Response to a sister, who felt she had received revelation that involved her stake president

14 November 2017

An e-conversation with (name) in our stake, who felt strongly she was sent to Estacada by the Lord to purchase land that would be used as a refugee for people during the tumultuous last days:

Sister (Name),

Thank you for visiting with me briefly on Sunday following sacrament meeting. Hopefully you can tell that I love you and your family greatly and want to avoid, if at all possible, any harsh or estranged feelings between us.

You shared that you wish I would humble myself enough to seek the Lord in prayer. So there’s no misunderstanding on my part, what question would you have me ask in prayer?

President Lewis

Pres. Lewis,

We know of your love and concern for us, and we don't have any hard feelings. We know that you don't want us to be deceived and follow after false beliefs. 

The feelings that I do have are great sadness. This is because I was instructed by the Lord to go to you nearly 3 years ago and tell you that we had been told to move here and buy a piece of property for which the Lord had a purpose. I was also told to tell you to pray about it for your own confirmation. The reason was so that you, as the stake president, would already be aware when information came from Church leaders. I have asked several times and you refused me. This is my great sadness. I have dedicated my life to following the Lord and His instructions. It has been a difficult path, but has brought great growth. I'm sure that it would have been less painful if I weren't so prideful. This request, to buy this property, hasn't been an easy road for us. But we have also seen many miracles in doing it.

Now that you have agreed to pray about it, I am very happy. I think that you should pray to see if I was given true revelation about buying the property. After you get your answer, one way or another, then we can go from there.

Thank you for doing this.

(Name)

    

Sister (Name),

Thank you for your kind response. And for your patience with your stake president.

Forgive me for not doing what you feel that the Lord requested you to ask me to do. 

May I suggest that you have completed your “assignment” from the Lord? As you said, “I was also told to tell you to pray about it for your own confirmation.” You have delivered the message to your stake president, as instructed by the Lord. You’ve done your part. Please don’t take on the responsibility as to whether or not I choose to pray for a confirmation. You have done exactly what you were told to do. It’s now my choice to use my agency as to whether I will follow that instruction or not. And I will be held accountable, not you.

You have the assurance that if one of the General Authorities calls me and asks, “Is there a member of your stake with a large parcel of land that can be used as a refuge for Church members and others?” I will promptly respond, “Yes, I know just the person you’re looking for” and will promptly refer them to you and your family.

Will this suffice so you know that I know you have sought the Lord’s guidance and have delivered the message He asked you to give to your stake president?

Please don’t be offended when I explain that I, too, feel strongly that it is not appropriate for me to pray about this. For two reasons:

1. In my understanding of how the Lord “operates” He does not go through members to instruct priesthood leaders or ask them to confirm revelation members receive. He works through priesthood keys, meaning He speaks to those with keys to instruct or guide members. It’s not to say members can’t receive revelation, but it is inappropriate for any of us, as members, to receive revelation on behalf of others, i.e. instructing them—other members or priesthood leaders—that they are to do something. He just doesn’t do that.

2. What if I were to pray and were to receive a different answer than the one you feel so strongly you received? It puts you and me in the awkward position of questioning each other’s worthiness, closeness to the Lord, or even motives. You don’t want to put yourself in the position of thinking…and maybe even sharing in a moment of frustration…that your stake president is either out of touch with the Spirit or unworthy to receive revelation. You don’t want to put yourself in a position of having to judge a priesthood leader, do you? 

I hope this helps in some way. Please know and have the confidence you have fulfilled your assignment from the Lord: You have purchased the land He guided you to and you have shared wth your stake president the purpose of the purchase so if or when the Church contacts me (or a future priesthood leader) about using your land we’ll know exactly where to send them.

Does that help?

Thanks for listening,

President Lewis