The first event in the Book of Mormon is a vision. Nephi tells us that his father “went forth,” presumably alone and presumably outside of the city. After praying for his people “with all his heart,” he had a remarkable experience: A pillar of fire appeared above a rock in front of him, and he saw and heard things which caused him to “quake and tremble exceedingly” (1 Nephi 1:5-6).
That could have been the end of Lehi’s miraculous experience, but there was more. Arriving home and laying exhausted on his bed, “overcome with the Spirit,” he saw another vision. The Savior descended from heaven and gave him a book. As he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and his soul rejoiced. (See 1 Nephi 1:7-15.)
Was the second half of that vision inevitable? Perhaps it was, but I think Lehi’s continued receptiveness opened the door for the additional revelation which came after he returned home.
Elder Richard G. Scott once experienced an outpouring of spiritual impressions during a Sunday School class. The thoughts and feelings came so quickly and were so profound that he found a more private place to write them down. Later, in prayer, he reviewed what he had learned and felt a peaceful confirmation that it was true. He asked if there was more he should know, and impressions again flooded his mind. After writing them down, he felt impressed to ask again, “Is there more I should know?” “And there was,” he said. “When that last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most precious, specific, personal direction one could hope to obtain in this life” (“To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” General Conference, October 2009).
Sister Neill F. Marriott has taught that we can follow a similar pattern:
During the sacrament, which I call the heart of the Sabbath, I have found that after I pray for forgiveness of sins, it is instructive for me to ask Heavenly Father, “Father, is there more?” When we are yielded and still, our minds can be directed to something more we may need to change—something that is limiting our capacity to receive spiritual guidance or even healing and help.
“Yielding Our Hearts to God,” General Conference, October 2015
Today, I will be careful not to cut short my communion with God. Before I end my prayers, I will ask, “Is there more? More that I should say? More that I should know? More that I should do?”
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