[Teachldsseminary] TEACH: revelation - very powerful

[Marji]

Hi all,
In class yesterday we read the quote from Moses:  "Would that all the
Lord's people were prophets, and the Lord would put his Spirit upon
them."  Today, quite without planning it, I grabbed our stack of True
to the Faith books, and passed them around.  I opened to the section
on revelation, and we took turns reading and discussing the whole
class.  I think the kids were touched, and it helped to apply the
teachings directly to them.  Of all the things they can learn during
this time of their lives, how to recognize and follow the Spirit is
vital.  So much depends on it.

This section on revelation is interesting, because it not only
describes and identifies revelation, it actually includes some of the
steps one must take in order to receive revelation (read the
scriptures, stay unspotted, and etc).  The book is online at lds.org
if you don't have it.

One of my students is 6'5", with a deep announcer's type voice.  He
had fun with the reading - made it sound just like a seminary video.
;)  But each student had a part to read and discuss.

Marji

 "Revelation," True to the Faith, (2004),140–44

Revelation is communication from God to His children. This guidance
comes through various channels according to the needs and
circumstances of individuals, families, and the Church as a whole.

When the Lord reveals His will to the Church, He speaks through His
prophet. The scriptures contain many such revelations—the word of the
Lord through ancient and latter-day prophets. Today the Lord continues
to guide the Church by revealing His will to His chosen servants.

Prophets are not the only people who can receive revelation. According
to your faithfulness, you can receive revelation to help you with your
specific needs, responsibilities, and questions and to help you
strengthen your testimony.
Preparing to Receive Revelation through the Holy Ghost

The scriptures tell of different types of revelation, such as visions,
dreams, and visitations by angels. Through such channels, the Lord has
restored His gospel in the latter days and revealed truths concerning
such doctrines as premortal existence, the redemption of the dead, and
the three kingdoms of glory. However, most revelations to leaders and
members of the Church come through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

Quiet spiritual promptings may not seem as spectacular as visions or
angelic visitations, but they are more powerful and lasting and life
changing. The witness of the Holy Ghost makes an impression on the
soul that is more significant than anything you can see or hear.
Through such revelations, you will receive lasting strength to stay
true to the gospel and help others do the same.

The following counsel will help you prepare to receive promptings from
the Holy Ghost:

Pray for guidance. The Lord said, "Ask, and it shall be given you;
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for
every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to
him that knocketh it shall be opened" (Matthew 7:7–8). In order to
find and receive, you must seek and ask. If you do not knock—praying
to your Heavenly Father for guidance—the door of revelation will not
be opened to you. But if you approach your Father in humble prayer,
you can eventually "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" (D&C
42:61).

Be reverent. Reverence is profound respect and love. When you are
reverent and peaceful, you invite revelation. Even when everything
around you is in commotion, you can have a reverent attitude and be
prepared to receive guidance from the Lord.

Be humble. Humility is closely related to reverence. When you are
humble, you recognize your dependence on the Lord. The prophet Mormon
taught, "Because of meekness and lowliness of heart cometh the
visitation of the Holy Ghost, which Comforter filleth with hope and
perfect love" (Moroni 8:26).

Keep the commandments. When you keep the commandments, you are
prepared to receive, recognize, and follow the promptings of the Holy
Ghost. The Lord promised, "Unto him that keepeth my commandments I
will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a
well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life" (D&C 63:23).

Partake of the sacrament worthily. The sacramental prayers teach how
to receive the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit. When you
partake of the sacrament, you witness to God that you are willing to
take upon yourself the name of His Son and that you will always
remember Him and keep His commandments. Heavenly Father promises that
when you keep these covenants, you will always have the Spirit to be
with you. (See D&C 20:77, 79.)

Study the scriptures every day. As you diligently study the
scriptures, you learn from the examples of men and women whose lives
have been blessed as they have followed the Lord's revealed will. You
also become more receptive to the Holy Ghost in your own life. As you
read and ponder, you may receive revelation about how a certain
scripture passage applies to you or about anything else the Lord
desires to communicate to you. Because scripture reading can help you
receive personal revelation, you should study the scriptures every
day.

Take time to ponder. When you take time to ponder the truths of the
gospel, you open your mind and heart to the guiding influence of the
Holy Ghost (see 1 Nephi 11:1; D&C 76:19; 138:1–11). Pondering takes
your thoughts from the trivial things of the world and brings you
closer to the Spirit.

When seeking specific guidance, study the matter out in your mind. At
times the Lord's communication will come only after you have studied a
matter out in your own mind. The Lord explained this process to Oliver
Cowdery, who served as Joseph Smith's scribe for much of the
translation of the Book of Mormon. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith,
the Lord spoke to Oliver Cowdery, explaining why Oliver had not been
able to translate the Book of Mormon even though he had been given the
gift to translate: "Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed
that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to
ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in
your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I
will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall
feel that it is right" (D&C 9:7–8).

Patiently seek God's will. God reveals Himself "in his own time, and
in his own way, and according to his own will" (see D&C 88:63–68).
Revelation will probably come to you "line upon line, precept upon
precept, here a little and there a little" (2 Nephi 28:30; see also
Isaiah 28:10; D&C 98:12). Do not try to force spiritual things.
Revelation does not come that way. Be patient and trust in the Lord's
timing.
Recognizing the Promptings of the Holy Ghost

Amid the many noises and messengers in the world today, you must learn
to recognize the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. Following are some of
the principal ways the Holy Ghost communicates with us:

He speaks to the mind and heart in a still, small voice. The Lord
taught: "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy
Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation" (D&C 8:2–3). Sometimes
the Holy Ghost will help you understand a gospel truth or give you a
prompting that "seems to occupy [your] mind, and press itself upon
[your] feelings" (D&C 128:1). Although such revelation can have a
powerful effect on you, it almost always comes quietly, as a "still
small voice" (see 1 Kings 19:9–12; Helaman 5:30; D&C 85:6).

He prompts us through our feelings. Although we often describe
communication from the Spirit as a voice, that voice is one that we
feel more than we hear. And while we speak of "listening" to the
whisperings of the Holy Ghost, we often describe a spiritual prompting
by saying, "I had a feeling …" The Lord's counsel to Oliver Cowdery in
section 9 of the Doctrine and Covenants, which is discussed on page
143, teaches this principle. However, this counsel is sometimes
misunderstood. Upon reading that passage, some members of the Church
become confused, fearing that they have never received a prompting
from the Holy Ghost because they have never felt a burning in their
bosom. Note the Lord's final words in Doctrine and Covenants 9:8:
"Therefore, you shall feel that it is right." The burning described in
this scripture passage signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity,
not necessarily a sensation of heat. As you continue to seek and
follow the Lord's will in your life, you will come to recognize how
the Holy Ghost influences you personally.

He brings peace. The Holy Ghost is often called the Comforter (see
John 14:26; D&C 39:6). As He reveals the will of the Lord to you, He
will "speak peace to your mind" (D&C 6:23). The peace He gives cannot
be counterfeited by worldly influences or false teachings. It is the
peace the Savior promised when He assured His disciples that He would
send the Comforter: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you:
not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John 14:27).

Additional references: Amos 3:7; Matthew 16:13–18; 1 Corinthians
2:9–14; 12:3; Revelation 19:10; Alma 5:43–48; 17:2–3; D&C 76:5–10;
121:26–33; Articles of Faith 1:7, 9