I woke up this morning with today’s post fully-formed in my head. After the normal ritual of waking FOML5 and settling down in the dark living room with my laptop, I began to type it out.
About two-thirds of the way through the post, I started feeling that something was amiss. By the time I reached the end, I was sure of something: I shouldn’t post it. Not that it isn’t a fine post – I quite liked it, and plan on sharing it with my family – but for some reason, I feel like I should not post it here on the blog. Why? I don’t know.
Rather, I feel prompted by the Spirit to not post it here on the blog. That is a distinction that needs to be made.
So there is no new post this morning. I apologize for that – instead I will include my favorite Harold B. Lee story, as told by President Lee himself.
As a young boy I was out on a farm away from our home waiting for my father to finish his day’s work. I was playing about, manufacturing things to while away the time, when I saw over the fence in the neighbor’s yard some broken-down buildings with the sheds caving in and with rotting timbers. I imagined as a young boy that that might be a castle I should explore, so I went over to the fence and started to climb through.
Then I heard a voice as distinctly as you are hearing mine: “Harold, don’t go over there.” I looked in every direction to see where the speaker was. I wondered if it was my father, but he couldn’t see me; he was way up at the other end of the field. There was no one in sight. I realized that someone was warning me of an unseen danger—whether there was a nest of rattlesnakes, or whether the rotting timbers would fall on me and crush me, I don’t know. But from that time on, I accepted without question the fact that there are processes not known to man by which we can hear voices from the unseen world, by which we can have brought to us visions of eternity. (link)
The key phrase in his story? “I don’t know.”
Isn’t that a beautiful thing?
Have a great day, and I’ll be back with something else on Sunday. (Unless my editor says otherwise.)
This is from a BYU Devotional Address (Nov. 9, 2004) titled “Where Will it Lead” by Elder Dallin H. Oaks.
First he quoted the passage you quoted above. Then he added:
“Consider some of the effects of that experience. First, it taught the reality of revelation to a young boy who was to become a prophet. Second, it may have protected young Harold from some hidden danger in those old sheds. That was the way I interpreted the story for many years, and perhaps that is true. We will never know. But perhaps the warning he heard was not to protect him from danger. Perhaps it was to test his willingness to be obedient to heavenly guidance. Surely he passed the test, and where did that lead? It kept the channel of revelation open for further guidance, and it was a formative experience in the life of one of our greatest teachers. Following an impression may seem a small thing now, but where it leads can be immensely important.”
Anyway, I love Elder Oaks’ added insight.
Excellent post – I had the opportunity to listen to that still small voice myself this morning – just a nagging feeling that I should do something – so I did. I have learned that there is a reason for those feelings. Not sure what would have happened if I had not done what I felt I should and I am just glad that I don’t know because it’s been a pretty good day so far! Happy Sunday to you tomorrow.
this is not as important as lifesaving, but one day I was driving to the beach when I saw a young man running very hard in the same direction I was driving. I heard a voice saying loudly,:
“STOP THE CAR and pick up this man”-
. Now I dont ever pick someone op on a road, and certainly not a young man that I dont know.
But I instantly obeyed and stopped my car. The young man asked if I could take him along to a hotel next to the beach where I was going.. Opening the door he stepped in and said :”I ‘m going to an interview for a job at the hotel,- was on the bus coming here but the bus had an accident, so I had to walk. It has been so long that I’m without work, that I desperately need the job, and I WAS PRAYING SO HARD to be on time.
Thank you for picking me up.
I was speechless……. The Lord ordered me to stop because the young man ASKED HIM to be on time..
Can there be a clearer way to understand that our prayers are answered and of course listened to by our Father ?? and ever so fast….Now I never hesitade to obey when I hear His voice.
AuntSue
When I was 12, I was in the back yard, heading into the house when I distinctly “heard” a male voice say “Turn around”. Huh. I knew there was no one around, so I continued on. It came again, “TURN AROUND”. So this time I stopped and turned around. There was my two year old cousin who lived two houses down the street on the east side.. He was climbing through our broken fence to our neighbor’s lot on the west side, where an irrigation ditch was running fast and deep. Our fathers had secure fencing behind our lots, but our neighbor did not. I quickly ran and picked him up, returning him safely to my aunt, and telling her where he had been. My cousin grew up safely, served a mission, married in the temple, sent his three sons on missions and has served twice as bishop. Evidently, he was not meant to drown at age three. I have always been so grateful that I listened to the voice of warning.
I am still working to be a better listener. There have been times when I was quick to listen and obey and I have always seen why. To be obedient and not know why might be a little unsettling at the time, but when
we are obedient to that prompting even if we NEVER know why, we can be sure we have been protected
for good reason. Have a wonderful day and thank you for this reminder. It’s a wonderful post.
I LOVE that story!!! I told it a few times to my children and it drove them bonkers. “But what was over there????” They were dying to know why. But that’s not the point. The point is to listen and obey. I’m still working on it. Thanks for the good example.
I watched (read: endured) a television show the other day where a woman teacher was being stalked by a crazed student. At one point, the children had made a fort in the living room and were sleeping inside it. During the night the boy went upstairs to bed but his sister stayed sleeping. The teacher said that she had an unmistakable feeling to go get her daughter and bring her upstairs to bed.
The stalker drove his truck at 70 MPH into the front of the teacher’s house – presumably to deliver some late homework. The truck smashed into the living room tragically crushing the fort that I’m hopeful they rebuilt later. The daughter would have been squished beneath the Michelins but instead was safely in her bed because mom heard the Holy Ghost. And listened. And followed. Not knowing why.
God cares about all his children – even reality TV people.
Your posting reminds me of something that happen not long after my wife and I joined the Church. There was a sister speaking in Sunday School who impressed me as a very spiritual person. She started to share a personal experience and just as she started to speak, she got a somewhat startled expression on her face and made a comment that I don’t think she intended to be audible: “Oh, I’m not supposed to talk about that …”. After just a brief pause she continued her lesson and was just fine. Perhaps Alma 12:9 applies.
Good scripture. For this ewho don;t went top look it up… Alma 12:9 “And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.”
“The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life.” One of my favorite quotes, which is from Susan B. Beck in the April, 2010 General Conference.
Same thing happened to me yesterday. Someone posted what I thought to be a “not so nice” response to something that I posted on a group page. I wanted to reply, but that voice in my head and heart kept saying “don’t”. More people need to heed that voice….
I’ve had this happen several times when blogging and in my calling. I’ve not always known why I had the stupor of thought but a few times I have found out awhile later. The protection we get from the Holy Ghost isn’t just physical 🙂
Good job listening!
Recently I had a reply to an email I had sent requesting help. The reply was denying my request. I sat in front of my computer and had so many emotions flow through but then just prayed. I needed help on behalf of someone else and did not know what else to do. As the answer flooded my mind I composed a reply asking that my request be prayerfully reconsidered. The help was generously provided and I really appreciate how listening to the spirit helped.
Cool.
Listen and Obey <3
It’s so wonderful to be connected tightly to the spirit. The Holy Ghost is the best friend.