Luke 10:39-42; Abraham 3:25; D&C 66:10. Man’s intense desire for meaning is not without its pitfalls. We can commit too soon and too deeply to things that are not needful. Jesus’s insightful rebuke to Martha has enduring truth for us as well. How many of the things we prioritize and sacrifice our time and efforts for are really needful? It has a number, and the number is one. Mary chose it when she sat at Jesus’ feet (she put aside every other consideration) and heard his word. That’s it. To single-mindedly hear Jesus’ word, with intent to hearken, is the one needful thing in life.
How do we hear Jesus’ word in our day? If Jesus is physically present, then our task is simple: lay all tasks aside, sit at his feet, and focus intently on whatever he has to say. If he is not physically present, then we must hear his word in other ways. The general contours, we all have in common, but the particulars will be adapted to us as individuals.
In a general conference address, President Marion G. Romney
helped clarify the nature of the connection between the Light of Christ and the
Holy Ghost. “There are three phases of the light of Christ that I want to
mention,” said President Romney.
“The first one is the light which enlighteneth every man
that cometh into the world;
“The second phase is the gift of the Holy Ghost;
“And the third is the more sure word of prophecy.”
1. The light of
Christ (commonly known as our conscience) teaches us in broad terms the
difference between right and wrong. When we listen to that light, it grows
stronger, just like using a muscle trains it to be stronger. Arm-wrestlers
train arm-wrestling, and they improve commensurate to natural ability and
effort. The light of Christ in an individual also is a nature/nurture equation.
The nature (strength of conscience) may have (and likely does have) some of its
roots in premortal diligence; but it will wither or grow to the degree we hearken
to our conscience now. Do we hear and understand, obey and seek for further
light? If we do, this light will burn brighter in us, and will attract others
whose light seeks to burn brighter.
2. The voice of the Spirit will make God’s will known to
those who are willing to follow it. The Spirit is a personage of Spirit who
testifies of Christ and leads to His presence by a multitude of ways. Indeed,
all things testify of Christ (Moses 6:63); and the Spirit is not limited in how
it leads us to God (Moro. 7:24), except by a few iron-clad principles. It will
never deny the Godhood of Christ or persuade to do evil and serve not God
(Moroni 7:15-19). It will always persuade to believe in Christ, to do good, and
to serve God. Its hallmarks include peace and clarity, and its fruits are
gentleness, love, and other virtues (Galatians 5:22-23). We formally invite the
Spirit by making and renewing an authorized baptismal covenant and receiving
the laying on of hands by authorized priesthood holders.
3. The more sure word of prophecy. The Prophet Joseph Smith
taught that “after a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is
baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, … then let
him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after
righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto
him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and
finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will
find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to
receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is
recorded in the testimony of St. John.”
The scriptures testify that faithful Saints have received personal visitations from the Savior, and all Saints will re-enter His presence at some point in their eternal existence. Those who reach this stage in this life are frequently tasked with a much greater ministry and much greater gifts than their fellows (see e.g., Ether 3; 3 Ne. 28; JS-H 1). The scriptures teach the possibility of receiving the sure word of prophecy to all who have the faith to continue in the personalized path the Lord has laid for them (D&C 93). The next step in our personal path is always to hearken to the Lord’s voice to us, which will lead us back to His presence.
D&C 88:49-50; John 15:5 – A full understanding of God will come when we are quickened in him and by him. With that understanding will come the knowledge that he is the source of our goodness and our abundance.
There are other practical exercises that aid the Saints of God to hear Him. These include prayer (3 Ne. 18:15), scripture study (Matt. 4:4), serving others (3 Ne. 27:21), and pondering and acting on the words of God received so far (Luke 2:19; Ether 3:26; 1 Ne. 4:1-3; Alma 8:15).
Many things in life are beautiful and wonderful and add flavor and variety to it; but there is only one foundational, needful thing. Blessed are those who choose with Mary that good part, with the blessing uttered by the living Son of God: it shall not be taken from them.
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