How Often Do I Listen for Christ at My Door?

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Introduction

After participating in some thought-provoking LDS church meetings today, I felt a personal desire to allow Christ greater influence in my life. Prepared with an open heart (2 Nephi 33:1-2), I received two messages which motivated me to want to spend more time with God:

The Problem

During the first hour of our worship service, my mind caught hold of something shared by Madeleine Hoyt, a young woman in my ward. She felt that 90% of the messages she typically receives throughout her school day are from the Adversary, and that God’s messages only squeak through 10% of the time. She concluded that she needed to "make the most of those Godly messages.” I later discovered Madeleine‘s stat was inspired by an address by Elder Eyring in his April 1999 LDS General Conference entitled, The Power of Teaching Doctrine:

For every hour the power of doctrine is introduced into a child’s life, there may be hundreds of hours of messages and images denying or ignoring the saving truths.

After letting this quote sink in, I was—what do the kids say?—shook. (That 90:10% influence ratio was a little too high for my liking.) "What could I do," I thought, "to tilt the scales more in God's favor?"

The Solution

This thought was reinforced by a second seed—a quote by President Nelson from his most-recent Conference address, when he urged us—not once, but twice—to stretch our spiritual muscles. (Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives, April 2018 LDS General Conference.)

I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that 'if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.'

My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation…Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.

How Does God Reveal Himself to Me?

As mentioned above, God, on most occasions, reveals himself to me through the power of His Spirit. The Book of Mormon prophet Nephi teaches that God uses the power of the Holy Ghost to confirm truth to mankind (2 Nephi 32:5).  The Holy Ghost carries truths unto the hearts of men. But it up to us to harken, or let those messages into our hearts (2 Nephi 33:1-2).

In his April 2011 LDS General Conference address, The Spirit of Revelation, Elder Bednar taught that Spirit approaches one's heart in two ways:

1. Like a light switch — A sudden strokes of inspiration.
2. Like a Sunrise — A general peace and assurance as I move through life. I somehow (seemingly without effort) remain unaffected by the tumult around me or when personal tragedy strikes. I feel equipped to handle almost anything when the Spirit is near. (I am able to recognize when I've been sleeping through my spiritual sunrises* recently when I catch myself making a biting remark to a co-worker, or entertaining a bad thought.)

*"Spiritual sunrise" is a term I made up to refer to spiritual hygiene practices like personal pray, meaningful scripture study, etc.

What If I Don't Want to Be Close to God? (How Can I Learn to Desire God’s Influence More Than Worldly Allures?)

This issue creeps into my life occasionally.  It reminds me of the Pride Cycle exemplified throughout the Book of Mormon. In Helaman 5:5-12, we learn that the key to humility is remembering.

In this world of sorrow, we are all eventually pointed towards Christ for relief one way or another. People's hearts are in two states when that invitation comes: humble & not humble.

1. When our hearts are soft, we hear the voice of God's Spirit and choose to follow Him. This humility and repentance leads to righteousness and prosperity.
2. However, when our hearts are not humble, God sometimes compels us to be humble through "destruction & suffering". After a mortal moment away from God’s path, I eventually realize I’m not in the best place and turn to the grace of Christ for forgiveness and solace.

How Can I Practice Listening to the Door of My Heart?

In The Spirit of Revelation, Elder Bednar teaches that two things invite the spirit of revelation into our lives:

1. Sincere desire — Which can be demonstrated through humbly coming to in prayer, acting on spiritual impressions you've already been given (repentance), seeking wisdom in the scriptures, etc.
2. Worthiness — Learning about God's laws of happiness and making changes to follow them (e.g., pay a full tithe, stop drinking coffee,). You don't have to be perfect. God knows your heart. If you are trying your honest best, He will covenant with you and let you receive the guidance and comfort of the Holy Ghost in your life.

I love the last phrase of Nephi’s Psalm (2 Nephi 4:16-35), as captured in BYU’s former Academic Vice President John Tanner’s hymn, I Love the Lord:

O let me shake at the first sight of sin
And thus escape my foes without and in.

Sin can be subtle to detect. Noticing sin "at first sight" is not an easy task. But as I desire and strive to stay worthy of the Holy Ghost's companionship, I will be able to hear the Spirit's voice. And I will obey, because I know God desires nothing more than to bless me with the best gifts (Matt 7:7-11). (The scary thing about this arrangement is that sometimes, the things He knows I need and the things I wish for aren't always aligned. It's the best kind of sacrifice.)

What Specific Changes Will I Make to Afford the Spirit Greater Influence in My Heart? 

 Here's a short list of things to cut out for starters:

• Watching a TV show with questionable moments.
• Staying up late which leads to desensitization of the spirit’s promptings over the following 24 hours.
• Using my Movie Pass inappropriately.
• Too much screen time.
• Not making time for my loved ones (priorities).

Conclusion

I am blessed with an unshakeable witness that God lives and loves me more deeply than I can comprehend. My faith in God (and His love for me) has given me perspective and spiritually strengthened me in every trial. I know my Heavenly Father hears and answers my every prayer. And that by so doing, I can gradually learn to align my will with His.

I realize perfect obedience is impossible. Instead, like Nephi’s stated in his psalm, I will seek to minimize the amount of time my soul spends drooped in sin, and more-quickly awake to the Savior’s infinite capacity to carry my burdens. (Matt 11:28-30)

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.