Larry W. Tippets shares from his book, “Receiving Personal Revelation,”
These are trying times. As Jesus prophesied, even the elect may be deceived by many alternate voices whispering (and shouting) in these latter days (see Matthew 24:24). Many who grew up believing in God find themselves challenged by the secular notions prevalent in our society today. Questions seem to be increasing in frequency and intensity: “How can I know for a surety that God lives and that He is a personal, loving God? How can I be certain that God has a plan for my life and that He will guide me and strengthen me to overcome every obstacle? How can I discern the voice of God from many competing voices in my mind and in society? Is my testimony strong enough to withstand the fiery darts of the adversary, which seem to be increasing in volume and intensity? What if the Church is just another man made institution?” To resolve these questions, you must see yourself as capable of receiving personal instruction from your Heavenly Father, the same way the bishop or prophet can.
Through the Light of Christ, God is persistently speaking to each of His children on earth. “The Spirit giveth light to every man that cometh into the world (Doctrine and Covenants 84:46). “For verily the voice of the Lord is unto all men” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:2) President Howard W. Hunter taught: “All men share an inheritance of divine light. God operates among His children in all nations, and those who seek God are entitled to further light and knowledge” (“The Gospel—A Global Faith,” Ensign, November 1991, 19. The challenge for Latter-day Saints and good people of all religious is to recognize His voice which is usually quiet and subtle. Joseph Smith taught: The Lord deals with this people as a tender parent with a child, communicating light and the knowledge of His ways as they can bear it” (History of the Church, vol.5 [Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Publishing, 1967]’ 402).
Consider the following analogy: Air is all around us. To access its benefits, we must simply breathe. We do so without consciously thinking about it. It is one of the automatic systems of the physical body, akin to the beating of our hearts and the digestion of our food. Like air, the Spirit of God is all around us. However, to access its benefits, we must usually open our hearts and minds by a conscious act of will. Over time, as one grows in experience, hearing the voice of God and feeling His influence in our lives can be as natural as breathing. This is what is meant to “walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). ~Larry W. Tippetts, Receiving Personal Revelation, (Covenant Communications, Inc. 2017) p. 7-8)
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