Hales - Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets - October 2007

Elder Hales speaks about the need for personal revelation in our lives.  He gives us some key points on how revelation is given to us and what we can do to be more receptive to the answers that we are trying to obtain.

• Personal revelation is the way we know for ourselves the most important truths of our existence: the living reality of God, our Eternal Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ; the truthfulness of the restored gospel; and God’s purpose and direction for us.
• 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.

He shares that to obtain personal revelation, we need to pray.

• To obtain that Spirit, we begin with prayer. President Lorenzo Snow had studied the gospel for several years before joining the Church. But he did not receive a witness until two or three weeks after his baptism when he retired in secret prayer. “The Spirit of God descended upon me,” he said. “O, the joy and happiness I felt, [for] I then received a perfect knowledge that God lives, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and of the restoration of the holy Priesthood, and the fulness of the Gospel.”

He says that after we pray, a key element is to ponder on the things that we have been praying about.

• Prayer provides a firm foundation for personal revelation. But more is required.

He says that he and President Packer were on an assignment to call a new Stake President.  They didn't know who to call but after a walk in around the church and studying it out in the minds, the will of God was made known to them.  He says:

• We pondered our assignment, counseled together, and listened to the voice of the Spirit. When we went back, we prayed and studied further, and then we were prepared to receive revelation.

He teaches that revelation comes when the Lord gives it to us.  Something that requires us to move forward without a clear direction.  Those directions can be given to us as we move forward with faith.

• 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.

Personal revelation is given to parents as they seek to raise a righteous family.  God is the ultimate parent and can provide us guidance on how to help our children in their time of need.

• As faithful children, youth, parents, teachers, and leaders, we may receive personal revelation more frequently than we realize. The more we receive and acknowledge personal revelation, the more our testimonies grow.
• I am strengthened by the personal revelations I receive in my role as a son of God, a husband, and a father. I am so thankful for the guidance and direction of the Spirit in our home as we seek for direction in family matters.

He shares that our preparation to receive personal revelation needs to be just like the prophets do.

• We prepare to receive personal revelation as the prophets do, by studying the scriptures, fasting, praying, and building faith. Faith is the key.

He speaks about miracles in our lives that come through personal revelation.  Sometimes those miracles only come after the trial of our faith.  But be assured, those personal revelations will come.

• By design, most miracles are spiritual demonstrations of God’s power—tender mercies gently bestowed through impressions, ideas, feelings of assurance, solutions to problems, strength to meet challenges, and comfort to bear disappointments and sorrow. These miracles come to us as we endure what the scriptures call a “trial of [our] faith.”

Elder Hales concludes with his testimony that as we ask in faith, we will be granted the knowledge and understanding we need in our lives.  It may take time to get the answers, but they will come through the Holy Ghost.

• I testify that on the hillside or the meadow, in the grove or closet, now or in the eternities to come, the Savior’s words to each of us will be fulfilled: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”While we are commanded not to seek after signs, we are commanded to “seek … earnestly the best gifts.” These gifts include the Holy Ghost and personal revelation. That revelation will come “line upon line, precept upon precept,” as the Savior said, and “unto him that receiveth [the Lord] will give more.

I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father who has provided a way for me to know what He wants me to do.  God has created a way for someone as little and insignificant as I am, to know the things that will bring me, my family, and others I come in contact with, closer to God.  I am so blessed that in those quiet moments of pleading for guidance, He has allowed me to receive some of the greatest testimony building answers to the things that are on my mind.  I have had moments where the answers come quickly and abundantly.  I have had moments of complete silence.  But as I have moved forward in faith, moving my feet closer in the direction I feel is right, those moments of confirmation that I am making the right decision have come and have blessed me with an understanding of the blessings that truly are from God.