We MUST Apply What We Learn

I am in my first trimester of pregnancy right now and all I can find the motivation to do is sleep and eat! So, needless to say I haven't been as consistent in posting as I would like to but I will be trying.

Back to learning more about listening to the spirit and having prayers answered and back to Elder Scott's great wisdom on the subject. Elder Scott says, "To obtain spiritual direction or to acquire spiritual knowledge are not sufficient--you must find the courage and strength to consistently use them."

"For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward. Verily I say, men should be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and do many things of their own free will,, and bring to pass much righteousness; for the power is in them, wherein they are agents unto themselves. And inasmuch as men do good they shall in nowise lose their reward."

D&C 58:26-28; see also verses 29-33

From Elder Scott's book, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy

Acquiring Spiritual Guidance

Elder Scott says, "To acquire spiritual guidance and to obey it with wisdom, one must:

-Seek divine light, in humility
-Exercise faith, especially in Jesus Christ
-Repent
-Strive diligently to keep His commandments
-Pray continually
-Hearken to spiritual guidance
-Express gratitude

Humility and Personal Revelation

Humility is such an important part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is especially important when one desires to gain more knowledge and receive spiritual gifts.

Going back to Elder Scott's book, Finding, Peace, Happiness and Joy, he states:

"Why is humility essential to the acquiring of spiritual knowledge? To be humble is to be teachable. Humility permits you to be tutored by the Holy Spirit and to be taught from sources inspired by the Lord, such as the scriptures, the voice of His servants, or inspired parents. The seeds of personal understanding and growth germinate and flourish in the fertile soil of humility. When cultivated through the exercise of faith, pruned by repentance, and fortified by obedience and good works, such seed produce the cherished fruit of spirituality. Divine guidance and power then result -- guidance to know the will of the Lord, and power to provide the capability to accomplish that inspired will. Such power comes from God after we have done "all we can do."

A proud individual cannot know the things of the spirit. Paul taught this truth, saying:

"For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God... But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness not him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Therefore, spiritual guidance must be cultivated in the environment of humility. Pride, overconfidence, selfishness, seeking for position or the honors of men, stifle spiritual direction."

(Elder Richard G. Scott, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy, pg 65-66)

**We can all be humble on our own to a certain degree, but ultimately we must ask Heavenly Father to teach us to be humble and show us where we aren't humble. Unless we ask we will not really understand what true humility is.

Great Idea on Listening to the Spirit

My sister-in-law, Sarah, left this great comment. She also told me that her mother kept a separate journal called her prayer journal, to record all of the prayers and answers in.

"I really believe principle, it's one my mum always taught me. She would sometimes write out her prayers, word for word, and wait for the answer and then write them out word for word. Seems kind of daunting doesn't it, but I've tried it and it helps me to focus and makes 'hearing' the Spirit easier, plus I also think its shows Heavenly Father that he can trust you if you put so much effort into trying to listen."
-Sarah

Like Elder Scott's quote from the last post said, it is very important to write these things down, act on any instruction that has been given and then be grateful for the inspiration.

The Spirit Speaks to Your Heart and Mind

"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation."

-D&C 8:2-3

Did you know that the spirit can speak to you almost word for word in your mind? Like dictation.

Elder Scott says: "Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down word for word, like spiritual dictation."

He then goes on to describe an experience he had with this dictation. He was in a Sunday church meeting when the impressions came flooding in, "I received such an outpouring of impressions that were so personal that I felt it inappropriate to try to record them in the midst of a Sunday School class. I sought a more private location. There I continued to write the feeling that flooded into my mind and heart as accurately and as faithfully as possible. After each powerful impression was recorded, I pondered the feeling I had received to determine if I had accurately expressed them in writing. As a result, I made a few minor changes to what had been written. Then I studied their meaning and application in my own personal life.

Subsequently I prayed, reviewing with the Lord what I thought I had been thaught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace and serenity confirmed what I had sought, I thanked Him for the guidance given. I was then impressed to ask if there was yet more that I could be given to understand. I received further impressions, and the process of writing down the impression and pondering and praying to know if I had done it properly was repeated. Again I was prompted to ask, "is there more I should know?" There was. When that last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most precious, specific, personal direction one could ever hope to obtain in this life. I am convinced that had I not responded to the first impressions, valued, and recorded them, I would not have received the last, most precious guidance. What I have described in not an isolated experience."

-Elder Richard G. Scott, "Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy" pgs. 42,45,46

Personal Revelation

I love Elder Scott's book, "Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy." He has a chapter called, To Understand Spiritual Guidance. I will be writing a few of the key points from that chapter in the next few posts.

"Another example underscores the clarity of spiritual communication. You may have opened your eyes under water while swimming. Everything looks blurred and difficult to identify, yet with the aid of a diver's mask, every detail can be seen with absolute clarity. Satan tries to blur reality and confuse you by tempting you to incorporate false principles into your life. Father in Heaven can clarify your life by sharing correct principles through the Holy Ghost. How you exercise your moral agency will determine which of these two influences will be predominant in your life. Your happiness now and for the eternities will unquestionably be determined whether or not you follow the spiritual guidance of the Lord communicated through the Holy Ghost."

President Kimball taught: "Revelations will probably never come unless they are desired. I think few people receive revelations while lounging on a couch... I believe most revelations would come when a man (or women, I would add) is on his tip toes, reaching as high as he can for something which he know he needs, and then there bursts upon him the answer to his problems."
-Elder Richard G. Scott, "Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy"

Importance of Personal Revelation

"Personal communication with God through the Holy Spirit is a reality. To me it is as literally real as life itself and far more precious than all of the treasure of the earth. As you understand and use the eternal principles governing such communication, you can learn that the counsel of others and the programs of the Church are useful aids but not the best source of fundamental direction in you life. That guidance come from the Lord through the Holy Ghost."

-Richard G. Scott, "Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy"

A Great Place to Start with Listening to the Spirit

"A test whereby we can know whether or not revelation is from God: 1. Is it contrary to instruction from a living Prophet? 2. Is there anything secret? 3. Does it bring harmony and peace of mind? 4. Does it square with the scriptures? 5. What have you done yourself to ask of the Lord? 6. Are you keeping the commandments? By answering this series of questions, you can know by the Spirit whether or not the information come from God."

-Thomas S. Monson,

Favorite Quotations From

The Collection Of

Thomas S. Monson, 104

I think this is a great place to start when wanting to know more about listening to the spirit and whether or not you heard right. :)

Strengths Can Become Our Downfall

Humility is a huge part of being able to receive the gift of charity. Here is just one small thing that can stand in our way.

This is a section of a wonderful talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks. This talk is about staying humble and how easy it can be to let our strengths become our weaknesses. I highly recommend reading this entire talk.

A Desire to Be Led in All Things
"Closely related to this example is the person who has a strong desire to be led by the Spirit of the Lord but who unwisely extends that desire to the point of wanting to be led in all things. A desire to be led by the Lord is a strength, but it needs to be accompanied by an understanding that our Heavenly Father leaves many decisions for our personal choices. Personal decision making is one of the sources of the growth we are meant to experience in mortality. Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and don’t receive it. For example, this is likely to occur in those numerous circumstances in which the choices are trivial or either choice is acceptable.
We should study things out in our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment. Persons who persist in seeking revelatory guidance on subjects on which the Lord has not chosen to direct us may concoct an answer out of their own fantasy or bias, or they may even receive an answer through the medium of false revelation. Revelation from God is a sacred reality, but like other sacred things, it must be cherished and used properly so that a great strength does not become a disabling weakness."

Link to Elder Oaks talk...
http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=9d1b3ff73058b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

What You Can Do to Receive the Gift of Charity

Charity is a gift that you can receive as you pray to be filled with love, as you give service, and as you look for the good in others.

Pray to be filled with love. The prophet Mormon admonished: “Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, … pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love” (Moroni 7:47–48). You may not feel the pure love of Christ immediately or all at once in answer to your prayers. But as you live righteously and continue to pray sincerely and humbly for this blessing, you will receive it.

Give service. We grow to love people as we serve them. When we set aside our own interests for the good of another in the pattern set by the Savior, we become more receptive to the Spirit. As you pray for those you teach, ponder their needs, and prepare lessons, your love for them will increase.

Look for the good in others. As you discover the good qualities in others, you will grow in your understanding of them as children of God. The Spirit will confirm the truth of your discoveries about them, and you will appreciate and love them more.

Seeking the Gift of Charity,” Teaching, No Greater Call: A Resource Guide for Gospel Teaching, 12

I would also like to add Listening to the Spirit and Instant Obedience.

***Remember that I would love to post anything that anyone wants to send in. If you would like to share something that you have learned about charity or any of the other posts please let me know. I also love to have comments. :) drennanbakerblog@yahoo.com

"Charity Never Faileth"

I think Charity is a great place to start with marriage. There is so much to write about Charity! I am not sure where to begin. So I will start here...

Elder Bruce R. McConkie's definition of Charity:
Above all the attributes of godliness and perfection, charity is the one most devoutly to be desired. Charity is more than love, perfect love, the pure love of Christ which endureth forever. It is love so centered in righteousness that the possessor has no aim or desire except for the eternal welfare of his own soul and for the souls of those around him. (McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 2:378)

Charity is much more than doing service...MUCH MORE!

Charity is the "Tree" in Nephi's vision: ...Yea, it is the love of God, which sheddeth itself abroad in the hearts of the children of men; wherefore, it is the most desirable above all things. (1Ne. 11:22)

Moroni says this: And now I know that this love which thou hast had for the children of men is charity; wherefore, except men shall have charity they cannot in inherit that place which thou hast prepared in the mansions of thy Father. (Ether 12:34)

Charity is the love of God for us, not the other way around.(John Pontius, Following the Light of Christ into His Presence.)

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moro. 7:48)

And above all things, clothe yourselves with the bond of charity, as with a mantle, which is the bond of perfectness and peace. (D&C: 88:125)

Wherefore, there must needs be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity. And except ye have charity ye can in nowise be saved in the kingdom of God; neither can ye be saved in the kingdom of God if you have not faith; neither can ye if ye have no hope. (Moro. 10:20-21)