Confirmation through the spirit or feelings?

[Ouagadougou]

Since so much in the church is based on the spirit and testimony, I found the statement below to be interesting, especially as it pertains to spiritual confirmations: 

"Simply receiving a warm feeling about a speech or article is not enough to call it revelation or a confirmation of the spirit. One would need to properly study the issue, get an idea of what is correct, then ask for confirmation. The witness has to be consistent with other revelation and can be compared with others witness of similar events. In the case of Elder Dunn's stories, we felt good when we heard them. Boyd Packer pointed out that feelings and “spiritual” events can come from three sources: 1) your own feelings, 2) Satan, or 3) the Holy Ghost. You must use methods to properly confirm which is occurring in a particular event."

http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_church_leadership/Criticisms/Paul_H._Dunn's_baseball_and_war_stories

What are the methods to differentiate between your own feelings and the spirit?  

Is it possible that prophets (or church leaders) mistake their own understanding/feelings for the spirit or revelation? 

Haven't church leaders described the spirit as just "warm feelings?"

Finally, how do those with different types of mental illnesses understanding the spirit with what that perceive to be true in their mind? In other words, can somebody with a serious mental illness (demetia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, etc.) fully differentiate the spirit with what they perceive in his/her reality?  

https://www.lds.org/friend/2004/05/friend-to-friend-a-warm-feeling?lang=eng

 

 

 

[The Nehor]

The method is to learn by experience.

[Duncan]

Funny you ask, I was talking to my Mum about him the other day. Elder Dunn came here in like 1982 or something and she went. She still talks about it, it was a women's meeting and they had a QA session and she remembers who asked what and how he responded. I don't get though how the Church be true through a baseball story or a war story? The Holy Ghost confirms truth to those who ask and who thought about it as per Moroni 10

[JLHPROF]

1 hour ago, Ouagadougou said:

Since so much in the church is based on the spirit and testimony, I found the statement below to be interesting, especially as it pertains to spiritual confirmations: 

"Simply receiving a warm feeling about a speech or article is not enough to call it revelation or a confirmation of the spirit. One would need to properly study the issue, get an idea of what is correct, then ask for confirmation. The witness has to be consistent with other revelation and can be compared with others witness of similar events.

I've been saying that on this board for ages.  This description of revelation is not consistent with those given by people who actually have recorded revelations.
Our whole idea of revelation in the Church today seems to be the "warm fuzzy" school of thought, usually based on

• D&C 9:8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

However this has no relationship to the description of revelation given by those who received most of canon.
For example:

• A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.
• This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence.

Apparently those experiencing "warm fuzzies" would have less of the blood of Abraham in them...

Quote

Is it possible that prophets (or church leaders) mistake their own understanding/feelings for the spirit or revelation?

Yes.  We haven't had a recorded revelation in almost a century.  Even the revelation of 1978 was described as a good feeling, albeit a pentecostal one.
Apparently whatever God want to communicate to the Church is no longer to be done using actual words of instruction.  I guess we're just so accurate in our interpretation of our feelings now.

[Ouagadougou]

1 hour ago, The Nehor said:

The method is to learn by experience.

I agree with that and would also add that: this experience is an action on our part, so we also gain knowledge by doing/enduring and developing our mind/spirit.    

[clarkgoble]

Joseph of course made a similar point when he distinguished intelligence being communicated from feelings or trappings associated with it.

As to method experience is the obvious answer, as someone noted, but probably not detailed enough. I'd say correlating the information conveyed (your interpretation) with testing those answers and then seeing if the next experience also can be tested in the same way. It's important to look for distinguishing characteristics that repeat. And of course when something you thought was inspiration wasn't, look for what makes that different. And it needn't merely be in the experience itself at that point but surrounding context. Obvious examples are that if you are angry, preoccupied, or frankly just not spiritual due to thoughts or action chances are you'll be far less able to receive inspiration or distinguish it. Unfortunately most people create problems for themselves with a confirmation bias by only paying attention to when they think inspiration is right and not paying enough attention to when it is wrong. Both are necessary parts of the inquiry. Likewise receiving inspiration and asking for answers or help is a skill. Further it's a skill quickly lost if you don't maintain it often demanding starting over from scratch in many ways.

[Ouagadougou]

1 hour ago, Duncan said:

Funny you ask, I was talking to my Mum about him the other day. Elder Dunn came here in like 1982 or something and she went. She still talks about it, it was a women's meeting and they had a QA session and she remembers who asked what and how he responded. I don't get though how the Church be true through a baseball story or a war story? The Holy Ghost confirms truth to those who ask and who thought about it as per Moroni 10

I've talked with family members who also remember his talks and some say that his talks (although some based on lies) produced the same spiritual confirmations, feelings, witnesses as other talks from church leaders or spiritual experiences they had.  How could a talk based on lies produce such spiritual witnesses?  For some it could be a "spiritual witness" in so many ways; however, to find out that some of his claims were fabricated illustrates how complicated human psychology and the mind can be as it relates to what we feel.   

Some of my favorite books are fiction, but I have been touched by them spiritually.  

 

[Bernard Gui]

2 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

What are the methods to differentiate between your own feelings and the spirit?  

I have learned from my own experience that revelation from the Spirit always causes me to have increased love for others and a willingness to give of myself for their benefit.

This is consistent with the words the prophets. 

 

Quote

 

9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for the welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them.

Enos 1:9,25

 

 

Quote

 

. 8:12

12 And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.

1 Nephi 8

Quote

24 Yea, and from that time even until now, I have labored without ceasing, that I might bring souls unto repentance; that I might bring them to taste of the exceeding joy of which I did taste; that they might also be born of God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.

Alma 36

Quote

 

29 And it came to pass that she went and took the queen by the hand, that perhaps she might raise her from the ground; and as soon as she touched her hand she arose and stood upon her feet, and cried with a loud voice, saying: O blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people!

Alma 19

 

 

[clarkgoble]

17 minutes ago, Ouagadougou said:

I've talked with family members who also remember his talks and some say that his talks (although some based on lies) produced the same spiritual confirmations, feelings, witnesses as other talks from church leaders or spiritual experiences they had.  How could a talk based on lies produce such spiritual witnesses?  For some it could be a "spiritual witness" in so many ways; however, to find out that some of his claims were fabricated illustrates how complicated human psychology and the mind can be as it relates to what we feel.   

Some of my favorite books are fiction, but I have been touched by them spiritually.  

 

 I've definitely been in talks where there were a lot of falsehoods (intentional or otherwise) with the spirit confirming truths in the talk or correcting falsehoods with truths. So the idea that hearing lies means there couldn't be confirmation of the truths mixed with lies seems problematic. In the same way I can learn indirectly from many books both fictional and non-fiction if the spirit teaches me. The idea that the spirit only confirms truth when everything is true with no potential of getting confused seems false.

[Robert F. Smith]

3 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

............................................................   

Since so much in the church is based on the spirit and testimony, I found the statement below to be interesting, especially as it pertains to spiritual confirmations: 

What are the methods to differentiate between your own feelings and the spirit?  

Is it possible that prophets (or church leaders) mistake their own understanding/feelings for the spirit or revelation? 

Haven't church leaders described the spirit as just "warm feelings?"

.............................................   

The late Elder Richard G. Scott gave some pointers in an excellent how-to do it talk at a Conference long ago, and he used a personal example of how the real thing occurs -- Scott, Richard G., “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” LDS General Conference, Oct 2009, online at https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/to-acquire-spiritual-guidance?lang=eng ; Ensign, 39/11 (Nov 2009).

[Duncan]

6 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

I've talked with family members who also remember his talks and some say that his talks (although some based on lies) produced the same spiritual confirmations, feelings, witnesses as other talks from church leaders or spiritual experiences they had.  How could a talk based on lies produce such spiritual witnesses?  For some it could be a "spiritual witness" in so many ways; however, to find out that some of his claims were fabricated illustrates how complicated human psychology and the mind can be as it relates to what we feel.   

Some of my favorite books are fiction, but I have been touched by them spiritually.  

 

emotion, books and stories can appeal to our emotion but it doesn't mean it's a confirming witness that it's true. You need to think it out as well. My Mom knew a guy one time who had been in WW1 and he joined up only after hearing a rousing speech, it was only a few days later that he realized oh man! I joined the army! he was so taken with this speech that he didn't really think it through, it must have appealed to his emotion. Remember the scripture "Study it out in your mind"-DC 9

[CV75]

10 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Since so much in the church is based on the spirit and testimony, I found the statement below to be interesting, especially as it pertains to spiritual confirmations: 

"Simply receiving a warm feeling about a speech or article is not enough to call it revelation or a confirmation of the spirit. One would need to properly study the issue, get an idea of what is correct, then ask for confirmation. The witness has to be consistent with other revelation and can be compared with others witness of similar events. In the case of Elder Dunn's stories, we felt good when we heard them. Boyd Packer pointed out that feelings and “spiritual” events can come from three sources: 1) your own feelings, 2) Satan, or 3) the Holy Ghost. You must use methods to properly confirm which is occurring in a particular event."

http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_church_leadership/Criticisms/Paul_H._Dunn's_baseball_and_war_stories

What are the methods to differentiate between your own feelings and the spirit?  

Is it possible that prophets (or church leaders) mistake their own understanding/feelings for the spirit or revelation? 

Haven't church leaders described the spirit as just "warm feelings?"

Finally, how do those with different types of mental illnesses understanding the spirit with what that perceive to be true in their mind? In other words, can somebody with a serious mental illness (demetia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, etc.) fully differentiate the spirit with what they perceive in his/her reality?  

https://www.lds.org/friend/2004/05/friend-to-friend-a-warm-feeling?lang=eng

Having had my first spiritual witness over 45 years ago, I am fortunate to have a standard with which to compare my own promptings from the Spirit. I also recognize that some of my personal feelings and promptings are the result of having received a measure of grace and sanctification over the years, and they might as well have come from directly the Holy Ghost in the moment rather than as a result of His cleansing and purifying influence over time. So those are two methods at least.

That first time of course I had no previous experience to refer to as a standard, and so in retrospect I’d say the method was simply to ask in faith, and to have an important enough quest to not waver in faith.

Anyone can make a mistake in this. Personally, I do not recall making a mistake. I do recall having less developed feelings than I do now, and less sensitivity to the Spirit than I do now, but I don’t think the Lord or anyone else holds that against me since I was on the right track with the light I had. Plus I repented; no harm, no foul...! I do recall times of denying the Spirit’s promptings and having carnal, sensual and devilish feelings, but I don’t ever recall not knowing the difference when push came to shove.

I don’t think it necessarily requires a mental illness to not perceive reality or not feel the Spirit, and I don’t think misperceiving reality and recognizing the Spirit that is not communicated to others due to any barrier, including mental illness, are mutually exclusive experiences.

[Gray]

12 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Since so much in the church is based on the spirit and testimony, I found the statement below to be interesting, especially as it pertains to spiritual confirmations: 

"Simply receiving a warm feeling about a speech or article is not enough to call it revelation or a confirmation of the spirit. One would need to properly study the issue, get an idea of what is correct, then ask for confirmation. The witness has to be consistent with other revelation and can be compared with others witness of similar events. In the case of Elder Dunn's stories, we felt good when we heard them. Boyd Packer pointed out that feelings and “spiritual” events can come from three sources: 1) your own feelings, 2) Satan, or 3) the Holy Ghost. You must use methods to properly confirm which is occurring in a particular event."

http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_church_leadership/Criticisms/Paul_H._Dunn's_baseball_and_war_stories

What are the methods to differentiate between your own feelings and the spirit?  

Is it possible that prophets (or church leaders) mistake their own understanding/feelings for the spirit or revelation? 

Haven't church leaders described the spirit as just "warm feelings?"

Finally, how do those with different types of mental illnesses understanding the spirit with what that perceive to be true in their mind? In other words, can somebody with a serious mental illness (demetia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, etc.) fully differentiate the spirit with what they perceive in his/her reality?  

https://www.lds.org/friend/2004/05/friend-to-friend-a-warm-feeling?lang=eng

 

 

 

You can definitely feel the spirit confirming all kinds of contradictory things. I don't think it works well as some kind of Liahona for deciding, for instance, what the one true church is, or where you should take a job. There is no one true church, and deciding on a job requires real cognitive decision making, weighing pros and cons and so forth. Spiritual experiences can help us edge closer to good moral behavior, as long as we're also exercising good reason and judgment along with it. Altruism is closely tied with spiritual experiences, for instance. These experiences also enrich our lives. Being closed off spiritually is like never listening to music or never experiencing art. It's an important part of being a whole person. 

Edited March 30, 2017 by Gray

[hope_for_things]

12 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Boyd Packer pointed out that feelings and “spiritual” events can come from three sources: 1) your own feelings, 2) Satan, or 3) the Holy Ghost. You must use methods to properly confirm which is occurring in a particular event."

This is an amazing quote, and sounds almost exactly like the David Whitmer recollection about what Joseph Smith said when they were unsuccessful selling the BoM copyright in Canada.  

Quote

Some revelations are of God: some revelations are of men: and some revelations are of the devil.

http://en.fairmormon.org/Primary_sources/David_Whitmer/An_Address_to_All_Believers_in_Christ

Do you happen to know the source of that Boyd K. Packer talk, they didn't site the source on the FAIR link you provided.  I would really like to read that talk now.  

[hope_for_things]

12 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

What are the methods to differentiate between your own feelings and the spirit?  

This is a great question and one that I've struggled with in the past few years.  Here is what I think about it today, but I'm open to change and I'm sure this perspective will change in the future.  I believe our feelings are influenced by a combination of body, our mind, and the stimuli that we're interacting with.  Much of that stimuli we are aware of through our five senses and we are conscientious of that stimuli, but there are other stimuli that we're unaware of that are either outside our five senses, or we aren't consciously picking up on because of all the noise happening, and perhaps our subconscious is picking up on it.  

I like to have faith that one of the sources of stimuli is a divine source.  Now I don't define that divine source in any particular terms, in Mormon parlance its the Holy Ghost, but confining this definition of the Holy Ghost into a particular personage or being is too confining to me.  Even trying to define the divine in terms of anthropomorphizing this term I have problems with.  I'm not even willing to say that the source of the stimuli is external to my person, it could be internal stimuli, I have no way of determining what is internal or external from myself.  All that said I have a hope/faith that one of the sources is a divine one and that this divine source is something I can tap into, not at will (I really have no control over it) but that on occasions I and other humans have the ability to connect to this source.  

All that setup leads to the answer to your question, and the answer is I don't know.  I don't know how to differentiate between my own feelings and the spirit.  I don't think there is a reliable way of differentiation, and I think that its also a blending of our feelings and this divine source, I'm not convinced our own personal biases and filter of understanding can ever be removed from the process, so even if we are being influenced by a divine stimuli, we're processing this information through our own understanding and that means that whatever we think about this stimuli is tainted by our own feelings.  

12 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Is it possible that prophets (or church leaders) mistake their own understanding/feelings for the spirit or revelation? 

Its 100% the case, there is no way to separate our own feelings from divine stimuli, its not possible.  

12 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Haven't church leaders described the spirit as just "warm feelings?"

Yes, absolutely, all the time.  Thats why I find that BKP quote so interesting as it is different than how our church typically views spiritual confirmation.  As a missionary we were taught to help others feel and recognize the spirit.  This was exactly what we'd do during discussions whenever we felt warm feelings we would point it out as confirmation that what people were feeling was the HG and that this meant God was confirming the truth of our words.  

12 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Finally, how do those with different types of mental illnesses understanding the spirit with what that perceive to be true in their mind? In other words, can somebody with a serious mental illness (demetia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, etc.) fully differentiate the spirit with what they perceive in his/her reality?  

Thats an interesting question, I do think that some mental conditions allow for more heightened sensory perception, in some cases they can comprehend or at least vastly differently than your average person.  This doesn't give them super powers or super perception abilities, but it definitely changes the way they perceive things.  No-one can fully differentiate the HG from his/her reality as I stated above, there is no way to separate personal from the equation. 

[Meadowchik]

I would say that perhaps the trickiest decision to be made under this paradigm is whom to marry. We are taught that any two people, man and woman, when righteous, can succeed in marriage.  Thus, the decision process seems perhaps oversimplified for probably a lot of people.

[hope_for_things]

13 minutes ago, Meadowchik said:

I would say that perhaps the trickiest decision to be made under this paradigm is whom to marry. We are taught that any two people, man and woman, when righteous, can succeed in marriage.  Thus, the decision process seems perhaps oversimplified for probably a lot of people.

I think it depends on how you define "succeed".  If success is defined by two people staying married, I think that statement could be correct, but if success if defined as thriving in a mutually beneficial relationship, I think that teaching can't possibly be true.  I would agree with you that this is an extreme oversimplification. 

[Bernard Gui]

1 hour ago, Meadowchik said:

I would say that perhaps the trickiest decision to be made under this paradigm is whom to marry. We are taught that any two people, man and woman, when righteous, can succeed in marriage.  Thus, the decision process seems perhaps oversimplified for probably a lot of people.

(Tevye)
"Golde, I have decided to give Perchik permission to become engaged to our daughter, Hodel."

(Golde)
"What??? He's poor! He has nothing, absolutely nothing!"

(Tevye)
"He's a good man, Golde. 
I like him. And what's more important, Hodel likes him. Hodel loves him. 
So what can we do? 
It's a new world... A new world. Love. Golde..."

Do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I what?

(Tevye)
Do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I love you?
With our daughters getting married
And this trouble in the town
You're upset, you're worn out
Go inside, go lie down!
Maybe it's indigestion

(Tevye)
"Golde I'm asking you a question..."

Do you love me?

(Golde)
You're a fool

(Tevye)
"I know..."

But do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I love you? 
For twenty-five years I've washed your clothes
Cooked your meals, cleaned your house
Given you children, milked your cow
After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?

(Tevye)
Golde, The first time I met you 
Was on our wedding day
I was scared

(Golde)
I was shy

(Tevye)
I was nervous

(Golde)
So was I

(Tevye)
But my father and my mother
Said we'd learn to love each other
And now I'm asking, Golde
Do you love me?

(Golde)
I'm your wife

(Tevye)
"I know..."
But do you love me?

(Golde)
Do I love him?
For twenty-five years I've lived with him
Fought with him, starved with him
Twenty-five years my bed is his
If that's not love, what is

(Tevye)
Then you love me?

(Golde)
I suppose I do

(Tevye)
And I suppose I love you too

(Both)
It doesn't change a thing
But even so
After twenty-five years
It's nice to know

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/soundtracks/f/fiddlerontherooflyrics/doyoulovemelyrics.html

[Ahab]

15 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

What are the methods to differentiate between your own feelings and the spirit?  

I ask myself questions like these, almost automatically now:

Is this me feeling this way, or is this some other person who is sharing how he feels with me?

Is it a good feeling or a bad feeling?

Do I really want to feel this way?

Would it be good or bad for me to act on this feeling, and what does this feeling make or inspire me to want to do?

Etc.  Sometimes pondering questions like these for quite a while, or sometimes only briefly.

15 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Is it possible that prophets (or church leaders) mistake their own understanding/feelings for the spirit or revelation? 

I don't feel like answering that question.

15 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Haven't church leaders described the spirit as just "warm feelings?"

No, not "just" or only that, AFAIK

15 hours ago, Ouagadougou said:

Finally, how do those with different types of mental illnesses understanding the spirit with what that perceive to be true in their mind? In other words, can somebody with a serious mental illness (demetia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, etc.) fully differentiate the spirit with what they perceive in his/her reality?

I have no freaking idea about that!!!

Why would you even ask me???

[Ouagadougou]

5 hours ago, Duncan said:

Remember the scripture "Study it out in your mind"-DC 9

I think this brings up an interesting question with regard to what "study it out implies."  For me personally, this means applying logic, and scientific evidence (up to a certain point) because we live a world bound by natural laws.  I don't want to go down a rabbit hole, but my own "studying out in my mind" and reading/research of the BoM has allowed me to come to the conclusion that the BoM is not historical and is just a fiction; others might come to a different conclusion.  The church even states that you can only understand such things like the BoM through the spirit.  Each person is different in terms of how much logical/scientific evidence he/she needs to believe or hope for something.

[Ouagadougou]

32 minutes ago, Ahab said:

I have no freaking idea about that!!!

Why would you even ask me???

I have had friends and family members who suffer (or have suffered from such mental illnesses).  The prophet today sufferers as well, so it is interesting to see how they differentiate between the spirit and their own reality.  I would add that it's commendable that church leaders continue to serve to the end in spite of their age and physical ailments.  

Edited March 30, 2017 by Ouagadougou

[Ahab]

2 minutes ago, Ouagadougou said:

I have had friends and family members who suffer (or have suffered from such mental illnesses).  The prophet today sufferers as well, so it is interesting to see how they differentiate between the spirit and their own reality.  

Okay, but only people who suffer from some kind of mental illness could answer a question about how people with a mental illness think.  Anybody who didn't suffer from a mental illness would have no freaking idea!!!

[Ouagadougou]

3 hours ago, hope_for_things said:

This is a great question and one that I've struggled with in the past few years.  Here is what I think about it today, but I'm open to change and I'm sure this perspective will change in the future.  I believe our feelings are influenced by a combination of body, our mind, and the stimuli that we're interacting with.  Much of that stimuli we are aware of through our five senses and we are conscientious of that stimuli, but there are other stimuli that we're unaware of that are either outside our five senses, or we aren't consciously picking up on because of all the noise happening, and perhaps our subconscious is picking up on it.  

I like to have faith that one of the sources of stimuli is a divine source.  Now I don't define that divine source in any particular terms, in Mormon parlance its the Holy Ghost, but confining this definition of the Holy Ghost into a particular personage or being is too confining to me.  Even trying to define the divine in terms of anthropomorphizing this term I have problems with.  I'm not even willing to say that the source of the stimuli is external to my person, it could be internal stimuli, I have no way of determining what is internal or external from myself.  All that said I have a hope/faith that one of the sources is a divine one and that this divine source is something I can tap into, not at will (I really have no control over it) but that on occasions I and other humans have the ability to connect to this source.  

All that setup leads to the answer to your question, and the answer is I don't know.  I don't know how to differentiate between my own feelings and the spirit.  I don't think there is a reliable way of differentiation, and I think that its also a blending of our feelings and this divine source, I'm not convinced our own personal biases and filter of understanding can ever be removed from the process, so even if we are being influenced by a divine stimuli, we're processing this information through our own understanding and that means that whatever we think about this stimuli is tainted by our own feelings.  

Its 100% the case, there is no way to separate our own feelings from divine stimuli, its not possible.  

Yes, absolutely, all the time.  Thats why I find that BKP quote so interesting as it is different than how our church typically views spiritual confirmation.  As a missionary we were taught to help others feel and recognize the spirit.  This was exactly what we'd do during discussions whenever we felt warm feelings we would point it out as confirmation that what people were feeling was the HG and that this meant God was confirming the truth of our words.  

Thats an interesting question, I do think that some mental conditions allow for more heightened sensory perception, in some cases they can comprehend or at least vastly differently than your average person.  This doesn't give them super powers or super perception abilities, but it definitely changes the way they perceive things.  No-one can fully differentiate the HG from his/her reality as I stated above, there is no way to separate personal from the equation. 

I enjoyed your reply and I would add that I think the human mind itself is inspired by a supreme being/God because of our ability to comprehend language(s).  IMO, our language abilities clearly separate us from the rest of animals.  Animals can communicate up to a point; however, they can never truly acquire language like we do.

"We need to dig deeper to understand to what we owe our unique success—what separates us from other animals in the domains of language, mental time travel, theory of mind, intelligence, culture, and morality. In each domain, various nonhuman species have competences, but human ability is special in some respects—and they have much in common. "

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/03/the_science_of_what_separates_us_from_other_animals_human_imagination_and.html

"mounting evidence indicates that, in contrast to Darwin's theory of a continuity of mind between humans and other species, a profound gap separates our intellect from the animal kind."

http://www.livescience.com/33376-humans-other-animals-distinguishing-mental-abilities.html

I agree that our feelings are influenced by the body, mind and stimuli/environment we come in contact with via language. 

[Ouagadougou]

18 minutes ago, Ahab said:

Okay, but only people who suffer from some kind of mental illness could answer a question about how people with a mental illness think.  Anybody who didn't suffer from a mental illness would have no freaking idea!!!

Unless they studied mental illnesses...

[Ouagadougou]

4 hours ago, hope_for_things said:

This is an amazing quote, and sounds almost exactly like the David Whitmer recollection about what Joseph Smith said when they were unsuccessful selling the BoM copyright in Canada.  

http://en.fairmormon.org/Primary_sources/David_Whitmer/An_Address_to_All_Believers_in_Christ

Do you happen to know the source of that Boyd K. Packer talk, they didn't site the source on the FAIR link you provided.  I would really like to read that talk now.  

I don't know the source of the Boyd Packer quote.  I can look to see if I can find the source FAIR used.