A couple weeks ago, I was scrolling on social media when I came across a post from someone I don’t know asking a question about doctrine. I don’t even remember what the question was, but as I read through a few of the comments, I was surprised at what I saw…or more accurately, what I didn’t see. Comments included…
“Check out this podcast.”
“Follow this person on Instagram.”
And there were plenty of references to church-adjacent websites.
Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”
Now don’t get me wrong, I LOVE listening to podcasts, especially gospel-related ones. And I definitely have my favorite people I follow on social media. But if that’s where we are searching for answers to our most important questions – and if that’s where we are telling people to search for answers to their most important questions, we are missing the mark.
In the most recent general conference, President Nelson warned to “stop increasing your doubts by rehearsing them with other doubters.”
It’s comforting to know that others have the same struggles we do. But there’s no growth in comfort.
When we rehearse our doubts with other doubters, we are leaning toward our own understanding. Sister Bonnie Cordon said, “When we physically lean toward one side or another, we move off center, we are out of balance, and we tip. When we spiritually lean to our own understanding, we lean away from our Savior. If we lean, we are not centered; we are not balanced; we are not focused on Christ.”
So, how do we keep from leaning to our own understanding…or the understanding of our favorite podcast, or our favorite influencer; the understanding of the world?
Prayer
A few years ago, my husband had the opportunity to interview for a new job. It was almost 3,000 miles away and would be quite the adventure for our family. We prayed for an answer. We prayed a lot. We prayed before he applied, before he interviewed, and when they offered to fly us out for an in-person interview. We didn’t get an answer. So, we flew out and did some sight-seeing the night before his in-person interview. We absolutely fell in love with the city and decided we would love to move there. While we were at dinner that night, we both – at the exact same moment – received a clear answer to not take the job. We were a little shocked, but the peace that came from listening to the Spirit gave us the courage to trust in the Lord and lean not to our own understanding.
As we make a habit of approaching Heavenly Father in prayer, we will come to know the Savior. We will come to trust Him. Our desires will become more like His. We will be able to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that Heavenly Father is ready to give if we will but ask in faith.
Study out of the best books
You may be familiar with the scripture in Doctrine and Covenants that encourages us to “seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith.”
When I was in high school, my parents printed out this scripture and taped it on my shower wall so I would see it every day. I wasn’t very interested in going to class back then, and I think this was their not-so-subtle way of telling me to shape up. But I’m so grateful that I now understand the importance of seeking out the best books, of continually learning, and of pairing our study with faith.
The best books include scriptures, general conference addresses, and as D&C 88: 118 suggests, books that will strengthen our faith. Studying out of the best books will enlighten our minds, nourish our spirits, answer our questions, increase our trust in the Lord, and help us center our lives on Jesus Christ.
Follow the prophet, especially the LIVING prophet
Why is following the living prophet so important?
President Ezra Taft Benson once said that, “The living prophet has the power of TNT. By that I mean “Today’s News Today.” God’s revelations to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore, the most important prophet, so far as you and I are concerned, is the one living in our day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us. Therefore, the most important reading we can do is any of the words of the prophet.”
He goes on to say, “Beware of those who would pit the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.”
The living prophet is also the President of the Church, and because he speaks for the Lord, it is not wise to pick and choose just the parts of his counsel that we want to follow. In the June 2016 Ensign, it says that we should treat his counsel and invitations as if we had received them directly from Jesus Christ, “in all patience and faith.”
President Nelson said that “it takes faith to follow the prophet rather than popular opinion,” and I believe that is true now more than ever before.
If we want to know where we stand with the Lord, then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal mouthpiece. How closely do our lives harmonize with the words of the living prophet?
As I looked through the comments on that post I mentioned earlier, they were full of tips and advice on helping this person seek answers to her gospel-centered question. But it made me sad that not one person mentioned God. We can do better. We NEED to do better.
These are the small and simple things, so simple that it’s easy to overlook them if we’re not careful.
The adversary isn’t even being subtle anymore. He doesn’t have to be. The world has slowly blurred the line between what’s right and what’s wrong, even going as far as to say that what’s right is wrong, and what’s wrong is right. It takes daily effort to stay on the Lord’s side. It takes daily trust, faith, and small and simple choices to lean not unto our own understanding.
I truly believe that as we seek answers to our most important questions, we must remember to pray, seek out the best books, and follow the prophet. And as we do all of that with faith and trust in our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, They will direct our paths for good.
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