Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Personal Revelation

One of the hardest things in life is facing the unknown.  It is scary and I don’t like it; I like to be in control at all times.  This, of course, has caused me a lot of turmoil throughout my life seeing that no one is really 100% in control of their life.  Outside forces and influences affect you: natural disasters, divorce of parents, moving schools, losing your job, sickness, etc.  However, I have come to learn how to face each unknown path with more confidence and courage.  This has come through my personal relationship with the Lord and receiving His inspiration for my life. 

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. 

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