Mormon Mentality - Thoughts and Asides by Peculiar People

By Living in Zion

Nov. 30th, 2012 at 10:58 am

It happened again last night. I can’t predict it or guide it with my worry or anxieties. I can’t go to sleep praying, “Heavenly Father, Jennifer needs a needs a new coat and I don’t have the money for it. Help me find one.” It doesn’t work that way. At least, it hasn’t so far.

All I know is a few times a year I will have a dream and in my dream I am in a specific store, sometimes in a particular department, finding things my family needs at super cheap prices. Because of this weird phenomon, which I choose to believe is a spiritual gift, I have scored socks, shoes, shirts, pants, what-have-you all at last clearance prices.

You have to know that I’m not a shopper. I don’t go to the mall for fun. I can barely rouse the interest to grocery shop. I am not an extreme coupon clipper and to be honest, I could do a much better job shopping the grocery sales. I throw out the Sunday department store ads and I went Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving twice before I accepted that is no fun for me.

This dream/store/sale thing is all on its own. It started after I had my first child, 24 years ago and hasn’t stopped. My husband used to make fun of me when I would tell him about my dreams and he dared me to go to the store and test it. It worked often enough that no one in my family questions it anymore. They have all benefited from my dream shopping.

Last night I had a dream about a local thrift store (see? It’s not even limited to the mall stores) I am looking for one specific kind of Christmas stocking for my granddaughter so I thought it was reasonable to check the store.

Yeah. 40 minutes later and $36.00 lighter, I found this:

Tickle Me Elmo

Which is a toy I wanted for Eleanor for her birthday, but they don’t make anymore. It is brand new, still in the box and I got it for $20.00. I also got her two more toys and 5 complete outfits, high quality brand name clothes that no way could I afford at regular prices. All for $36.00. I didn’t find her Christmas stocking, but that’s ok. Instead I found her complete Christmas.

So…am I the only one with a weird spiritual gift? Are you a hunter who dreams of bagging a deer? Do you instinctively know where to fish? (My husband would kill for that gift!)

What unique thing do you just “know” in your gut, even with no evidence in sight? Surely, I can’t be the only one.

1. E

Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 3:27pm

That is one awesome spiritual gift! I love it.

2. IDIAT

Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 4:18pm

I have visions beyond the mere feelings of “deja vu.” Sort of like you, I have instances where I can anticipate what someone will say next, what will happen next and so forth, in very clear detail. Mind you, the experience only lasts a couple of minutes, and those experiences don’t come around too often (maybe 2 – 3 times a year). Still, I thoroughly enjoy them as they give me a taste of what it means to be a seer. No deep or dark secrets revealed, really just mundane stuff. (Too bad I can’t use the gift to pick the next up and coming stock!) But it’s still pretty cool to experience it and know spiritual manifestations are real.

3. John Mansfield

Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 4:44pm

It makes me wonder how many unopened Elmo toys were donated to thrift stores last week.

4. living in zion

Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 5:02pm

John Mansfield, I considered that. And I decided it was my lucky day. My one year old grandbaby won’t know or care about the actor that played Elmo. And the new actor is already in place, so her love of Elmo should continue nicely.

5. Eva

Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 5:16pm

I used to know who was calling on the phone before I answered it when my brother in law called. He’s dead now, so that gift is gone.

6. Kathy Ward

Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 6:48pm

I know when and where we need to live. I have known when it was time to move and exactly the place to be ever since I got married, 15 yrs ago. I can see where everything goes in the new house and not in any of the other possibilities.

7. annegb

Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 7:21pm

Sometimes I can pick out the serial killer in the room.

8. living in zion

Fri, Nov 30, 2012 @ 11:56pm

#3- John – I considered that. Then I decided my one-year old granddaughter wouldn’t care who the actor inside of Elmo is. Since they already have the new actor in place, her Sesame Street World will continue on peacefully. And if all Elmo merchandise suddenly becomes super cheap, that is Heavenly Father helping me out.

9. Kramer

Sat, Dec 1, 2012 @ 5:58am

Gift of discernement of value?

10. Kramer

Sat, Dec 1, 2012 @ 5:59am

Anne, we’re getting tired of you saying, “the serial killer i sme, of course.”

11. annegb

Sat, Dec 1, 2012 @ 11:10am

It’s never me; it’s never the craziest person in the room. It’s of value to me because then I can watch my back with that person. I don’t want to end up buried in their basement.

There have been a few times when I’ve had that “pure inspiration” experience. Wisdom just pouring into me in a way that I understand perfectly whatever dilemma I’m in. I think if I were more worthy, it would happen more often.

12. Bookslinger

Tue, Dec 4, 2012 @ 6:26pm

According to scripture, everyone with the Gift of the Holy Ghost has the right to personal revelation, and everyone does have at least one spiritual gift.

Non-LDS also can receive spiritual gifts and personal revelation too. God can talk to whoever he wants. And He loves ALL His children.

13. Ben

Wed, Dec 5, 2012 @ 10:59am

Tickle me Elmo. That’s why I love America. Greatest braintrust in the world. Or was it made in China?

http://www.bensopinion.com

14. Steamtrain

Wed, Dec 5, 2012 @ 6:55pm

I can tell what is BS or when someone is lying to me, although I don’t know if I equate that with a spiritual gift. I am like George Costanza and Radar O’Reilly, I can read people’s faces quite well and to some extent what they are thinking although sometimes I have been thrown for a loop!

15. living in zion

Wed, Dec 5, 2012 @ 8:13pm

Steamtrain – my husband can do that. It drives me crazy. We meet someone new and I’m all excited to have a new friend and he will say, “Don’t do it. They are not good.” and a few months later I have to admit he is right and it annoys the heck out of me. What a gift to have.

16. Sunshine

Wed, Dec 5, 2012 @ 9:29pm

I can almost always tell who is calling/texting me before I look at caller id. I can even do it with the house phone and know who’s calling and if it’s for me or my husband. Happened on sunday when annegb husband called mine. We were still in bed when the phone rang. I rolled to DH and said “It’s for you. B is calling.” I was right. :D

I also can almost always tell when a person is lying, which means I can’t lie one teeny tiny bit.

And I dream about friends when it’s time to call them, or get in touch with them.

17. Sunshine

Wed, Dec 5, 2012 @ 9:35pm

Why are there so many comments caught in spam?

18. annegb

Thu, Dec 6, 2012 @ 12:58pm

Not sure, Sunshine, I think it might have been something I did. Hopefully, I fixed it.

19. marta

Fri, Dec 7, 2012 @ 11:41pm

i can do that, too, sunshine. i knew it was my (future) husband calling when he called the first time, and that he was calling to ask me out. but i also knew i was going to marry him before he ever called to ask me out.

i also used to know when there was a letter in my mailbox and who it was from.

but i never knew what sex my babies were or anything useful like that.

sometimes when shopping i get something i don’t need or want and wait to find out who it is for. doesn’t usually take long to find out.

20. annegb

Wed, Dec 12, 2012 @ 6:05pm

Actually, Marta, I’d take you for the serial killer type. It’s always the quietest nicest one that you’d never suspect. Except people like Jeffrey Dahmer.