Personal Personal RevelationRevelation

Doctrine and Covenants 6,8,9Doctrine and Covenants 6,8,9

Moroni Chapter 10Moroni Chapter 10

5) And by the power of 5) And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth may know the truth of all things.of all things.

7) 7) And ye may know And ye may know that he isthat he is… for he … for he worketh by power,worketh by power,

QuestionsQuestions

Will God really answer Will God really answer me?me?

How will I know?How will I know?

What will it feel like?What will it feel like?

How do I know the answer is from the Lord and not How do I know the answer is from the Lord and not just me making it up?just me making it up?

Prophet Joseph SmithProphet Joseph Smith

““A person may profit by noticing the first intimation A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas… you sudden strokes of ideas…

... by learning the Spirit of God and understanding ... by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, it, you may grow into the principle of revelationyou may grow into the principle of revelation , , until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Teachings of PJS)(Teachings of PJS)

Oliver CowdreyOliver Cowdrey

Mother Smith:Mother Smith:He said: “The subject upon He said: “The subject upon

which we were yesterday which we were yesterday conversing conversing seems seems working in my very working in my very bones,bones, and I cannot, for a and I cannot, for a moment, get it out of my moment, get it out of my mind.mind.

If there is a work for me to If there is a work for me to do in this thing, I am do in this thing, I am determined to attend to it.determined to attend to it.

D&C 6:2D&C 6:2Behold, I am God; give Behold, I am God; give

heed unto my word, heed unto my word, which is quick and which is quick and powerful, sharper than a powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, two-edged sword, to the to the dividing asunder of both dividing asunder of both joints and marrow;joints and marrow;

therefore give heed unto my therefore give heed unto my words. words.

Oliver CowdreyOliver Cowdrey

D&C 6: 11 And if thou wilt D&C 6: 11 And if thou wilt inquire, … that thou mayest find out inquire, … that thou mayest find out mysteries…mysteries…15 Behold, thou knowest that thou 15 Behold, thou knowest that thou

hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; hast inquired of me and I did enlighten thy mind; and and now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that now I tell thee these things that thou mayest know that thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;thou hast been enlightened by the Spirit of truth;

22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further 22 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.the truth of these things.

23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the 23 Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?God?

Elder Mark E. PetersonElder Mark E. Peterson

Section 9 of the Doctrine Section 9 of the Doctrine and and Covenants was given to Covenants was given to

Oliver Cowdrey at a time Oliver Cowdrey at a time when he wanted to be able when he wanted to be able

to to translate. translate.

The way the spirit communicated with Oliver The way the spirit communicated with Oliver may or may not apply to us.may or may not apply to us.

Oliver’s Desire to TranslateOliver’s Desire to Translate

D&C 9: 3 Be patient, my son… it is not expedient D&C 9: 3 Be patient, my son… it is not expedient that you should translate at this present time.that you should translate at this present time.

5 And, behold, it is because that you did not 5 And, behold, it is because that you did not continue continue as you commencedas you commenced……

7 Behold, you have not understood; you have 7 Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.took no thought save it was to ask me.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study 8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.that it is right.

QuestionQuestion

Other than Oliver’s “burning in the Other than Oliver’s “burning in the bosom”, what are other ways we bosom”, what are other ways we may “feel” personal revelation?may “feel” personal revelation?

Elder Henry B. EyringElder Henry B. EyringI somehow managed to arrange [an] interview…with President I somehow managed to arrange [an] interview…with President

Harold B. Lee. He received me in a kindly way. In my Harold B. Lee. He received me in a kindly way. In my anxiety, I anxiety, I soon blurted out my question: “President soon blurted out my question: “President Lee, how do I get Lee, how do I get revelation?” revelation?” 

He smiled. I am glad he didn't laugh, since it was an odd question to ask. But he He smiled. I am glad he didn't laugh, since it was an odd question to ask. But he answered my question with a story…answered my question with a story…

Then he gave me the lesson, which I now give to you, in about these words: “Hal, Then he gave me the lesson, which I now give to you, in about these words: “Hal, when we had done all we knew how to do, when we had our backs to the wall, when we had done all we knew how to do, when we had our backs to the wall, then God gave us the revelation. then God gave us the revelation. Hal, if you want to get revelation, do your Hal, if you want to get revelation, do your homework.”homework.”

I suppose I should have been embarrassed to take his time to learn what the Lord told I suppose I should have been embarrassed to take his time to learn what the Lord told us all long ago. You recall the rebuke to Oliver Cowdery …us all long ago. You recall the rebuke to Oliver Cowdery …

Now, in fairness to Oliver Cowdery, he had some reason to be confused. The Prophet Now, in fairness to Oliver Cowdery, he had some reason to be confused. The Prophet Joseph seemed to have the windows of heaven opened to him… at a speed that Joseph seemed to have the windows of heaven opened to him… at a speed that could easily have misled Oliver.could easily have misled Oliver.

I bear you my solemn testimony that the Lord opens the heavens to his servants I bear you my solemn testimony that the Lord opens the heavens to his servants today… But I also bear you my testimony that the words ‘study it out’ mean a today… But I also bear you my testimony that the words ‘study it out’ mean a degree of patience, labor, and persistence commensurate with the value of what degree of patience, labor, and persistence commensurate with the value of what you seekyou seek

To the faculty and associated students of BYU,To the faculty and associated students of BYU, A former student and alumnus of your fine institution served with distinction as A former student and alumnus of your fine institution served with distinction as our company commander, Cap. William W. Jacobsen, Jr. He passed away on our company commander, Cap. William W. Jacobsen, Jr. He passed away on Dec. 21, 2004. Dec. 21, 2004.

He was a leader and a mentor applying those lessons he learned in Provo, Utah He was a leader and a mentor applying those lessons he learned in Provo, Utah to his army career. He cared more about the well being of his soldiers than his to his army career. He cared more about the well being of his soldiers than his own. I never heard Capt. Jacobsen curse. He would get upset and angry, but own. I never heard Capt. Jacobsen curse. He would get upset and angry, but remain calm. He possessed enormous bearing, a characteristic of leadership. remain calm. He possessed enormous bearing, a characteristic of leadership.

Capt. Jacobsen lived the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, self-service, Capt. Jacobsen lived the Army values of loyalty, duty, respect, self-service, honesty, integrity, and personal courage. When I think of the definition of an honesty, integrity, and personal courage. When I think of the definition of an Officer and gentleman, I think of Capt. Jacobsen. Capt. Jacobsen mentored his Officer and gentleman, I think of Capt. Jacobsen. Capt. Jacobsen mentored his married soldiers to become better husbands and fathers. Those that were not married soldiers to become better husbands and fathers. Those that were not married he looked after as a father would. married he looked after as a father would.

We will honor Capt. Jacobsen by continuing our mission here in Iraq. I would We will honor Capt. Jacobsen by continuing our mission here in Iraq. I would ask you to honor him by completing your education and emulating the example ask you to honor him by completing your education and emulating the example he set…he set…

Timothy Schmidt Timothy Schmidt SSG, US ArmySSG, US Army