Note: Please read the comments and leave your own. This is a very important topic to think about, and I hope you will also read what others think.
We are taught not to cast our pearls before swine. I wonder if we have taken that too far. Are our children swine? Brothers? Sisters? Spouse? I have rarely shared my most personal spiritual experiences, which I feel is right, but perhaps I’ve been too strict in my definition of ‘swine.’
Here is my point: in a restoration church, why did I doubt it when people I taught as a missionary responded to the Joseph Smith story by saying that they, too, had seen Jesus? Why am I uncomfortable with people having experiences similar to Book of Mormon experiences (passing out, speaking in tongues, and so forth)?
I don’t really know what to make of that. I don’t really understand the gifts of the spirit. I cannot tell you which are of God and which are not (that is for those in priesthood positions like bishop to declare according to the Doctrine and Covenants). I do, however, think that I feel at a deep level like a lot of these gifts have been done away, and that things are not so in our day.
I wonder if classifying every single person that is not me as swine is part of the problem. By not talking about the good things that happen do we limit the faith-building experiences that our own family and those dear to us could have? I think so. I know that spiritual experiences my mother has had and shared with me seem to be special, rare, but to be expected in the course of life.
7 years ago
3 comments:
I think we all have a level of discomfort regarding scriptural experiences in our day. I, like you, am not sure why that is.
I think a lot of whether I'm willing to accept a claim of scriptural experience (seeing angels etc.) are dependent on the delivery and my relationship with the person. I have had a few experiences where people here (on the south side of Chicago) claim very big scriptural experiences and want to tell everyone on the bus or walking down the street. It makes me feel distrustful and on guard. They seem rather boastful even though they say they are just trying to 'bring you to the light'.
On the other hand, my aunt recently had a very sweet experience regarding a visit from a deceased friend while battling cancer. She offered words of encouragement and understanding. It was an experience she held dear and didn't proclaim to everyone on the street, which to me increases it's value. She did however, share it with people who are close to her. I felt lifted and encouraged by her experience and realized that these things do happen, if we have faith that they could.
I think it is often felt that because we don't have these experiences others like us aren't either. Often we think it is not our place to have these experiences and it should be left to general authorities etc. I don't think this is necessarily correct. I also wonder if maybe believing that these experience couldn't happen to you means they won't. Most of the people in the scriptures experiencing great things have asked for help from God. If you don't believe you could experience something great, maybe you won't.
I agree that we should be more open about our experiences with those we are close to and trust. I wonder if the reason we don't is not that we hold it too sacred but that we are worried someone we love and trust will doubt us.
This is probably longer than your original post, but I really appreciate your thoughts.
I've often wondered how people could believe the Bible so fiercely, yet not the Book of Mormon or the story of Joseph Smith.
I concluded, although it may be incorrect, that it is easier for people to believe something that happened years and years ago (in a distant land) vs more current events closer to home. It's easier to believe Noah built an arc or Moses parting the Red Sea and leading a massive amount of people to safety that a man (was recently) visited by God and Jesus and instructed, plus visited by an angel on multiple occasions and told where to find scripture.
I agree with Cami, generally our belief is based on the presentation (someone running around telling everyone or telling a select few in a more intimate setting). Although just as I typed that, who should we be more believing of? Isn't spiritual experience exciting? Hasn't it been said that if we really knew and believed what we say we do, we would be more willing to share it with everyone? Wouldn't we be so excited we wanted everyone to know and feel the same?
I know with my extended family I diminish my blessings (I know it is wrong and I'm working on it) because I've been around and around about the gospel and know they think I'm wrong for believing what I do, therefore I don't share to avoid conflict. Not all instances warrant sharing spiritual experiences, although since my extended family believes in spiritual experiences, specifically those "gifts" you talked about, I should/could share more.
I could/should share more in general and I should. Thanks for making me think more.
I think when we do have a very spiritual experience, sharing it with the whole world cheapens it. I'm sure that general authorities only share a very small part of those experiences that they have had, and their's are probably much more "impressive" than mine...I hesitate to use that term but I hope that you know what I mean. There is a reason that we don't talk about sacred things except in certain places and times, and only with people that the Lord deems worthy to share in that. You have no idea how many people I met on my mission that had seen angels or Saint somebody or other...I do not believe that Mary has appeared to the thousands of people who claim to have seen her, and yet they seem to hold that as a special spiritual experience that tells them they are saved. I do, however, believe in the ministering of angels to all of God's children, and in the workings of the Holy Spirit, whom we know can touch all people. I guess I just base my belief by the character of the person, the experience that they are relating, and the feeling I get when they share. The spirit will witness truth, no matter where it comes from. Satan can appear to people also, and I'm sure he does, to try to lead them astray by tricking them into thinking they are directed by God to do or say something. If it doesn't fit the 'profile" of how God generally works, I usually don't believe it.
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