Revitalize weekly worship- Be immersed in scriptures

"Dramatic and miraculous answers to prayers may come, but they are exceptions," said Elder Graham W. Doxey of the Seventy. "Even at the highest levels of responsibility in this kingdom of God, which is being built up upon the earth, the voice is still small."Speaking Saturday afternoon, Elder Doxey explained, "My testimony is that the Lord is speaking to you. But with the deafening decibels of today's environment, all too often we fail to hear Him."

Elder Doxey related the story when he was a youth and had the experience of being in the company of an older man who had lost much of his hearing ability. "He had no hearing aid and was continually asking that we speak louder so that he could be a part of the conversation. He would say, `Speak louder. Speak up. I can't hear you.'

"On religious matters," Elder Doxey continued, "too many of us are saying, `What did you say. Speak up. I can't hear you.' And when He doesn't shout back, or cause the bush to burn, or write us a message in stone with His finger, we are inclined to think He doesn't listen, doesn't care about us. Some even conclude there is no God.

"The questions are not, "Does God live? Does God love me? Does God speak to me?" The critical question is, "Are you listening to Him?"

Elder Doxey then spoke of "aids to our hearing," and mentioned three of the more obvious ones:

- Revitalize weekly worship. "When you sing the hymns, for instance, ponder the meaning of the words. Enjoy the spirit of the music," he said.

"Partake of the sacrament. Don't merely `take' the sacrament. Think of the covenants you are remaking. Truly witness unto the Father that you will take upon yourself the name of His Son, even Jesus Christ. Recommit yourself to always remember Him, to keep the commandements He has given you."

- Pray to know God's will, not to "get things." He explained that "too often, because of our selfish desires, after a cursory `Thank you, Lord,' we consume our prayer time in the listing of things we want, even of things we think we need. We must be willing to release the `death grip' we have on `things,' which have become as a `security blanket' in our lives. Count the many hundreds of needed missionary couples who would be serving in the field if that firm grip on the familiarities of home and children and grandchildren would be loosened."

- Immerse yourselves in the scriptures. "In the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord tells us that He speaks to us through the scriptures. Of course, just reading words without our minds being centered on the message, is not really listening," Elder Doxey expounded.

He testified that "this still small voice is speaking personally to you. Please be still and listen."