“Feel These Swelling Motions”
This is the beginning of testimony. Truth is felt. We know and recognize it by a feeling within our souls. Joseph Smith wrote: “I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, which reads: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine. It seemed to enter with great force into every feeling of my heart.” (Joseph Smith History 1:12.) Explaining to Oliver Cowdery why his efforts at translation had been unsuccessful, the Lord said, “I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right” (D&C 9:8). Conversely, the Savior warned the meridian disciples against those who would not “understand with their heart” (Matthew 13:15); Nephi spoke of his rebellious brothers as being “past feeling” (1 Nephi 17:45); and Paul described those given up to uncleanness and greed as “having the understanding darkened,” as being blind of heart, and as “being past feeling” (Ephesians 4:18-19).
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