I hope “anon” is able to expand their own understanding of this beautiful gift, and recognize that their Heavenly Father desires to be known by ALL of His children. I’m reminded of the scene in the Old Testament where Moses receives word that others are prophesying throughout the camp. Rather than become defensive of his role as the Lord’s annointed prophet, he humbly observes that it would be great if EVERYONE could prophesy. While prophecy and revelation are related but different from one another, I believe the principle is the same.

Nevertheless, your quote-sharing provided me with an excellent quote I will use when I speak with members about missions and marriage. Thank you very much!

I don’t doubt at all that it could have been the Spirit giving you personal revelation.

And I don’t doubt it’s a general principle, even sometimes for those not so “normal”.

But when I hear others saying it as if it were a general promise to all, and especially when they were imagining “just going on a mission” and “being ok” was good enough, and imagining the Lord providing someone so much better than them (hot! hot! hot!) and not having things work out the way they would like (as per your story ), they get frustrated that “the Lord isn’t doing his part”…

grego

I was unable to find the reference. Maybe it was the spirit whispering to me as I heard President Kimball speak on “Marriage and Divorce” while I was in the MTC at BYU 7 Sep 1976. He used phrases like: “Honorable, happy, and successful marriage is surely the principal goal of every normal person.” He also said, “It is the normal thing to marry. It was arranged by God in the beginning. One is not wholly normal who does not want to be married.” At the time I said to myself, “that’s my goal after I get home from my mission.”

Here are some similar quotes that he made a few years earlier, also at BYU:

“As I visit with missionaries I remind them of their many specific goals: to get their marriage, their family, their education, their occupation, their training. They can, by careful planning, have all the blessings they want if they take first things first. For instance, if they marry first, their chance for a mission is greatly limited, if not locked out. If they get their schooling first, their chance for a mission is limited. Taken on a basis of priorities, practically every normal young man can have a wonderful mission, a good marriage, a satisfactory educational training, each in its turn, having all.”

“Missionaries should begin to think marriage–when they return from their missions, to begin to get acquainted with many young women so that they will have a better basis for selection of a life’s companion. And when the time comes they should marry in the holy temple and have their families, and complete their education, and establish themselves in a profitable and rewarding occupation, and give themselves to their families, the gospel, and the Church.”

Source: BYU Speeches, Marriage is Honorable, Sept 30, 1973

You’ve caused me to think about my statement. I’m not sure that the Lord would make such a promise – to provide a spouse if we go on a mission and get an education. In fact, as I re-read the talks from President Kimball, it’s clear that he was emphasizing that we not let pursuing an education or a career delay getting married first.

However, since marriage is a commandment, it seems to me that the Lord would be more than willing to help his faithful returned missionaries find a suitable marriage companion. Perhaps that’s the promise that I heard growing up. So unless someone else can find a reference, I’m going to retract or revise my statement from “provide” to “help me find.”

I’ll do some more digging when I get some time. Thanks for getting me thinking.

Thanks for sharing that! It was interesting and inspiring. Now I’m going to have to go read your wife’s part…

I have a question about this part:
“A prophet had promised me that if I went on a mission, got an education and then sought earnestly for a companion with whom I could be happy, that the Lord would provide one.”

Do you have a reference for that? (I was just thinking about something similar two weeks ago.)

Thanks,
grego

Even in the wonderful place where the Spirit of Ricks resides, it can be hard to feel guided. This helped.

It has been one of the consuming tasks of my life to learn how to be in tune with the spirit of revelation. My relating of these experiences was not intended to demonstrate how easy it is to receive revelation. In fact, I hope they show the exact opposite.

I want to be clear that the kind of revelation I have described in this essay is a very rare event in my life. As I have noted elsewhere, I can count these kinds of profound and dramatic experiences on one hand. They all came early in my life.

For me, revelation usually comes in the spirit of inspiration and insight. It is only when I have really fasted and prayed often and with great struggles for a specific reason that the remarkable kinds of experiences I have described came to pass.

I like what Elder Hales said a few years back on the subject. I wonder just how many members of the church do not realize that they have received personal revelation. Perhaps its just a matter of learning to recognize and acknowledge it. He said:

“…we may receive personal revelation more frequently than we realize. The more we receive and acknowledge personal revelation, the more our testimonies grow.” – Elder Robert D. Hales, Ensign Nov 2007, p. 86

The Prophet Joseph Smith was a bit more blunt. He taught that revelations are a real part of enjoying the gift of the Holy Ghost: “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator.” History of the Church, 6:58

But my favorite quote that is the most blunt and telling comes from President Lee. It can seem a little harsh but I know he intended it to be encouraging. A rich spiritual life can be ours if we pay the price of diligent study and praying with real intent.

“…any Latter-day Saint who has been baptized and who has had hands laid upon him from those officiating, commanding him to receive the Holy Ghost, and who has not received a revelation of the spirit of the Holy Ghost, has not received the gift of the Holy Ghost to which he is entitled.” – President Harold B. Lee, Liahona, Feb 1980, p. 38

I share these essays not to discourage, but to encourage. I know we can receive personal revelation. I’m just a regular member of the church but I have found that the Lord does answer prayers and provides direction in our lives. He is especially willing to help us with ideas and inspiration as we fulfill callings in the church.

One of the most comprehensive talks I have read about how to receive personal revelation is from L. Lionel Kendrick, which you can read in BYU Speeches, 20 May 1997 at http://speeches.byu.edu/reader/reader.php?id=2860&x=67&y=11

Personal Revelation is something I am still learning even after a lifetime of experience. I want to make clear that the experience I related in this essay was rare, unique and sacred in my memory. As I noted, I can count on one hand the number of powerful manifestations like this that I have received. I have written about two others previously.

Why do I share these most sacred jewels in a public forum like this when we have been repeatedly counseled and warned that personal revelation is just that – personal – and not intended for others? I have thought long and hard about this and have concluded that what I share, if done appropriately, may be of some help to someone, someday.

In particular, I’m thinking of my own son, who isn’t currently interested in stuff like this. I’m hoping that someday he will have a change of heart. This shared experience might be just the thing that helps him realize that Heavenly Father is very interested in helping us find answers to life’s most important questions like who do I marry. He helped me.

I’m also hoping that what I share is helpful to those who are struggling with the concept of personal revelation in general – either that it isn’t real or questioning what they thought was revelation received earlier in their lives. I wanted to go on record that yes, personal revelation is real and can be received if we ask for it and when we need it.

Apparently what you bring up is more common than I have personally observed because it seems like the Brethren are always warning us about false revelation and reminding us that personal revelation is just that – personal. So what do you do when a man in a church leadership position creeps you out because of the way he shares his visions?

If he is not the Bishop, you go to your Bishop. If he is your bishop, then you go to your Stake President. Unfortunately, I have read horror stories of sisters who do this and come away feeling a) like their leader did not share their concern and b) that it was somehow their fault for not being more tolerant or understanding of the visionary brother.

Maybe we give Brother Lund’s book to this good brother as a present. I know I have enjoyed reading it and have referred to it many times over the past few years in writing my essays on the subject of revelation. It is a fine line to receive, understand and where appropriate as a leader, share revelation. Otherwise, keep your visions to yourself, right?

Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences through your blog. I really appreciate this post.
I have truly been struggling with personal revelation. It can be such a subtle thing and my personal emmotions always seem to cloud the issue. I loved the book you referenced by Bro. Lund. I often use it as a guide post to try and help me sort things out.
One challenge I currently face is a member of our congregation in authority. Everyone says, you know ______ is a visionary man. He often stops and looks up and away and then says, “I had a vision……”. The problem is, these experiences always leave me uncomfortable. Sometimes I feel outright creepy. If this was happening outside of church I might think this individual was schizophrenic. I have never felt so devoid of the spirit as I have durring a few interviews with him. But these sensations aren’t consistent either.
Others have shared experiences and I feel that quiet sense of warmth fill my body. I felt that sense while reading your post. Thank You for sharing in a spirit of humility. It is a blessing to those of us still trying to sort the whole personal revelation thing out.

Great to hear from you. Excellent insights. Thumbs up.