From a previous post, Express Gratitude II, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (deceased) wrote:
You can learn vitally important things by what you hear and see and, even more so, by what you feel, as prompted by the Holy Ghost. Many individuals limit their learning primarily by what they hear or what they read. Be wise. Develop the skill of learning by what you see and particularly by what the Holy Ghost prompts you to feel, and your capacity to do so will expand through repeated practice. Significant faith and effort are required to consistently learn by what you see and feel. Ask in faith for such help. Live to be worthy of it. Seek to recognize it. I suggest that you conscientiously practice this principle as you read the remainder of this book. (Now continuing. . . )
Write down in a secure place the important things you learn from the Spirit. You will find that when you record precious impressions, often more will come. Also, the spiritual knowledge you gain will be available throughout your life. Always, day and night, wherever you are and whatever you are doing, seek to recognize and respond to the direction of the Spirit. Have available a card or a piece of paper to record such guidance.
Express gratitude for the help received and obey it. This practice will reinforce your capacity to learn from the Spirit. It will permit the Lord to guide your life and to enrich the use of every other capacity latent in you being.
Powerful spiritual direction in your life can be overcome or forced into the background unless you provide a way to retain it. Brigham Young declared, “If you love the truth you can remember it.”60 Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to how you treasure it. That practice enhances the likelihood of your receiving further light. I put brackets around recorded spiritual impressions to remember their origin.These notes are transferred to a safe place where their sacred nature can be preserved.
Joseph Smith taught the Twelve the importance of recording spiritual direction: “Perhaps, for neglecting to write these things [spiritual guidance] when God had revealed them, not esteeming them of sufficient worth, The Spirit may withdraw and God may be angry; . . . a vast knowledge of infinite importance, . . . is now lost.”61
That advice is meticulously followed in the leading counsels of the Church. You will be blessed as you heed it in your own private life.
~Richard G. Scott, Finding Peace, Happiness, and Joy (Salt Lake City, Deseret Book, 2007) 87-88 For the first post of these three, click. . . . ‘Express Gratitude’.
