"...by small and simple things are great thing brought to pass..." Alma 37:6

There is a very interesting story in, the Old Testament about the people of Israel. They had just destroyed the people of Canaan and now "called the name of their place Hormah" (Numbers 21:3). Hormah means destruction. After they had done this they had to journey from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to encircle the land of Edom: and the soul of the people were really discouraged because of the direction and challenge of the way they had to go (see Numbers 21:4). So what did they do? They started to complain against God and against Moses saying why did you bring us out of Egypt? So we could die in the wilderness? We don't have any bread, and there is no water, and "our soul loath this light bread" (Numbers 21:5).

The Lord didn't like this, so He sent "fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people; and much of the people of Israel died" (Numbers 21:6). This did cause the people to come to Moses  and say, "We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord, and against thee;" They ask Moses to pray unto the Lord, that the serpents would be taken away. Moses does pray unto the Lord for them. (Numbers 21:8)

Now, the rest of the story picks up in 1 Nephi 17:41. The people had obviously let their hearts go hard and had turned away from the Lord if the Lord had to send "fiery flying serpents".  But the thing I want to focus on is the fact that the Lord did "prepare a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look" (1 Nephi 17:41). It was a very simple thing they had to do. Moses was commanded to make a "fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole; and it shall come to that that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it shall live" (Numbers 21:8 ). All they had to do was look at the fiery serpent that was upon the staff that Moses held and they would be healed from the serpents bite. But sadly, because it was so simple, some of the people did perish because they wouldn't look~ they wanted it to be more complicated.

As I ponder this story and how it applies to me I think that sometimes I too, perhaps, want things to be more complicated, or even complicate things myself. Heavenly Father has given us a very simple tool to communicate with Him, yes, prayer is a way to communicate with Him, more for what I want and my needs. But sometimes it is so difficult to understand His answers and how to get answers. So, I complicate things by talking with friends or going to other sources rather than the Direct Source. One of the easiest ways I have come to hear His voice is very simple. It is through reading the scriptures daily. It is that simple. The scriptures are His voice. In D&C 18:33-36 it reads:

 "And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it. These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man; 

For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them; 

Wherefore you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words."

How simple is that to hear His voice, read the scriptures? I know it sounds way too easy. But it really is that simple. He is trying to communicate with us and wants us to learn His language. I think this is the language of the Spirit. I have found that the only way to learn a new language is to study it, to read it, to hear it. How else are you going to learn the language of the Spirit, the word of the Lord, if you aren't reading it daily? It has to become a part of your vocabulary in order to understand what He is trying to tell you. 

I think we all have different ways of "feeling" the Spirit, just as we all have different ways of expressing love or wanting to feel loved. Part of learning for ourselves how the Lord is communicating with us is knowing how He communicates with us. Is it through your thoughts, your feelings, a voice, some may have dreams or visions. The one things that is clearly stated in the scriptures is that we can read them "by [His] power." Some people don't believe they have any power or try to read them on their own power, and you know what? They will feel nothing and know nothing as well. It comes back to "intent". What do you intend to do once you have your answer? What if you don't like your answer? What if you are asked to change your life style? Do you intend to do it? I promise you, if you "ask with a sincere heart, with real intent (meaning you intend to do as you are commanded when you get your answer), having faith in Christ," (Moroni 10:4) you will know and come to know for yourself, in a way that you will recognize, the voice of the Lord through the study of the scriptures and by the power of the Holy Ghost. 

The way is simple~ it will change your life a little at a time as you read the scriptures every day. And "...by small and simple things are great things brought to pass" (Alma 37:6). This I testify will make small changes in great ways and you will come to know His voice.