Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise - Boyd K. Packer

https://site.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1994/10/personal-revelation-the-gift-the-test-and-the-promise?lang=eng&adobe_mc_ref=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1994/10/personal-revelation-the-gift-the-test-and-the-promise?lang=eng&adobe_mc_sdid=SDID=43626FC040166D60-30B3AB84D78F8A8C|MCORGID=66C5485451E56AAE0A490D45%40AdobeOrg|TS=1691379513 

There are many hidden gems in this talk.   Each thing in bold is something that Elder Packer has learned about PERSONAL REVELATION.....fascinating!

I will tell you, as plainly as I can, what I have learned about personal revelation.

Dual Beings

For “there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding,”⁴ and the Spirit of Christ “giveth light to every man that cometh into the world.”⁵

The gift of the Holy Ghost

While the Holy Ghost may inspire all mankind, the gift carries the right to have it as a “constant companion.”⁶ It is “by the power of the Holy Ghost [that you] may know the truth of all things.”⁷

Prayer

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.

Begin Where You Are

Study

Still Small Voice

Prompting

This voice of the Spirit speaks gently, prompting you what to do or what to say, or it may caution or warn you.

Ignore or disobey these promptings, and the Spirit will leave you. It is your choice—your agency.

Faith

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.²⁴

Word of Wisdom

Your body is the instrument of your mind. In your emotions, the spirit and the body come closest to being one. What you learn spiritually depends, to a degree, on how you treat your body. That is why the Word of Wisdom²⁶ is so important.

The habit-forming substances prohibited by that revelation—tea, coffee, liquor, tobacco—interfere with the delicate feelings of spiritual communication, just as other addictive drugs will do.

Do not ignore the Word of Wisdom, for that may cost you the “great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures”²⁷ promised to those who keep it. And good health is an added blessing.

Music

Reverence

Temptation

The Church

The Comforter

When sore trials come, you will learn why the Holy Ghost is called the Comforter.

You must face life “led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which [you] should do,”³⁸ just as Nephi did.