Have you heard HIS voice?

[bytor2112]

Last night I was pondering why so few seem to receive with a glad heart the Restored Gospel. In our Stake Priesthood meeting it was mentioned that the Gospel is available to ALL because of the internet.....hadn't really thought of that.

So, why is it that so few seem to hear the Good News with gladness and enter in the strait and narrow gait that leads to Eternal Life? Last night I think I received an answer:

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me

I immediately wondered and felt a sense of awe and then with humility and gratitude I understood that I have heard HIS voice. Wow.

Edited December 2, 2009 by bytor2112

[jadams_4040]

Last night I was pondering why so few seem to receive with a glad heart the Restored Gospel. In our Stake Priesthood meeting it was mentioned that the Gospel is available to ALL because of the internet.....hadn't really thought of that.

So, why is it that so few seem to hear the Good News with gladness and enter in the strait and narrow gait that leads to Eternal Life? Last night I think I received an answer:

I immediately wondered and felt a sense of awe and then with humility and gratitude I understood that I have heard HIS voice. Wow.

Accepting the gospel requires a confirmation; that confirmation will not come to a contentious heart;

[Dravin]

In our Stake Priesthood meeting it was mentioned that the Gospel is available to ALL because of the internet.....hadn't really thought of that.

Not everyone has access to the internet. It certainly gives it a broader stage, but there are people in the world who don't have electricity let alone a computer and the internet.

[bytor2112]

Not everyone has access to the internet. It certainly gives it a broader stage, but there are people in the world who don't have electricity let alone a computer and the internet.

Not everyone...but everywhere.

[Dravin]

Not everyone...but everywhere.

Not even that, I'm fairly sure there are, for instance, villages in remote places of the world such as deep in the Amazon or villages in the Himalayas that lack internet access for the community. Now I'm sure there is internet access available in each country of the world, but that doesn't make it more universally available then the exsistance of a Book of Mormon in the appropriate language being in the country in a library somewhere.

[Traveler]

Last night I was pondering why so few seem to receive with a glad heart the Restored Gospel. In our Stake Priesthood meeting it was mentioned that the Gospel is available to ALL because of the internet.....hadn't really thought of that.

So, why is it that so few seem to hear the Good News with gladness and enter in the strait and narrow gait that leads to Eternal Life? Last night I think I received an answer:

I immediately wondered and felt a sense of awe and then with humility and gratitude I understood that I have heard HIS voice. Wow.

The parable of the sower gives us some very important clues as to what it means to hear the “Word”. I believe that to be able to “Hear” the voice of the L-rd one must be seeking truth by covenant – not by accident. Jesus makes direct reference to covenant when he uses terms like “eyes that see” and “ears that hear”. These are ancient symbolic references to covenant.

Perhaps it is just a matter of understanding semantics. But our Traditional Christian cozens that are encased in “believing only” seem to be lost with no desire for “the way” that must be traveled thinking all things come to them without their investments and efforts.

In the parable of the sower Jesus teaches that soil must be prepared and he gives some symbols as to both the preparation and the distractions that divert believers. Each of us must remove rocks and weeds and soften our “soil” to be able to receive the word and ensure it takes “root”. Receiving the seed is not enough.

I do not believe truth can be found without seeking, knocking and asking – all of which are “works” we are commanded to do by Jesus in order to “receive” the word or the seed of G-d.

The Traveler

[Guest mormonmusic]

I believe people don't receive it because the Lord intentionally made it accessible mostly to people who really scream for it, or those who he knows will embrace it. This is just my personal opinion.

Why? Because he wants to spare those who don't care or who would fall away quickly from the accountability of knowing and not living the truth. These people will be taught after death, when there is greater evidence that man is spiritual. I presume this will engender more interest and commitment from people who pass through this life without searching for the truth. Their chances of remaining faithful to the end will be greater, and He will save more souls.

On a related note, to this day, I don't know why the following experience happened to me.

As a teenager, I had a powerful spiritual experience as a teenager that convinced me there was a God. This came about as I had weekly meetings with a minister who taught me to pray at the request of my parents.

5 years later I met the Mormon missionaries, and they taught me about the Spirit and prayer as the key to understanding the truth. This made huge sense to me, as it was this very process which led me to believe in God as a teenager.

So, I took all the discussions, went to Church for several months, read the Book of Mormon, fasted regularly, attended Young Adult activities, lived the commandments, and even fasted for 3 days solid for a spiritual witness that I recognized as the Spirit. At the end of it I was drained and weak, and looking back, it was probably really unhealthy. I even dropped a non-member girlfriend -- partly and largely because I felt the temptations she presented would prevent me from getting an answer to my prayers. I'd pretty much decided the LDS Church had the most logical and complete set of answers to the purpose of life, and I was wililng to join -- if only I had a confirmation as promised in Moroni 3:5.

The answer never came.

A few weeks after my unsuccessful three day fast, and breaking off my relationship with my girlfriend, I told the missionaries that I wouldn't need to see them anymore. I stopped my search for truth, going to Church, and didn't keep up with the relationships I had made with the young adults at Church. But I kept living the commandments, except tithing, which wasn't an issue anyway because I didn't have an income.

Then, about 6 months later, I felt moved to pray again. After breaking off ties with the Church, I had moments when it still bothered me I still didn't know the truth, which I think might've prompted me to pray again. I did, and had the same spiritual experience that convinced me there was a God five years previously. It wasn't quite as powerful, but almost. And it was the spiritual witness I was looking for.

The next day I showed up at Church after being absent for 6 months and asked the existing missionaries to arrange baptism. They were shocked, as I'd dropped off everyone's radar. But I went through with it.

Now, the part I don't understand is how I could be so sincere, so willing, and so compliant with Mormoni 3:5 when the missionaries were teaching me, and yet receive no answer to my prayer until 6 or 8 months later I decided to pray again, almost on a whim?

I'm not sure anyone can answer, but I think this details just how hard it can be to get an answer to our prayers when we ask about the truthfulness of the Church.

Plus my experience answers bytor's original question about why so many people choose not to embrace the restored gospel. Based my experience, it was like crawling over broken glass to get an answer!

[Guest mormonmusic]

I believe people don't receive the Restored Gospel because the Lord intentionally made it accessible mostly to people who really scream for it, or those who he knows will embrace it. This is just my personal opinion.

Why? Because he wants to spare those who don't care or who would fall away quickly from the accountability of knowing and not living the truth. These people will be taught after death, when there is greater evidence that man is spiritual. I presume this will engender more interest and commitment from people who pass through this life without searching for the truth. Their chances of remaining faithful to the end will be greater, and He will save more souls.

On a related note, to this day, I don't know why the following experience happened to me.

Crawling Over Broken Glass to Get an Answer

As a teenager, I had a powerful spiritual experience that convinced me there was a God. This came about as I had weekly meetings with a minister who taught me to pray at the request of my parents.

5 years later I met the Mormon missionaries, and they taught me about the Spirit and prayer as the key to understanding the truth. This made huge sense to me, as it was this very process which led me to believe in God as a teenager.

So, I took all the discussions, went to Church for several months, read the Book of Mormon, fasted regularly, attended Young Adult activities, lived the commandments, and even fasted for 3 days solid for a spiritual witness that I recognized as the Spirit. At the end of it I was REALLY drained and weak, but still with nothing to show for it. I even dropped a non-member girlfriend -- partly and largely because I felt the temptations she presented would prevent me from getting an answer to my prayers if I succumbed. I'd pretty much decided the LDS Church had the most logical and complete set of answers to the purpose of life, and I was wililng to join -- if only I had a confirmation as promised in Moroni 3:5.

The answer never came.

The Result of the 3-Day Fast

A few weeks after my unsuccessful three day fast, and breaking off my relationship with my girlfriend, I told the missionaries that I wouldn't need to see them anymore. I stopped my search for truth, going to Church, and didn't keep up with the relationships I had made with the young adults at Church. But I kept living the commandments, except tithing, which wasn't an issue anyway because I didn't have an income.

Sudden Testimony

Then, about 6 months later, I felt moved to pray again. After breaking off ties with the Church, I had moments when it still bothered me I still didn't know the truth, which I think might've prompted me to pray again. I did, and had the same spiritual experience that convinced me there was a God five years previously. It wasn't quite as powerful, but almost. And it was the spiritual witness I was looking for.

The next day I showed up at Church after being absent for 6 months and asked the existing missionaries to arrange baptism. They were shocked, as I'd dropped off everyone's radar. But I went through with it.

Now, the part I don't understand is how I could be so sincere, so willing, and so compliant with Mormoni 3:5 when the missionaries were teaching me, and yet receive no answer to my prayer until 6 or 8 months later I decided to pray again, almost on a whim?

I think this details just how hard it can be to get an answer to our prayers when we ask about the truthfulness of the Church.

Plus my experience answers bytor's original question about why so many people choose not to embrace the restored gospel. Based my experience, it was like crawling over broken glass to get an answer!

Edited December 6, 2009 by mormonmusic

[Maya]

One of the things is that even though we have the gospel translated to MANY languages... there still is nothing else, not much anyway. For those who can English it is a peace of cake, but there are MANY that dont.

Children under 18 SHOULD be priorited (uh?). So many roam away, as they do not really know what this is about and as they do not have anythig beides the scrioptures in their own language. I wonder how many teens survive in the church just with the scriptures, friend, BoM stories in there language? Kids today need good books, good films, good music to find good exemples in.... in all languages adn in all places not only USA.

Sure they are the strong ones, but many weeker ones might have found the thread with some good books, films....

Today a dear friend of mine bore her testiomony, with tears in her eyes she said: There has come out sooo many books about her dear profet Joseph Smith, whom she would LOVE to know more about, but she cant ... as all the books are in English and she dont know english enough to read them.

I know there are many dear sisters and brothers too who feel the same way. Unfortunately my Norwegean is not good enough to translate anything, but I might try to make a video, DVD serie on one or and otehr of the books... any good ideas which book to start with? I am also doing this work already in Finnish so I have my hands full with FAIR wiki ++++.

I am to find out something for girls 8-12 to do a coupld times a month... films had been good , but there are NO films that are taranslated except the ones missionaries use. And the films need dubbing for girls of that age.

It is much easier to hear even His voice when you get it on your own language.

[DigitalShadow]

Last night I was pondering why so few seem to receive with a glad heart the Restored Gospel. In our Stake Priesthood meeting it was mentioned that the Gospel is available to ALL because of the internet.....hadn't really thought of that.

So, why is it that so few seem to hear the Good News with gladness and enter in the strait and narrow gait that leads to Eternal Life?

Unless someone was specifically looking for LDS teachings, they most likely wouldn't run in to anything LDS simply because they have internet access and there are LDS teachings on the internet. It's kind of like wondering why millions of people don't call you even though you have a phone and billions of other people have phone access.

[rren]

The answer never came.

Then, about 6 months later, I felt moved to pray again. After breaking off ties with the Church, I had moments when it still bothered me I still didn't know the truth, which I think might've prompted me to pray again. I did, and had the same spiritual experience that convinced me there was a God five years previously. It wasn't quite as powerful, but almost. And it was the spiritual witness I was looking for.

The next day I showed up at Church after being absent for 6 months and asked the existing missionaries to arrange baptism. They were shocked, as I'd dropped off everyone's radar. But I went through with it.

Now, the part I don't understand is how I could be so sincere, so willing, and so compliant with Mormoni 3:5 when the missionaries were teaching me, and yet receive no answer to my prayer until 6 or 8 months later I decided to pray again, almost on a whim?

I can totally relate to this. I too prayed and never received an answer until months later. My thought is either I wasn't yet prepared to receive the answer or I was missing faith, sincerity, or real intent. Either way, the answers do come eventually!

[Vanhin]

Unless someone was specifically looking for LDS teachings, they most likely wouldn't run in to anything LDS simply because they have internet access and there are LDS teachings on the internet. It's kind of like wondering why millions of people don't call you even though you have a phone and billions of other people have phone access.

Yo DS. The Internet is a tad different than the phone network. Through the Internet, there are many opportunities for God to lead people to find out about the Church, even if they don't set out to do so at first. People search for all kinds of answers to questions they have, and so the Internet provides an ideal setting for such discoveries.

I guess I'm saying that the likelihood of people running into LDS simply because they have Internet access, seems to me to be much greater than the likelihood that someone will call you simply because you have a phone.

I was playing CoD4 the other night online with my brother, and while we were waiting on the round to end (because we were dead), someone in chat asked if anyone there believed in God - kind of out of the blue. Of course, we answered that we did. I don't remember exactly how the conversation went that led to one of the players, almost jokingly, suggesting that we were Mormons, but we promptly confessed to that as well.

That instantly led to a flurry of remarks about Joe Smith, and polygamy, and lighthearted ridicule, which is always fun. Nothing to write home about, and no big conversion story or anything, but it just demonstrates my point is all. At least now, they know a couple grown LDS brothers like to play video games online, and we don't cuss... Maybe that gives us an advantage or something, because I think we kick some major tail!

Regards,

Vanhin

[Vanhin]

The internet is nice, but it does not compare to the in-person experience. consider this:

1 AND now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

(Book of Mormon | 2 Nephi 33:1)

I have felt the Holy Spirit while onthe internet before, but it is not the same power as you get at church, or one - on - one with someone.

Yeah but Nephi was mistaken, or maybe being too modest. He was "mighty in writing", and some of my most memorable spiritual experiences have been while reading the Book of Mormon, and the words of Nephi no less. I especially love 2 Nephi 25, here's a sample.

And now behold, I say unto you that the right way is to believe in Christ, and deny him not; and Christ is the Holy One of Israel; wherefore ye must bow down before him, and worship him with all your might, mind, and strength, and your whole soul; and if ye do this ye shall in nowise be cast out. (2 Ne. 25:29)

Sincerely,

Vanhin

[Vanhin]

Yes, he was mighty in writing... imagine what it would have been like to be there and hear him speak though - given the choice between reading it or hearing it live, I think everyone would opt for the real life version .

Concert vs. CD...

Talking with my dear husband over skype while he is in Canada vs... having him here in person with us...

Internet vs. real life version... I think the real life thing is better.

far, far, better...

:) I hear you.

Regards,

Vanhin

[bmy-]

If His sheep hear his voice..

How does one become one of his sheep without hearing it to begin with?

[Maya]

This mormning at 5.35 I hears loud and clair my name . I heard that voice before. I woke up as the voice woke me and went to the writtingtable with comp to see the time.... I stil COULD have slept 30 min! So it was not my inner alarm. I went back to bed asn asked... ok... here I am... something you wanted to tell me? Next thing I hear is my dh waking our son at 6.05... and I tought I never could sleep back in again! Now it bugs me as I dont know what he wanted to say to me!?? Cant even recall if he delivered any message at all.

btw it has happened before... maybe just clearing the waves...

[bmy-]

This mormning at 5.35 I hears loud and clair my name . I heard that voice before. I woke up as the voice woke me and went to the writtingtable with comp to see the time.... I stil COULD have slept 30 min! So it was not my inner alarm. I went back to bed asn asked... ok... here I am... something you wanted to tell me? Next thing I hear is my dh waking our son at 6.05... and I tought I never could sleep back in again! Now it bugs me as I dont know what he wanted to say to me!?? Cant even recall if he delivered any message at all.

btw it has happened before... maybe just clearing the waves...

Sleep paralysis is a nasty thing

[Maya]

If His sheep hear his voice..

How does one become one of his sheep without hearing it to begin with?

A he calls ok... one just has to realise how.... Many think they ahve not heard Him ... but they ahve they just dont recognize the voice...

Sleep paralysis... Watch it man...

[Hemidakota]

Last night I was pondering why so few seem to receive with a glad heart the Restored Gospel. In our Stake Priesthood meeting it was mentioned that the Gospel is available to ALL because of the internet.....hadn't really thought of that.

So, why is it that so few seem to hear the Good News with gladness and enter in the strait and narrow gait that leads to Eternal Life? Last night I think I received an answer:

I immediately wondered and felt a sense of awe and then with humility and gratitude I understood that I have heard HIS voice. Wow.

The whispering of the Spirit will have a familiar voice for those who had it prior to this earth. Yet, there are many in the pre-mortal world did not embraced the plan and will do so in this life for various reasons. For them, the voice is not familiar and may not accept it.

Correct. As the old biblical statement reveals: '...shouted from the roof top."

Edited December 7, 2009 by Hemidakota

[Maya]

Everyone has the light of Christ, everyone has a conscience. Everyone knows right from wrong because everyone has been led by His light.

Yes ... well I was more thinking of getting a testimony... many who have born in the Church dont experience the great AHAA as we converts do and thus some of them think they do not have a testimony ... they have not heard the shepard ... even though they are good LDS. Some of them wait and wait to hear Him as they do not know where to look as He is too close.