Peace, Be Still

My thoughts this week center on the Spirit of God. More specifically, how do we recognize the still, small voice that many have been taught about since their youth? And as we hear it, how do we find the courage to follow it?

I would like to start this conceptualization by recognize the our connection with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and in turn with the Holy Ghost. God the Father and Jesus Christ are two exalted, resurrected Beings who both have perfected, tangible bodies. The Holy Ghost is the third member of the "Godhead," which is sent to the hearts of men to bear testimony of the other two. How do we "feel" this testimony? Well, it comes to many in various forms, but most often there is a feeling of peace, comfort, familiarity, or just logic (the Spirit causes things to just "make sense"). This communication is made possible because each of our bodies is coupled with its own spirit, which makes up the human "soul." Like a radio receiver, our spirit picks up signals from the Holy Ghost, and converts them into meaningful thoughts, ideas, and expressions. However, we only receive the message if we are "tuned in" to the proper channel by which the Spirit testifies.

With that said, how do we "tune in" to what God would have us know as testified to us by the Spirit? By divine design, the channel of the Spirit is very specific, and we only pick it up if we are listening intently. Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles stated:

"The proud can hear the clamor of the crowd, but a person who, as King Benjamin said, 'becometh as a child, submissive, meek, [and] humble' (Mosiah 3:19), can hear and follow the still, small voice by which our Father in Heaven guides his children who are receptive."

So how does our spirit receive that voice of "perfect mildness?" (Helaman 5:30) It comes as we recognize the Lord's hand in our lives, and use the opportunities he gives us to bless the lives of those around us. As we do this with a willing and unassuming heart, we will gain the tools (submissiveness, meekness, humility--often referred to as a "broken heart and a contrite spirit")
necessary to enable us to hear, recognize, and follow that voice that sometimes seems unrecognizable, or just too minuscule to be of true substance. This takes great humility, which can only be attained through a refining process that will prove to be far more taxing than any of us could ever comprehend.

Is it worth it to listen? Is it worth it to push against the world, to go against the "natural" grain, sending splinters of what our lives might have been had we followed the easy path in our wake? I am here to say yes, it is. If we refer to the figure at right, we notice that there are two arrows that lead off the page. One, we may say, leads to joy, happiness, love, and a mutual trust between ourselves and the Lord that causes more blessings and opportunities to flow into our lives. The other, garnished by the great sin of apathy and its twin complacency, inevitably leads to endless torment, if we are unrepentant.

This seems like a lot to take in, but there is a reason for this statement: the Atonement of Jesus Christ is real, and only through it may we progress; we are just too imperfect to live without it. I am grateful to overflowing for the Atonement which, when applied properly, helps us keep our tuners sharp. Moreover, it provides our tuners with a "live update" system when used properly. Oh what joy this brings to my heart!

It is my testimony that this process can and will still the storms that overwhelm our lives. Just as He commanded to the waters, Christ commands to each of us to "be still." May we do so as trials present themselves, that we may be able to properly listen to the voice of the Spirit that only resides in reverence.

Have a great week!