HEAVENLY MESSAGES

One of the talents with which I was gifted seems to diminish in functioning with each passing day. I have always been able to answer the telephone, which at one time was identified as a rotary dial, then a push button and currently as I write this thought a land line phone, and immediately been able to recognize the friend or family member who was calling. The thought just hit me that it is a probability that the tethered phone will go out of existence before the time clock on my mortal life expires.

I have noted that those who are more advanced technologically have set their cell phone notifications so that they know who is calling them before they look at their phones. Since texting is quickly replacing and even becoming the preferred way of intercommunication I have noted that names and even pictures identify the person on the other end of digital messages. The thought just hit me and made me wonder if the day will shortly come when cell phones are referred to as texting devices.

Along with easy identification of the caller, these modern mini computers which are always kept within arms easy reach, also have settings which can block someone from communicating with them. Also, they can delete messages as soon as they appear and, although it is seldom done, they even have the choice to turn the device off.

Although some have made theirs inoperable, our Heavenly Father created each of us with built in devices which were to be used to send and receive messages between heaven and earth during our mortal lives. We have given these interactions varying names which may also denote the clarity of our connectivity.

I suspect we universally identify that heaven to earth communicative device as ‘conscience’. The little voice inside of us which is oft times depicted as having a little angel on one shoulder and a little devil on the other who are trying to influence us to make a decision in one direction or another, has frequently spoken to each of us. These universal communications start early, such as when we were given counsel as a toddler from a parent and seem to have the capacity to be able to continue throughout our lives.

There is another heaven to earth communicative device which is very akin to conscience which is often referred as having a ‘prompting’. This device differs from the ‘conscience’ since we are not usually making a decision, but it comes upon us while we are going about our usual routines of the day. We receive a ‘prompting’ that we should drop everything and do something unplanned. ‘Promptings’ can come at any age, but seem to intensify in women when they bear children and in fathers when their children become teens. All heaven to earth communicative devices seem to have a lifetime warrantee if they are maintained properly.

There is a heaven to earth communicative device which society has tried to identify as having a flash back or a Deja vu moment, but if properly identified we would refer to them as ‘remembrances’. These often come to those who habitually read the scriptures or listen to and read the words of living prophets. While reading about Gods, Eternal Plans or events like the Savior’s mortal birth, they will ‘remember’ an ‘as if they were there’ experience. It should be mentioned that this heaven to earth communicative device called ‘remembrances’ requires an effort by an earth bound mortal before the heavens respond. Strangely, although this is a very special and unforgettable experience, some of us can go weeks if not months without making the required effort to open this channel.

There is a special setting on the device within each of us which allows ‘whisperings of the Holy Spirit’ to be activated as a heaven to earth communicative device. Although the Holy Spirit seems to hold the mantle or the assignment to keep the heaven to earth communicative devices open and operating, this seems to be an extra channel which needs to be opened by the earth bound mortal through such means as righteousness, attentiveness, gifts and obedience to covenants. These ‘whisperings’ usually differ from previously mentioned heaven to earth communications in that they involve actions which if fulfilled will be beneficial to those who fall under one’s stewardship, such as parenting, church calling, citizenship or career.

‘Voices, Visitations and Dreams’ are but a few of the words used to identify the holographic skype (a feeble attempt to communicate to those inundated with technology) heaven to earth communicative device which moves our experience from reliance on the devices which were installed during our birth process to a level of communication the scriptures refer to as ‘a man speaking unto another man’. These special communications can involve the mind, eyes, ears and the id and even go as far as to involve the sensation of touch. Although the Savior has stated this level of heaven to earth communicative device is available to all of Heavenly Father’s children, we most often find the percentage of mortals who report visitations of angels and other Heavenly Beings as a relatively small representation of the mass of humanity who have dwelt on earth.

In chapters 8 through 15 of 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, we see all of these heaven to earth communicative devices happening to Lehi and Nephi. I will be writing several thoughts about their special experiences in the weeks to come, but for today’s Thought I want to concentrate on how Laman and Lemuel were able to put all of heaven to earth communicative devices into a permanent sleep mode.

Even though I am not a fan of negative teaching and usually try to avoid it, I feel a quick review of the activities which will silence, cause us to ignore, make us delete or completely shut off all communication with our Heavenly Home are made evident as Laman and Lemuel give us an irresistible opportunity to present these destructive practices in no particular order or progression.

Ignoring or rejecting heaven sent counsel found in the scriptures or delivered by living prophets

Ignoring or forgetting previous personal heaven sent communications or interactions

Rejecting the ring tones of heaven initiated communications

Neglecting or rejecting the idea of initiating communications through prayer

Believing that there is no such thing as heaven let alone believe a mortal can communicate with anyone there

Having selective recollection of sensations from personal imbedded device

Straying from or rejecting the path outlined by Heavenly Father for mortals to follow

Since I will be returning to the theme of heaven to earth interactions in the weeks ahead I will resist the urge to make an exhaustive listing of the actions these older less wise brothers used to cut communication off between themselves and their Heavenly Home.

I do think it would be beneficial to spend a few minutes pondering on whether we might have lost the ability to hear the Shepherd’s voice when He calls or whether we have become so hard of hearing that we can no longer hear whisperings or have built up resistances to the voices of our conscience or have ignored so many promptings that they no longer manifest themselves to us.

If I have become infected with the malady of Laman-ness or Lemuel-ness, it would behoove me to repent in order to repair any defects and thereby, reactivating my heaven to earth communicative devices, causing me to become more like Lehi and Nephi in valuing and keeping operational my heaven to earth communicative devices.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY