HELLO HELLO!! I LOVE YOU ALL!! It has been so long since I have taken the opportunity to type out an email but I have had the Spirit teach me so much this past week I could not wait another day. I wanted to focus this email on the topic of "Hearing what is not said".
Take a moment to think about what this phrase means to you.
Elder Bednar, an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ that lives today, recently took part in a counsel with teachers and leaders from across the world. Before every question or statement that he gave he prefaced with the invitation to seek to "hear what is not being said". As he went about responding to the spiritually guided questions that were asked by many of the teachers there, it seemed most apparent to me that his goal was not to answer their questions. He in fact stated several times that he is incapable of answering their questions alone, but through the guiding power of the Holy Ghost, Elder Bednar was able to best provide a response that, if hearing what is not said, put the teachers in a position where the Holy Ghost could reveal to them the direction and source that they may go to find the answer for themself. Now this was very profound to me for many reasons. One being that even an Apostle of the Lord was inadequate to provide ALL the answers to every question that comes his way. Second being that the responses he provided allowed all individuals that were listening to act.
Faith is a principle of ACTION & POWER. Notice the order in which I listed these principles. Elder Bednar, through the power of the Holy Ghost, helped me tremendously to understand that I cannot expect the power to come simply in accordance to my faith alone. I cannot pray for strength to fulfill a task and expect the power to proceed my action taken towards that specific task. The power will not, in most cases, come before we act. However it's the very opposite. We are promised that as we ACT the POWER will come. We see numerous accounts of this in our Holy Scripture. The Holy Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine & Covenants & The Pearl of Great Price, all provide us with examples where great followers and representatives of the Lord were required to take action before the Lord provided them the strength intended to fulfill what was commanded of them.
Now if I can go back to the first question I asked, What does the phrase, "Hearing what is not said", mean to you? Please keep this question in mind as you continue to study the scriptures and the words of the prophets. Even President Nelson as the Prophet today simply performs the Lord's work as a VESSEL. His worthiness, submissiveness & humility allows him to best teach to others what the Spirit makes known to him.
Mothers, Fathers, Missionaries, Leaders, etc.. should never be the teachers alone, but should be striving to teach in unison with the Holy Ghost, the true teacher. This becomes more apparent to me each and every day.
Words are inadequate for the amount of love I truly have for each of you. I pray about you all. I thank the Lord everyday for the opportunity i have to share my testimony with those I feel so close to. If you are reading this, it is because you've been brought into my life for a reason, I really believe that. You have touched my life deeply and continue to do so as I feel your support and love daily. I hope and pray that the Holy Ghost will continue to teach you as you [Listen & hear what has not been said, but what the Spirit has taught you.] "If all you heard is what was said, you didn't listen. If all you get is what the teacher presents, you missed what matters most." (Elder Bednar)
Heavenly Father loves you! Jesus Christ loves you! I love you!
SMILE SO BIG THIS WEEK!!!
P.O.L.Y (peace out love you)
- Elder Newbold
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