Drawing Upon the Powers of Heaven

Posted by Justine | May 2, 2009 | 16 Comments

There have been times in my life when the Spirit spoke to me in powerful and audible tones. I actually heard a voice once tell me to “GO DOWNSTAIRS” when my two year old started a fire in our basement a few years ago. I have had strong and specific impressions about exact choices to be made and exact actions to take.

Most of the time, however, the process of revelation isn’t quite so acute. I admit that sometimes I question if a thought or impression is just me ‘making up’ feelings or decisions. I wonder sometimes if I’m just trying to validate my own preferences. The Spirit often works quietly and subtly.

At the recent Relief Society Open House, Barbara Thompson, of the General Relief Society Presidency, posed the question, “What do you need for the process of personal revelation to work in your own life?” The answers were as varied as one might expect, and I’m sure the answers could be different for all of us.

But Sister Beck’s follow up remarks were what brought the process of revelation to the forefront for me. She asked us, as sister serving in our callings, to stop searching the internet or asking our sister-in-law for ideas and help in our callings. “Get on your knees.” she said. Only the Lord knows what the people in your ward or branch need. Use the process of revelation to meet the needs of the people you have stewardship over.

And we all have stewardships somewhere. We are teachers, counselors, visiting teachers, mothers, wives.

So here are today’s questions:

What do you need for the process of personal revelation to work in your own life?
How do you find confidence in the answers of how to move forward in your calling?
Do you think you are relying enough on revelation to serve the people in your stewardship?

Category: Daily Special

Comments

16 Responses to “Drawing Upon the Powers of Heaven”

watermelanie
May 2nd, 2009 @ 9:48 am

I am waiting with baited breath for the comments to this wonderful post. This is an area where I really struggle. I am a natural (woman?) skeptic, and I truly have to strive to believe. I am capable, and so I am constantly relying on my fleshy arm rather than divine help. Humility is a challenge for me, but I think that is the single most important element of receiving revelation. Knowing I cannot do anything remotely subjective without help is a good starting place and recognizing that a loving Father wants to bless me and guide me keeps me on the right track. can’t wait to hear everyone’s comments.
Leslie
May 2nd, 2009 @ 11:32 am

Justine- wise words- I like that concept of asking and being entitled to revelation/inspiration- I often get frustrated at the one size fits all approach or programming. I always apprecaited a quote elder maxwell gave in a tlak at BYU- he said “Our love is often lazy in it’s failure to individualize” those words have always stuck with me in my friendships, family and church.

I think it’s about exertign the energy int he first place- pondering studying, praying- I know the answers will come with work.
Jennie
May 2nd, 2009 @ 11:35 am

I don’t even understand the question, let alone have answer.
homeschoolin' henn
May 2nd, 2009 @ 11:52 am

This is something that is a struggle for me,although it hasn’t always been so. When I was younger it seemed easier to tune in, but as the years have passed the ceiling seems a lot harder to get through, if you know what I mean. Maybe I get too caught up in the shtuff of everyday life, and don’t spend enough time just praying and listening. Maybe I am too wicked. Teaching the 16 yr. olds in Sunday School would surely be easier if I could get what Heavenly Father is telling me to say.

When I am in the Temple, I feel Him so close, but somehow I lose Him outside. I hope someone has some great answers for me.
Kathryn P.
May 2nd, 2009 @ 1:22 pm

I think humility and lots of practice are important components in receiving personal revelation for church callings. Due to a combination of low self-esteem and performance anxiety, I learned at a very young age to plead for the help of the Spirit in all my creative endeavors. My church callings are a breeze because the Spirit gives me fabulous ideas and helps me know what to emphasize when there are lots of options in a primary lesson. I pray for help in preparing my lessons and I pray that I will teach what Christ would teach if He were teaching my class and I pray that my class will feel the love of the Savior when I’m teaching. The Spirit has MUCH better ideas than the internet. The Spirit also helps me improve ideas that I get from other sources. I teach a large class of 10-11 year old primary girls and I also teach activity day. Discipline problems are minimal and we have lots of fun. Everything is soooo much easier with the help of the Spirit.
cms
May 2nd, 2009 @ 2:03 pm

I’m a little afield of Utah … and this is the second Segullah post specifically mentioning remarks made at the 2009 Open House. I appreciate that you bring up what was said, but I’m confused about the purpose of the Open House. I know in the last post it was mentioned that transcripts are not available. So are the remarks to be taken in a similar vein to talks given by general authorities in stake conferences?

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I find it difficult to comment on the words from a talk that I’ve not read or do not have access to. I’ve sat in church for too many years and had teachers and church members quote prophets out of context or scriptures out of context to support a particular idea and I’m quite careful about this.

I love Segullah because it is women talking about things they are thinking about, or concerned with. I don’t think you are doing this. I think this is probably a fair and accurate representation and it brings up several good points.

I’m just wishing to express my frustration at the lack of putting this up online, or making a video or dvd available, especially for us sisters who are so far afield.
Lucy
May 2nd, 2009 @ 2:21 pm

I always think I am the only one in the world that feels a certain way. It’s comforting to me to find out I’m not. I struggle with this and with prayer constantly. I feel I’m not close to the spirit or HF. I feel like when praying, I’m talking to myself. When I hear other people say how much they feel the presence of Heavenly Father, I wonder all the time why I do not. I believe the Gospel and I’m totally active. But I struggle constantly with this. I don’t know the answer.
Justine
May 2nd, 2009 @ 4:10 pm

cms, the transcripts always used to be available, and I’m not sure if they are planning to post them at the church’s website. I would be over the moon if they would do it. And you’re right, it’s so easy to take things out of context, or misinterpret things that are said. I apologize if I’ve seemed to do that.

Nothing was spoken of in this Open House that was new or shocking. There was nothing that would be viral email worthy, har har. But it was wonderful to meet together and listen to counsel from Sister Beck. I would venture to say that almost all her remarks could be found in the FAQ section at the Relief Society website.

I’ve found my connection to the Spirit is stronger when I am calmer. The scripture “Be still and know that I am God” immediately comes to mind. I have to be still every day for me to feel and recognize the workings of the Lord in my life.

I’ve also started praying that I will feel and recognize the Spirit. I’ve been surprised by how much it has helped.

And Lucy, I know exactly how you feel. I think we all go through times when we wonder if the Lord’s hand is really in our lives. I’ve felt periods of deep withdrawal from the Spirit. During those times, though, I think it’s more important than ever to make our faith an active choice, pulling us through until the Lord enters again. I’ve been through it, and have come out on the other side with a strengthened and more powerful testimony of the power of faith.

I’ve watched people I love really struggle to feel that the Lord would really want them to be called to X, Y, or Z. Finding confidence through our callings and using the resources the Lord has given us is so vital!
Justine
May 2nd, 2009 @ 4:13 pm

ps – the Open House is held annually the week before the Spring General Conference. It’s a kind of informal training for presidencies. The Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary General Presidencies hold them. It’s program has changed over the years, but it’s always a real treat to go to.
Lisa
May 2nd, 2009 @ 4:50 pm

I hope I’m on topic here, but I have long wondered what is the matter with me that I don’t really trust what others tell me, including church leaders, including prophets. I deeply respect the amazing people that are called to lead the church, but when it comes time to decide what I should or shouldn’t do or believe or commit to, I never make a move until I’ve talked to God and received an answer. Many times, those answers are very vague and I move forward with trepidation that I’m not getting it right. Even so, the voice of the Spirit is the only voice I trust. I’ve been at this for many years — trying to hear and obey God. What I’ve learned is that almost always, what the Spirit tells me correlates with what I hear across the pulpit. And then there are the communications that really challenge my faith — those things the Spirit tells me that I’ve never heard across the pulpit. But I think that is the point of personal revelation. At some point in our progression, we have to learn to trust the Spirit above anyone else, including everything and everyone we have ever trusted or believed. A dramatic example of this is when Nephi slew Laban at the direction of the Spirit, against all he understood to be right. Even though our spiritual receptors are often jammed and some heavenly transmissions seem anything but trustworthy, still, I think the invitation to come to God, to be still, to listen, to know is probably the most important thing we can do in our lives.
Janet
May 2nd, 2009 @ 5:59 pm

Thanks for sharing! I love what Sister Beck said about stop searching for answers elsewhere and just go to the Source. This is what I try to teach my children. It is so empowering to realize that we all have the same access to our Heavenly Father’s guidance.

Gerald Lund’s book, “Hearing the Voice of the Lord” is all about learning to recognize revelation in our lives. I highly recommend it.

It kind of goes without saying that we can’t receive revelation if we’re not doing our best to keep the commandments, so that’s a focus for me. Really giving my best to living a life in harmony with His will gives me the confidence and ask for, and expect answers.
Tiffany
May 2nd, 2009 @ 8:46 pm

Trying to consciously receive revelation is a challenge for me. I’ve had a few breathtaking visions–four came unsought for me, but provided great insight and powerful inspiration and direction.Interestingly enough, all of these visions (and I am using that term deliberately because I saw very specific things–they were not words in my mind) related to my family: my husband and my children. And one came as the result of long prayers and fasting. So I’ve learned that those type of revelations aren’t the norm for me. I’m trying harder to recognise the moments of inspiration that I have during the day.
Strollerblader
May 2nd, 2009 @ 9:45 pm

I think that Sis. Beck’s direction to stop searching the internet and go to the source is opposite these paraphrased scripture references: “Study it out in your mind…” and “You took no thought save to ask me…” I think that if we are looking for answers, for *revelation*, then those answers can just as surely come while we’re searching on the internet as they can while we’re sitting in the temple. If we have prayed and are actively seeking direction, then there are myriad opportunities for us to get the answers and inspiration we seek. I think that the important thing is to pray first, then go about our lives with a seeker’s mindframe.

What do you need for the process of personal revelation to work in your own life?
A: I need to pray first, asking HF to guide me to find the answers. I pray to have the Spirit in my life AND to recognize its workings in my life.

How do you find confidence in the answers of how to move forward in your calling?
A: First off, if you feel to do *anything* good, you don’t need to question whether it is from the Spirit or not. Just do it. In a calling, if I feel like I should head a certain direction or ask a certain person to do something, then I either just do it, or I get the go-ahead from the powers that be that are over me.

Do you think you are relying enough on revelation to serve the people in your stewardship?
A: I do. I feel confident enough that I am going in the right direction, and that when HF wants me to do something specific or different than what I’m already planning, then He will guide me towards those things. I don’t believe that I need step-by-step direction. I know that how I am living is pleasing to my HF, and thus, I feel confident in how I am doing things and confident that He wants me to continue to think things through myself, then act on those things.
Melissa M.
May 2nd, 2009 @ 10:15 pm

I just want to say that Kathryn P. lives by her words–she is my 10-year-old daughter’s primary teacher and my daughter LOVES Kathryn’s lessons!
For me, studying the scriptures, pondering, and praying help me prepare lessons and fulfill my church callings. I find that ideas often come as I’m quiet and still and pondering what to say or do, opening myself up to whatever direction will come–after I’ve studied the lesson myself and prepared myself. Some thoughts I know are inspired; others might just be my own ideas, but the lesson seems to come together as I study, ponder, and pray. I always make sure I ask the Lord to help me know what my particular class members need to hear, and sometimes I feel impressed to elaborate on a certain concept or add in a particular idea. I hope I’m being inspired!
Justine
May 3rd, 2009 @ 7:35 am

Strollerblader, the intention I got from Sister Beck was to stop just doing the same things everyone else is doing just because it’s popular or hip at the moment. I think she was just trying to say that we need to find out what the people in our stewardship need before we can plan our events and such around them. Too often, I see ‘popular ideas’ race through wards and stakes with no thought given to whether a particular ward would be well served by the activity.

My feeling was that’s where she was headed with that comment.

I like your comment to act on all good thoughts. It reminds me of Sister Hinckley’s remark to never let go of a generous thought. It can never hurt, can it!
jendoop
May 3rd, 2009 @ 1:00 pm

I need peace, balance and to feel loved for personal revelation to work in my life.

With my calling I pray, read scriptures, talk frequently to those I serve with, I use common sense, I read manuals and the handbook to be sure that what I am doing is in line with the guidance of my leaders, I attend meetings to recieve counsel. I try to be humble to be open to answers from anywhere at any time. That said, I don’t think that just because an idea pops into your head that it is from the spirit. Be wise and take time to make decisions, you are impacting other’s lives with your actions.

Where I serve I must rely on revelation, our area is unique and intense in it’s challenges. Teaching this year’s primary theme “My Eternal Family” to a room of children from broken homes; non-members; and, conversely, intensely LDS homes, is a challenge. I could not love them and serve them, without creating a riot, if I didn’t listen to the spirit. Some weeks I’m a chorister and doing opening exercises, others sharing time. Without the strength and encouragement of the spirit I wouldn’t last 10 minutes!

I love the new directive (I like to think straight from President Monson) to focus on the ONE! This is one of the best ways to receive guidance about how to serve-when you get to know the people you serve one-on-one you will be inspired as to how you can serve them, and also how their talents can be put to work to serve as well.