How do I soak clothes in my new WHIRLPOOL LXR7244JQ1 - there does not appear to be a soak cycle where I can allow the clothes to soak for more than 10 minutes. what is the fix?

Hi,
Without the model number it's difficult to be specific,
but, often the soak programme essentially stops to allow the soaking to happen.
If it is that kind of cycle, you will need to manually advance the timer or push the start button, to progress the cycle after you think it's soaked enough.
Best of luck

new washers usualy start a brief agitate then locks the door and then starts watering again. depending on washer model it can do this a couple times to evenly soak the clothes at the start of a wash cycle. it is advised to not run full cycle in the washing machine with no clothes for it can damage the unit.

probably not getting into high speed spin mode
they spin slow in the initial stages to allow the clothes to become evenly distributed then after the water is removed they pick up speed
It is possible a problem in the program board not advancing to high speed
Call in a technician for a proper diagnosis and a quote

A fairly common problem! The official instructions are

Before using your dryer, wipe the dryer drum with a damp cloth to
remove dust from storing and shipping.
1. Load clothes loosely into the dryer and close the door. Do not
pack the dryer. Allow space for clothes to tumble freely.
2. Turn the Cycle Control knob to the recommended cycle for the type of load being dried. Use the Energy Preferred Automatic Setting (,) to dry most heavyweight and medium weight loads. See "Drying, Cycle, and Temperature Tips."
3. Select a temperature setting on models with a Temp/Fabric selector. The cycle descriptions include temperature setting suggestions.
4. Push the START button.

Stopping and Restarting
You can stop your dryer any time during a cycle.
To stop your dryer
Open the dryer door or turn the Cycle Control knob to OFE
NOTE: The Cycle Control knob should point to an Off area when
the dryer is not in use.
To restart your dryer
1. Close the door.
2. Select a new cycle and temperature (if desired).
3. Press START

Extracted from
http://www.manualslib.com/manual/511763/Whirlpool-Lte5243dq.html?page=10#manual

Unplug it and plug it back in.

Don't pause the cycle mid cycle. The machine uses the amount of water it needs to clean the amount of clothes that are in the tub. If you pause it after the first 7 or 8 minutes, you're already past the sensing part of the cycle and likely you won't get more water for the additional clothes.

Also, the clothes don't need to be soaking wet or wet enough to wring out. These new HE machines mix the detergent with water and then spray that detergent solution onto your clothes. Then the clothes against clothes rubbing with that solution already coating the clothes is how the machines clean better! It is a very similar process to when you pretreat your clothes with Shout of Spray and Wash. You spray the clothes and then rub the short against itself. Now the Whirlpool machines are doing this for you!

the most common problem when this occurs is the lid switch has broken inspect it if not click when lid is closed replace the switch you see if you can get local it saves some shipping cost unless they are outragious then order on line

More than likely motor has lost a stage in it. I would replace it.

There is a coupling in between the motor and transmision cost about 10 bucks if that much. Sounds like you need a new one. Flip washer on it side and look at the motor where it connects to the transmission you will see a coupling.