Heavenly Father desires to communicate with His children, Elder John A. McCune of the General Authority Seventy said during his weekly devotional at Brigham Young University on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
“Through revelation, we can navigate the challenges of mortality, and we hope that we can learn the mysteries of the kingdom of God and the things that are only available through revelation,” Elder McCune said.
To thousands of students, faculty and staff gathered at the Marriott Center in Provo, Utah, for an early morning devotion on Tuesday, Elder McCune shared ten principles he had learned about understanding and appreciating revelation.
He testified that revelation brings joy and peace. “May we strive for deeper understanding and revelation in our lives.”
1.Act
Revelation is best received when individuals are acting as agents, Elder McCune said. “We often see God’s children sitting still and anxiously waiting for every part of their lives to be spelled out in detail before they make a decision.”
Revelation, Elder McCune said, is like driving a car. “If you’re parked, you can turn the steering wheel all you want, but the car won’t go in any direction. If you’re really listening and trying to be a disciple of Christ, you’re walking in the Spirit, probably more than you realize.”
2. There is no one way to receive revelation.
Elder McCune pointed out that revelation can be received in many ways.
Revelation may appear as a simple thought, a feeling of peace, or a feeling of anxiety. It may come through a comment from a friend or a dream. “Never compare yourself or your spiritual journey to others, especially when it comes to receiving revelation. As unique sons and daughters of God, the ways in which God communicates to us can be unique to us,” Elder McCune said.
3. Effective communication
Elder McCune said divine communication is given for a perfect purpose. Therefore, God does not give His children revelations simply to satisfy their curiosity. “Given God’s perfection, it is ineffective for God to keep giving us revelations that are wasted. Once we receive revelation, it is good to act on it.”
4. Revelation is communicated in an orderly manner.
Because there is order in God’s kingdom, “we receive revelation in our own ‘way’ and within our own responsibility,” Elder McCune said. “We do not receive revelation for others over whom we have no authority.”
“Our Heavenly Father has given His children two lines of communication that we may call the personal line and the theocratic line. All people should understand and be guided by both of these important lines of communication.…Personal and Theocratic Lines When religious practice becomes too dependent on the personal line, individualism obliterates the importance of divine authority. When personal religious practice becomes too dependent on the theocratic line, personal growth is undermined. Children of God need both lines to achieve their eternal destiny.” (“Two Lines of Communication” October 2010 General Conference).
5. Revelation requires effort.
“We have every right to bring our challenges to the Lord and ask for His help, but that does not mean our problems become His problems simply to be solved. Through the process of effort and effort, we acquire faith, diligence, and Christlike attributes that contribute to us becoming more like the Father,” Elder McCune said.
6. Receiving revelation takes practice.
Elder McCune shared the words of President Russell M. Nelson, who taught, “Pray in the name of Jesus Christ over your worries, your fears, your weaknesses, yes, the very longings of your heart. And listen. Write down the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and take the actions you are inspired to take. As you repeat this process daily, monthly, and yearly, you will ‘grow in the principles of revelation.'” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” April 2018 general conference).
7. Worthiness helps facilitate revelation.
Quoting Luke 11:24-26, Elder McCune taught that in order to avoid temptation, we must not only “purge” our homes of unrighteousness, but also fill them with righteousness. In other words, “Regular spiritual efforts such as daily reading of the Book of Mormon, fervent prayer, partaking of the sacrament, and attending the temple are all ways we can fill our house with righteousness so that when the adversary comes to tempt us to diminish our ability to receive revelation, we will find our ‘house’ already filled.”
8. Correction is a form of revelation.
“Some of the deepest lessons we can learn in life come in the form of revelation correction and chastisement from the Lord, and we can be forever grateful for these moments of divine correction,” Elder McCune said.
9. Revelation cannot be forced.
“I believe that the reason Heavenly Father has reserved the timing and terms of revelation has to do with His perfect love for us and His complete understanding of our eternal progress and potential,” Elder McCune said.
10. Revelation requires concentration and attention.
To receive the Spirit, Elder McCune said, an individual’s mind must be set on spiritual matters. “This includes placing ourselves in an environment where excessive noise is excluded and we are able to listen. Righteous music, quiet time, uplifting conversations, and spiritual locations enhance our ability to receive revelation.”
