It seems we are putting a large emphasis on the diverse ways that God speaks to people – if finding your own way. I think we should shift the emphasis to Christ’s scriptures, as He is the way. His messengers, ancient and modern, deliver His words, and by hearing them we hear Him.
It seems we are painting a picture of a God who is very different for each person, or that his character changes, or is inherently mysterious. Are we promoting moral relativism? That your truth may be different from my truth? That ‘God may say that to you, but He does not say that to me!’?
What do the scriptures say about this? For one, they say that Jesus Christ IS the truth.
Next, they say that the Holy Ghost will remind you of truth. But how do you get that truth to be reminded of it? Through God’s servants. Scripture says that by His mouth or the mouth of His servants, it is the same. If we aren’t well versed in what God has already said, the principles He has already set forth, can He take our inquiries seriously, and give us added light we seek? A notable point in the Joseph Smith story is that before his answer from God came, he was constantly pouring over the Bible, all of God’s word available to him at that time.
How do we hear someone? By listening to the words they say. What words is God saying? Listen to His servants. Study and even master their words as the framework for religious thought.
If we come up with ideas which are contrary to the prophets, we are clearly not hearing God, but someone else, perhaps a mixture of our own ideas, and those of the world.
You can search high and low, climb the highest mountains, sit with the greatest yogis, but if you won’t do the work to learn what the prophets are saying, you may get a very different message than God’s message.
The scripture says that the Lord will speak to you in your mind and in your heart, but what message will He convey to you by these mediums? The messages He has always been saying through His prophets.
Hugh Nibley points out that there isn’t much point in praying for an angel to come speak to you, because when angels show up, they usually just quote scripture. So search the scriptures.
Another point that comes up is that we can hear God in any place and setting, such as the man who gets a revelation from God while working out at the gym and listening to rock music. It is true that God can reach out to anyone at any time, as evidenced by God’s appearance to Saul. But what else do scriptures say of this? That God doesn’t dwell in inclean temples. What have the prophets emphasized? For one they have said that rock music is evil, but beside that, they have described reverence and humility as key elements of prayer, and any communication with God should rightly be called prayer. This is why many have described the frequency for prayer to be 24/7, all the time. We should live such a life that it is more likely that God will speak to us at any time, and give us the greater knowledge He wants to share. God might shout a warning to you even in dire circumstances, but will He, in these same circumstances, teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom? It is less likely, to be sure. God is less mysterious than many suppose, His appearances and his messages are not delivered at random, nor do they come equally at all places and circumstances.
We often think of being taught by the Savior, or hearing the promptings of the Holy Ghost. We ought not overly emphasize the differences between the Father Son and Holy Ghost. It may be correct to say that we pray to the Father in the name of the Son and are answered by the Holy Ghost, but the more important truth is that they are one, and to receive direction from any one of them can simply by put as receiving direction from God. These three work together it is true, but scripture emphasizes time and again that these three are God, and that the message of one is the same of the other. Some also emphasize forming a relationship with the Savior, but, as Elder McConkie pointed out years ago, it would be more proper to speak of this as forming a relationship with God in general, or, if one had to be singled out, God the Father, to whom we pray.
Now let me say in closing – how do you know if someone is right? The answer – if they agree with the scriptures. That’s how you know.
