Elder Ulisses Soares is an apostle of Jesus Christ and a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. In the video series, Elder Soares shares how he can #Hear Him
Image Credit: Screenshot from the video
President Dallin H. Oaks is a distinguished leader and a member of the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His life is a testament to dedicated service, profound faith, and a deep connection with the Spirit. Today, President Oaks shares how he hears the voice of the Spirit speaking to him, offering insights that can inspire and guide us in our own spiritual journeys.
Born on August 12, 1932, in Provo, Utah, Dallin H. Oaks has led a life marked by significant achievements and unwavering faith. Before his call to full-time church service, he had a successful career in law and education. He served as a justice of the Utah Supreme Court and as the president of Brigham Young University. His professional accomplishments are impressive, but it is his spiritual journey and dedication to the Lord that truly define his legacy.
President Oaks often speaks about the importance of listening to the Spirit. He emphasizes that the Spirit communicates in various ways, including feelings, impressions, and thoughts. These promptings can guide us in making decisions, providing comfort, and offering direction in our lives. President Oaks shares personal experiences where he has felt the Spirit’s guidance, illustrating how these divine communications have influenced his decisions and actions.
One notable example is when President Oaks was considering a significant career change. He felt a strong impression to pursue a path that seemed uncertain and challenging. Trusting in the Spirit’s guidance, he made the decision, which ultimately led to greater opportunities for service and growth. This experience underscores the importance of faith and trust in following the Spirit’s promptings, even when the path ahead is unclear.
Leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, like President Oaks, are regular people who have dedicated their lives to serving the Lord. Their experiences and challenges are often similar to those we face. This relatability makes their advice and teachings particularly valuable. They have learned to recognize and respond to the voice of Heaven through years of faithful service and personal growth.
President Oaks’ teachings remind us that we, too, can develop a close relationship with the Spirit. By living righteously, seeking the Lord’s guidance, and being attentive to the promptings we receive, we can navigate our lives with divine assistance. This process requires patience, humility, and a willingness to act on the impressions we receive, even when they lead us out of our comfort zones.
The advice shared by President Oaks and other church leaders is applicable in our own lives. They encourage us to seek the Spirit’s guidance in all aspects of our lives, from making major life decisions to finding ways to serve others. By doing so, we can experience the blessings of divine direction and become instruments in the Lord’s hands.
Many of us have had experiences where we felt an impression or prompting from the Spirit. These moments can be powerful and transformative. When we heed these impressions, we often find that we are able to bless the lives of others and, in turn, receive blessings ourselves. Listening to the quiet whisperings of the Spirit allows us to be agents for good in the name of Jesus Christ.
The Spirit’s guidance is not limited to major life decisions; it can also influence our daily interactions and choices. By cultivating a habit of listening to the Spirit, we can become more attuned to its promptings and better equipped to respond. This can lead to more meaningful relationships, greater opportunities for service, and a deeper sense of purpose in our lives.
Developing spiritual sensitivity requires consistent effort and practice. President Oaks teaches that we can enhance our ability to hear the Spirit by engaging in regular prayer, scripture study, and worship. These practices help us draw closer to the Lord and create an environment where the Spirit can dwell. Additionally, living in accordance with gospel principles and striving to be worthy of the Spirit’s companionship are essential steps in this process.
There may be times when we struggle to recognize or trust the Spirit’s promptings. Doubts and distractions can cloud our spiritual perception. During such times, it is important to remember that the Lord is patient and understanding. President Oaks encourages us to persist in our efforts to seek the Spirit’s guidance, even when it feels difficult. By doing so, we demonstrate our faith and commitment to following the Lord’s will.
The impact of spiritual guidance on our lives can be profound. It can provide us with clarity, peace, and direction in times of uncertainty. It can also strengthen our faith and deepen our relationship with the Lord. As we learn to recognize and respond to the Spirit’s promptings, we become more effective instruments in the Lord’s hands, capable of bringing about positive change in our own lives and the lives of others.
President Dallin H. Oaks’ teachings on hearing the voice of the Spirit offer valuable insights and guidance for all of us. His experiences and counsel remind us that we can develop a close relationship with the Spirit and receive divine guidance in our lives. By following his example and striving to live righteously, we can become more attuned to the Spirit’s promptings and better equipped to navigate the challenges and opportunities we encounter.
Incorporating these principles into our daily lives can lead to greater spiritual growth and a deeper sense of purpose. As we seek the Lord’s guidance and act on the impressions we receive, we can experience the blessings of divine direction and become instruments for good in the name of Jesus Christ. Let us strive to listen to the quiet whisperings of the Spirit and follow its guidance, trusting that the Lord will lead us on the path that is best for us.
Here are some further teachings by President Dallin H. Oaks.
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/dallin-h-oaks/revelation/
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2019/10/17oaks?lang=eng
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/17oaks?lang=eng
Image Credit: Screenshot from the video
Another video from the #HearHim series of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints featuring Joy D. Jones.
Sister Joy D. Jones shares how some of us hear Him in one way while others hear the voice of the Savior in another. Hopefully you can recognize yourself in one of these videos.
Image Credit: Screenshot from the video
Here is another excellent video produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles shares how he hears the voice of the Lord.
Image Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint published another video about how the brethren of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles hear the voice of the Spirit. This video is of Elder Dale G. Renlund.
Image Credit: Screenshot from video
To hear the voice of the Spirit can be both in the literal sense to hear an audible voice and also to have a feeling inside of you, an inner voice, telling you what to do.
There are times when God will give you audible commands and you can hear a disconnected voice, but these are not as frequent as the still small voice inside of you. We often do not need God shouting at us, but instead the gentle promptings.
The Scriptures share Elijah’s experience:
“And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: and after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.” —1 Kings 19: 11–12
The Holy Ghost can speak to us in multiple ways, each customized to how we recognize that voice. Sometimes it might be a burning in our chest, what we like to call the warm fuzzies, or it might be thoughts of things we need to do, or it can be a good feeling about something we read. That’s not an extensive list, but some things to give you an idea of what to look for.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf gave his view of how he is able to hear the voice of the Spirit.
You can watch how others are also able to #HearHim.
One final thought: There is a saying, “You want to talk to God, you pray. You want God to talk to you, you read the scriptures. If you don’t feel like you are hearing the Spirit, perhaps the best place to start is in the scriptures.
Image Credit: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This post might be a little different from my usual writing, but to be honest, I wasn’t sure what to write about this week, and this experience keeps coming to mind. I hope sharing it will be meaningful to someone who is looking to understand the Holy Ghost.
This past Tuesday, I got up early and headed out for a hike up a nearby canyon. I’d previously discovered a small herd of moose there and wanted to photograph them. It turned out to be a beautiful and intense experience that reminded me of how real and personal the promptings of the Holy Spirit can be when we choose to listen.
Before I dive into the story, here are a few additional resources from leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on hearing and heeding the Spirit.
Elder M. Russell Ballard
Elder Gerrit W. Gong
Elder Gary E. Stephens
Elder David A. Bednar
Now, here’s the experience, as I recorded in my journal that day. Background: I’m at a small lake and there is a small bull moose and a group of three others. There’s a diagram at the bottom to help you visualize.
I was standing with my back to the water’s edge when the smaller bull moose came running down the hill toward the spot where I was set up with my camera. I had nowhere to go. I could have moved toward the moose and dodged around a clump of bushes to my left. I could have gone right along the shoreline, but I didn’t feel comfortable being there because that left me in the wide open where I would have nothing to hide behind.<
My other and best option was to retreat back and to the left, behind the clump of bushes and up a small hill to a ridge. That route would afford me a bit of coverage before I was back in pretty much the same path of the charging moose.
I’ve heard (though I’m not sure it’s true) that moose have been known to charge people into the water and hold them under the water with their antlers.
I dashed to the side and up the small hill. I don’t think the moose really saw me standing by the water because he stopped when I made my dash. Moose don’t have good vision.
The moose continued to the waterside and stopped right where I had been standing moments earlier. From my new position atop the hill, I felt safe enough to photograph him, with the bushes now between us.
After a minute or so, I began to feel unsafe where I was standing and felt prompted to move. There was a couple standing on the ridge near me, and as I left, I told them I felt like it was unsafe to be stay. They chose to remain.
I moved farther up the ridge, where I could still see the moose and to get some more photos. The bull moose where I had been standing was eating the bushes and slowly worked his way through them.
Suddenly the moose charged at the couple, who were standing on the ridge about 10 feet away. They ran down the other side of the hill, but the moose kept chasing them until they veered off the trail and the moose kept running along the trail. If I had stayed where I was on the ridge I would have been directly in his path, but I would have been extremely too close for comfort and I would have been backed into a corner of trees, with no escape if the moose decided to change directions.
After standing on the ridge for a couple of minutes, I again felt prompted to move, so I moved back down closer to the water. I know it was a spiritual prompting. Soon after I moved, the second larger bull moose and two cows went running exactly where I had just been standing.
Looking back on that morning, I can see clearly how those subtle spiritual promptings from the Holy Ghost protected me. I didn’t hear a voice. But the quiet feelings of “move now” and “this isn’t safe” came at exactly the right times. I believe the Holy Ghost was guiding me.
It’s a reminder to me that personal revelation is real. The Spirit doesn’t just speak during big moments of life—He also speaks in small moments, on mountain trails, and in situations we don’t expect. Our job is to be in tune enough to listen and act.
Since I’ve probably done a poor job explaining the layout of the land and the events, I’ll draw a poor picture to diagram it.
Orange arrows = Me
Blue arrows = first moose
Green arrows = the three other moose
Image Credit: Dallas Golden/Google Maps
Incidentally, here is a helpful article on what to do if you’re ever attacked by a moose—something worth knowing if you spend time in moose country. While moose are usually calm and non-aggressive, they can become extremely dangerous if they feel threatened, especially during the rutting season or if a cow is protecting her calf.
I’ve personally hiked within 10 to 15 feet of a cow moose who simply sat there, casually munching on bushes and watching us pass. It felt peaceful—but I was very aware that the situation could have turned bad in an instant. Moose are massive, powerful animals, and it doesn’t take much to provoke them if you’re too close or if they feel cornered.
It’s a good reminder: respect wildlife, keep your distance, and always be aware of your surroundings. Having a little knowledge ahead of time can make all the difference.