Remember to consider the question you thought of on Day 1 as you go through Day 6’s exercises.
President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Revelation need not all come at once. It may be incremental. 'Saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more' (2 Nephi 28:30). Patience and perseverance are part of our eternal progression.”
Joseph Smith was the first prophet of this “latter-day” time. In 1820, he was 14 years old and wanted to know which of all the churches in his area to join.
After reading James 1:5 in the Holy Bible, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God”, Joseph felt that he must ask God and he decided to do this through prayer.
He went to the woods (a grove of trees) not far from his home and prayed out loud. Joseph saw God the Father and His son Jesus Christ. I can’t imagine he was expecting that miraculous experience.
Understanding this experience helps us better understand God and who He is to us. Our Father, who won’t leave us without guidance. Do you believe that God loves you as much as He loves Joseph?
Reading:
Joseph Smith History (Joseph’s experience in his own words)
“While I was laboring under the extreme difficulties caused by the contests of these parties of religionists, I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart. I reflected on it again and again, knowing that if any person needed wisdom from God, I did…”
Doctrine and Covenants 19:28
“And again, I command thee that thou shalt pray vocally as well as in thy heart; yea, before the world as well as in secret, in public as well as in private.”
Joseph Smith History
“So, in accordance with this, my determination to ask of God, I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. It was the first time in my life that I had made such an attempt, for amidst all my anxieties I had never as yet made the attempt to pray vocally.
After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God.”
Ponder:
What does Joseph’s experience teach you personally?
Like Joseph, do you feel it’s important to have a peaceful place to pray?
How does Joseph’s experience make you feel about God?
What’s one way you’ve felt God help you have peace in your life this week?
Write:
Each day write down a thought. It doesn’t have to be long and can be kept in a private journal, kept on notes in a phone, emailed to you or a friend, written as a private message to someone or posted publicly on any social media channel. It could be a doodle on paper, an Instagram story, Facebook post or TicTok video, however you like. You will be blessed for remembering.
Elder Richard G. Scott taught us to “Write down in a secure place the important things you learn from the Spirit. You will find that as you write down precious impressions, often more will come. Also, the knowledge you gain will be available throughout your life.”
