Ahab Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 In a thread that is now closed I was promoting the idea that we should do only what we feel right about doing, and not do something when we don't feel right about it.SOMEONE soon responded by saying something about how that sounded like a strange idea with some examples of some people doing some things even when they don't feel right about what they are doing. As if to say that we sometimes should do some things even when we don't feel right about what we are doing. As if to say that we shouldn't always follow what we generally refer to as our "conscience".SOME OTHER PERSON soon followed that up by saying he agreed with what that other person had said.So I'm starting this thread for others to share their ideas about whether or not we should always follow our conscience, and also to talk about what we mean by our "conscience".To me, following my conscience means to follow God, by doing what he wants me to do and also by not doing what he doesn't want me to do. It's as if God is saying No or Yes to each thing I feel in my conscious thoughts, with the guidance being the same or at least in harmony with what our Father would tell me whether by his own mouth or through others who deliver messages for him.So of course I believe I should always follow my conscience, by doing only what I feel is right and also by not doing what I feel is wrong. Even when others, other than God (the big 3), do not agree that I should and give me counsel that does not agree with what God is telling me through my conscience. Please chime in to share how you feel on this issue.
JLHPROF Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 I agree with you, but I think it's an assumption to say that something God asks us to do would never trouble our conscience. I can think of MANY times in history and scripture where God asked men to do things that troubled their conscience (at least at first). Following our conscience is a good general guideline, but following God's will IS more important. 2
ksfisher Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 I agree with you, but I think it's an assumption to say that something God asks us to do would never trouble our conscience. I can think of MANY times in history and scripture where God asked men to do things that troubled their conscience (at least at first). Following our conscience is a good general guideline, but following God's will IS more important. An example of the above: 10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him. 11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property. 1 Nephi 4 1
Glenn101 Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 I agree with you, but I think it's an assumption to say that something God asks us to do would never trouble our conscience. I can think of MANY times in history and scripture where God asked men to do things that troubled their conscience (at least at first). Following our conscience is a good general guideline, but following God's will IS more important. I agree with that also. But, when what God wants us to do goes against our conscience, we really need to find out that it come from God. That may take some more doing, but it an essential step, IMO. Glenn 4
KevinG Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 This brings up another facet for me... Conscience vs. what feels right or wrong. The early Saints and plural marriage being a very good case in point.
JLHPROF Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 (edited) This brings up another facet for me... Conscience vs. what feels right or wrong. The early Saints and plural marriage being a very good case in point. And see, I was trying to avoid specifically mentioning the plural marriage example. But it is one of the best. Even today it rubs peoples conscience so wrong that they foolishly think Joseph erred in restoring it. God's will supersedes the feelings of our conscience. It has to. Edited February 10, 2015 by JLHPROF 1
stemelbow Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 This brings up another facet for me... Conscience vs. what feels right or wrong. What the hecks is the difference? What feels right or wrong is my conscience. If God asks me to do something that is incredibly difficult to do, like kill my son, my conscience is driven by whether I want to obey God or whether I think He's up in the night.
KevinG Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 What the hecks is the difference? What feels right or wrong is my conscience.If God asks me to do something that is incredibly difficult to do, like kill my son, my conscience is driven by whether I want to obey God or whether I think He's up in the night. As soon as I master the art of divining if the answer to my prayers is really God's will, or my own selfish desire... I will have a better explanation for you. My worst struggles are when I cannot reconcile my own desire with what I understand God's will to be. Another struggle is when I agree with what I think God has instructed me to do, but it is socially unacceptable, or it requires sacrifice on the part of others who I love.
Nofear Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 Joseph Smith:That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another. God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" at another time He said, "Thou shalt utterly destroy." This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted--by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire. TPJS 256The point here is the last part... that we may not see the reasons until long after. 2
Ahab Posted February 10, 2015 Author Posted February 10, 2015 An example of the above:10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him. 11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.1 Nephi 4Good point and good example, and I agree that we sometimes "wrestle" with our conscience as we make our decisions. And Nephi eventually did do what he felt was the right thing to do, and followed his conscience.
Ahab Posted February 10, 2015 Author Posted February 10, 2015 And see, I was trying to avoid specifically mentioning the plural marriage example. But it is one of the best. Even today it rubs peoples conscience so wrong that they foolishly think Joseph erred in restoring it. God's will supersedes the feelings of our conscience. It has to.No, it doesn't have to. We just sometimes sttuggle with or against our conscience, deciding whether or not to follow it. And I think it's important that we realize that God's will is always in harmony and basically the same as what our conscience is telling us, by definition.
thesometimesaint Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 Trust in God, but keep your hands on the steering wheel. 1
Ahab Posted February 10, 2015 Author Posted February 10, 2015 Trust in God, but keep your hands on the steering wheel.What are you talking about?How do you know where you are going?
thesometimesaint Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 (edited) What are you talking about?How do you know where you are going? It's an analogy. It is entirely possible and necessary to keep control of your own actions whether God of some other person is telling you what to do. Pretty easy. I decide on the destination and then try to figure out how to best get there. Be it Heaven or the local grocery store. Edited February 10, 2015 by thesometimesaint
KevinG Posted February 10, 2015 Posted February 10, 2015 Cletus Take The Reel http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=99EM2MNU 3
Ahab Posted February 10, 2015 Author Posted February 10, 2015 It's an analogy. It is entirely possible and necessary to keep control of your own actions whether God of some other person is telling you what to do.Pretty easy. I decide on the destination and then try to figure out how to best get there. Be it Heaven or the local grocery store.Ah, like the Nav in my car. Auto-pilot can be good sometimes too, though. But I like your idea.
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 What if your conscience says gay marriage is ok?
JLHPROF Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 What if your conscience says gay marriage is ok? Then you need to determine if your conscience is in agreement with God's will. If it's not, you need to overcome your conscience like any other incorrect feeling. If you believe your conscience is correct, you need to determine why God would be the one in the wrong.
Avatar4321 Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Find out if your conscience is aligned with God.
Kadahow Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 What about Saul/Paul? He was traveling the holy land to persecute the christians. From what I read Saul/Paul thought he was doing right, but the Lord did set him straight. Just a thought.
strappinglad Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 My problem is I have little difficulty overcoming my conscience OR my sense of right and wrong. Rationalizing ones actions is a snap. " I did it MYYYYYY way " has an irresistible logic when what you WANT to do interferes with what you should do. 1
Stroopwafel Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Since no one provided a clear definition of conscience yet, a quick search gave me: CONSCIENCE1. the part of the mind that makes you aware of your actions as being either morally right or wrong;2. a feeling that something you have done is morally wrong. I find interesting that conscience is what makes one aware of his/her actions. In LDS theology, this concept is inseparable from the Light of Christ, which is believed to be bestowed to all mankind. Hence the comments we see advising to "align one's conscience with God's." The thing is, although feeling right or wrong about some issue is necessary to assess whether or not you are following God's will, it isn't sufficient, apparently. And this despite mankind having "naturally" the Light of Christ. So, how do we know God's will in the end? Through scriptures? Fine, then which ones? People being people, it's difficult to come to an agreement as to which sacred litterature is really from God, i.e., it is not self-evident, and people receive different and contradicting "confirmations". And also, haven't we seen all kinds of behaviour justified using "the word of God"? Consider for instance the USA's racial segregation past or, to use a more modern (non-christian) example, jihadism. All had or have a "good" conscience about their actions. 1
The Nehor Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Generally one's sense of right and wrong can be relied on but not always. Which side was Abraham's conscience on when he took his son on a day trip up Mount Moriah?
Robert F. Smith Posted February 11, 2015 Posted February 11, 2015 Good point and good example, and I agree that we sometimes "wrestle" with our conscience as we make our decisions. And Nephi eventually did do what he felt was the right thing to do, and followed his conscience.You may be too young to have encountered the Walt Disney character, Jimminy Cricket, who declared to all of us kids that we should "always let your conscience be your guide." I don't know that Nephi or Abraham followed their conscience. It is as likely that they went against conscience in obedience to God and the Holy Spirit. Military men, including the highest ranking, must often go against conscience in obedience to orders from above. The same is true in law enforcement and in any intelligence-gathering agency. The discipline must be harsh, and obedience immediate. Lives hang in the balance. Men don't find it easy to kill, nor do they handle the deaths of their close friends well. Many are permanently traumatized and feel guilty for what they had to do under such circumstances (in the name of national security). Yet the lives of a nation may be at stake, and such men are oath-bound to obey orders. We speak of sociopaths as having no conscience. They don't respond to the pain of others. Yet even those who are otherwise normal, sympathetic people, may "wrestle" with choices: What are the correct priorities. If your family is starving, is it O.K. to steal food for them? Some choices are even more difficult and elemental: "Sophie's Choice" of which of her children to sacrifice to the Nazi death camps. Just because a choice was made, does not mean that it was the correct choice. Sometimes life is just a crap-shoot, a cast of the dice, having more in common with the randomness of quantum mechanics than with careful, reasoned decision-making. Even more problematic, is allowing decisions to be guided by game theory, which is preferred by strategists at the nation-state level. Conscience is not allowed the slightest consideration. 1
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