“How Does the Spirit Speak to Us?” New Era, Feb. 2010, 2–3
We do not have the words—even the scriptures do not have the words—which perfectly describe the Spirit. The scriptures usually use the word voice. That does not exactly fit—it does, but it doesn’t. These very delicate, fine spiritual communications are not seen with our eyes nor heard with our ears; it is a voice that one feels more than hears.
We cannot communicate spiritual knowledge with words alone. We can, with words, show one another how to prepare for the reception of the Spirit, and the Spirit itself will help: “For when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men” (2Nephi 33:1).
When we experience a spiritual communication, we are wont to say within ourselves, “This is it. Now I understand.” That is what is meant by those words in the revelations; and thereafter, words are adequate for teaching about spiritual things if they are carefully chosen. Nephi explained it this way:
“Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” (2Nephi 32:3).
Should an angel converse with you, neither you nor he would be confined to corporeal sight or sound in order to communicate. For there is that spiritual process described by the Prophet Joseph Smith by which pure intelligence can flow into our minds and by which we can know what we need to know without either the effort of study or the passage of time, because that is revelation (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 132). We talk about confining on little computer chips vast amounts of information; through the processes of revelation and through this language of the Spirit, tremendous amounts of inspiration and information can be given to us instantly.
The voice of the Spirit is described in the scriptures as being neither loud nor harsh, not a voice of thunder, neither a voice of great tumultuous noise, but rather as still and small, of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it can pierce even the very soul and cause the heart to burn.
The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting. It never shakes us with a heavy hand. The Spirit whispers. It caresses so gently, indeed, that if we are preoccupied, we can’t feel it at all.
Occasionally, the Spirit will press just firmly enough or often enough for us to pay attention; but from my experience, most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, if we do not listen with those feelings, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening, in our manner and our expression.
I have learned that the very impressive and miraculous spiritual experiences come very infrequently. Something is amiss if they come too intensely and too frequently. The question then arises, from whence come these experiences? Remember that there is a counterfeit.
You cannot force spiritual things. A testimony is not thrust upon you; it grows. And a testimony is a testimony, and it should be respected, whether it is small or large. We become taller in our testimony like we grow in physical stature and hardly know it is happening, because it comes by growth.
I know that the gospel is true; the Spirit is there. If you rely on that, you will be doing the work of Him who is our Redeemer, who wrought the Atonement, whose Church this is, who lives. You will be blessed of the Father. Of these things I bear witness and invoke His blessings.
You’d think there would be a better way for one of the Twelve to bear testimony, but we’re left to bear it in the same way our little grandkids do in Primary—just to say we know it’s true. But I know that He lives. I know His voice when He speaks. I know Him, and of Him I bear witness.
FAQs
The voice of the Spirit is described in the scriptures as being neither loud nor harsh, not a voice of thunder, neither a voice of great tumultuous noise, but rather as still and small, of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it can pierce even the very soul and cause the heart to burn.
How do I know when the Holy Spirit is speaking to me? ›
During our times of communion with the Lord, we will rarely hear an audible voice when the Holy Spirit “speaks” to us. What we will sense is a strong leading to do something. Or we might feel strongly about going in a certain direction. The Holy Spirit wants to show us God's plans and purposes for our lives.
How can I hear the Holy Spirit speak to me? ›
Engaging in heartfelt worship through song, prayer, and meditation not only brings you closer to God but also creates an atmosphere conducive to hearing His voice. When you immerse yourself in worship, your heart becomes more receptive to the whispers of the Holy Spirit.
Does the Spirit of God speak to us? ›
Additionally, He speaks to us through His Holy Spirit and through dreams, visions and our thoughts. Further, God will use events and circ*mstances to speak with us. More often than not, God uses the people He has placed in our lives to speak to us.
How do we interact with the Holy Spirit? ›
Invite to act
- Seeking to recognize and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost when they come.
- Keeping the commandments and living more like the Savior.
- Praying for the guidance of the Holy Ghost.
For some people, the Holy Ghost may cause them to feel overwhelmed with emotion and moved to tears. For others, tears rarely or never come. And that's okay. For them, the Holy Ghost may produce a subtle feeling of gratitude, peace, reverence, or love (see Galatians 5:22–23).
What are the 7 signs of the Holy Spirit? ›
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are an enumeration of seven spiritual gifts first found in the book of Isaiah, and much commented upon by patristic authors. They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.
How do I ask the Holy Spirit to come? ›
Short invocations of the Holy Spirit
- Breathe into me, Holy Spirit.
- Come, Holy Spirit.
- Holy Spirit, fill me with your gifts.
- Kindle in me Your goodness, Holy Spirit.
- Holy Spirit, be present in my heart.
- Holy Spirit, help me be patient.
THOMAS: First of all, the Holy Spirit speaks to us through His Word. He is the Author of Scripture, and He illuminates Scripture to us. The more we know Scripture, the more we think about it, the more we memorize it, and the more we repeat it to ourselves, that is the voice of the Holy Spirit.
How to tap into the Holy Spirit? ›
You can pray and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you right now through a prayer of faith. “Dear father, I need you. I acknowledge that I have been in control of my life and that, as a result, I have sinned against You. I thank you that You have forgiven my sins through Christ's death on the cross for me.
We might expect God to speak with thunder and lightning and pyrotechnics, and yet Scripture indicates that God often speaks with a “still, small voice.”
How to allow the Holy Spirit to take control? ›
If you want to walk in the Holy Spirit, start with talking to the Holy Spirit. Throughout the day address Him, welcome Him, thank Him and worship Him. You should not feel guilty for not spending time with the Holy Spirit but you should feel thirsty. He wants relationship, not rules.
What is it called when God speaks directly to you? ›
Revelation is communication from God to man. It can occur in many different ways. Some prophets, like Moses and Joseph Smith, have talked with God face to face. Some persons have had personal communication with angels.
What is the powerful three word prayer to the Holy Spirit? ›
They have done this in a number of ways, but one of the most portable and powerful methods was in their stewardship of a simple three-word prayer: “Come, Holy Spirit.”
Why can't I feel the Holy Spirit? ›
An inability to feel the Spirit, or a general feeling of apathy or numbness, is often a symptom of poor mental health. God has not forsaken you. Consider for a moment that the Spirit may be communicating with you in a different way than you have experienced before.
What happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon you? ›
Acts 1:8 says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” This power that comes from the Holy Spirit allows you to stand strong for the things of God.
How do you feel the Holy Spirit when praying? ›
5 Ways to Pray in the Spirit
- Praying God's Word.
- Listening to God and praying.
- Partnering in prayer with Christ your Intercessor.
- Praying the God-given desires of your heart.
- Praying with divine love.
The nudge often comes ever so gently. Something is pricking your spirit. It's God's way of elbowing you to get your attention. It's Him saying, “Hey, I want you to do something for me; I want you to join me in working in a mighty way.” Someone needs to be contacted.
