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Lesson 10
Prayer and Revelation
See also
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1. Cover page |
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Prayer and Revelation
Background and Student Reading
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 Boyd K Packer
'The Candle of the Lord', Ensign, Jan. 1983, 51-56
 Richard G Scott
'How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life', Ensign or Liahona, May 2012, 45-47
 David A Bednar
'The Spirit of Revelation', Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 87-90
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 1 Nephi 10:17-19; 15:1-3, 7-11; 18:1-3 • 2 Nephi 28:30; 32:8-9 • Jacob 4:6 • Alma 12:9-11; 26:22 • 3 Nephi 14:7-11
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Elevated Learning
As you go through this institute lesson make notes in your study journal of the things that impress on your mind and heart and expand your personal understanding. Take the time to review these notes and share with others after the lesson. This is an important part of your elevated learning experience and will help the gospel of Jesus Christ get down into your heart and contribute to your successful graduation of this institute course.
2. Communicating with Heavenly Father |
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How can we communicate with others?
Questions
Why do we sometimes find it difficult to communicate with Heavenly Father?
3. Heavenly Father answers prayers |
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Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask bread, will give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Jesus Christ
3 Nephi 14:7-11
Questions
What did Jesus teach about Heavenly Father's willingness to answer prayers?
4. Any time, any place |
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No earthly authority can separate us from direct access to our Creator. There can never be a mechanical or electronic failure when we pray. There is no limit on the number of times or how long we can pray each day. There is no quota of how many needs we wish to pray for in each prayer. We do not need to go through secretaries or make an appointment to reach the throne of grace. He is reachable at any time and any place.
James E Faust
"The Lifeline of Prayer," Ensign, May 2002, 59
Questions
What could you say to people who don't pray because they do not believe God hears or answers prayers?
5. Consecrate your efforts |
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And now, my beloved brethren, I perceive that ye ponder still in your hearts; and it grieveth me that I must speak concerning this thing. For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray. But behold, I say unto you that ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.
Nephi
2 Nephi 32:8-9
Questions
What does it mean to pray always?
Who have you seen be blessed for doing this?
What does it mean that the Lord will consecrate your efforts for the welfare of your soul?
6. To this who diligently seek |
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I, Nephi, was desirous also that I might see, and hear, and know of these things, by the power of the Holy Ghost, which is the gift of God unto all those who diligently seek him, as well in times of old as in the time that he should manifest himself unto the children of men. ...and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Nephi
1 Nephi 10:17-19
Questions
What do these verses teach about personal revelation?
7. The spirit of revelation |
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The spirit of revelation is not restricted to the presiding authorities of the Church; rather, it belongs to and should be operative in the life of every man, woman, and child who reaches the age of accountability and enters into sacred covenants. Sincere desire and worthiness invite the spirit of revelation into our lives?
David A Bednar
"The Spirit of Revelation," Ensign or Liahona, May 2011, 87
Questions
Why is this insight from Elder Bednar encouraging to you?
8. Two different approaches |
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1 Nephi 11-14
Nephi is shown the vision of the Tree of Life
1 Nephi 15:1-3, 7-9
Laman and Lemuel's response to their father's vision
Nephi
1 Nephi 11-14
1 Nephi 15:1-3, 7-9
Questions
How was Laman and Lemuel's response different to that of Nephi?
What important truths stand out in there verses?
9. If this, then that |
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1 Nephi 15:10-11
If _____________, then _____________.
Cross-reference Alma 26:22
Nephi
1 Nephi 15:10-11
Alma 26:22
Questions
How can we use these scriptures to teach others how to seek answers to prayers?
10. We search the prophets |
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Wherefore, we search the prophets, and we have many revelations and the spirit of prophecy; and having all these witnesses we obtain a hope, and our faith becometh unshaken, insomuch that we truly can command in the name of Jesus and the very trees obey us, or the mountains, or the waves of the sea.
Jacob
Jacob 4:6
Questions
What did Jacob's people do to invite revelation?
How do the words of old and new prophets help lead us to receive revelation?
11. New eyes and new ears |
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When we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline.
Robert D Hales
"Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation," Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 26-67
Questions
How can we return with 'new eyes and new ears' to the scriptures?
How can we turn to the scriptures for answers to personal challenges today?
12. God gives personal revelation |
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1 Nephi 4:6
1 Nephi 8:2
Jacob 7:5
Enos 1:10
Helaman 13:5
3 Nephi 11:3
Questions
In what ways does the Lord give personal revelation?
13. The Spirit whispers |
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The Spirit does not get our attention by shouting or shaking us with a heavy hand. Rather it whispers. It caresses so gently that if we are preoccupied we may not feel it at all.
Occasionally it will press just firmly enough for us to pay heed. But most of the time, if we do not heed the gentle feeling, the Spirit will withdraw and wait until we come seeking and listening and say in our manner and expression, like Samuel of ancient times, 'Speak Lord, for thy servant heareth.'
Boyd K Packer
"The Candle of the Lord'" Ensign, Jan. 1983, 53
Questions
What conditions help us recognise the promptings from the Spirit?
14. Quiet moments |
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His answers will seldom come while you are on your knees praying, even when you may plead for an immediate response. Rather, He will prompt you in quiet moments when the Spirit can most effectively touch your mind and heart. Hence, you should find periods of quiet time to recognize when you are being instructed and strengthened.
Richard G Scott
"Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer," Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 9
Questions
When has the Spirit prompted you in 'quiet moments?'
15. Increased personal revelation |
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Compare Nephi 28:30 and Alma 12:9-11
What do we learn about how to receive increased personal revelation?
Alma
2 Nephi 28:30, Alma 12:9-11
Questions
Why does the Lord require us to be obedient to what he has already revealed before he reveals more?
What does it mean, 'line upon line?'
16. Nephi builds a ship |
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 And we did work timbers of curious workmanship. And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men, neither did I build the ship after the manner of men; but I did build it after the manner which the Lord had shown unto me; wherefore, it was not after the manner of men. And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.
Nephi
1 Nephi 18:1-3
Questions
How did Nephi receive the revelation to build a ship?
17. As the dews from heaven |
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Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation. Such communications from Heavenly Father gradually and gently 'distil upon our souls as the dews from heaven' (D&C 121:45). This pattern of revelation tends to be more common than rare.
David A Bednar
"The Spirit of Revelation," 88
Questions
How has the Lord directed your life in this way?
18. Pray always |
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If any of us has been slow to hearken to the counsel to pray always, there is no finer hour to begin than now. William Cowper declared, 'Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees.'
Thomas S Monson
"A Royal Priesthood," Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2007, 61
Questions
(What effort are we currently giving to prayer?)
The Tricycle of Life |
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Teachings and Doctrine of the Book of Mormon
