Words Unspeakable

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Have you ever considered the thousands of electrical and biochemical transactions needed to produce a single spoken word? It is difficult, if not impossible, to measure the energy required.  Also, physiologists tell us that as many as seventy muscles are involved in the production of a word.  Our brain and our muscles work, more or less, in tandem in a miraculous partnership to give us speech.  Once uttered, words can have a tremendous impact.   Words have the power to heal or to hurt, to start a war or to end a war, and to begin or end a relationship. They also have the capacity to inspire or depress, and to create beauty or ugliness. Such is the power of the spoken or written word.

However, there are certain words from certain sacred sources that come in the form of instruction, inspiration, and revelation that are attended by firm restrictions for the hearer.  Indeed, some communication from divine sources can be so sacred the hearer is asked not to speak them or write them.  The record of God’s communications with mankind shows many such instances of restricted communication.

These restricted communications appear to fall into certain categories.  The Holy Scriptures provide a few examples of these sacred experiences which, in some cases, we are asked to keep to ourselves. The reason for maintaining the confidence may be apparent, or entirely obscure.  It may be a test of our trustworthiness or our preparedness for other sanctifying communications or experiences.  Of the many we could identify, here are just a few.  Divine confidential communications may be given:

(1) for our personal edification and enlightenment, (see Luke 9:18-21)

(2) as a revelation which guides and points the way,(see Daniel 12:9)

(3) to forewarn us of pending danger, (see Matthew 2:12)

(4) that pertain to a vision, a miracle, or special event meant only for us or those present (see Luke 5:14, or Luke 8:49-56), or

(5) to provide sacred information about covenants and ordinances about our salvation . (see 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; or perhaps Luke 9:9)

While these are not everyday happenings, some similar communications can occur in our own life-moments that will inspire us, lift our soul to another plane, and leave us with . . .  Words Unspeakable.

Words Unspeakable

2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.  3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;)  4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

2 Corinthians 12:2-4

There are words unlawful to write or be spoken

Unless the Spirit gives voice, or guides the hand

These are holy words written or spoken as a token

Of God’s power when He reveals them to man

For the Spirit will oft whisper sacred things

That cannot be repeated when felt and heard

Words full of light borne on sanctified wings

Infusing the soul with the power of God’s word

Has the Spirit ever whispered truth and light

Such that you felt overjoyed and yet restrained

By the Holy Spirit and His power and might

That your voice was muted and constrained

For there are words unlawful to speak or write

Heavenly homilies only for your heart and ear

That enlighten the mind and sharpen the sight

And testify to the soul that God is very near

May you esteem the inspiration God has revealed

Sacred soliloquies spoken to your mind and heart

And keep them personal, sanctified, and concealed

Earning His trust for other things He will impart

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Pray On

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

With text written in 1818 by James Montgomery, and with music arising from the American campground movement, one of our great hymns proclaims that Prayer Is the Soul’s Sincere Desire.  Two lines from the original text assure us that prayer is for both saint and sinner.

Prayer is the Christian’s vital breath,
The Christian’s native air,
His watchword at the gates of death;
He enters Heav’n with prayer.

Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice,
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, “Behold, he prays!”

(http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/p/r/prayeris.htm)

Our communion with God through prayer keeps us connected not only with heaven above, but with things of the Spirit here below. Through prayer we tap into other-worldly power that emanates from Our Father in Heaven.  Hence, we pray to our Father, in the name of His Son, and do so by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, in a sense, prayer is always a group process involving ourselves, and one which invokes and requests the attention of Higher Beings whose purpose it is to teach us, bless us, and empower us.

We seem to live in a world that increasingly denies the power of prayer and often seeks to disconnect such activity from governments which, in many cases, were founded upon Godly principles, including prayer.  It is no wonder then that with a lessening of divine petitions, we are increasingly left to our own, often inadequate, devices.

Prayer is not a hard skill to master.  The Master, Himself, showed the way.  Yet prayer does invoke certain internal tasks that taxes our character, at least in basic terms – humility, willing and consistent obedience to divine law, patience, a desire for the welfare of others, repentance, faith, and love of God to name just a few.  Ironically, these very traits which come as we sacrifice our natural selves on God’s altar, are, themselves, enhanced and enlarged by the prayerful process.

While we will not feel perfected in these attributes in the near term, with prayer as our sincere desire and our daily avocation, we, someday, will, having done all within our power to become like our Father, become worthy enough to be called up on high and perfected enough to dwell with Him.

Our meditational verse explores one other aspect of prayer – that of persistence.  Heartfelt, persistent prayer is often required, because of or despite one’s past or current challenges.   Many religious dogmas encourage prayer several times a day.  In one sense of the concept, it is appropriate to consider living our life as a continual prayer unto God.  It is in that sense that we invoke a scene from an ancient American text where we are reminded to persistently…Pray On!

Pray On

And it came to pass that when Jesus had thus prayed unto the Father, he came unto his disciples, and behold, they did still continue, without ceasing, to pray unto him; and they did not multiply many words, for it was given unto them what they should pray, and they were filled with desire...  And Jesus said unto them: Pray on….

Book of Mormon 3 Nephi 19:24-26

And when Jesus had prayed with great power

He came to His disciples who prayed unto Him

They pleaded sincerely, never minding the hour

And the words they voiced were given unto them

Jesus blest them as they prayed with their might

Upon them His glory and countenance did smile

And enveloped by His light, radiant and bright

They basked in His glory for yet a little while

Then, Jesus witnessing their resolve as they prayed

And rejoicing in the change they had undergone

And seeing them in light and glory all arrayed

Said, with love and compassion, “Pray on!”

While our devotions are not like those of that place

When to our knees in humble prayer we are drawn

And we too implore Heaven’s benevolence and grace

The ancient echo still whispers in our hearts, “Pray on!”

Larry Doyle Crenshaw