How Can I Hear the Voice of the Lord?

My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to the books of Ruth and 1 Samuel 1-7 in a lesson titled “My Heart Rejoiceth in the Lord.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

Sometimes we imagine that our lives should follow a clear path from beginning to end. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, after all. And yet life is often full of delays and detours that take us in unexpected directions.

Ruth and Hannah surely understood this. Ruth was not an Israelite, but she married one, and when her husband died, she had a choice to make. Would she return to her family and her old, familiar life, or would she embrace the Israelite faith and a new home with her mother-in-law? (see Ruth 1:4-18). Hannah’s plan for her life was to bear children, but she could not, and that left her “in bitterness of soul” (see 1 Samuel 1:1-10). 

As you read about Ruth and Hannah, consider the faith they must have had to travel their unexpected paths. Then think about your own journey. It’s different from Ruth’s and Hannah’s—and anyone else’s. But throughout the trials and surprises between here and your eternal destination, you can learn to say with Hannah, “My heart rejoiceth in the Lord” (1 Samuel 2:1).

Like most scripture blocks, this one teaches several principles, including the following: (1) Jesus Christ can turn tragedy into triumph (Ruth); (2) I can trust that God will guide and help me regardless of my situation (Ruth; 1 Samuel 1); (3) To receive the Lord’s help, I need to trust Him and obey His commandments (1 Samuel 2; 4-7), and (4) I can hear and obey the voice of the Lord (1 Samuel 3).

This essay will discuss the last principle about hearing and obeying the voice of the Lord. We will first look at the scriptures that tell the story of Samuel hearing the voice of the Lord for the first time (1 Samuel 3:1-10).

1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;

3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

4 That the Lord called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.

5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.

6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.

7 Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him.

8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the Lord had called the child.

9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.

At times, you or I may feel like Samuel, who heard the voice of the Lord but did not recognize it. Like us, Samuel had to learn how to recognize the Lord’s voice. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught, “Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!” ("Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 93-96). 

If God wants to speak to us – and President Nelson said that He does, what do we need to do to hear His voice. Part of the answer is found in Doctrine and Covenants 8:1-3, a revelation given to Oliver Cowdery through the Prophet Joseph Smith.

1 Oliver Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive a knowledge….

2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

This scripture tells us that God speaks to our minds and our hearts through the power of the Holy Ghost. This means that He speaks to our thoughts and our feelings.

In another revelation given later to Oliver Cowdery through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord taught another vital component to know about hearing God’s voice (Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9).

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

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; …

Another essential component needed to understand how revelation comes was taught by President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all….

Occasionally it will press just firmly enough for us to pay heed. But most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression, like Samuel of ancient times, ‘Speak [Lord], for thy servant heareth’ [1 Sam. 3:10]” (“Candle of the Lord,” 53). 

The last idea that I wish to share is that receiving personal revelation – or hearing the voice of the Lord – is a personal thing. How the Lord communicates with me may be entirely different than how He speaks to you. He will speak to each of us in a language and way we can understand. Also, He may not always use the same type of communication. Forty to fifty years ago, the Lord spoke to me mostly by dreams. Now, I seldom receive such dreams. Also, He usually gives a general idea but not many details. In addition, we can ask God to teach us how He communicates with us as individuals.

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

Has Jesus Christ Shown Himself to Any Mere Mortal?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Ether 1-5 in a lesson titled “Rend That Veil of Unbelief. The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

While it is true that God’s ways are higher than ours and we should always submit to His will, He also encourages us to think and act for ourselves. That’s one lesson Jared and his brother learned. For example, the idea of traveling to a new land that was “choice above all the earth” seemed to start with Jared, and the Lord granted the request, saying to the brother of Jared, “Thus I will do unto thee because this long time ye have cried unto me” (see Ether 1:38-43). And when the brother of Jared needed light inside the barges that would carry them to their promised land, the Lord asked a question that we usually ask Him: “What will ye that I should do?” (Ether 2:23). He wants to hear our thoughts and ideas, and He will listen and give His confirmation or counsel us otherwise. Sometimes the only thing separating us from the blessings we seek is our own “veil of unbelief,” and if we can “rend that veil” (Ether 4:15), we may be surprised by what the Lord is willing to do for us.

The principle that I feel prompted to discuss comes from Ether 2; 3:1-6; 4:7-15: I can receive revelation for my life. In the opening session of the April 2018 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson was sustained as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The next day he gave an address titled “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” and discussed the process of his new calling (Ensign or Liahona, May 2018). He discussed the process of revelation in the Church of Jesus Christ and then discussed the process of revelation in the life of each member. Following is part of his counsel to all of us.

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. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!”

Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.

To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek.

Every blessing the Lord has for you – even miracles – will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you….

Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. 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. (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation or Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96).

Today’s scripture block tells the story of a man known as “the brother of Jared” and how he learned to receive revelation from God. Ether included the experience of the brother of Jared seeing the finger of God touching sixteen stones that he had prepared. Then the Lord showed his spirit body to the brother of Jared as well as many other wonderful things. Here is a video about the experience – “The Lord Appears to the Brother of Jared.” 

 

How Does Heavenly Father Teach His Children?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Acts 10-15 in a lesson titled “The Words of God Grew and Multiplied.” The lesson was preceded by these words of counsel: “Read Acts 10-15 carefully, allowing time for the Spirit to prompt you with thoughts and feelings. What is there for you to learn in these chapters?” The lesson was introduced by this paragraph: 

During His mortal ministry, Jesus Christ often challenged people’s long-held traditions and beliefs. This didn’t stop after He ascended into heaven, as He continued to guide His Church by revelation. For example, during Jesus’s life His disciples preached the gospel only to fellow Jews. But soon after the Savior died and Peter became the leader of the Church on earth, Jesus Christ revealed to Peter that the time was right for the gospel to be preached to non-Jews. The idea of sharing the gospel with Gentiles doesn’t seem surprising today, so what’s the lesson in this account for us? Perhaps one lesson is that in both the ancient and modern Church, a loving Savior guides His chosen leaders (see Amos 3:7; Doctrine and Covenants 1:38). Continuing revelation is a vistal sign of the true and living Church of Jesus Christ. Like Peter, we must be willing to accept continuing revelation and live “by every word of God” (Luke 4:4), including “all that [He] has revealed, all that He does now reveal,” and the “many great and important things” He will yet reveal “pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (Articles of Faith 1:9).

The principle for discussion today is found in Acts 10; 11:1-18; 15: “Heavenly Father teaches me line upon line through revelation.” Acts 10 tells of two visions. The first vision came about 3:00 in the afternoon to “Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,” in Caesarea (Acts 10:1-3). Cornelius was a “devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always” (Acts 10:2).

In the vision, an angel told Cornelius that God had heard his prayers and knew of his almsgiving (Acts 10:2). The angel also told Cornelius to “send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do” (Acts 10:5-6). After the angel left, Cornelius “called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually” and told them what had happened and sent them to Joppa (Acts 10:7-8).

As the men of Cornelius were traveling, Peter was upon the housetop praying while lunch was being prepared. He saw heaven open, and a vessel (something like a sheet) tied at the corners coming down. In the vessel, there “were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air” (Acts 10:11). Peter was told to kill the animals and to eat them even though they were considered to be “unclean” or not acceptable for Jews to eat. Peter refused, saying that he had never eaten common or unclean meat. The voice came a second time, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common” (Acts 10:15). The same thing happened a third time, and then the vessel was raised back into heaven.

While Peter was wondering if he had actually seen the animals and heard the voice, the men sent by Cornelius arrived at Simon’s house and asked for Simon Peter. The Spirit said to Peter, “Behold three men seek thee. Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them” (Acts 10:19-20).

Peter went downstairs and presented himself to the men and asked why they were there. They told him of the vision seen by Cornelius. Peter invited the men to come into the house for the night, and they left for Caesarea on the morrow. Peter and several men from Joppa accompanied them. Long story short, Peter taught the gospel to Cornelius and his household, and they were baptized and received the Holy Ghost.

Other Church leaders is Jerusalem heard that the gospel of Jesus Christ was taken to the Gentiles, and they did not receive the news well. When Peter returned to Jerusalem, he told his story of receiving the vision three times and being told to go with the men to Cornelius. When he finished telling his experiences, the men were satisfied.

Even though Jesus Christ no longer lives on earth, He continues to direct His Church through His prophets and apostles. Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles spoke in the April 2020 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the topic “The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives.” 

Today I will speak on continuing revelation to prophets and continuing personal revelation to guide our lives….

We were blessed this morning to hear our beloved prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, deliver a profound bicentennial proclamation to the world with respect to the Restoration of the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This seminal declaration by President Nelson has made it clear that the Church of Jesus Christ owes its origin, existence, and direction for the future to the principle of continuous revelation. The new proclamation represents a loving Father’s communication to His children.

In an earlier day, President Spencer W. Kimball expressed the feelings I have today. He stated: “Of all things, that … we should be most grateful [for] is that the heavens are indeed open and that the restored church of Jesus Christ is founded upon the rock of revelation. Continuous revelation is indeed the very lifeblood of the gospel of the living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Just as Jesus Christ speaks to the leaders of His Church in all ages, He also speaks to individuals. Although He may appear to prophets, He usually speaks to regular people through the Holy Ghost. When the Holy Ghost speaks to an individual, He does so by sending thoughts into our minds and feelings into our hearts. Sometimes, messages come in dreams. Whenever I have received messages in dreams, I understood that the dream was different from normal dreams.

 

 

 

Do You Prefer the Lord as Your Leader, or a King?

            My studies of the Come, Follow Me lesson took me to 1 Samuel 8-10; 13; 15-18. The lesson was titled “The Battle Is the Lord’s.” As we learned last week, Samuel was known to be a prophet in Israel. This lesson is about the battles of the children of Israel with their enemies surrounding them. It is also a tale of what happens when we reject God. The lesson was introduced by the following statement:

Ever since the tribes of Israel had settled in the promised land, the Philistines had been an ongoing threat to their safety. Many times in the past, the Lord had delivered the Israelites from their enemies. But now the elders of Israel demanded, “We will have a king … [to] go out before us, and fight our battles” (1 Samuel 8:19-20). The Lord relented, and Saul was anointed king. And yet when the menacing giant Goliath hurled his challenge to the armies of Israel, Saul – like the rest of his army – was “greatly afraid” (1 Samuel 17:11). On that day, it wasn’t King Saul who saved Israel but a humble shepherd boy named David, who was wearing no armor but was clothed with impenetrable faith in the Lord. This battle proved to Israel, and to anyone who has spiritual battles to fight, that “the Lord saveth not with sword and spear” and that “the battle is the Lord’s”

(1 Samuel 17:47).

According to the Old Testament student manual, the background for the lesson is found in 1 Samuel 4-7, which deal with “Israel’s loss of the of the ark of God to the Philistines.”

… The Israelites viewed the ark as the visible symbol of the presence of God, but bringing the ark from Shiloh on this occasion was a demonstration of Israel’s state of spiritual wickedness rather than a demonstration of their faith.

“They vainly supposed that the ark could save them, when the God of it had departed from them because of their wickedness. They knew that in former times their fathers had been beaten by their enemies, when they took not the ark with them to battle; as in the case of their wars with the Canaanites, [see Numbers 14:44-45]; and that they had conquered when they took this with them, as in the case of the destruction of Jericho, [see Joshua 6:4]. From the latter clause they took confidence; but the cause of their miscarriage in the former they laid not to heart.” (Clarke, Bible Commentary, 2:219.)

Great disaster followed the appearance of the ark among the troops because of Israel’s wickedness. Israel suffered a resounding defeat, Hophni and Phinehas were slain, and the ark was captured. News of the capture of the ark and of the death of his sons caused Eli such consternation that he lost his balance on his seat, fell over backwards, and died, thus fulfilling the prophecy that his house would come to a tragic end (see 1 Samuel 2:27-36).

            The Israelites were living in a theocracy or a government under the immediate direction of God. Jesus Christ was the King of Israel, and He had helped the children of Israel to win their battles many times – such as when Israel conquered Jericho – when they were righteous. However, the children of Israel wanted to be like their neighbors: they wanted a king that would lead them into battle.

19 Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

20 That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. (1 Samuel 8:19-20)

            The elders of Israel rejected Samuel as their judge and leader because his sons set bad examples. They rejected the teachings of their youth and began taking bribes and giving bad judgments. However, there was an underlying problem: the Israelites were not keeping God’s commandments and had become sinful and weak. For some reason, they began to desire the same type of government as that of surrounding kingdoms, even though those governments were oppressive and wicked. The behavior of Samuel’s sons was their excuse, but their wickedness was the real problem. The student manual shared the following quote:

“The people of Israel traced the cause of the oppression and distress, from which they had suffered more and more in the time of the judges, to the defects of their own political constitution. They wished to have a king, like all the heathen nations, to conduct their wars and conquer their enemies. Now, although the desire to be ruled by a king, which had existed in the nation even from the time of Gideon, was not in itself at variance with the appointment of Israel as a kingdom of God, yet the motive which led the people to desire it was both wrong and hostile to God, snice the source of all the evils and misfortunes form which Israel suffered was to be found in the apostasy of the nation from its God, and its coquetting with the gods of the heathen. Consequently their self-willing obstinacy in demanding a king, notwithstanding the warnings of Samuel, was an actual rejection of the sovereignty of Jehovah, since He had always manifested himself to His people as their king by delivering them out of the power of their foes, as soon as they returned to Him with simple penitence of heart.” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 2:2:78).

            The people did not realize what they were doing, but the Lord understood the situation. He told Samuel, “They have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them” (1 Samuel 8:7). The Lord told Samuel to give the people a king, and He revealed to Samuel that Saul should be the king. The Lord supported Saul until Saul turned away from God. Then the Lord revealed to Samuel that David would be the king. The principle taught by this lesson is, “God calls people by prophecy and revelation to serve in His kingdom.”

            Elder Harold B. Lee taught that we need a certain amount of spiritual preparation before we can receive divine communications.

The Lord will bring us his blessings to that extent that we have diligence in keeping his commandments. Each of you, in other words, must stand on your own feet if you will receive the great blessings which the Almighty has in store for you….

Stand upon your own feet, so the Lord can speak to you. In humility be prepared to say with Paul, “Lord, what wilt thou have me do?” And with dauntless courage say with the boy Samuel “Speak, Lord, thy servant heareth.” Be humble, be prayerful and the Lore will take you by the hand, as it were, and give you answers to your prayers. (“But Arise and Stand upon Thy Feet” – and I will Speak with Thee, Brigham Young University Speeches of the Year, Provo, 7 Feb. 1956, pp. 7, 11.)

            The Lord needs His leaders and people to be willing to listen to Him. Life is good when leaders are righteous and listen to God, but it becomes unbearable under unrighteous leaders. I am grateful to belong to a Church – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – whose leaders follow God. I want to live in a nation where the political leaders also listen to Him.

Will God Reveal His Will to You or Me?

            My Come, Follow Me lesson for this week took me to Numbers 11-14; 20-24 where the children of Israel were still wandering in the wilderness. The lesson manual introduced the lesson in this way:

Even on foot, it wouldn’t normally take 40 years to travel from the wilderness of Sinai to the promised land in Canaan. But that’s how long the children of Israel needed, not to cover the geographical distance but to cover the spiritual distance: the distance between who they were and who the Lord needed them to become s His covenant people.

The book of Numbers describes some of what happened during those 40 years, including lessons the children of Israel needed to learn before entering the promised land. They learned about being faithful to the Lord’s chosen servants (see Numbers 12). They learned about trusting the Lord’s power, even when the future seems hopeless (see Numbers 13-14). And they learned that being faithless or untrusting brings spiritual harm, but they could repent and look to the Savior for healing (see Numbers 21:4-9).

We’re all like the Israelites in some ways. We all know what it’s like to be in a spiritual wilderness, and the same lessons they learned can help us prepare to enter our own promised land: eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

            As usual, there are numerous principles taught in the block of scripture. I feel prompted to write about this principle: “Revelation is available to all but God guides His Church through His prophet” (Numbers 11:11-17, 24-29; 12).

            The children of Israel grew tired of eating manna every day, and they lusted for the fish, cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic that “did eat in Egypt freely” (Numbers 11:5). Moses heard the people complaining in their tents, and he was displeased. Moses went to the Lord and said the following to Him:

11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me?

12 Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers?

13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat.

14 I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me.

15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. (Numbers 11:11-15).

            The Lord told Moses to choose seventy men who were leaders from among the children of Israel and bring them to the tabernacle of the congregation. There the Lord met with the men and gave them counsel.

24 ¶ And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle.

25 And the Lord came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.

27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.

28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.

29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel (Number 11:24-30).

            The Lord took of the spirit that was upon Moses and gave it to the seventy elders “and they prophesied” (verse 25). In addition, two men that stayed in the camp and was not among the elders also prophesied. When Joshua expressed his concern about the two men prophesying, Moses replied with the wish that all the Israelites were prophets.

Moses showed his greatness in his answer to Joshua. Some leaders would be threatened if subordinates had the same gifts and abilities, but Moses was not threatened. He wanted every single Israelite to share the same power as he had – the power to receive revelation. What does it mean to be a prophet? It means that God reveals His will to that person. Anyone to whom God speaks is a prophet.

President Russell M. Nelson taught, “Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! … Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95). 

            Was Moses still the prophet when seventy-two other men could also receive revelation? Yes. God can reveal His will to each of His children for themselves and for their specific responsibilities, but He reveals His will for all His children to the prophet. Even though all baptized members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have the gift of the Holy Ghost and can receive revelation, they do not speak for the Church. We sustained fifteen men as prophets, seers, and revelators, but only the senior apostle, the President of the Church, receives revelation for the entire Church. 

Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

            My Come, Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 37-41 and the story of Joseph, the son of Jacob. The life of Joseph and life itself teach us that bad things sometimes happen to good people. Joseph was heir to the covenant that God had made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but he was hated by his brothers and sold into slavery. However, he refused to compromise his integrity when Potiphar’s wife made advances to him.

Joseph was thrown into prison, and he must have had some questions. The more faithful he was, the more hardship he faced. He must have known that the difficulties were not a sign of God’s disapproval, because “the Lord was with him” through all the adversity (Genesis 39:3). We can see this important truth through Joseph’s life: God will not forsake us.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “Following the Savior will not remove all of your trials. However, it will remove the barriers between you and the help your Heavenly Father wants to give you. God will be with you” (“A Yearning for Home,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 22).

            Time after time, good fortune abandoned Joseph. His brothers hated him and sold him into slavery to the Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt. However, he was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, and an Egyptian. Potiphar recognized that the Lord was with Joseph, and he saw that the Lord caused everything seemed to prosper with Joseph. Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household. (See Genesis 39:1-2.)

            When Joseph rejected the sexual advances of Potiphar’s wife, she charged him with sexual assault, and Potiphar put Joseph in prison. However, the keeper of the prison also saw that the Lord was with Joseph, and he put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners. The Lord made everything that Joseph did to prosper. (See 39:21-23.)

            The Pharaoh’s chief baker and chief butler did something that displeased Pharaoh, and he threw them in prison. While they were in prison, they each dreamed a dream, and Joseph interpreted the dreams. According to the interpretation, the chief butler was restored to his position, but the chief baker was hanged. (See Genesis 40.)

            Two years later, the Pharaoh dreamed a troubling dream, and none of his wise men could interpret the dream. Then, the chief butler remembered Joseph and how he had correctly interpreted the dreams of the chief baker and the chief butler. He told the Pharaoh, and Pharaoh ordered that Joseph be brought to him. The Pharaoh told Joseph his dream about seven fat cattle and seven lean cattle, and the lean cattle devouring the fat cattle. Joseph interpreted the dream as being seven years of plenty followed by seven years of famine. (See Genesis 41.)

            We see again that the Lord was blessing Joseph because the Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of storing grain during the seven good years to prepare for the seven years of famine. Joseph was the most powerful man in the kingdom, besides Pharaoh, and the Lord put him in a place where he would be blessing to many people.

            The chief baker, the chief butler, and the Pharaoh dreamed dreams that gave them valuable information, but they did not understand the meaning of the dreams. The Lord revealed the meaning of the dreams to Joseph. Elder David A. Bednar taught, “Revelations are conveyed in a variety of ways, including, for example, dreams, visions, conversations with heavenly messengers, and inspiration” (“The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 88).

            How does the Lord reveal information to you? For many years, I dreamed dreams that gave me information. For example, the night before my father died, I dreamed that he died. When I arose the next morning, I proceeded to prepare to make an airline trip even though I did not receive the telephone call until that evening. Because I had advance warning, I had time to prepare myself, my home, and my family.

            I have not had that time of dream for numerous years. I do not know why the dreams stopped, but I like to think that the change is because I now listen better for the Lord’s voice while I am awake. The Lord reveals to each of us what we need to know. It is up to us how we hear His voice and what we do with the information. I know that more revelation comes as I learn to hear it and to act upon it.

 

What Keeps the Lord from Giving Me the Knowledge that I Seek?

             I am a little behind in my Come, Follow Me studies and am still studying Doctrine and Covenants 6-9 about receiving revelation. In Section 9, we learn that Oliver Cowdery attempted to translate the Book of Mormon plates by the gift and power of God, but he hesitated and lost the privilege. In another revelation, now known as Section 9, the Lord tells Oliver that he will have other opportunities, but he should continue serving as scribe for Joseph Smith for now.

5 And, behold, it is because that you did not continue as you commenced, when you began to translate, that I have taken away this privilege from you.

6 Do not murmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this manner.

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

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.

10 Now, if you had known this you could have translated; nevertheless, it is not expedient that you should translate now. (Doctrine and Covenants 9:5-10)

            The verses above are a lesson for every person who wishes to receive revelation from God. He wants us to study the matter for ourselves and decide what we think is right. Then, we ask God if we made the right decision. If we did, we will receive a warm feeling. If not, we will have a stupor of thought.

            We should remember that the Lord reveals information to us according to His own will and timing. We can prepare ourselves for receiving revelation by gaining a righteous desire, asking in faith, obeying the commandments, and then waiting on the Lord. Elder Dallin H. Oaks, then a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained why Oliver need to combine study and faith to receive revelation.

The correct relationship between study and faith in the receipt of sacred knowledge is illustrated in Oliver Cowdery’s attempt to translate ancient records. He failed because he “took no thought,” but only asked God. (D&C 9:7.) The Lord told him he should have “stud[ied] it out in [his] mind” and then asked if it was right.  (D&C 9:8.) Only then would the Lord reveal whether the translation was correct or not. And only on receiving that revelation could the text be written, because “you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.” (D&C 9:9.) In the acquisition of sacred knowledge, scholarship and reason are not alternatives to revelation. They are a means to an end, and the end is revelation from God” (“Alternate Voices,” Ensign, May 1989, 30).

            Learning to receive personal revelation is a process that must be learned. It often requires effort and struggle on our part before the Lord parts the veil and reveals knowledge to us. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, taught that the reason why we should do more than simply ask for answers:

I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit (“To Acquire Spiritual Guidance,” Ensign, Nov. 2009, 6-7).

            We can understand from the statement by Elder Scott that the Lord has reasons for withholding information that we seek. One reason is that He wants us to grow and develop our personal capacity to receive revelation. He wants us to work for what we get. Once we have put in the effort, He will open the heavens for us if it is His will to do so.

How Can I Hear the Voice of the Lord?

            For my Come, Follow Me studies this week, I had the opportunity to review the principle of personal revelation and to deepen my determination to qualify to receive more.

            The lesson material explained that in the fall of 1828, Oliver Cowdery was a young schoolteacher, who took a job teaching school in Manchester, New York. He found lodging with Lucy and Joseph Smith Sr. Oliver began asking them questions about their son Joseph, who had married and was living in Harmony, Pennsylvania.

The Smiths were hesitant at first to say much to Oliver, but they later realized that he was seeking truth. The Smiths described visits from angels, an ancient record, and a translation by the power of God. Oliver was fascinated and wondered if it was true. The Smiths gave him this counsel: ask God if it is true. Oliver followed the counsel and prayed to know for himself. The Spirit spoke peace and reassurance to his mind.

At the end of his teaching assignment, Oliver went to Harmony to seek the Prophet. After visiting with Joseph, Oliver offered his services as a scribe. As they worked together, they had questions and inquired of the Lord for answers. One of the first revelations that came to Oliver through the Prophet is now contained in Doctrine and Covenants 6.

14 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast receive instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time.

15 Behold, thou knowest that thou hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth (Doctrine and Covenants 6:14-15).

            Later, Oliver desired the gift of translation, so Joseph inquired of the Lord. Oliver was told many things, including how to receive revelation. In fact, the Lord told Oliver that he had a gift to receive revelation.

2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation… (Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3).

Oliver tried his hand at translating but failed. The Lord told him that he had done nothing to prepare himself to receive the revelation. Besides, He did not need Oliver to translate at that time, but Joseph needed him to act as scribe. Oliver’s experience tells us that the Lord does not reveal His mind and will simply because we ask a question. We must prepare our hearts and mind to receive messages from God. We are blessed with a Prophet on earth today who teaches us how to receive revelation.

President Russell M. Nelson has been encouraging and even urging us to increase our ability to receive personal revelation. President Nelson is the Lord’s mouthpiece on earth in our day, and the Lord will reveal His will for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and/or the world to him. However, he continues to urge us to develop our ability to receive inspiration and revelation from God for our individual lives. In the January 2021 issue of the Liahona, President Nelson reiterated his invitation. He warns us that we are living in the last days, and we need divine help to make it through these troublesome times.

Physical and spiritual tempests are a part of life on the earth, as the COVID-19 pandemic has reminded us. Of the time prior to His Second Coming, the Savior predicted days of great tribulation…Compounding such tribulation is the increasing darkness and deception that surround us. As Jesus told His disciples, “Iniquity shall abound” before His return (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:30)…

Satan has marshaled his forces and is raging against the work of the Lord and those of us engaged in it. Because of the increasing dangers we face, our need for divine guidance has never been greater, and our efforts to hear the voice of Jesus Christ—our Mediator, Savior, and Redeemer—have never been more urgent.

            President Nelson continued his article by explaining what we should do to hear the divine voice of the Lord. He said that it is “essential” for us to know how the Spirit speaks to us as individuals, and he encouraged us to follow a pattern used by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

First, we immerse ourselves in the scriptures [to open] our minds and hearts to the Savior’s teachings and truths…

Next, we pray. Prayer requires initiative, so we humble ourselves before God, find a quiet place where we can regularly go, and pour out our hearts to Him…

Then we listen. If we will stay on our knees for a while after we finish our prayer, thoughts, feelings, and direction will come into our mind.

[Next, record.] Recording those impressions will help us remember what actions the Lord would have us take.

[Last, repeat.] As we repeat this process, we will, in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, “grow into the principle of revelation.”

            The steps outlined by President Nelson are simple but practical. He knows how to receive revelation from God because he has had personal experience doing it. I encourage all of us to listen to the Prophet’s counsel and prepare ourselves to be taught by the Lord.