Does God Want to Speak to You?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 10-11 in a lesson titled “That You May Come Off Conqueror.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

As the translation of the Book of Mormon continued, a question came up: What should Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery do about those lost pages of the translation? It might make sense to retranslate that portion, but the Lord saw something they could not: their enemies were planning to alter the words on those pages to cast doubt on Joseph’s inspired work. God had a plan to avoid that problem and keep the work moving forward. Thousands of years earlier, God inspired Nephi to write a second record that covered the same time period “for a wise purpose in Him” (1 Nephi 9:5).

“My wisdom,” the Lord said to Joseph, “is greater than the cunning of the devil” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:43). That’s a reassuring message in a day like ours, when the adversary is intensifying his efforts to weaken faith. Like Joseph, we can be “faithful and continue on” in the work God has called us to do (verse 3). Then we will find that He has already provided a way so that “the gates of hell shall not prevail” against us (verse 69).

See Saints, 1:51-61.

The scripture block for this week contains the following principles: (1) God “will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:1-33), (2) The Lord’s “wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil” (Doctrine and Covenants 10:34-52), (3) “Put your trust in [the Lord’s] Spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 11), and (4) As I seek to “obtain [God’s] word,” I will receive His Spirit and power” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:15-26). I feel prompted to discuss principle #3, “Put your trust in [the Lord’s] Spirit.”

Joseph’s older brother Hyrum was eager to know the Lord’s will for him, so he asked Joseph to see a revelation on his behalf. The Prophet was happy to help his brother, but the Lord taught both brothers an important lesson: Hyrum could seek revelation for himself (Doctrine and Covenants 11).

The same is true for “all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap” (verse 27). This revelation relates to earlier revelations where the Lord reminded Oliver Cowdery that God had enlightened him. What has the Lord taught you about personal revelation? What other messages does He have for you? President Russell M. Nelson taught the following about receiving personal revelation from God (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” April 2018 General Conference). 

Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! …

You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.

I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things – that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.”

Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know….

My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation…. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly