In a general conference talk, Elder Robert D. Hales taught, "What is said is not as important as what we hear and what we feel."[1] I pray that today, as Elder Hales said, "the still, small voice of the Spirit can be clearly heard, felt, and understood."
We live in the last days—days the Apostle Paul described as "perilous times" when "men shall be lovers of their own selves . . . proud . . . disobedient to parents, unthankful . . . without natural affection . . . despisers of those that are good . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. . . . Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."[2] Paul prophesied of people in the last days who would "resist the truth"[3] and "turn away their ears from the truth."[4] Blessed with latter-day revelation given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, we know that we can come to the knowledge of the truth. In Doctrine and Covenants 121:26, we read, "God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost."
We receive personal revelation and knowledge of the truth by the power of the Holy Ghost. The Lord said: "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. . . .This is thy gift; apply unto it."[5] Seeking to know truth, Joseph Smith sought answers in the Bible. From James 1:5-6 he learned: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering [meaning not doubting or hesitating]." Pondering this led Joseph to a grove of trees to ask God in faith for an answer to his question.
Our family recently enjoyed a memorable vacation in the eastern United States. The journey began in New York City, with its bright lights, baseball, and theatre. After a quick stop at Niagara Falls, we set our sights on Church history. We visited Harmony, Palmyra, and Kirtland and then gathered together for one last family meeting before departing for home. Everyone was invited to share a memorable experience. After several family members had shared, our granddaughter Maggie said, "My favorite place was the Sacred Grove." I asked her if she would like to tell us why. She was quiet for a moment. We could tell by her expression that she was deep in thought. Her sweet mom recognized that she was struggling and encouraged her, saying, "Sometimes it's hard to find the right words, isn't it?" Maggie replied, "Yes, it is. I don't know how to explain it. It's just something I felt there."
It was something she felt—something she couldn't describe in words. But with childlike faith, Maggie trusted the promptings of the Spirit that entered into her mind and heart in that sacred place.
We must also learn to trust the still, small voice of the Spirit. Through the priesthood and by the laying on of hands, we have received the privilege of enjoying the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, a member of the Godhead, as we remain worthy. This is a beginning on the path from testimony to conversion, which, for many of us, is, as Elder David A. Bednar taught, "an ongoing process and not a onetime event."[6]
Learning to recognize how the Spirit speaks to you in simple daily experiences is crucial. The accuser, even Satan, will attempt to wear you down, planting seeds of doubt, fear, discouragement, and frustration in an attempt to weaken your faith. He will try to fill your mind with feelings of inadequacy and doubt, wanting to keep you from trusting and heeding the promptings from the Holy Ghost that enter your mind and heart even in small and simple things.
A few months ago, an unexpected source reminded me of the importance of trusting the still, small voice of the Spirit. Our grandson was staying at our home. He loves trains, so he wanted to watch the movie The Polar Express—over and over and over again. As I watched with him, I was drawn to one character—a young girl who always seemed to know the right thing to do. Even though she knew what was right, questions from others often led her to feel doubt. In the scene you are about to watch, the girl has decided to take a cup of hot chocolate to a little boy who is sitting alone in another car of the train.
The girl retrieves a cup of hot chocolate she has hidden under her seat and carefully makes her way to the back of the train car. A boy notices her and asks, "Where are you going with that?" She turns, motions toward to the little boy sitting alone, and answers, "It's for him." The boy continues to question her: "I don't think we're supposed to leave our seats." Then another boy joins in: "Yeah, it's a violation of railroad safety regulations for a kid to cross moving cars without a grown-up." She is determined to serve this hot chocolate to the little boy sitting alone, and she continues to walk toward the rear door of the train, telling them, "I think I'll be okay." Then the question comes: "Are you sure?" The instant she hears this question she stops. She doesn't turn around right away. It's obvious the question has caused her to doubt herself and the wisdom of her simple act of service.
"Are you sure?" At times, even a simple small question of doubt can cause us to question ourselves and weaken our resolve. And so we are commanded: "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. . . Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked."[7] President Boyd K. Packer has taught that Heavenly Father wants each of His children to have "a shield of faith made to buckle on so firmly that it can neither be pulled off nor penetrated by [the adversary's] fiery darts."[8] Sometimes those fiery darts come from others. Sometimes they come from within, as we challenge in our minds what we know to be true in our hearts.
Back to the young girl in The Polar Express. The same boy who first questioned her about the hot chocolate now finds her sitting in the engineer's chair. He says, "You? How do you know how?" "Easy!" she says. "Come here. I'll show you!" She is so excited to show him what she has learned, and she points to each lever as she explains its function: "This big lever here, that's the throttle. And then this little one here, that's the brake. And those are the pressure gauges. And that rope is the whistle!"
"The whistle?" the boy says. He can't resist. He reaches up pulls the cord, and (as) the whistle blows (he exclaims); "I've wanted to do that my whole life!" he exclaims.
They hear the engineer, who is on the front of the train. He is franticly calling, "Stop the train! Stop the train! Stop the train! Stop . . . the . . . train!" "What?" the boy asks. "He wants us to stop the train!" the girl says. "Which one of these is the brake?" the boy questions. Pointing to a small lever the girl replies; "He told me this was the brake!"
"Who?" "The engineer!" "The engineer?" "Yes!" "What about this red one?" the boy asks. "It looks like a brake." "No, no!" the girl says. "He said this was the brake!" Then comes the question "Are you sure? Are you sure?"
With his hands on the lever with the red handle, the boy looks at the girl, waiting for her to answer his question: Are you sure? But she is frozen with fear and doesn't respond at all. She covers her eyes with her hands.
"Stop the train! STOP THE TRAIN!" the engineer continues to yell.
The boy looks to his friend to make a decision. She still has her hands covering her eyes but separates her fingers for just a moment to look at him. He chooses to trust her, removes his hand from the lever with the red handle that looks more like the brake, and reaches for the little one, which is indeed the brake. He pulls it with all his might, and the brakes lock.
The girl knew exactly what she needed to do. She had been taught. But when she was under pressure in a stressful, noisy, urgent situation, someone else's doubt led her to doubt herself. She was so overcome with the fear of making the wrong decision that she refused to act!
Sometimes, like the girl in the movie, we find ourselves surrounded by noise and overwhelmed by responsibilities. And when that happens, someone else's doubt can lead us to doubt the truths we already know.
There are times in all of our lives when distraction and fear collide with faith. This is exactly where the adversary would like us to stay - so disabled by fear that we are unable to act or refuse to act.
Faith is a principle of action. And so, Church leaders teach us to live by faith. Elder Neil L. Andersen said: "Fear and faith cannot coexist in our hearts at the same time. In our days of difficulty we choose . . . faith"[9] Peter chose faith. Focused on and trusting in Jesus Christ, he stepped out onto the water. As long as he stayed focused on the Savior, he walked on the water. But when he lost his focus, when he was distracted, when, as the scriptures say, "he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid." As he began to sink, he chose faith, he acted. He cried out to the Savior, "Lord, save me."[10]
Each of us experiences this from time to time. Surrounded by noise and overwhelmed with responsibility, under the weight of school, family, Church, work and other responsibilities, we begin to sink. Perhaps some are sinking under the weight of sin. We can and must learn to trust in the Savior's strengthening, enabling, sanctifying, healing, and comforting power, through His Atonement.
Several years ago, I felt myself beginning to sink under the weight of opportunity and responsibility. We had two sons still living at home, one son on a mission, and three other children scattered across the United States with their families. My husband was running for a State-wide political office and I was supporting him and traveling with him when I was able. My father was recovering from open heart surgery and my Mother was dying of cancer. I took every opportunity to sit with Mom during her treatments, helping in their home, cooking, cleaning, and spending nights caring for my Mother so Dad could rest. As you can see, responsibilities associated with home and family were many and varied. I was also serving as a Stake Relief Society president. My days were filled with responsibilities and sweet opportunities to serve. One night I arrived home late, the house was quiet, I put in a new CD. The music soothed my troubled heart. One song touched me in a special way. I played it over and over listening to the words. As I listened, three words; "Lord, remember me" filled me with the Spirit and entered into my mind and my heart. I closed my eyes and offered a silent prayer. I asked; "Lord, do you remember me?" The Spirit enveloped me and I heard this thought enter my mind; "I remember you, do you remember me?"
I realized at that very moment that, like Peter, I was distracted and had momentarily lost focus on the Savior. Like Martha, I was, "cumbered about much serving, and worried and troubled about many things..."[11] I was reminded; "one thing is needful..."[12] and partaking deeply of that "good part",[13] the Savior and His Atonement, each day is a choice.
In Moses 1:39 we are reminded; "For behold, this is My work and My glory. To bring to pass the immortality and Eternal life of man."
Elder Nelson recently taught, "A loving Heavenly Father has but two desires for His children, immortality and eternal life, which means life back home."[14] As beloved sons and daughters of heavenly parents, we have a divine nature and destiny. We were taught before we came into this life. President Henry B. Eyring emphasized this truth when he reminded us, "You were tutored by Him. . . . He helped you understand and accept that you would have trials, tests, and opportunities perfectly chosen just for you. You learned that our Father had a plan of happiness to get you safely through those trials and that you would help bring others safely through theirs. This plan is marked by covenants with God."
President Eyring continued, "Heavenly Father taught you before you were born about the experiences you would have as you left Him and came to earth. You were taught that the way back home to Him would not be easy. He knew that it would be too hard for you to make the journey without help. You have been blessed not only to find the way to make those covenants in this life but also to be surrounded by others who will help."[15] Take a moment and look around you. You are not alone. You are surrounded by others who will help!
President Packer said, "We are at war with the forces of the adversary, and we need each and every one of us if we are going to succeed in the work the Savior has for us to do."[16] Toward the end of The Polar Express, the girl, the boy, and their little friend, are caught in a runaway train car. When the car finally stops, they are in an unfamiliar place. The girl takes a moment to get her bearings. She looks around and, more important, she listens. Finally she asks, "Do you hear that? The bell!" "What bell?" the boy asks. "The sleigh bell!" she replies. "Don't you hear it? It's coming from that tunnel. That's the way we should go! Come on!"
Confidently, she presses forward across a train track, high above an icy ravine. "Come on!" she says. "We're lost!" the questioning boy says. Undeterred and confident, the girl says, "Yes, yes. I hear it." She knows that they are still on the right path; even in the confusion she can hear the bell! She is so happy when she hears their little friend say, "I hear it too." Confused and unsure, the questioning boy says again, "I don't hear anything." "Okay, it's down this way." She confidently leads out again, only to hear the boy's familiar question, "Are you sure?" She stops for a moment, she still hears the bell. She knows they are on the right path, and she answers, "Absolutely!"
You know the truth. You have felt the influence of the Spirit. When doubting voices ask that question—"Are you sure?"—remember President Dieter F. Uchtdorf's counsel, "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith."[17] And confidently answer, "Yes! Absolutely! I am sure!" Testify. Trust the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. Put your trust in living prophets. As we face the "perilous times" prophesied by Paul, we have warnings and promises from living prophets to guide us.
And Elder M. Russell Ballard assured us that we can trust our living prophets. He promised, "We will not and . . . cannot lead you astray."[18] Early one morning as I quickly got off an elevator with my briefcase on wheels, the bag with additional files that rested on top of the briefcase fell off and was dangling from the handle. I was in a hurry to get to a meeting so didn't take time to stop and adjust the dangling bag. I just tried to fix it while I continued to walk. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going and when I finally looked up I was face to face with Elder Scott!
He didn't say anything to me but simply looked into my eyes. When an Apostle engages you with his eyes, you don't move because you can't! And you don't want to anyway. I felt that Elder Scott was looking deep into my heart and I hoped that he would find something good there!
I don't know how long the experience lasted, but soon Elder Scott smiled at me, nodded his head and walked on, into the doors of the temple. I watched him until he was out of sight and then I burst into tears! I was weeping! I was really surprised by my emotion and wondered why I was responding this way.
I walked into my meeting, trying to compose myself, but still in tears. Everyone was concerned and asked if I was okay. The only thing I could say was, "Yes, I'm fine. Elder Scott just smiled at me!"
I wanted to understand why this brief encounter had caused such an emotional reaction, what was it that caused this deep emotion to surface? I prayed to know and came to understand that what I felt from Elder Scott was 'pure love.' I felt for a moment what it may feel like to be in the presence of the Savior, because that's who Elder Scott represents. Elder Scott is a special witness of the Savior. He is like Him. He knows Him. I felt the Saviors 'pure love' through him.
Trust the Savior's strengthening, enabling, sanctifying, healing, and comforting power through His Atonement. Trust God, your Eternal Father, whose work and glory is "to bring to pass [your] immortality and eternal life."
Notes
[1] Robert D. Hales, "Strengthening Faith and Testimony," Ensign, Nov. 2013, 6
[2] 2 Timothy 3:1-4, 7
[3] 2 Timothy 3:8
[4] 2 Timothy 4:4
[5] D&C 8:2-4
[6] David A. Bednar, "Converted unto the Lord," Ensign, Nov. 2012, 107-8
[7] Ephesians 6:10-11, 14-16
[8] Boyd K. Packer, "The Shield of Faith," Ensign, Apr. 1995, 8
[9] Neil L. Andersen, "You Know Enough," Ensign, Nov. 2008, 14
[10] Matthew 13:22-33
[11] Luke 10:40
[12] Luke 10:42
[13] Luke 10:42
[14] Russell M. Nelson, Church News, January 28, 2014
[15] Henry B. Eyring, "Daughters in the Covenant," Ensign, May 2014, 126
[16] Boyd K. Packer, "The Reason for Our Hope," Ensign, Nov. 2014, 8
[17] Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Come, Join With Us," Ensign, Nov. 2013, 23; see also F. F. Bosworth, Christ the Healer [1924], 23
[18] M. Russell Ballard, "Stay in the Boat and Hold On!" Ensign, Nov. 2014, 90