Vicissitudes and Victories

More Thoughts about Heeding

I have recently been intrigued by a General Conference talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks called "Alternate Voices" (April 1989) about heeding the Savior and avoiding alternate voices that would lead us astray. Elder Oaks presents the parable of the Good Shepherd given by the Savior in response to the Pharasaical question "are we blind also?" Jesus had just healed the man born blind, and this man had in the process of being healed had come to know Jesus as his Savior. The contrast between the blind man that came to see both physically and spiritually and the blind Pharisees that supposed knew the law presented the perfect moment for Jesus' parable. He said, "But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice; and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. . .I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep and am known of mine." (John 9:40; 10:2-4, 14)

The lesson is well taken that those who know their Savior, hear His voice. I have continued to think today about when it is appropriate to listen to prophets and apostles trusting their words as revelations, or how to know when they are giving their own opinions. Yesterday I postulated with Elder J. Reuben Clark that the responsibility was on all of us to have the Spirit in order to know when apostles and prophets are speaking by revelation. Elder Oaks's talk taught me why this is possible: because the Lord's sheep hear his voice. That is what distinguishes the faithful from those with hard hearts--the faithful open their hearts so that the spirit can place truth in their souls in the form of faith. They give Him their will and do everything they possibly in order to hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. Because they have the spirit, they hear the voice of the Savior through the scriptures; they hear His voice in the words of the living prophets and apostles whenever and wherever these men speak under the influence of the spirit. They even hear the Master's voice in the testimonies of the weak and simple. As they hear His voice, they become progressively more like Him and are often chosen to be instruments in the Lord's hands themselves (in a variety of different callings).

I have not reached a level of spiritual understanding to the point that I always hear when the Savior calls. I wouldn't even say that I hear His voice a majority of the time, but I believe that it is real. I believe it is possible to hear the Savior's voice with greater regularity, and this knowledge drives me to open my ears to hear and my heart to understand. I am not sure that the Lord has blessed me with a complete understand of the process, but I know that this doctrine of revelation tastes good.

posted by Joel @ 9:08 PM