“Speak, Lord”

Samuel’s name in Hebrew (Shemuel: שְׁמוּאֵל) means “heard of God.” His mother says that she gave him that name because she asked God for a son (1 Samuel 1:20). God hearing her may have been the original inspiration for the name, but an early experience in his life was about the inverse: learning to listen to God.

Samuel was living and serving in “the temple of the Lord” at Shiloh, under the guidance of Eli the priest (1 Samuel 1:24-28; 2:11, 18, 26). One night after going to bed, Samuel heard a voice calling his name. Thinking it was Eli, he ran to the priest, saying, “Here am I.” Eli sent him back to bed, telling him that he had not called. The same thing happened two more times. On the third iteration, Eli recognized that God was calling Samuel. He instructed the boy to go back to bed, and if he heard his name again, respond, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth.” Samuel did so, and the Lord spoke to him (1 Samuel 3).

The Book of Mormon contains two similar stories, in which groups of people heard God’s voice multiple times and only responded appropriately the final time.

1. When a group of Lamanites entered a prison intending to kill Nephi and Lehi, they were shocked to find the two missionaries encircled by fire. As Nephi and Lehi tried to speak to them, they were immobilized with fear and surrounded by darkness. Three times, they heard God’s voice. Subsequently, a man named Aminadab instructed them to cry to the voice, and when they did, the cloud of darkness was dispersed (Helaman 5:22-42).
2. A group of Nephites who had gathered at the temple in Bountiful heard a voice three times. The first two times, they didn’t understand it. But the third time, they opened their ears and looked upward, toward the source of the sound. This time, they understood (3 Nephi 11:1-7).

Taken together, these stories teach several lessons. First, God is patient and persistent in communicating with His children. When they don’t understand or respond the first time, He will send the message again. Second, communication is a two-way street. God delivers messages to us, but we have to intentionally look up and open our ears. Third, sometimes other people give us guidance which helps us respond appropriately to God, as Eli did for Samuel and Aminadab did for the Lamanites.

The Book of Mormon helps us understand Samuel’s experience by providing two variations of the same phenomenon. The commonalities among these three stories provide useful insights about receiving personal revelation.

Today, I will listen more carefully for messages from God. When I receive promptings which I don’t understand, I will pay close attention and ask for help from others if needed. Above all, I will trust that God will not give up on me as long as I am trying to listen to Him.