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I Already Had My Mind Made Up
The Following is a true story by Phil Michel:
Years ago, I did business with a man who I will call Jay. I think highly of Jay and I consider him to be a good and honorable man. During the many years of knowing Jay, I talked to him a few times about the Book of Mormon. One time in a discussion, I pointed out a few of the scriptures in the Bible and also the scripture in Moroni about God answering our prayers. "And when ye shall receive these things...if ye would ask God, the Eternal Father in the name of Christ… And if ye will ask with a sincere heart, with real intent…he will manifest the truth of it unto you… And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:4-5)
I asked him if he would read a few scriptures in the Book of Mormon and then if he would pray and ask God if the Book of Mormon was true. He said that he would.
A few weeks later I visited with Jay again. During this visit, I asked him if he had prayed and asked God if the Book of Mormon was true. He said “yes” that he had prayed about it. Then I asked him, “What was the answer?” His answer was that “it was not true”.
Myself, having read all of the Book of Mormon many times and having prayed and receiving the knowledge that the Book of Mormon is true, I did not say anything in reply. I just stood there, a little sad, and said nothing. Then a very interesting thing happened.
Jay look down at the ground and said; “Well, I guess I already had my mind made up before I prayed."
The conversation with Jay ended. There was nothing more to be said. Jay had said it all.
“I guess I already had my mind made up before I prayed."
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I have found that if someone has already made up their mind, very seldom do they ask for a different opinion. If they do ask, it is very hard for them to sincerely listen, "...with a sencere heart...", to what someone else, and/or God, is trying to tell them.
Our Heavenly Father will not force truth upon us. If we are not willing to listen, we will not hear by the "power of the Holy Ghost" that "still small voice" and "know the truth of all things".
Note: 1 Kings 19:11-12 & 1 Nephi 17:45
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