Someone asked where I would go other than Heavenly Father and the scriptures if I wanted to find direction in my life. I think I basically got that right? Here are my thoughts on that:
I have found "inspiration" in countless places over my lifetime. The trick is that inspiration can come at any time or as we are engaged in almost any good activity. Heavenly Father just makes our minds light up when we find or think of the direction that is right.
One thing I think is fairly essential to finding direction is lots of pondering time. We must be exploring to find the possibilities before us but we must also take time to really ponder the options and feel out which one is the best option.
That said, I will give you some concrete examples of places I regularly go in my "study it out" phase of trying to find answers. Like my last post noted, I always start with the scriptures. I have often found very direct answers there. But sometimes I do not find a clear enough answer there.
Another source for me is LDS.org. This site has all the conference talks by our modern day prophets on it. Many times I can find answers in a conference talk that seem more direct than the scriptures can be on more modern subjects.
Other people can also be very helpful. Some people have a gift for giving good advice. Some people have a stewardship to advise us. I often just have a feeling that I need to talk to a specific person and then when I do I find their advice just what I needed to hear. I talk almost everything out with my husband. I have gone to bishops and branch presidents before. I have also gone to friends with certain issues that I think they will best be able to relate to and understand. And countless times I have gone to my parents.
No matter who you go to, the key is to listen with your heart as you talk about your questions or options. Heavenly Father will let you know in your heart with that peace and light feeling when something you or they say is the way to go. Ultimately, whether your answer comes reading the scriptures, pondering alone, or talking to someone, it is the Spirit that lights up the answer and makes otherwise meaningless thoughts or words become inspiration.
I love the scripture in 2 Nephi 32:2-3 where we are reminded that after we have received the Holy Ghost we can speak with the tongue of angels. Nephi continues "And now, how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."
I had always read that verse to mean the scriptures will tell you all things. But one time a few years ago I read it more carefully in context and saw that the "words of Christ" are found not only in the scriptures but in our own mouths and the mouths of those who speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. So we can find the words of Christ that tell us what we should do any time the Spirit directs the words to our hearts.
In this way, the scriptures can take on different meanings to answer our questions and we can find inspiration in advice from others or even in our own talking things out.
There are numerous life examples of this floating through my mind right now. Too many to share tonight. But a brief summary may do. I have found answers to "who gets the last mini box of fruit loops, mom" in the scriptures.
I went to law school instead of journalism school based on advice from my parents and my grandfather. Only later did I realize that this was the better choice for me.
I navigated my "friendship" with Jonathan when I liked him and he did not like me with help from the advice of a branch president. I felt inspired that he was the one to talk to and boy was he ever. Little did I know he was a marriage and family therapist.
I was inspired to start this blog sitting in my bathtub pondering early one morning about what I wanted to do with my life beyond mothering. Who knew it would be such a blessing and life line to me in so short a time? God did. That's why he inspired me to start it. I only hope some of what I have written has been helpful or even "inspiring" to you too.
May the Lord bless each of you in finding whatever answers you are seeking. Perhaps my sweet Camille helps a bit in that angel's errand now.
