Doctrine & Covenants 6-9 Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Making Decisions What kinds of decisions will you be making in the next year? What kinds of decisions will you be making in the next 5 to 10 years?

September 21, 1823 Joseph meets Moroni September 22, 1827 Joseph receives the plates. Oct.-Dec., 1827 Joseph moves to Harmony, Penn Jan.-Feb Joseph translates, Emma scribes. April Martin Harris believes and scribes for the Prophet Joseph. June Martin Harris takes the 116 page manuscript to Palmyra. July 1828 Joseph heads to Palmyra- Martin has lost the manuscript. July-September 1828 Joseph loses the gift of translation- plates taken by Moroni (D&C 3) September 22, 1828 Joseph gets the plates back from Moroni. April 5, 1829 Oliver Cowdery arrives in Harmony, Pennsylvania. June 30, 1829 The translation of the Book of Mormon is complete. March The first copies of the Book or Mormon went on sale in Palmyra.

September 21, 1823 Joseph meets Moroni September 22, 1827 Joseph receives the plates. Oct.-Dec., 1827 Joseph moves to Harmony, Penn Jan.-Feb Joseph translates, Emma scribes. April Martin Harris believes and scribes for the Prophet Joseph. June Martin Harris takes the 116 page manuscript to Palmyra. July 1828 Joseph heads to Palmyra- Martin has lost the manuscript. July-September 1828 Joseph loses the gift of translation- plates taken by Moroni (D&C 3) September 22, 1828 Joseph gets the plates back from Moroni. April 5, 1829 Oliver Cowdery arrives in Harmony, Pennsylvania. June 30, 1829 The translation of the Book of Mormon is complete. March The first copies of the Book or Mormon went on sale in Palmyra.

“After we had received this revelation (D&C 6), Oliver Cowdery stated to me that one night after he had retired to bed he called upon the Lord to know if these things were true, and the Lord manifested to him that they were true; he had kept the experience entirely secret, and had mentioned it to no one; so that after this revelation was given, he knew that the work was true, because no being living knew of the thing alluded to in the revelation, but God and himself” ( History of the Church, 1:35).

Oliver Wants to Translate April 1829 He wanted to translate as Joseph did. The Lord’s desire, on the other hand, was for Oliver to continue to serve as scribe and then seek for greater gifts. Oliver, however, became impatient and was given permission to translate on his own. And… he failed. Ken Corbett

1.Scan Doctrine and Covenants 6:10–13 and find Oliver’s gift. 2.Read and mark Doctrine and Covenants 6:22–24 to search for another way the Lord communicates with us. 3.Read and mark Doctrine and Covenants 6:32–37 and search for how the Lord counseled Joseph and Oliver to overcome doubt and fear as they continued in His work. And… what does the word “behold” mean? Remember: Consider marking each verse….

Why is it important for us to know that the Lord “hears and answers our prayers”? Why is it important to know that only “God knows our thoughts and the intents of our hearts”? What do you think it means to “treasure up” the Lord’s words? From your experience, what does it feel like to have the Lord speak “peace to our minds”? Answer one of these questions in your Study Journal

How do turning on a light bulb and watching a sunrise relate to revelation? Elder David A. Bednar: “Sometimes revelation happens quickly, completely, and all at once [like turning on a light in a dark room]. … [But] most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time” (“The Spirit of Revelation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 88).

What principle of revelation does Doctrine and Covenants 7 teach? During April 1829, while Oliver was helping Joseph with the translation, he and Joseph had “a difference of opinion … about the account of John the Apostle, mentioned in the New Testament [see John 21:20–23] …, whether he died, or whether he continued [to live]” ( Histories, Volume 1: 1832– 1844, vol. 1 of the Histories series of The Joseph Smith Papers [2012], 284). Doctrine and Covenants 7:1–3 to discover the answer to Joseph and Oliver’s question. What’s the ‘moral’ of the story?

Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3 Based on D&C 8:2-3, how did God reveal to Moses that he should part the Red Sea? What principles of revelation are taught here? Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9 Where did Oliver go wrong? In what ways do we follow the same path?

Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit In what ways does the Lord speak to our minds? In what ways does He speak to our hearts? Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

“An impression to the mind is very specific. “Detailed words can be heard or felt and written as though the instruction were being dictated. “A communication to the heart is a more general impression. The Lord often begins by giving impressions. Where there is a recognition of their importance and they are obeyed, one gains more capacity to receive more detailed instruction to the mind. An impression to the heart, if followed, is fortified by a more specific instruction to the mind” (“Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led” [address to CES religious educators, Aug. 11, 1998], 3–4, LDS.org ). Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Spencer W. Kimball: "The burning bushes, the smoking mountains, the Red Seas, the Cumorahs, and the Kirtlands were realities; but they were the exceptions. The great volume of revelation came to Moses and to Joseph and comes to today's prophet in the less spectacular way—that of deep impressions, without spectacle or glamour or dramatic events. Always expecting the spectacular, many will miss entirely the constant flow of revealed communication" (in Conference Report, Munich Germany Area Conference 1973, 77).

D&C 8:6-9 “There was another gift bestowed upon Oliver Cowdery, and that was the gift of Aaron. Like Aaron with his rod in his hand going before Moses as a spokesman, so Oliver Cowdery was to go before Joseph Smith. Oliver was blessed with the great honor of holding the keys of this dispensation with Joseph Smith, and, like Aaron, did become a spokesman on numerous occasions. It was Oliver who delivered the first public discourse in this dispensation.” (Smith) Aaron was the elder brother of Moses. Being prompted by the Spirit of the Lord, he met his younger brother in the wilderness and accompanied him to Egypt. He introduced him to the children of Israel in the land of Goshen. He was his spokesman before Pharaoh, and he assisted him in opening up the dispensation which Moses was commissioned to proclaim.(See: Exodus 4:27–31) Manual

Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit “We watch. We wait. We listen for that still, small voice. When it speaks, wise men and women obey. Promptings of the Spirit are not to be postponed.” President Thomas S. Monson, Live the Good Life, October 1988 General Conference

Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit Onomatopoeia Boom Fizz Pop Flop Zip Bang

Onomatopoeia Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Onomatopoeia Spiritual Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

I am convinced that there is no simple formula 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. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit. Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Consistently strive to recognize and follow feelings prompted by the Spirit. Your confidence in the direction you receive from the Holy Ghost will become stronger. (E lder Richard G. Scott, April 2010) Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

The Voice of the Spirit President James E. Faust play Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

What revelation do you think your parents are hoping you pray for?

Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit Doctrine & Covenants Been guided to a place that blessed you? D&C 6:14 Felt peace in your mind? D&C 6:23 Just felt something was right? D&C 9:8-9 Known just what to say when teaching others? D&C 84:85 Had a question occupy your mind? D&C 128:1 Been strengthened by others testimonies of Christ? D&C 46:13-14 Felt spiritually lifted up as someone was teaching? D&C 50:21-22 Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Book of Mormon Felt like praying? 2 Nephi 32:8 Had a speaker touch your heart? 2 Nephi 33:1 Heard a voice in your mind? Enos 1:10 Not wanted to do bad things, but just be good all the time? Mosiah 5:2 Wanted to share the gospel? Mosiah 28:1-4 Looked upon sin with abhorrence (disgust)? Alma 13:12 Perceived someone else’s thoughts or intentions? Alma 18:16 Protected from harm while doing the Lord’s work? Helaman 16:2 Healed by the Lord? 3 Nephi 7:22 Been able to tell right from wrong? Moroni 7:16 Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

Old Testament Given advice or counsel that helped others follow the Lord? Isaiah 11:2 Helped someone feel better about their life? Isaiah 61:1 New Testament Felt comforted? John 14:26-27 Felt a desire to resist a temptation? Matthew 26:41 Felt love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness? Galatians 5:22-23 Defended yourself or the Lord with the word of God? Ephesians 6:17 Felt a lack of fear, but rather power, confidence, and love? 2 Timothy 1:7 Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

1.Testify 2.Prophesy 3.Comfort 4.Uplift 5.Inform 6.Restrain 7. Confirm 8. Impel Why does the Lord speak to us? Has he spoken to you? Elder Oaks, June 2014 Ensign; from Brigham Young University on September 29, 1981.

Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit "The sweetest experience I know in life is to feel a prompting and act upon it and later find out that it was the fulfillment of someone's prayer or someone's need. And I always want the Lord to know that if He needs an errand run, Tom Monson will run that errand for Him” ( President Thomas S. Monson, Biographic DVD) Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit

CASE STUDIES Which words uttered in prayer would be most effective in each scenario? 1. A young man receives an offer for a good job, but it requires him to work on Sunday. He is trying to decide whether to accept the job. 2. A young woman has been thinking about the friends she is associating with and the negative influence they have on her. She wants to stop hanging out with them, but she does not know the most tactful way to withdraw from them. 3. A young woman is considering what she should do after she completes high school. She knows she wants to continue her education but is unsure of which educational institution she should attend.

Application D&C 9:12-14 Be patient with your calling Be faithful and yield to temptation Stand fast in the work You will be “lifted up at the last day” “I have given unto my servant Joseph sufficient strength,..”

"I somehow managed to arrange [an interview] with President Harold B. Lee. He received me in a kindly way. In my anxiety, I soon blurted out my question: 'President Lee, how do I get revelation?' "He smiled. I am glad he didn't laugh, since it was an odd question to ask. But he answered my question with a story. It was essentially this. He said that during World War II he had been part of a group studying the question 'What should the Church be doing for its members in the military service?' He said they conducted interviews at bases up and down the country. They had data gathered. They had the data analyzed. They went back for more interviews. But still, no plan emerged. "Then he gave me the lesson, which I now give to you, in about these words: 'Hal, when we had done all we knew how to do, when we had our backs to the wall, then God gave us the revelation. Hal, if you want to get revelation, do your homework'" (President Eyring, "Waiting upon the Lord," in Brigham Young University 1990–91 Devotional and Fireside Speeches [1991], 16–17).

Doctrine & Covenants 6-9 Recognizing the Voice of the Spirit