The scriptures often use the word hearken when someone is being counseled to do something. This word is often not viewed as important or as powerful as it truly is. When the Lord tell us to hearken, He expects us to listen and obey. However, the scriptures are not the only place the Lord tells us to hearken to His counsel. We are also expected to hearken the council of the prophets, leaders and ALWAYS the Spirit.
I would like to share with you an experience of my life that has helped me gain a testimony of this principle. Being a missionary we are expected to be very flexible in where we are to serve as we get moved around quite frequently. A few weeks ago, I got a call from my mission president telling me that I was going to be transferred from Clarksville, TN to Cookeville, TN. I was just stunned at this and really didn't know what to say. I accepted the assignment and change, but I was doing it grudgingly. Now, like I said before us as missionaries get moved around a lot and we expect it, but there is a method to it. Every 6 weeks we receive a call that tells us we will stay for another 6 weeks or go somewhere else. This particular call was in the middle of the 6 weeks, which is what made it unpredicted and which was really this initial cause of my disappointment and frustration. There were also a lot of great things happening in Clarksville that I didn't want to miss out on. I got to Cookeville the next day and struggled there for a week or so. I realized shortly after that I was physically in Cookeville, but mentally still in Clarksville. It wasn't until I realized that, that I knew I needed to willingly accept this change that the Lord had asked of me. After I learned to hearken and accept "Thy will," I was able to enjoy my time there. I truly believe that if I had not changed my perspective I would have wasted the very short time of 4 weeks that I was given there. Yes, I got transferred again that next transfer call to Pulaski, TN, but I know that this is what the Lord wants and I am happy to do it. That transfer prepared me to be called to build a Branch in Pulaski which has not had missionaries for many years. Part of the miracle is that we have had over 20 people attending our little church gathering (congregation) for the last few weeks as a result of Elder Clark and I being called to serve here.
The Lord tells you, " I...am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." (D&C 82:10.) Also, that "there is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated and when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated. (D&C 130:20-21.) I know this to be true, and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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