A Familiar Spirit

A Family Spirit

I read from 2 Nephi 26 today and verse 16 stood out some.  In speaking of the Book of Mormon, Nephi says they (the prophets of the Book of Mormon) “. . . shall be as one that hath a familiar spirit”.  What does that mean exactly? 

In a class I attended recently – probably Relief Society, the teacher told of a young girl who, when she started reading the Book of Mormon, was so excited because it sounded familiar to her.  She had no idea where she would have heard it before.  When I first started really reading the Book of Mormon for my own growth, I can make that same claim.  Now I did supposedly study it in Seminary as a young woman, but I had very little memory of it.  I’m not certain why.  As I started reading though, I couldn’t get enough and found myself staying up late to read more.  I consider this to be a gift – a tender mercy.  But in order to receive this gift, we must be ready.

What does one do to be ready?  They must “. . .exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe. . .” Alma 32:27.  Something in me at that time made me desire.  Was it that I saw others who were happy and enjoying a good life while mine was less than desirable?  I saw!  Somehow, I had eyes to see finally.  I was eating crumbs while others were feasting!  When I started to desire that feast, I too began to see.  The Book of Mormon had a familiar spirit and I began to grow in the gospel.

This is something that is available to all of Heavenly Father’s children.  He says so in the last verse of 2 Nephi 26 where it says “. . . he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.” 

So as a parent, I must be patient and wait for my sweet daughter to desire.  It is there for her when that desire stirs within her a remembering and she seeks to know more.  I have faith that will happen some day.  Oh how I pray I will be here for it.  What a glorious day that will be!