I agree, like Sam said, that because the gospel (and life) is multifaceted,
commandments might not always be cut and dried. But this also implies another
possibility. That blessings might also not be cut and dried. For example, I quit
a job on my first day because contrary to what one boss had led me to believe,
another boss scheduled me to work six Sundays in a row. I didn't really quit on
the Sabbath principle (the work was something that truly had to be done on the
Sabbath, that is, supervising juveniles in a long term lock up facility).
Rather, I quit because during the hiring process I told the boss that I couldn't
work Sundays, because of other commitments I had (i.e. Elder's quorum
president). I told him I'd work split days off if I had to. He said, "No
problem," but then assigned me to a supervisor who thought otherwise.

So anyway, I didn't get rich, but over time I realized that a more important
blessing had been given. That is, I never had any trouble finding work (so far,
and it's been over 10 years), and never again (so far) had a job that required
me to work on Sunday. In addition, I had increasingly flexible work schedules
such that (although there were periods of poverty) I now have the most
flexibility in my work schedule and the highest salary that I've had so far. So
I think the Lord knew that I really didn't care much about the money, but
rather, that my time was much more valuable to me. So he didn't give me money
(right away), but I immediately found a job with a much more flexible schedule.
Also the experiences I had in other jobs (although not always as pleasant as
working at a youth corrections facility might have been--I kid you not) uniquely
prepared me for my current position. In fact, although once it all seemed fairly
random and I was beginning to doubt my ability to be interested in a job for
more than three years at a time, when I met my present employer all the past
experiences suddenly fell into place and made perfect sense.

As for revelation for others. I think there are roles we are called to, roles
that are ours by birth or membership, and roles we choose. Once, just after
moving into a new ward, I glanced at the bench behind me to see a woman with
tears in her eyes sitting alone with her children. I felt prompted to go find
her husband at his home and talk to him. This sort of thing would have been
extremely uncharacteristic for me to do, so I know I didn't dream it up. I
vaguely knew the man, because we had chatted once or twice since he had once
worked with the organization I now worked for, but he was still a near stranger.
I left after Sacrament meeting (missing my other meetings) and went to his
house. He answered the door and I simply said, "I felt like I needed to come
over here." He immediately replied, "You did. Come in."

Without hesitation, but clearly with some anxiety and a heavy burden, he
unloaded a recent transgression that he had been caught in, and that had
resulted in him losing his job (a job he loved dearly). He had already spoken to
the Bishop (or I would have suggested it), and the Bishop was coming to visit
him later that same day, but he clearly wanted to talk. So I listened, gave him
some encouragement, and told him that the sin would likely not register at all
in the local gossip. I said the ward needed him and told him why. I told him
that if he stayed away long it would be increasingly hard for him. He agreed,
and when I left he said he felt much better. His burden was lighter. He came
back within a week or so, and quickly resumed his enthusiastic way of serving in
the ward.

Now clearly I had no authority to forgive his sin (which I didn't) or to tell
him what course he must take to make things right in the eyes of the Lord or the
Church. That was not my calling. But I was a willing an interested neighbor that
could convincingly communicate to him that the ward membership would not judge
or abandon him, and that he must not abandon them.

We are our brothers' keepers, and so we must have some revelation in fulfilling
THAT calling, but we will not be called to contradict our leaders or to supplant
them, but only, I believe, to support them.

So my guess is that Randy's wife's friend (?) didn't so much need to be told
what to do, but rather, to be supported in what she already felt she needed to
do.

Mike

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