9 And these are the words which he spake and caused to be written, saying: My brethren, all ye that have assembled yourselves together, you that can hear my words which I shall speak unto you this day; for I have not commanded you to come up hither to trifle with the words which I shall speak, but that you should hearken unto me, and open your ears that ye may hear, and your hearts that ye may understand, and your minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to your view.
No matter how skilled or eloquent a speaker, a teacher, or an author may be he or she simply can’t do all the work. The reader, the listener, the student must do the work of receiving and understanding the message. The most accurate baseball pitcher in the world can’t make the ball stick in the catcher’s mitt. The ball will land in the ground every time unless the catcher reaches out and grabs it.
Elder Bednar teaches this principle by emphasizing that the Holy Ghost can carry a message “unto” our hearts but not “into” our hearts (see
2 Nephi 33:1). In his words:
A teacher can explain, demonstrate, persuade, and testify, and do so with great spiritual power and effectiveness. Ultimately, however, the content of a message and the witness of the Holy Ghost penetrate into the heart only if a receiver allows them to enter. (“Seek Learning by Faith,” Ensign, September 2007)
Maybe that’s why the Savior repeatedly said, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear”. The greatest words ever spoken–the gospel as taught by the Son of God–can only take root in our lives if we are willing to make the choice and put forth the effort to receive them.
Today, I will be an active listener and learner. I will recognize that I must do my part for true communication to take place. I will open my ears to hear, I will open my heart to understand, and I will open my mind so that Heavenly Father can show me new concepts and principles that I don’t yet understand.
Also, as I teach others, I will follow the example of Benjamin in asking them to do their part. I will teach as effectively as I can, and I will encourage my students to exercise their agency to receive the message, so that we can both be “edified and rejoice together” (
D&C 50:22).
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