The Lord speaks to us through the scriptures

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I had a really interesting experience this last week that made me think of a quote that I had heard that said something to the effect of -- the Lord isn't going to tell us anything that He hasn't already told us in the scriptures. (If anyone knows the source of that quote, PLEASE add it to the comments! It is really bugging me that I can't remember it!)

I called a friend of mine to ask if she remembered the quote, and she remembered this talk by Elder David M. McConkie, (Gospel Learning and Teaching, General Conference, October 2010). He said pretty much the same thing.

"Immerse yourself in the scriptures. We cannot love what we do not know. Develop a habit of daily scripture study.

"The Lord has commanded us to search the scriptures, to feast upon them, and to treasure them up. As we earnestly search and ponder the word of the Lord, we will have His Spirit with us. We will become acquainted with His voice.

"Soon after I was called to be a stake president, our stake presidency received training from an Area Seventy. During the training, I asked a question to which he responded, “That is a good question. Let’s turn to the Church Handbook of Instructions for the answer.” We then went to the handbook, and there was the answer to my question. A little later in our training, I asked another question. Once again he responded, “Good question. Let’s turn to the handbook.” I did not venture to ask any more questions. I thought it best to read the handbook.

"I have thought since that the Lord could give a similar response to each of us as we go to Him with concerns or questions. He could say, “That’s a good question. If you will review Alma chapter 5 or Doctrine and Covenants section 76, you’ll remember that I have already spoken to you about this.”

"Brothers and sisters, it is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed to us collectively. The scriptures contain the words of Christ. They are the voice of the Lord. Studying the scriptures trains us to hear the Lord’s voice."

I love that!!  "It is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed to us collectively.  Studying the scriptures trains us to hear the Lord's voice."

As an aside, It's also funny how unrelated gospel understanding can lead us to greater understanding of the gospel.  That was really cryptic.  What I mean by that is, for example, I was in Relief Society this Sunday and we were talking about Baptism, from the manual, and as we were discussing baptism, there was a particular idea I commented on.  President Smith said, "Baptism is literally, as well as a figure of the resurrection, a transplanting, or resurrection from one life to another—the life of sin to the life of spiritual life. …"  I had not heard the term "transplanting" referred to in relation to the effects of baptism before, but it certainly broadened my understanding of what it meant. When I think of transplanting, I think of taking a plant that has grown too big for it's container. It's growth is limited. The roots are squished. When it is transplanted, put in new soil, it has room to grow, branch out, expand, and grow as tall as it can. It is the same with our spiritual potential when we are baptized.

This thought, this greater understanding of a gospel principle, opened my mind to a greater understanding of another principle that I suddenly realized I had experienced.

Back to last week.  I will not go into great detail, one, because it was all lame drama, and two, the end result was a personal revelation between me and the Lord.  That being said, this last week, I was accused, in a very public way, of doing something that I did not do.  The person who accused me had at least three different ways to contact me personally, but instead chose to air their grievances publicly on facebook.  I was very hurt that this person, who I thought was my friend, would choose to address this situation in this way.  I was up all night, tossing and turning, my mind trying to decide how to respond, and the next day I was sick to my stomach all day and had a hard time eating.  I prayed a lot that day!  I read the scriptures to try to soften and calm my mind.  I prayed that the Lord would forgive me if I had done something wrong, and if I had, help me to see it.  I prayed that I would feel better.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ is an amazing and beautiful thing!!

I sat down to draft a response to this person.  I had discussed the situation with trusted friends who told me that I didn't do anything wrong, so my drafted response was mainly explaining why I felt that I had not done what they were accusing me of.  As I wrote, I expressed my understanding to this individual.  I understand that their response was less about me than it was about the situation, and I was just the easy target.  I  understand that they have experienced a great deal of loss lately and that the situation would seem to them yet another loss.  I was able to see and express the feelings and intents behind the actions, rather than the actions themselves.

(I have not sent this response to this individual. I have prayed about this a great deal, and I have not felt directed to do so.  At the moment, the letter is more for me than for the individual.)

During the lesson on Sunday, as the teacher was talking about baptism, and transplanting, etc., a scripture I had recently read came to my mind. Completely unrelated, but because I was in a state of being enlightened, I believe that is why it came to my mind. It is in Alma 10:17.  Alma and Amulek are preaching in Ammonihah. Lawyers have come to Amulek to try to "trip him up" and make him contradict the words he had preached to them. "Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts."  The moment I remembered that scripture, I realized that is what Heavenly Father had helped me to do.  I had perceived the intent of this individual, understanding what had made them do what they had done.  I was able to empathize with them, rather than try to strike back or make them hurt, the way that they had hurt me.

I also immediately had the thought that the reason that I recognized Heavenly Father's hand in the process was because I had read it in the scriptures.  Amulek is not the only person who experienced the Lord helping them to perceive the thoughts and intents of others.  Because that was a pattern that the Lord has set forth in the scriptures, it is perfectly reasonable that I would be able to experience that as well.  The Lord is not going to do anything different for us than He has not already done for someone else in the scriptures.  A loose paraphrase, but you get the idea.

Another scripture that came to my mind frequently is Luke 6:27-28. "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."  I have said a lot of prayers in this person's behalf.  I have prayed that this person will feel peace, that their heart will be softened and that they will find forgiveness there for me.  I feel like I have become a stronger, more Christ-like person because of this experience.  Not perfect, but facing in the right direction.

I am so grateful for the scriptures! During that dark, frustrating day last week, I turned to the scriptures for comfort and strength and received that and so much more!  Heavenly Father loves us so much and blesses us with so much more than we can possibly realize and appreciate sometimes.  I am grateful that I was paying attention this time and was able to see the blessings as they unfolded.  I am grateful to feel the strength of experiences that mirror those in the scriptures.  I have a testimony of the greatness of the word of God.  The power of the word of God!  I love it!