The Necessity of Being Able to Receive Personal Revelation
Handout # 1 - President Russell M Nelson, April 2018, “Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost. My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation.”
??? Would some of you be willing to share an experience of receiving personal inspiration or revelation? Could be small and simple or large and life changing.
God “will not suffer that Satan shall accomplish his evil design.” Doctrine and Covenants 10:1–33
READ D&C 10: 1-5 “1 Now, behold, I say unto you, that because you delivered up those writings which you had power given unto you to translate by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them. 2 And you also lost your gift at the same time, and your mind became darkened. 3 Nevertheless, it is now restored unto you again; therefore see that you are faithful and continue on unto the finishing of the remainder of the work of translation as you have begun. 4 Do not run faster or labor more than you have strength and means provided to enable you to translate; but be diligent unto the end. 5 Pray always, that you may come off conqueror; yea, that you may conquer Satan, and that you may escape the hands of the servants of Satan that do uphold his work.”
??? What do you find helpful in verses 1-3? [God allows us to suffer consequences for our mistakes, but he forgives and opens new opportunities.]
??? How does verses 4 apply to you? [Mothers of young children. Individuals in situation that demand more than one can do, older people, a caretaker, etc.]
??? How does prayer help us overcome/conquer Satan? [The Lord’s prayer … “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil….” He slips in, in small ways “To lead us carefully down to hell.”]
Do not underestimate the abilities of the Adversary [The story of hiring a stagecoach driver – “How near to the edge can you drive?]
READ D&C 10: 63 “63 And this I do that I may establish my gospel, that there may not be so much contention; yea, Satan doth stir up the hearts of the people to contention concerning the points of my doctrine; and in these things they do err, for they do wrest the scriptures and do not understand them.”
??? Why is contention of the Devil?
The Lord’s “wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.” Doctrine and Covenants 10:34–52
READ Abraham 3:19 “And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am more intelligent than they all.” [The Lord’s definition of intelligence, includes its wise use, i.e. wisdom.]
??? What experiences in the scriptures and in your own life demonstrate that God’s wisdom is greater than the devil’s cunning ideas?
Handout # 2 - Read Handout about coincidence. “Elder Neal A. Maxwell once explained: “None of us ever fully utilizes the people-opportunities allocated to us within our circles of friendship. You and I may call these intersecting ‘coincidence.’ This word is understandable for mortals to use, but coincidence is not an appropriate word to describe the workings of an omniscient God. He does not do things by ‘coincidence’ but … by ‘divine design.’” – Quoted by Elder Ronald Rasband, Divine Design, General Conference, October 2017
???Is everything we experience by Devine design???
??? How does this fit with agency?
How we deal with experiences seems just as important as what we experience.
??? How much control do we have over our lives? Over others?
READ this promise of the Lord in Doctrine and Covenants 90:24 “Search diligently, pray always, and be believing, and all things shall work together for your good, if ye walk uprightly and remember the covenant wherewith ye have covenanted one with another.”
“Put your trust in [the Lord’s] Spirit.” Doctrine and Covenants 11
READ D&C 11: 20-21 Guidance from the Lord to Hyrum Smith “Behold, this is your work, to keep my commandments, yea, with all your might, mind and strength. 21 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men.”
??? What do you learn from theses verses for your own life??
??? How do we develop greater trust in the Lord?
Testimony