An odd memory remains in my mind despite its insignificance and randomness. It was during my sophomore year of high school almost 6 years ago. One day after school, I sat alone in the school cafeteria – either waiting for my ride or for a meeting – reading my AP Biology textbook. The subject of that chapter involved the concept of “imprinting”. This, from what I can remember, was the phenomenon that offspring shortly after hatching latched onto something (most likely a parent) and would mimic and follow that thing for much of their young lives. The example was used of ducklings following their mother – I still remember the picture in the textbook of the ducklings following the mother in a straight line. Oddly enough, this random concept is one of the only things I remember from AP Biology.
I would have forgotten it in a heartbeat had it not been recalled to my mind on my mission. I was studying one day, wondering why it is that people either chose to follow or reject God. How could some feel so strongly about Him while others “trample [Him] under their feet” (1 Nephi 19:7) so easily? During that thought, this concept of “imprinting” came flying back into my mind. I thought that people believed so strongly in God because they have had experiences with Him. Those experiences leave lasting impressions upon the soul, much like the powerful phenomenon of imprinting.
I thought of this idea – which I termed “spiritual imprinting” – often. In fact, it largely changed how I approached missionary work. I knew that in order for people who had previously rejected God to turn around and accept Him, they had to have an experience. I prayed that people would have these experiences. I geared my teaching more towards the commitments, because when people acted in faith they were more likely to have an experience. And I sought to have experiences myself so that I could share them as motivation for others.
This concept came up once again during this last General Conference by Elder Andersen in his talk “Spiritually Defining Memories”. He talks about this very concept, about experiences that teach us that God lives and motivate us to follow Him. Of this, he says:
“Think of your own life. Over the years, I have listened to thousands of profoundly spiritual experiences from Latter-day Saints all across the world, confirming to me beyond any question that God knows and loves each of us and that He eagerly desires to reveal Himself to us. These experiences may come at pivotal times in our lives or in what may at first seem as uneventful happenings, but they are always accompanied by an exceptionally strong spiritual confirmation of the love of God.
Remembering these spiritually defining experiences takes us to our knees, declaring as did the Prophet Joseph: “What I received was from heaven. I know it, and I know that God knows that I know it.””
I am confident that all of us, no matter our “level of spirituality”, has had experiences like this. The scriptures are full of them, ranging from as monumental as Alma the Younger being struck down to the simpler such as Nephi making a new bow. For the Israelites, they could be as great as the Red Sea being parted or as consistent as receiving daily manna from on high. And for the Apostles, they could be as striking as watching Christ raise the dead or as humble as hearing Him teach the Sermon on the Mount. Whatever the size or manner of our experiences, they leave an indelible imprint upon our souls, leading us to the certain conclusion that God loves us.
A prominent experience that left an imprint on my soul is probably of the “simple, small and humble” category, but nevertheless it is incredibly profound to me. I was 12 years old and on my first weeklong Scout Camp with the boys in my ward. There were 10 of us, and all of us were quite different in personalities and interests. Towards the end of the week, we were all tasked with the challenge of going far into the woods, building our own shelter, and sleeping there for the night, with no aid from our leaders. The 10 of us gathered together and got to work.
As we worked, we quickly realized that not all of us agreed on how to build the shelter – some wanted a lean-to style, others wanted a teepee. This problem quickly divided us into groups, and even led to some frustrated yelling as the sun sank lower and lower. When the problem reached its climax, when the fighting could very well have escalated to shoves and fists – just when this happened, our senior patrol leader, who was also our Deacons Quorum President, commanded us to stop and declared simply, “let’s say a prayer”. A prayer was offered, fighting ceased, a shelter was made, and a peaceful night was spent.
I think about that moment often, but its impact on me can be seen more than often. That experience taught me both the power of prayer and the role of a Priesthood Key holder. I was called to serve as Deacons Quorum President just 3 months after that experience, and because of that experience in the woods, I knew what it meant to lead a quorum. An imprint was left on my soul that can never be removed – indeed, as Elder Andersen said, this experience was a time when “spiritual feelings [went] down into [my] heart like fire, illuminating [my] soul.”
These experiences can be beacons in our lives. They not only teach us of God’s love in the moment, but they can teach us of God’s love anytime we look back on them. President Monson is said to love this quote by the poet James M. Barrie:
“God gave us memories, that we might have June roses in the December of our lives”
Oh how grateful I am that this is true! I cannot tell you how many times I have needed to look back on June roses to get through a cold, bitter December.
Elder Andersen continues his talk with a metaphor, comparing these spiritual experiences to stones lighting our path. He says:
“You might think of your spiritual memories this way. With constant prayer, a determination to keep our covenants, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, we navigate our way through life. When personal difficulty, doubt, or discouragement darken our path, or when world conditions beyond our control lead us to wonder about the future, the spiritually defining memories from our book of life are like luminous stones that help brighten the road ahead, assuring us that God knows us, loves us, and has sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to help us return home. And when someone sets their defining memories aside and is lost or confused, we turn them toward the Savior as we share our faith and memories with them, helping them rediscover those precious spiritual moments they once treasured.”
I feel it wise to not only remember these sacred experiences, but to write them down for future times. Then, whenever we are in need of a tender mercy, we can look back and find proof that God is good – proof in our very own lives. This is what separates those who believe in God from those who don’t. Those who do believe are those who have had experiences, spiritual imprints on their soul from a loving Father, evidence that God loves us! Those who don’t believe simply lack those experiences or have cast them aside. Hopefully, as we share our experiences and testimony, we can help others have spiritually defining experiences in their lives.
I close with a scripture from Helaman, describing just how powerful these experiences and memories can be:
“Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.” (Helaman 3:35)
Each experience adds onto another, adding yet another layer of “wax”, making us stronger and stronger every time. Whether big or small, spiritually defining experiences in our lives are what enable us to stand against the adversary with strength. The power of Christ is felt in our lives through these experiences. May we seek these experiences with all our heart, write them down when they happen, and never forget to thank Heavenly Father for giving them to us.
Adam Simpson
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