Spirit of Understanding

One of the great teachings from the Savior’s ministry is that spiritual understanding is a gift from God. When Simon Peter testified that Jesus was the Christ we have this enlightening response: “Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).

On a recent trip to Southern Utah I encountered a preacher from another faith one evening and we had quite a long conversation. It reminded me of so many similar conversations I had while serving a full time mission in Rio. The ones that lead to countless sleepless nights because I felt that if I could just explain things a little more clearly, then they could believe and understand.

The truth of the matter is that if the person is open to believing then the Spirit will offer the necessary guidance . This is taught most plainly in Doctrine and Covenants (D&C 84: 85):

“Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man.”

My visit with the preacher was interesting because he wanted to have an intellectual conversation. I’ve learned a lot in the 11 years since returning home from Rio. I’m much better prepared today to have an intellectual discussion than I was as an 19 year old kid. But it didn’t matter, the result was the same now as it was then. We had a cordial conversation, but neither of us budged from our original positions and I doubt either of us really learned anything from the other.

Upon reflection I realized that perhaps the only good part was when I took opportunity to share my testimony. Which I did by explaining that when you’re a teenager and mostly interested in cars, sports, friends, and the like, that it’s a tough thing to leave home and share the story of the restored gospel with complete strangers. Especially the fantastical story about a 14 year old boy who in the early 1800s saw God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and then later received gold plates from an angel and translated them by the gift and power of God. I explained that it’s not possible to do such a thing unless you have received witness by the Holy Spirit that it’s true. At this point the preacher interrupted with his opinion that we must “believe” it’s true in order to serve missions. I responded that it went beyond belief, you just can’t do it unless you know it’s true.

Given the chance to redo the whole conversation I’d still share that testimony, but I’d also look for ways to steer things towards some areas where we might find common ground. Certainly we both face similar issues: raising children, serving others, strengthening marriages, educating the youth, and supporting sound politicians and public policies. Perhaps next time we can come more to an understanding of those things we share in common. Doing so would actually allow the Spirit of Understanding a chance to participate in, rather than flee, the conversation.

A great talk that explains this in more depth was given by Elder Oaks at the April 2008 conference.