Another way I use prayer is to ask for guidance. Sometimes, it can be challenging to decide which direction to go or action to take. Praying for guidance is equivalent to a Divine GPS; you’ll get the best directions from the highest viewpoint. The following is an example of an answered prayer for guidance.
In the previous post, I shared that two Mormon missionaries changed my life when they challenged me to ask God directly for confirmation of Its existence.
As a direct result of that answered prayer, I started exploring many different spiritual teachings and paths, and in doing so was encouraged to discover there was no one way – no “right” way – to experience Spirit. All paths could lead to the same destination. All that was required was to choose the highest, most unfiltered truths of each path and drop the unnecessary baggage of fear, intolerance and bigotry. I resonated with Akbar the Great’s realization that miracles occur in the temples of every creed; a realization I wish every one of us could keep in our hearts.
I was happy with my spiritual path; freed from having to choose the “right” path, I could simply choose what was right for me, which didn’t include any particular religion.
Then about a decade after The Prayer That Changed Everything, I started a new job. I worked as part of a small team but was blessed when that team included a colleague I could have deep philosophical and spiritual discussions with, a rarity for me.
After a while, my new colleague mentioned that he was a Mormon, and he invited me to attend church with him and his family. I was honoured and, as I already had a soft spot for the Mormon church, I agreed to go.
I loved the community spirit, and I loved that everyone freely and openly talked about God: my favourite subject!
I attended services and social events, and, in time, I was asked if I wanted to join officially. I enjoyed the community and the discussions, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to join. In my heart, I knew that there was no “right” religion. Choosing one felt like I’d be un-choosing all the rest. Plus, my conscience wouldn’t let me ignore this church’s efforts to keep same-sex marriage illegal, or their climate change denial. I was in a quandary.
So obviously I decided to pray about it. I picked up a copy of the Book of Mormon, held it between my hands, closed my eyes, took a deep breath and prayed:
God, I need to know for sure. Tell me the truth: is it for my highest good to join the Mormon church?
I opened my eyes and randomly opened the Book and started reading:
Wherefore, because that ye have a Bible ye need not suppose that it contains all my words; neither need ye suppose that I have not caused more to be written.
For I command all men, both in the east and in the west, and in the north, and in the south, and in the islands of the sea, that they shall write the words which I speak unto them… 2 Nephi 29: 10-11
I sat with my mouth open and stared at the page. It had worked! I had received an answer, from the Book of Mormon no less, and that answer was No!
I had received the highest reassurance of what I had already knew in my heart: there is no “right” way and no religion has a monopoly on Divine truth. God talks to everyone, even those who live “in the islands of the sea,” which I took as a particularly personal message as I had lived on an island all my life up until that point.
I decided not to join the Mormons or any other religion. That’s not to say that joining a religion is wrong, it’s just not the path for me.
And so I remain to this day a spiritual independent, thanks to this answered prayer.
Louise x
