“God is never hidden, yet sometimes we are, covered by a pavilion of motivations that draw us away from God and make him seem distant and inaccessible.”
As members of the Church, we often feel that although we are keeping the commandments, going to the temple, and praying regularly, we are not receiving answers from our Heavenly Father. We often wonder why God is withholding guidance from us. With all of his divine power and love, doesn’t he want to help us?
The answer is yes. President Henry B. Eyring addresses this question in “Where Is the Pavilion?” He discusses that it may feel like God is not responding to our questions and prayers when, really, it is our own efforts—or lack of them—that cause the block in communication.
Sometime we inadvertently hide ourselves from God, says President Eyring, by covering ourselves with “a pavilion of motivations that draw us away from God and make Him seem distant and inaccessible.”
President Eyring assures us that we all struggle with this understanding. He promises that as we seek humility, turning our will to the Father and putting aside our own will and desire, we can feel God’s presence even more in our lives. We will come to understand that God is close to us, that he loves us, and that he “never hides from his faithful children.” As we repent, we will know that God understands us, and we will come to recognize our own divine potential.
Read President Henry B. Eyring’s talk, “Where Is the Pavilion?”
Source: LDS.org
—Camden Hardy-Harrison, Mormon Insights
This is a beautiful post. I really like the message. this has been one of those conference talks that i remember years after it was given. i know that god is always there for me. when i don’t feel his presence as strongly as i want to, i know it is time to reflect and make changes in my life.
I really love this conference talk, and it is one that really helped me while I was on my mission. I think Pres. Eyring teaches a very important lesson about making ourselves available to the Lord through faithfulness and obedience.
i love this talk because it put into words something that many of us struggle with. it’s easy to feel alone, even when you’re doing your best. the fact is, the Lord is there always, and if we have the right perspective, we’ll see the blessings and feel His love. sometimes it just takes a little more communication on our part, and a little more trust in heavenly father.
This is really true. Many people blame God or think that he doesn’t exist since he doesn’t answer their prayers, especially when they are doing everything they can do to be good people, but the problem is that when that happens , in most cases, it means that it’s us that we have closed our hearts to God, and not the opposite.
It’s not always our first instinct to look inward when we’re feeling frustrated, but it is so true that the only thing that can stand between us and Heavenly Father’s support is ourselves.