God Speaks

I realized the other day that the Book of Mormon and the LDS church in general are somewhat interesting ducks. The church is one of those groups that challenges you to test if what is being taught is true. In the Book of Mormon there is a challenge to whoever reads the book to test whether or not it is true. The Book of Mormon then promises that God will inform the reader of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon "by the power of the Holy Ghost". (See: Moroni 10: 3-5)  David A. Bednar defined revelation as, "communication from God to His children on the earth" (The Spirit of Revelation) This communication is often through the Holy Ghost. Communication from God is not a loud voice. In the Book of Mormon when God communicated with a group of people it was described in this way: "it was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul" (Helaman 5:30; See: 3 Nephi 11:3) Frequently communications from God can come as thoughts or feelings. (See: D&C 8:1-2) I have found that this is usually the case in my own life where if I am not careful I can miss important spiritual promptings.

A few days ago I was visiting an investigator with the Elders. The investigator had met with the elders several times and did not feel as if he had received an answer about the whether or not the Book of Mormon was true yet. We then spoke about how the Spirit speaks to us. Having had this experience recently I read this by President Packer,

"A testimony is not thrust upon you; a testimony grows. We become taller in testimony like we grow taller in physical stature; we hardly know it happens because it comes by growth.

It is not wise to wrestle with the revelations with such insistence as to demand immediate answers or blessings to your liking. You cannot force spiritual things. Such words as compel, coerce, constrain, pressure, demand, do not describe our privileges with the Spirit. You can no more force the Spirit to respond than you can force a bean to sprout, or an egg to hatch before it’s time. You can create a climate to foster growth, nourish, and protect; but you cannot force or compel: you must await the growth." (The Candle of the Lord) 

I have learned that we must be patient with the Lord's answers to our questions. What we can do is facilitate them by making it easier for the Spirit to be present. We can remain worthy and keep our lives clean so that the Spirit is present in our lives. The Spirit is in our lives more as we listen to it. (Helaman 6:36) We must also be willing to use our own intelligence to make decisions. Sometimes, we must first exercise a degree of faith and act without a knowledge. Boyd K. Packer taught, "It is the moment when you have gone to the edge of the light and stepped into the darkness to discover that the way is lighted ahead..." (The Candle of the Lord)  As we do the Lord will speak to us and tell us what we should do.

In my own life I was encouraged by my own parents to find out for myself if the Book of Mormon was true. God did, and continues to answer me as I read through the book that it is true. This is also the reason that I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior. I know that the Lord does answer prayers and will guide us through our lives. That sometimes we must have faith in him to receive these blessings, but they do come.

Bonus video: Elder Bednar on receiving revelation