In a new video, Elder David A. Bednar shared a thought-provoking insight about teaching with the Spirit. He spoke about Doctrine and Covenants 42:14, which reads:
“And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.”
“I’ve long been concerned that people may misinterpret this verse,” Elder Bednar shared. He explained that when some people prepare to teach at church, they pray to feel the Spirit. But if they don’t feel the Spirit right away, they may assume that means they shouldn’t teach.
But the Apostle explained that the deeper meaning of this verse provides a much more encouraging takeaway for teaching the gospel.
What it Means to Receive “By the Prayer of Faith”
Elder Bednar referenced a teaching from The Lectures on Faith to explain that faith is “a principle of action and power.” He shared:
“Please note the sequence: First, we act in accordance with the teachings of the Savior. Then, we are blessed with His power.
“Now, this [verse] talks about ‘the prayer of faith.’ Remember that Joseph asked in faith. He went to the Sacred Grove not just to find out which church was true; he went ... to find out which church was true so he would then know which one to join. Joseph went with the expectation to act on what he received. ...
“So, when this says, ‘And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith,’ I don’t think that means we just stay kneeling at the side of our bed until the Spirit comes, and then we go teach. Rather, we pray at the side of our bed, or in our closet, or wherever it may be, and then we get up, and we go to work on the thing we have been praying about” (emphasis added).
In this way, Elder Bednar believes that prayer is only the beginning of seeking the Spirit. “The ‘prayer of faith’ really begins when we say, ‘Amen,’” he taught.
Watch the full video in the player below or on the Church’s Gospel Library app.
