Personal Revelation (Part 3)

And what does God want to reveal to us?

Confirmation of testimonies born to you

• "Being filled with the Holy Ghost, which beareth record of the Father and the Son" - Moses 1:24
• "[Alma] believed the words which Abinadi had spoken" Mosiah 16:2
• "If he will bow down before me, and humble himself in mighty prayer and faith, in the sincerity of heart, then will I grant unto him a view of the things which he desires to see." D&C 5:24
  
• "the Spirit cried witha loud voice, saying ... blessed art thou, Nephi, because thou believest in the Son of the most high God; wherefore, thou shalt behold the things which thou hast desired." 1 Nephi 11:6

When others bear witness of truth to us (written or spoken), we can receive revelation from God that what they have said is true. Whether this is in the moment of their testimony or in the private moments of prayer, we can receive that confirmation for ourselves.

Personal Revelation (Part 2)

And what does God want to reveal to us?

That you are a child of God, that He loves you and knows you by name.

• Abraham, Enoch, Moses, Enos, Joseph Smith, all addressed by name.
• "I am the Lord God Almighty ... and, behold, thou art my son..." (Moses 1:3-4)
• "Enoch, my son ..." (Moses 6:27)
• "Behold, thou art Hyrum, my son..." (D&C 11:23)
• "And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth." (1 Samuel 3:10)
• "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)
• "Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands.. Unto [them] have I said that they should love one another and that they should choose me, their Father." (Moses 7:32-33)

God knows your name and mine and one of the ways you can know you are receiving personal revelation is when you feel His love and know that He knows you by name.

Personal Revelation (Part 1)

This weekend I taught a workshop on Personal Revelation in my stake Relief Society's Women's Conference. Since I am not an expert on personal revelation, I spent quite a bit of time studying to prepare. What follows are my notes:

1) What is Personal Revelation?
"Communication from God to the individual"

2) What is the purpose of Personal Revelation? Or, in other words, why should God communicate to the individual?
Personal revelation allows us to not be overcome and to not be deceived - it gives us light, truth, and unshakeable faith.

• All victory and glory is brought to pass unto you through your diligence, faithfulness, and prayers of faith. - D&C 103:36
• Put your trust in that Spirit, which leadeth to do good -- yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously: and this is my spirit. ...I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind. Which shall fill your soul with joy; and then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive. - D&C 11:12-14

Rather than thinking of what you want God to reveal, consider what God wants to reveal to you.

• He that asketh in the Spirit asketh according to the will of God. - D&C 46:30
• Desiring to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to posses a greater knowledge ... and desiring to receive instructions, and to keep the commandments of God. - Abraham 1:2
• Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands - Mosiah 23:10
• Why has your moral agency been given to you? Only to live a pleasurable life and to make choices to do the things you want to do? Or is there a more fundamental reason—to be able to make the choices that will lead you to fully implement your purpose for being here on earth and to establish priorities in your life that will assure the development and happiness the Lord wants you to receive. - Richard G. Scott
  
• Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God - D&C 22:4

3) And what does God want to reveal to us?
Stay tuned and I'll address each of these in separate posts.