Temple Recommend Renewal and Prophets, Seers, and Revelators

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Dash.

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Standing on our own feet within Mormonism

I really like that, and it fits what Katie said so well. I will talk with the other admins and see how we might be able to use that officially for the site.

[Anonymous]

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Dash1730 – I went AWOL from the Church for 15 years because, for me, it had lost all sense of spirituality / usefulness, etc. I walked after setting thru 3 hours of meetings on Easter Sunday, when, with the exception of the prayers, the words “Jesus Christ” were never mentioned once! This was in a Salt Lake ward. I checked out a few other churches, but nothing particularly rang my bell. So I mostly soloed after that time. It enabled me to go hiking and backpacking on weekends with no guilt, and I certainly felt more uplifted than I was in all those boring meetings. I gave up on G’s and all other ties with the church. I got rid of most, but not all of my church books. But I did keep some of the outward observances. I didn’t sleep around, didn’t smoke, and drank only occasionally.

Well, I have to say Jesus got mentioned plenty of times today in the local church here! I’ve been away for a long time like you (not as long but long enough) I do have a lot of sympathy with what you’re saying. I have had a problem with boredom in some meetings, even when certain GAs were speaking on a TV broadcast (!).

There is an old saying about nature being the other book of God, the other one being the Bible (obviously a non-Mormon said this). It’s a cliche, but there’s something in it, like a lot of them. Nature’s good for you, if you spend most of your time in town. It’s helped me a lot over time.

I’m glad that you have found yourself a good woman as well.

[Anonymous]

Dash, that was a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing it with us!

[Anonymous]

Katie, I echo what Brian said…the idea that it has lead you to a place of peace about the situation is wonderful to hear.

Can I ask a follow-up question, to you and to Konvert Kid, and Dash and anyone else who has gone through that recommend interview anxiety…

Were there times that the fear of what the interviewer would say or judge you as was actually worse than the actual interview itself? In other words, did you put more pressure on yourself than you needed to?

I just wonder if in hindsight if there is any helpful perspectives on that.

[Anonymous]

I apologize if this has already been mentioned (didn’t see it, but might have missed it).

Remember that the Prophet, seer, and revelator question is not one asking if you believe they walk and talk with God, but simply if you SUSTAIN them.

As in, “Do you sustain the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS as the prophet, seer, and revelator, and as the only person on earth who is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?”

Your definition of “prophet” may differ from someone else’s. In that question, you are just indicating that you sustain him as such. The question goes on asking if you also sustain the 12 as prophets. Finally, you’re asked if you sustain the other general authorities and local authorities of the church; unlike the earlier question, you’re not asked to what you sustain them as, so the assumption is that you just agree that they are your church leaders, which sort of means the word “sustain” might have different meanings within the context of one recommend question.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate the responses to this post, as this is one of the questions I have been dealing with for years. I’m new as a poster, but have been reading your site for many months. thanks for your honesty.

[Anonymous]

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Were there times that the fear of what the interviewer would say or judge you as was actually worse than the actual interview itself? In other words, did you put more pressure on yourself than you needed to?

In my earlier years of church activity, yes. But I was a scared little TBM, who believed my worth as a human being was entirely dependent on whether I measured up to their (what and whoever) standards. Now, when I get a recommend interview, I review the Q’s at home by myself before I make the appointment. Then with my answers firmly in mind, with a clear conscience, I answer according to my best understanding of the question. I feel the interviewer definitely has a secondary responsibility, but if he were to raise a relivant issue, I would attempt to fairly consider his input.

Now I have heard bishops say that they have many potential interviewees who are to hard on themselves. They think they must be perfect before going to the temple.

[Anonymous]

dash1730 wrote:

Now I have heard bishops say that they have many potential interviewees who are to hard on themselves. They think they must be perfect before going to the temple.

Yes, I have experienced this in giving interviews.

HiJolly

[Anonymous]

Yesterday, I taught the Priesthood lesson on the Holy Ghost #7. In it I read a quote from a first Presidency Message, which, for me, greatly broadens what it means to receive revelation. Items in italics are Q’s I asked the class. Items in bold were my emphasis. Here it is:

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First Presidency Message, Ensign, March 2002

Of an interview in 1839 between the Prophet Joseph Smith and Martin Van Buren, who was then president of the United States, the following was recorded: “In our interview with the President, he interrogated us wherein we differed in our religion from the other religions of the day. Brother Joseph said we differed in mode of baptism, and the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. We considered that all other considerations were contained in the gift of the Holy Ghost” (History of the Church, 4:42).

This powerful gift entitles the leaders and all worthy members of the Church to enjoy the gifts and companionship of the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead whose function is to inspire, reveal, and teach all things. The result of this endowment is that since the Church was organized, the leadership and members have enjoyed, and now enjoy, continuous revelation and inspiration directing them in what is right and good. Inspiration and revelation are so common, so widespread, so universal among the leaders and the members that there is a strong spiritual base underlying what is done. This can be found in the gatherings of the Church, both large and small.

Why does the Church grow and flourish? It does so because of divine direction to the leaders and members. This began in our day when God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith early in the spring of 1820.

Does this mean every decision made by every leader for his calling is perfect and complete?

Does this mean every other church has no revelation and offers no good?

The Bretheren also said:

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(“Statement of the First Presidency regarding God’s Love for All Mankind,” 15 Feb. 1978).

However, we claim that God’s inspiration is not limited to the Latter-day Saints. The First Presidency has stated: “The great religious leaders of the world such as Mohammed, Confucius, and the Reformers, as well as philosophers including Socrates, Plato, and others, received a portion of God’s light. Moral truths were given to them by God to enlighten whole nations and to bring a higher level of understanding to individuals. . . . We believe that God has given and will give to all peoples sufficient knowledge to help them on their way to eternal salvation”

We declare in all solemnity, however, that we know salvation in the world to come is dependent upon accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. One factor in salvation is personal revelation. Joseph Smith said: “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator” (History of the Church, 6:58).

I strongly resist quoting McKonkie’s “Mormon Doctrine” as authoritative, there are many things in it that are simply incorrect, and he was privately repremanded for publishing the book without anyone reviewing it. Nevertheless, I do like his discussion of “General Authorities”, and find a poetic irony in it:

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Individuals who hold these offices are humble men like their brethren in the Church. So well qualified and trained are the members of the Church that there are many brethren who could–if called, sustained, and set apart–serve effectively in nearly every important position in the Church.

Though general authorities are authorities in the sense of having the power to administer church affairs, they may or may not be authorities in the sense of doctrinal knowledge, the intricacies of church procedures, or the receipt of the promptings of the Spirit. A call to an administrative position of itself adds little knowledge or power of discernment to an individual, although every person called to a position in the Church does grow in grace, knowledge, and power by magnifying the calling given him.

[Author]

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