Applied mormonism: Let's be honest

[Jeff K.]

Good advice, Jeff. And as a professional, may I offer you some advice, that you will have to accept and implement based on the fact that I am a professional?

H.

You haven't displayed anything that I would call professional, unless of course being an amature is your profession.

[caudicus]

Well, if that isn't a pot calling the kettle black...

I think the OP raises some interesting questions outside of Mormonism, as well. Taking Adderall has become commonplace in schools. There are a number of human enhancing drugs that the government has even used for fighter pilots that have been shown to extend normal human capabilities. There are drugs that help us stay awake longer, learn better, and pay better attention in class.

To what extent can we use these drugs "honestly"?

Technology is helping us replace limbs and eyesight... something God has never really helped us out with before. Not only that, should you actually believe that God can help enhance your performance in various ways, technology is not only surpassing God's abilities, it also lays the power in our own hands; to decide whether or not we should be implementing "enhancements."

Has God created us the way we are for a reason? Would it be going against His will to replace a limb? Take Viagra? Take drugs that make the average Joe learn better than a genius who has worked hard to get where they are? I have heard it said that God gives us weakness for a reason. I doubt it is often believed that God intended our purpose in life to be to utilize technology so that we may overcome our personal failings and biological limitations.

If we are given tests in this life that match our abilities to overcome weakness or temptation, wouldn't that mean homosexuals were viewed by God as being stronger than most people? After all, that has proved to be one of the most difficult temptations to overcome... for them. If there was a pill for a gay person that could "cure" them, would it be cheating for them to take it?

[CV75]

If we are given tests in this life that match our abilities to overcome weakness or temptation, wouldn't that mean homosexuals were viewed by God as being stronger than most people? After all, that has proved to be one of the most difficult temptations to overcome... for them. If there was a pill for a gay person that could "cure" them, would it be cheating for them to take it?

God views the temptation of all His children in the same way. He will give no one more temptation than he can bear (I Corinthians 10:13). While none of us can judge that any one person suffers more or worse temptations than another, except in the case of Christ (Mosiah 3:7), it does seem that we all suffer unique kinds and intensities of temptation according to our capacity and character.

However, note that not all temptations are imposed upon us. We entertain many of them, or get ourselves into a position to be more or less tempted. I would say that taking a pill to overcome any particular temptation may help in developing self-mastery and preventing some degree of harm in that area (but perhaps opening up the opportunity for harm in another area), but the ultimate aim is to rely on the arm of the Lord.

There is a General Conference talk about doing (taking a pill to avoid temptation) versus being (enjoying faithful strength over temptation). See http://lds.org/gener...-to-be?lang=eng

[Jeff K.]

Technology is helping us replace limbs and eyesight... something God has never really helped us out with before. Not only that, should you actually believe that God can help enhance your performance in various ways, technology is not only surpassing God's abilities, it also lays the power in our own hands; to decide whether or not we should be implementing "enhancements."

I would disagree. While the technology wasn't available before, other methods including our ability to endure and in some cases a mercifully short life would have been the offsets. Technology is more available to us today, but then, I think temptation is much more prevelant due to that technology. I do not believe we are anymore or less blessed than past generations, but that the blessings and pitfalls are merely of a different catagory.

Has God created us the way we are for a reason? Would it be going

against His will to replace a limb? Take Viagra? Take drugs that make the average Joe learn better than a genius who has worked hard to get where they are? I have heard it said that God gives us weakness for a reason. I doubt it is often believed that God intended our purpose in life to be to utilize technology so that we may overcome our personal failings and biological limitations.

Would it be against his will to reject the light of knowledge God has provided?

As to pot calling the kettle black, your subjective judgement is duly noted and placed in its proper catagory.

[MorningStar]

Today was one of my favourite days at church - Sin Day! You know all know the day, it's the Sunday when all meetings focus on that all important topic - all the ways Satan can gain control of our souls. Every talk, lesson, and meeting follow the same pattern: Satan is bad, God is good, here's a laundry list of every possible thing you can do that will put you in Satan's power, do any of them and you are a Bad Mormon.

Sister Crane gave a talk today about honesty, and said something that got me wondering. She said that, while in school, she had and a partner had to team up to perform a physical test. Because both were so anxious about the test, they failed. Fortunately, they were given a second chance. Sister Crane's partner had some prescription medication to help with anxiety, and offered Sister Crane a dose. Sister Crane turned down the offer, feeling it was dishonest to take the test with the assistance of a drug.

On the day of the retake, Sister Crane's partner took the medication, and Sister Crane prayed for divine assistance. Sure enough, Sister Crane and her partner passed the test with flying colours.

Here's what I'm wondering:

1. Is taking prescription medication to assist with a test dishonest? I don't want to get into the nature of Sister Crane's test; let me assure you that this was not an athletic test.

2. Is praying for divine assistance with a test dishonest? Assuming that Sister Crane's claim is true - God did intervene and helped her with the test - does help from a supreme, all-knowing being, during a test, constitute cheating or dishonesty?

Please discuss.

H.

It's a physical test? What kind? Doesn't sound like something that required studying, but that their anxiety affected both of them. Praying to keep your nerves under control isn't dishonest or cheating. Taking someone elses prescription medication is illegal and I don't think this story is a good example of being honest, but choosing the right and being blessed for it. She chose not to justify using someone else's drug.

Also, I don't think the church tells us we're "Bad Mormons" for sinning. Sin is a subject that has to be covered sometimes.

[BookofMormonLuvr]

Are you saying that you believe that God is subject to manmade rules?

Regards,

Pahoran

If we are duty bound to obey the laws of the land (which is constantly trumpeted by LDS as the reason they don't practice polygamy right now), I assume the same goes for rules concerning education (no external sources on tests, no plagarism, etc...). So I believe that if a teacher sets of rules for their students, we would be duty bound, and God duty bound, to stand by those rules.

[caudicus]

God views the temptation of all His children in the same way. He will give no one more temptation than he can bear (I Corinthians 10:13). While none of us can judge that any one person suffers more or worse temptations than another, except in the case of Christ (Mosiah 3:7), it does seem that we all suffer unique kinds and intensities of temptation according to our capacity and character.

However, note that not all temptations are imposed upon us. We entertain many of them, or get ourselves into a position to be more or less tempted. I would say that taking a pill to overcome any particular temptation may help in developing self-mastery and preventing some degree of harm in that area (but perhaps opening up the opportunity for harm in another area), but the ultimate aim is to rely on the arm of the Lord.

There is a General Conference talk about doing (taking a pill to avoid temptation) versus being (enjoying faithful strength over temptation). See http://lds.org/gener...-to-be?lang=eng

Are you suggesting that God tests everyone equally?

[Jeff K.]

Yes, God does test everyone equally, equal to their own abilities, not equal to anyone else's.

[CV75]

Are you suggesting that God tests everyone equally?

Yes, in that it does seem that we all suffer unique kinds and intensities of temptation according to our capacity and character--I mentioned this in the post. He also atoned for everyone equally (according to our capacity and character) as in He provided all that each of us needs for eternal life.