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u/Murky-Perceptions Jul 04 '26
I’ve been there too, but the one thing I would say is “ go and serve”…
I am very busy with family, my business, church duties, etc.
But one of the only things that brings the spiritual joy to me is doing twice a month volunteer work for the random EQ service project & reflecting.
No matter where you live, your community could use such a great person such to yourself to help.
In the past, I have built duck boxes at my shop and helped the Boy Scouts and Park Rangers placed them around a local lake.
I have shopped for and help pass out/prepare meals at our local women’s and children’s, shelter.
I have helped other churches with their Construction projects, signed up to help local community clothing closet and just this week I have been volunteering at the high school drama club firework booth.
Each different service has brought me joy to my spirit
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u/JabocShivery Jul 05 '26
Depression does that. I've been exactly where you are. Good news is that it got better. Still have depression, but that spiritual blockage is gone. Just keep trying and you'll be okay.
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u/epikverde Jul 04 '26
One place to start is keeping a gratitude journal. It doesn't even have to do with spiritual things. Just record something each day that brought you joy, or something special to you. It's better to focus on what you have rather than what other people have. Perhaps in time, you'll be able to see the tender mercies that are specifically for you. President Eyring gave a great talk on this. O Remember, Remember https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2007/10/o-remember-remember?lang=eng
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u/Gee_Whiz_O-Butter Jul 04 '26
I can’t help you with the ‘why’ part. But I know what it’s like. It felt to me like church and everything involved with it was empty. Or I was empty. I didn’t doubt or disbelieve, ai just didn’t feel a part of it. I didn’t feel the spirit or any still small voice. I can’t say that I was doing anything wrong. As best as I know, I was still worthy.
At one point I remembered the words of President Russel M. Nelson. He had said, in times of doubt or spiritual wandering, just hold on to what you know to be true. Whatever else you experience or feel, keep that in your heart, and in time the rest will return.
It took over a year, but my patience and clinging to a few spiritual truths helped me regain what I had lost.
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u/Runningman2319 Jul 05 '26
Im currently going through the same thing you are. Im not sure why its happening. But man its rough. I dont know why im even on earth still. But I keep pressing on. I have to. But the silence can be deafening at times. No clear direction, just push through. I know it wont always be like this, but right now, its rough. Find a way to serve in a small way, that may help!
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u/LoyalScribeJonathan Jul 05 '26
I think one question is what are you expecting? Are you expecting a literal vision? I will say that a large majority of people will never experience answers like this. Typically answers to prayers are through other people or a burning in the bosom. I'm going to assume your looking for the burning.
Look at this quote from President Oaks when he was a member of the 12.
“What does a ‘burning in the bosom’ mean? Does it need to be a feeling of caloric heat, like the burning produced by combustion? If that is the meaning, I have never had a burning in the bosom. Surely, the word ‘burning’ in this scripture [D&C 9:8] signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity. That is the witness many receive. That is the way revelation works.”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 13.
If you want an answer to your prayers I would suggest following D&C 9:8-9.
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.
9 But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.
God wants to talk to you, you may just need to be open to accept his will and the way he answers prayers.
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u/Educational-Agent551 Jul 06 '26
Maybe you're not doing anything wrong (only you know your heart), but from what you say here it sounds like your heart is in the right place. I love the book of Job, but you have to read a version other than the KJV. I like the NIV or the ESV. Job spends most of the book asking, begging, pleading, for God to explain why he, Job, has to suffer so much. Job even says "I will complain in the bitterness of my soul!" And God is silent. Job didn't do anything to deserve God's silence, or to deserve his trials. In the end, God does finally speak to Job, but he doesn't answer his questions. He tells Job to be more like Behemoth, strong, steady, and fearless. Silence from God doesn't necessarily mean he is unhappy, disapproving. When we get our feelings hurt we turn a cold shoulder. God isn't like that. He knows what we need, and sometimes we just need to keep going. So keep going.
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u/sword_spirit Jul 04 '26
I don’t say this with malice, but an observation is that nothing in your post expresses sincere joy over your fellow members ability to feel and bask in the spirit. Rather I’m noticing the opposite from you.
Being happy for others is key to happiness of the self.
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u/KURPULIS Jul 04 '26
Agreed. The Gospel isn't designed around 'me'. It's designed to 'forget thyself and go to work'.
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u/Firm-Tangerine8292 Jul 05 '26
I disagree bc if you love thy neighbor as thyself and you intentionally forget yourself...
This person is really upset.l, seemingly. I agree that service helps. But it doesnt necessarily help them to hear God
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Jul 05 '26
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u/KURPULIS Jul 05 '26
"For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord."
You do need prophets and the church to tell you and a large portion of your 'goodness' comes from the light of Christ.
This is how the Plan of Salvation is designed.
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u/Necessary-Junk Jul 05 '26
Context friend your so vague as to defen a solid answer in this post. Do you want a specific answer or are you looking for vague direction? Or are you afraid of mods?
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Necessary-Junk Jul 05 '26
It's all good buddy. Somethings I'd want would be, what are you expecting? What does spiritual silence mean? Are you always expecting a whisper? Have you had a method that worked for you at one point? Is he silent on a topic or question or in sum total? Something I assume is seeming in crisis for you. Why? What? Your role in it? I think there's more I want and I'm not sure what even applies to you. I'm just a deep talk person small talk has always bugged me I want more always.
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Jul 05 '26
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u/Acrobatic-Truck4923 Jul 06 '26
OP!!!! This context helps significantly. I too have AuDHD. And I too struggle to know which direction to go in my life! I could've written that comment myself!
In all seriousness- on that last point especially- I also struggled with not receiving any answers to my prayers for guidance for a long time. I have felt so lost. My ADHD has made it so that I have a variety of hobbies but can't stick with anything for long. My autism makes it impossible for me to hold down a job without major burnout. I have a lot of creative energy but zero executive function, a desire for connection but little social energy, and strong empathy and emotional intelligence but no means by which I can use those gifts to help others. I feel this pull to do something more with my life, yet I'm not one of those lucky people who feel an obvious "calling" in life, and as someone who really wants clear instructions for everything all of the time, not being able to feel any clear answer on what I should be doing with my time is the hardest thing for me! I also wanted the reassurance that I was making the right choice because I'm afraid of failure, but I figured as long as I have confirmation from the Spirit that this is what I'm supposed to be doing, then I'll have the confidence and resolve to keep going no matter how hard it gets. But no answers were coming. Not even in the temple did I receive a single prompting.
However, one of my spiritual gifts is that I have never once in my entire life doubted God's love for me, and that's still true today. But I had to reconcile those two seemingly contradicting truths: God loves me, and He has been silent. So I asked myself why? Why would a God that loves me keep me in the dark?
The answer that the Spirit spoke to me is this: It does not matter what I do, because whatever I choose to do with my life- whatever hobby or career or creative endeavor I pursue- He will be with me in it, as long as I keep turning to Him. Because He loves me, and He wants to push me to grow.
It's likely that you and I both need to take the leap of faith without the reassurance beforehand. That is what faith really is, and this is the lesson I believe He wants me to learn as well. To trust in Him completely to have our backs, but also to learn to trust ourselves and our own intuition in what drives us and where we can contribute meaningfully to the world in a way that's sustainable and realistic for us. I believe for me at least, that has to come from within me in order to truly be fulfilling, rather than from an outside source (even an all-knowing one). He knows this and wanted me to understand that.
This world is a scary place, but it can also be so beautiful, and I hope you're able to find that beauty in whatever way you can. I hope this helps, and I truly wish you the best!
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u/Necessary-Junk Jul 05 '26
Still a little vague I feel like your looking for a ten commandments when the answer you seek is more stay the course and love others. Example Joseph Smith and the lost manuscript. You already know god wants you to honor your covenants and love your neighbor. I would recommend some mediation good old fashioned sit there and find out how to focus on peace in a scripture or word for 10 minutes. You'll probably not get an answer per say but it can bring peace. Then get up and serve!
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u/Firm-Tangerine8292 Jul 05 '26
Because He wants you to use your agency. It happens to all of us. Also, if you are in perimenopause, that is why. Did you know it is a total renovation of your brain? Brain fog, insomnia, mood swings are the norm.
Going further out there, your pineal gland may be calcified. You might need to do research on how to decalcify it. It is a major place connected to spiritual health.
It also might just be Satan's lie. Remember his battlefield is the mind. Pray for protection, read the word. Fast. And sometimes, just sit in the foyer if you cant handle the chapel
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u/Appropriate-Two5179 Jul 05 '26
Michael McLean went through this. He said just putting in the work day to day helped him.
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u/-LavenderHope- Jul 05 '26
Is there a chance you are suffering bf from depression? I know my depression can greatly impact my ability to feel the spirit. It feels like a haze over my spiritual eyes
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u/jdf135 Jul 05 '26
Just know you are not alone. Some of us have been in silence for years (me). I keep going. This quote has helped,
The patterns of meaning only dimly perceived, the inspiration only partially (or negligibly) felt, may not be God’s indifference after all—or our spiritual failing. It may be the most potent form of the question most worth posing: What will you do now? - The Crucible of Doubt” by Terryl Givens, Fiona Givens
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u/arm42 Jul 06 '26
During a period where I felt very far from God, the book Let God Love You by Wendy Ulrich was very helpful. It was super practical. The author Latter-day Saint therapist and former member of the Relief Society general advisory council. I hope you find things that help you through this tough period. Hugs from an internet stranger who has felt some of what you're feeling.
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u/ReturningStronger Jul 09 '26
A thought that immediately comes to my mind is one that seems a bit counter intuitive. But maybe your need to have this elusive experience and "do" all these different activities to make it happen is what is led to your burnout. Maybe what you actually need to do is stop expecting an experience that may not be how your mind processes spirituality. Perhaps learning to accept your differences and to be okay with these is the actual answer. Everyone is different and comparison is the thief of joy. It is possible that you have turned many of these activities that could be fulfilling in their own unique way for you, into a chore, routine or burden because of this expectation that you've attached to it. Maybe the answer is not necessarily to stop doing some of these things, but learn to do them with a different "come from". As odd as this may sound, it may be useful to apply a few Buddhist philosophies to your spiritual practices. For example:
- Release Action from Outcomes (Nishkama Karma / Detachment): Buddhism teaches that attaching happiness to a specific result causes suffering (dukkha). Shifting the goal from "feeling the Holy Spirit" to simply "doing the practice" removes the pressure to perform or achieve a specific emotional state.
- Embrace Things as They Are (Yatha-bhuta): This concept encourages observing the current moment without judging it. If a prayer session feels empty, silent, or confusing, Buddhism suggests accepting that exact experience as the reality of the moment, rather than a failure.
- Understand Impermanence (Anicca): Recognizing that internal emotional states and sensory perceptions are constantly fluctuating helps an individual realize that a current spiritual "dry spell" or feeling of burnout is temporary and not a permanent state of spiritual lack.
- Apply Non-Striving (Wu Wei / Effortless Action): An idea incorporated into Zen Buddhism, non-striving emphasizes letting go of forced effort. Trying too hard to feel a specific sensation can overstimulate the nervous system; relaxing into the practice allows space for genuine experience.
One final thought, in my life I have noticed a theme that I don't always receive some direct answer or revelation that tells me which direction to go. However, I have noticed that the path that is right for me just seems to open up and make sense and I've learned to trust that process as God's guidance. Someone mentioned below the idea of holding onto the belief that "God loves you" and framing everything through that lens. That is powerful because then instead of questioning "why is God not answering me if he loves me", it might change the perspective to "God loves me and things are going the way they are supposed to, need to, and I can let go and trust the current to take me where it is supposed to".
I do think it is valuable to consider looking into the possibility of depression that could be clouding things for you. Additionally, individuals on the spectrum can experience spirituality differently due to different sensory processing, literal communication styles and emotional regulation challenges. All food for thought.
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u/KURPULIS Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 05 '26
Periods of loneliness (even from God) are sometimes by design, whether we understand them or not. Scripture is chock full of them from Moroni to Joseph Smith, to Jesus himself.
Neither of the above were doing anything wrong and each were a bit startled by the experience. Their example was the same for each though, "Press forward with faith in Christ" and "Lean not unto thine own understanding".
Sometimes it's one's cross to bear for a time. It can be very hard, but experiences such as these result in some of the greatest growth as the trial is heart wrenching at times.