My close encounter with Elder Bednar

[_Simon Belmont]

Using his honest expression of an unusual experience as leverage.

It's so predictably . . . Mormon.

Oh, come on now... 'twas only a small joke.

[_Nightlion]

If I had been called to the Quorum of the Twelve after I became an apostle, sent forth of God and not of men, in 1979, I would be sitting front and center. Imagine that.

Well, that's funny Nightlion -- I could have sworn that I saw you there, in the back :)

I am going to save a copy of this Simon. When I need to remind myself what agony my life could have been. Wonders how long I would have lasted before breaking out of doors. And it will make me laugh too. Thanks

No peril for you Persophone.
THE TRUTH IS I NEVER WANTED TO
ALL THROUGH MY LONG DAYS
OF DISENFRANCHISEMENTS

I KEPT MY PROMISE
I KEPT MY PROMISE

eta: Ya know I am over six foot tall. Thanks for shrimping me down pal.

[_Tarski]

I don't call him Elder Bedme for nothin'.

KA

LOL
This is why I like you.

Is he the first apostle of Christ with sex appeal?

[_consiglieri]

Is he the first apostle of Christ with sex appeal?

Other than Joseph Smith . . . ?

[_moksha]

Is that an illustration from A Study in Scarlet? ;^)


All the Best!

--Consiglieri

Seems to be be either an early advertisement for Gorton's® or a less explicit vision of the collective Japanese unconscious.

[_Simon Belmont]

eta: Ya know I am over six foot tall. Thanks for shrimping me down pal.

Sorry about that, Nightlion... I wasn't sure about your height.

[_ldsfaqs]

It is an error for anti's to simply "assume" because of their own ignorance and lack of familiarity with spiritual things that the experience of coming in contact with a servant of God is simply no different than the phenomena of "celebrity".

Those of us who actually know and can recognize that there is big differences between the two know differently.

Further, those who identified "other great men" as being a similar phenomena to Dr. Shades experience with Elder Bednar are actually very close to the actual truth of the matter. However, even that is not exactly the same, but it's very very close.

The greatness of a man, spiritually, in behavior, intelligence, etc., a man that is "well rounded" is most certainly a true phenomena. Further, it is also true that the spirit can touch a man, clearly as it did with Dr. Shades, to try and teach him something. However, sadly he likely won't listen, given the fact that almost his entire experience was focused on the "suit", things of little import, rather than the spirit that was radiating through Elder Bednar. Interesting how his judgments of Mormonism is also focused on "the suit" rather than the things of import, which would give one the connections to actually understand Mormonism, instead of judging it as a "fancy suit" alone, devoid of God's Will and Power. Interesting how the anti's judge the outside "appearance" rather than knowing a man's heart and spirit, such as Elder Bednar clearly radiated even through his suit, and actually "touched" Dr. Shades for once.

But, what will he DO with this experience? Pass it off with normal Atheist nuance and judgment as being simply a product of ones mind, or will he take a step in another direction, which would finally show him the actual truth and glory of things? Sadly, likely the first.

[_ludwigm]

It is an error for anti's to simply "assume" because of their own ignorance and lack of familiarity with spiritual things that the experience of coming in contact with a servant of God is simply no different than the phenomena of "celebrity".

Those of us who actually know and can recognize that there is big differences between the two know differently.

Further, those who identified "other great men" as being a similar phenomena to Dr. Shades experience with Elder Bednar are actually very close to the actual truth of the matter. However, even that is not exactly the same, but it's very very close.

The greatness of a man, spiritually, in behavior, intelligence, etc., a man that is "well rounded" is most certainly a true phenomena. Further, it is also true that the spirit can touch a man, clearly as it did with Dr. Shades, to try and teach him something. However, sadly he likely won't listen, given the fact that almost his entire experience was focused on the "suit", things of little import, rather than the spirit that was radiating through Elder Bednar. Interesting how his judgments of Mormonism is also focused on "the suit" rather than the things of import, which would give one the connections to actually understand Mormonism, instead of judging it as a "fancy suit" alone, devoid of God's Will and Power. Interesting how the anti's judge the outside "appearance" rather than knowing a man's heart and spirit, such as Elder Bednar clearly radiated even through his suit, and actually "touched" Dr. Shades for once.

But, what will he DO with this experience? Pass it off with normal Atheist nuance and judgment as being simply a product of ones mind, or will he take a step in another direction, which would finally show him the actual truth and glory of things? Sadly, likely the first.

As far as it is translated correctly. (The Articles of Faith, 8)

I think I know English. (This means, I don't know I know it, I only think I know and I hope I know. I may err.)

I did understand all of ldsfaqs' words.
Even I did understand the grammatically erroneous part of sentences (there is big differences).
I did understand the mixed metaphors about what does radiating through what
- the spirit that was radiating through Elder Bednar
- a man's heart and spirit, such as Elder Bednar clearly radiated even through his suit

But...
I didn't understand the comment as a whole.

Apparently, I speak with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world. (c) Copyright Bruce R. McConkie.

[_keithb]

It is an error for anti's to simply "assume" because of their own ignorance and lack of familiarity with spiritual things that the experience of coming in contact with a servant of God is simply no different than the phenomena of "celebrity".

Those of us who actually know and can recognize that there is big differences between the two know differently.

Further, those who identified "other great men" as being a similar phenomena to Dr. Shades experience with Elder Bednar are actually very close to the actual truth of the matter. However, even that is not exactly the same, but it's very very close.

The greatness of a man, spiritually, in behavior, intelligence, etc., a man that is "well rounded" is most certainly a true phenomena. Further, it is also true that the spirit can touch a man, clearly as it did with Dr. Shades, to try and teach him something. However, sadly he likely won't listen, given the fact that almost his entire experience was focused on the "suit", things of little import, rather than the spirit that was radiating through Elder Bednar. Interesting how his judgments of Mormonism is also focused on "the suit" rather than the things of import, which would give one the connections to actually understand Mormonism, instead of judging it as a "fancy suit" alone, devoid of God's Will and Power. Interesting how the anti's judge the outside "appearance" rather than knowing a man's heart and spirit, such as Elder Bednar clearly radiated even through his suit, and actually "touched" Dr. Shades for once.

But, what will he DO with this experience? Pass it off with normal Atheist nuance and judgment as being simply a product of ones mind, or will he take a step in another direction, which would finally show him the actual truth and glory of things? Sadly, likely the first.

So, if Dr. Shades had met 1) The Pope 2) The Dalai Lama 3) John Edwards 4) A famous Imam or 5) Nightlion at the SLC airport and been similarly impressed by the man, would this be an indication of the truth of the respective philosophies of the above people?

See, this is the problem with many religions but the LDS religion in particular: they take innocuous human emotional responses and try to convert them into some sort of supernatural experience. It's normal to feel twitterpated in the presence of a celebrity. It's not normal to attribute your twitterpation to a powerful, invisible being that lives on a planet named Kolob speaking to your heart through a billion light years of space through the influence of a sacred ghost.

[_Some Schmo]

I think the combo of celebrity and nicely tailored suit (which is definitely a rarity in Utah) is what got Shades all flummoxed.

Dammit, Equality, you have a knack for saying first exactly what I'm thinking (and about to write) when reading through a thread.

The only thing I would add is that, given Shades' admission to his economic standing in life (which incidentally could change, Shades; you don't have to resign yourself to forever being poor. You're a smart guy. I'm sure you could be more comfortable if you put your mind to it), the nice suit likely had a greater impact than it would have if Shades was in a middle to upper class tax bracket.

I mean, I love my BMW convertable, but I still get a decent thrill seeing a Porsche 911 up close.