A conversation with a client inspired these thoughts about how sometimes we look “beyond” the Spirit. But feeling the Spirit can be easy and simple. Don’t miss the Spirit because you are looking for something more complicated.
The scriptures don’t really describe HOW people feel the scriptures, which I talk about at length with lots of scripture references. Then I give ideas on how you might feel the spirit that you could easily overlook.
Main ideas:
- If you think you can’t feel the Spirit, odds are you aren’t thinking small enough- you’re looking “beyond the spirit.”
- Do we sometimes think that the spirit will look or feel a certain way, and miss it because of its simplicity?
By small and simple things are great things brought to pass. (Alma 37:6)
Brass serpent story- easiness of the way. (1 Ne 17:41)
Namaan story. (2 Kings 5)
13 And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some *a*great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?
14 Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, *a*according to the saying of the man of God: and his *b*flesh came again like unto the *c*flesh of a little child, and he was *d*clean.
15 ¶ And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I *a*know that there is no *b*God in all the earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a *c*blessing of thy servant.
- The scriptures aren’t always clear about HOW people feel the Spirit, but we are socialized to focus on the big, obvious ways.
Nephi 2:16 The Lord visited Nephi
2:17 Nephi told Sam “things which the Lord had manifested unto me by his Holy Spirit”
3:29 Angel visits
4:6 I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. (Was he told with a voice in his mind “go left, go right, slow down, etc?”
4:10 constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban
4:11 the Spirit said
4:14 I remembered
7:17 The voice of the Lord came unto my saying
18:3 the Lord showed unto me great things
Enos wrestled
v3 joy sunk deep into my heart
v5 there came a voice unto me
v9 Now, it came to pass that when I had heard these words I began to feel a desire for eh welfare of my brethren, the Nephites; wherefore, I did pour out my whole soul unto God for them.
v10 And while I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold the voice of the Lord came into my mind again, saying…
v17 And I, Enos, knew it would be….
Alma the younger (perhaps depression?)
Mosiah 27: 25 And the Lord said unto me:
24 For, said he, I have repented of my sins, and have been redeemed of the Lord; behold I am born of the Spirit.
25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off.
28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.
29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.
30 I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.
- Let’s look at some “more normal” people:
Abish – Alma 19:17
she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father—
17 Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people.
Sariah – 1 Ne 5:7-8
7 And when we had returned to the tent of my father, behold their joy was full, and my mother was comforted.
8 And she spake, saying: Now I know of a surety that the Lord hath commanded my husband to flee into the wilderness; yea, and I also know of a surety that the Lord hath protected my sons, and delivered them out of the hands of Laban, and given them power whereby they could accomplish the thing which the Lord hath commanded them. And after this manner of language did she speak.
Hear Him videos: impact on my heart (Ballard), feeling good when serving or being served (Gong), assurance that you’re doing the right thing (Bingham), thought in the mind- feeling in the heart (Bednar), answers from people you think are in touch with heaven (Eyring)
Hear Him Videos
- Ways we feel the spirit:
thought in the mind
feeling in your body
crying
warmth
feeling loved
any good emotion
knowing without explanation
being compelled
seemingly unrelated thought
resonance
intuition or other sense
pictures in your mind
inspiration or ideas
desires
- Statistically speaking, there are more influences for good than for evil. But we must allow them in. Elisha saw with spiritual eyes
15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
- Your body is likely the instrument, and you’re overlooking the cues.
In President Ballard’s Hear Him video, he says “Most things we hear from heaven, we feel ultimately in our hearts, and then hopefully it trickles into our minds…”
- Challenge: Change your Questions Change your life by Wendy Watson Nelson – prayer journal every day for 30 days, then open scriptures or conference talks, or any good book, and expect an answer. TRUST what comes up. Write it down. Do it.
If this episode made you think about yourself or others in a new way, would you please give it a rating and a review and let me know your favorite takeaway? And if you want to truly do the work of being the best you at what you do, go to denitabremer.com to schedule a free session with me. Until next time, go be you and follow the Spirit.
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