Knowing About Others' Callings Before They Happen

[4Joshua8]

I think this is my very first topic. Yay me.

Years ago I had an experience I hope I never forget.

I was watching a general conference talk, and the Spirit of God came over me and witnessed to me that the person I was watching was an apostle of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I knew specifically that they would be an apostle, and I knew it for certain.
This was years before their call came (not saying who).

I had a similar, although less intense, experience with two of the last 5 apostles who were called.

No, I'm not special. No, I'm not going to write a book saying I have access to some special power. No, I'm not a descendant of John the Revelator (not that I know of). No, I didn't have a near-death experience.

As I try to learn why God would give me that experience, I have a lot of ideas, but none of them feel quite accurate.

The only one that seems to sort of fit, of all I've considered so far, is that at some point in the future I will need to be able to trust that his calling came from God, and the fact that I received that witness before his call will be a strong foundation for me...something I can't deny.

I'm curious if any of you have had a similar experience, and if so, what your feelings are as to WHY you had that experience...if you feel like sharing.

Good inspiration can be triggered by good information. I thank you in advance for your good information.

[Matchmaker]

I had the distinct impression that Elder Soares would be chosen to be an Apostle of the Lord, and my impression was correct. I think that since he was foreordained to his position before coming to this world, and I probably knew him in the house of my Father, I recognized him the first time I heard him give a talk.

[EmmaLee]

I've never had that experience with someone who later became an apostle, but I had that exact experience with someone who became a bishop. This was quite a few years ago, but in the same ward we currently live in. The bishop at the time had been in just over 5 years, so we all suspected a new bishop would be called. I never pay much attention to such things or get excited about it, etc. and honestly, I wasn't even particularly thinking about who might be called. But sitting there in sacrament meeting one Sunday, I had the undeniable impression of who our next bishop would be - I mean, I KNEW beyond any doubt whatsoever. Right then and there, I whispered to my husband who the next bishop would be, but I didn't mention it to anyone else.

Then, on the way to Sunday school, I passed the man who I knew was going to be called as our next bishop, and without even knowing what I was saying, I said, "Brother _______, I just want you to know I will fully sustain you as our new bishop." No one else was around just then, and nobody else heard me - and I didn't say it in a "gotcha!" sort of way at all - I was very sincere. Anyway, he went white as a sheet - literally, looked like a ghost in an instant - and he looked at me like I had two heads or something - and he didn't say a word. It was obvious he could not believe that I knew what he already knew (because the very next Sunday, he was sustained as our new bishop - so he had to have known about it when I said that to him). Anyway, it was an interesting experience!

I've had similar experiences with a few other people being called into ward and stake positions - none of which I really understand why it came to me to know these things, but know them I did. It wasn't me having thoughts of, "Oh I think so-and-so would make a good ____" or hoping a certain person would be called into such-and-such a position, etc. - it was pure knowledge, don't know how else to describe it. Each time, I have shared it with my husband, so he was a witness. I didn't share this with any of these other people about the callings I knew they were going to be getting (other than the bishop above).

There have been several times when I knew of callings that I myself would be getting - not only that I would be called to a new calling, but what the calling would be - and each time has proven correct. This is more understandable than when it happened with other people - I still can't figure that out, as there has never seemed to be a rhyme or reason for me to know about other people's callings - other than maybe as a way of the Lord letting me know I'm able to receive revelation/inspiration and what it is like for me, personally, to receive it, as in how it comes to me (each time it came as pure knowledge to my head, almost matter-of-factly; not as a 'warm' or 'burning' feeling, etc.). Barring any further light and knowledge on the subject, that's the reason I'll have to go with - that the Lord was/is teaching me with these experiences how *I* receive revelation - that that is what is important, rather than what these particular revelations actually are (in these instances anyway). Why it's only happened with some, but not others, is also a mystery - there doesn't seem to be any correlation that I can deduce. It's interesting to me though, and makes me ponder, which is always good.

[brianj]

I've never had the experience, but I have been at stake reorganizations where one or more people said they felt a specific individual would receive the calling as president, with some even mentioning something to the future president before he was called.

So this does happen but I don't know why. One thought that comes to mind is so that you would have a stronger testimony of their calling.

[kittycat51]

Twice.

I was reading an article by Elder Christofferson just before the GC that he was sustained. When I finished the article I had the strong impression that he was going to be called to fill the recent apostle vacancy. I told my husband and oldest son that he would be the next apostle. They were shocked when it happened.

Several years ago when we were getting ready to reorganize our bishopric, I told my husband that a new family who moved into the ward that the father would be our new bishop. I didn't know them hardly at all, but for some reason I just felt it. I could just feel how humble of a person he was.

I don't know why in either instance, especially since I feel like I struggle with inspiration.