Does God need a very good man to work through as his leader?

[Archaea]

Or does God simply need a man of the right talents at the right time?

[JohnnyLingo]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Or does God simply need a man of the right talents at the right time?

How does God work through these men?

If it's through the Spirit, like I think it is, these men need to be in tune and worthy of that Spirit.

If that means he has to be "very good" (whatever that means) then I say yes.

[BarbaraGordon]

Originally Posted by Archaea

Or does God simply need a man of the right talents at the right time?

Neither. He needs a woman. That would fix everything.

[jay santos]

Originally Posted by JohnnyLingo

How does God work through these men?

If it's through the Spirit, like I think it is, these men need to be in tune and worthy of that Spirit.

If that means he has to be "very good" (whatever that means) then I say yes.

Worthy of the spirit. That's a topic we ought to explore sometime.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

Neither. He needs a woman. That would fix everything.

Only after menopause. I don't think God would want to be told he's wrong every 28 days.

[Archaea]

I generally believe most of them are good men, for creditility's sake, but take for instance the 19th century apostle who had a ten year affair, which caused even Brigham Young to marvel that he could retain the spirit.

So, although it is convenient for God to work through good men, I do not believe it is essential.

And I do not assume by virtue of Church calling a person is good, only that the person has authority.

Orson Scott Card uses a character in Ender's Game who basically thwarts the Spirit, and which the Spirit (or machine) knows in advance and uses to its advantage.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Originally Posted by il Padrino Ute

Only after menopause. I don't think God would want to be told he's wrong every 28 days.

Excellent.

[creekster]

God can raise up anyone to do anything he wants. I believe he usually chooses to work through righteous men but He is certainly not so limited. Anyone who has seen the remarkable power of the spirit to soften hearts of very hard-hearted people (and most missionaries have seen this, even if the effect is temporary) knows that the power of the spirit could certainly prepare anyone in very short order to accomplish anything God needed wanted to be accomplished.

[Tex]

Originally Posted by creekster

God can raise up anyone to do anything he wants. I believe he usually chooses to work through righteous men but He is certainly not so limited. Anyone who has seen the remarkable power of the spirit to soften hearts of very hard-hearted people (and most missionaries have seen this, even if the effect is temporary) knows that the power of the spirit could certainly prepare anyone in very short order to accomplish anything God needed wanted to be accomplished.

Indeed. Since there are no sinless men, by definition God must use individuals with faults. And the scriptures have many examples of unrighteous men wittingly or unwittingly doing the will of God.

That said, I do not believe the character of the 15 men who have headed his church in this dispensation can easily be impugned.

[All-American]

Originally Posted by Tex

Indeed. Since there are no sinless men, by definition God must use individuals with faults. And the scriptures have many examples of unrighteous men wittingly or unwittingly doing the will of God.

That said, I do not believe the character of the 15 men who have headed his church in this dispensation can easily be impugned.

Agreed. I do think we are awfully quick to judge the characters of men that many of us sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. I do know that some members of the 12 were nervous about Rough Stone Rolling and The Rise of Modern Mormonism specifically because of members who would realize that the prophets are men, and forget that the men are prophets.