The Lord Hearkened and Heard

The first word of the Doctrine and Covenants is hearken, and throughout the book we are repeatedly invited to hearken and hear the voice of the Lord. He said, “Hearken, O ye people of my church, saith the voice of him who dwells on high, and whose eyes are upon all men; yea, verily I say: Hearken ye people from afar; and ye that are upon the islands of the sea, listen together” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:1). In the revelation constituting the appendix to the book He similarly said, “Hearken and hear, O ye inhabitants of the earth. Listen, ye elders of my church together, and hear the voice of the Lord; for he calleth upon all men, and he commandeth all men everywhere to repent” (Doctrine and Covenants 133:16). In another revelation He promised blessings if we would Hear Him: “Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me” (Doctrine and Covenants 41:1). In His law that He gave, the Savior said, “Hearken, O ye elders of my church, who have assembled yourselves together in my name…. Hearken and hear and obey the law which I shall give unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:1-2). Soon thereafter He also said this: “Hearken, O ye people of my church, to whom the kingdom has been given; hearken ye and give ear to him who laid the foundation of the earth…. And again I say, hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you…. Hearken, O ye people of my church, and ye elders listen together, and hear my voice while it is called today, and harden not your hearts… Wherefore, hearken ye together and let me show unto you even my wisdom…. Wherefore, hearken and I will reason with you, and I will speak unto you and prophesy, as unto men in days of old” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:1-2, 6, 11, 15). These and many other passages in modern-day revelation invite us to hearken, to hear, to listen, and to heed His voice in these last days.

                Given these repeated invitations to hearken and hear the voice of the Lord, I was struck by this verse from Malachi that the Savior quoted to the Nephites: “Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another, and the Lord hearkened and heard; and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name” (3 Nephi 24:16). The promises that He will hear us, just as He invites us to hear Him. Many times in the scriptures He confirms that He has heard those who have sought Him through prayer. When the children of Israel were in bondage He said, “Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them” (Exodus 3:9). He said to Isaiah, “Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee” (2 Kings 20:5). The angel said to Alma the Younger: “Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father; for he has prayed with much faith concerning thee” (Mosiah 27:14). Of Joseph Smith the Lord said, “Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard” (Doctrine and Covenants 21:7). To Sidney Rigdon the Savior said, “I have looked upon thee and thy works. I have heard thy prayers, and prepared thee for a greater work” (Doctrine and Covenants 35:3). The Lord similarly said to Sidney Gilbert: “I have heard your prayers; and you have called upon me that it should be made known unto you, of the Lord your God, concerning your calling and election in the church” (Doctrine and Covenants 53:1). To Thomas B. Marsh the Savior also said, “I have heard thy prayers; and thine alms have come up as a memorial before me” (Doctrine and Covenants 112:1). These and many other scriptures affirm that the Lord does hear the faithful prayers of His people.

I love the words of Zenos who confirmed that for him personally the Lord heard his sincere prayers and hearkened to him. Alma quoted this passage to the Zoramites: “Thou art merciful, O God, for thou hast heard my prayer, even when I was in the wilderness; yea, thou wast merciful when I prayed concerning those who were mine enemies, and thou didst turn them to me. Yea, O God, and thou wast merciful unto me when I did cry unto thee in my field; when I did cry unto thee in my prayer, and thou didst hear me. And again, O God, when I did turn to my house thou didst hear me in my prayer. And when I did turn unto my closet, O Lord, and prayed unto thee, thou didst hear me. Yea, thou art merciful unto thy children when they cry unto thee, to be heard of thee and not of men, and thou wilt hear them. Yea, O God, thou hast been merciful unto me, and heard my cries in the midst of thy congregations. Yea, and thou hast also heard me when I have been cast out and have been despised by mine enemies; yea, thou didst hear my cries, and wast angry with mine enemies, and thou didst visit them in thine anger with speedy destruction. And thou didst hear me because of mine afflictions and my sincerity” (Alma 33:4-11). The Lord heard the prayers of Zenos, and I know that He hearkens to and hears our heartfelt prayers to Him, just as He asks us to hear Him.