The LDS Daily WOOL Home Page
(9/28/97)
Let us one and all take an inward look. Perhaps it is because we
have not humbled ourselves; because we have failed to heed the
commandments and to accept and abide in the revelations already given,
that there is not more given to us. It is my humble opinion that we
are receiving council by inspiration, or revelation, at every general
conference of the Church. Would it not be wise for the members of the
Church to pay more heed to these counsels and prepare ourselves for
more to come?—Joseph Fielding Smith, Answers to Gospel Questions,
Vol.2, p.205
(9/29/97)
The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
The living prophet has the power of TNT. By that I mean "Today's News
Today." God's revelations to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build
the ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore, the most important
prophet, so far as you and I are concerned, is the one living in our
day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us.
Therefore, the most important reading we can do is any of the words of
the prophet contained each week in the Church section of the Deseret
News and any words of the prophet contained each month in our Church
magazines. Our marching orders for each six months are found in the
general conference addresses, which are printed in the Ensign
magazine.—President Ezra Taft Benson, 1980 BYU Devotional Speeches of
the Year
(9/30/97)
Let me add that when a revelation comes for the guidance of this
people, you may be sure that it will not be presented in some
mysterious manner contrary to the order of the Church. It will go
forth in such form that the people will understand that it comes from
those who are in authority, for it will be sent either to the
presidents of stakes and the bishops of the wards over the signatures
of the presiding authorities, or it will be published in some of the
regular papers or magazines under the control and direction of the
church, or it will be presented before such a gathering as this at a
general conference. It will not spring up in some distant part of the
Church and be in the hands of some obscure individual without
authority, and thus be circulated among the Latter-day Saints.—Elder
Joseph Fielding Smith, General Conference, October 1910
(10/1/97)
We are gathered together at this general conference, not with the
expectation that any new revelation will be given or any new doctrine
set forth, but to be reminded of the truth and to have our minds
stirred up in remembrance of those things which we have heard or read,
and thus be renewed in our spirits and in the prosecution of our
labors.—Elder Marriner W. Merrill, General Conference, October 1901
(10/2/97)
We are met today in our General Conference, and this particular
conference, in the spring of the year, brings to our minds the
wonderful experience that the boy Joseph Smith had 101 years ago. As I
ponder the glorious revelation that was vouchsafed to him, and look
back upon the early days of his ministry, I sometimes wonder if he, in
his wildest fancies, in his greatest hopes and ambitions, dreamed
that, in the short space of one century, conferences of the Church
would be held where there would be in attendance thousands and tens of
thousands of its members. To me these gatherings are a testimony that
the work is of our heavenly Father, that it has his sanction, and that
that which we are doing and striving to do has his hearty approval. He
is blessing us and sustaining us in our efforts to do that which he
gave to his children, through the Prophet Joseph Smith, at the
beginning of the last century. Nowhere in the world is there a
gathering of people comparable with these conference meetings held in
Salt Lake City today, and for the next two or three days. Nowhere in
the world is there such a gathering of men and women giving their all
for the great work of the Master. Nowhere on earth will you find the
body of men bearing the Priesthood of the living God, that you find
here in Zion, on the occasion of these conferences. The power, the
influence, and the spirit of these gatherings, are carried in, to all
the world by the men and women, who come here and attend these
meetings.—Winslow Farr Smith, General Conference, April 1921
(10/3/97)
Brethren and sisters, I do not know much, but what I do know, I
know well; I am a well-trained soldier; I have been laboring in the
Church under the direction of the general authorities for over 35
years; I have seen a whole council of the Twelve fill their missions
and pass over, and still live, and I know from my missionary
experience in the world and at home, that we are the servants of the
living God; that we hold divine authority; that every member in this
Church, from the least unto the greatest, is entitled to revelation
and inspiration and the spirit of prophecy for his own guidance.—Elder
J. Golden Kimball, General Conference, April 1926
(6/23/01)
"We who are met here today claim a special, unique knowledge of
the Savior’s gospel. Most striking of all, to those who first become
acquainted with us, is our declaration to the world that we are guided
by a living prophet of God—one who communicates with, is inspired by,
and receives revelation from the Lord." - Howard W. Hunter,
"Conference Time," "Ensign," Nov. 1981, p. 13
(6/24/01)
"There will be changes made in the future as in the past. Whether
the Brethren make changes or resist them depends entirely upon the
instructions they receive through the channels of revelation which
were established in the beginning." - Boyd K. Packer, "Revelation in a
Changing World," "Ensign," Nov. 1989, p. 16
(6/25/01)
"It is vital that we, ...learn to hear the voice of the Lord. Yet
I worry that too often we fail to seek the guidance of the Spirit.
Perhaps we don’t know how and haven’t made it a priority to learn. Or
we’re so aware of our personal failings that we don’t feel worthy,
don’t really believe the Lord will talk to us, and therefore don’t
seek revelation. Or we’ve allowed the distractions and pace of our
lives to crowd out the Spirit. What a tragedy! For the Holy Ghost
blesses us with optimism and wisdom at times of challenge that we
simply cannot muster on our own." - Sheri L. Dew, "We Are Not
Alone," "Ensign," Nov. 1998, p. 95–96
(6/26/01)
"We are taught that miracles are performed and revelation received
through clean vessels of the Lord (see 3 Ne. 8:1). Peter’s cleanliness
of soul gained him deliverance from prison at the hands of angels. It
provided him power to heal the sick and raise Dorcas from death (see
Acts 9:36–43). And his purity made it possible for him to see a vision
which led to the extension of the gospel to the Gentiles." - Carlos E.
Asay, "Instruments of Righteousness," "New Era," June 1983,
p. 7
(6/27/01)
"God reveals Himself and His eternal truths-—the spiritual food
that the scriptures call the bread of life and the living water-—to
those who seek, who serve, who keep His commandments, and who wait and
listen in humility for His teaching. Study and reason are appropriate
to begin this process, but 'the things of God cannot be learned solely
by study and reason.'" - Dallin H. Oaks, "Nourishing the
Spirit," "Ensign," Dec. 1998, p. 9
(6/28/01)
"We have nothing to fear and everything to gain. God is at the
helm. We will seek His direction. We will listen to the still, small
voice of revelation. And we will go forward as He directs." - Gordon
B. Hinckley, "Our Testimony to the World,"
"Ensign," May 1997, p. 83
(10/6/01)
"The idea that scripture reading can lead to inspiration and
revelation opens the door to the truth that a scripture is not limited
to what it meant when it was written but may also include what that
scripture means to a reader today. Even more, scripture reading may
also lead to current revelation on whatever else the Lord wishes to
communicate to the reader at that time. We do not overstate the point
when we say that the scriptures can be a Urim and Thummim to assist
each of us to receive personal revelation." - Dallin H.
Oaks, "Scripture Reading and Revelation," "Ensign," Jan.
1995, 8
(10/7/01)
"In its more familiar forms, revelation or inspiration comes by
means of words or thoughts communicated to the mind (see D&C
8:2–3; Enos 1:10), by sudden enlightenment (see D&C 6:14–15), by
positive or negative feelings about proposed courses of action, or
even by inspiring performances, as in the performing arts. As Elder
Boyd K. Packer has stated, 'Inspiration comes more as a feeling than
as a sound' (Boyd K. Packer, “Prayers and Answers,” Ensign, Nov. 1979,
pp. 19–20)." - Dallin H. Oaks, "Revelation," "New Era,"
Sept. 1982, 38
(10/8/01)
"The peace God speaks to our minds will let us know when decisions
we have made are right, when our course is true. It can come as
personal inspiration and guidance to assist us in our daily life—in
our homes, in our work. It can provide us with courage and hope to
meet the challenges of life. The miracle of prayer, to me, is that in
the private, quiet chambers of our mind and heart, God both hears and
answers prayers." - Rex D. Pinegar, "Peace through
Prayer," "Ensign," May 1993, 66–67
(10/9/01)
"When we seek inspiration to help make decisions, the Lord gives
gentle promptings. These require us to think, to exercise faith, to
work, to struggle at times, and to act. Seldom does the whole answer
to a decisively important matter or complex problem come all at once.
More often, it comes a piece at a time, without the end in sight." -
Richard G. Scott, "Learning to Recognize Answers to
Prayer," "Ensign," Nov. 1989, 32
(10/10/01)
"You may ask, 'How can I discern which of the prophetic utterances
of this conference have a particular message for me?' My answer is,
you can know. You can know by the whisperings of the Holy Spirit if
you righteously and earnestly seek to know. Your own inspiration will
be an unerring vibration through the companionship of the Holy Ghost.
As the Lord spoke to Elijah, this will come, not in the great strong
wind, nor in the earthquake, nor in the fire, but in a still, small
voice. (See 1 Kgs. 19:11–12.) This will help us, if necessary, to make
the required change in our lives and life-styles to get onto a sure
course." - James E. Faust, "Responsibility for Welfare Rests with
Me and My Family" "Ensign," May 1986, 22
(1/28/04)
"The Spirit reveals the will of the Lord through the feelings of
the heart. We must be in tune with the Spirit and in touch with these
feelings. Nephi spoke of the need to have a receptive heart to receive
revelations. When he spoke to Laman and Lemuel, he reminded them that
an angel had spoken to them: 'He hath spoken unto you in a still small
voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words' (1
Ne. 17:45)." - L. Lionel Kendrick, "Personal
Revelation," Ensign, Sept. 1999, p. 13
(4/2/04)
"No message appears in scripture more times, in more ways than,
'Ask, and ye shall receive.' (Matt.
21:22; James
4:3; 1 Jn.
3:22; 1 Ne.
15:11; Enos
1:15; Mosiah
4:21; D&C 4:7;
and Moses 6:52
are examples.) While we may invite this communication, it can never
be forced! If we try to force it, we may be deceived." - Boyd K.
Packer, "Reverence
Invites
Revelation," Ensign, Nov. 1991, p. 21
(5/17/04)
"My first radio was a crystal set. It was hard to tune to the
frequency of a particular radio station. I had to literally scratch
the receiving wire whisker over the top of the rough crystal to find
the right pinpoint, a little valley or peak on the crystal where the
signal was received. Just a millimeter off on either side of that
point and I would lose the signal and get scratchy static. Over time,
with patience and perseverance, good eyesight, and a steady hand, I
learned to find the signal point on the crystal without too much
difficulty. So it is with inspiration. We must attune ourselves to the
inspiration from God and tune out the scratchy static. We have to work
at being tuned in. Most of us need a long time to become tuned in.
When I was a newly called General Authority, President Marion G.
Romney, who was in his 70s at the time, told us, 'I know when I am
working under the Spirit and when I am not.' To be able to recognize
when one is being guided by the Spirit is a supernal gift." - James E.
Faust, "Did
You
Get the Right Message?" General Conference, April 2004
(7/22/04)
"The flow of revelation depends on your faith. You exercise faith
by causing, or by making, your mind accept or believe as truth that
which you cannot, by reason alone, prove for certainty. (See Alma
32:27-28, 38.)" - Boyd K. Packer, "Personal
Revelation:
The Gift, the Test, and the Promise," Ensign, November 1994, p.
60
(1/17/05)
"True religion deals with spiritual things. We do not come to a
knowledge of God and his laws through intellectuality, or by research,
or by reason. I have an average mind—one that is neither better nor
worse than the general run of mankind. In the realm of intellectual
attainment I have a doctor's degree, and I hope my sons after me will
reach a similar goal. In their sphere, education and intellectuality
are devoutly to be desired.
"But when contrasted with spiritual endowments, they are of but slight
and passing worth. From an eternal perspective what each of us needs
is a Ph.D. in faith and righteousness. The things that will profit us
everlastingly are not the power to reason, but the ability to receive
revelation; not the truths learned by study, but the knowledge gained
by faith; not what we know about the things of the world, but our
knowledge of God and his laws." - Bruce R. McConkie, "The Lord's
People Receive Revelation," Ensign, June 1971, p. 77–78
(3/1/05)
"How do revelation and inspiration operate? Each person has a
built-in 'receiving set' which, when fine-tuned, can be a receiver of
divine communications. Said Job, 'There is a spirit in man: and... the
Almighty giveth them understanding' (Job
32:8). It is possible, like Nephi, to be led completely by the
Spirit, 'not knowing beforehand' that which should be done (see 1
Ne. 4:6).
"How is inspiration received? Enos stated, 'And while I was thus
struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my
mind' (Enos 1:10).
One does not necessarily hear an audible voice. The spirit of
revelation comes by divine confirmation. 'I will tell you in your mind
and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and
which shall dwell in your heart,' says the Lord in the Doctrine and
Covenants (D&C 8:2)."
- James E. Faust, "Communion
with
the Holy Spirit," Ensign, May 1980, p. 14
(3/30/05)
"The Lord has provided for us prophets, scriptures, parents, and
other wise leaders to teach us the course we should be following. They
can help us monitor our progress and correct the direction we are
going when necessary, much the same as tracking stations monitor a
satellite's progress and keep it on the right path. Our course on
earth is so important. It is determined by the decisions we make each
day. We cannot separate our thoughts and actions now from their
effects on the future." - Joseph B. Wirthlin, "The
Time
to Prepare," Ensign, May 1998, p. 16
(5/20/05)
"We should study things out in
our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within
us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive
it. If we do not receive guidance, we should [page 14] act upon our
best judgment. Persons who persist in seeking revelatory guidance on
subjects on which the Lord has not chosen to direct us may concoct
an answer out of their own fantasy or bias, or they may even receive
an answer through the medium of false revelation. Revelation from
God is a sacred reality, but like other sacred things, it must be
cherished and used properly so that a great strength does not become
a disabling weakness." - Dallin H. Oaks, "Our
Strengths
Can Become Our Downfall," Ensign, Oct. 1994, 13–14
(6/21/05)
"The Holy Ghost
communicates with the spirit through the mind more than through the
physical senses. This guidance comes as thoughts, as feelings,
through impressions and promptings. It is not always easy to
describe inspiration. The scriptures teach us that we may 'feel' the
words of spiritual communication more than hear them, and see with
spiritual rather than with mortal eyes. [See 1
Ne. 17:45.]
"The patterns of revelation are not dramatic. The voice of
inspiration is a still voice, a small voice. There need be no
trance, no sanctimonious declaration. It is quieter and simpler than
that." - Boyd K. Packer, "Revelation
in
a Changing World," Ensign, Nov. 1989, 14
(11/5/05)
"Every
person
in this Church is entitled to know and is expected to know by the
revelations of the Holy Ghost to his soul that these things are true;
and if he knows them, then, in my judgment, he should have no desire
in his heart to do anything in this world except hearken to the
counsel of the living oracles and put his house in order and prepare
himself for the glory and honor and salvation of which President
George F. Richards has just spoken." - Bruce R. McConkie, "Conference
Report," October 1947, Second Day—Morning Meeting, p.60
12/2/05
"Restraint is one of the
most common functions of revelation. It often comes by surprise. Even
though we have not asked for revelation or guidance on a particular
subject, if we are keeping the commandments of God and living in tune
with his Spirit, a restraining force will steer us away from things we
should not do. Though not obviously related to the conventional
activities of learning, this function of revelation communicates a
message that must rank among the most important lessons we can learn." -
Dallin H. Oaks, "The Lord's Way," p.27
12/10/05
"[W]e... of this age stand at
the gates of the future, pleading for light to guide us safely into the
lowering storm clouds. We... desperately need to distinguish from the
babble of voices around us, that voice which will alone lead us safely
through the dark night. And that voice in this day... is the voice of
the Master, as given through 'holy men of God who spake as they were
moved by the Holy Ghost.' Through their inspired utterances they declare
once again to an anguished world that the Lord's all-seeing eye pierces
the shrouded gloom, and that his gentle hand is extended to those
venturing into the night. Prophecy is the hand of God extended in love
to a groping, floundering world." - Gerald N. Lund, "The Coming of the
Lord," p.2
6/15/06
"What we mortals encounter as the unforeseen, God has already seen, such
as how the oil deposits of this earth would shape the latter-day
conflicts among nations. God's 'is the hand that is stretched out upon
all the nations' (Isa.
14:26). He likewise foresaw all the awful famines, some resulting
from the unwise, unnecessary erosions of precious topsoil. He surely
foresaw the terrible persecutions of the Jews. Having created the earth,
He has anticipated the impact of continental drifts on the frequency and
intensity of latter-day earthquakes. He who analogized that 'the wicked
are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest' (Isa.
57:20) also knows where and when, in latter days, the seas' tidal
waves will heave themselves savagely 'beyond their bounds' (D&C
88:90).
"Without the revelations, however, the answers as to the why of our
existence and the why of human suffering would elude even the best
intellectual excursions:
"'Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How
unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is
impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of
his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not
the revelations of God' (Jacob
4:8)." - Neal A. Maxwell, "Yet
Thou
Art There," Ensign (CR), November 1987, p.30
12/23/06
"It just may be that my salvation (and yours also!) does in fact depend
upon our ability to understand the writings of Isaiah as fully and truly
as Nephi understood them.
"For that matter, why should either Nephi or Isaiah know anything that
is withheld from us? Does not that God who is no respecter of persons
treat all his children alike? Has he not given us his promise and
recited to us the terms and conditions of his law pursuant to which he
will reveal to us what he has revealed to them?
"If the Lord Jehovah revealed to Isaiah that 'a virgin shall conceive,
and bear a son,' whose very name shall be 'God is with us' (Isa.
7:14); if this 'child' shall be 'The mighty God, The everlasting
Father,' who shall reign 'with judgment and with justice' forever (Isa.
9:6-9); if he is to 'make his soul an offering for sin,' and place
his 'grave with the wicked' (Isa.
53:9-10); if his redemptive promise to all men is: 'Thy dead men
shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise' (Isa.
26:19); if he shall gather Israel in the last days and bring 'the
ransomed of the Lord... to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon
their heads' (Isa.
35:10); if his people 'shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall
bring again Zion' (Isa.
52:8); if these and a great host of other glorious truths were
known to Isaiah and Nephi, should they be hidden from us? Why should
either of these prophets know what we do not know? Is not the Lord
Jehovah our God also?" - Bruce R. McConkie, "Sermons and Writings of
Bruce R. McConkie," p.300-301
3/27/07
"It is a great thing to enjoy the spirit of the gospel, for that brings
peace, it brings security and life and salvation. We cannot accomplish
these things without the Lord helps us, and he is ready and willing and
generous to bestow upon us his spirit in just such abundance as we are
ready and prepared to receive; for the Spirit of the Lord is as generous
and as ready at our necessities and commands through our faithfulness,
as the light of day, as the heat of the sun, and the cold and the
warmth, and so forth. The Lord is near us by his Spirit and his Spirit
is ready for our possession and for us to enjoy in our homes, in our
labors, in our work, publicly and privately, at home or abroad. When we
live under the inspiration and light of the Spirit of God, we will be
happy wherever we are, and we will accomplish a world of good and those
who are about us and associate with us will enjoy the spirit that we
enjoy and will recognize it." - Francis M. Lyman, "Conference Report,"
October 1916, Afternoon Session, p.30
5/10/07
"Personal revelation is not
limited to gaining a testimony and knowing thereby that Jesus, through
whom the gospel came, is Lord of all, nor is it limited to receiving
guidance in our personal and family affairs-although these are the
most common examples of revelation among the Lord's people. In truth
and in verity, there is no limit to the revelations each member of the
Church may receive. It is within the power of every person who has
received the gift of the Holy Ghost to see visions, entertain angels,
learn the deep and hidden mysteries of the kingdom, and even see the
face of God." - Bruce R. McConkie, "A New Witness for the Articles of
Faith," p.489
7/30/07
"As a people we need to live so as to have the word of God given to
us. To be fed upon anything else but this would be a great
disappointment and would leave us hungry and in a destitute
condition. The life of a Latter-day Saint is such that he has need
to be in close communion with his God; and the religion that we profess
is one which imparts to the human soul at the very time that it is
required the consolation, the strength, and the necessary gifts and
powers to enable that soul to contend with and overcome all the evils
that may lie in his pathway." - George Q. Cannon, "Living Our Religion,"
Remarks made in the Tabernacle, Salt Lake City, Sunday afternoon, May
26, 1889
11/6/07
"Each of us has been sent to earth by our Heavenly Father to merit
eternal life: 'And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the
only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.' (John
17:3) How do we know the Father and the
Son for ourselves? By personal revelation. Personal revelation is the
way Heavenly Father helps us know Him and His Son, learn and live the
gospel, endure to the end in righteousness, and qualify for eternal
life—to return back into Their presence." - Robert D. Hales, "Personal
Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets,"
General Conference, 7 October 2007
11/21/07
"No, revelation has not ceased and will not cease. This kingdom of God
has been set up for the rest of time, never to be torn down nor given to
another people. It is a continuous program and will grow instead of
diminish. Its doctrines are well established, but because of growth and
expansion, improved ways are afforded to teach the gospel all over the
world. Additional servants are called to the increasing work for a
bigger world. Revelation and other miracles will never cease unless
faith ceases. Where there is adequate faith, these things will
continue." - Spencer W. Kimball, "The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball,"
edited by Edward L. Kimball, p.448
12/2/07
"The gap between what is popular and what is righteous is widening. As
prophesied by Isaiah, many today 'call evil good, and good evil.' (Isa.
5:20.) Revelations from the prophets of
God are not like offerings at the cafeteria, some to be selected and
others disregarded. We are greatly indebted to the Prophet Joseph
Smith for the many great revelations which came through him. He was
without peer in restoring spiritual knowledge. (See D&C
135:3.)" - James E. Faust, "Lord,
I Believe; Help Thou Mine Unbelief,"
Ensign (CR), November 2003, p.19
12/12/07
"I testify to you, and to all the world, that the inspiration and
protecting care of a kind Father in heaven are real. He is close to the
Church, and I know with my whole soul that he is not just an absent,
far-away source, as some may think. He is a kind Father, solicitous of
the welfare of his children, and ready and willing to hear and answer
their call. The answer may be negative, as sometimes a wise parent gives
a negative answer to the pleadings of a child, but he is ever ready to
hear and to answer at a time when it is best for the one concerned." -
David O. Mckay, "Conference Report," April 1968, Afternoon Meeting,
p.146
1/5/08
"If any of us are to escape the
perils that lie ahead, if any of us are to abide the day of the Lords
return, if any of us are to gain peace in this life and be inheritors of
eternal life in the world to come, we must receive the message sent from
on high and conform to the counsel it contains.
"That message—our message to the world—is the message of the Restoration. It is the announcement that the heavens have been opened, that the voice of God is heard again. It is the proclamation of peace through obedience to the laws and ordinances of the holy gospel. It is the glad tidings that once again there are legal administrators who hold the keys of the kingdom and have power to bind on earth and seal in heaven (see D&C 27:13)." - Bruce R. McConkie, "The Lord God of the Restoration," Ensign (CR), November 1980, p.50
12/14/08
"How wondrous it is to read and
ponder and interpret the prophetic word; to discover its deep and hidden
meanings; to know that the conclusions reached, and the truths learned,
are the very ones that had their origin in the prophetic mind. In the
full sense this can only be done by the power of the Spirit; only those
enlightened by the same Spirit that gave the ancient word can discover
its true meaning and discern its true intent." - Bruce R. McConkie,
"A New Witness for the Articles of Faith," p.430
1/5/08
"I
recollect a dream that my father had. He dreamed that he was travelling,
and that during his journey he came to a tremendous mountain of snow and
saw that his pathway was hedged up. But some one said, 'Take
one
more step.' My father
replied, 'But that will be
the last.' However, he took that
step, and then his guide said, 'Do
you not see that there is room for you to take another?'
When he had taken another, his guide told him to take still another in
advance; and there was a passage all the way through. So it will be with
us. The Lord will not reveal all that we at times wish him to. If a
schoolmaster were to undertake to teach a little child algebra, you
would call him foolish, would you not? Just so with our Father: he
reveals to us as we are prepared to receive, and I hope to continue to
learn. There is no cessation, in time nor in eternity, to the progress
and increase of the righteous. If we will but put away every selfish
feeling, we can come in possession of all the blessings that are in
store for us."
- Brigham Young, "Journal of Discourses," 26 vols., 5:331
9/25/09
“If
you will ask your Heavenly Father in daily prayers to help you
understand the messages and find answers to your problems or
questions, and if you will strive to keep the commandments, you can
have the spirit of the Holy Ghost to teach you and to open your mind
more than you would ever have thought possible. These are special
messages that are there for you for your individual needs at this
particular time in your life.” - Ardeth G.
Kapp, “The Holy Scriptures: Letters from Home,” Ensign (CR),
November 1985, p. 93
12/23/09
“It
may be so small a thing as to keep careful minutes in a deacons or a
teachers quorum. There were young men years ago who kept meticulous
records of what was decided and what was done by boys only months
older than they were. That took faith that God called even
12-year-olds into His service who were being guided by revelation.
Some of those quorum secretaries of long ago now sit in the presiding
councils of the Church. They now read the minutes others prepare. And
revelation flows to them now as it did to the leaders they served when
they were boys like you. They had been prepared to trust that God
reveals His will, even in apparently small matters, in His
kingdom.” – Henry B. Eyring, “Be Ready,”
Ensign, November 2009
12/28/09
“For
each of you to receive revelation unique to your own needs and
responsibilities, certain guidelines prevail. The Lord asks you to
develop ‘faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the
glory of God.’ Then with your firm ‘faith, virtue, knowledge,
temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity,
humility, [and] diligence,’ you may ask, and you will
receive; you may knock, and it will be opened unto you.”
– Russell M. Nelson, “Ask, Seek,
Knock,” Ensign, November 2009
1/27/10
“One
of the basic tenets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
is that we believe in continuous revelation. It is our testimony to
the world that God communicates to prophets today the same as he did
in ancient times. God’s revelations in times past have been sustained
and revered in holy scripture. New revelation is the mind and will of
the Lord through current prophets, and when they speak when moved upon
by the Holy Ghost, it is ‘the will of the Lord, … the mind
of the Lord, … the word of the Lord, … the voice of
the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.’ (D&C 68:4.
Italics added.)” - Paul H. Dunn, “Parents,
Teach Your Children,” Ensign (CR), May 1974, p. 14
2/11/10
“In
the performance of our responsibilities, I have learned that when we
heed a silent prompting and act upon it without delay, our Heavenly
Father will guide our footsteps and bless our lives and the lives of
others. I know of no experience more sweet or feeling more precious
than to heed a prompting only to discover that the Lord has answered
another person's prayer through you.” - Thomas
S. Monson, “Peace, Be Still,” Ensign (CR), November 2002, p. 53
4/1/10
“I
know people who can talk endlessly about religion but who have never
had a religious experience. I know people who have written books about
religion but who have about as much spirituality as a cedar post.
Their interest in gospel doctrine is to defend their own speculative
views rather than to find out what the Lord thinks about whatever is
involved. Their conversations and their writings are in the realm of
reason and the intellect; the Spirit of God has not touched their
souls; they have not been born again and become new creatures of the
Holy Ghost; they have not received revelation.” -
Bruce R. McConkie, “The Lord’s People Receive Revelation,” Ensign
(CR), June 1971, p. 77
6/15/10
"In the day when the Prophet
Joseph Smith lived, the divisions of Christendom were seen. His going
into the woods to pray was a divine act, for through the deep faith of
the boy, God spoke to him. We all know the story. God reestablished his
Church, the priesthood of God was restored by John the Baptist, and
Peter, James, and John. They came again to earth as resurrected beings.
Thus Joseph Smith came to understand the supreme test of religion --
revelation. Religion as a purely human product, valuable at it is to
human life and progress, has not the inner vigor to retain a place of
commanding power. Religion requires revelation. 'The completest carrier
of revelation can be no other, or less, than a chosen personality.' This
was the Christian conception in the beginning. So we have the restored
gospel today. The Church has its priesthood with its Apostles,
seventies, and all the other offices in the Holy Priesthood of God." - Levi
Edgar Young, "Conference Report," April 1950, p. 65
7/17/10
"Facing you, I am reminded of
military days long ago when our platoon heard shouts from a sergeant:
'Attention!' 'Right face!' 'Left face!' 'About face!' We learned to
respond to those orders with instant precision. In retrospect, I don't
recall ever having heard his command to 'face upward.' Yet scriptures
tell us to 'look to God and live.'" - Russell
M. Nelson, "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods," Ensign (CR), May 1996,
p. 14
9/7/10
"Brothers and sisters, it is contrary to the economy of heaven for the
Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed
to us collectively. The scriptures contain the words of Christ. They
are the voice of the Lord. Studying the scriptures trains us to hear
the Lord’s voice." - David M.
McConkie, "Gospel
Learning and Teaching," Ensign (CR) October 2010
10/8/11
Often as we grow from childhood to adolescence and then to adulthood,
we have challenges and experiences along the way which cause us to
know that we need the divine help that comes through the Holy Spirit.
As struggles come, we may ask ourselves, “What is the answer to my
problem?” and “How can I know what to do?”…
The way to receive personal revelation is really quite clear. We need
to desire to receive revelation, we must not harden our hearts, and
then we need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an
answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God. - Barbara
Thompson, "
10/28/12
Today, surrounded by so
much information, we might think that navigating millions of web pages
will give us all that we need to know. We can find good and bad
information on the web, but information alone is not enough. God has
given us another source for greater knowledge, even knowledge sent
from heaven. Our Heavenly Father can give us such knowledge when we
navigate the celestial web in our hearts and minds. The Prophet Joseph
Smith said that he had “the oldest book in [his] heart, even the gift
of the Holy Ghost.” - Walter F. González, "Learning
with Our Hearts," Ensign (CR) November 2012
10/30/12
My brothers and sisters, the
Lord’s purposes are often accomplished as we pay heed to the
guidance of the Spirit. I believe that the more we act upon the
inspiration and impressions which come to us, the more the Lord will
entrust to us His errands. - Thomas S. Monson, "Consider
the Blessings," Ensign (CR) November 2012
11/5/12
As we humbly come to
sacrament meeting, we can be blessed to feel impressions for solutions
to our daily problems. We must come prepared, be willing to listen,
and not be distracted. In the scriptures we read, “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
can know what we should do to solve our problems. - Don R.
Clarke, "Blessings
of the Sacrament," Ensign (CR) November 2012
7/28/13
So
how can we recognize inspiration when it comes? Enos stated, “While
I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord
came into my mind.” The voice of the spirit of revelation is not
necessarily audible, but it gives us divine confirmation through our
thoughts and feelings. As we are told in the Doctrine and Covenants,
“I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost,
which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.” We
must cultivate our sensitivity to that divine voice. -
James E. Faust, "Did
You Get the Right Message?" Ensign (CR) May 2004
10/1/13
In terms of modern communication, crystal radio sets helped us
emerge from the dark ages of communication. With advanced
technology, cellular phones are used for much of the communication
in our time. Occasionally, however, we find dead spots where the
signal coming to a cell phone fails. This can happen when the cell
phone user is in a tunnel or a canyon or when there is other
interference.
So it is with divine communication. The still, small voice, though
still and small, is very powerful. It “whispereth through and
pierceth all things.” But like my old crystal set, the message may
be there but we fail to pick it up. Perhaps something in our lives
prevents us from hearing the message because we are “past feeling.”
We often put ourselves in spiritual dead spots—places and situations
that block out divine messages. Some of these dead spots include
anger, pornography, transgression, selfishness, and other situations
that offend the Spirit. - James
E. Faust, "Did
You Get the Right Message?" Ensign (CR) May 2004
5/6/14
Even with the slightest tug from the Master, we must be willing to
completely alter our course. To succeed in life, we must teach our
spirit and body to work together in obedience to God’s commandments.
If we heed the gentle promptings of the Holy Ghost, it can unite our
spirits and bodies in a purpose that will guide us back to our
eternal home to live with our eternal Father in Heaven. - L.
Tom Perry, “Obedience
through Our Faithfulness,” Ensign (CR) May 2014
5/12/14
Much can be said
upon what our duty is, but we can comprise the whole in saying, live
so that the spirit of revelation will be in every man and woman, and
it will lead them to truth and holiness. Then there would be no
bickering, no contention, no lawsuits against each other, and there
would be less business in the High Councils than there is now. Those
who live for truth and holiness have a right to enjoy the
revelations of Jesus Christ. We know the oracles of God which He has
placed in the midst of this people, and we know that we should
observe the counsel which is given to us. - Brigham
Young, "Journal of Discourses, 26 vols.," 10:305
7/10/14
There are those who would assume that with the printing and binding
of these sacred records, that would be the “end of the prophets.”
But again we testify to the world that revelation continues and that
the vaults and files of the Church contain these revelations which
come month to month and day to day. We testify also that there is,
since 1830 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was
organized, and will continue to be, so long as time shall last, a
prophet, recognized of God and his people, who will continue to
interpret the mind and will of the Lord. - Spencer
W. Kimball, “Revelation:
The Word of the Lord to His Prophets,” Ensign (CR) May 1977
8/5/14
Every member of the Church is entitled to know that God our Heavenly
Father lives; that he is not dead. He is also entitled to know that
our elder brother, Jesus Christ, is the Savior and Redeemer of the
world, and that he has opened the door for us, that we, through our
individual acts, may receive salvation and exaltation and dwell once
again in the presence of our Heavenly Father. This assurance and
witness must be earnestly sought. - Henry D. Taylor, “Man
Cannot Endure on Borrowed Light,” Ensign (CR) May 1971
11/24/14
We are prone to say that we are waiting on the Lord to receive light
and truth when, as a matter of fact, the Lord is waiting on us—waiting
for us to get into condition so he can reveal the light we seek and so
desperately need. - Hartman Rector,
Jr., “Ignorance
is Expensive,” Ensign (CR) April 1971
2/20/15
The kingdom of God on earth
continues to move forward with dedicated missionary and member alike
having the conviction confirmed by the Holy Ghost that Joseph Smith
saw God our Father and His Son Jesus Christ. It moves forward
empowered by the assurance in the heart of each faithful member,
individually, that those who lead us do so with the spirit of
prophecy and revelation. We must never lose this precious gift. We
must pay whatever price of faith and obedience is required to retain
this great blessing. - L. Aldin
Porter, “The
Spirit of Prophecy,” Ensign (CR) October 1996
2/24/15
It
has been my experience that some of the most powerful promptings we
receive are not only for our own benefit but also for the benefit of
others. If we are thinking only of ourselves, we may miss some of
the most powerful spiritual experiences and profound revelations of
our lives. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf,
“Waiting
on the Road to Damascus,” Ensign (CR) April 2011
8/12/15
We should also seek learning by faith in God, the giver of
revelation. I believe that many of the great discoveries and
achievements in science and the arts have resulted from a God-given
revelation. Seekers who have paid the price in perspiration have
been magnified by inspiration. - Dallin
H. Oaks, "Alternate
Voices," Ensign (CR), May 1989, p. 27
8/27/15
The
impress of great truths, caught ofttimes by a momentary flash of
heavenly light, are held in store within the hidden recesses of the
mind, forgotten, perhaps, for years. Then at a moment of crucial
test or painful trial, in the time of distress and affliction, the
active reagent compounded in the laboratory of memory and sensitized
by the elixir of inspiration is applied, and the picture of the past
is brought to light, attesting the truth in a way that none may
gainsay or deny. - James E.
Talmage, "The Parables of James E. Talmage," p. 17
12/8/15
I
bear you my solemn testimony that the Lord opens the heavens to his
servants today. He will answer your prayers for help beyond your
human understanding. But I also bear you my testimony that the words
"study it out" mean a degree of patience, labor, and persistence
commensurate with the value of what you seek. - Henry B.
Eyring, "To Draw Closer to God: A Collection of Discourses," p.95
12/11/15
Continuing revelation is a
fundamental feature of this faith. Joseph Smith's first prayer is a
powerful testimony of this. Revelation is a constant compass that
keeps us always true to the will and the faith of our Heavenly
Father. - Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Faith
of Our Father,” Ensign (CR) April 2008
1/1/16
Revelation
comes on the Lord's timetable, which often means we must move
forward in faith, even though we haven't received all the answers we
desire. - Robert D. Hales, "Personal
Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets,”
Ensign (CR) October 2007
1/9/16
There is a God in
heaven who reveals His secrets to His servants the Prophets, and we
are all Prophets in a certain sense, if we are under the influence
of the Holy Ghost, so far as that is concerned: the most humble man
or woman in the Church can get down upon his or her knees in prayer,
and the heavens will be opened in such a way that we will understand
the will of God. Our prayers will ascend to God, and, if we are
sincere and honest in our supplication, we will receive an answer
through the still small voice which will guide our footsteps through
life, and which will cause us to do the right thing at the right
time, and to take such steps as we shall not subsequently have
occasion to regret. - Andrew
Jenson, "Conference Report," October 1912, Outdoor Meeting., p.115
1/14/16
How this confused world of today needs revelation from God. With war
and pestilence and famine, with poverty, desolation, with more and
more graft, dishonesty, and immorality, certainly the people of this
world need revelation from God as never before. How absurd it would be
to think that the Lord would give to a small handful of people in
Palestine and the Old World his precious direction through revelation
and now, in our extremity, close the heavens. - Spencer
W. Kimball, "Revelation:
The Word of the Lord to His Prophets," Ensign (CR), May 1977,
p.76
5/29/16
Revelation does not depend upon books. It is an eternal principle, a
perennial, ever- flowing fountain. Books may come and books may go,
but revelation goes on forever. - Orson
F. Whitney, “Conference Report,” October 1925, Afternoon Session,
p.102
7/18/16
I should like also to add my testimony to the testimonies of my
brethren who spoke this morning, concerning the spirits that are
with us to guide, inspire, and protect us. Many people have said to
me: "Brother Smith, how can you tell the difference between the
promptings of the Lord, or his agencies, and the promptings of the
adversary or his agencies?" They say they are unable, in most
respects, to discern the difference between those promptings. I have
said: "After earnest and sincere prayer follow your first
impression, and you will always go right." Then they say: "Well, how
can I tell which is my first impression? They are usually so close
to each other it is difficult to even tell which is the first
impression." Then I say: "The impression made by the Spirit that is
for our guide in safety in the Church is always from a good spirit,
the Spirit that proclaims and announces the truth, and the truth
doesn't need an alibi or crutches to support it." So if you go back
and knock down all the crutches, all the alibis, all the excuses,
the ifs and ands and buts that attempt to support it, that crowd and
urge us—because, as a rule, I have discovered that the adversary's
agencies, in their promptings, are usually of an urging, crowding,
hurrying nature, while the Spirit of the Lord and his agencies are
always of a quiet, sweet, peaceful and convincing character—so that
after we have done away with all the excuses, all the alibis that
usually support our experiences, we can discover which is the right
spirit. The spirit of conviction, of peace and of charity, which is
the love of the Lord and his work, is not in a hurry, but has time
to decide, time to weigh, time to consider; does not act in haste,
but in calm deliberation. We learn then the truth, and we have a
guide which is a companion to every member of the Church who is
faithful and true, so that we are able, through the blessings of the
Lord, to receive that comfort and consolation which will support us,
even in time of distress. - Hyrum
G. Smith, “Conference Report,” October 1931, Afternoon Meeting,
p.27
2/27/17
Never forget, question, or ignore personal, sacred spiritual
experiences. The adversary’s design is to distract us from spiritual
witnesses, while the Lord’s desire is to enlighten and engage us in
His work. – Ronald A. Rasband, “Lest
Thou Forget,” Ensign (CR) November 2016