Comments on: Contemporary Mormonism and the Magic General Authority

By: e

Sun, 25 May 2008 05:10:39 +0000

I agree with Adam that living in a celebrity obsessed society probably has much to do with it. Otherwise, I don’t understand the purpose of including mere sightings of GAs in testimonies. It takes great restraint on my part to not be disgusted by that form of name dropping and to stay focused on the actual message of the testimony.

By: The Holy Person in Mormonism? « Faith Promoting Rumor

The Holy Person in Mormonism? « Faith Promoting Rumor — Sat, 17 May 2008 00:41:51 +0000

[...] Holy Person in Mormonism? Eve’s recent post at ZD on the magical GA got me thinking about how such a phenomenon fits in the larger history of Christianity. The LDS [...]

By: Day

Day — Mon, 12 May 2008 07:07:48 +0000

Church authority adulation is such an interesting aspect of LDS culture. I babysat for the daughter of a GA. When the daughter was young, her mother had been told to dress up more often, and she rarely left the house in anything besides a nice dress, complete with nylons and earrings, sometimes even when just going to the grocery store. It would be a difficult burden to play a role where you must be on guard for people scrutinizing your appearance and behavior.
A GA was close friends with my uncle and came to speak at his funeral. I had left early with my young baby, and was standing to the side outside the chapel, crying. As the GA walked out of the church, he paused and talked to me briefly and told me my baby was beautiful. It was only as he walked away that I recognized him. I probably wouldn’t remember that quiet exchange if he hadn’t been a GA, but it did show me that this man was humble and sensitive to another person grieving, and after that I always particularly looked forward that that GA’s talks in conference.
I hope if the opposite had happened, if he had been brusque or inadvertently rude, that I would not find in the incident a poor reflection on the church or its doctrines.
I can see where people are coming from when they treasure the slightest contact with GA’s or their family, because everyone told me to write that story down in my child’s baby book.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 02 May 2008 01:38:49 +0000

I have shaken hands with a few and nothing miraculous happened, but it was a lesson to see how incredibly humble they were. People where crowding around to shake their hand and yet they seemed more like they were honored to shake my hand. It is good to see they are indeed human like the rest of us.

By: Virtual Oases, April 27 « The Exponent

Virtual Oases, April 27 « The Exponent — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 00:40:54 +0000

[...] I meant to link to this last week — so now it’s an “old” post by Eve on the magical general authority [...]

By: Jared

Jared — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 01:46:42 +0000

Reading this post evoked a number of thoughts. I enjoyed of what I read.

There was one idea that I would like to add. I don’t understand it entirely (this is usually the case), but I feel it is worth considering. We learn from D&C 46:19-20 that there is a gift of the spirit to heal and a gift to be healed. This appears to be two separate gifts. It would appear that these gifts should be added to our spiritual preparation when illness is a factor in our life. We can pray for these gifts and when we are ill, or know of someone who is ill, we can ask in prayer that these gifts can be made available.

I know of a man who I believe has the gift to heal. Others who know him feel the same. I’ve asked him if he has the gift and he says he feels he does. He is an average member of the church. I would assume these gifts are had among our sisters as well.

I’m not sure how faith, priesthood power, and gifts to heal all interact. And in the final analysis it doesn’t matter, I believe we should appeal to all that the Lord has made available.

If this so called Bird flu turns into a pandemic we will need to draw on the powers of heaven and whatever the source of the power the Lord extends to us will be fine with me.

I hope we will be diligent in seeking for all the gifts of the Spirit as the Lord teaches. I fear that in this day of prosperity we as church members are letting the opportunity to grow in these gifts slip by us as we rely on the excellent medical help available.

By: stephanie

stephanie — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 10:31:54 +0000

Thanks, enjoyed reading your words. Along w/you I would love to have a great heartfelt talk w/a GA or perhaps be in a situation to be invited to the same dinner (such as Mark experienced). But I’m sure there won’t be any “Meals w/the GA’s” coming up anytime soon!!

The experiences you shared about people getting “higher” priesthood reminded me of something that happened some time ago. A brother in our ward had a serious injury happen to him at work. So the wife or someone called the home teachers to come give a blessing. (I heard this second hand due to calling I had at time so unsure of who called the ht’s, must have been someone else) Well Both of these good men left their jobs that day, in order to perform the blessing.

Then it turns out the Bishop and Stake Pres (who I love and admire as someone I think could totally be a GA if he lived on the other side of the country ) was asked to give the blessing instead, apparently due to the “extra spirituality” factor. The Bishop said he also had a job and need to support his family- other priesthood holders were already en route. He wanted people to know that it is the Priesthood, not the exact Priesthood holder that matters in receiving blessings.

By: UFO Skeptic

UFO Skeptic — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 05:19:07 +0000

I think when people finally get to the point where they live on their own light and the Holy Ghost burns in their bones, they move beyond the point of thinking GA’s are magic, larger than life guys. I think they finally see them for what they are. Regular people who have the weight of the keys of the kingdom on their shoulders trying to do the best they can to build faith in the Lord among the people and trying to steer the Church in the direction the Lord is trying to take it. If that isn’t magic in itself to pull off that miracle, I don’t know what is. But I don’t need to treat them like rockstars, but I certainly would get up and stand on my feet if they walked in the room in respect for the huge burden that is on their shoulders. Praise to the men who commune with Jehovah. These are true messengers sent from God.

By: queuno

queuno — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:09:39 +0000

Living in Zion as I do, it’s not unusual to see general authorities around town,

Hmm. I wasn’t aware that we had that many GAs living in North Texas…

By: Cathy

Cathy — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 21:58:32 +0000

I have an amusing anecdote. (Amusing to me, anyway.)

Living in Zion as I do, it’s not unusual to see general authorities around town, at cultural events, etc. One evening at the opera, my husband and I found ourselves seated next to one of the 12. (He was very personable and down-to-earth, for the record.) A local celebrity was working the crowd and paused to chat with Elder X and shake hands with those around. After he had moved on, the lady sitting in front of Elder X turned around and exclaimed, “Oh, I’m so glad you were sitting here, because we got to meet Mr. Celebrity!”

Back on topic, I have some in-laws who have family connections to others of the 12 and have called upon them to perform sealings. It made me pretty uncomfortable to receive an e-mail announcement beginning, “W. and I will be sealed by Elder Z …” (As it turned out, Elder Z had an emergency that morning and sent another sealer in his stead.)