Getting inspiration from Heavenly Father can be a
challenge. He “speaks” to His children
in many different ways and it may take some time and practice for you to
understand the best way for you to “hear” Him.
In different situations I have received revelation differently. There will be times when you need to hear the voice of the Lord in a
more powerful way or other times you will be more prepared to listen and heed a
still small voice. For example, most of
the time I find that listening and acting to the first good thought that comes
into my head is usually a prompting from God.
I have never regretting acting on a good prompting. Things like calling a friend I haven’t talk
to in a long time, talking candy over to a sister with morning sickness, going
on a different road to get home, etc.
Other times have been more distinct feelings or an actual voice.
I wasn’t even praying about going on a
mission (nor did I ever, EVER, want to go) but one day in church I heard a
clear voice, not my own, tell me that I would serve a full time mission. I needed to hear it in that way or else I
would have completely overlooked that thought and that would have been one of
the biggest mistakes of my life! This is what became of listening to that revelation:
Starting my mission journey at the MTC
Meeting some of the greatest friends I'll ever have
Witnessing a family follow God's commandments and be baptized
Yet,
when I was praying about marrying the young man that I fell in love with I felt
overwhelming peace and the thought “move forward” was the answer I received. I didn’t need an overwhelming “YES!” or
fireworks because I had studied it out, weighed the pros and cons, and saw the
incredible man before me as a worthy and loveable son of God that I wanted to spend the rest of eternity
with. I know many others who have
received answers through their dreams.
Revelation may be “difficult” to recognize but it is so eternally
important for everyone to learn for him/herself. Joseph Smith said, “Salvation cannot come
without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister without it” (History of the Church, 3:389). And, I for one, care about my salvation.
A week before we got engaged (right around the time I was praying my heart out)
The day I said "I do" to the most wonderful man in the world!
President Boyd K. Packer taught: “The voice of the
Spirit is described in the scripture as being neither ‘loud’ nor ‘harsh.’ It is
‘not a voice of thunder, neither … voice of a great tumultuous noise.’ But
rather, ‘a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper,’ and
it can ‘pierce even to the very soul’ and ‘cause [the heart] to burn.’ (3 Ne. 11:3;
Hel. 5:30;
D&C
85:6–7.)
“Many voices in the world compete for your attention, and
they can easily drown out spiritual impressions if you are not careful.” We have to make an effort to create
atmospheres where the Spirit can dwell and have influence in our lives. This can be difficult especially in a world
with CONSTANT digital access. Sometimes
we need to turn things off and get in touch with God. (In fact, once you are done reading this
please turn off your computer and get on your knees so that you can have your
own experience of talking with God today.)
https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/how-do-i-recognize-and-understand-the-spirit?lang=eng
As mentioned before, we have to practice to understand the
best way for us to understand God’s personal revelation to us. This cannot happen unless we are constantly
pleading for His direction and help.
Great counsel comes from Nephi in The Book of Mormon:
1 Nephi 15:
8. “And I (Nephi)
said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?
9. And they said
unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing know unto us. 10. Behold, I said unto them: …
11. Do ye not
remember the things which the Lord hath said? – If ye will not harden your hearts, and ask
me in faith, believing that ye shall
receive, with diligence in keeping my
commandments, surely these things shall be made known unto you. (Emphasis added)
In
the most recent General Conference, Elder Aidukaitis gave a talk about how to
gain spiritual wisdom. This is a piece
of his talk that I felt supported our topic today:
“Doctrine and
Covenants section 8 teaches that revelation is knowledge—“knowledge of
whatsoever things [we] ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that [we]
shall receive.”
And
the Lord tells us how we will receive this revelation. He says, “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.”
Thus
we are taught that revelation can be obtained by asking in faith, with an
honest heart, and believing we will receive.
But
notice that the Lord made it very clear when He warned, “Remember that without
faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith.” Faith requires work, such as studying it out
in your mind, then asking in prayer if it is right.
The
Lord said:
“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.”
Faith
without works is dead. Thus, “ask in faith, nothing wavering.”
I
have a friend, not of our faith, who indicated to me that he is not a spiritual
person. He will not study the scriptures or pray because he says he cannot
understand the words of God, nor is he sure that God exists. This attitude
explains his lack of spirituality and will lead to the opposite of revelation,
as explained by Alma. He said, “And
therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion
of the word.”
But,
Alma added, “he that will not
harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is
given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.”
Alma
and the sons of Mosiah are examples of the principle that faith requires works.
In the Book of Mormon we read:
“They
had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
“But
this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting;
therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation.”
Asking
with an honest heart is equally important in this process. If we are sincerely
seeking the truth, we will do all in our power to find it, which can include
reading the scriptures, going to church, and doing our best to keep the
commandments of God. It also means that we are willing to do God’s will when we
find it.
Joseph
Smith’s actions when he was seeking for wisdom are a perfect example of what it
means to have an honest heart. He said he wanted to know which of the sects was
true so “that [he] might know which to join.” Even before he prayed, he was
ready to act upon the answer he would receive.
We
must ask in faith and with an honest heart. But that is not all. We must also
believe that we will receive the revelation. We must trust the Lord and have
hope in His promises. Remember what is written: “If any of you lack wisdom, let
him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it
shall be given him.” What a wonderful promise!”
I
promise you that when you take the time to seek out the Lord’s counsel your
life with be filled with more happiness, confidence, and security. I have seen it countless times in my own life
and it has lead me down a path, much different than the one I had planned for
myself but greater than I had ever imagined.
