Lost Voice - Part III

After I was done beating myself up (see Lost Voice - Part II) and paying attention to the Spirit again, I was tutored further. This time, instances of my interactions with others while my voice was lost were recalled. I was shown a perspective, as if viewing what it was like for the Lord to communicate to us but with me as Him during the conversations. Don't misunderstand my role in this, my experience was simply to give me perspective on the voice of the Lord, and His viewpoint when interacting with us. 

My voice was so faint and quiet, it took a great deal of patience and concentration on the part of the hearer to understand me. Once, a friend and I were next to a small group of people who were speaking in normal tones. He had such difficulty hearing me that he invited me across the room, away from the others, so we could speak. 

Another time I was sitting in a large room filled with lively conversation and good cheer. A friend wanted to speak with me and specifically, had some questions he wanted to ask. He invited me to go on a walk along the road, away from the noise, so that he could hear my answers. We walked in peace and quiet in the remote mountains, surrounded by soaring white capped peaks which embraced us on either side. Occasionally, a car would drive by and I had to stop talking until it passed, so quiet was my voice against that noise. We conversed for the duration of the walk, and abode for a bit longer upon eventide on our return. 

I tried to address a small group one morning, and it took complete concentration on their part to hear my voice. Sometimes, one of them was distracted and would miss what I had said and ask me to repeat myself. 

One evening I wanted to say something to a large group, so I wrote my comments on a piece of paper and asked a friend to read it for me and be my voice. 

Occasionally I was in a van with a group as we traveled, and with the noise of the engine and tires on the road it was not possible for me to be heard. I could have summoned the ability to shout danger should an emergency have arisen, but otherwise because of the circumstances and environment I held my peace. 

One morning I hiked in the snow next to a new friend. Our snowshoes crunched by frigid, babbling streams while canopied by soaring, snow covered trees as we ascended. At the beginning of the hike I asked him to speak to me while I just listened, and he asked what I wanted him to speak about. I said, "You. I want to hear everything about you." For the next ninety minutes he shared personal treasures with me and his thoughts, feelings, and stories, and my soul was made glad. I was delighted to listen to him as he shared his heart with me.

LDS 3 Nephi 11:3-5