Now that you know you can receive revelation, how do you recognize it of the Spirit can often be difficult. What form does revelation usually take?

Bible book MormonIn Doctrine and Covenants 9:7-9 we read:

“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.

“But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.”

Basically it means if you’ve studied your question out in your mind and have come to your Heavenly Father for an answer, you’ll get one of two.

If the answer is right or good, you shall receive a burning in your bosom. In other words, you’ll feel at peace about it. This feeling may come in a small and quiet manner, or it may come in an enormous fashion.

At seventeen I prayed about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I had been raised in this religion, had been baptized when I turned eight, and finally felt ready to find my own testimony. As I prayed, the powerful feeling that came over me left me dizzy; it was extraordinary. I’d never truly felt anything like it in my life. Ever since that day I’ve never doubted this is Christ’s church.

What if our answer is not right or good? This is when we receive that stupor of thought. Do you know what ‘stupor’ means? Some similar words might include unconscious, indifferent, coma, trance, or apathy. Basically this means the thought is wiped clean from our minds. We will forget it, or find ourselves not really caring anymore.

Over a year ago I received an opportunity to participate in a writing class. This class would allow me the chance to work with a teacher one-on-one. Unfortunately the class was also over $300, well beyond our means. So my husband and I began to pray about it, and I specifically asked that if it was not right for the desire to be taken from me – and it was. I was grateful, and not really all that disappointed.

Imagine my surprise when the funds for the class were given to us through a family member. Heavenly Father allowed me the chance to take this class, for which I am so very grateful. He just answered my prayer in a way I wasn’t expecting.

There are times when we’ll receive a revelation, but as time goes on the way we perceived the experience might be clouded and doubts will set in.

In Doctrine and Covenants 6:22-23 we read:

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.

“Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?”

President Marion G. Romney said:

“When confronted with a problem I prayerfully weigh in my mind alternative solutions and come to a conclusion as to which of them is best. Then in prayer I submit to the Lord my problem, tell him I desire to make the right choice, what is, in my judgment, the right course. Then I ask him if I have made the right decision to give me the burning in my bosom that He promised Oliver Cowdery. When enlightenment and peace come into my mind, I know the Lord is saying yes. If I have a ‘stupor of thought’, I know he is saying no, and I try again following the same procedure.

“In conclusion, I repeat: I know when and how the Lord answers my prayers by the way I feel.”

If you forget most everything else about this article I ask you to remember this: Each baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has the right to the gift of the Holy Ghost. Each of you has that right. To receive that gift, you must be living in harmony with God’s laws and earnestly seeking to know His will. Under these conditions you have the right to expect the Holy Ghost to be with you. All of us here are entitled to guidance from the Holy Ghost.

One last scripture. In Moroni 10:4-5 we read:

“And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.

“And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

This scripture must be used for more than knowing if the Book of Mormon came from God, or if the LDS Church is true. Use this scripture in your lives, in any thing you desire to know. It is so vastly important to seek the power of the Holy Ghost in your lives. Through this power you can stay close to the Lord and eventually live with him again.

About Laurie W

Copyright © 2024 LDS Blogs. All Rights Reserved.
This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org.