Open your ears to hear

A few years back for YW Camp, our theme had to do with Voices. In thinking about learning to listen to the voice of the Spirit, I came upon this scripture that I thought was very interesting. It has to do with when Jesus appeared to the people in Ancient America after His death and resurrection:


3rd Nephi 11

3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

6 And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

7 Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

I think it is interesting that they heard a voice but they didn't understand it. My favorite part of this is in verse 5, when it says "they did open their ears". I think that is the difference between hearing and listening. You can hear something but not understand it. The people really had to intently concentrate or they couldn't understand it. This was Jesus that appeared to them, but I think this process is the same with the Holy Ghost. Even if we have the Holy Ghost with us, we have to "open our ears" to hear His voice.

It took them 3 tries to understand the voice they heard. Practice. You have to keep trying. The more we try to listen to the Spirit, the better able we are to hear it.

Also, they had to stop what they were doing and really concentrate. They had to put away all their distractions and concentrate on listening to the voice and nothing else. The scripture says they 1)they did open their ears and their eyes toward the sound of it 2) they did look steadfastly toward heaven. Here is my plug again for daily quiet time. We need to give ourselves quiet time to hear and feel the Spirit.