Sharing Spiritual Experiences
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
I think we’ve all had spiritual experiences that perhaps have served as mile markers in our lives, or at least we later look back and see more clearly where those experiences were leading. I’ve learned over the years that God works in mysterious ways. I think we should all not be too quick to dismiss one another’s spiritual experiences, and sometimes even our own.
The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession... The LORD set his love on you and chose you... The LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery. Deut. 7
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
No telling what the congregation thought the one time I got up and spoke at F&T service. I spoke of a deeply personal spiritual experience. It was very different than anything I heard from anybody else.JohnW wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 2:53 amGreat thoughts Kishkumen. Agreed, spiritual experiences are often difficult to understand ourselves, let alone for someone with a whole lot less information. I think a lot of what we see (good and bad) in the church is the natural messiness of a community of humans. I'm not sure how easily you would moderate this sort of thing. Sometimes the more you try to moderate the worse things get. I know it was sometimes nigh impossible to manage testimony meetings. There were lots of times I just hoped the congregation understood the background of the person and gave them a bit of a pass.
Right after that, in Relief Society, the woman who was speaking, was reading from The Teachings of The Presidents of The Church: John Taylor. It was the chapter, The Origin and Destiny of Man. She got to a part where she said something to the effect that it is only through Christ, and she froze. In my mind, I said to myself, “Something is going on. You’re [God] doing something.” It was like time stood still. I looked around to my left, right, and behind me and it seemed like no one else even noticed. Then, she picked up reading where she left off. I think I got to see her having a spiritual experience of her own.
I kind of think of spiritual experiences like puzzle pieces. For a time we see the partial picture on the one piece, then, later in life as we get more puzzle pieces, the larger picture begins to come into focus.
The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession... The LORD set his love on you and chose you... The LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery. Deut. 7
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Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
I have a question that I think might fit with the topic. Twice in the last couple of months or more, I have seen comments to the effect that assume that when believers believe that God spoke to them (or some similar encounter with the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost) that believers experience a tingly feeling or a warm fuzzy feelings.
Is that what LDS expect to experience and if so, is that what is taught formally or culturally?
If this doesn't fit, I'll happily delete upon request, Kish.
Is that what LDS expect to experience and if so, is that what is taught formally or culturally?
If this doesn't fit, I'll happily delete upon request, Kish.
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF
Slava Ukraini!
Slava Ukraini!
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
A Fair Exchange.
Let's see who gets it
Let's see who gets it
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
May I ask, please:
1. What is it about an experience that makes you classify it as a 'spiritual experience'?
2. How different do you think that experience might have been if you had been brought up in a family that practised a different religion?
3. How different do you think that experience might have been if you had been brought up in a family that was confidently and calmly atheist?
1. What is it about an experience that makes you classify it as a 'spiritual experience'?
2. How different do you think that experience might have been if you had been brought up in a family that practised a different religion?
3. How different do you think that experience might have been if you had been brought up in a family that was confidently and calmly atheist?
Maksutov:
That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Mayan Elephant:
Not only have I denounced the Big Lie, I have denounced the Big lie big lie.
That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Mayan Elephant:
Not only have I denounced the Big Lie, I have denounced the Big lie big lie.
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
I am very ambivalent about testimony meetings. In my experience there are those who feel obliged to get up every time, and that gets old. There are those who just want to catch everyone else up on their personal lives. In the end, these meetings seem more like exercises in a kind of community building than they are spiritual, although there can be the latter aspect too.JohnW wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 2:53 amGreat thoughts Kishkumen. Agreed, spiritual experiences are often difficult to understand ourselves, let alone for someone with a whole lot less information. I think a lot of what we see (good and bad) in the church is the natural messiness of a community of humans. I'm not sure how easily you would moderate this sort of thing. Sometimes the more you try to moderate the worse things get. I know it was sometimes nigh impossible to manage testimony meetings. There were lots of times I just hoped the congregation understood the background of the person and gave them a bit of a pass.
“The past no longer belongs only to those who once lived it; the past belongs to those who claim it, and are willing to explore it, and to infuse it with meaning for those alive today.”—Margaret Atwood
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
I agree, msnobody. Everything you said above seems true to me.msnobody wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 3:19 amI think we’ve all had spiritual experiences that perhaps have served as mile markers in our lives, or at least we later look back and see more clearly where those experiences were leading. I’ve learned over the years that God works in mysterious ways. I think we should all not be too quick to dismiss one another’s spiritual experiences, and sometimes even our own.
“The past no longer belongs only to those who once lived it; the past belongs to those who claim it, and are willing to explore it, and to infuse it with meaning for those alive today.”—Margaret Atwood
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
It’s a great question. The phrase I most recall is “burning in the bosom.” But “the warm fuzzies” is kind of an informal colloquialism that stands in for that in casual conversation. I don’t think warm fuzzies does it justice. There are a lot more powerful, transformative experiences that people have.Jersey Girl wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 5:22 amI have a question that I think might fit with the topic. Twice in the last couple of months or more, I have seen comments to the effect that assume that when believers believe that God spoke to them (or some similar encounter with the Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost) that believers experience a tingly feeling or a warm fuzzy feelings.
Is that what LDS expect to experience and if so, is that what is taught formally or culturally?
If this doesn't fit, I'll happily delete upon request, Kish.
“The past no longer belongs only to those who once lived it; the past belongs to those who claim it, and are willing to explore it, and to infuse it with meaning for those alive today.”—Margaret Atwood
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
1. It is a powerful, rejuvenating, even transformative experience I have in connection with my spiritual understanding.Chap wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:03 amMay I ask, please:
1. What is it about an experience that makes you classify it as a 'spiritual experience'?
2. How different do you think that experience might have been if you had been brought up in a family that practised a different religion?
3. How different do you think that experience might have been if you had been brought up in a family that was confidently and calmly atheist?
2. I doubt it would be all that different. The specific content or mechanisms may be different, but ultimately the experience would be fundamentally the same.
3. Atheists have powerful experiences that lead them to convert to a religion. Other atheists have profound experiences that enrich their lives as atheists. They do not connect these profound experiences to God.
“The past no longer belongs only to those who once lived it; the past belongs to those who claim it, and are willing to explore it, and to infuse it with meaning for those alive today.”—Margaret Atwood
Re: Sharing Spiritual Experiences
Thanks for your quick and clear response. So would you agree that anybody who has "a profound experience that enriches their life" that may also be "rejuvenating, even transformative" might reasonably be said to have had what you would call a "spiritual experience", even if religion plays no part in their life at all?Kishkumen wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 11:23 am1. It is a powerful, rejuvenating, even transformative experience I have in connection with my spiritual understanding.Chap wrote: ↑Sun Sep 25, 2022 8:03 amMay I ask, please:
1. What is it about an experience that makes you classify it as a 'spiritual experience'?
2. How different do you think that experience might have been if you had been brought up in a family that practised a different religion?
3. How different do you think that experience might have been if you had been brought up in a family that was confidently and calmly atheist?
2. I doubt it would be all that different. The specific content or mechanisms may be different, but ultimately the experience would be fundamentally the same.
3. Atheists have powerful experiences that lead them to convert to a religion. Other atheists have profound experiences that enrich their lives as atheists. They do not connect these profound experiences to God.
Maksutov:
That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Mayan Elephant:
Not only have I denounced the Big Lie, I have denounced the Big lie big lie.
That's the problem with this supernatural stuff, it doesn't really solve anything. It's a placeholder for ignorance.
Mayan Elephant:
Not only have I denounced the Big Lie, I have denounced the Big lie big lie.