How Can the Scriptures Help Me to Turn My Heart to God?

            My Come, Follow Me studies took me to 2 Kings 17-25 in a lesson titled “He Trusted in the Lord God of Israel.” The lesson was introduced with the following information:

Despite the prophet Elisha’s impressive ministry, the spirituality of the Northern Kingdom of Israel kept declining. Wicked kings promoted idolatry, and war and apostasy abounded. Finally the Assyrian Empire conquered and scattered the ten tribes of Israel.

Meanwhile, the Southern Kingdom of Judah wasn’t doing much better; idolatry was also widespread there. But amid all this spiritual decay, the scriptural accounts mention two righteous kings who, for a time, turned their people back to the Lord. One was Hezekiah. During his reign, the Assyrians, fresh from their victory in the north, conquered much of the south. But Hezekiah and his people showed faith in the Lord, who delivered Jerusalem in a miraculous way. Later, after another period of apostasy, Josiah began to reign. Inspired in part by a rediscovery of the book of the law, Josiah brought reforms that revived the religious life of many of his people.

What do we learn from these two bright spots in the otherwise dark years of Judah’s history? Among other things, you might ponder the power of faith and of the word of God in your life. Like Israel and Judah, we all make both good and bad choices. And when we sense that reforms are needed in our lives, perhaps the examples of Hezekiah and Josiah can inspire us to “trust in the Lord our God” (2 Kings 18:22). July 11–17. 2 Kings 17–25: “He Trusted in the Lord God of Israel” (churchofjesuschrist.org)

            King Hezekiah put his trust in the Lord during several challenging times. In turn, the Lord sustained him in the difficulties. King Josiah learned that the scriptures help us turn our hearts to the Lord. President Spencer W. Kimball spoke about King Josiah as follows:

The story of King Josiah in the Old Testament is a most profitable one to “liken … unto [our]selves.” (1 Nephi 19:24.) To me, it is one of the finest stories in all of the scriptures.

Josiah was only eight years old when he began to reign in Judah, and although his immediate progenitors were extremely wicked, the scriptures tell us that “he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.” (2 Kings 22:2.) This is all the more surprising when we learn that by that time (just two generations before the destruction of Jerusalem in 587 B.C.) the written law of Moses had been lost and was virtually unknown, even among the priests of the temple!

But in the eighteenth year of his reign, Josiah directed that the temple be repaired. At that time Hilkiah, the high priest, found the book of the law, which Moses had placed in the ark of the covenant, and delivered it to King Josiah.

When the book of the law was read to Josiah, he “rent his clothes” and wept before the Lord.

“Great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us,” he said, “because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.” (2 Kings 22:13.)

The king then read the book before all the people, and at that time they all made a covenant to obey all the Lord’s commandments “with all their heart and all their soul.” (2 Kings 23:3.) Then Josiah proceeded to clean up the kingdom of Judah, removing all the idols, the groves, the high places, and all the abominations that had accumulated during the reign of his fathers, defiling the land and its people….

“And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the Lord with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him.” [2 Kings 23:25.] I feel strongly that we must all of us return to the scriptures just as King Josiah did and let them work mightily within us, impelling us to an unwavering determination to serve the Lord. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball ([2006], 59–68) Chapter 6: Discovering the Scriptures for Ourselves (churchofjesuschrist.org)

            King Josiah learned to feast upon the scriptures and taught his people to do so. Then they made a covenant to obey the Lord’s commandments “with all their heart and all their soul”

(2 Kings 23:3). Elder Takashi Wada of the Seventy taught the importance of feasting upon the word of God. Feasting upon the Words of Christ (churchofjesuschrist.org)

The blessings of feasting upon the words of Christ are powerful and life changing. There are three in particular I would like to invite you to apply in your life.

First, the words of Christ can help us “increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation” (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96) and safely guide us through our life. Mormon teaches that the words of Christ have “a great tendency to lead the people to do that which [is] just” and that they are more powerful than anything “the sword” can accomplish (Alma 31:5). … Our prophet, Russell M. Nelson, has taught us that “in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” 96). Needed revelation will come as we try the “virtue of the word,” and that word will be more powerful than anything else we could try or imagine.

Second, when we struggle with our own identity and lack of self-esteem, the “pleasing word of God” (Jacob 2:8) in the scriptures will help us know who we really are and give us strength beyond our own. Recognizing my identity as God’s child was one of the sweetest moments I have ever experienced. In my early teenage years, I did not know anything about the teachings of the Savior. When I first read the New Testament, the words of Christ truly healed my wounded soul. I realized I was not alone and that I am a child of God. As I recognized my true identity before God, I realized my infinite potential through Christ’s Atonement….

Third, we can lift the lives of others through the words of Christ. Just as Enos had his own time and place where the words of Christ touched his heart, the Lord will do His part to touch the hearts of those with whom we wish to share the gospel. Many of us may have felt discouraged when we tried to invite someone to hear the gospel because our desired result did not follow. Regardless of the outcome, the Lord invites us to open our mouth and share the gospel message with others.

            I am grateful to all those who introduced me to scripture study and encouraged me to make the word of God a part of my daily life. I know that I have stayed closer to the Spirit and more in turn to His promptings when I am diligent in my scripture study.

Is There a Prophet Among Us?

            Families, communities, and nations are stronger when individuals listen to the prophet’s voice. A true prophet is a man who speaks for God. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Lord’s prophet on earth today. He is also a seer and a revelator. He speaks for God and relays His message to His children.

            The Prophet Joseph Smith received a revelation designated as a “prophecy on war” in the heading to Doctrine and Covenants 87. This revelation was given through the Prophet at or near Kirtland, Ohio, on December 25, 1832. The heading continues: 

At this time disputes in the United States over slavery and South Carolina’s nullification of federal tariffs were prevalent. Joseph Smith’s history sates that “appearances of troubles among the nations” were becoming “more visible” to the Prophet “that they had previously been since the Church began her journey out of the wilderness.

Maureen Proctor described conditions in America at the time: “Congress had passed laws that favored northern factories over southern plantations, and South Carolina nullified the tariff and forbade its collection. In response, President Jackson called out federal troops.” A few weeks later, the military action was over, so it seemed that the prophecy went unfulfilled. Here are the first four verses of Doctrine and Covenants 87: 

1 Verily, thus saith the Lord concerning the wars that will shortly come to pass, beginning at the rebellion of South Carolina, which will eventually terminate in the death and misery of many souls;

2 And the time will come that war will be poured out upon all nations, beginning at this place.

3 For behold, the Southern States shall be divided against the Northern States, and the Southern States will call on other nations, even the nation of Great Britain, as it is called, and they shall also call upon other nations, in order to defend themselves against other nations; and then war shall be poured out upon all nations.

4 And it shall come to pass, after many days, slaves shall rise up against their masters, who shall be marshaled and disciplined for war.

            We have the vantage point of history, so we know that the prophecy was fulfilled some years later when shots were fired at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, and the Civil War began. Proctor shared the following information:

A writer for the Philadelphia Sunday Mercury remarked that he had a pamphlet containing Joseph Smith’s 1832 revelation and he could not help but note the parallels. In the paper, the writer speculated about the prophecy concluding, “The war began in South Carolina. Insurrections of slaves are already dreaded. Famine will certainly afflict some Southern communities. The interference of Great Britain, on account of the want of cotton, is not improbable, if the war is protracted. In the meantime, a general war in Europe appears to be imminent.” Then the article in the Philadelphia Sunday Mercury ended with this stark question, “Have we not had a prophet among us?”

            The prophecy of Joseph Smith on war became real when the United States erupted in war between the northern states and the southern states. Other prophets have received revelations that Proctor continued with this statement about a different kind of one, a war on marriage and family:

Have we not had a prophet among us? Part of the gift of a prophet, seer and revelator is to see what’s coming. That’s the see-er part of seer. On September 23, 1995, President Hinckley announced and read The Family—A Proclamation to the World to the women of the church in a General Relief Society meeting. It reaffirmed so many things that are precious to us. God’s eternal plan is about families. The plan of salvation is a family story. In fact, the pre-mortal world was a place where we were nurtured by Heavenly Parents who were invested with extraordinary love in our growth and progress. It is not surprising that connection and relationships would be our foremost joy in this life. Our eternal souls were raised in a place of connection. It is what we are made for. It is an eternal yearning inside of us. Our heaven is not a place of lonely individuals who play harps alone on clouds, but a place of families and communities united together in love. It is a people who have learned to love, even when loving seems difficult.

            “The Family – A Proclamation to the World” was first given to the women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. From there it went to the entire Church membership and to the world. It was a warning to the world about what would happen if the family were destroyed. Remember, the proclamation was published in 1995 – before legalization of same-sex marriage. 

            Most people were not aware of the dangers quickly approaching, but the Prophet and Apostles saw what was coming and sought to warn members of the Church and the world. Proctor said that she had “an unusual opportunity [in 1977] to see first-hand what was happening – and it actually wasn’t a whirlwind at all that was brewing, but a carefully calculated, intentional, well-planned, strategically orchestrated ideology whose goal was to deconstruct the family as a basic unit of society.” It started with the ideas of giving more rights to women. Proctor had the opportunity to attend the International Women’s Year Conference in Houston, Texas, as a press secretary for Utah’s delegates. “This conference is widely considered as a turning point in the women’s movement in the United States.” The delegates came from every state. Proctor described the conference as follows:

What I didn’t know is that this conference had been carefully orchestrated long in advance to place a radical, anti-family agenda before the nation and the UN as the will of American women, and so, the delegates from other states had been carefully managed and recruited to represent that point of view. It was a political operation. They had been connected and communicating with each other for some time. Not only were the women from Utah outliers and marginalized at this meeting because of their family point of view, but when I picked up the press materials, one of the resources was about the women from Utah specifically. The official IWY organization disdained our group and falsely claimed they had been dishonestly elected. The Utah delegation’s so-called crime, of course, is that they were conservative. All the press were given that point of view with their materials.

This conference opened my eyes in every way—first to how radical the agenda was. Family was cast as the oppressor, marriage as a kind of bondage. Children were seen as a relentless burden, and underlying it all was a sense that there was no objective reality, no truth, but only the subjective, expressive, authentic feelings of individuals that should be a guide. Today, we might call it “you do you.” Family relationships were an assault upon womens’ authentic identity and search for liberation.

            The assault on marriage and the family began in 1977, but it was moving slowly and methodically. By 1995, the Brethren could see where it was going, so they published the proclamation on the family. Within the next ten to twelve years, same-sex marriage was being discussed and made legal, and opposite-sex couples were putting off marriage in larger numbers.

            Today, more than twenty-five years after the proclamation, I found this headline: “We’ve sold young people an uninspired version of marriage. That has to change. It’s not just the U.S. where marriage rates are declining.” This article is about single adults in Canada, but the situation is not unique to Canada.

Simply put, more than three-quarters of partnered but unmarried Canadian young adults do not tie the knot because they lack faith in the institution, they have financial considerations or they’re happy coasting in their current relationship.

There is nothing uniquely Canadian about this phenomenon. Across the world, from South Korea and Australia to Bolivia and Italy, people are spurning marriage in droves. The global marriage crunch is reshaping the landscape of child rearing and family stability as policymakers are rushing to understand the downstream effects of cohabitation and solo living.

These trendlines bode poorly for couples and offspring, as a growing body of research is beginning to show. Richard Reeves, of the Brookings Institution, found that cohabiting parents, compared to their married peers, were considerably more likely to separate. One dataset found that two-thirds of cohabiting parents parted ways before their child turned 12, as opposed to only one-quarter of married couples. Stronger findings were echoed by W. Bradford Wilcox in a 2017 report for the Institute of Family Studies.

Such evidence reminds us that marriage remains one of the few stable life rafts capable of weathering the rapid changes wrought by modernity. Nowhere is this more important than when it comes to children, in which the shortcomings of cohabitation disproportionately cascade down onto offspring.

            Proctor and her husband Scot titled their podcast “Why “The Family – A Proclamation to the World” Came Just in Time.” They discuss the current situation in America with children growing up in poverty in fatherless homes, becoming violent, and committing crime. The Lord’s plan, as outlined in the proclamation on the family, would eliminate all those problems and others. The prophets gave the warning, but the world did not listen. Now America and the world are reaping the consequences. The only way to safety and strong families, communities, and nations is to follow the prophet because he knows the way.

What Are the Expectations for Prophets When They Write and Speak for God?

             My Come, Follow Me studies took me to Doctrine and Covenants 67-70. The Prophet Joseph Smith received more than sixty revelations from the Lord by the fall of 1831. The decision was made to compile and publish the revelations to make them more accessible to members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

A conference was held on November 1-2, 1831, where some priesthood leaders discussed how to publish them. They decided to make one volume and title it the Book of Commandments. They first considered publishing 10,000 copies but later reduced the number of copies to 3,000. The Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual had the following information.

The Prophet intended to include in the Book of Commandments a written testimony from the elders declaring the truthfulness of the revelations in the same manner the Three Witnesses and the Eight Witnesses had testified of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. At one point in the conference, Joseph asked the elders “what testimony they were willing to attach to these commandments [revelations] which should shortly be sent to the world” (in The Joseph Smith Papers, Documents, Volume 2: July 1831-January 1833, ed. Matthew C. Godrey and others [2013], 97). Several of the brethren “arose and said that they were willing to testify to the world that they knew that [the revelations] were of the Lord” (in The Joseph Smith Papers, Documents, Volume 2: July 1831-January 1833, 97). However, some of the elders had not received such a spiritual conviction, and they hesitated to testify that the revelations were given by inspiration from God.

            Sometime during this conference, the Lord revealed the information that is now Section 1 of the Doctrine and Covenants. This section is known as the Lord’s preface to the doctrines, covenants, and commandments given in this dispensation. The Lord explained how revelation is given.

Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding. (Doctrine and Covenants 1:24)

After the revelation was given, some of the elders questioned the language used in the revelations given to the Prophet because of the imperfections in language and composition. Even though the Prophet Joseph Smith lacked formal education and was not eloquent in speaking or writing, the Lord revealed truth to him and allowed him to express it “after the manner of [his] language” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:24). In response to the concerns of the brethren, the Prophet Joseph Smith received the revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 67.

5 Your eyes have been upon my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., and his language you have known, and his imperfections you have known; and you have sought in your hearts knowledge that you might express beyond his language; this you also know.

6 Now, seek ye out of the Book of Commandments, even the least that is among them, and appoint him that is the most wise among you;

7 Or, if there be any among you that shall make one like unto it, then ye are justified in saying that ye do not know that they are true;

8 But if ye cannot make one like unto it, ye are under condemnation if ye do not bear record that they are true.

9 For ye know that there is no unrighteousness in them, and that which is righteous cometh down from above, from the Father of lights.

            The Lord challenged those men who thought that they could express themselves with more eloquence that the Prophet to appoint the wisest man among them. This man was to select the least revelation and write one “like unto it” (Doctrine and Covenants 67:6). William E. McLellin was a former schoolteacher, so he accepted the challenge. Joseph Smith described the efforts of McLellin to write a revelation as follows.

[William] E. McLellin … endeavored to write a [revelation] like unto one of the least of the Lord’s, but failed; it was an awful responsibility to write in the name of the Lord. The elders, and all present, that witnessed this vain attempt of a man to imitate the language of Jesus Christ, renewed their faith in the fulness of the gospel and in the truth of the commandments and revelations which the lord had given to the church through my instrumentality; and the elders signified a willingness to bear testimony of their truth to all the world” (in Manuscript History of the Church, vol. A-1, page 162, josephsmithpapers.org).

            In Doctrine and Covenants 67:9, the Lord bore testimony to the men that the revelations came “down from above.” He told them that they were to bear record that the revelations were true or they would be under condemnation (see Doctrine and Covenants 67:8). After McLellin failed in his attempt to write a revelation, the brethren signed a statement bearing testimony of the revelations. This testimony with the names of the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1835 is included in the introduction of the more recent editions of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Who Is Authorized to Receive Revelation for the Church?

             For my Come, Follow Me lesson this week, I studied Doctrine and Covenants 27 and 28. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized on April 6, 1830. Section 27 was received by the Prophet Joseph Smith in August 1830, and Section 28 was received by the Prophet in September 1830. As the Church of Jesus Christ was in its infancy, there were many questions that arose for which Joseph sought answers from the Lord.

            One of the questions that arose was a query about who could receive revelation for the Church. The Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ continued to unfold, and the concept of revelation was a new one for the Saints. They knew that the Prophet Joseph Smith could receive revelation for the Church, but they wondered if others could also receive heavenly guidance for the Church.

            A member of the Church named Hiram Page had a stone through which he said that he received revelations concerning the order of the Church and the building of Zion. Several members, including Oliver Cowdery, were wrongly influenced by the so-called revelations. Just before an appointed conference, the Prophet Joseph Smith inquired of the Lord about the matter and received the revelation now known as Section 28.

1 Behold, I say unto thee, Oliver, that it shall be given unto thee that thou shalt be heard by the church in all things whatsoever thou shalt teach them by the Comforter, concerning the revelations and commandments which I have given.

2 But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.

3 And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the church.

4 And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the church, thou mayest do it.

5 But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom;

6 And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church;

7 For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead.

            The Lord kindly told Oliver Cowdery that revelation follows proper lines of authority. The Lord told Oliver that his role as the second elder of the Church was not to receive revelations or to write commandments for the Church, nor was he to command Joseph Smith, who stood at the head of the Church. Instead, Oliver was to follow the example of Aaron who faithfully supported Moses.

            Like Moses, Joseph Smith was the Lord’s prophet, and it was to Joseph that the Lord gave the keys of the kingdom in his day. Nevertheless, Oliver was promised that he would be led by the Holy Ghost and would be given power and authority to teach the doctrines that were revealed to Joseph.

            This may have been an unpleasant experience for all concerned, but it taught an important lesson: There is order in the Church, and the Lord appoints only one person to receive commandments and revelations for the guidance of the Church. The Prophet Joseph Smith spoke about this proper order of revelation.

It is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves; … if any person have a vision or a visitation from a heavenly messenger, it must be for his own benefit or instruction; for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the Church are vested in the keys of the kingdom” (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 197-98). On a later occasion he declared, “The Presidents or [First] Presidency are over the Church; and revelations of the mind and will of God to the Church, are to come through the Presidency. This is the order of heaven, and the power and privilege of [the Melchizedek] Priesthood. It is also the privilege of any officer in this Church to obtain revelations, so far as relates to his particular calling and duty in the Church” (Teachings: Joseph Smith, 197). (As quoted in Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual – Religion 324-325 [2018])

            There is only one person who stands at the head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that person is the President of the Church as well as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. This is the person through whom the Lord speaks to His Church. However, people at all levels of the Church can receive revelation to help them in their individual callings. Then-Elder Dallin H. Oaks outlined how this order of revelation continues in the Church today.

Our Heavenly Father’s house is a house of order, where his servants are commanded to “act in the office in which [they are] appointed” (Doctrine and Covenants 107:99). This principle applies to revelation. Only the president of the Church receives revelation to guide the entire Church. Only the stake president receives revelation for the special guidance of the stake. The person who receives revelation for the ward is the bishop. For a family, it is the priesthood leadership of the family. Leaders receive revelation for their own stewardships. Individuals can receive revelation to guide their own lives. But when one person purports to receive revelation for another person outside his or her stewardship – such as a Church member who claims to have revelation to guide the entire Church or a person who claims to have a revelation to guide another person over whom he or she has no presiding authority according to the order of the Church – you can be sure that such revelations are not from the Lord (“Revelation” [Brigham Young University devotional, Sept. 29, 1981], 7, speeches.byu.edu). (As quoted in Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual – Religion 324-325).

            The president of the Church receives revelations for the Church, the stake president receives revelations for the stake, and the bishop receives revelation for the ward. All members and other people can receive revelation to guide them in their individual stewardships and lives. God is a God of order. He does not do anything haphazardly. This order is one way we can determine who has authority to receive revelation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for other offices in the Church.

Reverence and Revelation

                The Psalmist wrote, “Be still, and know that I am God…” (Psalm 46:10).  When we are still, we can “hear” the voice of the Lord better.  Reverence helps us to be more sensitive to the still, small voice of the Spirit and better able to receive personal revelation.  Heavenly Father insists that we treat sacred things with reverence; if we do, He will trust us and will give us more truths.

                Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained how reverence invites revelation.  “When we meet to learn the doctrines of the gospel, it should be in a spirit of reverence.  It is about reverence and how it relates to revelation that I wish to speak.  Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings.  Such words as quiet, still, peaceable, Comforter abound in the scriptures:  `Be still, and know that I am God.’  (Psalm 46:10; italics added)  And the promise, `You shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom.’ (Doctrine and Covenants 36:2; italics added.) ….

                “No one of us can survive in the world of today, much less in what it soon will become, without personal inspiration.  The spirit of reverence can and should be evident in every organization in the Church and in the lives of every member.”

                Elder Paul B. Pieper of the Quorumof the Seventy spoke about the importance of treating sacred things with reverence.  “As we seek answers from God, we feel the still, small voice whisper to our spirits.  These feelings – these impressions – are so natural and so subtle that we may overlook them or attribute them to reason or intuition.  These individualized messages testify of God’s personal love and concern for each of His children and their personal mortal missions.  Daily reflecting upon and recording the impressions that come from the Spirit serve the dual purposes of helping us (1) to recognize our personal encounters with the divine and (2) to preserve them for ourselves and our posterity.  Recording them is also a formal recognition and acknowledgment of our gratitude to God, for `in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things” (Doctrine and Covenants 59:21).

                “With respect to that which we receive by the Spirit, the Lord said, `Remember that that which cometh from above is sacred’ (Doctrine and Covenants 63:64).  His statement is more than a reminder; it is also a definition and an explanation.  Light and knowledge from heaven is sacred.  It is sacred because heaven is its source.

                “Sacred means worthy of veneration and respect.  By designating something as sacred, the Lord signals that it is of higher value and priority than other things.  Sacred things are to be treated with more care, given greater deference, and regarded with deeper reverence.  Sacred ranks high in the hierarchy of heavenly values.” 

                I make it a daily practice to listen for personal instructions from the Lord, and I try to remember the sacredness of all the instructions and loving “embraces” I received from the Spirit.  I love to feel the presence of the Holy Ghost and try hard to stay worthy of his companionship.  I would be lost without the “lifeline” I have with Heavenly Father to help me in my personal decisions and family struggles.

Recognizing Personal Revelation

                    I am grateful for the personal revelation that has come to me from our loving Heavenly Father and for the many blessings that have come from seeking information from God.  I want very much to be able to better understand the process of receiving personal revelation, recognizing the answer, and taking appropriate actions.

                    Revelation has been described as God's way to communicate with His children on earth.  The Bible Dictionary gives the following definition:  "Divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God and could not be saved with any degree of salvation in the eternities.  Continuous revelation from God to his saints, through the Holy Ghost … makes possible daily guidance along true paths and leads the faithful soul to complete and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom" (p. 762).

                    Members of some churches believe that revelation has stopped and that God no longer communicates with His children, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that God still speaks to man.  The First Presidency stated, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owes its origin, its existence, and its hope for the future to the principles of continuous revelation" (Church News, 10 January 1970, 12).

                    The Prophet Joseph Smith saw God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, in the early spring of 1820 and received information directly from them.  "After I had retired to the place where I had previously designed to go, having looked around me, and finding myself alone, I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God….

                    "… I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

                    "…When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - This is My Beloved Son.  Hear Him!"  (Pearl of Great Price, Joseph Smith - History 1:15-17; italics in original).

                    On September 21, 1823, the first of numerous heavenly beings appeared to Joseph Smith and began tutoring him in preparation for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  "While I was thus in the act of calling upon God, I discovered a light appearing in my room, which continued to increase until the room was lighter than at noonday, when immediately a personage appeared at my bedside….

                    "He called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from the presence of God to me and that his name was Moroni; that God had a work for me to do; and that my name should be had for good and evil among all nations, kindreds, and tongues, or that it should be both good and evil spoken of among all people….

                    "At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate.  On the twenty-second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they [the plates] were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me….

                    "… I commenced copying the characters off the plates.  I copied a considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them…. (Joseph Smith - History 1:30, 33, 59, 62).

                    Revelation has been an important part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its beginning, but Joseph Smith and other prophets are not the only ones to receive personal revelation.  Every baptized member of the Church who is trying to live righteously has the right and privilege to receive personal revelation.  General Authorities, stake leaders, ward leaders, and individual members receive personal revelation to help them in their career, their Church callings, their families, and individual lives. 

                    "… Fathers and mothers also may receive inspiration, revelation … to help guide their families.  And of course each of us, if we will live for it, may be the recipient of spiritual communications for our own personal guidance" (Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Ensign, May 1974, 93).

                    Revelation comes from God in many different ways.  1) Heavenly messengers (Moroni's appearance to Joseph Smith; the angel Gabriel's appearance to Mary, the mother of Jesus); 2) Visions and dreams (Moses' vision of the earth's creation; Lehi's dream; Joseph's interpretation of Pharaoh's dream; Brigham Young's dream of Joseph Smith; 3) Sacred instruments (Lehi's use of the Liahona for direction; Joseph Smith's use of the Urim and Thummim to translate the Book of Mormon); 4) Inspiration (Oliver Cowdery receiving peace and a testimony through the Holy Ghost; Nephi determining how to obtain the brass plates from Laban).

                    Inspiration is the most common type of personal revelation experienced by members of the Church.  Inspiration comes through the Holy Ghost, and it can come by way of feelings, thoughts, or words.  The Holy Ghost prompts us in the following ways:

1) Peace:  "Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter?  What greater witness can you have than from God" (Docdtrine and Covenants 6:23); 2) Knowledge in our minds and hearts:  "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" (Doctrine and Covenants 8:2); and 3) Enlightenment and joy:  "Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill our soul with joy" (Doctrine and Covenants 11:13).

                    Personal revelation can also come to us through the scriptures or another person.  The Holy Ghost may prompt us to read a certain verse of scripture, or he may inspire a parent, teach, or Church leader to tell us what we need to hear.  (For example, when Joseph Smith needed to know which church to join, he was prompted to pray while reading James 1:5 in the Bible.)  Priesthood blessings can also be valuable sources of personal revelation.

                    Many people have received and recognized inspiration from the Holy Ghost; others may not have received it or may not have recognized it as inspiration.  Recognizing revelation and inspiration from the Holy Ghost takes experience and practice.

                    Satan tries to imitate the promptings of the Holy Ghost by giving us strong feelings that we may confuse with revelation from God.  President Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles told us how we can recognize a feeling from Satan.

                    "There can be counterfeit revelations, promptings from the devil….  As long as you live, in one way or another the adversary will try to do something that makes you feel uneasy, something you know in your mind to be wrong and contrary to the principles of righteousness, do not respond to it!"  (Ensign, Nov. 1994, 61; italics in original).

                    In a situation like this, it is the feeling of uneasiness that is the actual revelation. This uneasiness is the Holy Ghost warning us that what we are considering is wrong.  God will never give any of us personal revelation that contradicts what has already been revealed in the scriptures.

                    Thousands and even millions of people have received promptings from the Holy Ghost.  Some experiences are as follow:

                    "In 1921 Elders David O. McKay (who later became the ninth President of the Church) and Hugh J. Cannon visited missions around the world.  While in Hawaii, they visited the Kilauea volcano, the largest active volcano in the world, with some of the missionaries.  They discovered a natural balcony just inside the volcano, and Elder McKay and several of the missionaries climbed down to stand on it.  On this balcony they were out of the chilly wind and had a marvelous view of the inside of the volcano.  After a while, Elder McKay said, "Brethren, I feel impressed that we should get out of here."  Almost immediately after they climbed back to the rim, the balcony on which they had been standing crumbled and fell into the molten lava below."  (See Cherished Experiences from the Writings of President David O. McKay, comp. Clare Middlemiss, rev. ed. [1976], 51-53.)

                    "A young elder of the Church in the armed services was stationed in Australia during World War II.  He became acquainted with a family living on a nearby farm and spent a good deal of time with them while off duty.  The family members became interested in the gospel and desired to learn more about it.  The elder had attended seminary, priesthood meetings, and Church classes as a boy but felt unqualified to teach this family the gospel.  He decided, however, to do his best and pray for help.  He later explained that in his attempt to teach the family he quoted many scriptures that he had long forgotten."

                    "When Annie was born she was so tiny that her mother's wedding ring would fit over her wrist.  When Annie's mother died, she left the ring to Annie.  One day Annie wore the ring, which she loved dearly, while she was doing her housework.  When the work was all done, she discovered that the ring was gone.  She frantically searched the house, but it was nowhere to be found.  Finally she knelt down and asked Heavenly Father to help her.  She felt she should look in the bedroom.  She looked everywhere in there, but could not find the ring.  Disappointed, she went into another room, but again she felt she should look in the bedroom.  As she went through the bedroom door, there, beneath the bed, she saw the ring."

                    Sometimes inspiration or revelation simply comes to us, as it did to Elder McKay in the story above.  More often, however, we must ask for the revelation through prayer.

                    When Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery were working on the translation of the Book of Mormon, the Lord taught Oliver how to seek and receive the revelation he needed to translate.  We can use the same pattern to seek personal revelation.  In a revelation to Oliver Cowdery given through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord said:  "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.

                    "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.

                    "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" (Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9).

                    According to this scripture, the steps to receiving revelation are:  1) Study the matter and make a decision; 2) Ask the Lord if your decision is correct; 3) Receive a burning feeling (if the decision is good) or a stupor of thought (if it is wrong).

                    Because personal revelation is - well personal and individual - we may not have the same feelings that Oliver Cowdery had.  We may have a feeling of peace rather than a burning in the bosom, or we may feel uncomfortable about a wrong decision rather than forgetting it.

                    There are many, many reasons why people seek personal revelation, and those reasons can include:  1) Resisting temptation; 2) Understanding the scriptures; 3) Enduring sickness and trials; 4) Overcoming discouragement; 5) Staying safe; Dealing with family members; 6) Whether or not to move or take a specific position.

President Lorenzo Snow, the fifth President of the Church stated:  "The spirit of God … will reveal to [people], even in the simplest of matters, what they shall do, by making suggestions to them.  We should try to learn the nature of this spirit, that we may understand its suggestions, and then we will always be able to do right.  This is the grand privilege of every Latter-day Saint.  We know that it is our right to have the manifestations of the spirit every day of our lives" (in Conference report, Apr. 1899, 52).

Once we receive revelation or inspiration, we must act on that message.  If we do not act on the inspiration that comes to us, we have a more difficult time receiving inspiration the next time we need it.  The more we seek and act on personal revelation, the more in tune we are to receive it.

                    I am very grateful for the knowledge that I can ask Heavenly Father for assistance and feel confident that He hears and will answer my prayers.  I am grateful for the many, many times that He has given me answers to my questions and pray that I may be continually worthy of this great blessing.

Prophets of God

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). Many people in the world do not know God's will for them. They believe that God no longer speaks to man and that man must face the dangers of life alone. How grateful I am to know that God does speak to His children and that He does so through His prophets. A prophet is a man that has been called by God to be His spokesman on earth. When a man speaks for God, it is as though God himself were speaking. A prophet testifies of Jesus Christ as His special witness and teaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. A prophet explains or interprets the word of God and teaches His truth. He calls all sinners to repentance. He receives directions, instructions, and other revelations from God to bless all mankind. He can see into the future and know of events to come in order to warn the world. A prophet may be old or young. He may be uneducated or highly trained. He may be an engineer, a doctor or a businessman. He does not look like the prophets of old with long beards, tunics, and staffs. Modern day prophets look like businessmen with their suits, briefcases, and Blackberries. A true prophet can be identified because he is always chosen by God and called through proper priesthood authority. The Lord's prophet for the people on earth today is Thomas S. Monson, the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is a prophet, seer, and revelator. He is assisted by fourteen other men who are the two Counselors in the First Presidency and the members of the Council of Twelve Apostles. Adam was the first prophet on the earth, and there have been prophets on earth since the days of Adam. Enoch was a prophet whose people became so righteous that the whole city of Zion was translated and taken into heaven. Noah was a prophet who cried repentance for 120 years before he built an ark large enough to save his own family and many animals from a flood. Moses was a prophet who led thousands of people out of Egypt and slavery into the Promised Land. Nephi was a Book of Mormon prophet who left Jerusalem 600 years before the birth of Christ and came to the Americas. He was a great leader and left many important writings in the Book of Mormon. John the Baptist was one of the greatest of prophets whose mission was to prepare the way for the coming of Jesus Christ. Joseph Smith was a modern-day prophet who translated the Book of Mormon, organized the Lord's Church here on earth again, and laid the foundation to prepare the people in our day for the Second Coming of Christ. Many people are able to believe in the prophets of old but do not believe in prophets today. Heavenly Father always works through His prophets on earth. We need prophets today to help us with today's problems. The information that God gave to Noah on how to survive the Flood or to Moses on leading the Israelites to the Promised Land will not help us to know what we need to do today. I know that the Lord speaks to his prophet today and tells him what we need to survive these troubled times. Our duty is to pray for the prophet and to pay attention when he speaks. We should be completely obedient to his teachings. When we follow the prophet obediently, blessings flow down from heaven. I know we have a prophet on earth today, even Thomas S. Monson. I have received many blessings through following the counsel of prophets. I was comforted with the counseled recently given by President Monson. He told us to look around to find someone who needs help and to give them that help. He reminded us that when we are serving God's children, we are only serving God. He said, "… we are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our kindness…. We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us" ("What Have I Done for Someone Today?" Ensign, Nov. 2009, 86). I thank God everyday that He has a prophet on earth today to guide us through these troubled days.