Kevinf,
This is not a talk to those new to the faith. It is to those who have already had those experiences and may need to draw on them in tough times, I guess. So, I think that Elder Rasband might just counsel those struggling in early faith to keep on trying and trust in God. Wow, that’s a little trite, isn’t it!

Thomas P.,
I agree, but again, this is clearly a talk that is directed at the longtime member, not the newbie or investigator.

Yes. And, additionaly, they are not experiences that have been universally shared, as the talk seems to indicate. I didn’t get my testimony of the BoM in the proscribed way – probably because I didn’t have a sincere heart or real intent till rather later on, by which time many experiences had lead me to accept the BoM. Similarly, I have no memory of when I “first knew” Joseph Smith was a prophet. Rather, several experiences whittled away at whatever resistance (probably never that strong) I had to the idea.

“They seem like pretty tall first steps.”

As they should be, yes? We don’t learn how to access spiritual gifts easily. I think we’ve done a disservice when we suggest – say, to investigators – that _all_ they must do is read a few passages from the BoM, pray and get a good feeling. Obviously, some people are right on that envelope where they are ready for spiritual experiences of the kind. For others, maybe we’ve done them a disservice when we present as a simple thing what may be, for them, a rather more drawn out process.

That said, I think Elder Rasband’s talk is great. I certainly have many “special”* experiences, and I often remember them to myself to help me get … through.

~

Brothers and sisters, think of the special experiences you have been blessed with in your life that have given you conviction and joy in your heart. Remember when you first knew that Joseph Smith was God’s prophet of the Restoration? Remember when you accepted Moroni’s challenge and knew that the Book of Mormon was indeed another testament of Jesus Christ? Remember when you received an answer to fervent prayer and realized that your Heavenly Father knows and loves you personally?

How do we help someone who is struggling even to get to these “starting points”? Many of the young people I have worked with in the church are struggling to even get to the starting gate, by these definitions. They seem like pretty tall first steps.

David,
Of course they are not. I was just interested that Elder Rasband’s reaction, which could have been one wherein he benignly acknowledged his right to preside, was one of humble shock, which would be something more akin to what I would do. I suppose that he could have insisted on one of the Familial elders dedicating the house, but that too can be its own form of colonialism.

The floating islands, made of reed roots and compacted layers of reeds have an impact with their fragility and human ingenuity. The people who live on these Islands are remnants of what was a very large population in the Andes at the time of the conquest, the Water People or Uru-Chipaya-Puquina. They used to speak a language that may be related to the lowland Arawak family. But only a few grandparents among the Urus still know Uru. Almost everyone else has switched to Spanish.

While some Urus live on Islands remote from the constant flood of tourists on Lake Titicaca, most live from tourism now, rather than simply from fishing and hunting. Apu Inti is one of the tourist islands. It is a new island. With population growth new Islands must be formed or people must leave to find work in the mainland cities.

John C. I too am moved by Elder Rasband’s visit to Apu Inti. The Church is strong and growing in the city of Puno in whose bay Apu Inti is found.

A question though, are love and entrenched colonialism mutually exclusive?

I heartily agree that spiritual experiences are almost uniquely idiosyncratic. I think we can predict which kinds of events, music, words will generally inspire them, but they are always passed through a filter of our own beliefs.

For example, the song “Praise to the Man” is a powerful homage to Joseph Smith that can be quite inspirational, but it always goes south for me in the 4th verse.

Similarly, I’ll often look around in church when a talk is being given that I feel has strong patriarchal currents. I can tell that the Spirit is affecting others by the beautiful family experiences that are being shared, but I’m getting caught up with all sorts of other analyses and the spirit gets jammed in my feminist filter.

The most difficult experience for me is when an experience slips through my cognitive defenses and provokes and spiritual reaction with something for which I’m opposed. I find myself fighting against it (i.e. “There’s no way I’m going to have a spiritual confirmation of this tired 3 Nephites story, come on body, shut it off”).