President Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, as well as other Church leaders have been stressing the importance of increasing our ability to receive personal revelation. While I was already working on that challenge, a situation in our family recently gave me the perfect opportunity to practice. I have always been well aware of the Holy Ghost in my life. On countless occasions, I have felt comfort and love envelope me in times of need. There has been peace in times of chaos and inspiration in times of confusion.
In the recent April 2020 General Conference of the Church, the challenge of honing our skills to receive personal revelation continued with amazing emphasis. Just look at the magnitude of the quotations below!
Because of that relationship with our Heavenly Father, I believe He expects us to receive revelation from Him. … Heeding personal revelation leads to personal progression. We listen and act (Sister Joy D. Jones, “An Especially Noble Calling,” Apr. 2020 General Conference).
Along with the peaceful direction we receive from the Holy Ghost, from time to time, God powerfully and very personally assures each of us that He knows us and loves us and that He is blessing us specifically and openly. Then, in our moments of difficulty, the Savior brings these experiences back into our mind. … God knows and loves each of us and … He eagerly desires to reveal Himself to us. These experiences may come at pivotal times in our lives or in what may at first seem as uneventful happenings, but they are always accompanied by an exceptionally strong spiritual confirmation of the love of God. … [T]he spiritually defining memories from our book of life are like luminous stones that help brighten the road ahead. … There are times when spiritual feelings go down into our heart like fire, illuminating our soul. Embrace your sacred memories. Believe them. Write them down. Share them with your family. Trust that they come to you from your Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son (Elder Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritually Defining Memories,” Apr. 2020 General Conference).
As we seek to be disciples of Jesus Christ, our efforts to hear Him need to be ever more intentional. It takes conscious and consistent effort to fill our daily lives with His words, His teachings, His truths. … I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes to increase your spiritual capacity to receive personal revelation (President Russell M. Nelson, “Hear Him,” Apr. 2020 General Conference).
“I assure you that revelatory guidance can be received by each of us as we humbly labor in the Lord’s vineyard. Most of our guidance comes from the Holy Ghost. Sometimes and for some purposes, it comes directly from the Lord. I personally testify that this is true” (Elder Quentin L, Cook, “The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives,” Apr. 2020 General Conference).
“The Savior Himself restored His Church to help us on the path to become more like Him. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is structured to provide opportunities to practice the fundamentals of discipleship. Through our participation in the Church, we learn to recognize and act on the promptings of the Holy Spirit” (Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Come and Belong,” Apr. 2020 General Conference).
As I said in the beginning, current circumstances in our household have given me a wonderful opportunity to practice receiving personal revelation. In February, our 13-year-old grandson came to live with us for an unspecified amount of time. It’s been a long time since we’ve had a teenager under our roof. Neither of us were sure we could handle that kind of stress anymore. We weren’t even sure we remembered how to do this. Yet, for the past two months, I have felt consistently guided by the Holy Ghost.
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I have not gotten it right all the time. As a matter of fact, I’ve gotten it wrong a lot. There have been a couple of times when the Spirit has been compelled to leave me because my temper got the best of me. The power of repentance is real. As I have humbled myself and repented, the Spirit has warmed my soul. Peace has drifted into our home like a soft spring breeze. I have received personal revelation each day to help us to guide our grandson.
I can’t close this article without noting a bonus blessing I had not anticipated. As I have practiced my skills at receiving personal revelation, my husband has been guided by the Spirit to be gentle, loving, and patient with me and with this process—even at great inconvenience to him. As he has watched me receive personal revelation, he has stepped back and let me do what I’ve been guided to do by the Spirit. It has given me a great appreciation for his willingness to be obedient, even as our whole “empty nest” style of life has been turned upside down. When we agreed to take our grandson, none of us could have anticipated being quarantined together in a pandemic, nor me homeschooling. Yet, my husband has rolled with the punches because he knows that I’m receiving personal revelation. He has a great desire to follow God’s plan, even as it is revealed to him through his wife. What a great blessing this is—not only for my grandson, but for me. I have been given another glimpse of what kind of man I married, and what celestial life might look like for us.
Practice receiving personal revelation. It just might change your life.
Tudie Rose is a mother of four and grandmother of ten in Sacramento, California. You can find her on Twitter as @TudieRose. She blogs as Tudie Rose at http://potrackrose.wordpress.com. She has written articles for Familius. You will find a Tudie Rose essay in Lessons from My Parents, Michele Robbins, Familius 2013, at http://www.familius.com/lessons-from-my-parents.
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Personal revelation is an every day occurrence as we align our will with that of our Heavenly Father. I pray daily that I will do what he wants me to. I often feel the spirit leading me to do things my mortal quetions” why am I doing this, or thinking this?” Later, the purpose is revealed and I understand. I am a sinner, but i would be further lost without the inspiration and guidance of my Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost. Love you, and your entire family!!!
Thanks, Randa! I love you, too!