changed Posted October 21, 2018 Posted October 21, 2018 I would say everyone goes through losing loved ones - everyone dies, everyone has health problems, those problems are not unique or extreme. Trials that involve abuse by a loved one - from adultery, to abuse by a parent, betrayal trauma - I was really hoping someone would have a story like this over GC, and ... nothing... oh well. Some trials "refine", others do not refine. ... I feel like I have been given tests that do not refine, and have not found others in the LDS community who have shared experiences or trials... It seems like the church is only for "the chosen" people who are not "tried beyond their limits"... and the rest of us are pushed (by God?) as far away as He can get us. Blessings? I made a deal with God - told him I don't want any more of His sick tests, I left the church so that God would stop tormenting me with His tests - I left, and He has stopped testing me. Blessed = no more sick tests.
Popular Post Rain Posted October 21, 2018 Popular Post Posted October 21, 2018 (edited) On 10/11/2018 at 5:18 AM, SouthernMo said: Both the scriptures and the more modern words of prophets have at times promised blessings if commandments are followed. “Blessings” seems to be a nebulous catch-all word to indicate something better than cursings. But it’s not clear to me what blessings really are. What are blessings (not referring to the priesthood ordinances)? I ask because I think it’s important to objectively determine the fruits of those prophetic promises. If I’m told to keep commandment XYZ, and am promised blessings will come, how can I identify those blessings when they come, rather than see them as natural consequences, or just the randomness of the universe? Happy to expound more, but let’s keep the opening question/topic as brief as I can. Years ago I was asked to give a talk on tithing. I noticed how often people said that tithing blessings are not always financial, yet 98% of the examples given seemed to be financial. So I asked God what blessings I had received came from tithing. Over the next few days he told me of a number of blessings specific to tithing and me which he had given me. I was a little surprised as I never would have thought they were related to tithing. Edited October 22, 2018 by Rain 5
Rain Posted October 21, 2018 Posted October 21, 2018 43 minutes ago, changed said: I would say everyone goes through losing loved ones - everyone dies, everyone has health problems, those problems are not unique or extreme. Trials that involve abuse by a loved one - from adultery, to abuse by a parent, betrayal trauma - I was really hoping someone would have a story like this over GC, and ... nothing... oh well. Some trials "refine", others do not refine. ... I feel like I have been given tests that do not refine, and have not found others in the LDS community who have shared experiences or trials... It seems like the church is only for "the chosen" people who are not "tried beyond their limits"... and the rest of us are pushed (by God?) as far away as He can get us. Blessings? I made a deal with God - told him I don't want any more of His sick tests, I left the church so that God would stop tormenting me with His tests - I left, and He has stopped testing me. Blessed = no more sick tests. I'm really sorry for the pain you have gone through. While you haven't mentioned what they are I can feel that things were very rough and hope some day you can find peace past the effects of them.
Calm Posted October 21, 2018 Posted October 21, 2018 9 minutes ago, Rain said: Years ago I was asked to give a,talk on tithing. I noticed how often people said that tithing blessings are not always financial, yet 98% of the examples given seemed to be financial. So I asked God what blessings I had received came from tithing. Over the next few days he told me of a number of blessings specific to tithing and me which he had given me. I was a little surprised as I never would have thought they were related to tithing. Concrete financial blessing are easy to connect with tithing, just as physical improvement would be easy to connect with healing blessing. So it is understandable why people use the more concrete as examples even it they understand there is a wide range or rather no limits involved. 3
Bernard Gui Posted October 22, 2018 Posted October 22, 2018 (edited) 5 hours ago, changed said: I would say everyone goes through losing loved ones - everyone dies, everyone has health problems, those problems are not unique or extreme. Trials that involve abuse by a loved one - from adultery, to abuse by a parent, betrayal trauma - I was really hoping someone would have a story like this over GC, and ... nothing... oh well. Some trials "refine", others do not refine. ... I feel like I have been given tests that do not refine, and have not found others in the LDS community who have shared experiences or trials... It seems like the church is only for "the chosen" people who are not "tried beyond their limits"... and the rest of us are pushed (by God?) as far away as He can get us. Blessings? I made a deal with God - told him I don't want any more of His sick tests, I left the church so that God would stop tormenting me with His tests - I left, and He has stopped testing me. Blessed = no more sick tests. I wish you could meet my friends Chuck Cox and Bob Erickson. Edited October 22, 2018 by Bernard Gui 2
Meerkat Posted October 22, 2018 Posted October 22, 2018 (edited) 14 hours ago, changed said: Some trials "refine", others do not refine. ... I feel like I have been given tests that do not refine, and have not found others in the LDS community who have shared experiences or trials... It seems like the church is only for "the chosen" people who are not "tried beyond their limits"... and the rest of us are pushed (by God?) as far away as He can get us. Some trials are too great to handle alone. Sounds like yours are worse than most. We have family members who left the church for similar reasons, but are reconsidering their choice. With the passage of time, a refining influence is working on them. It's understandable that some would leave the Church because we are human and weak. There is an enemy that, for some reason, targets some people and those around them far worse than others. Sounds like you are one of those. You are in good company. The scriptures have examples of people thrown into fires, witnessing awful things being done to people and not being able to stop it. Then there is Jesus Christ who suffered and descended below all awful things so He could help us when we finally find it in ourselves to turn to Him. I hope you can. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not the enemy. I hope you decide to come back someday. You may bring comfort to others who feel lost due to their "sick tests," as you aptly put it. The Savior is not the source of those tests. He can help people through them. Sometimes it just takes time. Here is a hymn that I hope can bring you some comfort. Maybe it won't, but I hope it does. May the Lord bless you as you sort out your life. Here is another resource that may or may not apply to your circumstances. People care about what you are going through but may not know what to do for you. Here is something: Again, may the Lord help and bless you, Changed. Edited October 22, 2018 by Meerkat I wasn't thinking very clearly. Sorry. 4
Walden Posted October 24, 2018 Posted October 24, 2018 On 10/11/2018 at 5:18 AM, SouthernMo said: Both the scriptures and the more modern words of prophets have at times promised blessings if commandments are followed. “Blessings” seems to be a nebulous catch-all word to indicate something better than cursings. But it’s not clear to me what blessings really are. What are blessings (not referring to the priesthood ordinances)? I ask because I think it’s important to objectively determine the fruits of those prophetic promises. If I’m told to keep commandment XYZ, and am promised blessings will come, how can I identify those blessings when they come, rather than see them as natural consequences, or just the randomness of the universe? Happy to expound more, but let’s keep the opening question/topic as brief as I can. What are blessings? In an nutshell: a fortuitous coincidence
Bernard Gui Posted October 26, 2018 Posted October 26, 2018 On 10/24/2018 at 1:31 PM, Walden said: What are blessings? In an nutshell: a fortuitous coincidence Yes, so they seem to be - to those who do not know God or choose not to acknowledge his hand. He blesses even those who do not believe in him. Those who know God recognize them as gifts from their loving Father.
The Nehor Posted October 26, 2018 Posted October 26, 2018 On 10/24/2018 at 3:31 PM, Walden said: What are blessings? In an nutshell: a fortuitous coincidence Which, if you believe God knows the end from the beginning, means the will of God.
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