Inspiration
Reading Assignments for the course
REL 480 - Church Organization and Leadership
Prof.  Marcus H. Martins, Ph.D.

Readings:

Elder Dallin H. Oaks 
Three Tests of a True Revelation
The Lord's Way, pp.45-76

There are at least three tests that reason can apply as a threshold check on the authenticity of revelation. True revelation will pass all three of these tests, and spurious revelation (whose source is "of men" or "of devils") will fail at least one of them. 

1. True revelation will edify the recipient. It must therefore be in words that are coherent or in a feeling whose message can be understood by one who is spiritually receptive. ...

2. The content of a true revelation must be consistent with the position and responsibilities of the person who receives it. ... Those selected by the Lord to exercise this gift would "come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before" (D&C 43:7)-- thus excluding the possibility of secret callings or appointments to receive revelation. ... One of the surest evidences of false revelations (those based on mortal authorship or devilish intervention) is that their content, judged according to reason, is communicated through channels other than those the Lord has prescribed for that subject. 

3. True revelation must be consistent with the principles of the gospel as revealed in the scriptures and the teachings of the prophets. The Lord will not give revelations that will contradict the principles of the gospel. His house is a house of order.

Revelations may add to the body of existing gospel knowledge ("line upon line, precept upon precept" - D&C 98:12), guide leaders in the duties of their callings, or assist individual members in applying gospel principles to particular circumstances. ...

The test of edification as a way of screening out spurious and deceptive revelations from Satan was reaffirmed in a succeeding revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith (D&C 52:14-18.)

This revelation also specifies the related tests of prayerfulness, contrite spirit, meek language, compliance with gospel ordinances, and refraining from being physically "overcome." ...

Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Defining a "Burning in the Bosom"
in Joseph Fielding McConkie and Robert L. Millet, The Holy Ghost [1989], 14;
also Elder Dallin H. Oaks, “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 7

What does a “burning in the bosom” mean? Does it need to be a feeling of caloric heat, like the burning produced by combustion? If that is the meaning, I have never had a burning in the bosom. Surely, the word “burning” in this scripture signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity. That is the witness many receive. That is the way revelation works. Truly, the still, small voice is just that, “still” and “small.” “The language of peace, as spoken by the Lord, embraces a sense of quiet confidence, comfort, and warmth. It is gentle and calm, amiable and sweet; it is temperate and kind; it is orderly and identified by happiness, joy, and feelings of love.”

... [We] should recognize that the Lord will speak to us through the Spirit in his own time and in his own way. Many people do not understand this principle. They believe that when they are ready and when it suits their convenience, they can call upon the Lord and he will immediately respond, even in the precise way they have prescribed. Revelation does not come that way.

... In most cases, “his own way” is not the thunderous interruption or the blinding light, but what the scriptures call “the still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12; 1 Nephi 17:45; D&C 85:6). Some have misunderstood this principle. As a result, some have looked exclusively for the great manifestations that are recorded in the scriptures and have failed to recognize the still, small voice that is given to them. This is like making up our minds that we will learn only from a teacher who shouts and that we will refuse to listen to even the wisest teaching when it comes in a whisper.

Some people also may imagine that Church leaders obtain revelation in ways that are fundamentally different from others--receiving direct, immediate, and specific answers, and then going forward easily to lead and do what is required. The true pattern for leaders and for members basically is the same—pressing steadfastly forward with faith in the Lord Jesus Christ--and as one does so, guidance and answers typically come “line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little” (2 Nephi 28:30).

Remember, Nephi went to Jerusalem to obtain the plates of brass not knowing beforehand the things that he should do (see 1 Nephi 4:6). Following the example of Nephi and the leaders of the Church, it is requisite that members face the complex, demanding challenges in the world today, always striving to do their very best. President Hinckley counseled, “If you do your best, it will all work out” (Ensign, October 2000, 73). That is the pattern. Summarized in my own words: “Be good, honor your covenants, keep the commandments, and your steps will be guided, your utterances will be inspired, yet the majority of the time you will not necessarily know in the moment that you are being guided and inspired.”

There are two Comforters spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost, the same as given on the day of Pentecost, and that all Saints receive after faith, repentance, and baptism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge ...

The Spirit of Revelation is in connection with these blessings. 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, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon … and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.

The Prophet Joseph Smith
Revelations Come to Our Spirits
Teachings, p.304

All things whatsoever God in his infinite wisdom has seen fit and proper to reveal to us, while we are dwelling in mortality, in regard to our mortal bodies, are revealed to us in the abstract, and independent of affinity of this mortal tabernacle, but are revealed to our spirits precisely as though we had no bodies at all; and those revelations which will save our spirits will save our bodies.

The Prophet Joseph Smith
Incomplete Revelations
Teachings, p.304

There are three grand secrets lying in this chapter, (2 Peter 1) which no man can dig out, unless by the light of revelation, and which unlock the whole chapter as the things that are written are only hints of things which existed in the prophet's mind, which are not written concerning eternal glory.

The Prophet Joseph Smith
Greater Enjoyments with Gradual Approach to Perfection
Teachings, p.51  January 22, 1834

We consider that God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect; and that the nearer man approaches perfection, the clearer are his views, and the greater his enjoyments, till he has overcome the evils of his life and lost every desire for sin; and like the ancients, arrives at that point of faith where he is wrapped in the power and glory of his Maker and is caught up to dwell with Him. But we consider that this is a station to which no man ever arrived in a moment: he must have been instructed in the government and laws of that kingdom by proper degrees, until his mind is capable in some measure of comprehending the propriety, justice, equality, and consistency of the same.

The Prophet Joseph Smith
Don't Worry When Interpretations are not Given
Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.249

I make this broad declaration, that whenever God gives a vision of an image, or beast, or figure of any kind, he always holds himself responsible to give a revelation or interpretation of the meaning thereof, otherwise we are not responsible or accountable for our belief in it. Don't be afraid of being damned for not knowing the meaning of a vision or figure, if God has not given a revelation or interpretation of the subject.

Elder Richard G. Scott
Proceeding in the Absence of an Answer to Prayer
Conference Report, April 2007, pp.8-11

What do you do when you have prepared carefully, have prayed fervently, waited a reasonable time for a response, and still do not feel an answer? You may want to express thanks when that occurs, for it is an evidence of His trust.

When you are living worthily and your choice is consistent with the Savior’s teachings and you need to act, proceed with trust. ... When you are living righteously and are acting with trust, God will not let you proceed too far without a warning impression if you have made the wrong decision.

Pres. Spencer W. Kimball
Spectacular Manifestations are Exceptions
Conference Report, Munich Germany Area Conference 1973, p. 77

The burning bushes, the smoking mountains, the sheets of four-footed beasts, 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.

Brigham Young
Keep Personal Revelations Personal
Journal of Discourses 4:288

Should you receive a vision or revelation from the Almighty, one that the Lord gave you concerning yourselves, or this people, but which you are not to reveal on account of your not being the proper person, or because it ought not to be known by the people at present, you should shut it up and seal it as close, and lock it as tight as heaven is to you, and make it as secret as the grave. The Lord has no confidence in those who reveal secrets, for he cannot safely reveal himself to such persons.

President Wilford Woodruff
The Ministration of Angels
Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, chapter 24; Deseret Weekly 38:389-390, March 3, 1889

[As] a general thing, angels do not administer to anybody on the earth unless it is to preserve the lives of good men, or to bring the gospel, or perform a work that men cannot do for themselves. We do not particularly need the administration of angels unless we are in a condition similar to that in which Brother Kimball, Brother Smith, and I were placed, when we could not save our lives without them.

Avenues of Revelation

Questions for Review:

1. How often do revelations and powerful spiritual experiences come to us? (Pres. Packer, "The Candle of the Lord")

2. True or False. When we need a blessing or revelation, the number of prayers we offer will determine how fast we will receive the blessing. (Pres. Packer, "The Candle of the Lord")

3. How can a person who does not have a testimony bear a testimony in a meeting? (Pres. Packer, "The Candle of the Lord")

4. What is the ultimate source of knowledge? (Elder Oaks, "Scripture Reading and Revelation")

5. How does revelation impact our study of the scriptures? (Elder Oaks, "Scripture Reading and Revelation")

6. What does the expression "canon of scriptures" mean? (Elder Oaks, "Scripture Reading and Revelation")

7. How can we become receptive to revelations? (Elder Oaks, "Scripture Reading and Revelation")

8. According to Elder Bruce R. McConkie, in what way does the study of the scriptures affect the process of revelation? (Elder Oaks, "Scripture Reading and Revelation")

9. What is the importance of daily scripture study? (Elder Oaks, "Scripture Reading and Revelation")