Embedded Files
Why is listening to the Spirit and seeking revelation important. Why do I need it when I have my own instincts? Is it really that important to pray and read scriptures everyday? When and How often should I seek it?
What if I am too scared to ask/pray or move forward with the impressions? Does Fear keep me from inspiration? How can I learn to have an open heart and mind to receive revelation that may not be the answer I wanted?
How do I recognize the Spirit? What does it feel like? Is it the same for everyone? What is Revelation? What are the different ways it can speak to you? Is it always a marvelous light and experience? Can you receive it for someone else?
Do I have to qualify and be worthy for it or can anyone get it? Is there a preparation process to receiving it? How can I be ready or more welcoming? How do I receive more or less promptings? Can you get promptings more often? Are there things that push the Spirit away?
Why is scripture study an important part? How can I get more out of my study and be more connected?
Is it me or the Spirit? How can I know when I have received a revelation and not just a thought/feeling of my own? How do I understand what I am hearing and feeling? Is it my anxious thoughts, OCD... or spiritual warnings? Is it like another language? *most repeated question
How do I act in faith? How do I respond/follow the prompting? Does it happen automatically without realizing? How can I Strengthen my ability to act? What if I don't listen or act?
Is it still right? How do I know if I made the right decision or received the right answer? Is it just a coincidence? Is it Satan and temptation or the Holy Ghost?
Why is it so hard? What if I can't hear or understand it, even if I feel like I'm making right choices? Why doesn't God make it easier? I feel like I've lost the connection, is the signal stronger at times? It's been a while....How long does it take? Why do some get greater ones than others?
Why should I pray or seek guidance? Does He listen to my prayers? How should I ask Him? Does He even understand what I am going through? What if I pray and don't feel his comfort or the answer?
Who is the Holy Ghost? How does he know how to comfort? Does he know all languages? Is he Bilingual? Is it the light of Christ or great spirit or spirit of god? Does everyone have their own personal Holy Ghost?
How can I stay positive with so many negative things in my life? Can revelation help strengthen my mental health? How do I push back the Darkness? How do I avoid bad thoughts and feel the Spirit more?
How do I be of good cheer and not fear, especially in this crazy world right now!? Does revelation bring sunshine and rainbows? How do I believe when I feel weak or helpless?
Why do I need the church? Is there a place for me? Am I needed?
Appendix: Preach My Gospel Scripture Study and other pictures
Prayer diagram and Picture
Why is listening to the Spirit and seeking revelation important. Why do I need it when I have my own instincts? Is it really that important to pray and read scriptures everyday? When and How often should I seek it?
President Nelson: “I promise you that if you will sincerely and persistently do the spiritual work needed to develop the crucial, spiritual skill of learning how to hear the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, you will have all the direction you will ever need in your life. You will be given answers to your questions in the Lord’s own way and in His own time.” President Nelson, Worldwide Youth Devotional • June 3, 2018 •
President Nelson: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. … I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation...If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation...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." (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 96)
Julie B. Beck: “The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life" (“And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit,” Ensign, May 2010).
“…how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will. The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children.Through the manifestations of the Holy Ghost, the Lord will assist us in all our righteous pursuits…As a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, I prayed daily for revelation and gave thanks to the Lord every time He spoke to my heart and mind. Imagine the miracle of it! Whatever our Church calling, we can pray to our Heavenly Father and receive guidance and direction, be warned about dangers and distractions, and be enabled to accomplish things we simply could not do on our own. If we will truly receive the Holy Ghost and learn to discern and understand His promptings, we will be guided in matters large and small…The Spirit is palpably present. As we wrestle with complex matters, a thrilling process unfolds…the unifying influence of the Holy Ghost is spine-tingling!” President Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” 2018
President Nelson: "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. As I said shortly after I was called as President of the Church, the Lord is ready to reveal His mind to us. That is one of His greatest blessings to us.In our day, He has promised, “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61). I know He will respond to our pleadings." Pres Nelson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/01/grow-into-the-principle-of-revelation?lang=eng
Elder Hales: “Personal revelation is the way Heavenly Father helps us know Him and His Son, learn and live the gospel, endure to the end in righteousness, and qualify for eternal life—to return back into Their presence.” Elder Robert D. Hales, “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets,” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 87.
Sister Aburto “As we draw closer to [the Savior], as we seek to receive a personal witness through the Holy Ghost of His divine mission, we will have a better understanding of our purpose; the love of God will dwell in our hearts; we will have the determination to be one in … our families, wards, and communities; and we will minister to each other.” (Sister Reyna I. Aburto With one Accord 2018)
"You have a duty to learn as much as you can. … Strive to increase your knowledge of all that is “virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy” [Articles of Faith 1:13]. Seek knowledge “by study and also by faith” (D&C 109:7). Seek with a humble spirit and contrite heart. As you apply the spiritual dimension of faith to your study—even of temporal things—you can amplify your intellectual capacity." President Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
Joseph Smith: It is the privilege of the children of God to come to God and get revelation. . . . God is not a respecter of persons; we all have the same privilege.
Pres. Worthen: “…more important, your eternal destiny will depend in large part on your ability to receive, recognize, and respond to revelation…God does not arbitrarily give us a limited number of specific chances to receive revelation and then judge us eternally on how we did in those particular moments. There is, thankfully, no one-time, single-question, high-stakes final exam on receiving revelation. God is infinitely more patient, infinitely more loving, and infinitely more anxious for us to succeed than we can comprehend. He will give us opportunity after opportunity after opportunity to be guided by Him. His deepest desire is to help us develop our innate capacity to receive revelation…But there is even more good news for those who question their ability to receive and recognize revelation despite their sincere but often seemingly ineffective efforts to do so. It is that you are likely doing better at receiving revelation than you think. The scriptures make clear that it is possible to be influenced by the Holy Ghost and not fully recognize it….So take heart. You are likely doing better than you think.” Kevin Worthen Receiving Revelation https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/kevin-j-worthen/receiving-revelation/
Elder Rasband "The Holy Ghost binds us to the Lord. By divine assignment, He inspires, testifies, teaches, and prompts us to walk in the light of the Lord. We have the sacred responsibility to learn to recognize His influence in our lives and respond."
Elder Stevenson's cautions:
Confirm your spiritual impressions. For example, impressions from the Spirit will align with the scriptures and the teachings of the living prophets.
Be certain that the feelings you receive are consistent with your assignment. Unless you are called by proper authority, impressions from the Spirit are not given for you to counsel or correct others.
Spiritual matters cannot be forced. You can cultivate an attitude and an environment that invite the Spirit, and you can prepare yourself, but you cannot dictate how or when inspiration comes. Be patient and trust that you will receive what you need when the time is right.
Use your own best judgment. Sometimes we want to be led by the Spirit in all things. However, often the Lord wants us to use our God-given intelligence and act in ways that are consistent with our best understanding. President Dallin H. Oaks taught:
“A desire to be led by the Lord is a strength, but it needs to be accompanied by an understanding that our Heavenly Father leaves many decisions for our personal choices. … Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and don’t receive it. …We should study things out in our minds. … Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it. … If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment.” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/25stevenson?lang=eng
What if I am too scared to ask/pray or move forward with the impressions? Does Fear keep me from inspiration? How can I learn to have an open heart and mind to receive revelation that may not be the answer I wanted?
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland: "In the process of revelation and making important decisions, fear plays a destructive, sometimes paralyzing role. To Oliver Cowdery, who missed the opportunity of a lifetime because he didn't seize it in the lifetime of the opportunity, the Lord said, `You did not continue as you commenced.' Does that sound familiar to those who have been illuminated and then knuckled under to second thoughts and returning doubts? ... After you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel His love and hear the word of the Lord, go forward. Don't fear, don't vacillate, don't quibble, don't whine. ... Dismiss your fears and wade in with both feet...“Fear ye not.” And when the second and the third and the fourth blows come, “fear ye not. . . . The Lord shall fight for you.” “Cast not away therefore your confidence.” Elder Holland ("Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence," Ensign, Mar. 2000).
"In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited. In the growth we all have to experience in mortality, the spiritual equivalent of this boy’s affliction or this parent’s desperation is going to come to all of us. When those moments come and issues surface, the resolution of which is not immediately forthcoming, hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes...The size of your faith or the degree of your knowledge is not the issue—it is the integrity you demonstrate toward the faith you do have and the truth you already know...Be as candid about your questions as you need to be; life is full of them on one subject or another. But if you and your family want to be healed, don’t let those questions stand in the way of faith working its miracle.
Brothers and sisters, this is a divine work in process, with the manifestations and blessings of it abounding in every direction, so please don’t hyperventilate if from time to time issues arise that need to be examined, understood, and resolved. They do and they will. In this Church, what we know will always trump what we do not know. And remember, in this world, everyone is to walk by faith." ―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "'Lord, I Believe'"
D&C 6:36 "LOOK UNTO ME IN EVERY THOUGHT, DOUBT NOT FEAR NOT" Fear not is is mentioned 365 times in the bible that's a daily reminder from God to trust Him each day
“Godly fear is loving and trusting in Him. As we fear God more completely, we love Him more perfectly. And ‘perfect love casteth out all fear.’ I promise the bright light of godly fear will chase away the dark shadows of mortal fears. As we look to the Savior, build upon Him as our foundation, and press forward on His covenant path with consecrated commitment.” Elder David A. Bednar | Therefore They Hushed Their Fears
Not answered they way you want? “It is so hard when sincere prayer about something you desire very much is not answered the way you want. It is difficult to understand why your exercise of deep and sincere faith from an obedient life does not grant the desired result. The Savior taught, “Whatsoever ye ask the Father in my name it shall be given unto you, that is expedient for you.”4 At times it is difficult to recognize what is best or expedient for you over time. Your life will be easier when you accept that what God does in your life is for your eternal good.” Richard G. Scott, “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer” 2007
How do I recognize the Spirit? What does it feel like? Is it the same for everyone? What is Revelation? What are the different ways it can speak to you? Is it always a marvelous light and experience? Can you receive it for someone else?
Elder Richard G. Scott: “The feeling of peace is the most common confirming witness that I personally experience. ... That [stupor of thought], for me, is an unsettling, discomforting feeling” (“Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer,” Ensign, May 2007, 10).
"My experience has been that the Spirit most often communicates as a feeling. You feel it in words that are familiar to you, that make sense to you, that prompt you. Consider the response of the Nephites as they listened to the Lord pray for them: “And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.” They felt in their hearts the words of His prayer. The voice of the Holy Spirit is still and small....
Do you know that voice? President Monson has taught, “As we pursue the journey of life, let us learn the language of the Spirit.”13 The Spirit speaks words that we feel. These feelings are gentle, a nudge to act, to do something, to say something, to respond in a certain way. If we are casual or complacent in our worship, drawn off and desensitized by worldly pursuits, we find ourselves diminished in our ability to feel. Nephi said to Laman and Lemuel, “Ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel [the] words.” -Elder Rasband https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng
“An impression to the mind is very specific. Detailed words can be heard or felt and written as though the instruction were being dictated. A communication to the heart is a more general impression. The Lord often begins by giving impressions. Where there is a recognition of their importance and they are obeyed, one gains more capacity to receive more detailed instruction to the mind. An impression to the heart, if followed, is fortified by a more specific instruction to the mind” Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: (“Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led” [address to CES religious educators, Aug. 11, 1998], 3–4, LDS.org)
Pres. Packer: “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.” Boyd K. Packer, That All May Be Edified, pp. 336-337
Elder Dallin H. Oaks: "I have met persons who told me they have never had a witness from the Holy Ghost because they have never felt their bosom `burn within' them. What does a `burning in the bosom' mean? ... Surely, the word `burning' in this scripture signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity. ... That is the way revelation works. Truly, the still, small voice is just that, `still' and `small'" ("Teaching and Learning by the Spirit," Ensign, Mar. 1997).
"The promise of personal revelation through the Holy Ghost is awe-inspiring, much like an airplane in flight. And like airplane pilots, we need to understand the framework within which the Holy Ghost functions to provide personal revelation. When we operate within the framework, the Holy Ghost can unleash astonishing insight, direction, and comfort. Outside of that framework, no matter our brilliance or talent, we can be deceived and crash and burn." DGR https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2022/10/14renlund?lang=eng
Elder Richard G. Scott: “What do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? ... When you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior’s teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. As you are sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit, one of two things will certainly occur at the appropriate time: either the stupor of thought will come, indicating an improper choice, or the peace ...will be felt, confirming that your choice was correct. When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision” (“Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer,” Ensign, May 2007).
At a recent devotional, I invited young adults to submit comments about how they hear the voice of the Lord. I was astounded at the amount of comments we received back. Perhaps some of their responses will resonate with you as you consider how to hear Him in your life:
I hear Him when I pray sincerely. His voice comes to me through pure and quiet thoughts.
I feel the Spirit through clarity of mind, through thoughts suddenly falling into place when they had been confusing before.
I hear Him through the beauty of nature and the power of uplifting music.
I hear Him by the peace He speaks to my mind and the confidence He gives me when I pray for help.
I hear Him as I interact with those around me. As I serve and receive service, I catch a glimpse of Him.
“I want to assure you that each of us can hear Him by listening to and heeding the promptings of the Holy Ghost. I have seen this countless times in my life.” Elder Gary E. Stevenson, Nov. 15, 2020, facebook.com/stevenson.gary.e.
Elder Jensen: "As a branch president at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah, I have heard several missionaries say in their initial interviews that they did not have testimonies or that they could never remember a time when they had had a spiritual experience. After talking about how the Spirit works, they realized that they had, in fact, had a number of spiritual experiences but had not realized it before." (Elder Jay E. Jensen, Ensign, April 1989 p.21)
President Packer: "That sweet, quiet voice of inspiration comes more as a feeling than it does as a sound. … The Holy Ghost communicates with our spirits through the mind more than through the physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings through promptings and impressions. We may feel the words of spiritual communication more than hear them, and see with spiritual rather than with mortal eyes." President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
"Revelations are conveyed in a variety of ways, including, for example, dreams, visions, conversations with heavenly messengers, and inspiration. Some revelations are received immediately and intensely; some are recognized gradually and subtly. Elder Bednar has provided one explanation of why this can happen. He likened the experience of receiving revelation to two different ways that we have experienced the physical transition from dark to light: The first experience occurred as we entered a dark room and turned on a light switch. . . . In an instant a bright flood of illumination filled the room and caused the darkness to disappear. . . .The second experience took place as we watched night turn into morning. . . . In contrast to turning on a light in a dark room, the light from the rising sun did not immediately burst forth. Rather, gradually and steadily the intensity of the light increased, and the darkness of night was replaced by the radiance of morning. Eventually, the sun did dawn over the skyline.13
Elder Bednar then explained how these two experiences relate to the receipt of revelation: A light turned on in a dark room is like receiving a message from God quickly, completely, and all at once. . . . Descriptions of such immediate and intense manifestations are found in the scriptures, recounted in Church history, and evidenced in our own lives. . . . However, this pattern of revelation tends to be more rare than common.14 By contrast, Elder Bednar explained: The gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God “line upon line, precept upon precept” (2 Nephi 28:30). . . . Such communications from Heavenly Father gradually and gently “distil upon [our souls] as the dews from heaven” (D&C 121:45). This pattern of revelation tends to be more common than rare.
"I have talked with many individuals who question the strength of their personal testimony and underestimate their spiritual capacity because they do not receive frequent, miraculous, or strong impressions. Perhaps as we consider the experiences of Joseph in the Sacred Grove, of Saul on the road to Damascus, and of Alma the Younger, we come to believe something is wrong with or lacking in us if we fall short in our lives of these well-known and spiritually striking examples. If you have had similar thoughts or doubts, please know that you are quite normal. Just keep pressing forward obediently and with faith in the Savior. As you do so, you “cannot go amiss” (D&C 80:3). We as members of the Church tend to emphasize marvelous and dramatic spiritual manifestations so much that we may fail to appreciate and may even overlook the customary pattern by which the Holy Ghost accomplishes His work. The very “simpleness of the way” (1 Nephi 17:41) of receiving small and incremental spiritual impressions that over time and in totality constitute a desired answer or the direction we need may cause us to look “beyond the mark” (Jacob 4:14). Sometimes the sun rises on a morning that is cloudy or foggy. Because of the overcast conditions, perceiving the light is more difficult, and identifying the precise moment when the sun rises over the horizon is not possible. But on such a morning we nonetheless have sufficient light to recognize a new day and to conduct our affairs." Bednar, “Spirit of Revelation.
President Joseph F. Smith once stated: As a boy . . . I would frequently . . . ask the Lord to show me some marvelous thing, in order that I might receive a testimony. But the Lord withheld marvels from me, and showed me the truth, line upon line, . . . until he made me to know the truth from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and until doubt and fear had been absolutely purged from me." (Joseph F. Smith, CR, April 1900, 40–41.)
Elder Rasband: "My experience has been that the Spirit most often communicates as a feeling. You feel it in words that are familiar to you, that make sense to you, that prompt you. Consider the response of the Nephites as they listened to the Lord pray for them: “And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.” They felt in their hearts the words of His prayer. The voice of the Holy Spirit is still and small....President Monson has taught, “As we pursue the journey of life, let us learn the language of the Spirit.” The Spirit speaks words that we feel. These feelings are gentle, a nudge to act, to do something, to say something, to respond in a certain way. If we are casual or complacent in our worship, drawn off and desensitized by worldly pursuits, we find ourselves diminished in our ability to feel. Nephi said to Laman and Lemuel, “Ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel [the] words.” Elder Rasband, "Let the Holy Spirit Guide" https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng
A person is not given revelation to direct another person unless they have priesthood or family responsibility for that person. “This principle is described by Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as the principle of “stewardship in revelation.” This means that “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. … When one person purports to receive revelation for another person outside his or her own area of responsibility … you can be sure that such revelations are not from the Lord” (“Revelation,” New Era, Sept. 1982, 46). Elder Gerald N. Lund “Is It Revelation?”
Scriptures to Study: DC 8:2–3; 9:8-9; Moroni 7:12–13 Galatians 5:22–23
Elder Bednar Patterns of Light Part 1 (Light of Christ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fycvkAhYz1I
Elder Bednar Patterns of Spiritual Light Part 3 (Spirit of Revelation) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slTa15a3mp0
Elder Bednar Patterns of Spiritual Light Part 2 (thoughts vs spirit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDEXQ-GTYTs
How do I recognize it? Elder Bednar https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_EzSp84wbA
Do I have to qualify and be worthy for it or can anyone get it? Is there a preparation process to receiving it? How can I be ready or more welcoming? How do I receive more or less promptings? Can you get promptings more often? Are there things that push the Spirit away?
Elder David A. Bednar: "The spirit of revelation ... is not restricted to the presiding authorities of the Church; rather, it belongs to ... every man, woman, and child who reaches the age of accountability and enters into sacred covenants. ... Because the Spirit whispers to us gently and delicately, it is easy to understand why we should shun inappropriate media, pornography, and harmful, addictive substances and behaviors. These tools of the adversary can impair and eventually destroy our capacity to recognize and respond to the subtle messages from God...” ("The Spirit of Revelation," Ensign, May 2011)
“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,14 and regular time committed to temple and family history work.” President Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” 2018
“Receiving revelation comes, at least in my case, when I have still and quiet moments. You cannot connect with heaven in a mass of clutter. You have to find those quiet moments in your life when you can contemplate the things of the Spirit. In my experience, when I am in that mode and striving to be still, that’s when I get impressions. That’s when I get a thought that I know is from heaven...
I have great worry for my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren—in fact, all young people—in the world today. I fear that they are being captured by social media, texting, emails, and other distractions. While technology can be a blessing in our lives, it can also be a distraction that places a barrier between us and our ability to hear the Lord’s voice. I tell my grandchildren that they should set aside quiet time each day to think about their lives and ponder what the Lord wants them to do. I encourage you to do the same.” President M. Russell Ballard, Facebook, Aug. 9, 2020, facebook.com/mrussell.ballard.
"...It is vital to our physical and spiritual safety that we keep the gift of the Holy Ghost. We begin to do so by striving to keep the commandments, having individual and family prayer, reading the scriptures, and seeking loving and forgiving relationships with family and loved ones. We should keep our thoughts, actions, and language virtuous. We should worship our Heavenly Father in our homes, at church, and, whenever possible, in the holy temple. Stay close to the Spirit, and the Spirit will stay close to you." -Elder Stevenson www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/how-does-the-holy-ghost-help-you?lang=eng
“Choose to be humble. Voluntarily seek the Lord and trust His guidance. We’re more prepared to hear Him when we have a teachable heart.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Facebook, Nov. 3, 2022, facebook.com/jeffreyr.holland.
"If we let the Lord know in our morning prayers that we are ready, He will call on us to respond. If we respond, He will call on us time and time again and we will find ourselves on what President Monson calls “the Lord’s errand." We will become spiritual first responders bringing help from on high. If we pay attention to the promptings that come to us, we will grow in the spirit of revelation and receive more and more Spirit-driven insight and direction. The Lord has said, “Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good.” -Elder Rasband https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng
“Be worthy to hear the still, small voice as it speaks to you and turns you toward the right. As you listen, as you are worthy and have the guidance of the Holy Ghost, it will keep you safe, guide you in the way you should go, and bring peace to your life.” Elder Neil L. Andersen, July 20, 2022, facebook.com/neill.andersen.
President Nelson "Refining our ability to recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost and increasing our capacity to receive revelation requires worthiness. Worthiness does not require perfection, but it requires that we strive for increased purity. The Lord expects daily effort, daily improvement, daily repentance. Worthiness brings purity, and purity qualifies us for the Holy Ghost. As we take “the Holy Spirit for [our] guide” (Doctrine and Covenants 45:57), we qualify for personal revelation. If something is stopping us from opening the door to heavenly direction, we may need to repent. Repentance allows us to open the door so we can hear the voice of the Lord more frequently and clearly...
“The standard is clear,” taught Elder David A. Bednar“If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing. If that which is intended to entertain, for example, alienates us from the Holy Spirit, then certainly that type of entertainment is not for us. Because the Spirit cannot abide that which is vulgar, crude, or immodest, then clearly such things are not for us.”When we couple increased purity and obedience with fasting, diligent seeking, study of the scriptures and the words of living prophets, and temple and family history work, the heavens will open. The Lord, in turn, will fulfill His promise: “I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:13). (President Nelson Grow into the principle of Revelation 2021, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/01/grow-into-the-principle-of-revelation?lang=eng
Prophet Joseph Smith once stated: “A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.”
"Remember the Lord’s promise: “I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy.” I love that assurance. Joy that fills our souls brings with it an eternal perspective in contrast to day-to-day living. That joy comes as peace amidst hardship or heartache. It provides comfort and courage, unfolds the truths of the gospel, and expands our love for the Lord and all God’s children. Although the need for such blessings is so great, in many ways the world has forgotten and forsaken them." Elder Rasband https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng
President Boyd K. Packer: “You can learn now, in your youth, to be led by the Holy Ghost. As an Apostle I listen now to the same inspiration, coming from the same source, in the same way, that I listened to as a boy. The signal is much clearer now” (“Prayers and Answers,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 21).
“Time of introspection is an opportunity for spiritual recalibration. It is a garden of reflection where we can walk with the Lord and be instructed, edified, and purified by the written and Spirit-revealed word of our Heavenly Father. It is a sacred time when we remember our solemn covenants to follow the gentle Christ, when we assess our progress and align ourselves with the spiritual landmarks God has provided for His children...
Think of it as your personal, daily restoration. On our journey as pilgrims on the path of glory, we know how easy it is to fall away. But just as minor deviations can draw us out of the Savior’s Way, so too can small and simple acts of realignment assuredly lead us back. When darkness creeps into our lives, as it often does, our daily restoration opens our hearts to heavenly light, which illuminates our souls, chasing away shadows, fears, and doubts.” Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Facebook, Mar. 11, 2022, facebook.com/dieterf.uchtdorf.
President Thomas S. Monson: "We watch. We wait. We listen for that still, small voice. When it speaks, wise men and women obey. Promptings of the Spirit are not to be postponed" (Live the Good Life,” Ensign, Nov. 1988).
President Nelson: "To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to “ask with a sincere heart [and] real intent, having faith in [Jesus] Christ” (Moroni 10:4). “Real intent” means that one really intends to follow the divine direction given." Elder Russell M. Nelson
President Nelson: "On September 30, 2017, following the afternoon session of general conference, I stopped by the hospital to check on my beloved quorum member Elder Robert D. Hales. He had been hospitalized since suffering a heart attack a few days earlier. We had a wonderful visit, and he seemed to be improving. He was even breathing on his own, which was a good sign. That evening, however, the Spirit spoke to my heart and mind that I should return to the hospital on Sunday. During the Sunday morning session of general conference, that strong impression returned. I felt that I should skip lunch and hurry to Elder Hales’s bedside as soon as the morning session ended, which I did. When I arrived, I could see that Elder Hales had taken a serious turn for the worse. Sadly, he passed away 10 minutes after I arrived, but I am thankful that I was at his side with his sweet wife, Mary, and their two sons when he departed this life. How grateful I am that the whisperings of the Holy Ghost prompted me to do something I might not have done otherwise." https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/01/grow-into-the-principle-of-revelation?lang=eng
Pres. Worthen: “Spiritual preparation includes daily scripture study, daily prayer, keeping the commandments, sacrament meeting attendance, Sabbath-day observance, and regular temple worship. These are all familiar tasks that we are regularly counseled to attend to. I hope, however, that repetition does not cause us to undervalue the significance of these actions. We repeatedly emphasize such spiritually enhancing activities because they are so important. Spiritual preparation facilitates revelation….over time I have come to find that early-morning time is sacred, a time when few people interrupt and, more important, my mind is more open and “invigorated”—or alive—to new ideas and spiritual impressions. I have learned to keep a notepad by my bedside—as thoughts and ideas often come early in the morning—and to make scripture study and prayer my first order of morning business. I urge you to consider the same…..Set aside time and space when you can focus on being open to those thoughts and feelings. Turn off the music; pause Netflix; take out your earbuds. Find time to listen to your feelings…
In the end, the one thing we can do to increase our ability to receive revelation is to trust God more—to increase our faith in Him. As President Nelson observed, “The most important truth the Holy Ghost will ever witness to you is that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.”36 Revelation will increase as we focus more on Christ as we follow His direction to look unto Him “in every thought.”37 As we do so, He will—in His own time and in His own way—bless us with revelation that will lead to not only inspiring learning but also to eternal exaltation. -Kevin Worthen Receiving Revelation https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/kevin-j-worthen/receiving-revelation/
“The Lord’s voice is still and small and it whispers. If our lives are filled with “noise,” we will find it difficult to hear. We must find ways to reduce the inner noise in our lives and create times of inner stillness and quiet. There are many sources of inner noise. Some are obvious. Sin can create tremendous inner noise. Anger and contention are a major source of inner noise. Other sources of inner noise are not necessarily bad in and of themselves. Physical tiredness, stress, busyness, apathy, and worry can all create inner noises of their own.
Even outer noise can detract from inner quiet. We often live in envelopes of outer noise. This is not a bad thing, but it may interfere at times with the quiet whisperings the Lord wants to give us.When we desperately desire something, it creates a great rush of emotion within us. And high emotion can mask or cover spiritual promptings. Even if the thing we desire is a good thing, our “wants” may be so high that we become unwilling or unable to hear the Lord’s will in the matter. Thankfully, the scriptures and the prophets teach us how to reduce inner noise and create times of quiet and reverence.
Reading and studying the word of God is a great source of inner quiet. You can feel things begin to change. The agitation melts away, and peace comes in its place. I have experienced that time and again in my own life.Prayer is another source of inner quiet and serenity. I am not talking about the I-have-to-do-my-duty sort of prayers. I speak of prayers that are consistent, focused, and submissive to God’s will.We can increase our own personal reverence. In sacrament meetings we can sit quietly and prepare for the covenant-making process offered there…Finally, deliberately put aside the cares of the world, put aside the rush of our daily lives, and find a quiet place and a quiet time to sit and ponder and reflect and meditate.If the voice of the Lord is still and small and it whispers, should it surprise us that His counsel is “Be still and know that I am God”? (D&C 101:16).” Elder Lund, “Is It Revelation” 2 December, 1997
President Nelson explained:“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.”
Boyd K. Packer: “What you learn spiritually depends, to a degree, on how you treat your body. That is why the Word of Wisdom is so important...The habit-forming substances prohibited by that revelation—tea, coffee, liquor, tobacco—interfere with the delicate feelings of spiritual communication, just as other addictive drugs will do. Do not ignore the Word of Wisdom, for that may cost you the “great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures” promised to those who keep it. [Packer, “Personal Revelation”; quoting D&C 89:19]
President Packer similarly observed: "Perhaps the single greatest thing I learned from reading the Book of Mormon is that the voice of the Spirit comes as a feeling rather than a sound. You will learn, as I have learned, to “listen” for that voice that is felt rather than heard.”
“As we strive to align our attitudes and actions with righteousness, then the Holy Ghost becomes for us today what the Liahona was for Lehi and his family in their day. The very factors that caused the Liahona to work for Lehi will likewise invite the Holy Ghost into our lives. And the very factors that caused the Liahona not to work anciently will likewise cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost today.” Elder David A. Bednar | Conference Report, April 2006
“Please be careful of becoming so immersed and engrossed in pixels, texting, earbuds, twittering, online social networking, and potentially addictive uses of media and the Internet that you fail to recognize the importance of your physical body and miss the richness of person-to-person communication. Beware of digital displays and data in many forms of computer-mediated interaction that can displace the full range of physical capacity and experience......
“...Sadly, some young men and young women in the Church today ignore “things as they really are” and neglect eternal relationships for digital distractions, diversions, and detours that have no lasting value. My heart aches when a young couple—sealed together in the house of the Lord for time and for all eternity by the power of the holy priesthood—experiences marital difficulties because of the addicting effect of excessive video gaming or online socializing. A young man or woman may waste countless hours, postpone or forfeit vocational or academic achievement, and ultimately sacrifice cherished human relationships because of mind- and spirit-numbing video and online games. As the Lord declared, “Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment … : Thou shalt not idle away thy time, neither shalt thou bury thy talent that it may not be known” (D&C 60:13).” Elder David A. Bednar | Things as They Really Are
The Spirit of the Lord can be our guide and will bless us with direction, instruction, and spiritual protection during our mortal journey. We invite the Holy Ghost into our lives through meaningful personal and family prayer, feasting upon the words of Christ, diligent and exacting obedience, faithfulness and honoring of covenants, and through virtue, humility, and service. And we steadfastly should avoid things that are immodest, coarse, crude, sinful, or evil that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost. [“That We May Always Have His Spirit to Be with Us,” Ensign, May 2006, 31]
James Porter: "How can we lose the ability to receive the Spirit in our lives? Look at Laman and Lemuel. We learn from Nephi’s account that they were prideful (see 1 Nephi 2:11) and unbelieving (see 1 Nephi 2:13). They were unwilling to follow the commands of the Lord (see 1 Nephi 3:5). They physically and verbally abused their younger brothers (see 1 Nephi 3:28). They were rebellious (see 1 Nephi 7:6). They also murmured a lot. As a result, “they knew not the dealings of that God who had created them” (1 Nephi 2:12). In essence, they had a spiritual receptor insensitivity disease....What treatment is available for those with spiritual receptor insensitivity? Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin taught that a dose of repentance could help. He said: I invite you to ponder individually in a humble and prayerful manner and ask yourself: “Do I have the Spirit in my life? Am I happy? Am I doing anything in my life that is offensive to the Spirit and preventing the Holy Ghost from being my constant companion?” Have the courage to repent, if needed, and again enjoy the companionship of the Holy Ghost. [“The Unspeakable Gift,” Ensign, May 2003, 28]. If we find ourselves “past feeling” because our spiritual receptors are insensitive, we need to repent and rely on the power of Christ’s Atonement to restore us to a condition in which we can again receive those promptings. I am amazed at how quickly the Spirit returns when I sincerely repent. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/james-p-porter/receiving-and-recognizing-the-holy-ghost/
Why is scripture study an important part? How can I get more out of my study and be more connected?
Elder Robert D. Hales: "What a glorious blessing! For when we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. [“Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation,” Ensign, November 2006, 26]
“Search the scriptures—search the revelations which we publish, and ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to His glory nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit. You will then know for yourselves and not for another. You will not then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God; nor will there be any room for speculation” (Prophet Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, sel. Joseph Fielding Smith [1976], 11–12).
“I hope you’re having the same experience as a young adult. Stay anchored in your study of the scriptures, and say your prayers every day. Start your day with a prayer, end your day with a prayer, and talk to the Lord as necessary throughout the day. Whatever your circumstances, I hope you will have the same experience I had with the Holy Ghost at your age.” President M. Russell Ballard, Facebook, Apr. 14, 2021, facebook.com/mrussell.ballard.
“As you seek inspiration to gain the wisdom you need in your lives, I invite you to look unto the Savior. One excellent way to come unto Christ is to read the Book of Mormon—from beginning to end—and identify the attributes and characteristics of Jesus Christ found therein. As you do this with real intent and sincerity of heart, you can come to hear His voice. You can come to know Him in a very remarkable way.” Elder David A. Bednar, Facebook, Sept. 12, 2021, facebook.com/davida.bednar.
“I am grateful for emphasis on reading the scriptures. I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that, rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted. At first it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thoughts and words of things divine” (President Gordon B. Hinckley “The Light within You,” Ensign, May 1995, 99).
“As you prayerfully study, I promise that the heavens will open for you. The Lord will bless you with increased inspiration and revelation. As you read, I would encourage you to mark each verse that speaks of or refers to the Savior. Then be intentional about talking of Christ, rejoicing in Christ, and preaching of Christ with your families and friends. You and they will be drawn closer to the Savior through this process. And changes, even miracles, will begin to happen” (President Russell M. Nelson, “Sisters’ Participation in the Gathering of Israel,” Ensign, Nov. 2018, 69-70).
“Pondering a passage of scripture can be a key to unlock revelation and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Ghost. Scriptures can calm an agitated soul, giving peace, hope, and a restoration of confidence in one’s ability to overcome the challenges of life. They have potent power to heal emotional challenges when there is faith in the Savior. They can accelerate physical healing” (Elder Richard G. Scott “The Power of Scripture,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 6).
“When individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, … other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow” (President Ezra Taft Benson “The Power of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 81).
“I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel” (President Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 135).
Is it me or the Spirit? How can I know when I have received a revelation and not just a thought/feeling of my own? How do I understand what I am hearing and feeling? Is it my anxious thoughts, OCD... or spiritual warnings? Is it like another language? *most repeated question
“People will sometimes question whether it’s inspiration or whether it’s my own thought. We have to act, then we find out if it’s coming from me or it’s the power of God. So, for an example, you may have an occasion where you fail to say your morning prayers, and you all of the sudden hear the voice of your mother who, when you were a small boy would say, ‘Remember to say your morning prayers, remember to say your evening prayers.’ Why would God send an angel to deliver that message to you when the Holy Ghost can bring back to you the recollection of the remembrance of your angel mother reminding you to pray? The effect is the same. Everything that invites and entices us to do good and to be good comes from God. People ask, ‘Well why not make it easy to recognize all the time?’ I would suggest that the simple answer is because God trusts us. He shouldn’t have to dramatically shake us to get our attention. Those who are baptized members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints receive by the laying on of hands, the gift of the Holy Ghost. Now, any person anywhere in the world, can and is influenced by the Holy Ghost. But after baptism by proper authority, one receives this ordinance of the Holy Ghost. That gift, as it operates in our life, as we seek and ask, invites inspiration from Heaven and revelation.”- Patterns of Light: Discerning Light- Elder Bednar
DAB stake conference and bball story: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CoAcl9fJ5q6/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
"If you’ve asked this question, you’re not alone. For many of us, revelation sometimes can be hard to recognize. In part, the answer depends on how you’re living and how humble you are. If you do your best to be worthy of the Spirit and strive to be humble so that the Lord can direct you, answers will come (see D&C 112:10). As you ponder whether a thought or feeling is from the Spirit, consider this counsel from the prophet Mormon: “Every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Moroni 7:16). Along these lines, President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910–2008) taught, “That’s the test, when all is said and done. Does it persuade one to do good, to rise, to stand tall, to do the right thing, to be kind, to be generous? Then it is of the Spirit of God” (Preach My Gospel [2004], 97). (New Era 2014)
Elder Bednar: “How can I tell when I’m being prompted by the Spirit?…Quit worrying about it. Quit fussing with it. Quit analyzing it. You be a good boy, you be a good girl, you honor your covenants, you keep the commandments; and I promise you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ that as you press forward with faith in Christ, your footsteps will be guided. As you open your mouth, it will be filled, and you will be where you need to be, and most of the time, you will not even have any idea how you got there.” Elder David A. Bednar
"We must act on the first prompting. Remember the words of Nephi. “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless,” he said, “I went forth.” And so must we. We must be confident in our first promptings. Sometimes we rationalize; we wonder if we are feeling a spiritual impression or if it is just our own thoughts. When we begin to second-guess, even third-guess, our feelings—and we all have—we are dismissing the Spirit; we are questioning divine counsel. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if you will listen to the first promptings, you will get it right nine times out of ten. Now a caution: don’t expect fireworks because you responded to the Holy Ghost...
Remember, you are about the work of the still, small voice. First promptings are pure inspiration from heaven. When they confirm or testify to us, we need to recognize them for what they are and never let them slip past. So often, it is the Spirit inspiring us to reach out to someone in need, family and friends in particular. “Thus … the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things,”points us to opportunities to teach the gospel, to bear testimony of the Restoration and Jesus Christ, to offer support and concern, and to rescue one of God’s precious children. -Elder Rasband https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng
Sheri Dew: “Because the Holy Ghost will show us everything we should do, it only makes sense to learn how He communicates – or to learn the language of revelation. Our challenge is not getting the Lord to speak to us; our challenge is understanding what He has to say (see D&C 6:14). I remember a time when I was desperate for guidance on a crucial decision. I had fasted and prayed and been to the temple, but the answer wasn't clear. In frustration I told a friend that I just couldn't get an answer. He responded, simply: ‘Have you asked the Lord to teach you how He communicates with you?’ I hadn't, so I began to pray daily that He would. ... The scriptures are the handbook for the language of revelation. They are our personal Liahona. If you will regularly immerse yourself in the scriptures, you'll get clearer, more frequent answers to your prayers. Learning this language takes time” (You Were Born to Lead, You Were Born for Glory,” BYU Devot. Dec. 9, 2003).
Elder Scott "Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. …The inspiring influence of the Holy Spirit can be overcome or masked by strong emotions, such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride. When such influences are present, it is like trying to savor the delicate flavor of a grape while eating a jalapeño pepper. Both flavors are present, but one completely overpowers the other. In like manner, strong emotions overcome the delicate promptings of the Holy Spirit." Elder Richard G. Scott “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance” 2009
“Morning and evening prayers—and all of the prayers in between—are not unrelated, discrete events; rather, they are linked together each day and across days, weeks, months, and even years. This is in part how we fulfill the scriptural admonition to ‘pray always’” Elder David A. Bednar | “Pray Always,” Ensign, November 2008, 42
“In your mind and in your heart”—think about that. If the Lord spoke something to our mind, how would it come? We would probably describe it as “thoughts.” If He tells us something in our hearts, we would probably describe that as “feelings.”...Thoughts and feelings are the most common ways the Lord gives His children personal revelation. And therein lies a challenge. Every one of us is a stream of thoughts and feelings. In the midst of that torrent of thought and feeling, the Lord from time to time inserts a thought or a feeling that comes from Him. How do we tell the difference?...“Another mistake some make is to covet the more dramatic forms of revelation. God reveals His mind and will to man across a broad spectrum of experiences. These may range from the very direct and dramatic: the appearance of divine beings, open visions, fire from heaven. Or they may be very subtle: quiet premonitions, gentle thoughts, a feeling of peace. These are by far the most common. We must be careful we don’t feel that only the more direct forms of revelation are valid." Elder Gerald N. Lund “Is It Revelation?
Great Resources:
Elder Bednar Patterns of Spiritual Light Part 2 (thoughts vs spirit) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDEXQ-GTYTs
Elder Bednar, I have Learned for Myself, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7BXKyxAna4
How do I act in faith? How do I respond/follow the prompting? Does it happen automatically without realizing? How can I Strengthen my ability to act? What if I don't listen or act?
President Nelson: " The next requirement is to study the matter diligently. This concept was taught to leaders of this restored Church when they were first learning how to gain personal revelation. The Lord instructed them, “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” [D&C 9:8]." Elder Russell M. Nelson
"President Nelson: "Knowing how the Spirit speaks is essential today. To receive personal revelation, to find answers, and to receive protection and direction, we remember the pattern the Prophet Joseph Smith set for us. First, we immerse ourselves in the scriptures. Doing so opens our minds and hearts to the Savior’s teachings and truths. The words of Christ “tell [us] all things what [we] should do” (2 Nephi 32:3), especially in these days of uncertainty and upheaval.
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. The Lord says, “Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:63). Drawing near to the Lord brings comfort and encouragement, hope and healing. So, we pray in His name about our worries and our weaknesses, our longings and our loved ones, our callings and our questions.
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. Recording those impressions will help us remember what actions the Lord would have us take. As we repeat this process, we will, in the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith, “grow into the principle of revelation.” (President Nelson Grow into the principle of Revelation 2021, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/01/grow-into-the-principle-of-revelation?lang=eng
Pres. Worthen: “When we feel impressed to do something good for someone else, there is little need to deliberate about the source of the feeling. The ancient prophet Mormon made clear that such promptings are always from the Lord: That which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. Never suppress a feeling to help others. It is among the clearest forms of revelation. Moreover, such generous acts often facilitate further revelation. As President Henry B. Eyring recently observed, “We receive the Holy Spirit best when we are focused on serving others.” Kevin Worthen Receiving Revelation https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/kevin-j-worthen/receiving-revelation/
God is eager to pour out His Spirit to guide parents. As you are prayerful and sensitive to the Spirit, He will warn you of hidden dangers. He will reveal your children’s gifts, their strengths, and their unspoken concerns.God will help you see your children as He sees them—beyond their outward appearance and into their hearts.With God’s help, you can learn to know your children in a pure and heavenly way. I invite you to accept God’s offer to guide your family by personal revelation. Seek His guidance in your prayers. Elder Utchdorf https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/04/29uchtdorf?lang=eng
Elder Ballard: “Listen to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. … You’ll have a prompting to say something or to do something in relationship to those that you serve with or in your neighborhood or so forth. Do it! Trust the Lord.” “Beware of Apathy,” Greg Hill and Ian Houstan, Church News, week ending May 3, 2008, 15.
Pres. Packer: “The gift of the Holy Ghost, if you consent, will guide and protect you and even correct your actions. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought or a feeling put into your heart. … It is not expected that you go through life without making mistakes, but you will not make a major mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Spirit. This promise applies to all members of the Church.” President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 17–18.
Elder Rasband: "Remember the words of Nephi. “I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless,” he said, “I went forth.”And so must we. We must be confident in our first promptings. Sometimes we rationalize; we wonder if we are feeling a spiritual impression or if it is just our own thoughts. When we begin to second-guess, even third-guess, our feelings—and we all have—we are dismissing the Spirit; we are questioning divine counsel. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if you will listen to the first promptings, you will get it right nine times out of ten...Now a caution: don’t expect fireworks because you responded to the Holy Ghost. Remember, you are about the work of the still, small voice...First promptings are pure inspiration from heaven. When they confirm or testify to us, we need to recognize them for what they are and never let them slip past. So often, it is the Spirit inspiring us to reach out to someone in need, family and friends in particular. “Thus … the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things,” points us to opportunities to teach the gospel, to bear testimony of the Restoration and Jesus Christ, to offer support and concern, and to rescue one of God’s precious children." Let the Holy Spirit Guide, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng
“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!…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.” President Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” 2018
"In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon (see 2 Nephi 2:26), and to trust in Him. We may not see angels, hear heavenly voices, or receive overwhelming spiritual impressions. We frequently may press forward hoping and praying—but without absolute assurance—that we are acting in accordance with God’s will. But as we honor our covenants and keep the commandments, as we strive ever more consistently to do good and to become better, we can walk with the confidence that God will guide our steps. And we can speak with the assurance that God will inspire our utterances. This is in part the meaning of the scripture that declares, “Then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God” (D&C 121:45). As you appropriately seek for and apply unto the spirit of revelation, I promise you will “walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5; 2 Nephi 12:5). Sometimes the spirit of revelation will operate immediately and intensely, other times subtly and gradually, and often so delicately you may not even consciously recognize it. But regardless of the pattern whereby this blessing is received, the light it provides will illuminate and enlarge your soul, enlighten your understanding (see Alma 5:7; 32:28), and direct and protect you and your family." Elder Bednar "The Spirit of Revelation" 2011
“The scriptures and the prophets warn us about seeking to be directed in every matter of life. The Lord says: “It is not meet [it is not proper or good] that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward” (D&C 58:26).There are some things that don’t matter to the Lord; He leaves the choice up to us (see D&C 60:5). Striking the balance between trust in the Lord and spiritual self-reliance is a delicate matter, but it is clear that the Lord does not want us to be spiritual robots who are afraid to move without first being told what to do.” Elder Gerald N. Lund “Is It Revelation?”
Elder Bednar Being an Agent to ACT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WIuG9VqG4M&list=PLAYgY8SPtEWGdk48FbKS9nIJ4mEcj_U5x&index=1
-Acting not be acted upon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Nzcpe0mbVY
-Create a pattern of acting https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJJVazeQHI
Is it still right? How do I know if I made the right decision or received the right answer? Is it just a coincidence? Is it Satan and temptation or the Holy Ghost?
"If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. You can find an apartment. You can win over your mother-in-law. You can sell your harmonica and therein fund one more meal. It’s been done before. Don’t give in. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. He wants everyone to be miserable like unto himself. Face your doubts. Master your fears. 'Cast not away therefore your confidence.' Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you.―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence"
Elder Scott: "Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly. In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance. It is a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness. Elder Richard G. Scott
Elder Holland: “Paul said, but don’t “draw back,” he warned. Don’t panic and retreat. Don’t lose your confidence. Don’t forget how you once felt. Don’t distrust the experience you had. That tenacity is what saved Moses when the adversary confronted him, and it is what will save you…This opposition turns up almost anyplace something good has happened. It can happen when you are trying to get an education. It can hit you after your first month in your new mission field. It certainly happens in matters of love and marriage. I would like to have a dollar for every person in a courtship who knew he or she had felt the guidance of the Lord in that relationship, had prayed about the experience enough to know it was the will of the Lord, knew they loved each other and enjoyed each other’s company, and saw a lifetime of wonderful compatibility ahead—only to panic, to get a brain cramp, to have total catatonic fear sweep over them. They “draw back,” as Paul said, if not into perdition at least into marital paralysis…
I am not saying you shouldn’t be very careful about something as significant and serious as marriage. And I certainly am not saying that a young man can get a revelation that he is to marry a certain person without that young woman getting the same confirmation. I have seen a lot of those one-way revelations in young people’s lives. Yes, there are cautions and considerations to make, but once there has been genuine illumination, beware the temptation to retreat from a good thing. If it was right when you prayed about it and trusted it and lived for it, it is right now. Don’t give up when the pressure mounts. You can find an apartment. You can win over your mother-in-law. You can sell your harmonica and therein fund one more meal. It’s been done before. Don’t give in. Certainly don’t give in to that being who is bent on the destruction of your happiness. He wants everyone to be miserable like unto himself. Face your doubts. Master your fears. “Cast not away therefore your confidence.” Stay the course and see the beauty of life unfold for you. Elder Holland ("Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence," Ensign, Mar. 2000). https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/jeffrey-r-holland/cast-not-away-therefore-your-confidence/
Elder Scott: "You live in a world where it is increasingly more difficult to assure that your worthy dreams and aspirations will come true by avoiding the allurements and temptations that Satan would put in your path to destroy you. You may have doubts about your own self-worth. You want to be accepted. You have questions about your future and about how to gain true and enduring friendships. You want to find an eternal companion who has the same deep desire to live worthily and to accomplish much of good in this life. For many, you want to know if the person you have growing feelings for is indeed the one to be your eternal companion. But you are not sure of your ability to decide. You are growing in spiritual discipline—that is, your ability to discern the promptings of the Spirit and your capacity to follow them. Over time, that capacity will increase and grow stronger until it becomes easier and easier to automatically do the right things. You have built a shield against temptation. But now, while that spiritual discipline is developing, you must be very careful to avoid choices that would take you from the path of happiness...
Satan is determined at this critical time of your life to overpower you, not with an onslaught of serious temptation suddenly presented but by carefully placed alluring, but seemingly unimportant infractions of your long-established standards. He would use these temptations to skillfully lead you away from the path of righteousness. Satan knows that as long as you can be led by the Holy Spirit, you can resist him. He has no power over a righteous person. The Lord has made it possible for you to resist the devil’s temptations. When obedient, you will be inspired to know what to do and have the capacity to do it...Live well within the wonderful area of good the Lord has defined and you won’t have any problems with temptation. If you are not sure whether something is appropriate to look at, to listen to, to think about, or to do—don’t do it. You could be headed for one of Satan’s traps." Elder Scott, Do What is Right https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/richard-g-scott/do-what-is-right/
“Every one of us runs the risk of fear. You do, and I do. Did you catch the line I tried to emphasize as I read the account from the Pearl of Great Price? For a moment in that confrontation, “Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell” (Moses 1:20). That’s when you see it—when you are afraid.That is exactly the problem that beset the children of Israel at the edge of the Red Sea. That is lesson number two. It has everything to do with holding fast to earlier illumination. The record says, “And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid.”
Some, just like those Paul had described earlier, said, “Let’s go back. This isn’t worth it. We must have been wrong. That probably wasn’t the right spirit telling us to leave Egypt.” What they actually said to Moses was, “Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? . . . It had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness” (Exodus 14:10–12).And I have to say, “What about that which has already happened? What about the miracles that got you here? What about the frogs and the lice? What about the rod and the serpent, the river and the blood? What about the hail, the locusts, the fire, and the firstborn sons?” How soon we forget. Of course our faith will be tested as we fight through these self-doubts and second thoughts. Some days we will be miraculously led out of Egypt—seemingly free, seemingly on our way—only to come to yet another confrontation, like all that water lying before us. At those times we must resist the temptation to panic and to give up. At those times fear will be the strongest of the adversary’s weapons against us.
“And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord. . . . The Lord shall fight for you.” …After you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel his love and hear the word of the Lord, “go forward.” Don’t fear, don’t vacillate, don’t quibble, don’t whine. You may, like Alma going to Ammonihah, have to find a route that leads an unusual way, but that is exactly what the Lord was doing here for the children of Israel. Nobody had ever crossed the Red Sea this way, but so what? There’s always a first time. With the spirit of revelation, dismiss your fears and wade in with both feet.
God will also provide the means and power to achieve that purpose. Trust in that eternal truth. If God has told you something is right, if something is indeed true for you, he will provide the way for you to accomplish it….I believe that in our own individual ways, God takes us to the grove or the mountain or the temple and there shows us the wonder of what his plan is for us. We may not see it as fully as Moses or Nephi or the brother of Jared did, but we see as much as we need to see in order to know the Lord’s will for us and to know that he loves us beyond mortal comprehension.” Elder Holland ("Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence," Ensign, Mar. 2000).
"Satan is extremely good at blocking spiritual communication by inducing individuals, through temptation, to violate the laws upon which spiritual communication is founded. With some, he is able to convince them that they are not able to receive such guidance from the Lord.Satan has become a master at using the addictive power of pornography to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit. The onslaught of pornography in all of its vicious, corroding, destructive forms has caused great grief, suffering, heartache, and destroyed marriages. It is one of the most damning influences on earth. This potent tool of Lucifer degrades the mind and the heart and the soul of any who use it. All who are caught in its seductive, tantalizing web and remain so will become addicted to its immoral, destructive influence. For many, that addiction cannot be overcome without help. The tragic pattern is so familiar. It begins with curiosity that is fueled by its stimulation and is justified by the false premise that when done privately, it does no harm to anyone else. For those lulled by this lie, the experimentation goes deeper, with more powerful stimulations, until the trap closes and a terribly immoral, addictive habit exercises its vicious control...If you are ensnarled in pornography, make a total commitment to overcome it now. Find a quiet place; pray urgently for help and support. Be patient and obedient. Don’t give up."Elder Scott “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance” 2009
"Satan will use rationalization to destroy you. That is, he will twist something you know to be wrong so that it appears to be acceptable and thus progressively lead you to destruction. Love, as defined by the Lord, elevates, protects, respects, and enriches another. It motivates one to make sacrifices for another. Satan promotes counterfeit love, which is lust. It is driven by a hunger to appease personal appetite. One who practices this deception cares little for the pain and destruction caused another. While often camouflaged by flattering words, its motivation is self-gratification. You know how to be clean and live a righteous life. We trust you to do it. The Lord will bless you richly and will help you keep clean and pure. -Elder Scott
Elder Holland Wrong Roads https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNQC-_srxH8
Why is it so hard? What if I can't hear or understand it, even if I feel like I'm making right choices? Why doesn't God make it easier? I feel like I've lost the connection, is the signal stronger at times? It's been a while....How long does it take? Why do some get greater ones than others?
"We may need to be patient, but God will speak to us in His own way and in His own time." President Nelson
“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. What may appear initially to be a daunting task will be much easier to manage over time as you consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive from the Holy Ghost will also become stronger. I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear…Have patience as you are perfecting your ability to be led by the Spirit. By careful practice, through the application of correct principles, and by being sensitive to the feelings that come, you will gain spiritual guidance. I bear witness that the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, can speak to your mind and heart. Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down like spiritual dictation.” Elder Scott “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance” 2009
Worthen: "They had received and been influenced by revelation, but they knew it not. A similar thing happened to Oliver Cowdery, who received a witness before he met Joseph Smith that Joseph’s message was true. However, he later questioned whether that was the case and sought another revelation. As Elder David A. Bednar once explained, the Lord’s reassuring response—found in section 6 of the Doctrine and Covenants11
..."was a revelation . . . informing [Oliver] that he had been receiving revelation. Apparently Oliver had not recognized how and when he had been receiving direction from God and needed this instruction to increase his understanding about the spirit of revelation." 12Thus we can receive and be influenced by revelation without fully recognizing it. I believe that happens more often than we think and that, therefore, we are better at the process than we might initially suppose. https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/kevin-j-worthen/receiving-revelation/
“Should you ever feel distanced from our Father, it could be for many reasons. Whatever the cause, as you continue to plead for help, He will guide you to do that which will restore your confidence that He is near. Pray even when you have no desire to pray. Sometimes, like a child, you may misbehave and feel you cannot approach your Father with a problem. That is when you most need to pray. Never feel you are too unworthy to pray.I wonder if we can ever really fathom the immense power of prayer until we encounter an overpowering, urgent problem and realize that we are powerless to resolve it. Then we will turn to our Father in humble recognition of our total dependence on Him. It helps to find a secluded place where our feelings can be vocally expressed as long and as intensely as necessary.” Richard G. Scott, “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer” 2007
Elder Bednar: "Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation. Elder David A. Bednar | The Spirit of Revelation
James Porter: "In personal experiences with the Spirit I have noticed something. The peace that comes from the Spirit is often more recognizable when it comes in juxtaposition to a period of struggle and uncertainty. Perhaps the work and struggle on our part to study and ponder before receiving an answer is necessary because it makes the difference between our feelings of uncertainty and the feelings of peace offered by the Spirit distinct enough to be recognizable...I love the story of young Samuel in the Old Testament that depicts the early stages of his acquiring spiritual receptors. You may recall that Hannah was unable to have children and made a vow that if Heavenly Father would bless her with a son, she would give him to the Lord all the days of his life. Hannah did have a son, and true to her promise she delivered him to Eli, the high priest, at the tabernacle in Shiloh. One night as this young prophet-to-be lay down to sleep, he heard a voice call his name. Thinking that it was Eli who had called him, Samuel ran to Eli’s room to ask what he wanted. Eli replied that he hadn’t called Samuel and told him to go back to bed. The author of the Book of Samuel explained, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him” (1 Samuel 3:7).
A second time Samuel heard a voice call his name, a second time he ran to Eli, and a second time he was told to go back to bed. When Samuel came to Eli a third time, Eli finally caught on that it was the Lord who was calling and told Samuel to go back to his room and when he heard the voice again to say, “Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth” (1 Samuel 3:9). How many times have we missed a prompting from the Spirit because our spiritual receptors were still developing? Like Samuel, we too require experience and sometimes mentoring to develop our abilities to receive the Holy Ghost...While the Holy Ghost can sometimes communicate in strong, unmistakable language, more often He communicates through quiet promptings. It was Elijah the prophet who found this out while on a mountaintop: And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. [1 Kings 19:11–12] https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/james-p-porter/receiving-and-recognizing-the-holy-ghost/
“President David O. McKay testified, “It is true that the answers to our prayers may not always come as direct and at the time, nor in the manner, we anticipate; but they do come, and at a time and in a manner best for the interests of him who offers the supplication.” Be thankful that sometimes God lets you struggle for a long time before that answer comes. Your character will grow; your faith will increase. There is a relationship between those two: the greater your faith, the stronger your character; and increased character enhances your ability to exercise even greater faith.” Richard G. Scott, “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer” 2007
Why should I pray or seek guidance? Does He listen to my prayers? How should I ask Him? Does He even understand what I am going through? What if I pray and don't feel his comfort or the answer?
Elder Hales “There is nothing that we are enduring that Jesus does not understand, and He waits for us to go to our Heavenly Father in prayer. I testify that if we will be obedient and if we are diligent, our prayers will be answered, our problems will diminish, our fears will dissipate, light will come upon us, the darkness of despair will be dispersed, and we will be close to the Lord and feel of His love” Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: ("Behold, We Count Them Happy Which Endure,” Ensign, May 1998, 77).
You need to know that there is nothing that can “separate [you] from the love of Christ.” The scriptures clearly tell us that no tribulation, distress, persecution, power, nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God [see Romans 8:35–39].
“Communication from our Father in Heaven comes in different ways at different times. There’s no one form of revelation or inspiration. God uses a great variety to reach us, whatever He feels is best. And it’s all valid. We need to believe that He will respond in His way and time. When we’re diligent in keeping His commandments and have the faith that He will respond, we can hear Him.”Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Facebook, May 6, 2021, facebook.com/dtodd.christofferson.
"If you want to receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost, you must want it for the right reasons. Your purposes must be the Lord’s purposes. If your motives are too selfish, you will find it difficult to receive and sense the promptings of the Spirit. The key for me and for you is to want what the Savior wants. Our motives need to be driven by the pure love of Christ. Our prayers need to be “All I want is what you want. Thy will be done.” HBE 2023 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2023/10/47eyring?lang=eng
President Dieter F. Uchtdorf,: "As you reach out to your Heavenly Father and pray to Him in the name of Christ, He will answer you. He speaks to us everywhere. As you read God’s word as recorded in the scriptures, listen for His voice. During this general conference and later as you study the words spoken here, listen for His voice. As you visit the temple and attend Church meetings, listen for His voice. Listen for the voice of the Father in the bounties and beauties of nature, in the gentle whisperings of the Spirit. In your daily interactions with others, in the words of a hymn, in the laughter of a child—listen—for His voice may be there. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“In the coming months or years, you may have challenges. Maybe there are concerns about family members or financial problems. You will wonder what to do. I encourage you to go to your Heavenly Father in prayer. Always remember that you can speak to your Heavenly Father...Ask Him to guide you in the many decisions you have to make. As strong as your personal testimony is, it can grow and be stronger. I testify to you that Heavenly Father hears your prayers and will answer you. Sometimes in the most unexpected moments, the revelation you need will come.”Elder Neil L. Andersen, July 6, 2022, facebook.com/neill.andersen.
Pres. Nelson: "Before Elder Hales’s passing that October day in 2017, he prepared a short talk for general conference that he was unable to give. In that talk, he wrote, “Our faith prepares us to be in the presence of the Lord.”When we receive revelation, we spend time in the presence of God as He reveals His mind, will, and voice unto us (see Doctrine and Covenants 68:4). May we put our faith into action, calling upon Him, living worthy of His promised inspiration, and acting on the guidance we receive." President Nelson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/01/grow-into-the-principle-of-revelation?lang=eng
“Prayer is a supernal gift of our Father in Heaven to every soul. Think of it: the absolute Supreme Being, the most all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful personage, encourages you and me, as insignificant as we are, to converse with Him as our Father…Don’t worry about your clumsily expressed feelings. Just talk to your compassionate, understanding Father. You are His precious child whom He loves perfectly and wants to help. As you pray, recognize that Father in Heaven is near and He is listening.A key to improved prayer is to learn to ask the right questions. Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it...
Often when we pray for help with a significant matter, Heavenly Father will give us gentle promptings that require us to think, exercise faith, work, at times struggle, then act. It is a step-by-step process that enables us to discern inspired answers. Seldom will you receive a complete response all at once. It will come a piece at a time, in packets, so that you will grow in capacity. As each piece is followed in faith, you will be led to other portions until you have the whole answer…While sometimes it’s very hard, it results in significant personal growth.He will always hear your prayers and will invariably answer them. However, His answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence, you should find periods of quiet time to recognize when you are being instructed and strengthened. His pattern causes you to grow.” Richard G. Scott, “Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer” 2007
"Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!” President Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives” 2018
Elder Bednar: “The object of our prayers should not be to present a wish list or a series of requests but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is eager to bestow, according to His will and timing. Every sincere prayer is heard and answered by our Heavenly Father, but the answers we receive may not be what we expect or come to us when we want or in the way we anticipate.” Elder David A. Bednar | “Ask in Faith,” Ensign, May 2008, p. 97
Elder Richard G. Scott testified: If you feel that God has not answered your prayers, ponder these scriptures—then carefully look for evidence in your own life of His having already answered you. [“Learning to Recognize Answers to Prayer,” Ensign, November 1989
Elder Scott: "Pray in faith for help. Go to your Father in Heaven. He wants to help you, but because of your agency you need to take the first step. Important lessons will be learned as you are on your knees. Some will distill in your mind and heart as you seek to establish the right balance in your life. Powerful personal development will come through urgent prayer offered in faith from a foundation of righteousness. When all the challenges pour down on you, you will have a quiet inner feeling of support. You will be prompted to know what to do. You can live in a world of turmoil and great challenge and be at peace. You will be inspired to know what to do and to have the power or capacity to do it." https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1991/04/making-the-right-decisions?lang=eng
Elder Holland, He Understands me https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUhgBU3coPY&list=PLAYgY8SPtEWGdk48FbKS9nIJ4mEcj_U5x&index=3
Who is the Holy Ghost? How does he know how to comfort? Does he know all languages? Is he Bilingual? Is it the light of Christ or great spirit or spirit of god? Does everyone have their own personal Holy Ghost?
"He is an intelligent being, in the Image of God, possessing every organ, attribute, sense, sympathy, and affection that is possessed by God Himself. But these are possessed by man, in his rudimental state, in a subordinate sense of the word. Or, in other words, these attributes are in embryo, and are to be gradually developed. They resemble a bud, a germ, which gradually develops into a bloom and then, by progress, produces the mature fruit after its own kind. The Gift of the Holy Ghost adapts itself to all these organs or attributes. It quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands and purifies all the natural passions and affections and adapts them by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness and charity. It develops beauty of person, form and features. It tends to give health, vigor, animation and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.
"First, the Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. We learn this truth in the first article of faith: “We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.”2
Second, the Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit, as described in modern scripture: “The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.”3 This means that the Holy Ghost has a spirit body, unlike God the Father and Jesus Christ, who have physical bodies. This truth clarifies other names given to the Holy Ghost and familiar to us, including Holy Spirit, Spirit of God, Spirit of the Lord, Holy Spirit of Promise, and Comforter.4
Third, the gift of the Holy Ghost comes by the laying on of hands. This ordinance, following baptism, qualifies us for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost.5 To perform this ordinance, worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands upon the head of the individual,6 call him or her by name, state their priesthood authority, and in the name of Jesus Christ, confirm him or her a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and utter the important phrase “Receive the Holy Ghost.” Elder Stevenson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/how-does-the-holy-ghost-help-you?lang=eng
"Revelation is communication from God to His children on the earth and one of the great blessings associated with the gift and constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “The Holy Ghost is a revelator,” and “no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 132). The spirit of revelation is available to every person who receives by proper priesthood authority the saving ordinances of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost—and who is acting in faith to fulfill the priesthood injunction to “receive the Holy Ghost.” -Elder Bednar "The Spirit of Revelation"
Brent Bulloch "The Holy Ghost is a personage of spirit in the form of a man. He is separate and distinct from the Father and the Son, yet they all work together in perfect unity. The Father and the Son have resurrected bodies of flesh and bone, which the Holy Ghost does not have.23 The body of the Holy Ghost is like the spirit body of the Lord, which the Lord showed unto the brother of Jared before His mortal birth. Such a body resembles that of a man, but consists of spirit matter, a substance finer and purer than temporal matter.24 The Holy Ghost has size and dimensions. He does not transform himself into any other form or manifest himself in any other image than that of a spirit man.Unlike the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Ghost does not fill the universe and cannot be personally present everywhere at the same time; however, his power and influence, through the Light of Christ, can be manifest at the same time throughout all the immensity of space.25
The gift of the Holy Ghost is the right or blessing extended to those who are baptized whereby they may enjoy the companionship and ministration of the Holy Ghost as long as they are faithful. Often in the scriptures, the term Holy Ghost is used to refer not to the personage of the Holy Ghost, but to the gifts of the Holy Ghost, or his power, influence, or ministrations.26
There is still much that we do not know about the nature and power of the Holy Ghost and the Light of Christ. However, we can have unshaken confidence that “every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father.”27 The Doctrine and Covenants tells us, “That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”28 It also says that “he that keepeth [the Lord’s] commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.”29 Greater understanding about the Light of Christ, the Holy Ghost, and other things of God will come to us as we obey the Lord and seek knowledge with pure intent.30 https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1989/06/i-have-a-question/what-is-the-difference-between-the-holy-ghost-the-spirit-of-christ-and-the-light-of-christ?lang=eng
In the presence of such persons (who have been thus affected by It), one feels to enjoy the light of their countenance, as the genial rays of a sunbeam. Their very atmosphere diffuses a thrill, a warm glow of pure gladness and sympathy of Spirit. No matter if the parties are strangers, entirely unknown to each other, each will be apt to remark in his own mind, and perhaps exclaim, when referring to the interview- "Oh, what an atmosphere encircles that stranger! How my heart thrilled with pure and holy feelings in the presence of this person. What confidence and sympathy he inspired. His countenance and spirit gave me more assurance than a thousand written recommendations, or introductory letters." Such is the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and such are it's operations, when received through the lawful channel-the Divine, Eternal Priesthood." (Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, pp. 101- 103)
Joseph Smith said we believe in the gift of the Holy Ghost being enjoyed now as much as it was enjoyed in the days of the first Apostles. We believe in this gift in all its fulness, power, greatness, and glory. (See Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 97–98.)
A person may be temporarily guided by the Holy Ghost without receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost (see D&C 130:23). However, this guidance will not be continuous unless the person is baptized and receives the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. We read in Acts 10 that the Roman soldier Cornelius received inspiration from the Holy Ghost so that he knew the gospel of Jesus Christ was true. But Cornelius did not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost until after he was baptized. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that if Cornelius had not received baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost would have left him (see Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, 97).
Every worthy elder of the Church, when authorized, may give the gift of the Holy Ghost to another person. However, there is no guarantee that the person will receive inspiration and guidance from the Holy Ghost just because the elders have laid their hands on his or her head. Each person must “receive the Holy Ghost.” This means that the Holy Ghost will come to us only when we are faithful and desire help from this heavenly messenger. To be worthy to have the help of the Holy Ghost, we must seek earnestly to obey the commandments of God. We must keep our thoughts and actions pure. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-21-the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng
1 Corinthians 3:16–17; D&C 130:22–23 (the Holy Ghost dwells with the faithful)
Acts 19:1–7 (gift of the Holy Ghost bestowed anciently)
Moroni 8:25–26 (how to receive the Holy Ghost)
Moroni 10:5 (the Holy Ghost is a witness to truth)
Mosiah 5:2 (the Holy Ghost changes hearts)
Alma 5:54 (the Holy Ghost sanctifies)
Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that the Light of Christ “is the agency of God’s power; it is the means and way whereby ‘he comprehendeth all things,’ so that ‘all things are before him, and all things are round about him.’ It is the way whereby ‘he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things....The Holy Ghost makes use of the Light of Christ to perform his work. “The Spirit of Christ (or Light of Christ) is the agency through which the Holy Ghost operates.”
President Marion G. Romney helped clarify the nature of the connection between the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost. “There are three phases of the light of Christ that I want to mention,” said President Romney. “The first one is the light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world; “The second phase is the gift of the Holy Ghost; “And the third is the more sure word of prophecy....“Whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ.And the spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world.” Mormon taught that “the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil.” In this respect, the Light of Christ is associated with what we often call conscience. Everyone who is born into mortality receives the Light of Christ."
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith wrote that “if a man who has never heard the gospel will hearken to the teachings and manifestations of the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Truth, which come to him, often spoken of as conscience … it will lead him eventually to the fulness of the gospel.”
Similarly, President Harold B. Lee said, “Every one of you born into this world enjoys the blessing of this Light that shall never cease to strive with you until you are led to that further light from the gift of the Holy Ghost that may be received only upon condition of repentance and baptism into the Kingdom of God.”
President Brigham Young spoke of the Holy Ghost’s influence as “the increased rays of that light which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
Elder Charles W. Penrose taught that a person who receives the gift of the Holy Ghost receives “a greater and higher endowment of the same spirit which enlightens every man that comes into the world.”
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that “after a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, … then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John.”
How can I stay positive with so many negative things in my life? Can revelation help strengthen my mental health? How do I push back the Darkness? How do I avoid bad thoughts and feel the Spirit more?
"Bad days come to an end." Elder Holland
“I am optimistic about the future. It will be filled with opportunities for each of us to progress, contribute, and take the gospel to every corner of the earth. … If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again.” President Russell M. Nelson
“If I have learned anything in life, it is that we are to keep moving, keep trying—as long as we breathe! If we do, we will be surprised at how much more can still be done.” —Spencer W. Kimball
"Hope is an abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to you. It is manifest in confidence, optimism, enthusiasm, and patient perseverance. It is believing and expecting that something will occur. When you have hope, you work through trials and difficulties with the confidence and assurance that all things will work together for your good. Hope helps you conquer discouragement." Preach my Gospel
"There will always be some seemingly intellectual crisis looming on the horizon as long as faith is required and our minds are finite, but likewise there will always be the sure and solid doctrines of the Restoration to cling to, which will provide the rock foundation upon which our testimonies may be built." Elder Tad R. Callister
"What I am suggesting is that you turn from the negativism that so permeates our modem society and look for the remarkable good among those with whom you associate, that we speak of one another's virtues more than we speak of one another's faults, that optimism replace pessimism, that our faith exceed our fears. When I was a young man and was prone to speak critically my wise father would say: "Cynics do not contribute, skeptics do not create, doubters do not achieve...
This may be a difficult season for you. You worry much about your personal affairs. You worry about money. You worry about marriage. You worry about the future. There may be some lean days ahead for some of you. There may be troubles. None of us can avoid them all. Do not despair. Do not give up. Look for the sunlight through the clouds. Opportunities will eventually open to you...No matter the circumstances, I encourage you to go forward with faith and prayer, calling on the Lord. You may not receive any direct revelation. But you will discover, as the years pass, that there has been a subtle guiding of your footsteps in paths of progress and great purpose.
Some years ago I clipped an article on Commander William Robert Anderson, the man who first took a submarine under the North Pole from the waters of the Pacific to the waters of the Atlantic. It was an untried and dangerous mission. In his wallet he carried a tattered card with these words: "I believe I am always divinely guided. I believe I will always take the right road. I believe God will always make a way where there is no way" (Quoted in Look magazine, 20 April 197 1, page 48). Believe in yourselves as sons and daughters of God, men and women with unlimited potential to do good in the world. Believe in personal virtue. There is no substitute for it anywhere under the. heavens. Believe in your power to discipline yourselves against the evils which could destroy you. Believe in one another as the greatest generation ever yet to live upon the earth." (President Hinckley 2001 CES Fireside) https://www.thechurchnews.com/archives/2001-09-15/president-hinckleys-ces-fireside-remarks-112515
“Don't you quit. You keep walking. You keep trying. There is help and happiness ahead. Some blessings come soon, some come late, and some don’t come until heaven; but for those who embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ, they come. It will be all right in the end. Trust God and believe in good things to come.” ― Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Good Things to Come"
““God expects you to have enough faith and determination and enough trust in Him to keep moving, keep living, keep rejoicing. In fact, He expects you not simply to face the future (that sounds pretty grim and stoic); He expects you to embrace and shape the future—to love it and rejoice in it and delight in your opportunities....
God doesn't care nearly as much about where you have been as He does about where you are and, with His help, where you are willing to go...."In the gospel of Jesus Christ, you have help from both sides of the veil, and you must never forget that. When disappointment and discouragement strike—and they will—you remember and never forget that if our eyes could be opened we would see horses and chariots of fire as far as the eye can see riding at reckless speed to come to our protection. They will always be there, these armies of heaven, in defense of Abraham's seed.”―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Created for Greater Things
James Porter: "One Saturday I was out for a morning run and noticed a large stand of daffodils in full bloom. I noticed how most of the flower heads were facing the same direction and suddenly remembered (and I believe this was a prompting from the Holy Ghost) about a principle of plant physiology that I had learned years ago called heliotropism. Heliotropism is the phenomenon whereby some plants and flowers turn toward the sun— S-U-N. As the sun moves across the sky, the plants gradually turn so that they are always facing it. I was able to use analogies of heliotropism in my talk to speak about “turning toward the Son—S-O-N.” https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/james-p-porter/receiving-and-recognizing-the-holy-ghost/
“Fighting through darkness and despair and pleading for the light is what opened this dispensation. It is what keeps it going, and it is what will keep you going....“I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are the Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and He is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never, ever easy for Him?” ―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Created for Greater Things
"Hold fast to what you already know and stand strong until additional knowledge comes. You have more faith than you think you do.”―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "'Lord, I Believe'"
“I also believe that the adversary and his pinched, calculating little minions try to oppose such experiences and then try to darken them after the fact. But that is not the way of the gospel. That is not the way of a Latter-day Saint who claims as the fundamental fact of the Restoration the spirit of revelation. Fighting through darkness and despair and pleading for the light is what opened this dispensation. It is what keeps it going, and it is what will keep you going. With Paul, I say to all of you: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. [Hebrews 10:35–36] I acknowledge the reality of opposition and adversity, but I bear witness of the God of Glory, of the redeeming Son of God, of light and hope and a bright future. I promise you that God lives and loves you, each one of you, and that he has set bounds and limits to the opposing powers of darkness.” Elder Holland ("Cast Not Away Therefore Your Confidence," Ensign, Mar. 2000).
“If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived." ―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Inconvenient Messiah"
"So keep loving. Keep trying. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep growing. Heaven is cheering you on today, tomorrow, and forever."―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Tomorrow the Lord Will Do Wonders Among You"
"Elder Rasband: "If we pay attention to the promptings that come to us, we will grow in the spirit of revelation and receive more and more Spirit-driven insight and direction. The Lord has said, “Put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good.”May we take seriously the Lord’s call to “be of good cheer, for I will lead you along.”He leads us by the Holy Ghost. May we live close to the Spirit, acting quickly upon our first promptings, knowing they come from God. I bear witness of the power of the Holy Ghost to guide us, guard us, and ever be with us." Let the Holy Spirit Guide, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2017/04/let-the-holy-spirit-guide?lang=eng
Elder Holland, Like a Broken Vessel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrNqGqy5kbQ&t=625s
"In times of darkness, remember there is a difference between passing local cloud cover and general darkness...The tilt of your soul now can further shape all the days that follow! If you become too insulated, too encrusted, too self-contained, too self-concerned, those patterns will end up constraining you like invisible barriers and borders in the days and years ahead. Stretch. Reach for that kind of developmental discipleship that will take you beyond where you thought you could go. Isn’t it marvelous that, as happy as you have been in certain moments of your life, you know the happiest days lie ahead because of the hopefulness of the gospel? Isn’t it interesting that in the moments when you have felt most illuminated, nevertheless the brightest days still lie ahead? The blessings of the Lord can take you far beyond where you thought you could go." -NAM https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2001/02/jesus-the-perfect-mentor?lang=eng
Alma 32:40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the tree of life.
41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree springing up unto everlasting life.
42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet…ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.
43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth fruit unto you.
How do I be of good cheer and not fear, especially in this crazy world right now!? Does revelation bring sunshine and rainbows? How do I believe when I feel weak or helpless?
“Life can be filled with faith, joy, happiness, hope, and love when we exercise the smallest amount of real faith in Christ—even a mustard seed of faith.” President M. Russell Ballard
"God is in relentless pursuit of you...The intent of the Father’s great plan of happiness is your happiness, right here, right now, and in the eternities. It is not to prevent your happiness and cause you instead worry and fear. The intent of the Father’s plan of redemption is in fact your redemption, your being rescued through the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ, freed from the captivity of sin and death. It is not to leave you as you are." -Elder Kearon https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2024/04/45kearon?lang=eng
President Nelson: "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. He said, “There shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:29). 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. As I said shortly after I was called as President of the Church, the Lord is ready to reveal His mind to us. That is one of His greatest blessings to us.In our day, He has promised, “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61). I know He will respond to our pleadings." Pres Nelson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2021/01/grow-into-the-principle-of-revelation?lang=eng
"I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel and our love of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort and sustain us and bring joy to our hearts as we walk uprightly and keep the commandments. There will be nothing in this world that can defeat us.My beloved brothers and sisters, fear not. Be of good cheer. The future is as bright as your faith." President Monson https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2009/04/be-of-good-cheer?lang=eng
President Nelson: "There is something undeniably special about this generation of youth. Your Heavenly Father must have great confidence in you to send you to earth at this time. You were born for greatness! The days ahead will be breathtaking. Father in Heaven must have known that you would be just the people He needs to do remarkable things in the latter days—the days leading up to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ."
President Eyring: "Any believing Latter-day Saint is an optimist about what lies ahead for him or her, however difficult the present may be. We believe that through living the gospel of Jesus Christ we can become like the Savior, who is perfect." President Henry B. Eyring,
Elder Christofferson: "In the end, it is only an internal moral compass in each individual that can effectively deal with the root causes as well as the symptoms of societal decay. …Moral discipline is learned at home. While we cannot control what others may or may not do, the Latter-day Saints can certainly stand with those who demonstrate virtue in their own lives and inculcate virtue in the rising generation." Elder D. Todd Christofferson
“In all of living have much of fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” —Gordon B. Hinckley
“The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.” —Joseph B. Wirthlin
Elder Holland "Good things to Come" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nczw6xHJ0I&t=1s
Matthew Richardson "You Gotta Believe" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6wv46sKjFo
President Nelson, "Men's Hearts Shall Fail Them" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMwKxmTLaCs
President Nelson "Finding Peace During Turbulent times" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95_df_op0L4
Look to the Light https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aup9M5HZawI
Why do I need the church? Is there a place for me? Am I needed?
“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love. It is not possible for you to sink lower than the infinite light of Christ’s Atonement shines.”―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "The Laborers in the Vineyard"
“Be a woman of Christ. Cherish your esteemed place in the sight of God. He needs you. This church needs you. The world needs you. A woman's abiding trust in God and unfailing devotion to things of the Spirit have always been an anchor when the wind and the waves of life were fiercest.” ―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Created for Greater Things
"This is a life-and-death contest we are in, young men, so I am going to get in your face a little, nose to nose, with just enough fire in my voice to singe your eyebrows a little—the way coaches do when the game is close and victory means everything. And with the game on the line, what this coach is telling you is that to play in this match, some of you have to be more morally clean than you now are. In this battle between good and evil, you cannot play for the adversary whenever temptation comes along and then expect to suit up for the Savior at temple and mission time as if nothing has happened. That, my young friends, you cannot do. God will not be mocked. . . ."So we need young men already on the team to stay on it and stop dribbling out of bounds just when we need you to get in the game and play your hearts out!" —Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "We Are All Enlisted"
“God wants us to be stronger than we are—more fixed in our purpose, more certain of our commitments, eventually needing less coddling from Him, showing more willingness to shoulder some of the burden of His heavy load. In short, He wants us to be more like He is and, if you haven't noticed, some of us are not like that yet.” ―Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Created for Greater Things
Elder Christofferson, Is there a place for me? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHq1HCiDbCI&list=PLAYgY8SPtEWGdk48FbKS9nIJ4mEcj_U5x&index=2
Elder Kearon, To Love Them ALL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oqy2rlrVBk&list=PLAYgY8SPtEWGdk48FbKS9nIJ4mEcj_U5x&index=9
Sister McConkie Lifting Others https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZCpRddEXZM&list=PLAYgY8SPtEWGdk48FbKS9nIJ4mEcj_U5x&index=6
Elder Soares A Friend to ALL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmkD62aTEvU&list=PLAYgY8SPtEWGdk48FbKS9nIJ4mEcj_U5x&index=10
Appendix:
Preach My Gospel Scripture Study Chapter 4
D&C 6:23; 11:12–14; Romans 15:13; Galatians 5:22–23 feelings of love, joy, peace, patience, meekness, gentleness, faith, and hope.
Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3 Gives ideas in the mind, feelings in the heart.
Doctrine and Covenants 128:1 Occupies the mind and presses on the feelings.
Joseph Smith—History 1:11–12 Helps scriptures have strong effect.
Doctrine and Covenants 9:8–9 Gives good feelings to teach if something is true.
Alma 32:28; Doctrine and Covenants 6:14–15; 1 Corinthians 2:9–11 Enlightens the mind.
Alma 19:6 Replaces darkness with light.
Mosiah 5:2–5 Strengthens the desire to avoid evil and obey the commandments.
John 14:26 Teaches truth and brings it to remembrance.
John 14:27 Gives feelings of peace and comfort.
John 16:13 Guides to truth and shows things to come.
Moroni 10:5 Reveals truth.
Doctrine and Covenants 45:57 Guides and protects from deception.
2 Nephi 31:18; Doctrine and Covenants 20:27; John 16:14 Glorifies and bears record of God the Father and Jesus Christ.
Doctrine and Covenants 42:16; 84:85; 100:5–8; Luke 12:11–12 Guides the words of humble teachers.
John 16:8 Recognizes and corrects sin.
Moroni 10:8–17; Doctrine and Covenants 46:8–26; 1 Corinthians 12 Gives gifts of the Spirit.
Alma 10:17; 12:3; 18:16, 20, 32, 35; Doctrine and Covenants 63:41 Helps to perceive or discern the thoughts of others.
Doctrine and Covenants 46:30; 50:29–30 Tells what to pray for.
2 Nephi 32:1–5; Doctrine and Covenants 28:15 Tells what to do.
1 Nephi 10:22; Alma 18:35 Helps the righteous speak with power and authority.
Doctrine and Covenants 21:9; 100:8; John 15:26 Testifies of the truth.
2 Nephi 31:17; Alma 13:12; 3 Nephi 27:20 Sanctifies and brings remission of sins.
1 Nephi 2:16–17; 2 Nephi 33:1; Alma 24:8 Carries truth to the heart of the listener.
1 Nephi 1:1–3; Exodus 31:3–5 Enhances skills and abilities.
1 Nephi 7:15; 2 Nephi 28:1; 32:7; Alma 14:11; Mormon 3:16; Ether 12:2 Constrains (impels forward) or restrains (holds back).
Doctrine and Covenants 50:13–22 Edifies both teacher and students.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:3; John 14:26 Gives comfort.
Eight Purposes of Revelation
Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught that the Spirit communicates for eight purposes:
To testify: The Spirit can witness that Jesus is the Christ and that the gospel is true.
To prophesy: Within the limits of one’s areas of responsibility, a person may be inspired to predict what will come to pass in the future. The prophet, patriarchs, and even we can receive prophetic revelation.
To comfort: The Spirit can comfort us as He comforted Joseph Smith in Liberty Jail: “Peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment” (D&C 121:7–8). Comfort also comes in connection with priesthood blessings, visions of departed loved ones, and forgiveness of sins.
To uplift: The Spirit can lift us up from depression, feelings of inadequacy, or a plateau of spiritual mediocrity. He comes as we read scriptures or enjoy wholesome music, art, or literature.
To inform: You may be given the words to speak on a particular occasion. The Lord told Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, “For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say” (D&C 100:6). On some sacred occasions, information has been given face to face from heavenly personages. Other times, needed information is communicated by the quiet whisperings of the Spirit.
To restrain: This form of revelation will deter us from things we should not do. It often comes by surprise, when we have not asked for guidance on a particular subject.
To confirm: You can receive a confirmation through the Spirit after proposing a particular course of action and praying to know if it is the right choice.
To impel: This type of revelation is not sought after but comes to call a person to some action not proposed. This type of communication from the Spirit is rare but, therefore, significant.
From “Revelation,” in Brigham Young University 1981–82 Fireside and Devotional Speeches (1982), 20–26.
PRAYER
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