Nephi gives a key to the door of learning, through his own personal experience. "I Nephi... having great desires to know of mysteries of God, wherefore I did cry unto the Lord; and He did visit me and soften my heart..(1 Nephi 2:16) Awakening the desire to know enables our spiritual capacities to hear the voice of heaven.
Doesn't count towards my ten, but I like it...
Richard G. Scott - October 2009, To Acquire Spiritual Guidance
"In that environment, strong impressions began to flow to me again. I wrote them down. The message included specific counsel on how to become more effective as an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I received such an outpouring of impressions that were so personal that I felt it was not appropriate to record them in the midst of a Sunday School class. I sought a more private location, where I continued to write the feelings that flooded into my mind and heart as faithfully as possible. After each powerful impression was recorded, I pondered the feelings I had received to determine if I had accurately expressed them in writing. As a result, I made a few minor changes to what had been written. Then I studied their meaning and application in my own life.
Subsequently I prayed, reviewing with the Lord what I thought I had been taught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace came, I thanked Him for the guidance given. I was then impressed to ask, “Was there yet more to be given?” I received further impressions, and the process of writing down the impressions, pondering, and praying for confirmation was repeated. Again I was prompted to ask, “Is there more I should know?” And there was. When that last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most precious, specific, personal direction one could hope to obtain in this life. Had I not responded to the first impressions and recorded them, I would not have received the last, most precious guidance."
Subsequently I prayed, reviewing with the Lord what I thought I had been taught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace came, I thanked Him for the guidance given. I was then impressed to ask, “Was there yet more to be given?” I received further impressions, and the process of writing down the impressions, pondering, and praying for confirmation was repeated. Again I was prompted to ask, “Is there more I should know?” And there was. When that last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most precious, specific, personal direction one could hope to obtain in this life. Had I not responded to the first impressions and recorded them, I would not have received the last, most precious guidance."
** As impressions come into our minds we should record them, ponder on their meaning and ask the Lord if we recorded it accurately. Then ask if there is more we should know.
Dallin Oaks - October 2010, Two lines of Communicationhttp://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/two-lines-of-communication?lang=eng&query=h.+(name%3a%22Dallin+H.+Oaks%22)
"History provides us a vivid example of the importance of the Lord’s servants being in tune with the Spirit. The young Prophet Joseph Smith could not translate when he was angry or upset.
David Whitmer recalled: “One morning when he was getting ready to continue the translation, something went wrong about the house and he was put out about it. Something that Emma, his wife, had done. Oliver and I went up stairs, and Joseph came up soon after to continue the translation, but he could not do anything. He could not translate a single syllable. He went down stairs, out into the orchard and made supplication to the Lord; was gone about an hour—came back to the house, asked Emma’s forgiveness and then came up stairs where we were and the translation went on all right. He could do nothing save he was humble and faithful.” 1"
** We need to prepare ourselves, make our lives right, in order to receive personal revelation
David A, Bednar- April 2011, The Spirit of Revelation
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng
"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. The two experiences with light I described help us to better understand these two basic patterns of revelation.
1. A light suddenly being turned on in a dark room flooding the room with light. Sudden inspiration and knowledge gained
2. The gradual lighting of the day as dark turns into dawn, line upon line enlightening as it grows"
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng
"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. The two experiences with light I described help us to better understand these two basic patterns of revelation.
1. A light suddenly being turned on in a dark room flooding the room with light. Sudden inspiration and knowledge gained
2. The gradual lighting of the day as dark turns into dawn, line upon line enlightening as it grows"
**Revelations come in different forms. We need to watch for each kind to recognize when the spirit is working in our lives.
Richard G. Scott - April 2012, How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life.
"When I am faced with a very difficult matter, this is how I try to understand what to do. I fast. I pray to find and understand scriptures that will be helpful. That process is cyclical. I start reading a passage of scripture; I ponder what the verse means and pray for inspiration. I then ponder and pray to know if I have captured all the Lord wants me to do. Often more impressions come with increased understanding of doctrine. I have found that pattern to be a good way to learn from the scriptures."
** When we want to receive personal revelation we must study the scriptures, then pray for understanding. Our knowledge will increase with scripture reading & prayer.
Neil L. Andersen - June 2012, You Know Enough
"Through the years we take these important spiritual steps over and over again. We begin to see that “he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day” (D&C 50:24). Our questions and doubts are resolved or become less concerning to us. Our faith becomes simple and pure. We come to know what we already knew."
**Sometimes we look too far, we don't feel we've received revelation yet. Perhaps it's just because we haven't acknowledged what we know. We know more than we think we do.
**Sometimes we look too far, we don't feel we've received revelation yet. Perhaps it's just because we haven't acknowledged what we know. We know more than we think we do.
Dallin H. Oaks - Sept. 2004, Eight Ways God Can Speak to You
"1. The testimony or witness of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christand that the gospel is true is a revelation from God. 2. Prophecy is another purpose or function of revelation. 3. A third purpose of revelation is to give comfort. 4. Closely related to the feeling of comfort is the fourth purpose or function of revelation, to uplift. 5. The fifth purpose of revelation is to inform. 6. The sixth type or purpose of revelation is to restrain us from doing something. 7. A common way to seek revelation is to propose a particular course of action and then to pray for inspiration to confirm it. 8. The eighth purpose or type of revelation consists of those instances where the Spirit impels a person to action.
I know that God lives and that revelation to His children is a reality. I pray that we will be worthy and willing and that He will bless us to grow in this principle of revelation."
**There are many ways that God will speak to me. I need to keep myself worthy of receiving divine revelation and ask in the important, eternal things, so that He can guide my life back to Him.
Dieter F. Uchdorf - January 2012, Acting on the Truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/worldwide-leadership-training/2012/01/acting-on-the-truths-of-the-gospel-of"Ask yourself about the “why” of your service and ministry and the resulting “therefore what” in your responsibilities as individuals and as councils. In this process, please open your hearts and minds to the will of heaven, and I promise that the Spirit will reveal the things that matter most—for you, your family, and your responsibilities in the Church."
** I will receive personal revelation about my responsibilities when i open my heart and mind to the will of heaven.
Richard G. Scott - October 2009, To Acquire Spiritual Guidance
http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/to-acquire-spiritual-guidance?lang=eng
"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."
** I grow as I struggle to learn how to be led by the spirit. If it was given to me freely and often, without my effort, I would become weak and dependent on constant guidance. That would be Satan's plan, not the Saviors.
Thomas S. Monson - October 2008, To Learn, to Do, to Be
"I would urge all of us to pray concerning our assignments and to seek divine help, that we might be successful in accomplishing that which we are called to do. Someone has said that “the recognition of power higher than man himself does not in any sense debase him.” 10 He must seek, believe in, pray, and hope that he will find. No such sincere, prayerful effort will go unanswered: that is the very constitution of the philosophy of faith. Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it."
** " Divine favor will attend those who humbly seek it. " This is the basis of personal revelation, of working faith, the basic building block that we set when we ask the Lord what He would have us do.
Dieter F. Uchtdorf - September 2011, General Conference-No Ordinary Blessing
"Members of the Church are entitled to personal revelation as they listen to and study the inspired words spoken at general conference. As you prepare for general conference, I invite you to ponder questions you need to have answered. For example, you might yearn for direction and guidance by the Lord regarding challenges you are facing.
Answers to your specific prayers may come directly from a particular talk or from a specific phrase. At other times answers may come in a seemingly unrelated word, phrase, or song. A heart filled with gratitudefor the blessings of life and an earnest desire to hear and follow the words of counsel will prepare the way for personal revelation."
**I can prepare for my own personal revelation by asking for guidance during General Conference. Answers to my specific questions can come from a talk, phrase or song.
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