Revelation

This last weekend was a marvelous experience.  We as a world had the opportunity to watch General Conference.  We, at this time, are able to watch the 12 Apostles and the First Presidency speak.  There are others that speak as well, but what an amazing gift it is to be able to listen to these men speak to us and address the concerns that our Heavenly Father feels are important for us to hear.  There were many talks that really stuck out to me, but one that I particularly loved was a talk entitled: The Spirit of Revelation.  This talk was given by Elder David A. Bednar (quorum of the twelve apostles).  He speaks of some experiences that most, if not all of us have had with light.  He says, " I invite you to consider two experiences most of us have had with light.

"The first experience occurred as we entered a dark room and turned on a light switch. Remember how in an instant a bright flood of illumination filled the room and caused the darkness to disappear. What previously had been unseen and uncertain became clear and recognizable. This experience was characterized by immediate and intense recognition of light.

"The second experience took place as we watched night turn into morning. Do you recall the slow and almost imperceptible increase in light on the horizon? In contrast to turning on a light in a dark room, the light from the rising sun did not immediately burst forth. Rather, gradually and steadily the intensity of the light increased, and the darkness of night was replaced by the radiance of morning. Eventually, the sun did dawn over the skyline. But the visual evidence of the sun’s impending arrival was apparent hours before the sun actually appeared over the horizon. This experience was characterized by subtle and gradual discernment of light.

"From these two ordinary experiences with light, we can learn much about the spirit of revelation.

I pray the Holy Ghost will inspire and instruct us as we now focus upon the spirit of revelation and basic patterns whereby revelation is received."

Some of you may be wondering what revelation is.  No problem, let's take a minute and briefly define it:  Revelation is communication from God to us, his children.  It usually comes through the Holy Ghost.  It may come as thoughts, as feelings, or many other ways. 

Elder Bednar then says, "Some revelations are received immediately and intensely; some are recognized gradually and subtly."  I love this statement.  It makes so much sense to me! 

Joseph Smith's first vision, when he saw God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ  and was told that none of the churches were completely correct at that time, was an experience like turning a light switch on in a dark room.  I, personally, have never had an experience like that, but I have received personal revelation.  My experiences have been much more like the second experience.  I have had gradual, subtle experiences that have helped me to come to a knowledge of what my Heavenly Father would have me do.  Whatever case we have, God is speaking to US!  How mind boggling is it to think that we are of enough worth and value that Heavenly Father will take the time to answer our prayers and address our individual concerns.  Now, another note is that just because one time we have an experience like turning on a light bulb, this doesn't mean that we will continue to have experiences like this.  Joseph Smith later had gradual, subtle answers where he was taught "line upon line, precept upon precept."  We must constantly be listening for the promptings of the Holy Ghost in our own life.  We must be pondering on the things that our Heavenly Father would have us do.  Revelation doesn't always come right away, sometimes it takes time for us to prepare ourselves.  Don't give up!  Heavenly Father always answers our prayers, sometimes not exactly how we want them to be answered, but he answers them!  Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants to communicate with us through revelation.  Allow him to speak to you!

Temple

I have been thinking a lot about the temple this week!  Maybe it's because I'm not near a temple that I can see everyday like I was growing up.  I miss seeing the beautiful temple in Cache Valley.  We are so blessed to have a temple right there for us.  As I think about the temple a primary song comes to mind.  The song that comes to mind is I Love to See the Temple.  The song goes like this:

I love to see the temple. I'm going there someday To feel the Holy Spirit, To listen and to pray.

For the temple is a house of God, A place of love and beauty. I'll prepare myself while I am young; This is my sacred duty.

I love to see the temple. I'll go inside someday. I'll cov'nant with my Father; I'll promise to obey.
For the temple is a holy place Where we are sealed together. As a child of God, I've learned this truth; A fam'ly is forever.

Many people wonder why the temple is secret.  My response to this question is that it's not!  It's a sacred thing.  It's something that God has given to us and we don't want it to be mocked or misused.  We make certain promises when we go to the temple and that's why we must have a recommend.  It's for our safety.  It's not keep anyone out of the temple or to make it a mysterious place, but to keep it holy.  Just as this song says the temple truly is the house of God!

This song says, I'll prepare myself while I am young, but IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO PREPARE!!!  How can we prepare?  We can prepare by doing the simple things!  We can go to church on Sundays, partake of the sacrament, read our scriptures, read the church magazines, pay our tithing, fast, listen to conference (which is coming up so soon :) ), and live up to our baptismal covenants that we have made or will make!  We can truly strive to live as Christ lived and as he would have us each live.  One way to know how he would have us live in our world today is by heeding the councel of our modern day Prophet, his Councelors, and the Apostles.