Calling Premonitions

[Duncan]

We had like 4 stake conferences last year. One of them they got a new Stake RS Pres. This lady likes to get revelation for other people and tells them about it. Well, in her speech she said that God told her that she would be the new Stake RS Pres. and was told this several years ago. I believe she believes this and her other revelations. I would like to know has anyone else had this happen to them that they were told they would get a certain calling and then it came to pass? or maybe didn't happen?

[bluebell]

My mother had it happen in regards to being a RS president. She found out later that the bishop had been praying that God would give her a heads up, because he knew the calling would be a difficult one in some ways and he didn't want her to feel ambushed when he extended it.  

I've had it happen once in regards to working with the YW in a ward.  Most of my callings have come as a surprise though.

[JulieM]

20 minutes ago, Duncan said:

We had like 4 stake conferences last year. One of them they got a new Stake RS Pres. This lady likes to get revelation for other people and tells them about it. Well, in her speech she said that God told her that she would be the new Stake RS Pres. and was told this several years ago. I believe she believes this and her other revelations. I would like to know has anyone else had this happen to them that they were told they would get a certain calling and then it came to pass? or maybe didn't happen?

Some people have a gift for this (premonitions that are correct, seeing the future, etc.) and I believe it's real for many of them.

I don't believe it's just an exclusive thing that happens to just church members though as it occurs for people in or out of the church.

[JLHPROF]

23 minutes ago, Duncan said:

We had like 4 stake conferences last year. One of them they got a new Stake RS Pres. This lady likes to get revelation for other people and tells them about it. Well, in her speech she said that God told her that she would be the new Stake RS Pres. and was told this several years ago. I believe she believes this and her other revelations. I would like to know has anyone else had this happen to them that they were told they would get a certain calling and then it came to pass? or maybe didn't happen?

I would be very concerned about anyone who received such a revelation concerning themselves.  That's a bit self-serving.
The part I highlighted in your post is also completely out of order.  Frankly, if I were the SP I would be concerned about calling such a person to a position of authority.

I am less doubtful of those who are given premonitions concerning future callings of others.  Joseph Smith for instance predicted that Brigham Young would one day lead the Church, and at the time Brigham was not considered his successor.
 

[hope_for_things]

39 minutes ago, Duncan said:

We had like 4 stake conferences last year. One of them they got a new Stake RS Pres. This lady likes to get revelation for other people and tells them about it. Well, in her speech she said that God told her that she would be the new Stake RS Pres. and was told this several years ago. I believe she believes this and her other revelations. I would like to know has anyone else had this happen to them that they were told they would get a certain calling and then it came to pass? or maybe didn't happen?

This kind of thing is pretty common from my experiences in Mormon culture.  A lot of people I know find these kinds of experiences to be very faith promoting.  If it works for those people, fine by me.  I know there are things that have happened to me that I've felt level of inspiration about.  I do wish they wouldn't brag about it though.  

[Tacenda]

57 minutes ago, Duncan said:

We had like 4 stake conferences last year. One of them they got a new Stake RS Pres. This lady likes to get revelation for other people and tells them about it. Well, in her speech she said that God told her that she would be the new Stake RS Pres. and was told this several years ago. I believe she believes this and her other revelations. I would like to know has anyone else had this happen to them that they were told they would get a certain calling and then it came to pass? or maybe didn't happen?

I haven't personally, but I served with a RS president who did have a premonition that she would be called to that position. And she wasn't a weird lady or off at all. 

I loved serving with her. And when she spoke about this, it was during Sacrament when the RS presidency was asked to speak that day. She was adament that she was told she would become RS president, and if I'm remembering right, she was even told about when it would occur.

[bsjkki]

Before my husband became Branch President we were 'told' that was what the calling was going to be. The second clear impression was, 'and it's going to be hard.'

[bluebell]

8 minutes ago, bsjkki said:

Before my husband became Branch President we were 'told' that was what the calling was going to be. The second clear impression was, 'and it's going to be hard.'

I think there are a lot of reasons that the Lord might decide to tell someone what was coming so that they are better prepared and feel capable of it.

[Bobbieaware]

1 hour ago, hope_for_things said:

This kind of thing is pretty common from my experiences in Mormon culture.  A lot of people I know find these kinds of experiences to be very faith promoting.  If it works for those people, fine by me.  I know there are things that have happened to me that I've felt level of inspiration about.  I do wish they wouldn't brag about it though.  

If it happens, it occurs with spiritually immature people who are ignorant of the correct order of Church administration. I also see such people as having an excess of enthusiasm that makes it difficult for them ito be able to discern between genuine inspiration and thoughts that, for whatever reason, excite or energize their minds.

[HappyJackWagon]

Most people share their premonitions after the fact so they seem quite faith promoting. After a new bishop is called someone will undoubtedly tell him "I knew it was going to be you." blah, blah, blah. Few people have the guts to do it before the calling is known so they don't have to deal with backlash for all the times they're wrong.

Also, it's often fairly easy to surmise a short list for any particular calling if you're plugged in to the workings of the ward/stake.  For example I correctly predicted the last bishop and stake president to be called in my area. But it wasn't revelation/premonition.

 

[Calm]

Having an awareness several years earlier is not that impressive to me, especially if she was involved in a lot of similar callings.

[The Nehor]

I have had it happen to me. I generally do not share such premonitions except with very close friends or family. If I did get a revelation about someone else my duty is to keep my big fat mouth shut and definitely not share.

[bsjkki]

2 hours ago, bsjkki said:

Before my husband became Branch President we were 'told' that was what the calling was going to be. The second clear impression was, 'and it's going to be hard.'

Not something I share publicly...but since Duncan asked and it is an anonymous message board, I figured I would share. I found that when the experience was hard and challenging for my family and the trials came, the sure knowledge that  the calling came from the God, helped me persevere with a happier heart. The calling came with a few added challenges of having to leave my "home" ward and attend church in a foreign language with more limited opportunities for my kids in their youth activities but the flip side, like many hard things is, it was all worth it!

[hope_for_things]

1 hour ago, HappyJackWagon said:

Most people share their premonitions after the fact so they seem quite faith promoting. After a new bishop is called someone will undoubtedly tell him "I knew it was going to be you." blah, blah, blah. Few people have the guts to do it before the calling is known so they don't have to deal with backlash for all the times they're wrong.

Also, it's often fairly easy to surmise a short list for any particular calling if you're plugged in to the workings of the ward/stake.  For example I correctly predicted the last bishop and stake president to be called in my area. But it wasn't revelation/premonition.

 

I think its important to recognize how confirmation bias factors into these kinds of situations.  I also think its important to recognize that the human mind likes to remember and emphasize when it gets predictions correct, and tends to forget about and deemphasize those times its wrong about premonitions.  Personally I've seen very spiritual people in my life, predict things wrong frequently, but oddly enough that doesn't stop them from relying on this same method over and over again.  

If premonitions were a very accurate means of predicting the future, then people could do a whole lot with this skill.  Unfortunately all the scientific studies on this subject show that those people who believe they can predict the future with accuracy, are just deceiving themselves, and statistically don't have any greater prediction abilities at all.  

[hope_for_things]

1 hour ago, Bobbieaware said:

If it happens, it occurs with spiritually immature people who are ignorant of the correct order of Church administration. I also see such people as having an excess of enthusiasm that makes it difficult for them ito be able to discern between genuine inspiration and thoughts that, for whatever reason, excite or energize their minds.

I'm not sure I would call them spiritually immature, I think they come by this tendency honestly, its a part of the culture they were raised in.  I also don't think its out of the correct order of Church administration.  It's one thing to predict and have a spiritual impression that you'll get called to a calling, but quite another to tell leadership that they should call you to a particular position because of your personal spiritual witness.  That may happen sometimes, but I haven't heard of it myself.  

[Duncan]

Just now, hope_for_things said:

I'm not sure I would call them spiritually immature, I think they come by this tendency honestly, its a part of the culture they were raised in.  I also don't think its out of the correct order of Church administration.  It's one thing to predict and have a spiritual impression that you'll get called to a calling, but quite another to tell leadership that they should call you to a particular position because of your personal spiritual witness.  That may happen sometimes, but I haven't heard of it myself.  

I have! a reason one of my YM leaders quit the Church was because he wasn't picked to be Bishop and another man was(who later got exed for adultery) and another man was on the High Council in one stake and moved here and wasn't picked to be on it again and he got into a huffy about it.

[hope_for_things]

5 minutes ago, Duncan said:

I have! a reason one of my YM leaders quit the Church was because he wasn't picked to be Bishop and another man was(who later got exed for adultery) and another man was on the High Council in one stake and moved here and wasn't picked to be on it again and he got into a huffy about it.

Those two situations do sound immature.  I'm sure there is more complexity from the perspective of those individuals, however its important to remember that there are a wide variety of experiences all across the spectrum of experience.  Its funny to me how often D&C 121 is ignored when it comes to these things.  Kindness, gentleness, persuasion, not coercion are required from all sides, especially those in leadership roles.  

Instead I see coercion being used frequently by leadership as a means of control, in my opinion this is not in alignment with the divine will.    

[The Nehor]

40 minutes ago, hope_for_things said:

I think its important to recognize how confirmation bias factors into these kinds of situations.  I also think its important to recognize that the human mind likes to remember and emphasize when it gets predictions correct, and tends to forget about and deemphasize those times its wrong about premonitions.  Personally I've seen very spiritual people in my life, predict things wrong frequently, but oddly enough that doesn't stop them from relying on this same method over and over again.  

If premonitions were a very accurate means of predicting the future, then people could do a whole lot with this skill.  Unfortunately all the scientific studies on this subject show that those people who believe they can predict the future with accuracy, are just deceiving themselves, and statistically don't have any greater prediction abilities at all.  

One reason the whole concept should not be talked about much and I only trust anyone who says something like this if they have keys or if I know they are spiritually mature. In one case I know of a friend got a confirmation while being considered to be Bishop that he was worthy of it as a blessing to him but he was not called. I could see someone with a lot more ego and less spiritual sensitivity taking that the wrong way.

[bsjkki]

28 minutes ago, Duncan said:

I have! a reason one of my YM leaders quit the Church was because he wasn't picked to be Bishop and another man was(who later got exed for adultery) and another man was on the High Council in one stake and moved here and wasn't picked to be on it again and he got into a huffy about it.

These obviously were not premonitions nor inspirations but power hungry/ego wishful thinking. The sad thing is, sometimes, these people get their wish. 

[The Nehor]

Just now, bsjkki said:

These obviously were not premonitions nor inspirations but power hungry/ego wishful thinking. The sad thing is, sometimes, these people get their wish. 

numinibus vota exaudita malignis 'enormous prayers which heaven in vengeance grants.’

I don't think it happens often but I suspect that sometimes God answers repeated demanding prayers for something someone should not have by giving it to them as a means of teaching.

[Duncan]

Just now, The Nehor said:

numinibus vota exaudita malignis 'enormous prayers which heaven in vengeance grants.’

I don't think it happens often but I suspect that sometimes God answers repeated demanding prayers for something someone should not have by giving it to them as a means of teaching.

the bigger they are the harder they fall

[Bobbieaware]

20 minutes ago, hope_for_things said:

I'm not sure I would call them spiritually immature, I think they come by this tendency honestly, its a part of the culture they were raised in.  I also don't think its out of the correct order of Church administration.  It's one thing to predict and have a spiritual impression that you'll get called to a calling, but quite another to tell leadership that they should call you to a particular position because of your personal spiritual witness.  That may happen sometimes, but I haven't heard of it myself.  

Of course it's spiritually immature. Within an LDS context, blabber-mouthing private "revelations" (something sacred) with the same degree gravity as someone would when talking about a favorite ball player's batting average is spiritually immature. And from the beginning it's been repeatedly driven into my head a member has no business sticking his or her head into someone else's stewardship.

Another sign of spiritual immaturity is casually using the word 'revelation' itself. A spiritually mature woman, with any degree of common sense, would say she had a hunch or a feeling that a particular woman would one day be called to be the Stake Relief Society President. Cheaply throwing the weighty word 'revelation' around, when saying you had a hunch or a feeling would serve just as well, is a sign of spiritual immaturity. And could also be a form of boasting about one's putatively high degree of spiritual receptivity.  

Another possibility is the woman who received the supposed "revelation" was in a light-hearted mood and was just having some fun. In reality, she may have merely had a hunch but loosely used the 'revelation' in a hyperbolic fashion for fun.  I've also seen people accused of crazy things because, for example, when they were being jocular a gossip overheard what was said and then promptly started a rumor that what was said was spoken in seriousness. I was even once accused of telling people I had seen angels when the original source comment was a joke.

[Duncan]

Just now, Bobbieaware said:

Of course it's spiritually immature. Within an LDS context, blabber-mouthing private "revelations" (something sacred) with the same degree gravity as someone would when talking about a favorite ball player's batting average is spiritually immature. And from the beginning it's been repeatedly driven into my head a member has no business sticking his or her head into someone else's stewardship.

Another sign of spiritual immaturity is casually using the word 'revelation' itself. A spiritually mature woman, with any degree of common sense, would say she had a hunch or a feeling that a particular woman would one day be called to be the Stake Relief Society President. Cheaply throwing the weighty word 'revelation' around, when saying you had a hunch or a feeling would serve just as well, is a sign of spiritual immaturity. And could also be a form of boasting about one's putatively high degree of spiritual receptivity.  

Another possibility is the woman who received the supposed "revelation" was in a light-hearted mood and was just having some fun. In reality, she may have merely had a hunch but loosely used the 'revelation' in a hyperbolic fashion for fun.  I've also seen people accused of crazy things because, for example, when they were being jocular a gossip overheard what was said and then promptly started a rumor that what was said was spoken in seriousness. I was even once accused of telling people I had seen angels when the original source comment was a joke.

I can go on an on about this lady's "revelations" and nobody seems to do anything about it, is what gets me. She told my dad years ago, according to revelation, to divorce my mom because she knew someone better than her,to which my dad told her to write down all her revelations and them burn them. She goes to the same ward as my folks. A few weeks ago she told the congregation in F/T because she's in this calling and is a Temple worker, she's on a "higher level" now and my my folks were like, yeah..........people who do illegal drugs are also on higher level..............

[rpn]

I've had such inspiration a couple of times.  But only quite close to the calling being issued (so clearly after it had been decided and the call was already in the process.

There have been other cases where I deduced correctly who was going to be called to something.   But that was logic, not inspiration. 

[hope_for_things]

15 hours ago, Bobbieaware said:

Of course it's spiritually immature. Within an LDS context, blabber-mouthing private "revelations" (something sacred) with the same degree gravity as someone would when talking about a favorite ball player's batting average is spiritually immature. And from the beginning it's been repeatedly driven into my head a member has no business sticking his or her head into someone else's stewardship.

Sharing spiritual experiences is a matter of personal preference and its acceptance is entirely culturally driven.  Early Mormonism this was common and expected.  Times change and so does the cultural winds of what is acceptable or not.  I don't fault people for wanting to share something that is meaningful to them.  

15 hours ago, Bobbieaware said:

Another sign of spiritual immaturity is casually using the word 'revelation' itself. A spiritually mature woman, with any degree of common sense, would say she had a hunch or a feeling that a particular woman would one day be called to be the Stake Relief Society President. Cheaply throwing the weighty word 'revelation' around, when saying you had a hunch or a feeling would serve just as well, is a sign of spiritual immaturity. And could also be a form of boasting about one's putatively high degree of spiritual receptivity.

I can see what you're saying here, but how do you draw a line between "revelation" and a "hunch".  Its all subjective.  I agree about the boasting part, and I don't like that.  

15 hours ago, Bobbieaware said:

Another possibility is the woman who received the supposed "revelation" was in a light-hearted mood and was just having some fun. In reality, she may have merely had a hunch but loosely used the 'revelation' in a hyperbolic fashion for fun.  I've also seen people accused of crazy things because, for example, when they were being jocular a gossip overheard what was said and then promptly started a rumor that what was said was spoken in seriousness. I was even once accused of telling people I had seen angels when the original source comment was a joke.

This is an example of communication and misunderstanding.  However, I think we need more honesty, more vulnerability in society, not less.  I think when we close ourselves off, and this is coming from a naturally inclined very closed person, that we limit our ability to connect to others, I'm trying to become more open as I grow in life.  Of course there are risks to this, but there are great rewards as well.  Brene Brown's work on this subject has been inspirational to me, and is helping me make better friends as I open myself up more.