Spiritual Dead Spots

Have you ever had a time in your life when you think you're doing the right things, and no matter how hard you try, the straight and narrow path feels like this crooked fence?  It seems straight, but yet it still takes you ever so slightly off course, and then you redirect heading back to the center, to be just slightly off course again?

Well, I've had one of those times recently. Nothing in particular was wrong; I thought I was doing all of the right things I should have been doing, but yet...I just felt BLAH!

I started thinking, maybe it's the lack of daylight because of the bad weather we've had recently, or the shorter days because of the change of season. Regardless of the cause, I'd felt a little more irritable than usual. I'd been a real grumpy grump becoming angry and annoyed over things that wouldn't normally bother me. This created a HUGE problem for me. I had put myself in a spiritual dead spot. Meaning, I didn't have the Holy Ghost with me as much as I wanted. This is the sad part, I didn't even recognize it fully until a couple of days ago.

I watched a video clip on Monday from from the April 2004 General Conference session entitled "Did You Get the Right Message?" by James E. Faust. In this particular clip, he is talking about how we can often put ourselves into spiritual dead spots; places and situations that block out divine messages.
Now, this is the important part for me. ANGER is included among the other things like, pornography, transgression, and selfishness that offend the Spirit. Imagine my surprise when it finally dawned on me that it wasn't everybody else that had the problem, but that it was me. Talk about having an "aha" moment.

This week I have been studying 1 Nephi 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22. So, when I finally realized that I was the problem it made me think of this passage of scriptures that I had read earlier in the week found in 1 Nephi 16:1-2. Nephi had just told his brothers Laman & Lemuel in 1 Nephi 15 what was going to happen to the wicked if they continued in their wickedness, to which Laman & Lemuel (I'm going to paraphrase here in my own words) whined saying to Nephi, what you've told us is really hard, and it's more than we can bear.

Now, why do you suppose Laman & Lemuel would think hearing about what would happen to the wicked would be too hard for them to bear? 

I'll tell you what I'm thinking; I think it's for the exact same reason I had my "aha" moment. Because, it truly does feel like we're being cut to the core when we know what is being said is true, and we are guilty of sin. But hold on, there is good news! We have been blessed with the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through Christ, all of our wrongs can be made right again, if we are willing to humble ourselves and repent.  What a wonderful thing He did for us because of His loving kindness and long-suffering towards the children of men.

I've included a video entitled "Lifting Burdens". If you are unable to view it in your browser, please try another. Such as: Chrome, Mozilla, Safari, Internet Explorer, etc. ...

                              

I would love to hear how you have overcome your own spiritual dead spots to be able to feel the Spirit more fully.

Thank you for taking some time to ponder with me.