Here’s another passage I discovered while still in my teens. It’s been an important part of my spiritual foundation ever since.
And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy; and then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive. (Doctrine and Covenants 11:12–14; compare Micah 6:8; emphasis added.)
These simple, straightforward verses have resonated with me since I first read them at age 18. They’re also a practical measure that inspire a few questions in me.
- Are you putting your trust in the Spirit that leads you to do good or in that spirit that leads you to do wrong or bad?
- Are you trusting in the Lord or in man and and reason—”the arm of flesh” (see 2 Nephi 4:34)?
- Is it okay with you to not be right? Are you humble?
- Do you set aside judgments and harsh opinions in favor of understanding others and listening to them?
If you do these things, you’ll be led by the Spirit. You will be joyful and enlightened and, if you truly believe, your righteous prayers will be granted.
When Nephi broke his his steel bow (see 1 Nephi 16), he didn’t slip into murmur mode, as his brothers and even father did. He went out and made himself a new bow and arrow and asked his father for directions to the nearest hunting hot spot (see v. 23). He clung to “that Spirit which leadeth to do good.”
With his “can do” attitude, he humbled his father and older brothers. He had a successful hunt. He had a successful life!
He wrote a successful book (the small plates of Nephi) that was included in a larger work, the Book of Mormon. He left behind an unforgettable name and example. All this because he “put [his] trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good.”
