I’m using transfinite in a secondary meaning, one that implies that things that have an extra dimension to them are transfinite as to those things without the dimension.

Consider a plane. Now, consider a globe (a spherical solid) that intersects the plane. The globe is transfinite, and you can map a curve in the globe to every curve in the plane (while each of the plane sections that can be fitted into layers on the globe are finite, there are an infinite number of them, giving a planar space equal to the infinite plane the transfinite globe intersects).

The scriptures are also clear that she did not understand a number of things, but treasured them up. I find that interesting.

As for money = “will of God” I can only note that in the last couple months I turned down a transfer that would have meant promotion and more money in fairly short order. There are more important things.

The problem is, of course, that neoCalvinism equates God’s grace with wealth, much like Calvinism equated being a member of the elect with good fortune.

Sigh.

Finally, I’ve wondered at Christ’s transfinite nature and how it relates to the atonement and infinite grace.

Still thinking.

A note about the physical book, itself:
The link that I included above to the book at deseretbook.com, is the nice leatherbound version. The copy that I am reading was loaned me by a member of my bishhopric, and I have to say that I am loving it. It is tactilely reminiscent of the scriptures, printed on the same fine paper, and I’ve just really been able to ‘curl up’ with it in a way that would not be possible with the hardback edition. I thought that such a volume would certainly be insanely pricey, but it’s only $3.00 more than the hardback. While the information is the same, my experience reading it has been much more ‘intimate’ than a big hardback usually affords. That may seem ethereally irrelevant to some people, and to them I apologize for the differences in our reading experiences and beg their patience, but to those who understand what I mean, I do heartily recommend this edition. I was at my local DB this weekend, and I noticed that there’s a similar printing out of Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith. I plan to acquire my own copies of this one & that one shortly, as well.

There have been times when I felt myself spiritually stagnating and have actually asked for an assignment by the Lord. Those have been some of the most interesting times. I doubt it is easy to parse “this is where I was being prepared and this is where my mission begins.” The two parts of life flow in and around each other.

As for where to live - as a permanent itinerant, it is easy to go where the Lord sends you. He happened to send me to Utah to be around extended family (though not immediate family, much to my and my mother’s sorrow.) There is a strength in being surrounded by family, and a challenge (particularly if you haven’t lived around them before.) Not everyone is prepared to consult with the Lord on every detail of their lives. Though that is an ideal state, it is equally important not to judge people for not being there yet.

Have you ever met a Texan?

Seriously, though, I think that we might be surprised how often this happens. I ran into it a lot when I lived back East, and off the top of my head I can think of other people from various places who just longed for their home (usually childhood home).

I think that we shouldn’t underestimate the fact that it may be that people in fact are living close to family, or where they grew up for the very reason that they felt inspired to do so. I totally agree that the Lord needs members all over the place, but having lived in various places and then having felt directed to come back “home,” I’d sure hate to have someone assume that we made this choice without seeking the Lord’s guidance, and simply did it because we wanted to be back where we grew up. Not so. (In fact, when I married my husband, he made it clear that we would never move back. Ha. Famous last words.)

Thinking of my patriarchal blessing and how it stays a bit vague about what my specific mission is (while stating that I indeed have one!), I have felt it important that I prayerfully seek guidance toward understanding what it is.

I also have this sneaking suspicion that we will be amazed how many experiences that just seemed like normal ebbs and flows of life really contribute to us being able to help the Lord accomplish His work.

Two instances I commonly reference:

- Employment
- Where we live

All too often, I see Church members use the dollar sign as the single biggest criteria for where they work or the career we pursue. It’s hard to argue with “personal” choices — and I don’t think that person X should be telling person Y what to do for a living. But Y needs to prayerfully consider the company and the career the Lord wants him/her to have. I firmly reject the notion that employment is NOT of interest to the Lord — an argument used by some who claim that the Lord leaves that up to ourselves. Where we work and what we do at work helps mold us for Church sevice. It offers opportunities for missionary service. And yes, we can support our families.

As to where we live — the common thought is that we should just go live by our families. Many arguments are given by LDS members in particular — families are forever and we want to be by them, we want our children to be able to spend quality time with the cousins and aunts/uncle and grandparents, etc.

I find the “forever families” argument curious. We believe families can be together, forever — for eternity. It’s not a mandate for living across the street from Mom or Dad. I’m not opposed to people living where they grew up — but I think that you arer POTENTIALLY (key word) limiting yourself in your temporal and eternal growth.

(And I don’t want to make this sound like I am necessarily Utah-bashing. It’s not meant to be, although I realize that the worst proponents of the “I just wanna live where I grew up” mantra are Utahns. But this isn’t an anti-Utah rant by any means.)

I think that couples should prayerfully and consider all possible opportunities when they look for employment and residence. The Lord needs people in Iowa, in Texas, in South Carolina, in Florida, in West Virgina. He needs trained members — BYU graduates, life-long SLC members (e.g., people who know the gospel and how to run the Church) — to be His leaders and spread his gospel. I’m not sure that adding a few more people to the population of Orem or West Jordan accomplishes that.

Now, I think that a lot of people, when they graduate from college (particularly BYU), are at least open to the thought of living somewhere else. But then their parents get in the way, particularly if they are married and/or have kids. “Oh, how great you’re graduating! You can move back to Mesa and I can see my grandbabies every day!” What? You have *eternity* to see your grandbabies. Let your children go where the Lord really wants them to go.

I’m a firm believer that the Lord will allow anyone to move where they decide to, and the Lord will have a calling for them, and he’ll support that move. If you really want to move back to Orem, he’ll find a nice job for you in His Church. But maybe He’s privately disappointed that you didn’t take the job in Kansas, where in 5 or years you would have been in the bishopric or the relief society president in a ward with 20 convert baptisms a year.

The same goes for the 30- or 40-something who decides to change jobs or change careers. Are you looking at all possibilities? Or are you going to stay in San Diego *just* because that’s where you have *roots*? Maybe the Lord wants your children to be uprooted — maybe it’s part of His plan for them. Do you dismiss the recruiter who calls from Houston because “Ick. That’s too far away/Too hot/Mummy won’t like it”?

Yes, I do think some people are supposed to live in Orem. And Mesa. And SLC. And Boise. But I think the needs of the Church are greater in other areas.

So to the poster’s point — I think sometimes we may feel that we’re not being prepared for — or haven’t experienced — the appointed mission, because the real mission we were meant to receive is located 1000 miles away.