Preparing to Receive Personal Revelation
Close your eyes and bring your attention to your body. Let go of any tension you are holding in your face, jaw, head, neck, shoulders, upper arms, forearms, hands, fingers, chest, stomach, hips, seat, thighs, calves, feet, and toes. Lean your torso slightly from front to back and side to side until you rest into a comfortable posture where you feel centered, balanced, and relaxed.
Now bring your attention to your breath. Inhale deeply, hold for two seconds, now breathe out all the tension, stress, or negativity you might be feeling. One more time. Breathe in deeply, hold, exhale slowly all the way.
We’ve been told that God knows us by name, knows our desires, concerns, weaknesses, strengths, and needs, and that He wants to speak to us.[1] Imagine having a face-to-face conversation with God. What would you want to talk about?
Notice the thoughts and feelings that come to mind when you hear the following quote from President Nelson: “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”[2]
Do you feel anxious? assured? curious? defensive? confident? Maybe you feel more than one thing. Consider, without judgment, what is driving your reaction.
Take a moment to evaluate your efforts to receive personal revelation. As you ponder the following questions, notice, without judgment, the thoughts, feelings, or impressions that come to mind. Take mental note of them, or press pause and take physical notes as you feel the need.
Personal revelation is different for everybody, but we know from the scriptures that the recipe for receiving revelation calls for some combination of asking questions, studying, preparing to receive revelation, listening for answers, trusting in God, and acting. Let’s take those one at a time.
First, Asking[3]
Boyd K. Packer once pointed out that “No message appears in scripture more times, in more ways than, ‘Ask, and ye shall receive.’”[4] What are some concerns, questions, or decisions that have been on your mind lately?
Have you mentioned these questions or concerns to God in your prayers? When you pray for something, do you discuss it with the Lord like you would a close friend? Or do you just ask and end the prayer? Take a moment to visualize yourself in prayer, discussing your question or concern with Him.
Next, Studying[5]
President Nelson explained that “good inspiration is based upon good information.”[6] And God has counseled us to do our own leg work before coming to him for inspiration about the decisions we have determined to make.[7] When you are grappling with questions or seeking guidance, do you do everything in your power to find answers in the scriptures? Or when you are trying to make a choice, do you research and think through each available option so you have as much information to inform your decision as you can? Take a moment to visualize what you can do to search for the answers you seek.
Next, Preparing
According to President Nelson, “[n]othing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.”[8] Without overwhelming yourself, evaluate whether there are things you could be doing to put yourself in a better position to receive personal revelation. For example,
are you obedient to the commandments?[9]
Are there things you are doing that you should not be doing?
Are there things you are not doing that you should be doing?
Do you read your scriptures and say personal prayers?[10]
Do you keep the word of wisdom? Do you try to maintain healthy eating and sleeping habits?[11]
Are you reverent?[12] Do you avoid sarcasm, insults, exaggeration,[13] and vulgar language?
Do you avoid loud and inappropriate humor?[14]
Do you have feelings of anger, resentment, or defensiveness that you have not worked through?[15]
Do you listen to music that chases away the spirit?[16]
Do you keep the Sabbath Day holy?[17]
Do you take the sacrament worthily and give it the attention and reverence it deserves?[18]
Make mental notes, or write down, any changes you want to make to better prepare yourself to hear God’s voice in your life.
Next, Listening
We have been admonished to write promptings and spiritual experiences as they come.[19] We are promised that if we do, we will receive more revelation.[20] Do you have a place where you can collect and record your spiritual impressions? How diligent are you in updating it?
And Finally, Acting
How likely are you to obey promptings you receive? How quickly do you obey?[21] Are there promptings you have received that you are putting off?
If you are feeling overwhelmed after pondering your efforts to receive personal revelation, take a deep breath and pick just one or two things you can work on. As President Nelson has explained, it will take practice and repetition for us to slowly “grow into the principle of revelation.”[22] The options are not either being perfect or giving up.[23] So go easy on yourself, and remember that, as Brad Wilcox put it, we are not earning heaving, we are learning heaven.[24]
When you are ready, take a final deep breath and slowly turn your awareness back to your body. As you open your eyes and return to your surroundings, take a moment to jot down any thoughts, promptings, or questions that came to mind while you were pondering. And, if necessary, make a plan to act on those things.
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[1] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” General Conference, April 2018, pg. 95.
[2] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” General Conference, April 2018, pg. 96.
[3] D&C 42:61 (“If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.”); Matthew 7:7-8 (“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”).
[4] Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation,” General Conference, October 1991, pg. 21.
[5] D&C 9:8;
[6] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” General Conference, April 2018, pg. 94.
[7] James A. Cullimore, “The Importance of a Personal Testimony,” General Conference, April 1972, pg. 58 (“After we have done all we can, having studied it out and determined how best to solve our problems, then we take our decisions to the Lord;”).
[8] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” General Conference, April 2018, pg. 95.
[9] Quentin L. Cook, “The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives,” General Conference, April 2020, pg. 99; The Ten Commandments, churchofjesuschrist.org.
[10] Julie B. Beck, “And upon the Handmaids in Those Days Will I Pour Out My Spirit,” General Conference, April 2010, pg. 11.
[11] Boyd K. Packer, “Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise,” General Conference, October 1994, pg. 61; Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life,” General Conference, April 2012, pg. 46; D&C 89:19.
[12] Boyd K. Packer, “Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise,” General Conference, October 1994, pg. 61; Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation,” General Conference, October 1991, pg. 21.
[13] Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life,” General Conference, April 2012, pg. 46.
[14] Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life,” General Conference, April 2012, pg. 46.
[15] Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life,” General Conference, April 2012, pg. 45.
[16] Boyd K. Packer, “Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise,” General Conference, October 1994, pg. 61; Boyd K. Packer, “Reverence Invites Revelation,” General Conference, October 1991, pg. 21.
[17] D&C 59.
[18] Quentin L. Cook, “The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives,” General Conference, April 2020, pg. 99.
[19] Richard G. Scott, “How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life,” General Conference, April 2012, pg. 46 (“Inspiration carefully recorded shows God that His communications are sacred to us. Recording will also enhance our ability to recall revelation. Such recording of direction of the Spirit should be protected from loss or intrusion by others.”).
[20] Tadd R. Callister, Record Spiritual Insights to Receive More Revelation in Your Life, Church Newsroom, October 24, 2017; Richard G. Scott, “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, pg. 86 (“Knowledge carefully recorded … enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light”).
[21] David A. Bednar, “Quick to Observe,” BYU Devotional, May 10, 2005.
[22] Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” General Conference, April 2018, pg. 95.
[23] Brad Wilcox, “His Grace is Sufficient,” BYU Devotional, July 12, 2011.
[24] Brad Wilcox, “His Grace is Sufficient,” BYU Devotional, July 12, 2011.