My son’s mission president referred to General Conference as “free revelation” where prophets and apostles authorized to speak for the Lord, Jesus Christ, teach His doctrine and we invite the Holy Spirit to inspire our minds to help us apply that doctrine in our own lives. As I have prepared to hear the voice of the Lord this weekend, I was reminded of an experience I had during the October 2009 General Conference. I did not have high hopes for getting much out of the meetings.
Our four children at the time ranged in age from 4 to 10 and I found I was happier during conference if I focused more on them and read the talks for myself later. After the opening welcome, the first talk was by Elder Richard G. Scott, who shared his experience of receiving impressions from the Lord, writing them down, pondering them, and praying to know if he was understanding correctly or if there was more. He encouraged us to ”respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you.” I listened and my first reaction was to laugh at the thought of a mother of young children being able to immediately record any impressions or promptings. Surely, it wouldn’t work for me.
Quickly, I had a second thought reprimanding me for my response. I was listening to an Apostle of Jesus Christ give counsel on how to “Hear Him” better and I disregarded and discounted it because it didn’t fit my current experience. I repented and began to try and follow the guidance I’d received.
One morning shortly after, I was in the kitchen when I had a thought, a prompting, about a matter I was pondering. I stopped to write it down. As I wrote, my children were trying to get my attention and without thinking I said, “Just a second, I’m having revelation and I need to write this down.” When I finished, the kitchen was quiet. My children’s eyes were on me and for thirty seconds I got to explain what the Holy Ghost feels like to me. It was an unexpected outcome, an unanticipated blessing to share with my children. It was a blessing I would have missed following my own experience and wisdom.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts and my ways are not your ways saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). I am not sure why I am so often surprised at the way our Creator blesses my efforts. In my weakness, I only catch a glimpse of the dreams He has for us as He entreats us to follow Him and know Him a little better. Step by step, line by line, grace by grace, He blesses our every effort in ways we had not imagined.