I imagine glorious light piercing the night sky as Heaven touched Earth.

I wonder if I had walked outside of my house or inn and looked up at the sky that night in Bethlehem if I could have seen the same glorious scene. Would I have heard the host praising God? I wonder if the angel’s heralding song was available to everyone that night who was — available.

Remember the disciples on the road to Emmaus who walked with the Savior without discerning Him? Think of Elisha’s servant who trembled at the sight of the Syrian army until Elisha prayed for the servant’s eyes to be open.  With open eyes, like Elisha, he saw chariots of fire round about Elisha!

The Savior told modern-day disciples

I am in your midst and ye cannot see me; But the day soon cometh that ye shall see me, and know that I am; for the veil of darkness shall soon be rent, and he that is not purified shall not abide the day.

Light Bursting Onto the Scene

As I gathered my thoughts to write this post, a package arrived.  I excitedly opened artwork I bought for myself.

“Sacred Grove” by Brent Borup

Brent Borup’s image “Sacred Grove” captivated me the moment I saw it!  I love the light bursting onto the scene.

I love the nondescript kneeling person.  The person is Joseph Smith. The person is me. The person is you.

Deity rends a veil of darkness.  Heaven touches Earth. I often imagine the heavens erupting with a multitude of heavenly hosts shouting Hosanna at restoration!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Heavenly Host Praising God when Light Rends the Veil of Darkness

Standing in front of a lifesize version of The First Visions by Anthony Sweat took my breath away. There were the four “familiar characters” of the First Vision.  And there— there were the heavenly hosts!  The angels Joseph testified he saw. I loved it. And I could hear their anthems of worship fill the veiled corners of my mind.

“The First Visions” by Anthony Sweat

If I had wandered through the Sacred Grove on that sacred morning, would I have seen the heavens open?  Would I have seen the light?

The Lord’s People Receive Revelation

“In the Lord’s People Receive Revelation,” Elder Bruce R. McConkie declared that I could, and I should.

We can read about visions and revelations in the records of the past, we can study the inspired writings of people who had the fullness of the gospel in their day, but we cannot comprehend what is involved until we see and hear and experience for ourselves.

This Tabernacle is full of scenes from Vietnam and Washington. There is even a picture of men walking on the surface of the moon. But we are not seeing these things. The minute, however, in which we tune a radio to the proper wave band and tune a television receiving set on the proper channel, we begin to hear and see and experience what otherwise remains completely unknown to us.

And so it is with the revelations and visions of eternity. They are around us all the time. This Tabernacle is full of the same things which are recorded in the scriptures and much more. The vision of the degrees of glory is being broadcast before us, but we do not hear or see or experience because we have not tuned our souls to the wave band on which the Holy Ghost is broadcasting.

The Holy Ghost is a Revelator

Joseph Smith said: “The Holy Ghost is a revelator.” And, “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.”

Moroni said: “… by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.”

The Comforter knoweth all things; he is commissioned to bear witness of the Father and the Son, to reveal, to teach, and to testify—and he is broadcasting all the truths of salvation, and all the knowledge and wisdom of God, out into all immensity all of the time.

How this is done we do not know. We cannot comprehend God or the laws by which he governs the universe. But that it does happen we know because here in the valley below, when we attune our souls to the Infinite, we hear and see and experience the things of God. …

It is the privilege and the right of every member of the Church to receive revelation and to enjoy the gifts of the Spirit. When we are confirmed members of the Church, we receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, which is the right to the constant companionship of that member of the Godhead, based on faithfulness. The actual enjoyment of this gift depends upon personal worthiness. “God shall give unto you knowledge by his Holy Spirit,” the revelation says to the Saints, “yea, by the unspeakable gift of the Holy Ghost. …” (D&C 121:26.)

Revelation for Our Personal Lives

“In Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Personal Lives,” President Russell M. Nelson also taught that light can rend our veils of darkness so we can see and know for ourselves.

Brothers and sisters, how can we become the men and women—the Christlike servants—the Lord needs us to be? How can we find answers to questions that perplex us? If Joseph Smith’s transcendent experience in the Sacred Grove teaches us anything, it is that the heavens are open and that God speaks to His children.

The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions. Drawn to the promise of James that if we lack wisdom we may ask of God, the boy Joseph took his question directly to Heavenly Father. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation.

In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.

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?

Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! “As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course … as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.”

You don’t have to wonder about what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust. Through personal revelation, you can receive your own witness that the Book of Mormon is the word of God, that Joseph Smith is a prophet, and that this is the Lord’s Church. Regardless of what others may say or do, no one can ever take away a witness borne to your heart and mind about what is true.

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!”

Light of Revelation Rends Darkness

“Empyrean” by Gustave Dore

Light rent Saul’s veil on the road to Damascus.  Light pierced into the dark reality of King Lamoni’s father. Abinadab taught the Lamanites how to disperse the cloud of darkness surrounding them.  When the cloud dispersed, everyone discovered a pillar of fire surrounded them.

Light slicing through darkness. Darkened veils. Darkened minds. Darkened hopes. Darkened dreams. Light always prevails.

And [Jesus] spake unto the multitude, and said unto them: Behold your little ones.

And as they looked to behold they cast their eyes towards heaven, and they saw the heavens open, and they saw angels descending out of heaven as it were in the midst of fire; and they came down and encircled those little ones about, and they were encircled about with fire; and the angels did minister unto them.

And the multitude did see and hear and bear record; and they know that their record is true for they all of them did see and hear, every man for himself; and they were in number about two thousand and five hundred souls; and they did consist of men, women, and children.

Light from Earth to Heaven

I wonder what light looks like as it pierces the darkness between Earth from Heaven. Do pillars of light shine from Earth to Heaven? As people become purified and sanctified, how does their light shine?

There are so many scriptural stories of heavenly hosts. The scriptures are also full of individuals who become heavenly.  So many of us are on the journey to heaven so I like to imagine a “multitude of the [earthly] host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

This host praising God shews forth praises!

[Ye] are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

Host Praising God Sings in Exultation

Sing, choirs of angels,

Sing in exultation;

— Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above!

Glory to God,

Glory in the highest;

 Yea, Lord, we greet thee,

Born this happy morning;

— Jesus, to thee be all glory giv’n.

Son of the Father,

Now in flesh appearing;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him;

Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ, the Lord.

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

The Host Praising God With This New Song

Oh, may we be with the host praising God who are come down from Heaven or are caught up from Earth at the Savior’s triumphal return who sing His new song of praise!

For I, the Almighty, have laid my hands upon the nations, to scourge them for their wickedness.

And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness—

Until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song, saying:

     The Lord hath brought again Zion; The Lord hath redeemed his people, Israel, According to the election of grace, Which was brought to pass by the faith And covenant of their fathers.

     The Lord hath redeemed his people; And Satan is bound and time is no longer. The Lord hath gathered all things in one. The Lord hath brought down Zion from above. The Lord hath brought up Zion from beneath.

     The earth hath travailed and brought forth her strength; And truth is established in her bowels; And the heavens have smiled upon her; And she is clothed with the glory of her God; For he stands in the midst of his people.

      Glory, and honor, and power, and might, Be ascribed to our God; for he is full of mercy, Justice, grace and truth, and peace, Forever and ever, Amen.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Joseph Smith told Brigham Young to “tell the brethren to keep their hearts open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to them, their hearts will be ready to receive it.” So when we think that we know something, or are sure about something, we will still be open to the Holy Ghost and accept revelations, promptings, and chastisements.

One reason I love the Book of Mormon is because it’s full of ordinary people having extraordinary experiences. Nearly every character exemplifies this principle of being open to the Holy Ghost, or not.

Unfortunately, Laman and Lemuel didn’t keep their hearts open to the Holy Ghost. They told Nephi, “for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us” (1 Nephi 15:9).

Ether began calling people to repentance during the reign of Coriantumr. Moroni wrote that “Ether did prophesy great and marvelous things unto the people, which they did not believe, because they saw them not” (Ether 12:5).

See, Hear, and Know

A couple of years ago, my scripture study focused on the Savior’s injunction to see, hear, and know. I couldn’t really understand what He meant by “seeing, they would not see” or “hearing, they would not hear.”

At the time, I played the organ for our ward. I got the hymn numbers from the chorister, went to practice the hymns (I even had plenty of time to practice during the week.) I really felt prepared to play the music for Sacrament meeting.

During the Sacrament hymn, I began sensing that something was wrong, really wrong. I usually mentally sing along during the hymn, but the words weren’t jiving with what I was playing. I finished the first verse, a three-lined hymn, and realized the congregation was still singing…the hymn across the page, a four-lined hymn.

My eyes dashed to the posted hymn number and then to my book. I played the wrong hymn! The chorister saw my panic. We stopped. There was just no efficient way to transition to the correct hymn.

Stop. Breathe. Reset. We started again.

I had written down the correct hymn number to practice. I saw the correct hymn number posted on the wall. I saw the correct hymn number in the bulletin. But, I played the wrong hymn. I gained understanding on my scripture study question. Seeing, I did not see. (Candidly, I wish some spiritual lessons didn’t have to be sooo public.)

So how did the Book of Mormon people open their heart to see and hear and know the things of the Holy Ghost?

Seeing Leads to Faith

After hearing Alma’s preaching, the poorest Zoramites approached him. Their leader—I can hear his dejected plea—said, “we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?” Alma turned to them with joy and saw “that they were in a preparation to hear the word” (Alma 32:5-6).

They’d gone to a place where they could be taught. They’d gotten up and gotten out of their homes and probably out of their comfort zones. They opened themselves up.

Alma told them that, realistically, they might not understand everything they learned at first. Faith is a process. But, as they “aroused their faculties” and approached the Gospel with at least a “desire to believe” then Alma promised that the Holy Ghost would confirm their baby-steps. And step by step, their knowledge and comprehension would expand, if they maintained that desire to receive truth from God.

My first real experience with the Book of Mormon was when I was 8. My grandmother challenged me to read the whole book by myself. She said if I did, she’d give me $5. That was a lot of money to me. My family read the Book of Mormon together when I was a child, so I’d already read it through with them several times, but this was my first time to do it by myself. I finally finished.

At around the same time, my Primary teacher challenged us to pray to know for ourselves if the Book of Mormon was true. I knelt on my bed and I decided I wouldn’t leave until I received an answer. I began to pray and asked that question. Then I waited, for what seemed like forever. Clearly and distinctly, I heard a voice in my mind saying, “Delisa, you already know the Book of Mormon is true.”

During times of doubt or frustration, this experience, one of the first where I knew God communicated to me through the Holy Ghost, returned to my mind and reconfirmed what I knew to be true. “Delisa, you already know this is true.”

Do you know that the Book of Mormon is true? If you don’t, I challenge you to ask God, and to be open to whatever way He speaks to you and to hear His answer.

Hearing Leads to Repentance

Enos’s faith led to his repentance. I love the verbiage of his story.

He talked about “the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins.”

Sometimes we choose to wrestle with our sins for many years before deciding to repent. God honors our choices, but we cannot find true peace and happiness until we have wrestled ourselves and our bad habits and ask God to forgive our sins.

His heart was open because words which he’d often heard sunk deep into his heart. His soul hungered. He cried to God.

And then, Enos heard the voice: “[T]hy sins are forgiven thee.” Enos said, “Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ…wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole” (Enos 1:2-8).

After opening his heart to conviction and learning that he needed to repent, King Lamoni’s father bowed down to God and cried mightily. “O God…if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee” (Alma 22:18).

Knowing Leads to Covenant

God will make Himself known to us. Through covenants.

At great peril, Alma the Elder heard, and accepted, the truth Abinadi preached. He taught other believers Abinadi’s words. They expressed their faith. They had repented. They were prepared for the next step. Baptism.

Alma taught the commitment expected by the covenant—looking outside of self towards others and the Lord. Baptism isn’t a first step for this life only, but for redemption and eternal life. Baptism precedes confirmation of the Holy Ghost.

“And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts” (Mosiah 18:11).

King Benjamin’s people demonstrate the sanctifying and purifying power of receiving the Holy Ghost.

“And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things” (Mosiah 5:2-3).

Because of the covenant, they became the children of Christ and because of Christ, they were free.

See, Hear, and Know—Enduring in Power

For me, the most impactful Book of Mormon story is of Nephi. Nephi and his brothers listened to Lehi’s vision of the Tree of Life. Nephi learned later that while his brothers had lots of questions about the vision, none of them asked God for answers.

At the end of his record, Nephi’s still lamenting about people not asking God. “Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark.

I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiff neckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness” (2 Nephi 32:4, 7).

After hearing Lehi’s dream, Nephi desired to see and hear and know for himself. “For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord” (1 Nephi 11:1) and he saw and heard and knew for himself.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie described how tv and radio signals are bouncing around all around us. but he said, “The minute…we tune a radio to the proper wave band and tune a television receiving set on the proper channel, we begin to hear and see and experience what otherwise remains completely unknown to us.

And so it is with the revelations and visions of eternity. They are around us all the time. This Tabernacle is full of the same things which are recorded in the scriptures and much more. The vision of the degrees of glory is being broadcast before us, but we do not hear or see or experience because we have not tuned our souls to the wave band on which the Holy Ghost is broadcasting.

The Comforter knoweth all things; he is commissioned to bear witness of the Father and the Son, to reveal, to teach, and to testify—and he is broadcasting all the truths of salvation, and all the knowledge and wisdom of God, out into all immensity all of the time.”

Joseph Smith said “The Holy Ghost is a revelator.” And, “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.”

The Lord’s covenanted promise to us is to reveal Himself when we seek Him. These experiences are not just for people in the scriptures!

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

The Lord promised “then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

What a blessing to be commanded to see, hear, and know. In seeing, we are seen. In hearing, we are heard. In knowing, we are known.

The Book of Mormon is our how-to guide, our direction manual to seek and find Jesus Christ. I pray we choose to live our lives so that our “hearts will be open to conviction, so that when the Holy Ghost comes to [us], [our] hearts will be ready to receive it.”

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

All wrong translations, all absurdities in geometry problems, all clumsiness of style, and all faulty connection of ideas in compositions and essays, all such things are due to the fact that thought has seized upon some idea too hastily, and being thus prematurely blocked, is not open to the truth….

Kate Holbrook used this quote in the context of receiving revelation. The statement struck my mind and I paused the broadcast to read the words. I found the quote in a book about Simone Weil’s philosophy and works. This next sentence followed.

We do not obtain the most precious gifts by going in search of them but by waiting for them. Man cannot discover them by his own powers, and if he set out to seek for them he will find in their place counterfeits of which he will be unable to discern the falsity.

I immediately thought of Joseph Smith and his First Vision experience. Joseph went into that grove of trees intending to ask his simple question—”Which church should I join?” By all accounts, he did not seek theophany or even expect it, though he did expect the witness of an answered prayer. This gift came from God to a lad who didn’t necessarily seek this discovery.

Discovery in Waiting

In Jacob 7, Sherem denies the Christ. Watch the live-action video here.

Sherem’s story fascinates me. He joined the Nephite story in Jacob 7. I feel like he had to be a covenant church member because he told Jacob he knew and believed the scriptures and at the end, he worried that he’d committed the unpardonable sin.

In telling the story, how Sherem was deceived isn’t mentioned. In his recanting, though, Sherem acknowledged his deception.  Did he know he was deceived all along or did he just come to that realization after God cursed him?  We don’t know, but clearly, Sherem recognized he’d be deceived.

[H]e spake plainly unto them and denied the things which he had taught them, and confessed the Christ, and the power of the Holy Ghost, and the ministering of angels.

And he spake plainly unto them, that he had been deceived by the power of the devil. And he spake of hell, and of eternity, and of eternal punishment.

And he said: I fear lest I have committed the unpardonable sin, for I have lied unto God; for I denied the Christ, and said that I believed the scriptures; and they truly testify of him. And because I have thus lied unto God I greatly fear lest my case shall be awful; but I confess unto God.

Korihor had a similar experience.  The sign Korihor demanded came in the form of physical binding of tongue and ears. Alma 60 records:

And Korihor put forth his hand and wrote, saying: I know that I am dumb, for I cannot speak; and I know that nothing save it were the power of God could bring this upon me; yea, and I always knew that there was a God.

But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel, and said unto me: Go and reclaim this people, for they have all gone astray after an unknown God. And he said unto me: There is no God; yea, and he taught me that which I should say. And I have taught his words; and I taught them because they were pleasing unto the carnal mind; and I taught them, even until I had much success, insomuch that I verily believed that they were true; and for this cause I withstood the truth, even until I have brought this great curse upon me.

These traveling counterfeit prophets stood juxtaposed to Alma, Ammon, and Samuel, but they’d received a revelation, too. They internalized their revelatory message and sought to win adherents to their philosophy.

Awaiting the Process

Back to Simone Weil’s idea of hasty concluding, I thought about how Joseph saw the Father and the Son and they told him that no church was exactly correct.  But founding the correct church didn’t happen for 10 years! President Nelson testified that the restoration is still progressing 200 years later!

Our Father knows that when we are surrounded by uncertainty and fear, what will help us the very most is to hear His Son. Because when we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.

The Lord commanded Lehi’s family and Jared’s family into the wilderness, promising them a promised land. This undeviating direction didn’t send them pell mell throughout the land, changing ultimate location or endpoint with conflicting revelatory guidance. Following the Lord’s steady direction  “would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.”  The experience wasn’t quick and they could not have found the gift of the promised land themselves. All of the families found their promised land—after years of following that straight course.

Hastily Conceived Thought

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

My favorite scripture story is also one about hasty thinking that blocked truth.

The Syrian army surrounded Elisha and his servant, as discovered when the servant woke up on morning and went outside.  The servant immediately felt fear, fear that all was lost.

And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

The servant ‘s hasty fear determined his reality. However, Elijah experienced a radically different reality, a reality that was open to truth.

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Again from Simone Weil:

All wrong translations, all absurdities in geometry problems, all clumsiness of style, and all faulty connection of ideas in compositions and essays, all such things are due to the fact that thought has seized upon some idea too hastily, and being thus prematurely blocked, is not open to the truth….

We do not obtain the most precious gifts by going in search of them but by waiting for them. Man cannot discover them by his own powers, and if he set out to seek for them he will find in their place counterfeits of which he will be unable to discern the falsity.

This will continue to be something I ponder in days to come.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

And there are many among us who have many revelations, for they are not all stiffnecked. And as many as are not stiffnecked and have faith, have communion with the Holy Spirit, which maketh manifest unto the children of men, according to their faith.

This verse in Jarom was my very favorite from the Come, Follow Me chapters this week. I just loved the image of many people in the Nephite community receiving many revelations. And Jarom matter-of-factly gives the formula:

• Don’t be stiffnecked
• Have faith

That’s it. If we’re not stiffnecked (stubborn, proud, disobedient) and have faith, we can have communion with the Holy Spirit. We can. Anyone can.

The Holy Spirit manifests things according to our faith and obedience. So I don’t have to have huge faith to commune with the Holy Spirit. I just need some faith—or like Alma says, a tiny seed’s worth of faith. If I have a particle of faith, revelations can come.

Many Among Us Who Have Many Revelations

What kinds of revelations were they having?

Jarom wrote about blessings of protection, which would come through the means of revelation.

And it came to pass that they came many times against us, the Nephites, to battle. But our kings and our leaders were mighty men in the faith of the Lord; and they taught the people the ways of the Lord; wherefore, we withstood the Lamanites and swept them away out of our lands . . .

 

And thus being prepared to meet the Lamanites, they did not prosper against us. But the word of the Lord was verified, which he spake unto our fathers, saying that: Inasmuch as ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land.

They were enlightened by the Holy Spirit to find natural resources and invent things.

And we multiplied exceedingly, and spread upon the face of the land, and became exceedingly rich in gold, and in silver, and in precious things, and in fine workmanship of wood, in buildings, and in machinery, and also in iron and copper, and brass and steel, making all manner of tools of every kind to till the ground, and weapons of war—yea, the sharp pointed arrow, and the quiver, and the dart, and the javelin, and all preparations for war.

I’m so curious about their machinery! I’d love to see what they invented and how it benefitted their people.

They Must Be Having Big Revelation

Jarom talked about items of daily life. As I stopped to think about many people receiving many revelations, I realized I just assumed everyone was receiving big revelations about the most important things.

The Holy Ghost prompted me to consider things I’d encountered today (Friday) and to reconsider my assumption on what “many revelations” meant.

• One moment that came to mind was a conversation with a friend about reports that we shouldn’t use Ibuprofen if we had symptoms of coronavirus. I had just heard a report refuting that claim. At that moment, I knew the only way I’d know for sure what to do was to seek revelation about it.
• Another one moment that came to mind was about searching for jobs on a job board. The jobs are flying off the board right now and sometimes I worry about getting the amount of jobs I need, even though I always do. Today, I felt like I should pass on a couple of jobs that came up and refresh the board (refreshing brings up the new jobs). We get two minutes to preview a job and decide if we want to claim it. The thought came that if I was previewing those jobs, I would miss something else. After refreshing a few times, a job posted that I claimed. It was an awesome job and the content made me so happy. Had I ignored that little revelation, I would have missed out on a job I really, really loved.
• I kept bugging Anthony to go on a family bike ride this morning. He was working solidly through the morning. We all needed the fresh air and exercise. Then it began to rain, and I thought the option was off the table. I got busy with the job I just mentioned. Anthony finished around 1:00 p.m. and prepared the bikes and said we should go then. We never go during the heat of the day. We went. The roads had dried from the morning rain. As we returned home, rain began to fall again.
• I asked a question in my scripture study and followed a line of thought that came to mind that I’d never before considered. Things I learned edified and excited me.

I realized that many revelations didn’t need to be just big revelations. Many revelations can also refer to the small guidance that comes in our day-to-day lives as we’re trying to do the best we can.

We’re asking lots of questions these days about how to be safe and healthy, and ways to serve others, and how to maintain sanity, and how to fortify our spirits to prepare for general conference, and so many other things. In this day of confusion and turmoil, we are a people that can and do receive many revelations.

I just need to remember to always follow Jarom’s recipe and hear the divine Word.

Hearken and hear, O ye my people, saith the Lord and your God, ye whom I delight to bless with the greatest of all blessings, ye that hear me….

I know the Lord delights to bless. Even my little examples today show me that what matters to me matters to the Lord. If I listen to Him, I can receive His blessings that make my day-to-day mundane more exciting and joyful. And learning to hear and heed the small promptings will help me prepare to receive other more important promptings.

Jarom said we receive revelation based on the depth of our faith and obedience. I’m super grateful for promptings about when to ride our bikes and waiting for a job I love, but what my soul longs for and cherishes are the revelations pertaining to my eternal journey and salvation.

Saving Revelations

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

One of my very favorite stories of revelation in the Book of Mormon is Enos’s experience. This chapter is also part of this week’s Come, Follow Me lesson. Enos’s struggle for the remission of his sins is so relatable. He shows his formula for receiving revelation.

• Ponder on spiritual truths, words of the prophet
• Find a solitary place
• Hunger for revelation
• Humble yourself
• Pray a mighty prayer
• Expect an answer and wait for as long as it takes

Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.

And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens.

And there came a voice unto me, saying: Enos, thy sins are forgiven thee, and thou shalt be blessed.

And I, Enos, knew that God could not lie; wherefore, my guilt was swept away.

And I said: Lord, how is it done?

And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, whom thou hast never before heard nor seen. And many years pass away before he shall manifest himself in the flesh; wherefore, go to, thy faith hath made thee whole.

Repenting of every sin is a requirement for receiving more revelation. Because his sins were remitted, Enos received the ultimate revelation. I love his declaration of redemption.

And I soon go to the place of my rest, which is with my Redeemer; for I know that in him I shall rest. And I rejoice in the day when my mortal shall put on immortality, and shall stand before him; then shall I see his face with pleasure, and he will say unto me: Come unto me, ye blessed, there is a place prepared for you in the mansions of my Father. Amen.

This is the revelation we all seek—to stand with confidence in the presence of God and receive eternal life.

How awesome it is to live in the midst of a tumultuous world and be a people who receive many revelations from the Lord of revelation! I’m so grateful for Jarom and Enos, who shared a glimpse into how revelation is accessible and how it impacted their lives.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

My dear friends, today I wish to share with you a special invitation. There are a few wonderful occasions in the scriptures when our Heavenly Father personally introduced His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, with a specific charge to “Hear Him!”

 

Today, this most-important invitation from our loving Heavenly Father to listen to the voice of the Lord and to follow His teachings is extended to us. In this special year as we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the First Vision, I invite you to think deeply and often about this key question: How do you hear Him?

President Nelson testified that our God pleads with us to listen to the voice of His Son, Jesus Christ, “Whom the Father anointed and appointed as our Mediator, Savior, and Redeemer.” He asked us to share how we hear Him.

Developing the Ability to Hear

When I was five years old, I lost almost all of the hearing in my left ear. I still hear very deep tones, but that’s it. So since childhood, I’ve actively positioned myself to best hear others in physical proximity, staring at their mouths, and noticing body language for context when conditions aren’t ideal. I usually really want to hear what’s being said.

Because I can’t always hear someone’s actual voice, I’ve learned other ways to “hear” someone, like their body stance, their facial expressions, and of course reading their lips. Sometimes I hear based on something someone is showing me or doing.

However, sometimes, despite my best efforts, I cannot hear what is being said. Because of my collective life experience, I resonate with the tri-fold “hearing” lesson of the people in 3 Nephi 11.

And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn.

 

And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not.

 

And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came.

 

And behold, the third time they did understand the voice which they heard; and it said unto them:

 

Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name—hear ye him.

President Nelson extended that invitation to us.

How do you hear Him?

Do You Hear Him Like Elijah?

Elijah fled for his life and then lived in isolation for forty days and forty nights. Frustrated by the people’s rejection of the Lord, Elijah at one time prayed to die instead of live. Elijah heard the word of the Lord in a still, small voice.

And he came thither unto a cave, and lodged there; and, behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said unto him, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

 

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.

 

And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?

 

And he said, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

 

And the Lord said unto him, Go, return on thy way to the wilderness of Damascus: and when thou comest, anoint Hazael to be king over Syria:

Do You Hear Him Like Hannah?

Hannah prayed at the door of the tabernacle for a son. The Lord answered her through the words of the (initially judgmental) priest. She left rejoicing with full confidence that his words were from the Lord.

And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.

 

Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

 

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

 

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.

 

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

 

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

 

And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

Do You Hear Him Like Jonah?

Jonah on the Beach at Nineveh, by Daniel A. Lewis

Jonah sought the Lord in a time of serious distress and prayed for salvation. Jonah knew the Lord heard him as He changed Jonah’s circumstances.

Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly,

 

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

 

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas; and the floods compassed me about: all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

 

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

 

And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.

Do You Hear Him Like Tabitha?

Tabitha served people diligently but grew sick and died. Through the administration of a priesthood blessing, Tabitha heard the voice of the Lord and hearkened.

Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.

 

And it came to pass in those days, that she was sick, and died: whom when they had washed, they laid her in an upper chamber. …

 

Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

 

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

 

And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

Do You Hear Him Like Oliver?

The Lord promised Oliver Cowdery that he would hear Him in his mind and heart. If Oliver had a stupor of thought, he’d know the Lord’s answer was a no. If his bosom burned, then he’d received a yes. Oliver’s experience is a staple for beginning to understand how to hear the Lord and identify the Holy Ghost.

Yea, behold, 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; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

and

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.

Do You Hear Him Like Abish?

Abish heard the Lord through a vision. Her story also encapsulated just knowing something in a circumstance. She saw a situation and knew what she should do. That knowing is also a way we hear Him.

[O]ne of the Lamanitish women, whose name was Abish, she having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father—

 

Thus, having been converted to the Lord, and never having made it known, therefore, when she saw that all the servants of Lamoni had fallen to the earth, and also her mistress, the queen, and the king, and Ammon lay prostrate upon the earth, she knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known unto the people.

Do You Hear Him Like Nephi?

Nephi sought the Lord after hearing about his father’s revelation. He was caught away in the Spirit and saw and heard answers to the questions he had.

For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high mountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.

 

And the Spirit said unto me: Behold, what desirest thou?

 

And I said: I desire to behold the things which my father saw.

 

And the Spirit said unto me: Believest thou that thy father saw the tree of which he hath spoken?

 

And I said: Yea, thou knowest that I believe all the words of my father.

Do You Hear Him Like Joseph?

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

Joseph sought the Lord’s guidance in answer to a question. The Lord answered his question in an amazing way.

I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

 

It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other—This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

President Nelson promised that God has a vision for each of us!

“God loves all of His children and has a vision for each of us. Just as He listened to Joseph’s prayer in 1820, He listens to you and yearns to speak with you through the Spirit.”

We can hear Him so many different ways, and most importantly, the exact way that is best for us in our particular circumstance. How amazing that our God, the Master of the Universe, speaks directly to each of us to answer our questions and our pleadings in ways that we understand! We are blessed to be the children of such a gracious Father!

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.

Go to the Edge of the Light

In Sunday School, I remember being taught that we often have to go to the edge of the light, or the edge of what we know and understand, before the Lord will give us more instruction.  There have been many times in my life when I had to go to the edge of my understanding, praying all the way.  And when the time was right the Lord would give me the next set of instructions.

I recently had a very interesting “Indiana Jones” experience of my own.  I was driving my parents to the airport.  It was a cold, foggy and icy winter day.  And since we were out early the sun was still hours from rising.  The fog was so thick that I couldn’t see more than 20 feet ahead of me.  But I had to get them to their flight, so off we went.

Fog and Faith

I was nervous, and I prayed that the fog wouldn’t be too bad.  There were no miracles- the fog was still there, but I remembered that idea from Sunday School years ago.  So I started to drive to the edge of what I could see, and wait for more light.  Amazingly we made it to the airport.  In fact, every time I set out into the fog with faith, it would gradually clear in front of me.  There was always about 30 feet of visibility, and it was just enough.

How often in our lives are we forced to step onto invisible bridges of faith?  How many times have we had to simply go to the edge of what we could see and wait for our vision to clear?  I had lots of those experiences when I was in college, and when I was just starting out trying to find my first job.  I had those experiences when dating and trying to decide which man I wanted to spend my life with.  And as a mother I have those experiences every day.

I think the Lord puts us in this position on purpose.  He wants us to trust Him.  God can see through the fog, and He knows our ultimate destination.  He is also building our souls and preparing us for great things.  Each time we step to the edge of the light our confidence in Him gets a little stronger.

Just Do It

A moment ago when I mentioned Indiana Jones, I left something out.  As he made the daring leap into open space, he had his eyes closed and he was holding his breath.  (Who wouldn’t!)  But he jumped anyway.  As we go through our trials and experiences in life, and we come to those moments where we have to take a leap of faith, don’t be too hard on yourself.

To read more of Patty’s articles, click here.

The important thing is that we take the leap, make the step, and trust the Lord.  Because He understands if we are praying all the way, holding our breath, and scared out of our minds.  God is in control, and He will keep us safe.  He will lead us along.  As it says in Isaiah 49: 15 & 16:

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.  Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

God wants us to succeed

Our God will not forget us, He will not lead us astray.  He knows all things, and knows each of us, and our potential.  As we trust Him and make those steps into the unknown our trust in Him will grow.  And it will get easier.  I promise you that He seeks for our success.  He is our biggest advocate and head cheerleader, and if we trust His plan for us we will find ourselves in places we never thought possible.  Our blessings will be greater than we can number.  And we will be really glad we took the leap.

Patty Sampson

Patty thrives on all things creative. You’ll often find her in the garden pretending she is a suburban farmer. She loves meeting new people, and is devoted to her friends and family. In her heart she is a Midwesterner even though life has moved her all over the country. She believes in “blooming where you’re planted” and has found purpose in every place she has been. She has a deep and abiding love for the Savior and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And she loves editing LDS Blogs because it is a constant spiritual uplift. Not many people can say their job builds their witness of the Savior.

In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.

This past General Conference, I listened to our newly sustained prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, exhort each of us “to stretch beyond [our] current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation.”

Like most of us, I have many personal experiences with the Spirit guiding my life. However, I also have had a few experiences when I thought I was heeding the Spirit, but, in retrospect, I think I may have been simply following my own inclinations.

The question for me is HOW? How do I receive personal revelation? How do I know that it is revelation and not just my own desires?

You don’t have to wonder what is true. You do not have to wonder whom you can safely trust.

Like most of us, I have experienced betrayal—it would be so freeing if I could know who I can safely trust! To no longer be constrained in conversation when I want to freely share the burdens I struggle with. I need to know who I can trust. I need to know where I can turn for strength. Of course, Heavenly Father is always there when I pray and I depend completely upon Him; however, human nurturing is sometimes needed. So, how to prevent another betrayal? Personal revelation.

One of the things the Spirit has repeatedly impressed upon my mind since my new calling as President of the Church is 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.

God wants to guide me. Again, I hit the wall of myself. How do I get out of the way of personal revelation? How do I receive revelation that is from God and not just my own subconscious trying to satisfy my own selfish wants?

I asked my husband and oldest daughter how the Lord speaks to them. My husband shared that it’s different for different people. For him, he receives revelation while serving others or sometimes during a quiet walk. He’s received thoughts and guidance when he’s turned off the music in his car and just sat quietly. Sometimes he’s received personal revelation through conversations with other people or during a sacrament talk.

Our oldest daughter is an artist and will often sit in her room, listening to classical music while she is creating art. She shared that she often receives personal revelation during these quiet moments of creation. My daughter has sought the Lord’s help in prayer, specifically asking for help in loving others. When she has done this, she has been overcome with feelings of love for the specific person she is praying for. When I pressed her for a specific example, she shared:

“Last year, I fasted about whether or not to take honors versus academic chem. Personally, I wanted to take honors chem. When I fasted and prayed, I didn’t get a feeling really, it was more of a thought that academic was better. I wasn’t really happy about it, but it just felt right … I didn’t want to do it, but Heavenly Father knew what was best.”

I remember this experience! As her mother, I was praying right along with my daughter—this caused her so much stress and anxiety! She has very high goals for herself and taking a regular academic class is not how she defines herself. After she received this revelation, she came to me in tears, she was so unhappy about the answer. I reminded her that if she asked the Lord for guidance, she had a responsibility to act upon His answer. (She was a bit miffed with that response.)

However, after a very challenging junior year in high school, she was extremely grateful she followed this personal revelation. Unexpectedly, one of her best friends was also in the academic class! This class is not one she needs to excel in for her future goals; with the stresses of her many other activities and classes, it was a huge blessing to my daughter that she did not take the honors chem class.

For myself, I have experienced these same personal revelatory experiences, yet I still want more. After all, Nephi received such specific revelation that he built a sea-worthy ship to take his entire family to the promised land. I’m pretty sure at my current level of revelation receiving, my ship would resemble a graham cracker.

The Prophet Joseph Smith set a pattern for us to follow in resolving our questions. Drawn to the promise of James that if we lack wisdom we may ask of God, the boy Joseph took his question directly to Heavenly Father. He sought personal revelation, and his seeking opened this last dispensation.

 

 

In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort.

 

 

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!

I want to receive personal revelation. I need to know what the Lord wants me to do as His daughter, as a mother, as a wife, and in every other stewardship I have in life. I am committed to stretching myself beyond my current spiritual ability!

Writing out the list of President’s Nelson’s above counsel, it looks like this:

1. Find a quiet place I can regularly go.
2. Pray about my concerns, fears, weaknesses, and the very longings of my heart
3. Write the thoughts received; record my feelings.
4. Follow through with the actions I am 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.”

To read more of Emlee Taylor’s Missionary Mom moments, click here.

Okay, I’ll take that challenge. This list is not so very daunting that I can’t make space in my life to do these five steps. I’ll begin today and see where the Lord can take me.

Emlee Taylor

Growing up all over the world gave Emlee Taylor an opportunity to see the incredible differences the Lord created in humanity; and even better, the passions we all share as members of the human race: love for family, faith, & a desire to make a difference.

Emlee lives life with passion—focusing her time now on raising four children and teaching them to recognize truth and to live true to that truth, regardless of others’ expectations. Emlee is passionately in love with her bestest friend and husband of more than 20 years. 

Throughout scriptural history, we find God sending people to other places for their own safety or to fulfill God’s plans for them. In the Old Testament, we read of Moses leading his people into the wilderness. In the New Testament, God sends Mary and Joseph to Egypt to protect the baby Jesus. Noah was instructed to build and board an ark to save his life and the lives of his family.

In the Book of Mormon, a prophet named Lehi was warned to take his family, leave behind his wealth, and flee into the wilderness because people wanted to kill him for prophesying about God. Another group, the Jaredites, were among those who dispersed following the Tower of Babel events. They were permitted to retain their language, but were instructed to leave and travel to a new homeland.

However, God doesn’t reserve these instructions or warnings just for prophets and future prophets. Every day we receive multiple warnings or helpful suggestions from Him. Unfortunately, we are often so wrapped up in what we are doing that we don’t pay attention or we shrug them off as our imaginations or needless worries. Sometimes these quiet messages tell us to move somewhere new, as they were for Moses or Abraham. Sometimes they warn us to start preparing for danger or opportunity, as they did for Noah. Other times they are about helping someone else. We might have a thought flit across our minds to call someone or to bring a meal to someone. We may not know of that person’s need, but God does, and He meets the need through others who are listening.

These thoughts come from the Holy Ghost, sometimes called the Holy Spirit, and they are messages relayed from God. They are often misunderstood as intuition or ideas, but as we learn more about God, we learn how He helps His children. God communicates with each of us daily, but we have to pay attention. The more we pay attention, the better we become at recognizing when He is speaking to us because we become aware of how often the thoughts that entered our minds turned out to be important.

When God asks you to go somewhere or to do something, what is your reaction? Do you hesitate, try to talk Him out of it, stop to do seemingly more important things, or do  you get right to work doing what you’ve been asked to do? Our choices have consequences we can’t control, and sometimes, even a moment’s hesitation can be “expensive” in terms of our well-being, or even in terms of someone else’s well-being.

Sometimes our impressions come as feelings or thoughts. Less often, they come as though someone were talking to us or planting very specific thoughts in our minds. In a real emergency, people occasionally hear a voice. Most of the time, though, the thoughts are very gentle and can be mistaken for our own thoughts if we aren’t paying attention.

An experience I had a few years ago illustrates how this principle works.

My family had considered moving to a larger home for some time after my son returned home to attend college nearby. Every now and then, I’d search online, but found nothing of interest. I hoped to stay in the same area so I could stay in my congregation. (Mormons attend church based on set boundaries, rather like school districts). I didn’t put much time into it, however.

One day, I was working on my computer when a thought came into my mind to search right now. It wasn’t a voice, just a thought, but I recognized it as more than a thought so I stopped my work and started to search. Unlike previous searches, I immediately found several possibilities. My husband was out of town on business, so the house hunting was left to me. I eventually chose a house I wanted a few blocks from our current home. It seemed to have everything we needed. That was the first prompting of the Spirit—being told to look now.

However, after choosing the house, I felt uneasy. I could barely sleep that night because of it. I felt cranky and uncomfortable. The next morning, I talked to a friend about it. She pointed out my odd reaction might be inspiration. She reminded me there was another house we had been interested in that I’d been unable to get an appointment to see. She suggested I simply show up and ask to be allowed to view it, since it wasn’t occupied and I had seen signs of people working there.

I did, and as soon as I toured it, the uneasiness went away. The house was not perfect—it was old and drafty and it was in another congregation’s boundaries, but I knew God wanted me to take that house for reasons of His own. I called my husband, who was still out of town, and he agreed I needed to follow the inspiration.

After moving into the house, we went to church in our new congregation. Minutes after walking into the building, I was asked to be an aid to a child with cerebral palsy who was in the toddler nursery. They had heard from a friend I was moving in and wanted to work with children. The leaders and family had been praying for someone to move in who could take on that task.

They did not know then that I had a grown child with cerebral palsy and had worked with many children who have special needs, but God did. When they heard I was coming, they’d had an impression I should be given the task. Once everyone knew of my personal experience with special needs children, it was clear to us all why we’d had the impressions we did. God carefully orchestrated everything… but His plan could only work if we all paid attention to the promptings and if we agreed to do as asked.

I wasn’t asked to travel many years in the wilderness or to flee to a new country. I was only asked to move a few miles into a less-than-perfect house to help a little girl whom God loved. God doesn’t save His requests for the big, dramatic, history-making events. He has everything all planned out, but He asks us to carry out the work. Sometimes that means agreeing to pack up our belongings and moving to a new place. Sometimes the journey just involves changing some details of our lives so they fit the planned pattern, even if we don’t physically move somewhere. It can be easy to ignore an instruction because it seems too insignificant to be inspiration, but we just never know what might turn out to matter.

Whether the journey is long or short, literal or figurative, it is important to take it when God asks, without hesitation or delay. Always, the journey requires faith, trust, and a daily effort to listen to God as He gives His instructions. Not doing so can have serious consequences.

Sometimes when I hear someone ask why God didn’t help in a certain situation, I wonder if He tried—but none of the people He sent for answered the call. When I’ve ignored promptings, trying to convince myself they were my imagination because I’m a natural worrier, I am always sorry later. I remember the prompting and understand why it was given and how it would have changed the outcome.

When God asks you to take a journey, how do you respond? Do you have an experience of your own to share about your own God-given journeys?

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.

When the people are challenged with war, pestilence, drought, etc., they will eventually repent and become humble and prayerful. Because they are righteous, they are blessed. And if they are not careful about pride, the cycle starts again.

I think there is also a fearless cycle, but it is a personal cycle within each of us. When we overcome our fears and try new or challenging things, we eventually become successful at one or more of those activities. As we are successful, we are less fearful, we are happier and more comfortable in the world.

Jonah wasn’t always fearless

As we are comfortable, we come across new and exciting things and we again decide whether to be fearful or fearless. As we accumulate successes, we more comfortable with ourselves, with facing fear, and with the world around us. We learn through our successes that we can handle whatever life throws at us, and eventually, land on our feet.

And the opposing is also true — as we are fearful, we are less happy with ourselves.  When we let fear win, we cease to reach out and try new things. We become more uncomfortable and more fearful.

There are a few scriptural stories about Heavenly Father training his prophets, teaching them to be courageous.  We “look up to” the prophets, both ancient and modern.  It is hard to imagine them as fearful, cautious, and well… human. Yet each were very aware of their personal frailties.

We all know the story of Jonah fleeing his responsibilities to cry repentance to the people of Nineveh, and the Mariners threw him into the sea because they feared the storm that arose.

Moses is also a great example:

Exodus 3:11

11 ¶ And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Exodus 4:1 and 10

1 And Moses answered and said, But, behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee.

10 And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant: but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

We can see from modern day revelation how God uses Moses as an example when teaching Oliver Cowdery. God is teaching Oliver how to use one of his spiritual gifts — the gift of revelation. In doing so, God refers back to Moses.

Doctrine & Covenants Section 8:

1 Oliver Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive a knowledge concerning the engravings of old records, which are ancient, which contain those parts of my scripture of which has been spoken by the manifestation of my Spirit.

2 Yea, behold, 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.

3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

We learn to be fearless through experiences and mistakes

How do I teach my children to be fearless? How do I expect them to leave the nest and venture into a VERY uncomfortable scary world if they are never accustomed to fear in smaller doses? If they are fearful, they will never discover their own talents and gifts.

I have to cut the apron strings, slowly and safely, one by one. I have to coach them on how to handle strangers and emergencies and then LET THEM ride around the block, go a little distance by themselves when age appropriate, and handle some of their own problems — eventually ALL their own problems. I have to teach them to stand up for themselves in an appropriate manner, even with adults who hold positions of respect.

A great exercise is sending your child to the fast food counter to ask for more ketchup. They will get ignored. People will not see them. Adults will cut in front of them.  However, they learn to be patient, how to get someone’s attention, and how to say, “Excuse me, can I have some help?” or “Excuse me, I was here first.”  Then you send them with a small amount of cash to buy an ice cream cone. (And you remind them that the change goes back into Mom and Dad’s wallet!)

Eventually, you teach them to drive a car. We have so many laws now that delay this milestone in a young person’s life. However, having my own first few accidents while living under my parents’ roof taught me how to handle these situations.

To read more of Molly’s articles, click here.

My parents pointed out when the other driver (a middle-aged adult) was taking advantage of me and that backing up while you’re stopped at an intersection – because you are more afraid of being over the line in the crosswalk – wasn’t the best choice.

But I made these mistakes while having a safety net. And the day I fell asleep at the wheel while heading to 6 a.m. high school Seminary class at the church building – bumping the curb and waking me up – I’m sure my sister told my parents about immediately. I still love to drive, but I learned – in part because of my mistakes – to take it seriously.

I want to protect my children. Unfortunately, living an easy gilded life with no emergencies will not benefit them. They need to know how to live at the edge of their comfort zone, how fun and challenging it is to be fearless, and how to calculate risk versus reward. And maybe that’s what my Father in Heaven has been trying to teach me.

Molly A. Kerr

Molly is on a life long quest to figure herself out. Born to be and educated as an aerospace engineer she is also blessed to be a wife and a mom of two in the present, previously served as a full-time missionary, is consistently called to teach the youth in her ward, is eagerly though slowly doing home improvement as money and time allow, all while gradually learning how to be herself and find peace and balance somewhere in between.

Despite her attempts to make “the right” decisions in her life, she has learned to deal with some unexpected challenges over the last two decades. Total tornadoes, really. What she has discovered is that her career has taught her a lot about the Gospel and being a better mother, and the Gospel, when applied to challenges at the office, has made her a better professional. She has also learned that it is okay to be herself, and God still loves (and forgives) her for it.

The first week allows an opportunity to receive collective inspiration by truly counseling together and understanding multiple perspectives from which the Holy Ghost can introduce a revelatory experience.

“What Is a Revelatory Experience?”

To me, a revelatory experience is a time when I feel the Holy Ghost through receiving a prompting to action, an answer to prayer, or His testifying of truth.

When Jesus visited the Nephites after His resurrection, He taught them, and us, how to have revelatory experiences!

I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.

Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.

1. Recognize our weakness in understanding.  If we think we know everything, we can’t receive anything new the Holy Ghost could share.
2. Go to our personal space. Finding stillness in our personal spaces sets the foundation for the next steps.
3. Ponder what the Savior’s taught.  His words are so available to us through temple, scriptures, General Conferences, music, patriarchal blessings, prior revelations. Identifying holes or weakness in our understanding of His doctrine creates space in our minds and hearts to receive be taught the revelation and insight to sure up our understanding.
4. Ask the Father.  The most simple of Primary answers really provides the key to revelatory experiences. The Bible Dictionary’s “Prayer” sections teach that “The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessing that God is already willing to grant but that are made conditional on our asking for them.”  Revelation is one of the blessings God is willing to grant, but we need to ask for.  It’s as simple as asking, “Father, please teach me something new today” or “I don’t understand this doctrine, please show me how to apply it in my life.”
5. Prepare our minds for tomorrow. Often, the Holy Ghost’s revelation inspires action. The Savior asked the people to ponder, ask for understanding, and internalize that information and get ready for more (that’s “prepare your minds” to me). When we receive revelation and have sought the understanding necessary to be settled without concern and worry, we are prepared to receive more. If we’re still mulling over the first lesson, we cannot easily move on to the next.
6. Expect Him to come again!!! Expect revelation again!!  There’s no set time for the Holy Ghost’s revelation! We can expect the Holy Ghost will reveal things to us again and again!  Joseph Smith said “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator.” Therefore, if we are not receiving revelations, we have not received the Holy Ghost.

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.” Joseph Smith

The next day, the Nephites gathered in droves.  The 12 disciples prayed unto the Father in the name of Jesus.  They ministered to the people. They taught all of the words of Jesus.

And they did pray for that which they most desired; and they desired that the Holy Ghost should be given unto them.

After their prayers were answered through some heavenly ministrations, “…behold, Jesus came and stood in the midst and ministered unto them.”

And Jesus prayed for them and taught them and answered their prayers. What a spectacularly amazing revelatory experience!

“Well, if Jesus Was the Facilitator for Sunday Meetings, They Would Be More Revelatory!”

I remember hearing an anecdotal account of President Spencer W. Kimball where someone asked how he dealt with boring Sacrament meetings. Purportedly, President Kimball responded, “I don’t know. I’ve never been to a boring Sacrament meeting.”

He taught that we each needed to take responsibility for our personal learning.  If a meeting is boring, it is essentially our fault because we haven’t adequately prepared ourselves to be there.

I’ve taken that counsel to heart and it’s made a difference!  Because if I show up expecting someone to teach me, I’m in an attitude of “prove it.”  And I’m not easily swayed in that mode.  But when I show up asking the Lord to send the Holy Ghost to teach me, He always does. I learn things that may have nothing to do with the talk or lesson, but something they say spark a train of thought in my mind that teaches me something I want or need to know.

“I Don’t Have To Know That” AKA “Everyone Receives Revelation Except Me!”

After Lehi shared his vision of the Tree of Life with his family, his sons reacted very differently.  Nephi immediately realized his knowledge lacked this new revelation, found some personal space in the mountain, pondered on the words his father shared, asked God for understanding, and received a comparable vision from the Lord.

When he returned back to camp from his revelatory experience, he found his brothers bickering about what Lehi’s vision meant.

 And I said unto them: Have ye inquired of the Lord?

And they said unto me: We have not; for the Lord maketh no such thing known unto us.

Nephi chastised their lack of faith and taught them from his own revelatory experience.

Can we receive personal revelation? Yes!

Below are three quotations from Joseph Smith about our ability to ask for and receive revelatory experiences.

“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.”

And

“We believe that we have a right to revelations, visions, and dreams from God, our heavenly Father; and light and intelligence, through the gift of the Holy Ghost, in the name of Jesus Christ, on all subjects pertaining to our spiritual welfare; if it so be that we keep his commandments, so as to render ourselves worthy in his sight.”

And

“… I may believe that Enoch walked with God. I may believe that Abraham communed with God and conversed with angels. I may believe that Isaac obtained a renewal of the covenant made to Abraham by the direct voice of the Lord. I may believe that Jacob conversed with holy angels and heard the word of his Maker, that he wrestled with the angel until he prevailed and obtained a blessing. I may believe that Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire with fiery horses. I may believe that the saints saw the Lord and conversed with him face to face after his resurrection. I may believe that the Hebrew church came to Mount Zion and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels. I may believe that they looked into eternity and saw the Judge of all, and Jesus, the Mediator of the new covenant.

“But will all this purchase an assurance for me, or waft me to the regions of eternal day with my garments spotless, pure, and white? Or, must I not rather obtain for myself, by my own faith and diligence in keeping the commandments of the Lord, an assurance of salvation for myself? And have I not an equal privilege with the ancient saints? And will not the Lord hear my prayers and listen to my cries as soon as he ever did to theirs if I come to him in the manner they did?”

Make Every Class a Revelatory Experience

To read more of Delisa’s articles, click here.

The greatest waster of my time has been when I’ve attended church in numb-mode and left in the same numb-mode. I was there in body, but not heart, mind, or soul. If I’m going to a space set aside for holiness, light, and knowledge, why not receive that as intended!!

I challenge you to test the pattern above.  It’s worked for me.  I feel like I’ve personally only scratched the surface of what’s possible, but I know it is possible!

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Delisa Hargrove

I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I have moved 64 times and have not tired of experiencing this beautiful earth! I love the people, languages, histories/anthropologies, & especially religious cultures of the world. My life long passion is the study & searching out of religious symbolism, specifically related to ancient & modern temples. My husband Anthony and I love our bulldog Stig, adventures, traveling, movies, motorcycling, and time with friends and family.