Do LDS believe that enough prayers can cause God to act?

[_Gazelam]

So God does not necessarily know what he is going to do in a given circumstance because he does not know if we are going to pray or get a Priesthood blessing? Or since he knows all, he knows when we are going to pray and when we are going to get a blessing and he knows what the result will be?

This deals with the classic question of whether or not God exists outside of time. God is omniscient, this is without question, but is he aware of future events? It is my personal opinion that he has a set timetable, and is capable of controling circumstances to achieve his goals. I am not of the opinion that he knows every detail of how we will each individualy act in every circumstance. I am sure that Samson had much greater events he could have been a part of if he had not succomed to Delilah.

I think God will respond to our prayers and assist us as we invite him to be a part of our lives. Also it is well understood that he will interact with us based on the faithful prayers of others as in the case of Alma the Younger. I have heard it said that Joseph Smiths First Vision was not a responce to his prayer alone, but the prayer of many who saw the deficiency in the existing religions of the world.

The question of time and God is an interesting one. I think God is a master planner, and works according to timetables and the abilities he sees in us that we are not even aware of. But can God see the future and know all the details of the future? I do not think so.

Gaz

[_Paracelsus]

Our life is a lesson where we learn that random acts can and do occur. If a rock breaks off and rolls down a mountain and strikes a family car travelling down the road it isn't necessarily an act of God. Things just happen, its the way of things.

Please show me the word random in any of the Scriptures.

Or in The Doctrine, if there were such thing. (for risks or side effects call bcspace)

Some way, you are right. We learn that random acts can and do occur. Unfortunately, it is an evidence against gods. I think it wasn't your goal...

[_The Nehor]

Prayer is a way God gives us the dignity of causality.

[_BobAliceEve]

The creation (organization) of Earth was an intervention based on our faith. Father may not have bothered with it if we did not want to live on it. Faithfulness "allows" Father to do things for us.

Because He organized us once we can be sure that He can re-organize us. By that I mean that our failing parts can be rebuilt (we might use the word repaired or fixed).

He is not held to any particular specific outcome. The future is not fixed. If it were then He is powerless. If a situation allows for an intervention and there is an interest by some in that intervention then He may choose to intervene. Alternately, He may choose to comfort.

Again, our faith "allows" Father to act. He will always do what must be done and He will always attempt to bless us when there is an option.

[_Morrissey]

The creation (organization) of Earth was an intervention based on our faith. Father may not have bothered with it if we did not want to live on it. Faithfulness "allows" Father to do things for us.

Because He organized us once we can be sure that He can re-organize us. By that I mean that our failing parts can be rebuilt (we might use the word repaired or fixed).

He is not held to any particular specific outcome. The future is not fixed. If it were then He is powerless. If a situation allows for an intervention and there is an interest by some in that intervention then He may choose to intervene. Alternately, He may choose to comfort.

Again, our faith "allows" Father to act. He will always do what must be done and He will always attempt to bless us when there is an option.

Riight

I am reading a book on the middle ages right now. While fascinating, the primary effect of the book has been to leave me feeling depressed. Life during those centuries was, for the great masses of humanity, short and brutish. Common morality, as we understand it today, was almost non-existent.

How anyone sees the hand of a divine, loving being who 'always attempts to bless us when there is an option" in the mess that was the middle ages is beyond me. Our perceptions of God (such as those expressed above or as are common in Mormonism and mainstream Christianity today) are, IMHO, completely a product of our time and culture and have no broader application to the human experience outside of it.

[_BobAliceEve]

We agree that the Middle ages was horrible. We agree that recent history has been more kind. We would possibly agree that most of the earth in most ages has been unkind (and depressing). My nemesis is Dickens' England. I really struggle with that history.

Two facts are important, however. First, people adapt to when they live and take it to be the norm. Second, God is able to comfort in ways that are not recorded all who turn to him regardless of time period or physical location or even if they know him personally. He knows that all human beings are his children and he loves them.

Finally, this life is not the total of being. For all those who will there will be complete healing of every injury and depravation.

If all people in all ages had continued in the teachings of Adam and Eve then life would be very different and much less depressing. God can not, can not, bless those who refuse his love. That is not his fault. Additionally, he will not, will not prevent evil from happening; to do so would instantly reveal his being. He will as soon as possible remove the effects of evil for those who love him.

Again I state that our faith allows God to bless us.

[_harmony]

. God can not, can not, bless those who refuse his love..

Nonsense. God blesses everyone on a continual basis, whether or not they even know he exists.

[_Morrissey]

We agree that the Middle ages was horrible. We agree that recent history has been more kind. We would possibly agree that most of the earth in most ages has been unkind (and depressing). My nemesis is Dickens' England. I really struggle with that history.

Two facts are important, however. First, people adapt to when they live and take it to be the norm. Second, God is able to comfort in ways that are not recorded all who turn to him regardless of time period or physical location or even if they know him personally. He knows that all human beings are his children and he loves them.

Hard to comfort the dead, including the millions upon millions who died young in age.

What good is love when it does not translate into action? What loving parent would see hie/her child suffering terribly (and I'm not talking about the 'trivial' things in life, but the significant ones), but chooses to withhold active love? So, if I see my daughter dying, suffering terribly in the process, and I can provide her physical relief, but choose not to do so, my assurances of 'but I really do love you" will, I imagine, ring hollow.

I am sorry, but this kind of rationalizing away an inert, uninvolved, and arbitrary God does not cut it with me. It is a cliché that has no substantive meaning.

Finally, this life is not the total of being. For all those who will there will be complete healing of every injury and depravation.

Ok, now you're just making excuses for a powerless, do nothing God.

If all people in all ages had continued in the teachings of Adam and Eve then life would be very different and much less depressing. God can not, can not, bless those who refuse his love.

Why the hell not? You are stating something as if it common sense knowledge. I see nothing remotely common commonsensical or knowledgeable about it. Explain to me why with actual reasoning and spare me the cliches.

That is not his fault. Additionally, he will not, will not prevent evil from happening; to do so would instantly reveal his being.

WTF?? Can anyone explain to me in rational terms just what the hell this means?

He will as soon as possible remove the effects of evil for those who love him.

Ok, we've been waiting now for tens of thousands of years. How much longer we gonna need to wait?

Again I state that our faith allows God to bless us.

Bollocks to this nonsense.

You can state this all you want. What's the rational basis for your believing this?

[_Some Schmo]

Threads like this are always good fun. I love it when people make crap up about god (whatever that means) and state it as if they have some profound knowledge.

What it really all boils down to is this: whether you pray or not makes no difference, and it's for nobody's benefit but your own. Anyone who tells you different is either lying to you or themselves.

[_Morrissey]

Threads like this are always good fun. I love it when people make crap up about god (whatever that means) and state it as if they have some profound knowledge.

What it really all boils down to is this: whether you pray or not makes no difference, and it's for nobody's benefit but your own. Anyone who tells you different is either lying to you or themselves.

And that, my friend, is one widely-found characteristic of the believer (and the Mormon apologist, for that matter): a firm conviction that he/she possesses specialized knowledge about God that had eluded billions upon billions of other earnest seekers who have inhabited this planet.

God is, for the most part inscrutable, but he pours forth his wisdom, knowledge, and clear understanding a chosen elite who's understanding of him transcends that of all others.

The utter arrogance of it all that a mere mortal would presume that he/she knows and can speak the mind and will of an all-powerful, omniscient being.