Mormon Musings

So far as the philosophy and wisdom of the world are concerned, they mean nothing unless they conform to the revealed word of God.  Any doctrine, whether it comes in the name of religion, science, philosophy, or whatever it may be, if it is in conflict with the revealed word of the Lord, will fail.  It may appear plausible.  It may be put before you in language that appeals and which you may not be able to answer.  It may appear to be established by evidence that you cannot controvert, but all you need to do is to abide your time.  Time will level all things.  You will find that every doctrine, every principle, no matter how universally believed, if not in accord with the divine word of the Lord to his servants, will perish.  Nor is it necessary for us to stretch the word of the Lord, in a vain attempt to make it conform to these theories and teachings.  The word of the Lord shall not pass away unfulfilled, but these false doctrines and theories will all fail.  Truth, and only truth, w

President Joseph F. Smith explained how [the] pattern of revelation occurred in his life: “As a boy … I would frequently … ask the Lord to show me some marvelous thing, in order that I might receive a testimony. But the Lord withheld marvels from me, and showed me the truth, line upon line … , until He made me to know the truth from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and until doubt and fear had been absolutely purged from me. He did not have to send an angel from the heavens to do this, nor did He have to speak with the trump of an archangel. By the whisperings of the still small voice of the spirit of the living God, He gave to me the testimony I possess. And by this principle and power He will give to all the children of men a knowledge of the truth that will stay with them, and it will make them to know the truth, as God knows it, and to do the will of the Father as  Christ  does it. And no amount of marvelous manifestations will ever accomplish this” (in Conference Rep

...one cannot "call down" the Spirit as some are prone to say.  We can create an appropriate environment for the Holy Ghost to instruct us.  Spiritual communication cannot be forced.  We must qualify ourselves and be ready to receive the Lord's guidance and direction when He determines to provide it.  No matter how urgent our personal timetable, the Lord responds according to His will. Richard G. Scott, address to religious educators, given at BYU August 11, 1998

http://jdquotes.wordpress.com/2011/09/14/revelation-from-the-almighty/

"From your study of Church history, you will all know something of the experience the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brethren had while imprisoned in [Liberty Jail] during the winter of 1838–39. This was a terribly difficult time in our history for the Church generally and certainly for the Prophet Joseph himself, who bore the brunt of the persecution in that period. Indeed, I daresay that until his martyrdom five and a half years later, there was no more burdensome time in Joseph's life than this cruel, illegal, and unjustified incarceration in Liberty Jail. . . . "Most of us, most of the time, speak of the facility at Liberty as a 'jail' or a 'prison'—and certainly it was that. But Elder Brigham H. Roberts, in recording the history of the Church, spoke of the facility as a temple, or, more accurately, a 'prison-temple.' . . . "But tonight's message is that when you have to, you can have sacred, revelatory, profoundly instructive experienc

Both the history of the Church and our personal lives are replete with examples of the Lord’s pattern for receiving revelation “line upon line, precept upon precept.” For example, the fundamental truths of the restored gospel were not delivered to the Prophet Joseph Smith all at once in the Sacred Grove. These priceless treasures were revealed as circumstances warranted and as the timing was right. President Joseph F. Smith explained how this pattern of revelation occurred in his life: “As a boy … I would frequently … ask the Lord to show me some marvelous thing, in order that I might receive a testimony. But the Lord withheld marvels from me, and showed me the truth, line upon line … , until He made me to know the truth from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and until doubt and fear had been absolutely purged from me. He did not have to send an angel from the heavens to do this, nor did He have to speak with the trump of an archangel. By the whisperings of the still smal

http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng

There is one principle that I do wish the people would observe, that is, do not ask God to give you knowledge, when you are confident that you will not keep and rightly improve upon that knowledge...Do not ask for revelations to dictate you in this, or the other, unless you are sure that you can obey them.  Do not suffer yourselves to falter in your faith, and to say that the door of revelation is closed, for I tell you that there are now too many for your good, unless you hearken more diligently than you have hereto, unless you apply more closely in your lives what is revealed and live your religion more faithfully. Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 3:338

http://lds.org/general-conference/2005/04/the-tender-mercies-of-the-lord?lang=eng&query=tender+mercies

http://lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/to-acquire-spiritual-guidance?lang=eng

If we do not enjoy the Spirit of the Lord, there are reasons that we ourselves can assign for the absence of that Spirit.  The practice of the Saints, if good, will always bring the Spirit of the Lord, and keep that Spirit with them day to day.  I am aware that the Spirit is grieved with different individuals for different causes; some do not attend to their prayers in the season thereof, they do not attend to their duties of the present moment, they do not concentrate their feelings, but allow their minds to wander like the fools' eyes to the four winds of heaven, hence they are left to grope for themselves as the blind for the wall.  But those who live up to their duties, the duties of the present hour, and always make those duties the primary duties of life, live in the light of the Lord, and walk in the path laid down by the Savior of the world; they are never in the dark, for the light of the Lord is shining upon them.  Jedediah M. Grant, Conference at Provo, July 13, 1855,

…whenever I have had anything that was great or important to accomplish, I have been impressed with my own weakness and inability to perform the task imposed upon me, and that of myself I was as nothing, only as I trusted in God, and under these circumstances I was certain to speak by the power and influence of the Holy Ghost.   When I have trusted in books, or in my own acquirements that I had gleaned from reading the productions of different authors…I was sure to be foiled in my attempt, for all would leave me.   But when I have trusted in the Lord, and relied upon Him for strength, it has come out right. Jedediah M. Grant, May 30, 1855, Journal of Discourses 3:11 Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say.   But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare wh

“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 or you 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.” Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young , pp. 40-41 “If we draw near to him, he will draw near to us; if we seek his early, we shall find him; if we apply our minds faithfully and diligently day by day, to know and understand the mind and will of God, it is as easy as, yes, I will say easier than it is to know the mind of each other.” Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young , p. 42 “No earthly argument, no earthly reasoning can open the minds of intelligent beings and shown them he