Experiencing God: Then and Now

By Llearning about the different ways God has communicated with his
children in ancient and modern times, can help us we can better appreciate
our own spiritual experiences.
Have you ever wondered why people receive revelation differently? Have you ever marveled at
the strange ways that people in ancient times reacted to the Spirit? Heavenly Father speaks to his
children in many different ways, and none of them are less valid than any others. Mark A.
Wright, in his article According to Their Language, unto Their Understanding: The Cultural
Context of Hierophanies and Theophanies in Latter-day Saint Canon, discusses some of the
cultural settingscontexts of various spiritual experiences found in the Book of Mormon and the
Old Testament.
Wright uses scriptural examples to illustrate that, depending on the culture a personone lives in,
he or she might experience different types of revelation, just like in the ancient Church. He
reminds readers that language (which includes signs, symbols, and gestures in addition to words)
varies by culture and is best interpretedunderstood within its own cultural contextenvironment.
Theis variety of language is perhaps best understood by the Father of us all, who speaks to his
children according to their language, unto their understanding.
Wrights article teaches us that we can better understand ancient revelatory experiences by
learning about their cultural contexts they took place in. But in addition to understanding ancient
hierophanies and theophaniesAdditionally, learning about other cultures can lead us to we can be
empathetic to those around us now and strive to understand the way they feel the Spirit and
experience God. by learning about their backgrounds as well. Because the Church is worldwide,
it comprises many different culturesand therefore many different types of spiritual
experiences. Learning about these experiences can help us reach a better understanding of Gods
love for his children and his individualized ways of communicating with them.
[http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1471&index=4]
Shanna Clayton, Mormon Insights