The following is from Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (deceased). Powerful principles that follow are from his book, “Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy” and will be shared in three (perhaps more) posts. He wrote:
“When I first received Church assignments that involved training others, I shared personal experiences I thought would have some application to them. This was done with great sincerity and a desire to help. As the years have passed, I find that I am now much less moved to try to help people with things that I have learned. Rather, I am powerfully motivated to share with them how the lessons are learned. While I have acquired many things from others that have deeply touched and molded my life, I have come to recognize that the guidance, understanding, enlightenment, and experiences I treasure most have come directly from the Lord through the Holy Spirit.
As you seek spiritual guidance, search for principles. Carefully separate them from the detail used to explain them. Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances. A true principle makes decisions clear even under the most confusing or compelling circumstances. It is worth great effort to organize truth we gather into simple statements of principle. One of the best ways to do that is to combine the applicable content of scriptures from various sources. By doing so you can crystallize an important statement of principle that does not exist in any single place.
(Elder Scott continued:) “In preparing this chapter I wanted to develop a simple statement of principle concerning how to obtain spiritual guidance. I analyzed several scriptures to provide the necessary doctrinal foundation. Some of the scriptures that I considered helpful are included below. I have emphasized some words to help you more easily identify the doctrinal origin of the statement of principle I was seeking.
“Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance. (Alma 26:22)
“Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am. (Doctrine and Covenants 93:1)
“The words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart. . . . I kneeled down before my Maker and I cried unto him in mighty prayer. . . ; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yea, and when the night came I did still raise my voice. . . . There came a voice. . . .My guilt was swept away. And I said: Lord, how is it done? And he said unto me: Because of thy faith in Christ, . . . thy faith hath made thee whole. (Enos 1:3-8)
“Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. (3 Nephi 14:7-8)
“I will visit thy brethren according to their diligence in keeping my commandments. (Enos 1:10)
“The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. (Psalm 25:9)
“If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know. . . that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal. (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61)
“For they that are wise have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived . . . shall abide the day. (Doctrine and Covenants 45:57)
“They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation. (Alma 17:2-3)
“And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. (Doctrine & Covenants 88:67)
“Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit. (Alma 5:46)
“And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ. (Ether 4:7)
~Richard G. Scott, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy (Deseret Book, 2007), 59-62
continued. . .
