Easier done than said.
- Shelbey Townsend
- Aug 7, 2023
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 7, 2023
Actions may speak louder than words, but words have always influenced actions.
As good stewards of our personal experiences with Heaven, have we learned how and when best to share them?
A dear friend shared with me the story of Apollos in Acts 18:24-28.
Apollos was a Jew born in Alexandria. He is described as having been "an eloquent man and mighty in the scriptures." He had experiences and knew how to speak of them. I imagine he practiced often.
He made his way to Ephesus.
"This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John."
He may have known "only" a small part of Heaven's mysteries, but he took impressive care of that which was given him to know. He shared it with others. It only speaks to the importance of sharing the truth that the following opportunity was then given to Apollos.
"And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly."
Or, as another definition of perfection could help us know, more completely.
With more complete experience and perfected articulation, he set out to pass into Achaia, not before the brethren had written to the disciples in that place to "receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:"
How was he able to help so much?
"For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ."
He found those who believed. He then shared truth publicly, used scriptures to explain his experiences, and testified of Jesus Christ.
Perhaps we've forgotten that we've covenanted to do the same.
I don't know why I ever stopped my elementary practice of vocabulary words.
Quizzed on them, drew pictures of them, and practiced using them in sentences and stories - my confidence increased as I developed the capacity to express to others what I was experiencing.
I'm grateful 5th-grade Shelbey did her homework; adult Shelbey's homework is strikingly similar.
Elder Bruce C. Hafen provided the following. I identify with his words.
“I didn't have the words to express my faith adequately…
The distinctions among knowing, believing, doubting, and wondering are not trivial. But they are often unclear, because our experience is larger than our vocabulary. And when our once-untroubled faith abruptly confronts questions that leave us speechless, even temporarily, our faith can seem not only blind, but dumb.
At that point… when we feel speechless because of our spiritual growing pains, and we wonder if something is wrong. Would that mean we are also faithless?
Probably not- but we might need a more complete vocabulary.
A ‘growth in faith can [also] be thought of as an improvement in language.’ Faith is not dumb.”
(Faith is Not Blind, Bruce C. Hafen, 2018)
No description can replace personal experience. But, effective descriptions can inspire more personal experiences.
Aquila and Priscilla explained truth, Apollos followed suit. Many were baptized.
James explained the formula for those who lacked wisdom. Joseph applied it in a grove of trees. He saw God the Father, and His Son.
I stood with an apostle of the Lord and listened as he shared with me experiences in which he saw the truth of God set learners free. He appropriately kept the more intimate details of his experiences to himself while conveying what he knew to be true.
"I've had so many", Elder Kevin Brown told me, in regards to moments witnessing Heaven's truth setting free burdened and ignorant souls.
He spoke to me; I believed. He shared truth publicly, used scriptures and words of prophets to explain his experiences, and testified of Jesus Christ.
He shared, and I so badly wanted what he shared to be true for me, too.
His description inspired change.
Alma put it quite plainly for us.
"And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?"
Is there anyone who could use your song today?
In many cases, it's easier said than done.
But for the personal experiences we have with the Savior, often the opposite is true.
To be, as Elder Holland shares, "more assertive of truth than we sometimes are," we may require a vocabulary lesson or two.
A responsibility we share in believing is to try to find the words to describe why and how.
Others may need that articulation to follow your example.
But perhaps even more importantly, we may need that articulation for ourselves to continue confidently following The Son.
He is the Way, the Truth, the Life - and the Word.
So let's look forward to the privilege of practicing the vocabulary of our faith.
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