I been a member of the church for many years, though I was recently disfellowshipped. My question is: what is the difference between hearing my own internal voice, my conscience, and hearing the whispers of the Holy Ghost? How can I differentiate between the two? I hope you can help me. Thanks.
2 Responses to “What’s the difference between our internal conscience and the Holy Ghost?”
Luciano Prado
2012-09-23 20:51:19
Hi friend. I'm happy you posted your question here. I hope you're doing all you can to recover spiritually from the troubles you've had. I'm certain that God loves you and wants you to have spiritual peace; through the gospel of Jesus Christ, we can all be forgiven of our sins.
Often times, it's not necessary to distinguish between our own internal voice and the whisperings of the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost can communicate with us through our internal conscience. Your question is like asking, "How can I distinguish between what my friend is saying and my friend's voice?" In reality, the friend's communication is possible only through his voice. If your internal voice is telling you to do something that is righteous, God is trying to inspire you. If your internal voice is telling you to do something selfish or destructive, that message is not coming from God.
There are situations, though, when it is difficult to distinguish between our own internal voice and the Holy Ghost. For example, perhaps we want guidance in our life, but it is not obvious what the right or selfish course would be. Or perhaps we are trying to decide not between a righteous and a wicked choice, but between a choice that is good and one that is better.
In these more complex cases, we should follow the advice God gave to Cowdery: "You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right" (D&C 9:8).
The key, then, is to not expect an answer all at once. We shouldn't try to rush God. Rather, we should study our question out carefully in our mind. Once we've considered all the possibilities, then we should go to God in prayer to try to discover His will.
Joseph Smith clarified what this "burning in the bosom" is like. Sometimes it is a feeling similar to an emotion, though not necessarily identical to the kinds of emotions we feel in every-day life. At other times, communication with God is like a "quickening of the intellect." In time, with righteous living and personal effort, it becomes easier to distinguish between our own thoughts and the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.
I hope this answer helps! Please let me know if there's anything more I can do to help. Best of luck to you.
Sister Janet
2012-10-14 14:37:23
There is a fabulous book called "Hearing the Voice of the Lord" by Gerald N. Lund which really helps you to distinguish between the promptings of the Holy Spirit and your own inner voice. Sometimes these are in alignment, other times not. I thoroughly recommend reading it, it's a big help.
Often times, it's not necessary to distinguish between our own internal voice and the whisperings of the Holy Ghost because the Holy Ghost can communicate with us through our internal conscience. Your question is like asking, "How can I distinguish between what my friend is saying and my friend's voice?" In reality, the friend's communication is possible only through his voice. If your internal voice is telling you to do something that is righteous, God is trying to inspire you. If your internal voice is telling you to do something selfish or destructive, that message is not coming from God.
There are situations, though, when it is difficult to distinguish between our own internal voice and the Holy Ghost. For example, perhaps we want guidance in our life, but it is not obvious what the right or selfish course would be. Or perhaps we are trying to decide not between a righteous and a wicked choice, but between a choice that is good and one that is better.
In these more complex cases, we should follow the advice God gave to Cowdery: "You must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right" (D&C 9:8).
The key, then, is to not expect an answer all at once. We shouldn't try to rush God. Rather, we should study our question out carefully in our mind. Once we've considered all the possibilities, then we should go to God in prayer to try to discover His will.
Joseph Smith clarified what this "burning in the bosom" is like. Sometimes it is a feeling similar to an emotion, though not necessarily identical to the kinds of emotions we feel in every-day life. At other times, communication with God is like a "quickening of the intellect." In time, with righteous living and personal effort, it becomes easier to distinguish between our own thoughts and the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.
I hope this answer helps! Please let me know if there's anything more I can do to help. Best of luck to you.