From Larry W. Tippetts book ‘Receiving Personal Revelation’:
“From My Journal—Nephi’s Psalm”
“I return repeatedly in my teaching and my pondering to 2 Nephi 4:15-35, often referred to as Nephi’s Psalm,’ wherein he writes his way out of his despondency and discouragement. I have found the discipline of writing to be helpful in working through my own emotional and spiritual down times. Nephi seems to be reasoning with himself as he prays and writes—a most beneficial combination. Writing calms my mind and enables me to marshal my best efforts to resolve the source of my mental/emotional/spiritual confusion.” (February 11, 1999)
Many years ago in the midst of a difficult situation, I turned to my journal. After describing the circumstances along with an account of my low state of mind, I continued to write. Eventually, I reached a point where I could write the following: “I feel much better now. I’m not sure how it happened, but as I wrote I finally felt the comforting reassurance of the Holy Ghost. Once I feel this divine influence, it changes everything. I see the problem much more clearly, and I sense what I can do within myself to improve the situation. Light has returned to my heart and mind, and I feel ready to go forward again with faith” (November 1, 2000).
“From My Journal—Having the Mind of Christ or Seeing Eternity
“I listened to ‘On a Clear Day You Can See Forever,’ by the Tabernacle Choir. A truer statement was never sung. On a clear day I see through the mind of Christ, like Paul (1 Cor. 2:16). Unfortunately, not all days are clear, and when they are not, I see only through my mortal eyes. I have felt a passion to understand how one can recognize when they are no longer walking in the light, and more importantly, change one’s emotional state from darkness to light. When I am feeling low, for whatever reason, it is not easy to think clearly. The very nature of sadness, pessimism or comparable moods hampers my ability to properly assess my circumstances and throws a cloak of darkness over my rational processes.
“One of the fundamental variables for seeing my life accurately is the degree I have the Spirit with me. Could this be the most important blessing associated with having the gift of the Holy Ghost? When I have the Spirit with me, I feel hopeful, full of faith, and kindly towards others. In a word, I feel good. When I am feeling low I need to ask myself what I can do to restore the Spirit into my life. In an unhealthy mood, I may forget to do those things that bring the Spirit, or may discount the effectiveness of such actions or attitudes. I think to myself, ‘Maybe it would help if I ponder the scriptures or pray,’ but in that low mood I sometimes think that those things would make little difference, so I ignore those thoughts and continue to wallow in darkness. Writing in my journal has helped me to regain the Spirit in my life (along with a little bit of help from the Tabernacle Choir). (March 15,2009) ~Larry W. Tippetts, Receiving Personal Revelation (American Fork, Utah, Covenant Communications, 2017), 140-141
