- What can you do to receive revelation?
Verily I say unto you my friends, fear not,
let your hearts be comforted; yea, rejoice evermore, and in
everything give thanks;
Waiting patiently on the Lord, for your
prayers have entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth, and are
recorded with this seal and testament—the Lord hath sworn and
decreed that they shall be granted.
Therefore, he giveth this promise unto you,
with an immutable covenant that they shall be fulfilled; and all
things wherewith you have been afflicted shall work together for your
good, and to my name’s glory, saith the Lord. (D&C 98:1-3)
Boyd K. Packer gave a talk describing several
things that aid in receiving revelation, including the following
topics (it is recommended that you study the entire talk):
- Dual beings
- The gift of the Holy Ghost
- Prayer
- Begin where you are
- Study
- Still, small voice
- Prompting
- Faith
- Word of wisdom
- Music
- Reverence
- Temptation
- The church
- The comforter
In a general conference talk, Ronald A. Rasband
(then of the Seventy) described an experience he had with Elder Henry
B. Eyring in assigning prospective missionaries to specific missions.
This experience illustrates some general principles in receiving
revelation:
With the encouragement and permission of
President Henry B. Eyring, I would like to relate to you an
experience, very special to me, which I had with him several years
ago when he was a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. Each Apostle
holds the keys of the kingdom and exercises them at the direction and
assignment of the President of the Church. Elder Eyring was assigning
missionaries to their fields of labor, and as part of my training, I
was invited to observe.
I joined Elder Eyring early one morning in a
room where several large computer screens had been prepared for the
session. There was also a staff member from the Missionary Department
who had been assigned to assist us that day.
First, we knelt together in prayer. I remember
Elder Eyring using very sincere words, asking the Lord to bless him
to know “perfectly” where the missionaries should be assigned.
The word “perfectly” said much about the faith that Elder Eyring
exhibited that day.
As the process began, a picture of the
missionary to be assigned would come up on one of the computer
screens. As each picture appeared, to me it was as if the missionary
were in the room with us. Elder Eyring would then greet the
missionary with his kind and endearing voice: “Good morning, Elder
Reier or Sister Yang. How are you today?”
He told me that in his own mind he liked to
think of where the missionaries would conclude their mission. This
would aid him to know where they were to be assigned. Elder Eyring
would then study the comments from the bishops and stake presidents,
medical notes, and other issues relating to each missionary.
He then referred to another screen which
displayed areas and missions across the world. Finally, as he was
prompted by the Spirit, he would assign the missionary to his or her
field of labor.
From others of the Twelve, I have learned that
this general method is typical each week as Apostles of the Lord
assign scores of missionaries to serve throughout the world.
After assigning a few missionaries, Elder
Eyring turned to me as he pondered one particular missionary and
said, “So, Brother Rasband, where do you think this missionary
should go?” I was startled! I quietly suggested to Elder Eyring
that I did not know and that I did not know I could know! He looked
at me directly and simply said, “Brother Rasband, pay closer
attention and you too can know!” With that, I pulled my chair a
little closer to Elder Eyring and the computer screen, and I did pay
much closer attention!
(https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/04/the-divine-call-of-a-missionary?lang=eng&_r=1)
The principles that we can apply to ourselves
from the experience above include:
- Ask the Lord in prayer to give us revelation so that we understand the answer perfectly
- Work out the problem and solution in your mind to give the Spirit an opportunity to move your thoughts and feelings to the correct solution
- Pay close attention so you can hear and feel the subtle spirit of revelation
- What is the connection between faith or belief and receiving revelation through prayer?
These scriptures describe the relationship
between faith or belief and receiving what we ask for in prayer: Mark
11:24, James 1:5-7, 1 Nephi 10:17, 1 Nephi 15:11, Alma 26:22, Moroni
10:4, D&C 14:8, D&C 18:18, Alma 32:21-28.
- In order to exercise faith to receive revelation, what should you understand about the character of God?
The Lectures on Faith describe the
character of God and how having a correct understanding of his
character is vital to the exercise faith. The Lectures on Faith
were a lesson manual of sorts that Joseph Smith used to teach classes
in the School of the Prophets (which was essentially the first
priesthood quorum in the church) during the time when the church was
headquartered in Kirtland, Ohio. The Lectures on Faith can be
found in the 1835 edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, available
online in the Joseph Smith Papers –
http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/doctrine-and-covenants-1835#!/paperSummary/doctrine-and-covenants-1835&p=13.
The article “A School and an Endowment”
from the church’s website explains what the Lectures on Faith
were:
A revelation on March 8, 1833, now Doctrine and
Covenants 90, gave the newly appointed First Presidency of the Church
the “keys” to administer the School of the Prophets, and it
appears that Joseph Smith took the lead in spiritual subjects,
assisted by Sidney Rigdon. The School of the Prophets was the venue
in which the seven lectures on theology now known as the Lectures on
Faith were delivered. These lectures were included in early editions
of the Doctrine and Covenants. They were the first part of the book,
designated “Doctrine,” while the second part was the “Covenants,”
or revelations. The Lectures on Faith endure as an important
theological contribution of the early 1830s.
(https://history.lds.org/article/doctrine-and-covenants-school-and-endowment?lang=eng)
This website may be easier to use –
http://lecturesonfaith.com/.
The Lectures on Faith can be purchased
from Deseret Book -
https://deseretbook.com/p/lectures-faith-joseph-smith-jr-3509?variant_id=110026-hardcover.
Lecture Third (The Character of God) of
the Lectures on Faith says the following:
2) Let us here observe, that three things are
necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may
exercise faith in God unto life and salvation.
3) First, The idea that he actually exists.
4) Secondly, A correct idea of his character,
perfections and attributes.
5) Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course
of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will.—For without
an acquaintance with these three important facts, the faith of every
rational being must be imperfect and unproductive; but with this
understanding, it can become perfect and fruitful, abounding in
righteousness unto the praise and glory of God the Father, and the
Lord Jesus Christ.
12) From the foregoing testimonies, we learn
the following things respecting the character of God.
13) First, That he was God before the world was
created, and the same God that he was, after it was created.
14) Secondly, That he is merciful, and
gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness, and that he was so
from everlasting, and will be to everlasting.
15) Thirdly, That he changes not, neither is
there variableness with him; but that he is the same from everlasting
to everlasting, being the same yesterday to-day and forever; and that
his course is one eternal round, without variation.
16) Fourthly, That he is a God of truth and
cannot lie.
17) Fifthly, That he is no respecter of
persons; but in every nation he that fears God and works
righteousness is accepted of him.
18) Sixthly, That he is love.
19) An acquaintance with these attributes in
the divine character, is essentially necessary, in order that the
faith of any rational being can center in him for life and salvation.
For if he did not, in the first instance, believe him to be God, that
is, the creator and upholder of all things, he could not center his
faith in him for life and salvation, for fear there should be a
greater than he, who would thwart all his plans, and he, like the
gods of the heathen, would be unable to fulfill his promises; but
seeing he is God over all, from everlasting to everlasting, the
creator and upholder of all things, no such fear can exist in the
minds of those who put their trust in him, so that in this respect
their faith can be without wavering.
Question 9: How are we to be made acquainted
with the before mentioned things respecting the Deity, and respecting
ourselves? By revelation. (3:6)
Question 10: Could these things be found out by
any other means than by revelation? They could not.
Lecture Fourth (The Attributes of God)
of the Lectures on Faith says the following:
4) We have, in the revelations which he has
given to the human family, the following account of his attributes.
5) First, Knowledge. Acts 15:18: Known unto God
are all his works from the beginning of the world. Isaiah 46:9-10:
Remember the former things of old; for I am God and there is none
else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the
beginning, and from ancient time the things that are not yet done,
saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.
6) Secondly, Faith, or power. Hebrews 11:3:
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word
of God. Genesis 1:1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the
earth. Isaiah 14:24,27: The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, Surely
as I have thought so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed,
so shall it stand. For the Lord of hosts has purposed, and who shall
disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it
back?
7) Thirdly, Justice. Psalms 89:14: Justice and
judgment are the habitation of thy throne. Isaiah 45:21: Tell ye, and
bring them near; yea, let them take council together: who has
declared this from the ancient time? Have not I the Lord? and there
is no God else beside me; a just God and a Savior. Zephaniah 3:5: The
just Lord is in the midst thereof. Zechariah 9:9: Rejoice greatly, O
daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King
comes unto thee: he is just, and having salvation.
8) Fourthly, Judgment. Psalms 89:14: Justice
and judgment are the habitation of thy throne. Deuteronomy 32:4: He
is the Rock, his work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment: a
God of truth, and without inequity: just and right is he. Psalms 9:7:
But the Lord shall endure forever: he has prepared his throne for
judgment. Psalms 9:16: The Lord is known by the judgment which he
executes.
9) Fifthly, Mercy. Psalms 89:15: Mercy and
truth shall go before his face. Exodus 34:6: And the Lord passed by
before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and
gracious. Nehemiah 9:17: But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious
and merciful.
10) And Sixthly, Truth. Psalms 89:14: Mercy and
truth shall go before thy face. Exodus 34:6: Long suffering and
abundant in goodness and truth. Deuteronomy 32:4: He is the Rock, his
work is perfect; for all his ways are judgment. A God of truth and
without iniquity: just and right is he. Psalms 31:5: Into thy hand I
commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.
11) By a little reflection it will be seen,
that the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity, is
necessary to enable any rational being to exercise faith in him. For
without the idea of the existence of these attributes in the Deity,
men could not exercise faith in him for life and salvation; seeing
that without the knowledge of all things, God would not be able to
save any portion of his creatures; for it is by reason of the
knowledge which he has of all things, from the beginning to the end,
that enables him to give that understanding to his creatures, by
which they are made partakers of eternal life; and if it were not for
the idea existing in the minds of men, that God had all knowledge, it
would be impossible for them to exercise faith in him.
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