Me Thinks

 

I did not attend Education Week at BYU this summer, but I heard that the talk Elder Renlund gave there was excellent.  I finally found a copy of the talk and studied it.  Elder Renlund shares many important points about the Holy Ghost and receiving revelation. I would recommend the entire talk, but here are a few points:

Personal revelation involves more than simply being confirmed a member of the Church. It is naive to think that just because we have received the gift of the Holy Ghost all we need to do is say, “Okay, I’m ready. Reveal!”

Early in his time as a scribe to Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery made that mistake, thinking that all he had to do was ask. Studying it out in one’s mind—coupling faith with observation and reason—is necessary for spiritual impressions to come. We focus on a problem, study it out, and think about it. We formulate various solutions. It seems that only then can personal revelation reliably come.

The Holy Ghost communicates in different ways to different people at different times. Observing how He speaks to us is critical to receiving further revelation. The voice of the Holy Ghost is mild and still, like a whisper—not loud or noisy. It may be stunningly simple and plain. It can be piercing or burning. It affects both the mind and the heart. It brings peace, joy, and hope—not fear, anxiety, or worry. It is enlightening and “delicious,” not muddling. Observing this, we can reasonably dismiss certain contrary voices and focus on the voice of the Holy Ghost.

We might discern that we have been influenced by the Holy Ghost if we ask ourselves, “Have I ever felt peaceful after making a decision, felt an increased capacity to resist temptation, felt an increase in love for others, or felt an increased desire to serve?” or “Have I received ideas to help, wanted to be a peacemaker in a conflict, or simply known what to do in a complex situation?” These feelings may be manifestations of the Holy Ghost influencing us to do good.

Personal revelation usually requires depending on and acting on incomplete understanding. For me, revelation frequently comes in short, terse, imperative directives such as “Go!” and “Do!” and “Say!” Or it may come as ideas, usually coupled with a nudge to act on those ideas. Such promptings may be conveyed without words. Revelation can be delicate, and trying to put into words that which was not given with words can limit understanding. Rarely does revelation come with clear explanations of why we should do something.

Brothers and sisters, observation, reason, and faith facilitate revelation and enable the Holy Ghost to be a reliable, trustworthy, and beloved companion.