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The DiscipleMD

Recently I heard a humorous story of a husband and a wife who were getting ready to go out with friends for the evening. As they got ready to leave the wife turned to her husband and said, “Now remember to let others express themselves. Sometimes you talk a lot!” The husband responded back, “That’s because I have a lot to say!” The man is well-educated and I’m sure knows quite a bit about many things. I’m sure he thinks it is only fair that he be “generous” with his knowledge. While some might not be “interested” in what he has to say, I’m pretty sure that what he does say will be informative to most.

Sometimes listening to others, who claim to have superior knowledge, is offensive to us, even if that person actually “does” have knowledge of value to give us. Sometimes it is the manner in which the “knowledge” is given which offends. If it is presented with pride or haughtiness, we often reject it. On the other hand, sometimes we don’t want to accept what others say just because of our own pride. All of us like to feel “intelligent” and accepting truth or knowledge from others somehow means we are “less” than them. It is important to understand that as we humble ourselves, we become teachable and in so doing we become receptive to truth and light. That truth and light can come from sources that we don’t admire or even like.

A few years ago I was listening on the radio to a preacher of another faith. After listening for a while, I formed an opinion of this preacher and it wasn’t favorable. I was about to change the frequency when he landed on a point that I found interesting, and although I couldn’t stand his delivery style or the condescending nature of his voice, I continued to listen to his sermon. There in the middle of the sermon was a point of doctrine that sounded true and something I had never thought of.  I really didn’t want to acknowledge, in my mind, that I was learning something new because his style put me off.  So I blocked it out of my mind and switched the station.  What was the point of doctrine that he taught me? The answer sadly is, “I don’t remember.” Why? Well, it is because I rejected the messenger and in so doing I rejected his total message. My ego robbed me of a piece of knowledge that I could have gained if not for my pride.

There are bits and pieces of truth found in many different places. It is not against the Lord’s will for us to find truth and knowledge in diverse places and then incorporate them into our lives. We can confirm in our minds the truthfulness of those “bits and pieces” because they will always align themselves with the principles of the gospel. The Lord inspires and directs His work here on earth. He orchestrates his “work and glory” through many different avenues. Primary of which is through living apostles and prophets.

We need to keep open minds that are receptive to the spirit. Then, when truth comes along, we will recognize it. The Lord really does have “a lot to say,” we just need to be humble enough to accept it in all it’s forms.