Teach your kids how to ask and listen for revelation in this week's Come Follow Me quick Family Home evening lesson. It's great for talks around the table at dinner or when you have a quiet moment to share the teachings of the gospel.
It seems to me that a lot of the prophet's counsel lately has been focused on having us learn to "hear Him". We've heard that over and over the last few General conferences.
So I'm not too surprised that there is also a lot of learning about revelation in this year's Come Follow Me. I am sure the Lord set it up so that we were studying the Doctrine and Covenants and learning how to hear His voice when we need it.
Because we are going to need it in the next few years. Things are getting crazier and crazier and we need the comfort and peace that only our Father in Heaven and his son Jesus Christ can give.
Turn off the lights and let your kids sit in the dark for a minute, or imagine you are in a room that is dark. You can't see much around you. You don't know what to do. So you ask for help.
Your are told to "turn on the light."
Now you have turned on the light many times and know that when you do, the light will come on and it won't be dark anymore. But suppose you haven't ever turned a light on before...
Might fear of it not working hold you back from turning the light on?
But if you have faith that the light will come on just as you were told it would, you will get up and turn the light on.
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| Photo by WhiteSession |
Just like we have faith that the lights will come on when we flip the switch, we need to learn and have complete faith that our spiritual lights will come on when we pray for revelation in our life.
"The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the single most important skill that can be acquired in this life." (Julie Beck)
We need to learn with unquestionable faith that when we ask for help, He will hear us and answer back. He is our father. He loves us and wants to help us. We just need to learn to ask and to listen.
For He has promised us answers. In D&C 8:1, he states "(you shall) receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive."
But we must learn how to ask, and how to listen.
"I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that Divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy son, Jesus Christ...they know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit." (Richard G. Scott)
There is no one size fits all way to receive answers.
What works for us one time, may not be how we receive revelation the next time.
Our Heavenly Father knows us and knows what and how we need the answer. So we must learn to listen.
How?
"We need to study the scriptures and the words of the Lord's servants. We need to be living right before God--we need to be doing His will." (Russell M. Ballard)
When we have a question we need answers to, we need to start by making sure the lines to Heaven are clear. We can't hear Him if we are busy all the time. We can't hear Him if we are living our lives in a manor that His spirit can't be with us.
We need to make sure we are "right before God." And if not, we need to repent of the big and little things that would keep the Holy Ghost from being near us.
"President Nelson told a sweet little Primary girl: Being a prophet was hard work. Jehovah asked Moses to go to the top of the Mount Sinai, not to meet Him halfway, but to walk all the way to the top. The Lord expects and loves effort." (Vicki Jackman)
Then we need to study it out in our minds. Look at all the possible answers. Study the answers and the consequences of those answers. Based on what you know, which is the best answer?
Once you have that, go to the Lord in prayer and ask if that is right.
"...and if it be right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you: therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right, you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought..." (D&C 9: 8-9)
The Lord speaks to us spirit to spirit through our mortal bodies. It isn't always through a burning in your bosom.
Sometimes an idea comes into our heads that we have not had before. Sometimes we get a feeling that just seems right even if it doesn't make sense to our heads.
We must learn the skill of how he speaks to us. Sometimes it's through emotion. Sometimes it's through intellect. Sometimes it's both. We all have different spiritual gifts. We all hear differently. We all learn differently.
That's why it's up to us to learn. And then to act.
"In the process of revelation and making important decisions, fear plays a destructive, sometimes paralyzing role...after you have gotten the message, after you have paid the price to feel His love and hear the word of the Lord, go forward. Don't fear, don't vacillate, don't quibble, don't whine...with the spirit of revelation, dismiss your fears and wade in with both feet." (Jeffery R. Holland)
We can't let our fear of "what if" keep us from turning on the light bulb. We need that light. We have been given the answer on how to have it in our life. Now we must act.
Don't let fear keep you from your mission in life. Ask in faith and believe He will answer.
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| Light bulb picture and cookie cuter found here on amazon |
Treat:
Continue the light bulb analogy from the attention activity by using your favorite sugar cookie recipe and this light bulb cookie cutter (amazon affiliate link) to make yummy cookies to enjoy. Use the time while cooking and decorating to talk about answers you have received that have turned the light on in your life.
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| Photo by Skitterphoto Song by Wayne Burton |
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