9 Steps to Acquiring Spiritual Guidance
How is the challenge going? I hope you are enjoying the peace and understanding that come from daily spiritual study. If you haven’t started yet, or have been “hit and miss”, don’t worry! Today is a new day. Begin again and rededicate yourself to the goal. You can do this.
This weekend I received my November Ensign filled with the talks from October’s Conference. I was beside myself with excitement! Last night I read Elder Richard G. Scott’s talk, “To Acquire Spiritual Guidance.” As he shared a couple of his own experiences with gaining spiritual insight, I noticed certain steps he took in that process. I thought I might outline them here for our benefit.
If you are seeking personal direction in life (I know I am always needing guidance!), perhaps these steps can help you too.
Elder Scott states that, as he felt spiritual revelation came to him, he:
1. sought a private location to recieve it
2. wrote down the feelings that came to his heart and mind
3. pondered the feelings he’d recorded to see if he had accurately expresed them in writing
4. made a few minor changes to what he’d written as a result of his pondering
5. studied the meaning & application of what he’d written in his own life
6. prayed, reviewing with the Lord what he thought he’d been taught by the Spirit
7. felt peace and could then know he had correctly recieved the revelation
8. thanked Heavenly Father for the guidance given
9. asked, “Was there yet more to be given?”
Elder Scott explained that he then recieved more guidance, beautiful insight for his own personal life and situation from Heavenly Father.
He goes on to say, “the Lord, through the Holy Ghost, can speak to your mind and heart. Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down like spiritual dictation. I bear solemn witness that as you pray with all the fervor of our soul with humility and gratitude, you can learn to be consistently guided by the Holy Spirit in all aspects of your life.”
May we all strive to be guided by the Holy Ghost, who will show us all the things we should do. If we are wondering what to do or where to go in life, this is our answer.
*To read Elder Scott’s talk in its entirety, click here. To watch, click here. To listen, click here.
For other languages, click here.
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loved this talk! It has been a great week since starting this challenge.
I have to marvel at the order the talks were given. I started with Saturday morning's session and have just started Saturday afternoon's ~ the first talk in the morning was on learning to hear the spirit. The second talk was on helping others hear and feel the spirit. What a great reminder just the order of these talks provided that we must first fill our own cup before we can help others do so. And as we help others, we too are helped.
The same thing happened with the last talk from the morning Session. Elder Uchtdorf spoke about the Love of God and how when our love for Him is put first, everything else falls into place. Then Elder Oaks began the afternoon session with Love and Law ~ how obedience to God's laws, because we love Him, entitle us to His choicest blessings.
What an amazing and inspired order to the talks that were given. While speakers know WHEN they will speak, their topic is of their own choice. Truly, the Lord inspires these great men and women to speak on specific things we need to hear, and even in the order we need to hear them!