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We learn more from experience than we ever would from anything else. That’s sort of the main point of this life itself. |
I have two reactions to the quoted saying. 1) That’s practical advice. People who just pray all the time are being impractical and overly pious. 2) It’s easier to be “on our feet” than “on our knees.” Few of us are going to pull off the Enos prayer or a brother-of-Jared prayer. So it’s more likely that most people who gain their testimonies will do so in ways other than prayer or in ways that are additional to prayer. |
I am a prayer and action kind of person. I pray first,feel the Spirit, get some direction, and then do something. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do?(meaning I am not special) It’s not always a church related “something” that I do. In fact, I prefer to serve outside of the church, you know with those that hang out on the fringe of society. you asked, i told. peace! |
Personally, I deplore Brigham’s tendency to rank the importance of body parts based on the role that they play in a testimony. By pitting the knees against the feet, Brigham is telling Mormon orthopedists that they’re less important than Mormon podiatrists. Doesn’t anyone have anything nice to say about Mormon orthopedists any more? I, for one, think that Mormon orthopedists are doing a great job. |
Mormon podiatrists should be referred to from here on out as mPods. |
I think moPods sounds better but I get your point. Reminds me, my podiatrist hit on me in his office. talk about awkward check ups and he had a wife! sorry for encouraging the thread jack. |
Well, jokes about Brigham’s foot fetish aside, I’m a big fan of this motto as well. It strikes me as a natural consequence to James’ statement that the pure religion of Christ is taking care of widows and orphans in their afflictions. One of my favorite stories from the Aaronic priesthood manuals is one told by David McKay from the lesson on testimonies:
“the spiritual manifestation… came as a natural sequence to the performance of duty.” I like that. I think that one reason why new some converts get such effective results from prayers, may be because at that stage, praying is part of their footwork. |
I pray on the go a lot. I used to always pray night and day on my knees and then I got mad at God and quit that. I talk to Him, I talk things over, I thank Him and ask for His help and blessings on others, just not officially. One reason, besides my disappointment in His job performance, is that I am superstitious. I think if Satan knows I’m praying hard about something or working hard at it, he throws the book at me and I’m screwed. So my prayers are quiet and secret. |
I’ve never seen the exact quote, but I’ve often hear (and loved) Brigham’s statement, “there’s a time for prayer and a time for potatoes. Right now those people need potatoes.” Anyone know the exact quote? |
Clark, here you go - The afternoon meeting will be omitted, for I wish the sisters to go home and prepare to give those who have just arrived a mouthful of something to eat, and to wash them and nurse them up. You know that I would give more for a dish of pudding and milk, or a baked potato and salt, were I in the situation of those persons who have just come in, than I would for all your prayers, though you were to stay here all the afternoon and pray. Prayer is good, but when baked potatoes and pudding and milk are needed, prayer will not supply their place on this occasion; give every duty its proper time and place. . . . [LeRoy R. Hafen and Ann W. Hafen, Handcarts to Zion, (Glendale, CA: Arthur H. Clark, 1960), p. 139] |
DKL – that is a good story about President McKay. It is more in line with my life as opposed to the miraculous conversion people who I know. mfranit – prayer then action is nice. Sometimes in my zealousness to do something I forget the prayer part and leap to action. Probably why the Spirit is fleeting in my life… Thanks MarkIV – that is a great quote involving the Martin and Willie Handcart companies. Brigham actually dismissed General Conference to get the Saints into action. I wonder if we would ever do that today? Actually the Church kind of did that during the flooding of 1983 in Utah. I remember leaving Church to go fill sandbags. |
annegb – I used to be very superstitous like that. Finally, I became tired of worrying about what Satan was doing and decided that I would just forget about him and focus on God. It seems to have helped a lot. |
Mark, thanks a ton. |
Come on, who’s going to say “I’m a knee person; I pray all the time but fortunately I never have to do a thing!” Nobody. That’s silly. |
Kullervo – if you read the post, I was not saying that knee people never do anything, but that their testimonies are primarily gained from through prayer and study, while others gain their testimony through action. |
Kullervo, |
Tarmadol…. Tarmadol…. |