(Yes, my understanding is the automatic linking works for abbreviated verse references. I say it “Doctrine and Covenants” as well, but abbreviate it as D&C. And dilation and curettage is rarely used as an abortion procedure any more. In fact, it’s so rare that your comment was the first time I have ever heard anyone refer to it as an abortion procedure. The only persons I have known whom had a D&C done, had it done because of excess tissue after a miscarriage.

I picked up the habit of saying “Doctrine and Covenants” rather than “D&C” while I was training in the MTC. A general authority speaking there reminded us that it’s a good idea to avoid any confusing reference to the abortion procedure called dilation and curetage — known casually as “D&C.”

I wonder why, in light of the verse in Alma quoted above, people have made such a terrific fuss when I expressed the belief that God knows the future. But perhaps that’s getting off track.

Re: your “crystal ball” comment, I think that idea may not be as far off as it seems: See D&C 130:6-10 (which, by the way, gives further explicit support to the doctrine that God does, in fact, see and know the future).

Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men. (Alma 40:8, emphasis added)

So is God seeing past, present and future all at once? Are the past and future all present to Him?

I think so. My comments from March 2006 on the “Pre-mortal Works” and “Is God Out of Time?” threads explain why.

Oh, and about the “humans only use a small portion of their brains” it really is just a popular belief as you stated. Recent science, specifically fMRIs show that humans really are using all of their brains. How much potential they have is a question still up for debate, but we do use the whole thing.