jkwilliams Posted May 24, 2016 Posted May 24, 2016 7 minutes ago, Garden Girl said: Entirely possible jkw... I can relate to that. I received my PB when I was 14 years old... there were some very specific and wonderful blessings in regard to my "mission in life." I grew up very faithful, very active. Later, at age 20, I slipped into inactivity because I married a wonderful but non-LDS man... (blew one blessing there)... he wanted to be doing things on our weekends free from work obligations ... so it wasn't long before I became fully inactive. Years went by, and the promised blessings were essentially lost. The Spirit continued to tug at me... When 30+ years later I reactivated, I had given up years of blessings and callings associated with my stated life's mission. So I prayed that my PB would be restored to the extent possible... and these past 20 years since reactivating, my callings have all been supportive of that mission... I served a two-year Stake mission... and currently serve for the third time in a RS presidency... And there have been other callings... but several given up because of my choices... GG I'm pretty much a lost cause, but I'm fine with that. I'm glad you have found peace and fulfillment in the church. What makes you happy and blesses your life is what you should be doing. 1
Guest Posted May 24, 2016 Posted May 24, 2016 9 hours ago, jkwilliams said: I recall reading the biography of Spencer W. Kimball, which recounts that he was completely blindsided by the calling as an apostle and requested several days to think about it while on a previously scheduled vacation. Sometimes a calling comes out of the blue. Most people who have served in church leadership have experienced it at least once. I have, anyway. I was going to mention that (Great minds think alike) he President Kimball was so taken aback that he prayed every night for 80+ nights that he might be made worthy, many nights all night. Of course now a days they call them one maybe two days before conference.
sdc999 Posted May 24, 2016 Posted May 24, 2016 13 hours ago, Duncan said: Do you think the Lord would reveal in some capacity to men who would be called as Apostles of their future calling? I read once of Pres. McKay say that he has extended the call to many, many men to serve as Mission Presidents but has surprised very few. I just wonder if that would apply to Apostles. I know many wives that received some revelation that their wonderful, worthy husband would be the next "fill in the blank". Some are still waiting because they got 'next' mixed up with 'next, next' or 'next, next, next'. 1
boblloyd91 Posted May 24, 2016 Posted May 24, 2016 My mission president told us in a zone conference that he was outside one night on his farm and received an overwhelming impression that he would be the next bishop. Sure enough he was. I wish I knew why some people who have these impressions are proven right while others don't have those impressions validated, however it does happen.
jkwilliams Posted May 24, 2016 Posted May 24, 2016 44 minutes ago, boblloyd91 said: My mission president told us in a zone conference that he was outside one night on his farm and received an overwhelming impression that he would be the next bishop. Sure enough he was. I wish I knew why some people who have these impressions are proven right while others don't have those impressions validated, however it does happen. As I mentioned, my wife and I both knew I was going to be called as elders quorum president. A couple of years later, our bishop was moving out of the ward, and my wife and I both had the same clear impression that I was going to be called as the bishop. I wasn't. So, it does happen, but it's not always accurate.
ERMD Posted May 24, 2016 Posted May 24, 2016 My patriarchal blessing is double-spaced, large font, and about a page and a quarter. Nothing terribly remarkable or specific in it. I've managed to somehow get along just fine. 1
Stargazer Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 On 5/23/2016 at 7:57 AM, jkwilliams said: I recall reading the biography of Spencer W. Kimball, which recounts that he was completely blindsided by the calling as an apostle and requested several days to think about it while on a previously scheduled vacation. Sometimes a calling comes out of the blue. Most people who have served in church leadership have experienced it at least once. I have, anyway. Yeah, me too. A man with whom I served as ward clerk for five years while he was bishop told us in the bishopric that he had received an impression he was going to be called to be the bishop, months before it happened, and he and his family started spending more Sundays at their vacation home on the coast (yes, he's filthy rich), so as to put the stake president off the trail. It didn't work.
Stargazer Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 On 5/23/2016 at 8:39 AM, ERMD said: I like President Uchtdorf's take on this related subject: "When traveling to the stakes of Zion for the purpose of reorganizing a stake presidency, I have sometimes been surprised when, during an interview, a brother would tell me that he had received an impression that he would be in the next presidency. When I first heard this, I wasn’t sure how to react. It took some time before the Holy Spirit gave me understanding. I believe that the Lord has a certain calling for every man. Sometimes He grants spiritual promptings telling us that we are worthy to receive certain callings. This is a spiritual blessing, a tender mercy from God. But sometimes we do not hear the rest of what the Lord is telling us. 'Although you are worthy to serve in this position,' He may say, 'this is not my calling for you. It is my desire instead that you lift where you stand.' God knows what is best for us." Interesting. This explains an impression I got many years ago when I knew we were about to get a new bishop in our ward. Having once served in a similar calling, with an advance warning, I got a similar impression about being called as the bishop, but it lacked the certainty I had had before. It felt very much like you describe -- that I was worthy of consideration, but that I wouldn't be called. And I am glad that I wasn't! 2
PeterPear Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 I had a BYU Professor, forget his name, who dropped names of GAs to impress his students. He said he had heard accounts of men in the church who would write to SLC Headquarters similary stating to the effect: "I've now achieved financial independence (etc.) and am submitting my name to be called as a Mission President / GA, etc." None were ever called.
Duncan Posted May 26, 2016 Author Posted May 26, 2016 Just now, PeterPear said: I had a BYU Professor, forget his name, who dropped names of GAs to impress his students. He said he had heard accounts of men in the church who would write to SLC Headquarters similary stating to the effect: "I've now achieved financial independence (etc.) and am submitting my name to be called as a Mission President / GA, etc." None were ever called. There is a paragraph in the SWK bio about like this
PeterPear Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 10 minutes ago, Duncan said: There is a paragraph in the SWK bio about like this Maybe my professor got it from his book. Lol!
PeterPear Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 On May 24, 2016 at 5:09 PM, jkwilliams said: I'm pretty much a lost cause, but I'm fine with that. I'm glad you have found peace and fulfillment in the church. What makes you happy and blesses your life is what you should be doing. Oh come on. Lost cause? Don't be silly. Your Creator died for you. D&C Sections 11, 12 & 14 are very similar blessings. Most PB blessings ultimately end with a promise for Exaltation. And the Church exists as an organization in the Spirit World as though who participate in Temple Baptisms and Confirmations should well know. Who says there aren't quorums of the highest order that exist there that help to spread the gospel? PBs arent for jist this life alone. So give the Lord a break and make yourself an unlost cause.
Stargazer Posted May 26, 2016 Posted May 26, 2016 1 hour ago, PeterPear said: Oh come on. Lost cause? Don't be silly. Your Creator died for you. D&C Sections 11, 12 & 14 are very similar blessings. Most PB blessings ultimately end with a promise for Exaltation. And the Church exists as an organization in the Spirit World as though who participate in Temple Baptisms and Confirmations should well know. Who says there aren't quorums of the highest order that exist there that help to spread the gospel? PBs arent for jist this life alone. So give the Lord a break and make yourself an unlost cause. Well, yes, and we are all pulling for John (or at least the faithful portion of us are)!
Duncan Posted May 29, 2016 Author Posted May 29, 2016 I was reading the biography of a Mission President written by his wife. She shared his PB and it said that he would be active in building up the Church in the centre stake of zion and he served as a missionary in Missouri. He later served a couple mission in California and then as a MP here.It said something about preaching the gospel to the nations and he served in the US, Canada and then he was a Temple Pres. in NZ so I guess that figured it as that. Then it said something about the Islands of the Sea and his service as a Temple Pres. took care of that. So it would seem that his PB blessing worked out. I know though that Elder Alonzo Hinckley's said something specific like he would sit as a member of the 12 and he didn't believe it and behold and lo it came to pass. I wonder if believing in it or not believing in it has any bearing on whether or not it will happen in life?
Doctrine 612 Posted May 29, 2016 Posted May 29, 2016 Every calling I have been giving never came as a shock, I knew before hand what I was going to be called as. My current calling I wrote down in a sealed envelope and when I was given the calling I had the stake president open the letter and see what I wrote. He was amazed that I knew what I was being called as and why I was being called. he asked how I was able to know, I said when you read the scriptures everyday and have faith in Jesus grace and live the gospel, you will know things before you know them. 2
sdc999 Posted May 31, 2016 Posted May 31, 2016 On 5/29/2016 at 8:29 AM, Doctrine 612 said: Every calling I have been giving never came as a shock, I knew before hand what I was going to be called as. My current calling I wrote down in a sealed envelope and when I was given the calling I had the stake president open the letter and see what I wrote. He was amazed that I knew what I was being called as and why I was being called. he asked how I was able to know, I said when you read the scriptures everyday and have faith in Jesus grace and live the gospel, you will know things before you know them. Hmmm. I guess Mormons who are killed in tragic accidents didn't read their scriptures everyday nor have faith in Jesus nor lived the gospel the way they Should Have.(or some combination thereof) They could've seen the future.
Doctrine 612 Posted June 1, 2016 Posted June 1, 2016 On May 31, 2016 at 4:25 AM, sdc999 said: Hmmm. I guess Mormons who are killed in tragic accidents didn't read their scriptures everyday nor have faith in Jesus nor lived the gospel the way they Should Have.(or some combination thereof) They could've seen the future. I don't know how to respond to that. But I do know that things just happen. I don't know about you or them but I have always been ready for what ever came my way. the definition of luck, "when preparation meets opportunity"
Kenngo1969 Posted June 2, 2016 Posted June 2, 2016 (edited) There are lots of possible reasons for what happens in life: One human's inhumanity to another, hap crappening, the will of the Lord, being "prove[n] now herewith, to see if we will do all things whatsoever the Lord [our] God shall command [us]," alterations in circumstances or sudden reversals of fortune so as to see how we will react (whether we will continue in faith, or whether we will "curse God, and die") ... I don't deny that lots of things seem random, unfair, and/or difficult to understand when viewed through a mortal lens. But I do have faith that "all things" ... not just the "good" stuff and not just the stuff we understand, but all things ... "work together for the good of them that love God." My sister-in-law is dying of cancer. She's one of the finest people I have ever known. Is that fair? Nope. But life isn't fair. As Rabbi Harold Kushner put it so well, "Expecting to have a trouble-free life because you're a good person is like expecting the bull not to charge you because you're a vegetarian." As the current GEICO campaign might put it, "Bulls charge people: it's what they do. It sucks, but cancer kills people: it's what it does." Ready for them or not, there are so many things in this life that ar outside our control: the only thing we can control is our reaction to them. Edited June 2, 2016 by Kenngo1969
Stargazer Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 On 6/1/2016 at 1:54 PM, Doctrine 612 said: I don't know how to respond to that. But I do know that things just happen. I don't know about you or them but I have always been ready for what ever came my way. the definition of luck, "when preparation meets opportunity" I think sdc999 is resentful that the Lord has blessed you abundantly, but he gets a kick to the face instead. I've discovered in my life that the Lord is in charge. Things will not always be a bed of roses, and in fact we'll all have moments when we're reclining on a bed of nails, but if we trust in God, then everything will be for our experience and will do us good. Even the bad things. 2
sdc999 Posted June 7, 2016 Posted June 7, 2016 On 6/4/2016 at 0:19 PM, Stargazer said: I think sdc999 is resentful that the Lord has blessed you abundantly, but he gets a kick to the face instead. I've discovered in my life that the Lord is in charge. Things will not always be a bed of roses, and in fact we'll all have moments when we're reclining on a bed of nails, but if we trust in God, then everything will be for our experience and will do us good. Even the bad things. No, not really. I don't ever begrudge anyone for being blessed, being rich, being lucky, etc. But, when someone says I know the future, my BS flag goes up. Kick in the face? Hardly. I'm probably blessed way beyond what I even deserve. I have a great marriage of 23 years (one and only wife - didn't take two or three attempts), two fantastic children that are exceeding in life, a great business that allows for us to provide abundantly for not only my family but to allow us to make a difference in other areas and/or people as well. I have time to volunteer for an organization in our community to better the lives of children in need. But you are right Stargazer. I do trust in God!
Avatar4321 Posted June 8, 2016 Posted June 8, 2016 On 5/23/2016 at 0:02 PM, Jeanne said: Because if we didn't live up to church standards or not make any mistakes..her death would be in vain. That is how we all felt and if you could have seen the tears and heartfelt words of those young testimonies...your heart would have broke. Those that were having trouble with the gospel and their lives at home, struggled so hard and those that were very valiant in the ward couldn't do enough. Perhaps, it would have been better if her parents had not mentioned this. How does her death become vain because you can't live standards perfectly when we never could?
Avatar4321 Posted June 8, 2016 Posted June 8, 2016 On 5/23/2016 at 7:09 PM, jkwilliams said: I'm pretty much a lost cause, but I'm fine with that. I'm glad you have found peace and fulfillment in the church. What makes you happy and blesses your life is what you should be doing. No one is a lost cause.
Jeanne Posted June 8, 2016 Posted June 8, 2016 7 minutes ago, Avatar4321 said: How does her death become vain because you can't live standards perfectly when we never could? It would be interpretation of what her Stake Patriarch said. That she was taken to bring us all closer and back into the church. We felt if we came short of living our lives obediently, her death would have been in vain. My bad to have said her life would have been in vain. No...she lived a good life.
Stargazer Posted June 15, 2016 Posted June 15, 2016 On 6/6/2016 at 7:46 PM, sdc999 said: No, not really. I don't ever begrudge anyone for being blessed, being rich, being lucky, etc. But, when someone says I know the future, my BS flag goes up. Kick in the face? Hardly. I'm probably blessed way beyond what I even deserve. I have a great marriage of 23 years (one and only wife - didn't take two or three attempts), two fantastic children that are exceeding in life, a great business that allows for us to provide abundantly for not only my family but to allow us to make a difference in other areas and/or people as well. I have time to volunteer for an organization in our community to better the lives of children in need. But you are right Stargazer. I do trust in God! I think I was exaggerating for comedic effect. I'm glad you're blessed! I feel the same way -- blessed beyond what I deserve, especially in my entirely unexpected acquisition, as my wife, of the best woman remaining in the world after my beloved passed away! The new Sis. Stargazer is visiting me from England for two weeks, and it's wonderful. I'll be relocating to England myself in a few months.
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