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Audience: Chancellor Ward Sacrament Meeting
Location: Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States of America Date: 15 September 2024 |
Introduce Myself
- Who I am
- My Family
- Where I grew up, how long in Fredericksburg
- Etc.
A Question I Recently Asked Myself
A few weeks ago I was pondering and the thought came to my mind, what question could somebody ask me that would give them a good barometer of my spiritual well-being. I thought about various questions that would work, and there are a few good ones.
But the single question I landed on for myself at that time was: When was the last time you received revelation?
I continued to ponder how I would answer that question. In my talk today, I want to ask you the same question. When did YOU last receive revelation?
My hope and prayer today is that my talk can help you answer that question in a positive way.
How Personal Revelation is Received
To start, I want to turn to the scriptures to learn how personal revelation is given. There are several examples from the scriptures that I think prove enlightening. I hope each story and passage can teach us principles that will guide our answer to my underlying question.
Elijah
In 1 Kings, chapter 18, the prophet Elijah faces off against the false prophets of Baal. Elijah proposes a challenge.
He says to King Ahab, “Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Ball four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.”
Once gathered Elijah asks, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.”
He tells the prophets of Baal to prepare a bullock as an offering, and Elijah would do the same. The prophets of Baal would call upon their gods, and Elijah would call up the name of the LORD, and whichever God answers by fire would be the obvious one true God.
The prophets of Baal begin calling out, “O Baal, hear us” in the morning until noon. But there was no answer. Elijah mocks them, saying things like, perhaps he is busy elsewhere, maybe he is talking and can’t hear you, or maybe he is sleeping and needs to be awakened.
The prophets of Baal leap on the altar, they cut themselves, the cry out louder until the evening. Still, there was no answer.
Elijah then calls everyone to come near to him, and they observed as he made his own preparations. He tells them to drench his bullock and the wood it laid upon with four barrels of water. And then he had it drenched a second time. And then a third, until a trench surrounding the altar was filled with water.
Finally, Elijah prays, “LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel.”
As he ends his prayer, “the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.”
At this point, the people “fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.”
This was a clear and obvious demonstration that the God of Abraham is the one true God. But was this revelation? To those that witnessed this extraordinary event, was it personal revelation?
Joseph Smith taught that “The Holy Ghost is a revelator, ” and that “no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelation.” Moroni teaches that “by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.” Revelation is things we learn through the Spirit. So, Elijah gives Israel this proof. But did things change? Did people change? I imagine some individuals had their hearts pricked and changed, but overall, this is not an example of personal revelation.
If we turn the page to 1 Kings, chapter 19, I think we get a better answer. After the events of chapter 18, Ahab goes and tells Jezebel what happened, Jezebel gets angry and seeks to kill Elijah. Elijah flees to the land of Judah, goes into the wilderness, sits under a juniper tree and requests to the LORD that he might die. An angel comes and feeds Elijah before he continues on to Mount Horeb and finds shelter in a cave. This is where the LORD tells Elijah to stand upon the mount before the LORD.
Here Elijah witnesses a great and strong wind that rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks, but the scriptures note, the LORD was not in the wind.
And after the wind was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And then a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.
After all that was a still small voice. And “when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in the mantle, went out, and stood in the entering of the cave. And behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah?”
I think we sometimes look for the earthquake and the fire. We read about Alma the Younger and his angel and about Joseph Smith in the sacred grove. I don’t think any of us expect things quite that big. But perhaps we sometimes look for something bigger than a still small voice.
In our tumultuous world there are plenty of personal storms, earthquakes, and fires. Those can drown out the whisperings of the Spirit. Sometimes we need to find our own caves, holy times and holy places set aside away from this world, where we can hear that still small voice.
Peter on the Day of Pentecost
Fifty days after the Feast of the Passover is the Feast of Pentecost. This is another occasion where Jews from throughout the known world would gather to Jerusalem for a single day of holy convocation.
After the crucifixion of Christ, Peter and the other apostles of Christ, were also in Jerusalem. As they gathered together, “suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” “And they were filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
Others began to notice and a multitude gathered, “men out of every nation”, and they were confused and amazed, “because that every man heard them speak in his own language, ” asking “how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?”
Some were confused, some amazed, others in doubt, and some mocked.
At this point, Peter stands up, and lifts his voice and begins to preach and to prophesy. He concludes by saying “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both LORD and Christ.”
Peter concludes, and in verse 37, it reads, “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
What can we learn from this? I think first, the more profound effect was not hearing fishermen from Galilee speaking a multitude of foreign languages, but it was the prick in their hearts. They heard truth and their hearts were touched and opened. That is more important than what they heard with their ears.
Second, an experience where the Spirit teaches us truth prompts us to want to do something about it. We often say that faith is an action word. It is the difference between belief and faith. When we learn something by the Spirit, it makes us want to change, be better. It leads to repentance.
Oliver Cowdery
Oliver Cowdery received very direct advice about revelation. The Lord tells him, “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.”
We learn that revelation takes effort on our part. Especially when searching for answers, we need to study and ponder on our own, and that effort better allows the Lord to lead you to correct answers.
We also learn about this thing we call a burning bosom. I have heard this described in different ways. And I have heard others describe their experiences feeling the Spirit as something entirely different. I think we each feel the Spirit in our own way and we use our own words to describe it. I wouldn’t get caught up with if it feels like a burning bosom to you or not. I think what is certain though, is that it is a feeling from inside. It is not an internal experience, not an external one.
The Brothers Nephi and Lehi and the Bountiful Temple
In Helaman chapter 5, the brothers Nephi and Lehi go to the land of Nephi where an army of the Lamanites put them into prison. After several days the Lamanites came to kill Nephi and Lehi. Nephi and Lehi were encircled with fire, and when they spoke, the earth shook, and the wall of the prison shook.
Those who came to kill Nephi and Lehi “were overshadowed with a cloud of darkness, and an awful solemn fear came upon them.” And then “there came a voice as if it were above the cloud of darkness, saying: Repent ye, repent ye.”
And then this voice is described. “It was not a voice of thunder, neither was it a voice of a great tumultuous noise, but behold, it was a still voice of perfect mildness, as if it had been a whisper, and it did pierce even to the very soul–“
In 3 Nephi, chapter 11, the survivors of the great calamities at the time of Christ’s crucifixion were gathered around the temple in Bountiful. They hear a voice coming from heaven, and it is described in a similar way. “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.” They heard it and felt it, but they didn’t understand it. It wasn’t until they “did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound” that they understood the voice.
Summary
Some of the things we have learned:
- Still small voice
- We need to find our own holy times and places to hear it
- A pricked heart
- A desire to change
- Effort and study
- The feeling is from within
- The Spirit calls us to repentance
- The Spirit, though soft and mild, pierces your heart and soul
- We must open our ears and hearts
Several more examples from the scriptures:
- The different ways the Lord interacts with the brother of Jared
- Samuel going to Eli at night
[Could possibly share some of my own personal examples. Moving to Fredericksburg with 3 questions and 3 answers. My experience with my mission companion and Shawn Tucker in Tallahassee.]
Conclusion
My original question was to myself, when did I last receive revelation. And I extended that question to you.
Perhaps a better question is, when is the last time we each felt the Spirit. I think it is something some of us perhaps take for granted. Maybe we don’t recognize all the times we benefit from his companionship. Let me ask some other questions.
When was the last time you were reading from the Book of Mormon and you felt a reaffirmation it is true. Perhaps you felt a passage has just too perfect of a message for you right now that you know it isn’t just some fiction written by a boy in upstate New York in the early 1800s. Perhaps you noticed mention after mention of the Savior and felt the powerful testimony of the book that Jesus is the Christ, and that he is indeed your Savior. If you have ever felt while reading the Book of Mormon the Spirit testifying to you of it’s truthfulness, that is revelation.
When was the last time you were preparing a lesson or a talk for church and you felt inspiration to bring up a certain point or two? Or had flashes of ideas come to mind about what to say? That is revelation.
When is the last time somebody came to your mind and you felt you should reach out to them? That is revelation.
When was the last time you went to the Lord in prayer with a need and you felt peace and comfort. That is revelation.
Out of all the revelation we can receive, the absolute most important is the witness from the Spirit that Jesus Christ is your Savior. That is knowledge that can only come through the Holy Ghost. Parents, Sunday School teachers, Bishops, and other leaders can teach all about it. They can testify all day long about it. But your own personal witness of Jesus Christ only comes through personal revelation when the Spirit teaches it to you.
It is my testimony that God speaks with prophets today and that the church is led by revelation. I have sat in many church councils where I have seen men and women being guided by the Spirit. I have seen what has seemed like intractable issues being discussed and pondered and then suddenly an inspired idea is shared and everyone else instantly receives confirmation it is the right way forward.
I also know that your personal life can be led by revelation as well. I know God hears and answers prayers. I know that with the companionship of the Holy Ghost, he will and he does prompt us what to say and what to do, and sometimes what not to say or what not to do.
I know through the Spirit that the Book of Mormon is true. I know that priesthood authority to teach, lead, and to perform saving ordinances resides in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Through the Spirit I know we have inspired leaders that lead us. I know President Nelson is a prophet. Most importantly, I know through the Spirit that Jesus Christ is my Savior.
I say these things….