I don't think you're missing the point. I think I'm leaning towards the only way god bless us is through others, not that he can't, but that's just how it is.Minyan Man wrote: ↑21 Mar 2022, 19:46 Under this topic, wouldn't forgiveness & empathy & compassion be blessings contingent upon others?
Or, am I missing the point?
It wouldn't be the first time.
It's been a difficult couple of months. After my sister's funeral I prepared some thank you cards for some of those that volunteered during the service, a good sister in the ward spent the entire time preparing and serving food, she went above and beyond. In the past I my have thanked her, said a prayer asking for blessings for her service. I think now that is a cheap way if not actually doing something for someone. I wrote the cards, got some items and dropped them off on their doorsteps. I guess I'm saying rather than just hoping they are blessed for their service I tried my best to bless them with action as well. I don't want to equate my efforts in comparison to the creator. My attempts seem feeble as I felt my efforts paled in comparison to their sacrifice.
I'm still evolving my thoughts on this.
Yes, my original thoughts were specifically in giving priesthood blessings. I think it's expanded since then to include every blessing. I'm not sure where the god who is concerned with every little thing in our lives is, and whether he will come back into my psyche or not.Roy wrote: ↑22 Mar 2022, 15:16 The word "blessings" can mean many things.
I believe in the context of the OP it was referring to promises made on behalf of God, by a priesthood holder to a person in need while the priesthood holder has his hands upon their head. Can those blessings (meaning the realization of those promises) be withheld based on the "priesthood power" of the priesthood holder?
I think if we expand the definition of "blessings" to refer to good deeds that people can perform for each other then the discussion changes dramatically.
I also lean towards 3, but hope that if there was something major, god would intervene.
If I lose my keys, will he intervene and tell me where they are? Or when a flash comes into my mind where they might be is it because he created me and give me a subconscious that will guide me and remind me. And if so he created me unorganized enough to lose my keys in the first place
I've had a few things I've separated with the church over the years, for me there is a bittersweet feeling of longing for the way some things used to be and the realization that those things can never be the same even if I tried. It's good you have a friend who will support you. Peace to you.AmyJ wrote: ↑25 Mar 2022, 11:04 ...Thankfully, I have a friend from my mission days who I am close enough that it while it was unusual, it wasn't an uncomfortable burden (for either of us - I checked) to ask her to be there and she also understood. She respectfully supported me in "saying goodbye" on some level to a connection to the church.