Feeling the Spirit

Once critics come to the realization that Joseph Smith (or anyone else in Joesph Smith's time and place) did not write the Book of Mormon, one possible next step for them is to say that the LDS are misled by the devil. Because we "feel the spirit" and trust that the good, peaceful, warm feelings we get (when we are doing our best to do what is right) are from God, supposedly we are vulnerable in this way to being misled by the devil's manipulation of our emotions. The problem here is that if you are NOT "feeling the spirit" as we do, you are not experiencing the spirit Jesus promised his followers.

Jesus said to his followers in John chapter 14 verses 15-17:

15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. 

16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

And in verses 26-27 Jesus again emphasizes this is a supernatural experience Christians should expect to have:

26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 

27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Later Paul writes to fellow Christians in Phillipians Chapter 4 versus 6-7 that what the LDS call "feeling the spirit" should be a normal part of your daily prayer:

 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Those relying primarily on human interpretation of ancient scripture in order to communicate with God would do well to consider that God understands the human mind, and knows that in order to communicate with us effectively, he has to pass knowledge to us in a way that goes beyond words, he also communicates directly to our hearts. This is probably because humans make decisions primarily through their feelings first, and then justify those decisions through logic later:

When Joseph Smith was translating the Book of Mormon as commanded by Jesus Christ, Jesus taught him a basic formula for divination, when Jesus told him in Doctrine & Covenants Chapter 9 versus 7-8 (1829):

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.  

 

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. 

This divination exercise of first studying something out carefully in your mind before asking God about it, and then second praying to ask God about it, then third God will let you know if your are right in your heart, is repeated in the last chapter of the Book of Mormon itself:

3 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 

4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 

5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is one of the most effective tools counselors have today for treating personality disorders, suicidal ideation and chemical dependency. One of the core concepts is similar to what God was telling Joseph Smith (to get his heart and mind in the same place, if he wanted to know what was right.) In DBT this secular concept, usually pursued without prayer, is called the "Wise Mind" (late 1970's):

LDS religious practice is not the only place I have "felt the spirit," and LDS believe that the Holy Ghost will often communicate to people through their hearts outside of religious observance. While I was a student I was required to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for certain addictions classes I was taking, and I "felt the spirit" very strongly at one of those. It is very interesting to me that the Serenity Prayer asks God to bring peace and wisdom by reconciling our hearts and minds: