The Lord opens the Doctrine and Covenants with the word “hearken” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:1). Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary makes clear that this word involves more than casual listening. Instead, it means, “to attend to what is uttered, with eagerness or curiosity,” “to give heed to what is uttered,” and even “to observe or obey.”
The word “hearken” appears 100 times in the Book of Mormon. Nephi laments that his brothers are unwilling to hearken to the word of God. (See 1 Nephi 7:9, 1 Nephi 16:3.) King Benjamin begins his sermon by urging his people to hearken to him, opening their ears, hearts and minds. (See Mosiah 2:9.) Alma pleads with the people of Zarahemla to hearken to the voice of the Good Shepherd. (See Alma 5:37-41, 60.) Mormon ends his account of the post-mortal ministry of Jesus by inviting his readers to “hearken…and hear the words of Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God” (3 Nephi 30:1).
You hearken when words are being spoken to you. Instead of ignoring those words or treating them lightly, you take them seriously. You listen respectfully and with the intention to act upon what you hear.
The Lord ends His preface to the Doctrine and Covenants with another invitation: “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:37). To search something requires more than attentive listening; it requires proactive effort. When Lehi received the brass plates, “he did search them from the beginning” (1 Nephi 5:10). His son Jacob reported, “We search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy” (Jacob 4:6). And after quoting from the book of Isaiah, Jesus Christ said, “Ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently” (3 Nephi 23:1).
Good disciples are good listeners and good seekers. They are receptive to instructions given by God, and they actively seek further understanding.
Today, I will be receptive to guidance from God and proactive in seeking additional guidance. I will hearken and search.
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