This is Revelation

Resume Winners… "I have a bachelorette degree in computers." "Graduated in the top 66% of my class." "I worked as a Corporate Lesion." "Served as assistant sore manager." "Married, eight children. Prefer frequent travel." "Objective: To have my skills and ethics challenged on a daily basis." "My contributions on product launches were based on dreams that I had." "Experience: Watered, groomed, and fed the family dog for years." "Previous experience: Self-employed -- a fiasco." "Work history: Bum. Abandoned belongings and led nomadic lifestyle." "I like slipping and sliding around behind the counter and controlling the temperature of the food." "Reason for leaving last job: The owner gave new meaning to the word 'paranoia.' I prefer to elaborate privately." "Reason for leaving last job: Bounty hunting was outlaw in my state." "Education: College, August May 1984." "Fortunately because of stress, worked in the cardiac intensive-care ward." And finally: "Objectives: 10-year goal: Total obliteration of sales and federal income taxes and tax laws

Editor’s Note The purpose of this lesson is to encourage students to look more closely the unique and individual ways the spirit works through their spiritual gifts. For instance, too many saints never experience ‘the burning bosom’ and are lead to believe they do not feel the spirit or have a testimony. Or they listen to testimony Meeting or read the scriptures and come to believe they must have a miraculous manifestation in order to not make a mistake. For this reason, some do have the spirit revealed to them exactly as Oliver Cowdrey did in the course of translation; most will not. Please make room for a discussion about the unique ways class members feel the spirit. This will encourage them to grow in their knowledge of the spirit—and in their understanding of how to expresses itself to them.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie In relating his experiences regarding the revelation that all worthy males were now eligible to receive the priesthood of God, Elder Bruce R. McConkie pointed out one significant reason that Latter-day Saints miss the prompting of the Spirit directed their way by the Lord. He stated: "Latter-day Saints have a complex" in regard to the things of the Spirit. He explained that we want more than what actually happens. Elder McConkie observed that many Latter-day Saints were disappointed with the revelation given to President Spencer W. Kimball and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: "Many of them [Latter-day Saints] desire to magnify and build upon what has occurred, and they delight to think of miraculous things. And maybe some of them would like to believe that the Lord himself was there, or that the Prophet Joseph Smith came to deliver the revelation... Well, these things did not happen.“ Byron R. Merrill, Heavens Are Open: The 1992 Sperry Symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History ( 1993)

Elder Orson Pratt "No great noise or physical manifestation was made; Joseph was as calm as the morning sun. But he noticed a change in his countenance that he had never noticed before, when a revelation was given to him. Joseph's face was exceedingly white, and seemed to shine. The speaker had been present many times when he was translating the New Testament, and wondered why he did not use the Urim and Thummim, as in translating the Book of Mormon. While this thought passed through the speaker's mind, Joseph, as if he read his thoughts, looked up and explained that the Lord gave him the Urim and Thummim when he was inexperienced in the Spirit of inspiration. But now he had advanced so far that he understood the operations of that Spirit, and did not need the assistance of that instrument." (Millennial Star, 11 Aug 1874, pp )

Prophet Joseph Smith “A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas…... by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” (Teachings of PJS)

Great Untold Story D&C 6- To Oliver Cowdrey And, behold, I grant unto you a gift, if you desire of me, to translate, even as my servant Joseph. D&C 8 Oliver Cowdery, verily, verily, I say unto you… you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive a knowledge concerning the engravings of old records, which are ancient, which contain those parts of my scripture of which has been spoken by the manifestation of my Spirit. 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. Therefore this is thy gift; apply unto it,

What Happened? D&C 9 Behold, I say unto you, my son, that because you did not translate according to that which you desired of me, and did commence again to write for my servant, Joseph Smith, Jun… …and it is not expedient that you should translate at this present time. Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is 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 that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

The Great Misunderstanding Elder Mark E. Peterson D&C 9: was to given to Oliver Cowdery who was attempting to translate the Book of Mormon. It is not applicable, generally, to the rest of the church. (England Leeds Mission, May, 1976)

Getting answers to prayers: The Question is NOT: -what is a Stupor? -why don’t I feel the The Burning Bosom? -Have I Studied it out enough? The Question Should be: How do I receive personal revelation? What is my Gift?

Elder Dallin H. Oaks I know from experience that some seasoned members of the Church do not know when they are receiving a witness of the Spirit.... Perhaps lifelong members of the Church don't recognize the testimony of the Spirit because they have had it so often they take it for granted. Perhaps they are looking for something startling and different.... I have heard adult members of the Church claim they do not have a testimony because they have never experienced a 'burning in the bosom.' (D&C 9:8.) If I thought this scriptural "burning" only referred to caloric heat, I would have to say that I have never had a burning in the bosom either.... In this usage, it does not seem to refer to heat but rather to an intensity of feeling. For me, the witness of the Holy Ghost is an intense feeling of serenity or well-being.“ ( Teaching, Learning 'by the Spirit', LDS Church News, 1993, 01/02/93 )

President Packer All inspiration does not come from God. The evil one has the power to tap into those channels of revelation and send conflicting signals which can mislead and confuse us. There are promptings from evil sources which are so carefully counterfeited as to deceive even the very elect. (Ensign, November 1989, p. 14) The Holy Ghost Satan Feelings of Joy and Peace Always tells the “natural man” what he wants to hear Emotions such as Excitement, fear

Elder John H. Groberg A young Tongan child, Felila, had been diagnosed as having hydrocephalus. Without help, she would die. Felila's parents, who were Latter-day Saints, went to the district president, who contacted Elder Groberg, the mission president in Tonga at the time. Elder Groberg said that the plight of this child united men and women, member and non- member, American and Tongan in seeking a way for her to be treated at Primary Children's Hospital in Utah. Many sacrifices were made, and all arrangements were settled, but at the very time the goal was to be realized, the little girl died. The faith of many was tried, including the faith of Elder Groberg. He said: "I was left alone, or so it seemed. I moved slowly and heavily down that dusty trail. Why? Why? After all that work and that strong faith of so many and those impressions [of the Spirit], why?" "I was overcome by the Spirit...And I heard a voice... [It said,] "'Come home Felila, my daughter. Come home to the care your loved ones have sought for you...You have finished your mission in life. Hearts have been softened; souls have been stretched; faith has been increased. Come home now, Felila.'" "He knew her! He knew her name. He knew all about her and about all those others. How perfect our Father's love!...In some marvelous way, which is beyond our mortal comprehension, he knows and understands all things.“ Byron R. Merrill, Heavens Are Open: The 1992 Sperry Symposium on the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History ( 1993)