Lost Voice

I recently, for the first time in my life, lost my voice. I was only able to whisper or speak quietly for a brief period. Economy of words became critical. I was gathered in an informal setting with a group of like-minded men, most of whom I was meeting for the first time. I was excited to get to know them, but losing my voice greatly hindered that and proved a real disappointment many times when I had something to say.

The Lord saw fit for me to spend the majority of the time in silence. While frustrating, it proved a blessing and the Spirit taught me many lessons. I desire to share one of them.

Speech and words are how we shape the world around us, including the people we interact with. Our words impact and mold the people who hear us and lives are changed. In the first lecture on faith, v. 22, it says that "God spoke, chaos heard, and worlds came into order ... so with man also- He spake by faith in the name of God, and the sun stood still, the moon obeyed, mountains removed, prisons fell, lion's mouths were closed, the human heart lost its enmity, fire its violence, armies their power, the sword its terror, and death its dominion." 

The Egyptians originally used the word Heka to describe divine power, as held by the gods and sometimes given to man to assist in maintaining the cosmic order. Interestingly, the hieroglyph for this word is two arms raised to the square. Hu is "authoritative utterance," or, using the correct words according to the will of God. When Hu is given to man he becomes, literally translated, "true-of-voice" often translated as "vindicated," as in, God will vindicate the words of that man. 

When Nephi was given the sealing power he was told by God, "all things shall be done according to thy word ... if ye shall say unto this temple be rent in twain, it shall be done. And if ye shall say unto this mountain, be thou cast down and become smooth it shall be done. If ye shall say that God shall smite this people, it shall come to pass" (see LDS Helaman 10). Moroni tells us that the brother of Jared said unto the mountain Zerin "remove" and it was removed (see LDS Ether 12 for many more examples). 

As a people, we must understand that "when a man works by faith he works by mental exertion instead of physical force: it is by words instead of exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith - God said let there be light, and there was light- Joshua spake and the great light God had created stood still- Elijah commanded and the heavens were stayed for the space of three years and six months so that it did not rain- all this was done by faith and the Savior says if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, say to this mountain remove and it will remove or say to that sycamore tree Be ye plucked up and planted in the midst of the sea and it shall obey you. Faith then works by words and with these its mightiest works have been and will be performed" (Lectures on Faith, Lecture 7:3). 

We need to have this language and these words. Words, the Word, is how God became creator of heaven and earth and all things that in them are. With our words, we can create a precious people around us, by how we speak to each other, what we say, how we share our hearts in words.  

At the end of this weekend of silence, on my drive home, the Lord conversed with me for the duration of the journey and everything He said made me feel precious to Him. Even when He admonished me His love was so great, His intent so pure, I could only rejoice in gratitude. It was impossible to take offense. When course correcting me He spoke kindly; He never demeaned, derided, mocked, ridiculed, or belittled me. There were no sarcastic, passive aggressive jabs. He spoke plainly to my understanding. His voice was charity and my heart burned within me. He only spoke the truth, and rooted His words in the scriptures. 

By how He spoke to me, I felt like the most precious creation ever made by His hands. Yet I know this is His love for all mankind (see T&C 161). 

With our words, we can make (create) precious people. 

There are many lessons to learn from His example.