D&C 6:22-24 "if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things. Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God? ... you have received a witness"
The principle found in this verse will change your life. Although I always had a hunch that there was such a principle, discovering it so clearly here has opened my eyes and brought joy to my soul. The principle is: when you desire a further witness, the Lord will often refer you back to a previous witness.
Notice that when Oliver Cowdery desired a "further witness" the Lord reminded him of a previous occasion when Oliver had received a witness. In other words, the further witness the Lord provided was not a "new witness" but a "reminder witness". Maybe this is really why the most important word in the Book of Mormon is "remember".
Why is this such a powerful principle? For me personally, this is an extremely important revelation. Years ago, I received a powerful and overwhelming answer that the Book of Mormon is true. However, now, whenever I read the Book of Mormon and I come to Moroni's promise, I think about what President Hinckley promised: "Without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts ... the Spirit of the Lord". With this promise in mind, sometimes I catch myself doing what Oliver Cowdery did, namely, I ask myself "well, I know I received a miraculous answer years ago, but I would really like a further witness today." This is good, but I must recognize that my answer may come exactly as it did to Oliver Cowdery. "Cast your mind upon the morning in Guatemala that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of the Book of Mormon." My further witness of the Book of Mormon is often the Spirit reminding me of the witness I already received. Because really, what greater witness can I have than from God? Although this applies to everyone, I think it can provide great comfort to return missionaries because they have had so many witnesses in such a short time period and they may be desiring a further witness. Sometimes we must recognize that our further witness will be a sweet tender memory of our previous witness.
(Notice how Moroni's promise is for when you first receive these things, and President Hinckley's is for every time-the first inclusive. I call these the two great challenges from the Book of Mormon - i.e. don't know the truth by the Holy Ghost just once, but every time.)
