2013
A lot of people cry when they feel the Spirit, but I don’t. Is there something wrong with me?
July 2013


“A lot of people cry when they feel the Spirit, but I don’t. Is there something wrong with me?” New Era, July 2013, 27

A lot of people cry when they feel the Spirit, but I don’t. Is there something wrong with me?

Crying is not the only—or even the most common—manifestation of feeling the Spirit. President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95) 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 [2004], 99).

The Spirit of God brings peace and clarity to your heart and mind, as well as other positive emotions, such as love, joy, meekness, and patience (see D&C 6:15, 23; 11:12–14; Galatians 5:22–23). If you are experiencing these kinds of things, you can be confident that you are feeling the Spirit, whether your emotions cause you to cry or not.