asked to up our contributions, and that will likely be the extent of the revelations. I can't see the church opening the doors of the money vault and start using to help the poor. This isn't going to hurt the leadership, and except for a lipservice talk or two in conference, they aren't going to pay much attention. How much do you want to bet we get at least one talk on tithing, one talk on the importance of fast offerings, and one talk about the members helping their neighbors in need?

[_Yoda]

Actually, I'm really thinking more about prophets than God

I agree. Actually, I don't think that the LDS prophets of today have anymore insight into the future than the Pope, or any other church official. I personally don't think that my trips to Starbucks or Panera Bread are going to damn my eternal salvation.

The advice we hear about getting out of debt and food storage are basically common sense. I don't agree with just storing a ton of wheat that will sit and go bad, but I do think that buying basics in bulk makes sense. We have used our food storage, and we store and replenish things that we KNOW we will use and eat; i.e. sugar, flour, hot chocolate, dried spaghetti noodles, dry soup mix, spices, toilet paper, tampons, laundry soap....We love Costco!

How much do you want to bet we get at least one talk on tithing, one talk on the importance of fast offerings, and one talk about the members helping their neighbors in need?

Oh, I can guarantee this will happen. I also wouldn't be surprised if parents are asked to spend more money on children on missions. At the same time, I can see how the Church may cut back more on what they provide...they have already tried to initiate retired members housing missionaries instead of the Church renting them apartments. Also, I have noticed that there is a REAL push in our Ward with members feeding the missionaries EVERY DAY. There seems to be a real panic happening if the missionary calendar isn't completely full.

This may be the Big One that our leaders have been predicting for years, telling us to get our food supply, have 3 months of savings, update your resume and (for the women) dust off your degree. Of course, they said the same thing back in the early 80's when inflation went over 20%, at 9/11, and every time the market has hiccuped since. The old "cry wolf" lesson comes to mind. At some point, people stop listening.

Agreed. It's comments like these that convince me that Harmony is my long lost twin. LOL

[_truth dancer]

Hi Harmony,

I agree with you.

In addition to the immediate crisis which is really a blip on the screen compared to what is ahead, here are some "fundamental new innovations that will shape the future" according to Canton:

Biomimetrics - Mimicking nature's mechanism to make new products.
Photonics - Using light to create new products
Nanobiotech - combining nanotech and biology
Targeted Genomics - using genetic information to make things safer
Biodetection - the use of biological information to detect risks
Neuro-devices - the creation of micro-machines to enhance or fix brain
Nanoenergy - combining nanotech and energy to create fuel
Quantum Encryption - using the quantum computing to protect networks, products, and people.

Here is a glimpse of what is ahead in the next ten to fifteen years...

Stem-cell therapy for restoring memory, brain-machine implants into the cerebral cortex, Age reversal using neuro-pharmacology, Genomic neurotherapy to reprogram disease-causing genes, enabling neurons that control robotic limbs, neural engineering to rewire the brain, gene-replacement therapy, human-enhancement genetic testing, biocognitive augmentation, memory and personality biorestoration, longevity medicine, nanomimetics, nano-enabled robots, etc. etc.

The point is, the world is going to be completely different than the previous ten thousand years of human history. Everything is going to change... we are at the very beginning of a transformation unlike anything that has ever occurred; a change something along the lines of humans discovering fire, or agriculture.

We don't hear anything from the "prophets" about how to cope with the changes, what direction the world is going, and how to survive the new world in which we are entering.

It is as if the LDS leaders are either totally unaware, or they think the second coming will come so are not worried about it?

I don't know but I'm thinking maybe someone could send a few copies of Extreme Future to the COB so they can have a little heads up! (smile)

~td~

[_Dr. Shades]

It just seems like the one and only true prophet of God, the one through whom Christ is speaking, might have something to share beyond number of earrings and what color shirts men should wear to church.

So. . . what number of earrings should men wear to church?

We have used our food storage, and we store and replenish things that we KNOW we will use and eat; i.e. sugar, flour, hot chocolate, dried spaghetti noodles, dry soup mix, spices, toilet paper, tampons, laundry soap....We love Costco!

What's it like to eat toilet paper, tampons, and laundry soap??

Also, I have noticed that there is a REAL push in our Ward with members feeding the missionaries EVERY DAY. There seems to be a real panic happening if the missionary calendar isn't completely full.

Who is panicking: The members, or the missionaries?

[_Yoda]

What's it like to eat toilet paper, tampons, and laundry soap??

Smart ass! Re-read the sentence. I stated "use" as well as "eat". Obviously, the toilet paper, tampons, and laundry soap would fall under the "use" category.

Who is panicking: The members, or the missionaries?

Actually, the feeding the missionaries quote was from me, not Harmony. As far as I can tell, it's the lady who is coordinating the missionary meals who seems to be in a constant panic, but it makes me wonder why. I asked my husband how that worked....(If the missionaries aren't fed on a daily basis by the members, does that mean they don't eat?)

He explained that they had a food budget, but a lot of times it consisted of eating peanut butter and jelly.

I can understand that it is nice to have the missionaries fed by members...that they miss their families, and that the members can provide possible leads, but I don't think that we should be led to believe that if the missionaries aren't fed by us on a daily basis, they don't eat. That has been the impression given.

I'm wondering, though, if the Church will actually start incorporating the policy that the missionaries need to rely entirely on ward members for food. If so, that is going to add a lot of pressure to the ward members and food budgets that are already slim for many.

[_Jason Bourne]

LDS Prophets would argue that is society would follow their guidance about the nuclear family, moral issues and obedience to God civilization would be avoiding many of the ills it now faces.