One of the great lessons that each of us needs to learn is to ask. Why does the Lord want us to pray to Him and to ask? Because that is how revelation is received.
When I am faced with a very difficult matter, this is how I try to understand what to do. I fast. I pray to find and understand scriptures that will be helpful. That process is cyclical. I start reading a passage of scripture; I ponder what the verse means and pray for inspiration. I then ponder and pray to know if I have captured all the Lord wants me to do. Often more impressions come with increased understanding of doctrine. I have found that pattern to be a good way to learn from the scriptures.
There are some practical principles that enhance revelation. First, yielding to emotions such as anger or hurt or defensiveness will drive away the Holy Ghost. Those emotions must be eliminated, or our chance for receiving revelation is slight.
Another principle is to be cautious with humor. Loud, inappropriate laughter will offend the Spirit. A good sense of humor helps revelation; loud laughter does not. A sense of humor is an escape valve for the pressures of life.
Another enemy to revelation comes from exaggeration or loudness in what is stated. Careful, quiet speech will favor the receipt of revelation.
On the other hand, spiritual communication can be enhanced by good health practices. Exercise, reasonable amounts of sleep, and good eating habits increase our capacity to receive and understand revelation. We will live for our appointed life span. However, we can improve both the quality of our service and our well-being by making careful, appropriate choices.
It is important that our daily activities do not distract us from listening to the Spirit.
Revelation can also be given in a dream when there is an almost imperceptible transition from sleep to wakefulness. If you strive to capture the content immediately, you can record great detail, but otherwise it fades rapidly. Inspired communication in the night is generally accompanied by a sacred feeling for the entire experience. The Lord uses individuals for whom we have great respect to teach us truths in a dream because we trust them and will listen to their counsel. It is the Lord doing the teaching through the Holy Ghost. However, He may in a dream make it both easier to understand and more likely to touch our hearts by teaching us through someone we love and respect.
- Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for your Personal Life“, April 2012 General Conference
Tag Archives: obedience
Christ’s Example (Oaks)
Christ's ultimate submission to the will of the Father was as He drank the bitter cup of suffering in Gethsemane, at His scourging, and in His Crucifixion on Golgotha. His submissive attitude is reflected in His words, "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt" (Matt. 26:39). His example of unhesitating, unswerving obedience sets a very high bar, but when we accept His admonition to "be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect" (3 Ne. 12:48) as a key element of the plan of eternal progression, we begin to understand what the Lord expects us to be. As we seek to determine what kind of Saints we really are, we must honestly grade ourselves on our willingness to obey God. - Robert C. Oaks, “Stand and Be Judged for What We Really Are,” Ensign, April 2003
Accomplishing Things With God’s Help (Christofferson)
Asking for and receiving daily bread at God's hand plays a vital part in learning to trust Him and in enduring life's challenges. We also need a daily portion of divine bread to become what we must become. To repent, improve, and eventually reach "the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13) is a step-by-step process. Incorporating new and wholesome habits into our character or overcoming bad habits or addictions often means an effort today followed by another tomorrow and then another, perhaps for many days, even months and years, until we achieve victory. But we can do it because we can appeal to God for our daily bread, for the help we need each day. - D. Todd Christofferson, “Recognizing God’s Hand in Our Daily Blessings,” Liahona, January 2012
Achieving Good Things (Hinckley)
I give you my testimony that the happiness of the Latter-day Saints, the peace of the Latter-day Saints, the progress of the Latter-day Saints, the prosperity of the Latter-day Saints, and the eternal salvation and exaltation of this people lie in walking in obedience to the counsels of the priesthood of God. We sing, "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days" (Hymns, 1985, no. 19). Let us always follow that guidance.
If we will try with faith and prayer and resolution, we can accomplish great good, especially for our own souls. - Gordon B. Hinckley, “If Ye Be Willing and Obedient,” Ensign, July 1995
Making Life Worthwhile
Life is largely worthless unless it is held together, given shape and form by some great purpose, and there is no greater purpose than that of helping our fellowmen as well as ourselves to attain the glorious salvation which our Lord has promised to his obedient children. - Joseph Anderson, “Eternal Joy Is Eternal Growth,” Ensign, (CR) June 1971
Life’s Decision-Making Process (Scott)
There are two patterns for making decisions in life: (1) decisions based upon circumstance and (2) decisions based upon eternal truth. Satan encourages choices to be made according to circumstance. That is: What are others doing? What seems to be socially or politically acceptable? What will bring the quickest, most satisfying response? That pattern gives Satan the broadest opportunity to tempt an individual to make decisions that will be harmful and destructive, even though they may appear most appealing when a decision is made. With this approach there is no underlying set of values or standards used to consistently guide those decisions. Each one is made for what appears to be the most attractive choice at the moment. Those who choose this path cannot expect the help of the Lord but are left to their own strength and to that of others influenced to act in their favor. Sadly, most of God's children make decisions this way. That is why the world is in such turmoil. -Richard G. Scott, “Living Right,” Ensign, January 2007
Rich vs. Poor
A person is poor when his character is honeycombed with greed and warped by dishonesty. When we yield to misconduct under pressure, we are poor. A person who has to beg for bread is not poor if he has not bent to expediency. An individual is headed for personal bankruptcy when he sells his character and reputation for cash, honor, or convenience. We are poor in character when we think getting by is a substitute for doing our best. Virtue, action, and truth properly blended in life make a person rich. - Marvin J. Ashton, “It’s No Fun Being Poor,” Ensign, September 1982
Blessings From Reading The Book of Mormon – Hinckley
There will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God. (Gordon B. Hinckley, “A Testimony Vibrant and True”, Ensign, Aug. 2005,6)
Doing Loftier Things
All through the scriptures the loftier expectation is expressed by the Lord and His apostles: Believe, repent, obey the ordinances, walk in the light of the Spirit, endure in faith--yes! But also, manifest your discipleship in civility, in gentility and tender compassion, in kindness and consideration, in patience and forbearance and refusal to condemn, in forgiveness and mercy. - Marion D. Hanks, “More Joy and Rejoicing,” Ensign (CR), November 1976, p.31
Obedience As A Quest
Contributed by John thanks John
My son and I were helping an older lady in our ward..a widow move a piece of furniture in her home…I noticed this quote on her closet door…
"When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes our quest, in that moment God will endow us with power."
I memorized it and looked up where it came from…great talk.
April 19, 2011
“Deep Obedience”
Kim B. Clark
President, Brigham Young University-Idaho