Agency & Obedience

Recently I was reading headline after headline about schools declining, the economy declining, the government declining, the food supply declining, and on and on and on. It was a bit depressing, so I decided to turn to the Church News to find something more up-lifting. Sister Bonnie Cordon shared an experience about how she “Hears Him”, and it reminded me that I need to remember that God is in charge. Not the government. Not the media. God, Himself is in charge, and in the Doctrine and Covenants, we read: 

“The works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught” (Doctrine & Covenants 3:1).

ETERNAL TRUTHS

Elder Dale G. Renlund in this past general conference talked about some of the truths that are found in the new Young Women’s theme (see Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny”, General Conference, April 2022).

1. You are a beloved daughter. Nothing you do—or do not do—can change that. God loves you because you are His spirit daughter.

2. We have heavenly parents, a father and a mother.

3. We have "a divine nature." This is intrinsic to who we are. It is spiritually "genetic," inherited from our heavenly parents, and requires no effort on our part.

4. We have an "eternal destiny."

Out of all of those truths, there is only one that we can control. Our eternal destiny. 

One of the blessings of this life is that we have been given the gift of moral agency — the right to make our own choices. Moral agency doesn’t simply mean that we can make whatever choice we want and have things go how we want them to. It doesn’t work that way. Moral agency is based on eternal law. For example, someone jumping out of a plane and “choosing” to ignore gravity is the same as breaking an eternal law and trying to avoid the punishment.

MORAL AGENCY

Before we came to this world we were given moral agency. This gift of agency is central to our purpose here on earth. It is so important that there was a war in heaven fought to protect and preserve it. It is so important to our Father in Heaven that He allowed one third part of His spirit children to walk away from eternal progress because they chose to.

In the scriptures we read:

“Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;

“And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice” (Moses 4:3-4).

In his BYU Devotional address, Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, “When we use the term moral agency…we are appropriately emphasizing the accountability that is an essential part of the divine gift of agency. We are moral beings and agents unto ourselves, free to choose but also responsible for our choices” (D. Todd Christofferson, “Moral Agency”, BYU Devotional, 31 Jan 2006).

OUR FALLEN WORLD

We live in a fallen world, and the natural state of man seems to be chaos, rather than order, and a steady decline rather than spontaneous growth. For example, if you don’t clean your house it doesn’t stay beautiful, tidy, and dust-free. If you don’t prepare your soil or plant any seeds you won’t get the desired produce. If you don’t exercise regularly, or sleep well, or eat healthy, it affects how your body and your spirit feel.

Decline is the natural way of things, and a challenge that we will all have to face throughout our lives. I was talking to my aging mother the other day and she said, “you know, life doesn’t get easier when you get older. Having your body age is hard, and how you age depends on the choices you made long ago to take care of it.”

In his book “Jesus the Christ”, James E. Talmage wrote, 

“The Eternal Father well understood the diverse natures and varied capacities of His spirit-offspring; and His infinite foreknowledge made plain to Him, even in the beginning, that in the school of life some of His children would succeed and others would fail; some would be faithful, others false; some would choose the good, others the evil; some would seek the way of life while others would elect to follow the road to destruction. He further foresaw that death would enter the world, and that the possession of bodies by His children would be of but brief individual duration. He saw that His commandments would be disobeyed and His law violated; and that men, shut out from His presence and left to themselves, would sink rather than rise, would retrogress rather than advance, and would be lost to the heavens” (James E. Talmage, “Jesus the Christ”, p16).

Thus the need for a Redeemer, for which I am truly grateful.

LAWS AND COMMANDMENTS

How does that tie to moral agency? Because we, as mortals, are inclined to decline, the Lord gave us commandments and laws to guide us, so that we could pull ourselves as far away from this world as we could.

“There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—

“And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated” (Doctrine & Covenants 130:20-21).

Irrevocably means unchangeably or irreversibly; in a way that can’t be taken back. And decreed means it is officially ordered by a recognized authority (Merriam-Webster Dictionary app).

There are eternal laws that cannot be changed, and if we want to be blessed we need to follow them. But, to truly have agency there must be consequences attached to those laws, otherwise it wouldn’t matter what we chose. Here are a few quotes about eternal laws and how they work:

“All blessings that were ordained for man by the Council of Heaven were on conditions of obedience to the law thereof” (Joseph Smith, “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith” (2007), 164).

“[The] covenant path is the way we come unto Christ and is based on absolute truth and eternal, unchanging law. We cannot create our own path and expect God’s promised outcomes. To expect His blessings while not following the eternal laws upon which they are predicated is misguided, like thinking we can touch a hot stove and ‘decide’ not to be burned” (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny”, General Conference, April 2022).

“Commandments are no more restrictive to the spiritual man than street signs are to the motorists. Neither prohibits our progress; to the contrary, they enhance it by serving as guideposts or directional signs to help us find and reach our destination” (Tad R. Callister, “The Infinite Atonement”, p258).

“If you really want a certain blessing, you’d better find out what the laws are that govern that blessing and then work on becoming obedient to those laws.” (Russell M. Nelson, “The Mission and Ministry of the Savior: A Discussion with Elder Russell M. Nelson,” Ensign, June 2005).

SATAN’S PLAN

Timothy Ballard, in his book, “The American Covenant”, asks an interesting question.

“During the pre-mortal existence, Satan proposed a ‘plan of salvation’ for God’s children that would take away agency and replace it with forced obedience. Satan was so adamantly against any opposing plan that included agency, that when his own plan was rejected, he responded by waging a war in heaven, which he would ultimately lose. The relevant question in all this is Why would Satan work so hard just to deny us our agency?” (Timothy Ballard, The American Covenant: One Nation Under God, vol 1, p5).

It has only been recently that I have started to understood more about Satan’s plan. It wasn’t that Satan was just proposing a plan, he was trying to unravel the entire fabric of the Plan that our Heavenly Father had set up. I found a talk by Elder Christofferson that gave me a much greater understanding, and greater insight, into the adversary's motives and purposes. 

“[Referring to the Council in Heaven] This was not simply a case of Jesus supporting the Father’s plan and Lucifer proposing a slight modification. Lucifer’s proposal would have destroyed the plan by eliminating our opportunity to act independently. Lucifer’s plan was founded on coercion, making all the other sons and daughters of God—all of us—essentially his puppets. … 

“By contrast, doing things the Father’s way offers us an essential mortal experience. By ‘mortal experience’ I mean choosing our course, ‘[tasting] the bitter, that [we might] know to prize the good’; learning, repenting, and growing; becoming beings capable of acting for ourselves rather than simply being ‘acted upon’; and ultimately overcoming evil and demonstrating our desire and ability to live a celestial law. This requires a knowledge of good and evil on our part, with the capacity and opportunity to choose between the two. And it requires accountability for choices made—otherwise they are not really choices. Choice, in turn, requires law, or predictable outcomes. We must be able by a particular action or choice to cause a particular outcome or result—and by the opposite choice create the opposite outcome. If actions don’t have fixed consequences, then one has no control over outcomes and choice is meaningless. … 

“And let us remember, Satan was not volunteering to be our savior. He was not interested in suffering or dying for anyone. He wasn’t going to shed any of his blood. He wanted the glory, honor, and power of God without paying any price. What he failed to understand or to believe is that one cannot possess the power of God without being the embodiment of justice. Lucifer was seeking for power without goodness. He supposed that he could be a law unto himself, meaning that the law would be whatever he said it was at any given moment and that he could change his mind at any time. In that way, no one could count on anything, and no one would have the ability to be an independent actor. He would be supreme, and no one else could advance” (D. Todd Christofferson, “A Message at Christmas”, BYU Devotional, 12 Dec 2017).

As we become more and more obedient to the eternal laws, we can gain more and more power over those laws.

OBEDIENCE

In his book “The Infinite Atonement”, Tad R. Callister says, “Contrary to the belief of many, obedience is not the antithesis of freedom, but the foundation of it” (Tad R. Callister, "The Infinite Atonement", p258). He discusses how obedience to eternal laws can unlock the doors of knowledge, broaden our list of choices, and help us gain more power in this life.

For the past several years President Nelson has been giving us counsel about how to remember our Savior, so that we can keep the Spirit more readily in our lives. As we are obedient to his counsel we can receive the blessings he has promised us.

• Hear Him ("Hear Him", General Conference, April 2020).

• "As President of His Church, I plead with you who have distanced yourselves from the Church and with you who have not yet really sought to know that the Savior’s Church has been restored. Do the spiritual work to find out for yourselves, and please do it now. Time is running out" ("Come, Follow Me", General Conference, April 2019).

• "We hope and pray that each member’s home will become a true sanctuary of faith, where the Spirit of the Lord may dwell. Despite contention all around us, one’s home can become a heavenly place, where study, prayer, and faith can be merged with love. We can truly become disciples of the Lord, standing up and speaking up for Him wherever we are" ("Closing Remarks", General Conference, April 2019).

• "We have never needed positive spiritual momentum more than we do now, to counteract the speed with which evil and the darker signs of the times are intensifying. Positive spiritual momentum will keep us moving forward amid the fear and uncertainty created by pandemics, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and armed hostilities. Spiritual momentum can help us withstand the relentless, wicked attacks of the adversary and thwart his efforts to erode our personal spiritual foundation" ("The Power of Spiritual Momentum", General Conference, April 2022).

• "Keep on the covenant path and stay there"; "Discover the joy of daily repentance"; "Learn about God and how He works"; "Seek and expect miracles"; "End conflict in your personal life" ("The Power of Spiritual Momentum", General Conference, April 2022).

• "I invite you to pray to identify the debris you should remove from your life so you can become more worthy [to help prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord]" ("Welcome Message", General Conference, April 2021).

• "I entreat you to study prayerfully all the truths you can find about priesthood power"("Spiritual Treasures", General Conference, October 2019).

• "One of the things the Spirit has repeatedly impressed upon my mind since my new calling as President of the Church is how willing the Lord is to reveal His mind and will. The privilege of receiving revelation is one of the greatest gifts of God to His children" (Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", General Conference, April 2018).

• "I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that 'if thou shalt [seek], 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'" (Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives", General Conference, April 2018).

Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to guide us back to Him, but can only do so as we are obedient to Him. There are eternal laws that He is bound by, and our obedience allows Him the freedom to bless us.

Jesus will come again, and as we are obedient to His laws and commandments we can better have His spirit to be with us, to help us overcome this mortal world we live in.

I want to conclude with words from Elder Renlund’s talk:

“I invite you to center your life on Jesus Christ and remember the foundational truths in the Young Women theme. If you are willing, the Holy Ghost will guide you. Our Heavenly Father wants you to become His heir and receive all that He has. He cannot offer you more. He cannot promise you more. He loves you more than you know and wants you to be happy in this life and in the life to come” (Dale G. Renlund, “Your Divine Nature and Eternal Destiny”, General Conference, April 2022).

9 Verses and Receiving Greater Revelation

President Russell M. Nelson made the following statement in the April 2018 General Conference. In the April 2019 General Conference this same statement was quoted three times.

“[I]n coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost” (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”, General Conference, April 2018; see also the following from General Conference April 2019: Mathias Held, “Seeking Knowledge by the Spirit”; Takashi Wada, “Feasting upon the Words of Christ”; and Ronald A. Rasband, “Build a Fortress of Spirituality and Protection”).

If it is so crucial to our spiritual survival to know how to listen to, and recognize, the Holy Ghost how would one go about doing it? Answers can be found in the holy scriptures, in the words of our modern prophets and apostles, and through personal revelation.

Henry B. Eyring said the following, “The Prophet Joseph set an example for us of how to receive continual spiritual direction and comfort through the Holy Ghost" (Henry B. Eyring, "His Spirit to Be with You", General Conference, April 2018). President Eyring then explained the pattern. First, be humble before God. Second, pray with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Third, obey exactly. And fourth, "ask for inspiration, receive direction, and act on it" (ibid.).

Elder Richard G. Scott recounted a time when he was seeking for answers. He asked for help, received inspiration, expressed gratitude, and asked if there was any more. He received more. He repeated the cycle several times, and more was received each time. He then made this statement, "I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you" (Richard G. Scott, "To Acquire Spiritual Guidance", General Conference, April 2009).

A few examples from the scriptures show how applying the pattern to receive revelation can work. One example is recounted in the book of First Nephi. Nephi's father, Lehi, had just shared an amazing dream that he had, and Nephi wanted to know more about it. The pattern that Nephi followed may be familiar to some: desire, believe that the Lord can make it known unto you, and ponder (see 1 Nephi 11:1). This same pattern was followed by President Joseph F. Smith when he received the vision on the Savior's visit to the deceased spirits in the spirit world while his body was lying in the tomb. President Smith pondered, reflected, and desired to know. His vision is recorded as Doctrine & Covenants section 138 (see Doctrine & Covenants 138). Another example from this dispensation is the story of a young boy who desired to know which church to join. He read the scriptures, pondered on them, prayed in faith, believed the Lord would answer him, and was given a glorious vision of the Father and the Son appearing to him in a quiet grove in upstate New York (see Joseph Smith—History 1:10-17).

If we explore the first of those scriptural examples, Nephi desiring to know for himself, Nephi followed the pattern of desiring, believing, and pondering. He was caught away in the Spirit and was asked what he wanted. He replied, "to behold the things which my father saw" (1 Nephi 11:3). The Spirit then showed him the tree, and within 9 verses Nephi had applied the pattern of revelation and received what he had asked for. 

Nephi, after receiving what he had asked for didn't say "amen" and stand up ready to move forward with his day. Nephi was listening.

I feel that the next verse is a key that can take us into a higher state of spiritual learning. A state where we can, "increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation....[and] do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly" (Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives”, General Conference, April 2018)

The Spirit asked Nephi, "What desirest though?" (1 Nephi 11:10). Because Nephi was listening, he was able to respond to these gentle whisperings. By taking the time to listen when the Spirit spoke to him, he was able to receive much, much more than he had asked for. In fact, the information he had received in the first 9 verses where expanded to 122 additional verses including many things that Nephi "saw [which] are not written" (1 Nephi 14:30). 

What if each of our prayers were answered to such an extent? They can be, if we take the time to listen.

Elder David  A. Bednar taught, 

"The overarching purpose of Heavenly Father’s plan is for His children to become more like Him. Accordingly, He provides us with essential opportunities to grow and progress. Our commitment to learn and live according to truth is increasingly important in a world that is 'in commotion' and is ever more confused and wicked. We cannot expect simply to attend Church meetings and participate in programs and thereby receive all of the spiritual edification and protection that will enable us 'to withstand in the evil day'...

"If all you or I know about Jesus Christ and His restored gospel is what other people teach or tell us, then the foundation of our testimony of Him and His glorious latter-day work is built upon sand. We cannot rely exclusively upon or borrow gospel light and knowledge from other people—even those whom we love and trust" (David A. Bednar, "Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing, General Conference, April 2019).

We must come to know for ourselves.

Nourished By the Word of God

In the Book of John we read an interchange between the Savior and a woman from Samaria.

“Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.

 “Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.

“There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.

“(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)

“Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.

“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

“The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

“Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

“Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:

“But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life….

“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.

“Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he” (John 4:5-14, 25-26).

As the woman listened to Jesus speak, her understanding of who He was progressed from man, to Jew, to prophet, to the Messiah. As we partake of these living waters we can spiritually progress in like manner.

One way to partake of these living waters is to daily drink from the Lord’s word, found in the Holy Scriptures and the words of the living prophet and apostles. 

Nephi taught us to “feast upon the words of Christ” (2 Nephi 32:3), and Elder Dallin H. Oaks explained,

“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….

“Because we believe that scripture reading can help us receive revelation, we are encouraged to read the scriptures again and again. By this means, we obtain access to what our Heavenly Father would have us know and do in our personal lives today. That is one reason Latter-day Saints believe in daily scripture study” (link to article).

We have also been counseled to “study the scriptures daily and with real intent, seeking to be ‘nourished by the good word of God’“ (link to lesson).

How does one seek for nourishment from the scriptures? 

Throughout my life I have tried to make scripture study a daily habit. I have not always been successful, but have continued to try to develop that habit until it has become an essential part of my day. There have been times where I have found comfort from the words of the scriptures, and other times I have felt chastised. Let me share a few examples. 

There was a time in my life when I was struggling with money. I was trying to be obedient, and to do all the right things, but I was unable to figure out how to make ends meet. I remember praying to find help. After praying I started to read my scriptures. I had been reading in the Book of Mormon, and opened my scriptures to my bookmark. I read,

“And thus we can behold how false, and also the unsteadiness of the hearts of the children of men; yea, we can see that the Lord in his great infinite goodness doth bless and prosper those who put their trust in him” (Helaman 12:1).

I almost felt chastised for my frustration because I had forgotten to trust the Lord. I felt that the Lord was letting me know that if I trusted in Him that everything would work out. I don’t remember all the details, but I do remember that everything did work out. 

Another time I was struggling with something that I knew I was supposed to be doing, but wasn’t sure how to make everything work. I prayed to receive guidance, and turned to my scriptures. I opened to the story of Lehi telling Nephi that he and his brothers needed to head back to Jerusalem to pick up the brass plates. Nephi responded,

“I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them” (1 Nephi 3:7).

The thing that I was asking about was something we have been commanded to do, so I knew that it was right. I felt the Lord was letting me know that He would prepare a way. Elder David A. Bednar taught,

“In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not be acted upon, and to trust in Him” (link to talk).

I acted, by praying for further guidance with the intent to move forward on whatever answer I received. As I prayed, ideas and thoughts of things that I could do came to mind. As I acted on them, I saw the way open before me. 

During another time of my life I was struggling with my calling in the church. I was having a problem with people not wanting to do all that was required of them, thereby leaving the burden on others. I was wondering if there was anything I could do or say. I opened my scriptures and read,

“wherefore I would exhort you that ye deny not the power of God; for he worketh by power, according to the faith of the children of men, the same today and tomorrow, and forever” (Moroni 10:7).

They were under my stewardship, and I felt that the Lord was telling me to let them know that they needed to put their faith in Him. If they did, He would work miracles for them in their lives.

The last example I want to share happened when I was trying to find a balance between doing something that was spiritually essential—finding time to read scriptures—and those things that I needed to do—take care of my young family. A scripture came to my mind, “Suffer [the] little children, and forbid them not” (Matthew 19:14). I then had a specific idea of something that I could do to balance my time.

What a blessing to have personal guidance from the scriptures in our lives!

Bishop Dean M. Davies taught,

“Searching the scriptures on a daily basis will…fortify our faith and character. Just as we need food to nourish our physical bodies, our spirits and souls will be replenished and strengthened by feasting upon the words of Christ as contained in the writings of the prophets. Nephi taught, ‘Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do’.

“While reading the scriptures is good, reading by itself is insufficient to capture the full breadth and depth of the Savior’s teachings. Searching, pondering, and applying the words of Christ as taught in the scriptures will bring wisdom and knowledge beyond our mortal understanding. This will strengthen our commitment and provide the spiritual reserves to do our best in all situations” (link to talk).

President Thomas S. Monson stated,

“The words of truth and inspiration found in our four standard works are prized possessions to me. I never tire of reading them. I am lifted spiritually whenever I search the scriptures. These holy words of truth and love give guidance to my life and point the way to eternal perfection.

“As we read and ponder the scriptures, we will experience the sweet whisperings of the Spirit to our souls. We can find answers to our questions. We learn of the blessings which come through keeping God’s commandments. We gain a sure testimony of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of Their love for us. When scripture study is combined with our prayers, we can of a certainty know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true” (link to talk).

President Gordon B. Hinckley declared,

“I urge our people everywhere to read the scriptures more—to study all of them together….

“May the Lord bless each of us to feast upon his holy word and to draw from it that strength, that peace, that knowledge ‘which passeth all understanding’, as he has promised” (link to talk).

As we come to value the scriptures that we have we will begin to recognize the fountain of living water that is readily available to each and every one of us. Understanding the power the comes from daily feasting on the word of God will give us greater strength to enjoy, overcome, and endure the challenges and trials that are a part of our mortal life. May we strive to make the study of the word of God an essential part of our lives.

Receiving Revelation

How grateful I am for the ability that we have to receive personal revelation from our Father in Heaven, specific to our needs. In the Bible Dictionary we learn the following about revelation.

“Divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God and could not be saved with any degree of salvation in the eternities. Continuous revelation from God to His Saints…makes possible daily guidance along true paths and leads the faithful soul to complete and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom. The principle of gaining knowledge by revelation…also consists of individual guidance for every person who seeks for it and follows the prescribed course of faith, repentance, and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. ‘The Holy Ghost is a revelator,’ said Joseph Smith, and ‘no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations’. Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion” (link to definition).

Why would our Father in Heaven grant us access to such a great blessing? To me it is a testimony of His love for, and trust in, us. To receive revelation we must have faith—believe that we can receive it; repent—to open the channels to heaven; and be obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

In the Book of Mormon, Lehi and his family have followed revelation—from Lehi for his family—and moved from Jerusalem into the wilderness. Responding to revelation requires faith—great faith at times. Lehi then receives further revelation that requires his four sons to go back to Jerusalem to obtain sacred scripture. They do so and, in the process, bring back Zoram, Laban’s servant (see 1 Nephi 4:30-37).

Zoram was taken from his home, and all he knew, in response to someone else acting on revelation received from the prophet. What a challenge that must have been for him! I like how David Paxman gives this insight,

“He [Zoram] could see God’s providence or man’s manipulation. In conditions not of his choosing, he had to decide how to view himself and whether to nurse a justifiable grievance. He had to choose among the competing truths by which he could interpret his life. He had to decide whether to exercise faith and, in so doing, see his difficult, even unfair, circumstances as the very means by which God would bless him if he acted right. He had to decide whether to obey a commandment of God that at the time could be read as inappropriate and even unbelievable. His choice would influence his posterity far into the future. And he had to do all this without fully understanding the situation.” (link to talk).

One may look at the Lord sending Lehi’s sons back to Jerusalem and see error in His ways. Maybe he was forgetful of a few details—He could have easily had them grab the plates while they were living in Jerusalem, and spare them the extra traveling. I feel, however, that all of this was forseen by our Omniscient Lord, and was to be used as a test of faith for Lehi’s sons; similar to the a “Zion’s Camp” experience:

“Zion’s Camp chastened, polished, and spiritually refined many of the Lord’s servants. The observant and dedicated received invaluable practical training and spiritual experience that served them well in later struggles for the Church. The hardships and challenges experienced over its thousand miles provided invaluable training for [early leaders of the Church]. When a skeptic asked what he had gained from his journey, Brigham Young promptly replied, ‘I would not exchange the knowledge I have received this season for the whole of Geauga County.’” (link to lesson).

We know Laman and Lemuel’s response; “[they] murmur, saying it is a hard thing which [Lehi has] required of them” (1 Nephi 3:5). Nephi understanding that Lehi has received revelation from the Lord tells his father that he will do all the Lord commands, for he knows the Lord will prepare a way (see 1 Nephi 3:7). W. Vincent Wilding said the following about Nephi’s response:

“This  is a remarkable answer, and it warrants closer consideration. Where did Nephi come by this answer? Was he simply saying what he thought his father wanted to hear? Or, perhaps, was he merely repeating something that he had heard his father say? Most certainly not (for both questions). Nephi was a young man...,and he had undoubtedly already faced challenges through which he had experienced the Lord preparing a way for him to accomplish what was commanded. Nephi’s faith-filled response flowed from his own experience in relying on the Lord….

“Further in Nephi’s account, we see that after a failed attempt to get the plates, Nephi’s older brothers were ready to admit defeat and return to their camp in the wilderness. Nephi succeeded in convincing them to try again. This second attempt, in which the family’s wealth was offered to Laban, also failed, and Nephi’s older brothers were angry and started to take it out on Nephi and Sam. An angel of the Lord intervened, yet the older brothers murmured, asking, ‘How is it possible that the Lord will deliver Laban into our hands?’. Nephi counseled, ‘Let us be faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord; for behold he is mightier than all the earth, then why not mightier than Laban and his fifty, yea, or even than his tens of thousands?’” (link to talk).

The Lord could have made things work the first time, but I think He wanted Lehi and his sons not to have any doubt that it was the Lord who was directing this work. Nephi, already receptive to the Spirit, was able to gain greater faith and a greater witness of the Lord’s hand in his life as he was obedient and followed the revelation received by his father.

Throughout our lives the Lord will allow us opportunities to learn to trust in Him. He is looking for those who are committed to follow Him in order to move His work forward. With a word He could command destroying angels to wipe out all obstacles we may face, but to what avail? We will face trial and tribulation and by so doing it have the opportunity to increase our faith and trust in Him. We know that God’s word “shall all be fulfilled” (Doctrine & Covenants 1:38), that, “no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing” (History of the Church, 4:540), and “with God nothing shall be impossible” (Luke 1:37). The question to ask ourselves is whether or not we will be willing to assist Him in this work.

However, as Larry M. Gibson taught,

“We cannot accomplish this work without revelation from God…

“The Holy Ghost is necessary for revelation, and revelation is necessary for Father’s plan to be fulfilled for us. Having this divine companion bestowed upon us is not enough. We must learn to retain the Holy Ghost, rely on Him, and appropriately respond to His promptings” (link to article).

Learning how the Holy Ghost speaks to us individually is one of the great keys to receiving personal revelation. Some people may feel a burning in the bosom, others may have thoughts or ideas that come to their mind, and still others may have an over-abiding sense of peace. In the process of learning to recognize the Holy Ghost we have been counseled to search the scriptures, pray, take time to ponder, and record the thoughts and impressions that come to our minds. Elder Richard G. Scott gave further insight into the steps that he takes when trying to receive revelation, when he taught:

“We receive help from, our Father in Heaven in response to our faith, obedience, and the proper use of agency.

“One of the great lessons that each of us needs to learn is to ask. Why does the Lord want us to pray to Him and to ask? Because that is how revelation is received.

“When I am faced with a very difficult matter, this is how I try to understand what to do. I fast. I pray to find and understand scriptures that will be helpful. That process is cyclical. I start reading a passage of scripture; I ponder what the verse means and pray for inspiration. I then ponder and pray to know if I have captured all the Lord wants me to do. Often more impressions come with increased understanding of doctrine….

“One must be ever mentally and physically clean and have purity of intent so that the Lord can inspire. One who is obedient to His commandments is trusted of the Lord. That individual has success to His inspiration to know what to do and, as needed, the divine power to do it” (Richard G. Scott, 21 Principles: Divine Truths to Help you Live by the Spirit, p9-10).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught the following about the link between obedience and receiving revelation:

“In the final and all-comprehensive sense, the sole and only way to find and know God is to keep his commandments. As a result of such a course, knowledge and revelation will come in one way or another until man knows his Maker. The more obedient a person is, the clearer his views become, the nearer he approaches his God, and the more he comes to know those holy Beings whom to know is eternal life” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, p18).

Our goal, in receiving revelation, is to come to know God and His plan for us in this life. By following the inspiration we receive we can know how we, and those over whom we have stewardship, can return back to His presence eternally.

At times we may receive revelation about something and may follow it thinking that we know what the end result will be. Things don’t always turn out as we expect. Let me share an example.

A while back I had a strong impression that it was time for my husband and I to look for a new job in a different state. When I talked to my husband he said he had similar feelings. We acted on those impressions and shortly thereafter had a job offer out-of-state. While talking and praying about whether or not to accept the job we felt that we should turn it down. We were both surprised, but followed that feeling. Once we turned the job down, however, the feeling we had of looking for a job completely vanished.

I talked to my husband about this—because the impression I had about moving had been stronger than any I could ever remember. He explained that sometimes the Lord may prompt you to go to the shed in your backyard. You stand up, go outside, and are instructed to go in a different direction. The Lord didn’t need you to go to the shed, He just needed you to be outside.

The Lord works in mysterious ways, but looking back on this experience both my husband and myself have found that we grew tremendously. It gave us a greater perspective on where we are right now, and how we can improve. It has been a great blessing to us.

As we attempt to learn how to receive revelation, we have been counseled to write down our impressions. I have a notebook where I write down questions that I have, so that I can remember them and refer to them when I say my prayers. I also write down the impressions I receive so that I can refer back to them.

I remember learning how our Stake President prepared himself for revelation–specifically for General Conference, in this case. He told us that he would write down any questions he had, and then pay close attention to the songs, music, and prayers. He said, “I had 37 questions, and 37 answers” by the end of General Conference.

Writing down thoughts and impressions can provide us an even greater benefit, as Elder Richard G. Scott taught,

“It is through the repeated process of feeling impressions, recording them, and obeying them that one learns to depend on the direction of the Spirit more than on communication through the five senses” (link to manual).

In order to receive revelation we need to use our agency to ask the Lord for the help or guidance that we need or desire. President Lorenzo Snow taught how we can prepare ourselves to receive revelation. He was specifically referring to General Conference, but I think the principle can be applied to finding answers anywhere:

“You should ask the Lord to let [the speakers] say something that you want to know, that they may suggest something to you that will be of some advantage. If you have any desire to know certain matters that you do not understand, pray that [they] may say something that shall enlighten your mind in reference to that which troubles you” (link to talk).

May we recognize the vast reservoir of help, knowledge, inspiration, and love that steadily flows to us down from heaven. As President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught, “Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us” (link to talk).

May we do all in our power to have faith that our Father in Heaven loves us, repent so that we may have the guidance of the Holy Ghost in our lives, and be obedient to the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we do so, the inspiration falling from heaven can help lead us more powerfully than ever to our Savior.

For more on the topic of Revelation see:

“Continuing Revelation” (Henry B. Eyring, Oct 2014)

The Armor of God (Part 7: the Word of God)

“and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17)

I find it interesting that all of the previous armor listed seems to be protective in nature. The sword is the only offensive weapon. To me this means that using the word of God should be central to our plan of attack in the fight against sin. A soldier in combat holds his sword tightly; sometimes with both hands. A solder at the ready must also have a tight grip. Likewise, we must hold fast to the word of God throughout all the ups and downs this life has to offer us.

Sword

A sword is a weapon that one uses when face-to-face with the enemy. Projectile weapons, such as arrows or darts, are used from a distance to weaken the defenses. The adversary knows that if he can continually weaken us with his “fiery darts” (1 Nephi 15:24) it can keep us from being as effective in the battle against sin. President James E. Faust taught,

“Who has not heard and felt the enticings of the devil? His voice often sounds so reasonable and his message so easy to justify. It is an enticing, intriguing voice with dulcet tones. It is neither hard nor discordant. No one would listen to Satan’s voice if it sounded harsh or mean. If the devil’s voice were unpleasant, it would not entice people to listen to it….

“However, we need not become paralyzed with fear of Satan’s power. He can have no power over us unless we permit it. He is really a coward, and if we stand firm, he will retreat. The Apostle James counseled: ‘Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you’. He cannot know our thoughts unless we speak them. And Nephi states that ‘he hath no power over the hearts’ of people who are righteous” (link to talk).

To be righteous means fighting whole-heartedly on the Lord’s side. The Lord, Himself, has said over and over again that He “shall fight for [us]” (Exodus 14:14). In Deuteronomy we read, “The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you” (Deuteronomy 1:30), and again in Nehemiah, “our God shall fight for us” (Nehemiah 4:20). In modern times He has again reiterated,

“For behold, I do not require at their hands to fight the battles of Zion; for, as I said in a former commandment, even so will I fulfil—I will fight your battles” (Doctrine & Covenants 105:14).

The Lord will be our arm as we fight for Him. Elder Robert D. Hales gave further insight into the protecting arm of the Lord when he stated, “In our day, the steadying arm of the Lord reaches us through the ordinances of His holy temples” (link to talk).

When wielding a sword we can only be effective in our own sphere of influence. Our sword will not help someone in a far away land. Our sword, or our influence, can greatly impact the lives of those around us—whether we choose to use it for good or ill.

Spirit

From my limited experience with video games I have learned that haphazardly shooting in any (and all) directions, or flailing a weapon wildly about is not very effective. In fact, I am always one of the first to be killed. Similarly, if we are not familiar, or comfortable, with the word of God we may feel as completely ineffective in our battle against the adversary.

As we put ourselves in situations where we can feel the Spirit we can be tutored by the promptings of the Holy Ghost and thus fine-tune our swords. As we study the word of God it will be “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart” (2 Corinthians 3:3).

Looking to the example of our Savior we can see how He used His in-depth internalization of the scriptures to counteract temptation. 

In the Gospel of Matthew we read that Jesus went into the wilderness to be with God. There He fasted, prayed, and communed with Him—thus arming Himself with the Spirit of God. Satan came to Him to tempt Him; and did so three times.

“If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread….

“If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone….

“All these things [all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them] will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:3, 6, 8-9).

David O. McKay explains that the three kinds of temptations the Jesus experienced are the same kind that we are faced with in our day: 1) tempted with those things our bodies hunger for; 2) tempted by pride—to prove how great we are; and 3) tempted to do wrong to gain the riches and powers of the world (see Gospel Ideas, p 154-55).

In the first two temptations I find it very telling that the adversary starts with “if thou be the Son of God”. Satan knows full well that Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus knows this too. If we compare this to the story of Moses, we see that Moses “saw God face to face, and he talked with him” (Moses 1:2). During this interchange God says, “thou art my son” (Moses 1:4), and “Moses, my son” (Moses 1:6). When Satan comes afterwards his tactics seem to be the same “Moses, son of man” (Moses 1:12). 

The adversary will try in any way shape or form to make us believe that we are not the literal, spirit children of God. If he can convince us of this he can place a wedge between us and God. Never doubt that you are a child of God. Stand firm in that conviction. 

President Uchtdorf taught of God’s love for us when he said,

“[T]he vast expanse of eternity, the glories and mysteries of infinite space and time are all built for the benefit of ordinary mortals like you and me. Our Heavenly Father created the universe that we might reach our potential as His sons and daughters….

“[W]e are everything to God. While against the backdrop of infinite creation we may appear to be nothing, we have a spark of eternal fire burning within our breast. We have the incomprehensible promise of exaltation—worlds without end—within our grasp. And it is God’s great desire to help us reach it” (link to talk).

We are the reason that God created everything. His love for us surpasses anything that we can imagine. We are imperfect beings interacting with imperfect beings. God is perfect—something that is hard to comprehend, but nonetheless true.

When confronted by the adversary the Savior did not, even for a moment, think to justify Himself to the temptation. He simply responded with, 

“It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God….

“It is written…Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God….

“Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve” (Matthew 4:4, 7, 10, emphasis added).

Why, when the Savior had all of His miraculous power at His disposal, did He use words of scriptures against the adversary? Because He knew that,

“the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of body and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, JST-12e).

The Greek translation of the word “quick” is “living” (see footnote b). Jesus knew the power that flows from the living word of God. The truth that IS the word of God will pierce the hearts of the guilty, and those trying to deceive. I can think of several times when we have been counseled to fill our arsenal with scripture, through memorizing them. Elder Richard G. Scott counseled, 

“I suggest that you memorize scriptures that touch your heart and fill your soul with understanding. When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when paraphrased. Sometimes when there is a significant need in my life, I review mentally scriptures that have given me strength. There is great solace, direction, and power that flow from the scriptures, especially the words of the Lord” (link to talk). 

He later taught,

“The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly. They can become stalwart friends that are not limited by geography or calendar. They are always available when needed. Their use provides a foundation of truth that can be awakened by the Holy Ghost. Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world.

“Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change” (link to talk). 

Elder Gene R. Cook of the Seventy said: 

“I have discovered that many times you don’t fully understand a scripture until you memorize it. And sometimes I have memorized a passage because it seemed important and valuable to me—then afterwards I discovered deeper meanings that I hadn’t even known were there” (Searching the Scriptures: Bringing Power to Your Personal and Family Study, p114).

I am quite positive that this counsel to memorize is to help our minds and hearts be ready to respond with truth when the temptations or challenges come.

In Lehi’s dream about the Tree of Life we are taught that the word of God can be likened to an iron rod (1 Nephi 15:23-24). And, in the Book of Helaman we read, 

“that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked” (Helaman 3:29).

Whosover will. The choice is ours. If we will choose to hold steadfastly to the iron rod, the word of God, we will be able to “divide asunder all the cunning and snares and wiles of the devil”. It is our diligence that makes this happen. Alma teaches,

“[I]t is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to [the Liahona], which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

“And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.

“O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever.

“And now…see that ye look to God and live” (Alma 37:44-47).

The word of God is readily available to us. It is an easy course to follow, but sometimes may seem too easy. We have great access to the scriptures—more than any time before—and we need to be careful not to take them for granted. President Ezra Taft Benson counseled,

“[L]et us not treat lightly the great things we have received from the hand of the Lord! His word is one of the most valuable gifts He has given us. I urge you to recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you” (link to talk).

The Word of God

When I think of the word of God there are generally three things that come to mind: the scriptures, the words of the prophets, and personal revelation.

SCRIPTURES

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints we embrace the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price, as canonized scripture. In the Doctrine and Covenants we are taught that “the Book of Mormon…contains the truth and the word of God” (Doctrine & Covenants 19:26). Our Articles of Faith states, “We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God” (Article of Faith 1:8).

PROPHET

In the first section of the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord is speaking—delivering His preface to “the doctrines, covenants, and commandments given in this dispensation” (heading to Section 1). He declares, 

“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (Doctrine & Covenants 1:38).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught, 

“The Lord and His prophets are one. They are united in the same mind and in the same judgement. Light and truth and righteousness come from God and are revealed and bestowed by Him upon chosen servants, who wear the prophetic mantle” (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p1).

PERSONAL REVELATION

“Revelation is communication from God to His children. Prophets…are not the only people who can receive revelation. According to our faithfulness, we can receive revelation to help us with our specific personal needs, responsibilities, and questions and to help us strengthen our testimony….[M]ost revelations to leaders and members of the Church come through the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

“Quiet spiritual promptings may not seem as spectacular as visions or angelic visitations, but they are just as powerful and lasting and life changing. The witness of the Holy Ghost makes an impression on the soul that is more significant than anything we can see or hear. Through such revelations, we will receive lasting strength to stay true to the gospel and help others do the same” (link to topic).

We can increase in understanding the revelation we receive and can know the will of the Lord in our own life and our unique circumstances. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught,

“A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; … those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p151). 

President Boyd K. Packer also taught this about receiving revelation.

“There are two parts to your nature—your temporal body born of mortal parents, and your immortal spirit within. You are a son or daughter of God.

“Physically you can see with eyes and hear with ears and touch and feel and learn. Through your intellect, you learn most of what you know about the world in which we live.

“But if you learn by reason only, you will never understand the Spirit and how it works—regardless of how much you learn about other things….

“Your spirit learns in a different way than does your intellect….

“You have your agency, and inspiration does not—perhaps cannot—flow unless you ask for it, or someone asks for you.

“No message in scripture is repeated more often than the invitation, even the command, to pray—to ask.

“Prayer is so essential a part of revelation that without it the veil may remain closed to you. Learn to pray. Pray often. Pray in your mind, in your heart. Pray on your knees….

“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” (link to talk).

One thing we can receive by revelation is a testimony, or a spiritual witness of truth. It is given to us by the Holy Ghost, and can only be received through this channel. It comes as we have the faith to put forth the effort to prepare. 

As we arm ourselves with the word of God by searching the scriptures, listening to the words of the prophet, and responding to the personal revelation we receive—in times of peace and in times of trial—we can fortify ourselves against the attacks of the enemy. With this conviction in our hearts the sword of the Spirit will be strong and immoveable in our hand.