It Starts With the Heart - Part II

In case you missed Part I, click here to read it.

So, how does this process work - the ability to feel and follow the voice of the Lord?

We now know it starts with the heart. Then, our spirits our affected, as well as our minds. But, what happens after that?

Well, we then begin to depend on His voice more often, so we pray more earnestly to know His will. We pray for that which He would have us pray:

"And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire" (3 Ne. 19:24).

You'll notice, after we pray for what is meant for us, we are "filled with desire." Being filled with righteous desire is a definite indication of our own spiritual maturity and progression. However, just being filled with righteous desire does not make us good servants. In fact, without the next step, our righteous desire will quickly disappear.

In order to progress, we must seek to live by every word:

"And I now give unto you a commandment to beware concerning yourselves, to give diligent heed to the words of eternal life. For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God" (D&C 84:43-44).

As we live according to our righteous desire, we are filled with more light - we learn more truth:

"For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ" (D&C 84:45).

As we gain more light to our souls, we become more uncomfortable with the dark things of the world - AND, the dark things of the world become more uncomfortable with us:

"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one" (D&C 93:36-37).

Then, line upon line, truth upon truth, light upon light - we GROW. We grow closer to Him until the time arrives when we are with Him and we are ONE with Him:

"That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day" (D&C 50:24).

So, how does this process work in your life in particular? Only one real way to find out - Dig in and experience it.

If we choose to participate in this process, we are blessed with so many different gifts. In Part III, I will focus on just one -