DOUG MENDENHALL AND LDSFF FOLKS GETTING SCHOOLED

Yes, I am taking another swipe at the apostates and soon-to-be (budding) apostates on LDSFF who believe in directed energy and many other false (New Age) concepts that the Brethren have specifically warned about.  Many LDSFF apostates support Doug Mendenhall.  I got kicked off the forum for questioning their sacred cow in Doug Mendenhall and stating that I simply did not feel the Spirit while listening to him that Friday night a few weeks ago.  He questioned several things about leaders including some things about our Apostles.  I pointed out that there was a fellow that spoke before Mendenhall who presented some great points on the Book of Mormon - and that I felt the Spirit during that presentation in spades, but did not while listening to Mendenhall.  I quizzed several other people there who where present and could not find a single person among people that I trust, who felt the Spirit.  I then listened to those whom he had obliquely maligned in his presentation the next two days and again felt of their spirit as the Spirit of the Lord confirmed what they had to say.  All in stark contrast to what I HAD NOT felt while listening to Doug Mendenhall's presentation that Friday night.

The thing that seemed to throw a wrench in the works, was whether the adversary can read thoughts.  Doug stated that the devil CAN read our thoughts - something I have never believed, even though most else that he spoke passed the litmus of things as I understand them.

You can have a smorgasbord of great food and still have a turd tucked away in the fruit salad that ruins the entire thing.  The Spirit will NEVER testify of a portion of untruth that is mingled with the remaining scripture or truth.  Its all or nothing when we teach or are receiving truth - thus the need to be doctrinally correct in all that we say and do in the name of the Lord.  That is how the devil gets his agenda across.  It is true that he knows that most people will not buy a pack of lies, but they often will buy a single lie mingled with many other truths.  The gift of discernment is crucial in this life.

Here is a talk by Francis M. Gibbons who was the Area 70 back in the late 80's and early 90's down in Fortaleza where I served as an Assistant to the President at the time.  I translated for Elder Gibbons during a mission conference when he spoke (his Portuguese was "muito fraco").  That was a difficult assignment, to say the least.  It requires perfect mental acuity to get it right:

http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/the-dual-aspects-of-prayer?lang=eng

I think this General Conference talk from October 1991, (THE DUAL ASPECTS OF PRAYER by Francis M. Gibbons) dovetails with some of the aspects being discussed in this thread. Before I quote the talk, remember that it was allowed to be given under the direction of President Ezra Taft Benson, and his counselors Gordon B. Hinckley, and Thomas S. Monson. To my knowledge it has not been retracted. If anyone knows of this, then please say so...or if these Bretheren or more current leaders corrected the doctrines taught here, please inform me.

Here are some excerpts of the talk that are especially pertinent to our discussion on this thread:

"It is clear, then, that Satan and his followers, who have been cast out of God’s presence and are dead to His Spirit, are excluded from those who, by the spirit of prophecy and revelation, may know the thoughts and the intents of our hearts. So, in his wisdom and mercy, God has provided a channel of communication between him and his children on earth that Satan, our common enemy, cannot invade. This is the channel of secret prayer. The significance of this to the Latter-day Saint is profound, for by this means we are able to communicate with our Heavenly Father in secrecy, confident that the adversary cannot intrude."

(This speaks peace to my soul. It feels like light and truth to me. This talk speaks peace to my soul.) Joseph Smith did not know this truth when he was first seeking answers. There was no one to teach it to him. He had to learn by experience. It is my belief that over time God gave him keys in how minimize the effects of the adversary and how not to be deceived.

"David Whitmer reported that the Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “some revelations are of God: some revelations are of man: and some revelations are of the devil.” (In B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:163.) But while Satan can convey thoughts, he does not know whether these thoughts have taken root unless they are reflected either in words or in actions."

"All this suggests that we should be wise in what we say and do. We should also be wise in the way we guard precious things that are revealed to us through the Spirit. For example, when President Heber J. Grant was a young man, presiding in the Tooele Stake, Patriarch John Rowberry gave him a special blessing. Afterward, the patriarch said to President Grant, “I saw something that I dared not mention.” President Grant later recorded it was made known to him at that moment that he would one day be the President of the Church. He never discussed this revelation with anyone, never recorded it, and revealed it only after it was an accomplished fact. (See Francis M. Gibbons, Heber J. Grant: Man of Steel, Prophet of God, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1979, p. viii.) How wise he was, for had he revealed it to others, his enemy, Satan, would have known and, with that knowledge, could have created unimaginable difficulties for him."

"Often, we talk too much. We say things that need not be said or should not be said; for in saying them, we may open a crevice which enables Lucifer to wedge his way into our lives. We learn from 2 Nephi that Satan “seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (2 Ne. 2:27.) Satan and his followers are persistent in their quest to drag us down to their level. They will use any device or artifice to accomplish their end. If they know, for example, of revelations such as the one given to President Grant, or if they see from our words or actions evidence of animosity or hatred or discord among us, they may capitalize on them in ways which will be detrimental to us. Wisdom suggests, therefore, that we suppress words and actions which might enable Satan to harm us or whose tendency might be to create discord or enmity."

Maybe each of us should take our conclusions to the Lord "pray[ed] in secret, relating our [her] experience and asking God to reveal whether our [her] conclusion is correct, in the manner prescribed in the ninth section of the Doctrine and Covenants. (See D&C 9:8–9.)"

It is interesting that this talk was brought back to my remembrance after all those years, in light of discussion we are having....