Chapter 5
To Understand Spiritual Guidance
The matter of being guided throughout your life by the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit— essential to find peace with joy and happiness— is discussed in this and the next chapter. In this chapter we will review what spiritual guidance is and how it is mani fest. The next chapter will discuss what you can do to qualify to receive spiritual guidance.
Father in Heaven knew that here on earth you would be required to face challenges and make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to consistently make correctly. In His plan of happiness for your mortal life, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is something like a sixth sense— a power beyond your own capability that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness.
As a youth I was not certain of some gospel principles, nor did I understand many of the things that would bring happiness. However, our kind and loving Father in Heaven helped me learn step by step the principles that truly do yield happiness by giving me spiritual guidance. An essential requirement to peace with happiness is to learn how to recognize such guidance. That truth is what I want to share with you now.
I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that I could give you that would immediately facilitate your mastering the ability to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Him. He knows that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit. That struggle will develop your immortal character as you perfect your capacity to identify His will in your life through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. What may appear initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize the feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive through the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. In fact, as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than what you see or hear.
In this chapter I venture to write of something that I do not completely understand. Yet that limited understanding has repeatedly changed the course of my life. It has brought further knowledge, truth, and motivation that could not have been known in any other way. It has shown me undiscovered truths about myself and reduced unnecessary dependence upon others. It has repeatedly filled my heart, mind, and soul with such overpowering joy and all- pervading peace as to be beyond my power to express. It has directed my thoughts and acts for the benefit of others in desperate need and given me specific information and knowledge unattainable by other means. It has been critical to my efforts to act as an instrument to help unravel others' tangled lives.
Personal communication with God through the Holy Spirit is a reality. To me it is as literally real as life itself and far more precious than all of the treasures of the earth. As you understand and use the eternal principles governing such communication, you can learn that the counsel of others and the programs of the Church are useful aids but not the best source of fundamental direction in your life. That guidance comes from the Lord through the Holy Ghost.
In the next several paragraphs I will use different examples to indicate how spiritual guidance is manifest. You then can see how you can recognize such guidance in your own life.
You can learn much about spiritual guidance by being attentive to the feelings that accompany it. A simple example will illustrate what I mean. No matter how hard I try, it would be very difficult to tell you what the meat of a llama, an animal native to Bolivia and Peru, tastes like. But once you tasted it you would know. Thereafter, if you were to eat it again, you could identify it. You would always remember it. So it is with the guidance of the Spirit. Once you learn what spiritual guidance feels like it will be easier to recognize. The more experience you have with those feelings the more you will trust them.
Another example underscores the clarity of spiritual communication. You may have opened your eyes under water while swimming. Everything looks blurred and difficult to identify. Yet with the aid of a diver's mask, every detail can be seen with absolute clarity. Satan tries to blur reality and confuse you by tempting you to incorporate false principles into your life. Father in Heaven can clarify your life by sharing correct principles through the Holy Ghost. How you exercise your moral agency will determine which of these two influences will be predominant in your life. Your happiness now and for the eternities will unquestionably be determined by whether or not you follow the spiritual guidance of the Lord communicated through the Holy Ghost.
Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to us when we are not actively seeking it, such as when we are in danger and do not know it. I remember that on one occasion I had been driving for long hours alone on high Bolivian mountain roads, a single lane wide. As I approached a sharp turn an impression came into my mind:“ If your wife, Jeanene, were here she would tell you to honk the horn." I did, and as I turned the corner I saw a jeep skidding to a halt; the driver had heard the warning sound. Had I not done it I would have been in serious trouble. I continued to honk the horn at every sharp turn. About two hours later the same thing happened again, this time with an approaching ambulance.
The Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily. In the foregoing example, I didn't know that I needed help, but the Lord knew I needed it and He gave it to me.
Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration, that is, to know what to do. The second is power— the power of God or the capacity to do what one has been instructed to accomplish.1 Those two capacities come together. That's why Nephi could say,“ I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded.” 2 He knew the spiritual laws upon which inspiration and power were based.
President Kimball taught:“ Revelations will probably never come unless they are desired. I think few people receive revelations while lounging on a couch. . . . I believe most revelations would come when a man is on his tip toes, reaching as high as he can for something which he knows he needs, and then there bursts upon him the answer to his problems.” 3
May this simple analogy help you understand more about receiving direction from the Holy Ghost. Suppose we are in a remote area of Africa where the inhabitants have been oblivious to the wonders of modern technology. You and I have decided to perform an experiment to determine how well persons from that background could benefit from an electronic device. We place a small tape recorder with an FM tuner on a path with the unconnected earphones beside it. We find a spot where, undetected, we can observe what happens. A local man picks up the device, examines it, and then begins to play with it. Soon he notices that as he pushes a button a little bright red spot appears. That fascinates him. He continues to probe and finds that by pushing another part of the device, another light goes on and off. He also discovers the earphones. Fascinated and smiling, he heads for home with both objects in his hands. At his village he gives the necklace (earphones) to his wife and invites friends to see his new toy. The men of the village are excited about what he has found, and they each amuse themselves clicking the buttons and watching the lights flash on and off.
We judge that it is about time for us to appear, so we go into the village and ask,“ Do you know what you have in your hand? When used properly it can bring back the voices of the dead." Some begin to murmur,“Witchcraft!" and others say,“It can't be; impossible!" Some are even considering putting a hex on you and me.
We study their faces and find someone who seems to be more deeply interested than others.“ What I told you is true. That device can let you listen to the voices of people who have died. It can do more. You can speak into it and later listen to your own words. Not only that, but you can listen to messages from far away."
The sincere person asks,“ Can that really be so?"
We answer,“ Yes, bring us your wife's necklace [earphones]." We plug them in, place them on his head, and press a button to play back a recorded bird call familiar to him.
He listens and responds,“ I'm astounded. How can it be?" We then tune in the radio, and surely he hears messages from afar off. More intent now, he wants to know more.
“ Let me show you how your own voice can be heard. If we just press these two buttons together and you speak, you will be able to hear your own voice." We record and play back his own voice.
“ I can't believe it. Can I do that?" And he tries, but doesn't push the buttons right. It doesn't work for him.
We explain,“ This is a very special device. You have to use it exactly right or you won't have success." He follows our counsel more carefully and is rewarded by success.
Do you see the similarities in that example and how different individuals react to the thought of being guided by the Holy Ghost? The incredulous are convinced that it can't be done and reject the possibility out of hand. Others think it is some sort of mystical power only a few can use. But some are inquisitive, become trusting, and follow the correct principles. They are rewarded with priceless spiritual guidance.
The Holy Ghost can distill in your mind the truths of prophets who have long since gone. Through study, faith, and prayer, it can bring to memory those things that have been stored. It can confirm that the Lord lives and is aware of each of us individually. Have patience as you are perfecting your ability to be led by the Spirit. If you have not yet gained the confidence you seek, by careful practice, through the application of correct principles, and by being sensitive to the feelings that come, you will gain the capacity you seek. I bear witness that the Lord through the Holy Ghost can speak to your mind and heart. Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down word for word, like spiritual dictation.4
I know that can happen. I bear witness that as you pray with all the fervor of your soul, with humility and gratitude, you can have similar experiences. The guidance of the Spirit is essential to solve the perplexities of your life. The Lord will give you that direction as you live righteously. Consider the following example.
Sometimes spiritual guidance comes in response to an urgent, sincere prayer for help. I remember one night in the mission field, after kneeling in prayer with my lovely wife and having thanked the Lord for the blessings of the day, I had a strong impression that one of our missionaries was in trouble. I tried to think who it could be but could not identify him. I excused myself from my sweet companion. I went to my office below our living quarters, where I could review information concerning each missionary to determine who was in trouble. All night long I labored, reviewing in my mind everything I knew about each missionary and every companionship as I pleaded with the Lord that He might let me know which missionary needed help. That answer did not come. As the dawn began to break, I went up onto the flat part of our mission home roof and continued to pour out my heart for guidance. Finally, I received a slight impression regarding which part of the mission he lived in. That prompting was all I needed. I went there and through appropriate interviews found and helped the individual the Lord wanted to save. That elder was about to do something that would have terminated his mission dishonorably. The Lord, through the guidance of the Spirit, saved him. Yes, God answers prayer and gives us direction when we live obediently and exercise the required faith in Him.
One treasured experience can highlight additional truths of how spiritual communication is manifest. It occurred some time ago, when I had responsibilities in Mexico and Central America that were far beyond my personal capacity to fulfill. I spent much sincere effort in seeking guidance and understanding from the Lord in study, fasting, prayer, and anxious service.
Those assignments kept me traveling, so it was difficult to attend my own home ward with any regularity. One Sunday I had the privilege to attend the priesthood meeting of a Spanish branch that met in our ward building in Mexico City. I recall vividly how a humble Mexican priesthood leader struggled to communicate the truths of the gospel in his lesson material. It was obvious that these truths had touched his life deeply. I noted the intense desire he had to share those principles to his quorum members. He recognized that they were of great worth to the brethren present. In his manner, there was evidence of a pure love of the Savior and love of those he taught.
His sincerity, purity of intent, and love permitted a spiritual strength to envelop the room. I was touched. In addition to receiving again a witness of the truths that he presented, I began to receive some personal impressions as an extension of those principles taught by the humble instructor. These impressions were intended for me personally and were related to my assignments in the area. They came in answer to my prolonged, prayerful efforts to learn.
As each impression came, I faithfully wrote it down. In the process I was given precious truths that I greatly needed in order to be a more effective servant of the Lord. The details of the communication are sacred and, like a patriarchal blessing, were for the benefit of the recipient. The specific counsel began with this paragraph:“ You are to continue to build the Church on the foundation of true principles, but with an increased expression of love and appreciation you have been blessed to understand and feel for the great Lamanite people." There followed specific directions, instructions, and conditioned promises that have altered the course of my life.
Subsequently, I visited the Sunday School class in our ward, where a very well- educated visiting professor presented his lesson. That experience was in striking contrast to the one enjoyed in the priesthood meeting. It seemed to me that the instructor had purposely chosen obscure references and unusual examples to illustrate the principles in the lesson. I will confess that I had the distinct impression, perhaps erroneously (although I think not), that this instructor was using the teaching opportunity to impress the class with his vast store of knowledge. At any rate, he certainly did not seem as intent on communicating principles as had the humble priesthood leader.
In that environment, strong impressions began to flow to me again. I wrote them down. Some of the paragraphs began with phrases such as these:“ Teach and testify to instruct, edify, and lead others to full obedience, not to demonstrate anything of self. All who are puffed up shall be cut off." Another entry reads,“You are nothing in and of yourself, Richard." That was followed with specific counsel on how to become more effective as an instrument in the hands of the Lord. A later section begins,“Through qualification by obedient self- restraint and the power of faith,” followed by further promises conditioned upon those requisites.
This time, I received such an outpouring of impressions that were so personal that I felt it inappropriate to try to record them in the midst of a Sunday School class. I sought a more private location. There I continued to write the feelings that flooded into my mind and heart as accurately and as faithfully as possible. After each powerful impression was recorded, I pondered the feelings I had received to determine if I had accurately expressed them in writing. As a result, I made a few minor changes to what had been written. Then I studied their meaning and application in my own personal life.
Subsequently I prayed, reviewing with the Lord what I thought I had been taught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace and serenity confirmed what I had sought, I thanked Him for the guidance given. I was then impressed to ask if there was yet more that I could be given to understand. I received further impressions, and the process of writing down the impressions and pondering and praying to know if I had done it properly was repeated. Again I was prompted to ask,“ Is there more I should know?" There was. When that last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most precious, specific, personal direction one could ever hope to obtain in this life. I am convinced that had I not responded to the first impressions, valued, and recorded them, I would not have received the last, most precious guidance.
What I have described is not an isolated experience. It embodies several principles I know to be true regarding communication from the Lord to His children here on earth. I believe that we often leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because we do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to us. Impressions of the Spirit can come unsolicited when we are in need or in response to urgent prayer.
What does spiritual communication entail? How does it occur? The Savior has taught us much concerning the principles of spiritual communication:
Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question— unto what were ye ordained?
To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth.5
Thus communication must be by the Spirit,“ which was sent forth to teach the truth." The Lord then clarifies:
Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
And if it be by some other way it is not of God.
And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?
If it be some other way it is not of God.6
Then, by way of summary and further clarification, the Lord adds:
Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?
Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.7
The verb understand refers to that which is spoken and heard. It is the same message to all present. Edified concerns that which is communicated by the Holy Ghost. Edified content will be different and tailored by the Spirit to the needs of each individual prepared to feel it. This verse is one of the evidences in the scriptures that the Lord will personalize a message taught by the Spirit of Truth for the further enlightenment of the sincere, honest, obedient seeker. When you teach others, encourage abundant participation, because their use of agency to take part authorizes the Holy Ghost to instruct them. It also helps your message to be better understood and retained. As truths are verbalized through participation, they can be confirmed in the participant's soul by the Holy Ghost. The result is a strengthened personal testimony of those truths.
In my priesthood meeting experience in the Spanish branch in Mexico City, I understood the principles that were taught by a Spirit- guided instructor. I had a witness of their truthfulness. But in addition to that, I was edified by precious feelings as I received spiritual guidance from the Holy Ghost. The message taught by a human was powerfully expanded for my own personal benefit by sacred impressions communicated through the Holy Ghost.
Profound doctrine concerning spiritual guidance is found in an account of Nephi, the son of Helaman. It teaches eloquently the effect of obedience to the will of the Lord. It illustrates the consequence of a life devoted to determining the will of the Lord and to resolutely obeying it. Because he declared with power the message given to him by the Lord to a wicked people, he was placed in a very difficult situation. He was accused of being a confederate of the individual who had murdered the chief judge.8 Yet his understanding of the principles of spiritual communication, coupled with a life devoted to being obedient to sensitive impressions of the Spirit, allowed him to receive through that Spirit the information that saved his life.9 After that experience, we read:
Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him. . . .
And it came to pass as he was thus pondering in his heart, behold, a voice came unto him saying:
Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto . . . this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments.
And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word.10
And then these choice words of testimony from the Lord bear witness to the character of Nephi:
For thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.11
In subsequent verses, Nephi was given the power to seal because of the total trust the Lord had in him. From this experience, we learn that seeking the will of the Lord and complying with it, while obeying the commandments unwearyingly, will produce blessings of incalculable worth.
We learn other lessons of spiritual guidance from the brother of Jared, who had become a powerful servant of the Lord, as evidenced by this statement:
The Lord did bring Jared and his brethren forth even to that great sea which divideth the lands. And . . . they dwelt in tents . . . upon the seashore for the space of four years.12
Then we read:
And it came to pass at the end of four years that the Lord came again unto the brother of Jared, and stood in a cloud and talked with him. And for the space of three hours did the Lord talk with the brother of Jared, and chastened him because he remembered not to call upon the name of the Lord.13
That must have been a crushingly difficult interview for the brother of Jared. He recognized that earlier in his life his closeness to the Lord had permitted him to lead his people to safety. Now the Lord personally chastened him because he had forgotten to pray adequately. As we read further, we see a measure of the character of the brother of Jared, for the very next statement records:
And the brother of Jared repented of the evil which he had done, and did call upon the name of the Lord for his brethren who were with him. And the Lord said unto him: I will forgive thee and thy brethren of their sins; but thou shalt not sin any more, for ye shall remember that my Spirit will not always strive with man.14
It was after this experience that the brother of Jared's obedience, diligence, and resolute determination to know and follow the will of the Lord permitted the Savior to say to him:
Never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger.15
And the Lord said unto him:
Believest thou the words which I shall speak?
And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.
And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.16
The scriptures promise that the Lord will answer our prayers for guidance, but they do not indicate when the Lord will provide those answers. Most often it seems that He gives answers in packets, that is, in pieces of the solution. That way of providing answers requires you to exercise your faith; and by so doing you will increase in character. You do not become improperly dependent upon God.
As mentioned earlier, prayer is fundamental to the doctrine of spiritual guidance. You communicate with God through sincere prayer. He answers you through the Spirit by impressions that come to your mind and heart. How can you learn to pray properly? By speaking openly to a trusted Father you love. The Lord has given you the way to pray for answers to questions in your life. For example, He has done that through recording an experience Oliver Cowdery had when he was not able to translate as he had been encouraged to do. As is often the case, this guidance given to an individual is applicable to us all. He said to Oliver:
Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.
But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.17
Note how the answer comes as a feeling. Two separate categories for such feelings are defined by the Lord:
Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation.18
So one form of answer is described as to the mind, the other to the heart. Both are communications from the Holy Spirit to our spirits. I feel the basic difference between the two is that communication to the mind is very specific and can be written down as if dictated, while communication to the heart is more generalized. For example, you could have a feeling such as,“ I need to do better in my life" or“I need to study harder." Then the Lord clarifies,
But [if what you propose to the Lord] be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong.19
To me that phrase doesn't mean that you will automatically forget what you are proposing. Instead, the feelings you have will indicate that what you propose is not the will of the Lord, and therefore you should choose to forget it. Thus, if what you have proposed to do is contrary to His will and therefore would be undesirable, you will have the feeling He describes as a“ stupor of thought." Sometimes that is a feeling akin to what you sense when someone proposes to do something totally contrary to your righteous, basic principles. You have a feeling of rejection, discomfort, uneasiness, and, in extreme cases, even disgust.
When what you propose is correct, as has been quoted,“ I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.” 20 I liken those feelings to what is sensed when you are in a testimony meeting and have the impression that it is time for you to bear your witness.
Another way in which positive answers come is described in another revelation to Oliver Cowdery:
Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?21
The feeling of peace is the most common confirming witness that I personally experience. There have been times when I have been very concerned about an important matter, struggling to resolve it without success. As in faith I continued those efforts, an all- pervading peace has come, settling all concern as He has promised.
A key to increased spiritual guidance is to learn to ask the right questions in prayer. Consider how you can change from asking the Lord so often for the things you want to honestly asking what He wants for you. Then as you find out His will, pray you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it. When you feel that you understand what the Lord wants you to do, you are on the path to achieve it. Whether with your best effort you can fully accomplish it today, tomorrow, next week, or even in this life doesn't make that much difference when you know that what you are consistently doing is what He wants you to do. That understanding will provide the greatest assurance of a satisfying life. You will be on course to receive the rewards promised the righteous. They will be given according to the Lord's plan and in His time.
Spiritual communication cannot be forced. I have heard some say that they“ call down the Spirit." That is a false principle. You must qualify yourself and be ready to receive the Lord's guidance and direction when He determines to provide it. No matter how urgent your personal timetable, the Lord responds according to His own timing because He knows that in the long run it will be the best for you.
Consider this example when a prophet taught with conviction a truth he learned from personal experience. President David O. McKay testified:
“ It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication.” 22
I find great comfort in that statement of a prophet of God. President McKay later confirmed the truth of that principle with an experience from his own life. He related that when he was a boy hunting cattle he stopped to let his horse rest. In his own words:
“ An intense desire came over me to receive a manifestation of the truth of the restored gospel. I dismounted, . . . and there, under a serviceberry bush, I prayed that God would declare to me the truth of his revelation to Joseph Smith. I am sure that I prayed fervently and sincerely and with as much faith as a young boy could muster.
“ At the conclusion of the prayer, I arose from my knees, . . . and got into the saddle. As I started along the trail again, I remember saying to myself: 'No spiritual manifestation has come to me. If I am true to myself, I must say I am just the same“old boy" that I was before I prayed.' I prayed again when I crossed Spring Creek, near Huntsville, in the evening to milk our cows.” 23
The Lord did answer that prayer much later, when it had more significant meaning. In what would now be called a zone conference his mission president pointed to Elder McKay and, moved by the Spirit, prophesied, saying:“ If you will keep the faith, you will yet sit in the leading councils of the Church.” 24 At that moment a powerful, unmistakable witness came in answer to his supplication as a sincere youth. It came when he needed it, to confirm a vital prompting of the Spirit.
I testify that this principle of timing is true. Who better than the Lord understands our needs and is better equipped to respond to them in the most appropriate moment, when we qualify by obedience?
Some time ago, in the northern reaches of Japan, with the cold, misty rain settling about a missionary companionship and with the hour soon approaching when tracting would be over, the senior companion said,“ Let's go home; we haven't had any success today. We will hit it hard tomorrow when things will be better." His junior companion said,“I feel we should finish this street." The sensitive senior understood the significance of the word feel. They continued to labor. As a result a young Japanese boy was baptized. The missionaries became his best friends. They inspired him to be a missionary. He was most effective. His mission president was moved to encourage him to learn English. He did that during the mission. Afterward he bought a transistor radio to listen to English programs as he continued to study the language. He prepared himself professionally and later served as a mission president, a stake president, a regional representative. The membership of the Church has been blessed by Elder Yoshihiko Kikuchi as a General Authority. It all began because a junior companion had confidence in the promptings of the Spirit of the Lord.
I would like to pass on two precautions concerning seeking spiritual guidance. First, an illustration about how easily the best efforts to communicate principles relating to the Spirit can be misunderstood. As a mission president, I observed how one missionary who was unusually gifted in working with people operated. He seemed to be working very hard. He and his companion had convert baptisms. Yet I felt unsettled about what he was doing, although I could not identify what caused the uneasiness.
During a zone meeting where he bore his testimony, I received a strong impression that helped me discover what was wrong. I realized he was an extraordinary mimic. He could speak to workers in the field as though he were one of them, and then to a professional group with such clarity and precision as to deeply impress them. He carefully and perceptively studied each person to find the most effective approach to influence him or her. In a word, he was a skilled technician, but he lacked the Spirit. His testimonies were given as a polished actor who had observed others, memorized their comments, and repeated them with great precision. Sadly, he was very sincere and did not realize what he was doing wrong.
Following up on that impression, I called him for an interview. After laying a foundation, I said“ Elder, you have extraordinary skills of persuasion, but you do not work by the Spirit. You are most convincing in what you say, but I don't believe you understand what it means to have a testimony of truth. You are pretending."
He responded strongly.“ That's not true, President. I have as strong a testimony as any missionary. I love the Lord, and I'm working hard to bring souls to Him through convert baptisms."
I continued to express the feelings in my heart,“ You've memorized what others say and repeat it with great skill. I am not even sure you realize that bearing a witness of truth involves the heart as well as the mind."
“ President, how do you know what's in my heart? You're not being fair. We're having success. We're baptizing many people."
“ Yes, Elder, you are having convert baptisms in spite of what you are doing wrong. But you would be a much more powerful servant if you would learn to be led by the Spirit. You are teaching with your own capacity and strength, not by the Spirit of the Lord. Some day your battery is going to go dead, and you will fall flat on your face."
“ Why do you say that, President?"
“ Because I feel it, Elder." As hard as I tried, I could not communicate what I knew to be true. He was disturbed and, like many of us, focused on justifying what he had been doing rather than trying to understand new truths.
Despite my best efforts, he left very upset. I prayed that the Lord would touch his heart so that he could understand. A few days later, he called for another interview. He entered the office so dejected that I think he could have passed through the gap between the bottom of the door and the floor. He said,“ President, I want to go home. I am a hypocrite. I manipulate people. I am not worthy to be a missionary."
In my heart, I thanked the Lord for what was happening and asked that I might be blessed to say those things that would open his eyes. I expressed my love, my concern, and my appreciation for him. We spoke of feelings he had begun to have and the change that would allow him to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord. Somehow the Spirit conveyed what was needed, and he began to seek guidance with faith. It was a turning point in his life. He learned to look beyond his own talents and abilities. He began to understand what the guidance of the Holy Ghost means. He became a most outstanding missionary and a dear friend.
The second precaution I would share is to not trifle with spiritual things, even unintentionally. I remember a missionary companionship that reported that they would sit on a bus and concentrate every way they could to try to make the person in front of them turn around. They began to feel that they were gaining spiritual strength when the person would turn around. I cautioned them never to do that. Follow correct principles, and you will avoid being led down inappropriate paths and prevent spiritual guidance from the dark side.
There are two times when you shouldn't talk about a spiritual experience. One is when it is very sacred. If you speak of it without being authorized of the Holy Ghost, you may offend the Lord. You may not be trusted with additional deeply sacred experiences. They can come to you when you are in tune, but they shouldn't be treated lightly. Such experiences should be written in a sacred journal and pondered, but they should not be shared without a feeling of confirmation to do so. Also, you would want to prayerfully thank the Lord that He trusted you with sacred guidance.
The other time you shouldn't talk about a spiritual experience is when you have had a negative experience from an evil source. I do not understand exactly why, but I know it is a spiritual law that when there is conversation about negative things, they seem to spread and grow in influence. They then can affect many others. When they are quietly handled with no discussion, they dissipate. To illustrate, once I was with a mission president planning activities for the mission. His assistant came in excitedly and said,“ Elder Scott, we need you immediately. We think that one of the sister missionaries has been possessed of an evil spirit." I turned to him, and I said,“Elder, you have the priesthood. Go take care of it. We're planning the work of the Lord. I don't have time for those things. You have the authority to handle it well." Initially he probably didn't understand what I was doing, until he acted and was strengthened.
Don't talk or think about such negative things, for that causes them to have greater influence. Yes, Satan is real and he has very real agents. That has been confirmed in my life through personal experiences. I also have a testimony that evil beings have no real power over a righteous individual who has faith. They can threaten, confront, even appear to be powerful and menacing, but unless one fears and yields, they have no power. Remember when you exercise faith, live righteously, and do not fear, you are provided secure protection against Satan's efforts to influence your life.
Having discussed spiritual guidance and reviewed examples of how it is manifest, let us now study what you need to do to qualify to receive such direction in your own life.
Notes to Chapter 5: To Understand Spiritual Guidance
^3 Edward L. Kimball, Lengthen Your Stride: The Presidency of Spencer W. Kimball (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2005), 216.
^7 D&C 50:21–22; emphasis added.
^18 D&C 8:2–3; emphasis added.
^22 David O. McKay, in Conference Report, April 1969, 153.
^23 David O. McKay, in Conference Report, October 1968, 85–86.