“I don’t cry when I feel the Spirit. Is there something wrong?,” For the Strength of Youth, June 2022.
To the Point
I don’t cry when I feel the Spirit. Is there something wrong with me?
Crying is not the only reaction to feeling the Spirit of God. It’s not even the most common sign that the Spirit is present.
President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95) once said: “I get concerned when it appears that strong emotion or free-flowing tears are equated with the presence of the Spirit. Certainly the Spirit of the Lord can bring strong emotional feelings, including tears, but that outward manifestation ought not to be confused with the presence of the Spirit itself” (in Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service [2019], 105).
There are many ways of noticing the Holy Ghost. You may feel peace and calm. You may have a clear mind and inspired thoughts. Or you may feel positive emotions such as love, joy, meekness, patience, or just the desire to do good. (See Doctrine and Covenants 6:15, 23; 8:2; 11:12–14; Galatians 5:22–23; Moroni 7:13.) If you are experiencing these kinds of things, you can be confident that you are feeling the Spirit. Strong emotions may bring tears to your eyes, but you should not think that it is the surest or best way to notice the Spirit.