The Game of Life
Posted by Ryan on January 17th, 2006
A sunbeam, a sunbeam, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam teacher. Yes, that’s right. My wife and just got our new callings. We will now spend two-thirds of our three hour church experience handing out goldfish crackers and crayons (with no assurance as to which of the two will be eaten).
This, however, is no typical sunbeam calling. You see, I am a CODA (Child Of a Deaf Adult). I grew up amongst the deaf people and consequently served an American Sign Language mission in Los Angeles.
After my mission I lived in San Diego with my wife trying to decide how to buy a home in the exploding Southern California real estate market. That’s where Mandy came in. Mandy, a good friend/sister from another mother, pointed out to us a development of inexpensive condos near her home (45 minutes north of San Diego). After Mandy talked us past some of our initial concerns, everything seemed to move into place faster than we could have imagined. We both found better jobs (Mandy directed my wife toward the company at which she was hired) in the area and our home loan was approved where other attempts had been held up. Suddenly we were the newest residents of Temecula, CA.
Back to our calling. Julia (name changed) is the reason we are serving in this position. Julia is 5 years old, deaf, and up to this point, has been stuck in the nursery lacking a teacher who can communicate with her like we will be able to. It has been mentioned to my wife and I at least 5 times now that we are a “God-send”. Which made me start thinking…
How many of the events in the above story were engineered by the Lord specifically to “send” my wife and I to this particular ward to this particular girl? Is Julia just one stop along the way of many callings I will be fulfilling or is she one of the primary assignments that I accepted in the pre-mortal existence? What about Mandy? Although a member of the church and oftentimes defender of the faith (in workplace conversations and such), Mandy doesn’t participate in the more typical church activities. Yet it seems to me that the Lord moved upon her to act in what could be considered (at least for Julia and her family) a somewhat dire situation. Probably most importantly, do we sometimes glaze over direction that the Lord is trying to give us through those around us just because they aren’t our priesthood leaders?
I know, at least, that I am grateful for Mandy who was able to bring us to this calling when the direct message from the Lord wasn’t getting through.
You know the thing that Just gets me with some of you guys is that it doesn’t matter how concidental a situtation maybe you go straight for the “devine intervention”. Did you ever think that maybe you just happened to fit a need and that it wasn’t one of gods great plans? Give me a break tough guy. Besides you are just in Temecula to ruin my fun.
Comment # 1 left by My Dominion on January 17th, 2006
I might agree with you if they were having a hard time finding a fourth member to sit on the activities committee. However, this is a pretty specialized need. Consider the qualifications:
1. Know ASL proficiently enough to communicate, interpret and teach new signs
2. Be familiar with the nuances of being deaf and how to teach from that perspective
3. Be an active Mormon
4. Live within the boundaries of the Temecula Creek ward
5. Be comfortable teaching children
(This is aside from all the “coincidences” that led us up to Temecula that I outlined in the post)
It seems to me that it takes more blind faith to believe that all those pieces just happened to fall together at the right time.
Comment # 2 left by Ryan on January 18th, 2006
Formulating a response…
Comment # 3 left by Wade on January 18th, 2006
…it doesn’t matter how concidental a situtation maybe you go straight for the “devine intervention”. Give me a break tough guy.
I have actually spent a fair amount of time thinking about whether coincidence, chance, fate, or whatever you want to call it, even exists. As of late, I have actually come to the conclusion that there is no such thing as coincidence when it comes to our relationships with others.
In fact, my conclusion was solidified by Apostolic authority when I came across a talk given by Elder Maxwell at BYU on January 23, 1996. Said he, “You and I may call these intersectings ‘coincidence.’ This word is understandable for mortals to use, but coincidence is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of an omniscient God. He does not do things by ‘coinciddence’ but instead by ‘divine design.’”
Indeed Ryan, you were led to where you are for the very reason (among others) you have laid out here - to help one of God’s children!
Comment # 4 left by Wade on January 19th, 2006
Well Ryan after days of anticipation I would have assumed you were asking more of me than simply acknowledging that I showed you a condo. Did you ever think it was for selfish reasons that we suggested you be near us? You see, I am using you to ruin Bobby’s fun
I am glad that for whatever reason you ended up here when you did. The sunbeam you will be teaching will benefit. Call it conicidence, Karma or good luck we are definitly on a road predetermined by someone else. It is our choice to get off at a gas stop or breakdown on the way.
Comment # 5 left by Mandy on January 20th, 2006
I am feeling lazy. No response… Maybe in a couple of days.
Comment # 6 left by My Dominion on January 22nd, 2006
…we are definitly on a road predetermined by someone else.
Really? This whole issue of predestination versus free-will seems to be yet another good topic for our symposium. Perhaps?
Comment # 7 left by Wade on January 23rd, 2006
perhaps… I noticed that Mandy included the clause that we have the option to get off the “predestined path” that doesn’t conflict with any church doctrine as I understand it. Perhaps using the vocabulary of a foreordained path would be more appropriate but the implied message is still the same.
And Mandy, if you’re still checking this conversation. Should I take your comment as a light-hearted denial that you were influenced (whether you recognized it or not) by the spirit?
Comment # 8 left by Ryan on January 23rd, 2006
My Gosh Ryan you are going to make me bust out with my scriptures and actually open them (this is a rare occurance indeed)… I will be back…
Comment # 9 left by My Dominion on January 23rd, 2006
My Gosh Ryan you are going to make me bust out with my scriptures and actually open them (this is a rare occurance indeed)… I will be back…
Comment # 10 left by My Dominion on January 23rd, 2006
We are Free to Choose our own path. It is not predetermined. Moses 4:3 reads: “Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down.” and in 2nd Nephi 2:27 “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and call things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” and I can quote on and on and on. Free agency is a major standard the church teaches how does that fall in to line with a predetermined line of events.
Comment # 11 left by My Dominion on January 23rd, 2006
I’m with my dominion on this one. I am currently of the belief that nothing is predetermined. However, I do believe that if we are making choices in line with truth, our choices will lead us into situations and relationships that are very fortuitous and which may seem coincidental.
Comment # 12 left by Wade on January 24th, 2006
I am a believer in free agency. However, have you ever considered that the big guy upstairs already knows who is and isn’t going to make it? I highly doubt that there will be any “suprises.” So, in a sense yes, there is a predertimed plan. A bit out there I know, but if God is “all knowing, all seeing etc.” then he certainly knows where I am going to end up in the end.
Comment # 13 left by Mandy on January 24th, 2006
…have you ever considered that the big guy upstairs already knows who is and isn’t going to make it? I highly doubt that there will be any “suprises.”
Yeah, I am very familiar with this theory about God’s omniscience. However, I don’t necessarily agree with it (but I’m not sure yet either).
On one level I can accept it. It sort of reminds me of what a friend said to me the other day: he asked me how long I have left in law school and I told him a year and four months, then I said, “but then I’ll have to pass the bar”. He looked at me really calmly, threw his hand toward me and said, “Oh, you’ll pass the bar”. Then I looked at him and asked, “what makes you so sure”? He then says, “because I know what type of guy you are”.
Well, I wish I could be as sure as he is! But, my point is that I buy into your argument that God knows who will “make it” and who won’t on a similar level that my friend “knows” I will pass the bar the first time. I would say that God is probably the best one to make predictions.
However, I don’t necessarily agree that his ability to make predictions based on his knowledge of us automatically determines our course. In other words, just like I can change from being the person my friend “knows” in the next year and half and thereby fail the bar examination (due to my choice to be lazy etc.), I believe we can change the course of our lives and thus “surprise” God.
This is a very interesting topic of discussion and I believe it does qualify for the “Classics Symposium”. Also, I think this issue is related to the idea of “universal salvation”. The more I study and think about God’s plan, the more I am convinced that except for the sons of perdition, every person will obtain their “heaven” in the life to come. Everyone (except the SOP) will have a kingdom of glory and be saved from physical and spiritual death (this is the only difference for the sop - they won’t ever be delivered from spiritual death)).
In a previous comment/thread, I’ve cited Section 76 of the DC in which the Lord says that the glory of the Telestial (lowest) kingdom is beyond comprehension.
To this I say, “Man, sounds pretty good, bring it on”. Thus, when we refer to “making it” etc., I think we may be talking in terms that are too hardline and absolute?
Sorry for the rant…but I like this topic.
Comment # 14 left by Wade on January 24th, 2006
I’m sticking with mandy on this one. Supported by the following:
President Joseph Fielding Smith taught…
“At that council plans were perfected and an organization formed for the government of this earth during its mortal probation. Our Eternal Father, knowing the end from the beginning, chose from among the spirits those to be his rulers and prophets to assist in carrying through his eternal purposes on this earth in relation to the final destiny of men.”
Like the Prophet Jeremiah in Ancient Israel, the Prophet Joseph Smith believed he had received his prophetic calling at this time: “Every man who has a calling to minister to the inhabitants of the world was ordained to that very purpose in the Grand Council of heaven before this world was. I suppose I was ordained to this very office in that Grand Council.”
Also, from Bruce R. McConkie (Mormon Doctrine)
“To carry forward his own purposes among men and nations, the Lord foreordained chosen spirit children in pre-existence and assigned them to come to earth at particular times and places so that they might aid in furthering the divine will. These pre-existence appointments made “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Pet. 1:2), simply designated certain individuals to perform missions which the Lord in his wisdom knew they had the talents and capacities to do.
The mightiest and greatest spirits were foreordained to stand as prophets and spiritual leaders, giving to the people such portion of the Lord’s word as was designed for the day and age involved. Other spirits, such as those who laid the foundations of the American nation, were appointed beforehand to perform great works in political and governmental fields. In all this there is not the slightest hint of compulsion; persons foreordained to fill special missions in mortality are as abundantly endowed with free agency as are any other persons. By their foreordination the Lord merely gives them the opportunity to serve him and his purposes if they will choose to measure up to the standard he knows they are capable of attaining”
So are we pre-destined to do certain works, No. Are we compelled to behave a certain way, No. But the Lord knows precisely what we will do and has the whole mortal probation played out from beginning to end.
So I’ll have to calmly deny Wade’s suggestion that we can “surprise” God. And assert that although we may change the course of our lives as we know it, we are simply acting out what the Lord already knew was going to happen (not by compulsion, but by foreknowledge)
Comment # 15 left by Ryan on January 24th, 2006
I acknowledge I am likely on the losing end of this debate. However, I don’t think it is as clear cut as posited by Ryan.
Here’s why. DC 121:34 says, “behold, there are many called, but few are chosen…”. So, why would God (who knows exactly the outcome of every choice we will make) call anyone who would eventually not be chosen? It seems futile to me.
With respect to these “calls” that many receive, according to my knowledge as affirmed by the quotations from President Smith and Elder McConkie, they were received before the foundation of the world. Thus, I think God has a general idea of the strength of those he “calls” but through our agency we determine what we do with the call and thereby determine whether we are chosen.
Comment # 16 left by Wade on January 24th, 2006
So, why would God (who knows exactly the outcome of every choice we will make) call anyone who would eventually not be chosen? It seems futile to me.
To avoid the following conversation
God: Okay, I choose you and you and you.
Bill: What about me?
God: Oh there’s no reason, you’re just gonna screw up.
BIll: I am?
God: Yeah, but I’m going to send you down and watch you screw up and miss out on your salvation anyway cause those are the rules. But don’t worry, you’ll forget we ever had this conversation
Bill: Ohh.. okay… well how about this, Since I’m screwed anyway, why don’t I just go with Satan now and help take down the rest of your kids… sucka!!!
God: You better not! Hey get back here! I’m not done talking to you!!
(God throws a boomerang that trips Bill and he falls down somewhere on a cloud over Mozambique)
God: Noogie time!!! Say Uncle! Say Uncle!
Okay I got a bit carried away there.. but do you get my point that telling people the results of their mortal probation would skew the experience a bit?
Comment # 17 left by Ryan on January 25th, 2006
telling people the results of their mortal probation would skew the experience a bit
Who said anything about telling people the results? The scripture talks about people being called. Indeed, the scripture says many, not all, are called. If I’m reading it right, God has only “called” some of his children to be chosen. Thus, my question still stands: why “call” those who will not be chosen? It doesn’t matter whether a spirit child “wants” to be called, God only calls those whom are noble and great right (Abraham ch. 2)?
Comment # 18 left by Wade on January 25th, 2006
touche’… I’m working on it…
Comment # 19 left by Ryan on January 27th, 2006
Ryan…
My Full house of scripture quotes beats your straight of mormon doctine.
Comment # 20 left by My Dominion on February 2nd, 2006