Don’t overlook the word ‘Heed’

This week, I have learned more about personal revelation as I have studied with Come Follow me. In 1 Nephi 16:28 it reads:

And it came to pass that I, Nephi beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.  

Are you like me and only focus on the words faith and diligence in this scripture and completely ignore the word heed? It is like taking medication, but not as directed. To heed means to sincerely pray for help, carefully read scriptures to find answers, and to quietly listen for promptings. My lack of patience often causes me to look for quick answers and immediate deliverance, so my mind ruminates for solutions that are usually based on my own human logic and this entirely misses the point of seeking heavenly guidance. It is like taking a pill for instant relief, but being short-sighted about the long-term outcome.  

Another way that I don’t heed is when I get a prompting, but then I hesitate to follow it because I am unsure how things will turn out.  I need to remember to be like Nephi and allow myself to be ‘led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.’ (1 Nephi 4:6)  My Son, Stephen summed up this this point to me well when he said:

“As we seek revelation or blessings from God, he rarely delivers us to our destination quickly. We are often shown a part of the path that we should take. That is why we have impressions to do things, but it doesn’t always work out in the way we expect.  (like when Nephi and his brothers went to get the plates from Laban) We need to let God prevail and have a hippie-mentality and ‘go with the flow.’ We need to recognize our blessings and not get caught up with what we think should be happening at the time table we desire. Remember, God teaches us through the process of events rather than only at the arrival of our destination.”

This morning in bed, I thought of the mission and all the changes that are taking place. I wondered with anxiety how I should proceed to be effective in dealing with our many dilemmas. I offered a quick prayer in my heart and as I did there was a clear voice in my head that said, “I will be your light in the wilderness; and I will prepare the way before you… and ye shall know that it is by me that ye are led (1 Nephi 17:13). I instantly felt loved by God and peace even though I didn’t get any details or solutions. Just knowing that I will be directed was enough.  Later in the morning as I thought of this experience,  I realized that these very scriptures were the ones I had studied earlier this week, but hadn’t taken any specific notice of at the time.  This is just another example of how heeding helps us receive revelation that is needed at the appropriate time.

Another scripture that sums things up well:

2 Nephi 28:30. “For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have”