Language of the Spirit

[Liberty Bell]

I have a few ideas about how we speak and learn through the language of the Spirit. Just wanted to share.

What if, in reality, every single one of us speaks a different language? Though we may share the basic structure of language, like English vocabulary, grammar, etc., we still understand things differently because of the different experiences we've had in our lives. So if we are depending entirely upon physical means to communicate, we will never be able to help another person truly understand what we are saying.

What if, the language that the Spirit speaks to us is one that everyone can understand? What if this language relies on experience rather than on semantics to communicate? So instead of communicating the words, it would instead teach us by helping us experience the thing it wants to communicate.

So communication would consist of Experience + Memory. The Spirit calls to mind things that we have experienced.

What do you guys think?

[Amonhi]

I have a few ideas about how we speak and learn through the language of the Spirit. Just wanted to share.

What if, in reality, every single one of us speaks a different language? Though we may share the basic structure of language, like English vocabulary, grammar, etc., we still understand things differently because of the different experiences we've had in our lives. So if we are depending entirely upon physical means to communicate, we will never be able to help another person truly understand what we are saying.

What if, the language that the Spirit speaks to us is one that everyone can understand? What if this language relies on experience rather than on semantics to communicate? So instead of communicating the words, it would instead teach us by helping us experience the thing it wants to communicate.

So communication would consist of Experience + Memory. The Spirit calls to mind things that we have experienced.

What do you guys think?

I think that the spirit speaks in symbols which are unique to our experience. Anyone who can master the art of symbolism can rule the world. It is, as far as I know, the most powerful language.

[Liberty Bell]

I think that's what I was struggling to say. This is a new idea I'm trying to understand.

I'm trying to figure out how best to use the language of the Spirit to understand the scriptures and communicate truth to others.

[Henmasher]

I believe the Adamic language is the most pure. You are trying to understand purity through a fogged language. I believe that God actually speaks words and that lanuage is perfect giving perfect understanding. I cant imagine God speaking literal symbols but I can see him speaking as with perfectness to my understanding.

[Rand]

I would need to hear more of what you mean, Amonhi, about the spirit speaking in symbolisms.

I think it speaks to each of us a little differently, but to our perfect understanding that far exceeds the number of words used.

I think this account in Acts is typical of the spirits gifts as it spoke to each man in his own tongue. 2:7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilæans?

8 And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?

[SpeedRacer]

I have a few ideas about how we speak and learn through the language of the Spirit. Just wanted to share.

What if, in reality, every single one of us speaks a different language? Though we may share the basic structure of language, like English vocabulary, grammar, etc., we still understand things differently because of the different experiences we've had in our lives. So if we are depending entirely upon physical means to communicate, we will never be able to help another person truly understand what we are saying.

What if, the language that the Spirit speaks to us is one that everyone can understand? What if this language relies on experience rather than on semantics to communicate? So instead of communicating the words, it would instead teach us by helping us experience the thing it wants to communicate.

So communication would consist of Experience + Memory. The Spirit calls to mind things that we have experienced.

What do you guys think?

From personal experience, the spirit speaks in different ways. Most of the time you literally have to be listening. This means to find peace in life through the scriptures, and righteous living. Then literally listen to the still small feelings and impressions that come. Occasionally these are more forceful. It is when we act on it, that I think I can see what you are saying. You will be impacted as you yield to the enticings, upgraded, and be prepared for more.

When being taught, generally while studying, pondering, or other types of learning, including temple attendance, flashes of insight come. These are generally more rare.

Your comment is a normal thought. We all want to feel unique and different. We are all individuals, we are all special, and we all are unique. But there are people who experience things so close to what we experience, our uniqueness is really only a light shade different that many others. I encourage you to accept that you are a child of Heavenly Father, he loves you completely, but do not struggle to be unique. You are. Struggle constantly to be one with him, and the peace will come that accompanies the spirit, and you will eventually be able to take him as your constant companion.

[Liberty Bell]

Thanks Speedracer, I think you may have missed the point of what I was saying, though. Let me try again.

If you try speaking English to a Spanish speaker, they aren't going to understand, right? That's because to you, green is green, but to them green is verde. But it's still green. The language is just a label. So if you point at the color, both the English speaker and the Spanish speaker can understand what you mean.

On the other hand, even people who speak the same language have trouble understanding each other sometimes because they have experienced things differently. To some, hearing the words, I love you, might really mean I love you. To someone else it might mean, I want something from you. Do you get what I'm saying?

So what I'm thinking is that the Spirit speaks to our individual understanding based on our individual experiences. So to one person, the Spirit might whisper "I love you" to get them to understand and to another person He might whisper "You're acceptable the way you are", and yet be teaching the same principle to both people.

That's what I was meaning by the language of the Spirit.

Symbols are important, too. Scripture is written in symbols and the world is full of symbols. If we can understand the symbols, we can understand the truth of God.

So how do you put the two together? Symbols and experience? I guess you could only do so with the help of the Spirit because you can't fully understand the symbols someone else is trying to convey without understanding them and you can't fully convey the symbols without them understanding you.

Henmasher, maybe God uses symbols because of our imperfect languages. I would love to hear pure language like what Adam spoke. It's supposed to be spoken during the millennium.

[Original_Intent]

My experience is that what is unique about the language of the spirit is that not only are words (or thoughts) conveyed, but also INTENT.

It is not symbology as I understand it, but it is a complete lack of a possibility of misunderstanding, as you understand the heart and mind of the person who is speaking, therefore there is no room for misunderstanding as you receive the words combined with the heart and mind of the giver.

I have had this experience on a few occasions, where I felt complete harmony with the person with which I was speaking - I was aware of their thoughts and feelings - for a moment I almost was them, but yet not. Almost always this was with my wife, but there have been close friends that I have had moments of this as well.

And of course I was not privy to anything private or improper - again it was just a moment of complete harmony with that person where there was no possibility of misunderstanding.

[Liberty Bell]

That's interesting OI. I don't know that I've ever experienced that. Can you identify anything you might have done to trigger these events?

[Original_Intent]

No, in fact, when I have ever TRIED to have something like that to happen, it is an unmitigated disaster and usually gets in the way of understanding rather than helping it.

When it has happened I have been realxed, at peace, and it has been completely unexpected.

Probably, the most marked experience was when I was living in California with my best friend, Nile. I was just relaxing on the sofa, and Nile wasn't there. Suddenly I go the feeling that Nile was very excited to tell me something, and I just kind of wondered "What could he be so excited about?" and immediatedly the answer was that he had gotten a job (again I more or less sensed the excitement from his perspective.

Almost the moment I thought that I heard a car pull up outside, I knew it was him and I knew that I was right. He walked in the door and I said "Congratulations on the new job!" and his jaw dropped...

Now there was no actual talking, so maybe it was a bad example, but in the times that did involve talking, it was a very similar sensation - totally seeing and even anticipating what the person was going to say - and more importantly than knowing the words was the feeling of "sharing thoughts" that left no room for misinterpretation.

And it certainly is NOT reading minds, it is more like if someone REALLY wants to communicate something to me, then it might open up such a communication, but nothing that I could consciously do and certainly not something that I could invade their privacy (or that I would even if I could).

[Liberty Bell]

I wonder if that is a gift of the Spirit for you. I have actually experienced things like the experience you describe, however, if I'm so sure of myself that I would say something like, "Congratulations on the new job," I can bet that I'm totally wrong.

[soloheart]

I think that's what I was struggling to say. This is a new idea I'm trying to understand.

I'm trying to figure out how best to use the language of the Spirit to understand the scriptures and communicate truth to others.

When I read "Understanding Old Testament Poetry" at http://www.lds.org/ensign/1990/06/under ... y?lang=eng, I felt same: how can I learn and use this to communicate truth to others more perfectly.

[soloheart]

I have a few ideas about how we speak and learn through the language of the Spirit. Just wanted to share.

What if, in reality, every single one of us speaks a different language? Though we may share the basic structure of language, like English vocabulary, grammar, etc., we still understand things differently because of the different experiences we've had in our lives. So if we are depending entirely upon physical means to communicate, we will never be able to help another person truly understand what we are saying.

What if, the language that the Spirit speaks to us is one that everyone can understand? What if this language relies on experience rather than on semantics to communicate? So instead of communicating the words, it would instead teach us by helping us experience the thing it wants to communicate.

So communication would consist of Experience + Memory. The Spirit calls to mind things that we have experienced.

What do you guys think?

Another thought: D & C 1:24
24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their blanguage, that they might come to understanding. (emphasized in italic).

Lord seems not only gave some exact wording but also allowed Joseph Smith and other prophets to express Lord's will in their manner of speech. I guess that manner of speech is allowed due to the experiences of his servants. Manner is coming out of experience. Just a thought

[soloheart]

sensation - totally seeing and even anticipating what the person was going to say - and more importantly than knowing the words was the feeling of "sharing thoughts" that left no room for misinterpretation.

(emphasis in underline from my experience..)
1 Nephi 33:1
" 1 And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I amighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men."

From my experience, when I am in tune with the Spirit, I get so anticipatory with the Spirit, or with a person I am talking to, that I feel the will of the Lord on a given point. Then I concluded in order have the Spirit to boost our message, all we are required to do is just be in a manner, look, tone, wording enough to trigger what 1 Nephi 33:1, which is Holy Ghost doing the rest of the job to communicate to the other person that thing that we are trying to communicate. Will of the Lord as advice.. In other words we become in such a manner of being to facilitate or allow the Holy Ghost do his job. And I think the humility/meekness is the starting point on what kind of manner of being we should be that helps us to facilitate or allow the Spirit multiply the strength of our message. Therefore we would not enough know what unknown impact we facilitated for the Spirit to communicate in multi purpose communication, individually customized.

When I think of my conversion process, I can safely say that this was the process, repeated many times that I get so ANTICIPATORY of the will of the Father. So I guess on top of meekness, we need to get so anticipatory concerning the will of God. We get correct anticipation by being in tune with the Spirit by learning heavenly patterns or workings of the Father in similar circumstances in scriptures or experiences. Just my thought.

[Nan]

What if it speaks by feelings? What if in the next life instead of using words, we use feelings. Is that why it is so important to learn to control our feelings?