The Language of the Spirit

My Russian Book of Mormon

Here is an experience for any one learning a new language.  I’m glad this happened early in my mission, but it took me a while longer to appreciate the lesson in it.

In my first area, my trainer and I were teaching a couple, we’ll call them Dima and Katya.  I was new, but I tried my best to contribute on lessons.  One day, my companion and I were meeting with Dima and Katya, and the “how is life?” conversation started sounding really important.  Katya was getting emotional and all I remember being able to pick out was simple works like car, money, and work. 

I concluded that they were having some money problems, and opened up to Alma 34 where Amulek teaches people to pray over their flocks and their fields.  I jumped into the conversation, and asked Dima to read the passage.  As he read, I realized I had no idea how to explain in Russian how praying over flocks and fields could apply to him as praying about his job and about making ends meet. 

As Dima finished the verse, to my relief, Katya turned to us and said, “I didn’t know you could pray about work and money and stuff like that!”  I was so relieved!  The Spirit had helped her get from the scriptures that, which I was afraid I could not explain. 

In Preach My Gospel, President Monson teaches, “There is one language . . . that is common to each missionary—the language of the Spirit. It is not learned from textbooks written by men of letters, nor is it acquired through reading and memorization. The language of the Spirit comes to him who seeks with all his heart to know God and keep His divine commandments. Proficiency in this language permits one to breach barriers, overcome obstacles, and touch the human heart.”

If anyone is feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of learning a new language, know that the Spirit will be with you to help your investigators hear the testimony in your heart.