The Power of Discernment

My patriarchal blessing contains the promise that I will have the "power of discernment". That phrase has always intrigued me. When I was a teenager, I believed that I could look at a person and sense what he was feeling, especially if that person were troubled. I recall seeing the wife of my bishop walking quickly through the cultural hall of our building one Sunday morning. She was upset and crying, and I instantly knew that she and the bishop had had an argument, and that he had hurt her feelings.

I realize now, of course, that I did not know anything about anyone. We can often see the surface emotions of happiness and sadness, or excitement or fear. We do not know, however, what is in the person's heart.

We live all of our lives in our own skulls, and we see everyone and everything through the lens of our own eyes. We assume much; we know very little. Even those who are closest to us – our spouse and our children – are far more like opaque granite than translucent crystal. We may think our loved one's know us, but they are as blind to us as we are to them.

Yet, this power of discernment suggests that we do not have to live in total isolation from our fellow mortals. As I have been studying my patriarchal blessing, I have wanted to learn more about this power. If it is not ESP, then what is it, how do we get it, and how does it work?

What Is Discernment?

I always start with the dictionary. There I learn that discernment is "the ability to judge well. Perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual direction and understanding." Thus, sometimes we may judge well. A trained psychologist can sometimes infer from one's words and actions deeper thoughts, intents, and anxieties. Most of us, however, are not professional observers. For us, perception in the absence of judgment is what we need. It comes not through supernatural ESP, but from spiritual direction.

Daniel H. Ludlow wrote, "The gift of discernment consists of the spiritual quality or skill of being able to see or understand, especially that which is hidden or obscure. To possess this gift is to receive divinely revealed understanding of opposing spirits – the spirit of God and the spirit of the devil. Persons possessing such a gift also correctly perceive the right course of action (D&C 63:41)." Thus we learn that the power of discernment is a spiritual gift. It is a form of revelation. The gift of discernment helps us to recognize good and evil, truth and error. Through this gift we can understand or know something through the power of the Spirit. It includes perceiving the true character of people and the source and meaning of spiritual manifestations.

1 Samuel 16:7 tells us, "But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." The Lord here reminds us that the natural man judges only by what he sees and observes with his natural eyes. The natural man is blind to what lies behind the observable surface.

God, however, knows all things. He knows each one of us inside and out. He sees not only our actions but the purposes and desires behind them. And to those of us who are willing to put off the natural man, he will reveal knowledge when we need it. We can know whom the Lord has refused because his heart is not right, regardless of how righteous he may appear; and likewise we can know whom the Lord accepts and whom he is working with, regardless of the problems he may appear to have in his life and the trials and challenges he may be trying to overcome. What we want to be in our hearts is as important to God as the works we manifest unto man. As we strive to become more like God, we see people more as God sees them, because God reveals their hearts unto us through the gift of discernment.

The gift of discernment can help us in many ways. Stephen L. Richards taught, "Every member in the restored Church of Christ could have this gift if he willed to do so. He could not be deceived with the sophistries of the world. He could not be led astray by pseudo-prophets and subversive cults. Even the inexperienced would recognize false teachings, in a measure at least. With this gift they would be able to detect something of the disloyal, rebellious, and sinister influences which not infrequently prompt those who seemingly take pride in the destruction of youthful faith and loyalties. The gift of discernment [embodies] the power to discriminate between right and wrong [and] arises largely out of an acute sensitivity to spiritual impressions to detect hidden evil, and more importantly to find the good that may be concealed. The highest type of discernment uncovers [in others] their better natures, the good inherent within them."

Near the end of his life and the end of his writings, the prophet Moroni quotes his father Mormon, who teaches us powerful truths about judging and discernment in Moroni 7:12-18. The ability to judge, as it is described in these verses, is the power to discern. In this case, the scripture gives us a key to the discerning of good and evil. This most basic of discerning powers is given to all. The source of this power is the Spirit of Christ, or the light of Christ, which is given to everyone who comes into the world. It is the first and most fundamental gift. This ability to discern right and wrong, good and evil (which we call conscience) can set us initially on the path to Christ and God. This power, however, is only a light in the darkness. It does not force us to judge correctly. It only gives us the chance to do so. We can ignore the gift and choose darkness over light. When we do so, the light can go out, and it may be hard to find it again.

How Do We Get It?

In the first place, the power of discernment is a spiritual gift (see 1 Corinthians 12:10). It is one of the many gifts of the Spirit that are available to faithful disciples of Christ.

Mormon, through his son Moroni, tells us how we receive gifts of the spirit. First he says, "And now, my brethren, how is it possible that ye can lay hold upon every good thing? And now I come to that faith, of which I said I would speak; and I will tell you the way whereby ye may lay hold on every good thing... it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain" (Moroni 7:20-21, 37).

Faith is the first key. Then follows hope. And finally comes charity. (See Moroni 7:40-47.) If we do not have charity, all gifts, including the gift of discernment, are vain, useless, and unfulfilled.

And how to we acquire charity, and all other spiritual gifts? Mormon does not leave us in the dark. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure" (Moroni 7:48).

We pray for it, we live for it, we have faith that God will bestow it, we exercise hope, we follow Christ, and we do all we can to become like him.

Put another way, we can develop discernment through the following steps (see "How to Develop the Power of Discernment", LDS Church News, 11/18/95):

• Praying: When we pray, we focus our minds on our Heavenly Father. Prayer is not a chance for us to tell God what we want. It helps us to learn our Father's will.
  
• Searching: Through diligent, prayerful scripture study, our understanding of the gospel increases and so does our ability to recognize truth and error. President Ezra Taft Benson said that the Book of Mormon exposes the enemies of Christ, and it does.
  
• Obeying: When we're obedient to the commandments, we have the Spirit to be with us. When we're disobedient, the Spirit withdraws.
  
• Feeling: We speak of listening to our feelings. If a person, thing or idea makes us feel good and want to be more like Christ, then we know it's good.
  
• Acting: We must heed the promptings of the Spirit. If we don't act upon the gift, the gift dwindles.

Like any gift or talent, the power of discernment must be practiced. While we pray for the gift, we ought also to pray for opportunities to use it. The Lord will establish a program for us to exercise the gift and learn to use it. He will place people and situations in our path that challenge us to discern truth and error, perceive good and evil, and understand the hearts of others. If our heart is pure, God will help us see into the hearts of others so that we may exercise charity to help them.

How Does It Work?

We get a clue to the operation of this power in the revelations to Joseph Smith. "Behold, I, the Lord, will give unto my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., power that he shall be enabled to discern by the Spirit those who shall go up unto the land of Zion, and those of my disciples who shall tarry" (D&C 63:41). The Prophet Joseph knew by the Spirit (i.e., by revelation) the will of the Lord for what people in the Church should do. The ability to discern the will of the Lord is another way of describing personal revelation.

The Apostle Paul provides more clarification. "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12).

The word of God is revelation, which comes through the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost can discern our thoughts and our desires or intentions. He knows what we are thinking, planning, and purposing to do, regardless of what we actually do. And he can reveal those thoughts, purposes, and desires to those who are spiritually in tune. If we ask, we do not have to be deceived by false teachings and false actions of others. We can know by the Spirit what is in another person's heart, regardless of how they may appear. That is the gift of discernment. By that same power of revelation, we can also know when a person's desires and purposes are right and good, regardless of the mistakes he may make.

An excellent example of the use of the gift of discernment is found in the story of Ammon and King Lamoni. In this story, Ammon defends the flocks of the king and defeats the wicked men who seek to steal them. This is the favorite story of every boy in the Church, because Ammon cuts off the arms of the attackers, and the king's servants bring in the gory bundle of severed arms to show the king. It is the legitimate, mormonized version of a good old fashioned horror movie.

At any rate, the king summons Ammon, but then he is too awestruck by this humble servant to speak to him. So after an hour of silence, Ammon asks the king if he is marveling because Ammon has wounded and killed the king's enemies. This is how Lamoni responds: "Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things?" (Alma 18:18).

The Lord revealed to Ammon the king's thoughts so that he could teach the king about the gospel. Not only did Ammon know the question that the king wanted to ask him, but he also knew that his heart was prepared to receive the gospel.

An example of a different way that discernment works, is found in the life of Moses. During his face-to-face interview with God, at the time that he received his calling, the scriptures tell us, "And it came to pass, as the voice was still speaking, Moses cast his eyes and beheld the earth, yea, even all of it; and there was not a particle of it which he did not behold, discerning it by the Spirit of God. And he beheld also the inhabitants thereof, and there was not a soul which he beheld not; and he discerned them by the Spirit of God; and their numbers were great, even numberless as the sand upon the sea shore" (Moses 1:27-28).

The experience of Moses with God on the mountain is a perfect example of the ability through revelation to discern all things. In one burst of knowledge, he comprehended the vastness of the earth and every microscopic particle at the same time. Through that same revelatory power he was able to comprehend every inhabitant of the earth, past, present and future. He not only saw them, but he discerned them, meaning he knew them, knew their hearts, knew their potential, and knew their shortcomings.

This is the same process by which Jesus atoned for the sins of the world and took upon himself all of our afflictions. Bishop H. David Burton once taught that Christ did not atone for the sins of the world in one massive lump. In other words, the sins of the world were not laid on his shoulders as a single great pile of guilt and suffering. Rather, Bishop Burton suggested, Christ discerned each of us – every soul who ever lived, was living then, and would yet live on this earth – by the power of the Spirit. Just as Moses discerned us all, one by one and individually, so Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane discerned each of us individually.

He saw me; he walked with me; he lived my life with me; he experience each mistake, each embarrassment, each fault, each sin in my life. And having been through it all with me, he agreed to own every sin, every guilt, every failure. He hurt when I hurt; he cried with I cried; he felt every trial and affliction and sorrow that burdened my heart, and he agreed to carry them. And he did it billions of times for you and me and everyone. By the power of the Spirit, in the space of a few hours of earth time, he lived countless billions of lifetimes. He took it all. He drained the cup. He left nothing to chance. He left nothing undone. Thus is his Atonement infinite and eternal. He paid for an infinite number of sins for an eternal period of time. We cannot commit one more sin that he has paid for, and we cannot wait until the Atonement has reached the statute of limitations and then commit a sin that he missed. It is all covered, and it was done through the power of discernment.

Conclusion

"And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things" (D&C 88:67). When we consistently discern truth from error and choose truth, our eye becomes single to God and his ways. Our righteous choices open a conduit through which pure light can pass and fill us. When we are full of light, there is no room for darkness. When we turn on a light in the middle of a room, the only shadows we see are cast by obstructions, our own selves being perhaps the biggest obstacle of all. If we remove all of the obstacles, every corner of the room is filled with light, and there is no darkness.

That is how I want to be. When I am filled with light, two things happen. First, others who are spiritually minded will discern the light within me. And second, I will be able to comprehend (i.e., discern) all things. Nothing that is good will be hid from me. And nothing that is evil will deceive me. The conduit of light that fills me will be like fiber-optic cable transmitting revelation directly to me. When I need to know something, I will know it by the Spirit, no matter how big or no matter how small.