Exploring the Practice of Meditation for Latter-day Saints
Embracing Spirituality Alongside Religion
In our fast-paced world, Latter-day Saints are well-known for their ability to accomplish tasks and fulfill responsibilities, but there is more to our spiritual journey than simply checking off items on our to-do lists. While our dedication to doing more is commendable, we may unintentionally overlook the profound spiritual power that comes from embracing stillness.
Finding Stillness Within Our Covenant Relationship with Christ
Finding stillness doesn't require looking outside the Church or abandoning our beliefs. Instead, we discover it within the depths of our covenant relationship with Christ. As Pam Blackwell, Ph.D., shares in her book Christ-Centered Meditation: A Handbook for Spiritual Practice (2011), meditation can be a powerful tool for enhancing our connection with our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. By intentionally creating moments of quiet reflection, we allow ourselves to be more receptive to divine guidance and experience a greater sense of spiritual awareness throughout our day.
Christ-Centered Meditation: A Handbook for Spiritual Practice
Dr. Blackwell's book serves as a guide on the journey of Christ-centered meditation. Within its pages, readers are reminded of the importance of intertwining religion and spirituality in their lives. By bringing the practice of meditation into our daily routines, we can cultivate a deeper connection with our faith and experience the transformative power of stillness.
The Physical and Mental Benefits of Regular Meditation
While the spiritual benefits of meditation are significant, it has important physical and mental advantages as well. Regular meditation has been found to reduce high blood pressure, foster an overall sense of calmness, alleviate disturbing thoughts and obsessive tendencies, and promote more restful sleep. When we bring this practice into our lives, we not only nurture our spiritual well-being but also enhance our overall physical health and mental clarity.
The Spiritual Benefits of Meditation
When we engage in meditation with a focus on our spiritual connection, remarkable things happen. Dr. Blackwell shares her own experiences, stating that meditation allows her to remain in a relaxed, receptive spiritual state throughout the day. As a result, she becomes more aware of the answers and guidance that surround her. By being prayerful and open to divine intervention, we can experience synchronicities and witness the hand of the Lord guiding our lives in meaningful ways.
The Power of Stillness in Transforming Our Lives
Wendy Ulrich, Ph.D., author of Live Up to Our Privileges: Women, Power, and Priesthood, attests to the profound impact of embracing stillness in her own life. She describes how the practice of meditation has transformed her approach to physical and emotional suffering, work and weaknesses, relationships, and even her deepest spiritual struggles and longings. Through the power of stillness, we can develop the essential spiritual skill of being resiliently and compassionately present—with ourselves, with others, and with God.
Unlocking the Spiritual Skill of Compassionate Presence
Meditation opens the door to a vital spiritual skill that many of us are unaware we lack—the ability to be compassionately present. By cultivating stillness and honing our capacity to be fully attentive and compassionate, we create space for genuine connection and understanding in our relationships. Through this practice, we not only deepen our relationship with ourselves but also nurture our connections with others and with God.
Meditation, A Door to into the Presence of the Lord
The act of meditation can also be a way to better connect spiritually, like a sacred door through which we can pass into the presence of the Lord. Reflecting on the example set by Jesus Himself, we see how He sought solitude and communion with His Father during the forty days of fasting in the wilderness. As we follow His lead and dedicate time to meditative practices, we, too, can experience spiritual communion and draw strength to overcome the challenges and temptations that come our way.
I hope these thoughts on meditation will encourage you and other Latter-day Saints to reconsider practicing meditation as a way to a deeper spirituality and connection with God. By embracing stillness, we honor our covenant relationship with Christ and create space for divine guidance and intervention. Through meditation, we not only enhance our physical and mental well-being but also unlock the spiritual skill of compassionate presence, transforming our lives and relationships. Let us remember the words of David O. McKay: "Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord." May we embrace this sacred practice and find abundant blessings as we seek stillness in our spiritual journey.”
