Visualization and Revelation

• What role does visualization play in receiving revelation and what do the scriptures and church leaders say about visualization?

The following scriptures use words and phrases such as “look”, “look forward”, “eye of faith”, “imagine”, “view”, “seek”, “watch”, “wait”, “eyes of your understanding”, “eagles wings” and “behold” to describe visualization – Psalm 17:15, Psalm 27:4, Psalm 33:18, Psalm 40:1, Psalm 119:18, Psalm 119:37, Psalm 123:1-2, Micah 7:7, Isaiah 17:7, Isaiah 40:31, Ephesians 1:18, 1 Nephi 15:3, 1 Nephi 18:16, 2 Nephi 2:28, Jacob 1:8, Jacob 3:1, Mosiah 2:9, Alma 5:15-16, Alma 13:28, Alma 27:28, Alma 32:40, Alma 38:2, 3 Nephi 11:3-8, 3 Nephi 15:9, 3 Nephi 18:15-18, Ether 12:19, D&C 6:36, and D&C 124:97-99.

Stephen R. Covey (who was serving as a regional representative at the time he said this) described a method for visualization when reading the scriptures:

[To visualize] . . . means to see in your mind’s eye the characters and events portrayed in the scriptures. Such an empathetic effort will help you understand the situation that produced the teaching. Then you can relate that situation to yours and distill the universal principle that may apply in both.

When you visualize, you’re exercising faith. Visualizing is a powerful mental process, one of man’s unique endowments. Most of us neglect this power. Realize it or not, control it or not, the spiritual creation precedes the physical creation in all things. Most of life’s battles are lost in this private phase. (“Likening the Scriptures unto Ourselves”, https://www.lds.org/ensign/1974/09/likening-the-scriptures-unto-ourselves?lang=eng)

Margaret Nadauld (former Young Women’s general president) described how visualizing has enhanced her scripture study:

I love the Lord Jesus Christ and His Church, which has been restored to the earth in our day. I treasure the teachings of His holy life from newborn infant to resurrected man, Son of God.

As I have read from the pages of the Bible, in my mind’s eye I have watched Him as He “increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” In my reading, I was there when He raised the dead. He healed the sick, fed the 5,000, brought comfort and hope and a process for peace into the world that He had created. He forgave those who mocked and tortured and crucified Him—for they knew not what they did. I saw the divine love and concern He had for His mother, though He suffered in supreme agony Himself. He overcame death so that we can too. He has prepared a place for us in heaven with our Eternal Father. He has taught us the plan for happiness and given us the vision of it and the hope to follow it. His was the ultimate life of sacrifice and a life of service to fulfill the plan of God His Father. (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2002/10/a-woman-of-faith?lang=eng)

Claudio Costa of the Seventy described how visualization helps him find deeper meaning when he studies the scriptures:

I love to study and ponder the life of Him who gave everything for me and for all of us.

I love to read scriptural passages about His sinless life, and after reading the scriptures which tell about the events experienced by Him, I close my eyes and try to visualize these sacred moments that teach me and strengthen me spiritually.

Moments such as:

When He spat on the ground and, having made clay of the spittle, anointed the eyes of the blind man and said unto him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam.” And the man obeyed, “and washed, and came seeing.”

When He healed the woman who had an issue of blood and had touched the border of His garment, believing that just by touching Him, she would be healed.

When He appeared to His disciples, walking upon the sea.

When He went with the disciples on the road to Emmaus and opened the scriptures to their understanding.

When He appeared to the people in the Americas and told them to come unto Him and thrust their hands into His side and feel the prints of the nails in His hands and His feet so they could know that He was “the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth, and [had] been slain for the sins of the world.” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/that-they-do-always-remember-him?lang=eng)

Robert E. Wells of the Seventy described a visualization of the time when Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount:

Today I’d like to speak about this spiritual peace offered by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount, when he gave us the beautiful beatitude about peace and peacemakers. The entire sermon is a blueprint for us to use in our personal path towards perfection, as well as a pattern of the many attributes and qualities we must develop in our eternal quest to approach the perfection and peace Jesus personifies.

I like to think of when the sermon was first taught. In my mind’s eye, I see a scene of peaceful beauty: I envision an afternoon in early April. The sky is softening toward dusk, with not even a breeze. White, wispy cirrus clouds stand almost motionless in the clear blue sky. And below, on the coast of the Sea of Galilee, soft waves lap against moored fishing boats. A great crowd assembles on the side of the hill. Eager listeners sit on the grass or stand amidst the rocks and early spring flowers. All are hushed and thoughtful as every face is lifted up, every eye looking towards the Lord, and every ear listening as the Savior tells them what they need to do in order to have peace in their lives.

Tenderly Christ speaks: “Blessed are the peacemakers.” (Matt. 5:9.) Another Bible translator quotes the Savior, saying, “Happy are those who make peace.” (The New Testament in Modern English, trans. J. B. Phillips, New York: The Macmillan Co., 1958, p. 9; italics added.) Either way, we focus on the strong verb make as in “make peace” or “peacemakers.” To follow Christ and bring forth the blessings of heaven, we must actively make peace in the world, in the community, in the neighborhood, and above all, in the home we live in. (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/04/peace?lang=eng)

David B. Haight mentioned in a general conference talk how visualization can be useful when administering the sacrament:

Our quorum advisers schooled us in our priesthood meeting on the sacredness of the ordinance of the sacrament—how our thoughts should be about the Savior, of His sacrifice for us—the importance of our dress and appearance, and of this quiet opportunity to resolve in our own minds to do better in keeping all of the commandments. We carefully watched our own priests officiate in a sacred procedure somewhat similar to the very first such occasion and heard them recite a divinely directed blessing upon the bread and water in remembrance of the flesh and blood of our Savior. As the priest publicly addresses our Eternal Father in Heaven, he might, if spiritually in tune, visualize in his mind a loving Heavenly Father listening to his humble plea,

“O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them.” (D&C 20:77.) (https://www.lds.org/ensign/1983/05/the-sacrament?lang=eng)

That same principle of being spiritually in tune so that we can visualize “a loving Heavenly Father listening” to our humble pleas can be applied to our personal prayers as we seek revelation.

President Monson described the importance of visualization in this general conference talk:

Our Heavenly Father did not launch us on our eternal journey without providing the means whereby we could receive from Him God-given guidance to ensure our safe return at the end of life’s great race. Yes, I speak of prayer. I speak, too, of the whisperings from that still, small voice within each of us; and I do not overlook the holy scriptures, written by mariners who successfully sailed the seas we too must cross.

Individual effort will be required of us. What can we do to prepare? How can we assure a safe voyage?

First, we must visualize our objective. What is our purpose? The Prophet Joseph Smith counseled: “Happiness is the object and design of our existence; and will be the end thereof, if we pursue the path that leads to it; and this path is virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, holiness, and keeping all the commandments of God.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp. 255–56.) In this one sentence we are provided not only a well-defined goal, but also the way we might achieve it. (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1976/10/which-road-will-you-travel?lang=eng)