Unspeakable

Some experiences are beyond the power of words to describe.

In Paul’s second epistle to church members in Corinth, he describes a remarkable vision, in which he was “caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4). This use of the word “unspeakable” indicates that he could have passed along the words, but he had been forbidden to do so, like the people on the American continent, who “saw and heard unspeakable things, which are not lawful to be written” (3 Nephi 26:18; see also v. 16).

Mormon had written many of the things which Jesus taught these people, but he reached a point where he was told to stop. “I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people” (3 Nephi 26:11). Clearly these additional words were writable, since they were on the plates of Nephi. But God didn’t want us to have those words yet, because we aren’t ready to receive them. We need to master the 100-level words Mormon gave us before we are ready to receive the 200- and 300-level words that he was commanded to withhold. (See 3 Nephi 26:8-10.)

But there’s more to the story than this. Shortly afterward, the twelve disciples “were caught up into heaven,” just like Paul, and they “saw and heard unspeakable things.” Mormon adds, “It was forbidden them that they should utter; neither was it given unto them power that they could utter the things which they saw and heard” (3 Nephi 28:13-14).

This seems like a different level of unspeakableness. Not only were they forbidden to share what they had learned, but they were actually unable to do so.

This calls to mind their experience on the second day of the Savior’s visit. Before His arrival, these twelve disciples had shared with the gathered multitude the words which Jesus had taught them the previous day, “nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken” (3 Nephi 19:8). No trouble replicating His words on that occasion! But shortly after His arrival, they heard Him speak words which “cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man” (3 Nephi 19:34). They understood the words in their hearts, but they were unable to replicate them.

Perhaps this is what the apostle Paul meant when he wrote, “Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15). Some things can be understood but are beyond our ability to express. Elder Neal A. Maxwell described the experience this way:

In our deepest prayers, when the agency of man encounters the omniscience of God, we sometimes sense, if only momentarily, how very provincial our petitions are; we perceive that there are more good answers than we have good questions; and we realize that we have been taught more than we can tell, for the language used is not that which the tongue can transmit.

“Patience,” Brigham Young University Devotional Address, 27 November 1979

As Joseph Smith sat in Liberty Jail, God promised to give him “knowledge by his Holy Spirit, yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost” (Doctrine and Covenants 121:26). The gift is unspeakable because it is indescribably amazing. But “unspeakable” may also describe the nature of this gift: it gives us access to knowledge, perspective, and insight which we can’t convey to other people. They have to find it for themselves.

President Russell M. Nelson taught, “The temple endowment was given by revelation. Thus, it is best understood by revelation, vigorously sought with a pure heart” (“Prepare for the Blessings of the Temple,” General Conference, October 2010). We may learn things in the temple which we are not permitted to share with other people, because we need to hold them sacred. We may also learn things in the temple which we are unable to share with other people, because we have no words to describe the experience.

Today, I will be grateful for the unspeakable gifts I have received from God, including indescribable experiences which have brought me closer to Him. I won’t try to share everything I know, recognizing that there are some things each of us must learn on our own, through direct experience with God.