Receiving Divine Communication

“Personal revelation is the way we know for ourselves the most important truths of our existence:
the living reality of God, our Eternal Father, and His son, Jesus Christ . . . and God’s purpose and direction for us.”

Robert D. Hales

Divine communication comes when we exercise our faith, prepare diligently to be worthy and ready to receive it, and are willing to not just hear, but also heed what is given.

Such communication may come in a variety of ways. It is important to remember this so that we can stay alert and ready to recognize the answers that come–no matter how they come. 

Sometimes answers to prayer come almost immediately while we are still praying. At other times the answer may come later—or seemingly be delayed indefinitely. 

Our Heavenly Father wants us to pray. When we pray, we are reaching out to communicate with Him with faith that He in turn will communicate with us.  

Considering how others have prayed and received answers to their prayers is extremely valuable because it helps us to know how to perhaps improve our prayers as well as how to better recognize how answers may come.

Two of my favorite scriptures about receiving revelation are found in the Doctrine and Covenants. The first is “I will tell you in your mind and heart, by the Holy Ghost” (D&C 8:1-3). The second, in part, is “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation . . .” (D&C 42:61).

Through the first of these scriptures, I have learned two very important principles. If I am questioning whether what I’m receiving is coming from the Spirit, I can readily tell it is if the impressions have come to both my mind and my heart.

Through the second scripture and also an enlightening message given by Elder Richard G. Scott in 2009 titled, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance” I have learned that I can ask for clarification of revelation received. I can also often receive additional revelation on a particular matter if I ask, “Heavenly Father, is there more?”

Finally, I would encourage you to study “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives.” This General Conference message given by Russell M. Nelson who was the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the time, provided amazing counsel and insight into seeking, obtaining, and being blessed by personal revelation. I highly recommend it.

To some it is given by the Holy Ghost to know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God . . .
To others it is given to believe on their words, that they also might have eternal life if they continue faithful.

D&C 46:13-14

Sometimes testimonies are shared in church meetings and other times they are shared in more personal settings. Sometimes they are shared verbally and other times they are shared in writing.

Testimonies are very personal. A testimony may be of Jesus Christ being the Savior of the World. Or it may be of a principle of the gospel. It may have come to the person who is sharing it in a variety of ways. There is not one right way to share a testimony. It may be shared through scriptures, private conversation, public speaking, personal stories or even through podcasting and social media.

Regardless of the setting where testimony is shared or how it may be shared, the Spirit bears witness of what is being said that is true. We can learn a lot by considering how others have received Divine messages of worth through the testimonies of others.

Below are some examples I hope will inspire you.

Not all dreams are divinely inspired, but typically when they are, the one having the dream will remember it, and know that there was a message or a symbolic message contained in it.  Dreams happen during sleep and so usually they happen at night. Visions, however may happen in the daytime or at night and occur when the one receiving the vision is awake.

Elder David A. Bednar has given us important and clarifying instruction about dreams and visions. One of them was a talk in the 2011 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was titled “The Spirit of Revelation.” In addition, I want to encourage you to watch the video of Elder Bednar telling the story of a young man who was seen in vision by his bishop.  It is called “God Knows Who I Am.” 

There are many kinds of blessings that are given by those who hold the priesthood. Among them are blessings of infants and young children, blessings of healing, blessings of comfort, blessings of instruction, father’s blessings, and blessings given in connection with the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, priesthood ordinations, and being set apart to fulfill callings and serve in the Church. Blessings of healing are generally given in two parts. The first part, the anointing, consists of being anointed with consecrated oil and a brief blessing concerning the actual anointing. The second part is called the “sealing” of the blessing, which is longer in length and provides counsel and direction.

In addition to the priesthood blessings mentioned above which may be performed by those holding the Melchizedek Priesthood, patriarchal blessings are also given to those in the Church who desire them. Patriarchal blessings are given by one who has been ordained as a patriarch and they are recorded at the time they are given. Later, the patriarchal blessing is transcribed, a copy placed on file at Church Headquarters in Salt Lake City, and another copy is mailed to the recipient of the blessing. By having a copy of your patriarchal blessing, you can read it again and again, study it, pray over it, and seek greater understanding of what it contains.

Learning about blessings in general and especially learning about patriarchal blessings will help you be able to understand them better when you receive them.