The church had a series of videos on the subject a while ago, which if I recall boiled down to three ways in which we can see because of how we use the light that is provided to us:
* The light can suddenly be switched on, as when someone flicks the switch on the wall. All is illuminated. This is perhaps the most rare form of revelation, where all is suddenly revealed.
* Revelation dawns gradually like everything slowly coming into view in the rising sun. Moment by moment, we see more and more until at last all is revealed.
* Light partially permeates a thick fog that surrounds us. We cannot see more than a few yards in front of us; we can't see our ultimate destination. But that's okay, because we see what we must: where to put our feet over the next few steps, the direction we need to go in in the near future. If we trust the path, we do not need to see its end in order to follow it.
getbusylivin Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > How does personal revelation work? > > The church had a series of videos on the subject a > while ago, which if I recall boiled down to three > ways in which we can see because of how we use the > light that is provided to us: > > * The light can suddenly be switched on, as when > someone flicks the switch on the wall. All is > illuminated. This is perhaps the most rare form of > revelation, where all is suddenly revealed. > > * Revelation dawns gradually like everything > slowly coming into view in the rising sun. Moment > by moment, we see more and more until at last all > is revealed. > > * Light partially permeates a thick fog that > surrounds us. We cannot see more than a few yards > in front of us; we can't see our ultimate > destination. But that's okay, because we see what > we must: where to put our feet over the next few > steps, the direction we need to go in in the near > future. If we trust the path, we do not need to > see its end in order to follow it.
It may be your golden opportunity to come out of the closet and tell em what you've discovered since growing up about Mormonism. That would be a revelation for the whole dang room! You won't leave a dry eye in the place by the time you get done speaking, and the jaws hitting the floor will be all the buzz.
You'll make quite a sensation with the revelations you leave them with. And then your mission will be accomplished. You will have done a great service on your way to the kangaroo forum, next stop.
If you're not planning your exit strategy just yet, I dunno. Whatever rocks yer boat. I've had personal revelation, but it was non church related.
Good luck. Since you didn't prepare a talk, just share some personal experience of your own if you have any. If you don't, share something from somewhere in your family tree that would be faith promoting.
2. I needed to know if the Book of Mormon was an ancient record.
3. I needed to know if the church is true.
So I went to God in prayer.
I received a personal revelation to ignore what the church says via correlated lesson manuals and ask the one-true-source for hard facts: Google.
I questioned the thought. But, I felt God was inspiring me through personal revelation.
My inquiry led me to find facts. Truths. Knowledge that I could use to answer my questions.
I learned the truth about Joseph Smith (list the items).
I learned the truth about the Book of Mormon (list sources).
I learned the truth about the Church being God's true restoration or a man made religion because Joseph Smith couldn't sell the copyright in Canada of the Book of Mormon as its "author and sole proprietor," or get the same endorsement that was important on the success of the popular 1816 book, "The Late War." Of course, that book has original story lines and language that was used in the Book of Mormon.
After all that I learned from research I realized how important it is to have personal revelation. I'm very thankful that I listened to those sacred promptings from my prayer.
I get a chuckle out of the angst people go through over giving talks in church...somehow thinking its important to have something deep and doctrinal to expound...what they usually fail to realize is no one is listening anyway...the noise of children...the visiting in the back rows..the disrespect for one another is yuuuugggeee...just relate any ridiculous primary lesson from youth...how jesus loves us...the church is twoo...monson is the prophet...our thinking is done...follow the prophet...same pablum thats splashed around forever..how blessed you are to be amember..a couple will give you a garment check after to tell you how much they enjoyed your talk...most will charge outta there just dam glad its over for another week...its just church...it just doesnt matter...hell just spout some silly fable the profits yammer...like widows...or lost keys...if you cant do that in your sleep...you probly werent listening either...gratitude baby...thatll always fly in church
I have a personal testimony that God (or many Gods) designed homo sapien brains with a sense of intelligence. Our intelligence can be used to find out whether or not the church is true despite the warm feelings allegedly given by the Holy Ghost.
My personal testimony, without repeating the same details, is that it was revealed to me through experience that I need to leave Southern California the first chance I get.
I bear this testimony that human intelligence can be used as a true tool of revelation. In the name of your favorite deity, amen.
Google "church sermon" and possibly "personal revelation" and you will probably come up with something. There are all kinds of church sermons posted online. Why reinvent the wheel?
...and highlight some topics to comment on. For instance, you could say "Brother and sisters, I read the church's essay in plural marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo. I read that Joseph Smith plural married the wives of other men. That was a revelation to me."
1. Go to LDS.org. 2. Type in "personal revelation" in the search box. 3. Choose a General Conference address or Ensign article. 4. Print it out and repeat it verbatim.
Done without effort on your part. No one will know or care.
Plan B:
1. Don't do it.
Either (a) stay home and blow it off, or (b) show up and tell them you've changed your mind. What are they going to do, fire you?
If you want to go through with this, be as subtly proactive as possible. Talk about how personal revelation empowers us to be independent. Talk about how we use our own learning and logic to think through things, and the spirit confirms them. Make it along the lines of "God helps those who help themselves".
Modern Mormonism wants to make you as dependent on LDS, Inc. as possible. Previous generations were more about empowerment, but today they want you to suckle from them your entire life. Mormon adults are infantilized, so go back to the good old days of standing up for yourself.
Just start out by saying, "MY topic today is on personal revelation" and then talk on any topic of your choosing. I'm pretty sure nobody will even notice as long as you just talk about any church topic. Just rattle off all your feelings about J.S. B.Y. Tommy Monson, temples, BofM, sabbath day, Yada, Yada. If anyone even notices you aren't talking about revelation they won't care. Just say, "I decided to let personal revelation guide my talk and that's what came out". Guarantee you will get no arguments.
Personal revelation is a sham. I wasted so much of my life waiting for answers that didn't come. Learn to recognize and respect your own feelings for what they are: yours. And take back the right to think and search for answers for yourself.
Take personal responsibilities for the decision that affect your life. There ARE no guarantees that you are making the 'right' decision, but part of growing up includes making your own decisions and taking risks.
Or, if you want to play it safe, just find an old conference talk on personal revelation and read it.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/24/2016 11:42AM by imaworkinonit.