Spiritual Guidance and Direction

Sister Tracy Y. Browning said this in her recent address in general conference: “One key principle taught throughout the Book of Mormon is when God’s children choose to demonstrate obedience and keep their covenants, they receive continual spiritual guidance and direction.” I think we see this in particular with Nephi who was a powerful example of obedience. He willingly obeyed his father to return and obtain the plates, and that obedience preceded the spiritual guidance he needed to actually obtain them. After failing in their attempt to get the scriptural record from Laban, Nephi continued to insist on obedience: “As the Lord liveth, and as we live, we will not go down unto our father in the wilderness until we have accomplished the thing which the Lord hath commanded us” (1 Nephi 3:15). When they failed a second time, he continued to be true to the commandment he had received: “Therefore let us go up; let us be strong like unto Moses; for he truly spake unto the waters of the Red Sea and they divided hither and thither, and our fathers came through, out of captivity, on dry ground, and the armies of Pharaoh did follow and were drowned in the waters of the Red Sea.” And just as Moses had shown obedience first and received direction after that, Nephi went into the city by night seeking to obey the angel before being guided by the Lord: “And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do” (1 Nephi 4:2, 6). The Spirit indeed led him to Laban and the plates because he had shown obedience first. The spiritual guidance came after obeying the Lord’s command. This was true again when he built the ship—he did not learn how to build it before he was obedient. Rather, as he sought to do what the Lord asked, he received guidance and direction. The Lord commanded, “Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters” (1 Nephi 17:8). At first, he didn’t even know where to start, but as he sought to obey the Lord continued to guide him: “Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things” (1 Nephi 8:2-3). Nephi obeyed first and received spiritual guidance and direction second as Sister Browning suggested.

               There are many other examples in the Book of Mormon of those who received guidance and spiritual direction after they were obedient. Lehi was obedient to the Lord’s command to take his family into the wilderness and then received the Liahona to guide him on his journey (note that the Liahona was given until after he had proven his willingness to obey). Enos “cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication” first and sought forgiveness with all his heart, and then he received direct communication from the Lord. After he “prayed and labored with all diligence” the voice of the Lord came to him (Enos 1:4, 12). The people in the time of Jarom showed that as they were not stiffnecked—meaning they willingly obeyed—they had “communion with the Holy Ghost” (Jarom 1:4). The people at the time of the first Mosiah did “hearken unto the voice of the Lord” and “departed out of the land unto the wilderness,” and then they were “led by preachings and     prophesyings” and the Lord took them to the land of Zarahemla (Omni 1:13). The father of King Lamoni first covenanted to obey the Lord and to “give away all [his] sins to know [Him],” and then he was given a great spiritual manifestation (Alma 22:18). The sons of Mosiah first followed this direction from the Lord before they were given miraculous success in their labors: “Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success” (Alma 26:27). They were indeed given success after the trial of their faith. The Jaredites chose to obey the Lord in following His command to depart into the wilderness: “Thou shalt go at the head of them down into the valley which is northward.” They were promised great spiritual guidance if they did so: “And there will I meet thee, and I will go before thee into a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth” (Ether 1:42). And indeed, as they traveled into the wilderness “where there never had man been… the Lord did go before them, and did talk with them as he stood in a cloud, and gave directions whither they should travel” (Ether 2:5). These and other examples in the Book of Mormon highlight that the Lord will bless our obedience with spiritual guidance and direction. But we must show our faith first through obedience first, and then He will lead us and guide us. As we “practice obedience to Him and fidelity to the spiritual knowledge that [we] possess,” as Sister Browning taught, we will be “spiritually elevate[d] and push[ed]… forward toward God’s expanded horizon.”