Answers to your 7 biggest questions about personal revelation

President Henry B. Eyring discussed this question on a broadcast in 2017:

“I have found that I do best in discerning that it’s not just my want when, in fact, I feel a feeling of peace.

“When the Savior said, ‘My peace I give ... you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you,’ I’m sure that had many meanings. But for me, ... when I’m wrestling with something and I go to the scriptures, ... or I hear ... one of the Lord’s anointed talking, if I hear it and I get a feeling—not just ‘it’s true,’ but a sweet feeling of peace. ... And if that’s not there, then it’s probably something else. ...

“The question was, how do you know whether it’s your opinion or not? ... I’ll feel better if I feel it’s consistent with loving the Savior and loving the Savior’s prophets. And if it doesn’t fit there, I’d say, well, be careful, because that could be just your own thinking, not what God’s trying to tell you.”

Elder David A. Bednar offered this perspective during an Instagram live in June 2024:

“This question suggests there is a prompting. ‘I had a prompting, and it didn’t work out.’ Very rarely does one prompting bring an answer.

“There’s almost always a sequence, ‘line upon line, precept upon precept’ (2 Nephi 28:30). So, to have just one spiritual indication is not the whole story. ...

“If a young man and a young woman are dating, [it is] possible that the impression could be, ‘Date this person.’ And you come to the [conclusion], ‘Ah this is the one.’ But it doesn’t work out.

“Well, maybe your conclusion was wrong. Maybe it wasn’t, ‘This is the one.’ Maybe it was, ‘Date this person, learn some things that will help you as you either develop this relationship or a relationship with somebody else.’ ...

“We would be foolish to ever stop trusting [God]. He’s not the problem. We may give ourselves our own promptings and somehow think it came from God, [and] we mix our emotions with an impression from God.”

In his April 2018 general conference talk, President Russell M. Nelson said, “To be sure, there may be times when you feel as though the heavens are closed. But I promise that as you continue to be obedient, expressing gratitude for every blessing the Lord gives you, and as you patiently honor the Lord’s timetable, you will be given the knowledge and understanding you seek. Every blessing the Lord has for you—even miracles—will follow. That is what personal revelation will do for you.”

Doctrine and Covenants 9:7–8 suggests that receiving revelation requires more than simply asking God a question:

“Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me.

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.

“But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.”

Elder Karl D. Hirst shared this perspective in his October 2024 general conference talk:

“So if God’s love does not leave us, why don’t we always feel it? Just to manage your expectations: I don’t know. But being loved is definitely not the same as feeling loved. ...

“Birdsong, feeling the sun or a breeze or rain on my skin, and times when nature puts my senses in awe of God—each has had a part in providing me with heavenly connection. Perhaps the comfort of faithful friends will help. Maybe music? Or serving? Have you kept a record or journal of times when your connection with God was clearer to you? Perhaps you could invite those you trust to share their sources of divine connection with you as you search for relief and understanding.”

In his April 2018 general conference talk, President Nelson counseled, “Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will ‘grow into the principle of revelation.’ Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! ...

“Nothing opens the heavens quite like the combination of increased purity, exact obedience, earnest seeking, daily feasting on the words of Christ in the Book of Mormon, and regular time committed to temple and family history work.”

Chapter 4 of Preach My Gospel reads, “Having the guidance of the Holy Ghost in your life requires spiritual work. This work includes fervent prayer and consistent scripture study. It also includes keeping your covenants and God’s commandments. … It includes worthily partaking of the sacrament each week.”

In his October 2022 general conference talk, Elder Dale G. Renlund shared, “We receive personal revelation only within our purview and not within the prerogative of others. In other words, we take off and land in our appointed runway.”

In his book The Spirit of Revelation, David A. Bednar writes, “I would suggest a simple answer—because God trusts us and wants us to grow. As covenant-making and covenant-keeping members of His restored Church, we should not expect or need Him to dramatically shake us to get our attention.”

In his October 2022 general conference talk, Elder Renlund said, “If God has answered a question and the circumstances have not changed, why would we expect the answer to be different? ...

“If we have received personal revelation for our situation and the circumstances have not changed, God has already answered our question. For example, we sometimes ask repeatedly for reassurance that we have been forgiven. If we have repented, been filled with joy and peace of conscience, and received a remission of our sins, we do not need to ask again but can trust the answer God has already given.

“Even as we trust God’s prior answers, we need to be open to further personal revelation. After all, few of life’s destinations are reached via a nonstop flight. We should recognize that personal revelation may be received ‘line upon line’ and ‘precept upon precept,’ that revealed direction can be and frequently is incremental.”