"Now that they're home what'll I do?" It was a brief thought crossing my mind as Emma returned from her mission. Of course there were a lot of other blissfully joyful feelings too - I love that girl like crazy! But, for a total of three and a half years I'd nurtured the habit of these weekly emails. I'd carved out a great niche for myself too - one that I not only really enjoyed, but it was also really beneficial to me also. I found that I learned better when I'd write things out. Not the lone and perhaps not the most altruistic reason for writing emails - it was nevertheless a pleasant side benefit I'd noticed. Deana would write each week with the update on happenings at home, and I got to write the spiritual thought as it were. That was my niche, and something about it, whether it was the longer time it took to write - or the elevated status a thought claims when care enough is given to it to write about it - there always seemed to be additional revelation that came to be added to garnish the initial thoughts often times attaching scriptures and prophetic quotes to the things I'd been thinking. Elder Richard G. Scott reported an incremental revelatory experience of His own once in General Conference. He said:
"One Sunday I attended the priesthood meeting of a Spanish branch in Mexico City. I vividly recall how a humble Mexican priesthood leader struggled to communicate the truths of the gospel in his lesson material. I noted the intense desire he had to share those principles he strongly valued with his quorum members. He recognized that they were of great worth to the brethren present. In his manner there was an evidence of a pure love of the Savior and love of those he taught.
"His sincerity, purity of intent, and love permitted a spiritual strength to envelop the room. I was deeply touched. Then I began to receive personal impressions as an extension of the principles taught by that humble instructor. They were personal and related to my assignments in the area. They came in answer to my prolonged, prayerful efforts to learn.
"As each impression came, I carefully wrote it down. In the process, I was given precious truths that I greatly needed in order to be a more effective servant of the Lord. The details of the communication are sacred and, like a patriarchal blessing, were for my individual benefit. I was given specific directions, instructions, and conditioned promises that have beneficially altered the course of my life.
"Subsequently, I visited the Sunday School class in our ward, where a very well-educated teacher presented his lesson. That experience was in striking contrast to the one enjoyed in the priesthood meeting. It seemed to me that the instructor had purposely chosen obscure references and unusual examples to illustrate the principles of the lesson. I had the distinct impression that this instructor was using the teaching opportunity to impress the class with his vast store of knowledge. At any rate, he certainly did not seem as intent on communicating principles as had the humble priesthood leader.
"In that environment, strong impressions began to flow to me again. I wrote them down. The message included specific counsel on how to become more effective as an instrument in the hands of the Lord. I received such an outpouring of impressions that were so personal that I felt it was not appropriate to record them in the midst of a Sunday School class. I sought a more private location, where I continued to write the feelings that flooded into my mind and heart as faithfully as possible. After each powerful impression was recorded, I pondered the feelings I had received to determine if I had accurately expressed them in writing. As a result, I made a few minor changes to what had been written. Then I studied their meaning and application in my own life.
"Subsequently I prayed, reviewing with the Lord what I thought I had been taught by the Spirit. When a feeling of peace came, I thanked Him for the guidance given. I was then impressed to ask, 'Is there yet more to be given?' I received further impressions, and the process of writing down the impressions, pondering, and praying for confirmation was repeated. Again I was prompted to ask, 'Is there more I should know?' And there was. When that last, most sacred experience was concluded, I had received some of the most precious, specific, personal direction one could hope to obtain in this life. Had I not responded to the first impressions and recorded them, I would not have received the last, most precious guidance.
"What I have described is not an isolated experience" ("To Acquire Spiritual Guidance," October 2009).
Among the lessons that could be drawn from his experience is the aid carefully recording revelation is to the process of receiving and understanding the Lord's mind and will. What might he have missed had he decided either not to write - or not to ask? Kind of like a personal interview with God, Elder Scott had taken advantage of the moment and shown true appreciation for what he'd received.
This might be the place for that opportunity now for me - not all of it, because some things may be private - but this blog will at least serve as a replacement to my missionary emails for now. I wonder -- was it that way with the prophets of old also as they carefully transcribed the truths God would teach them?
In an age of the world when it is so very important to be growing in the spirit of revelation, I am more than grateful for the way a loving Heavenly Father has beckoned me to these conversations through writing. President Dallin H. Oaks, in a recent BYU devotional, quoted President Nelson's oft repeated prophecy saying:
"I feel to emphasize the warning President Russell M. Nelson issued us: that 'in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.' One of the many reasons you will need the constant influence of the Holy Ghost is that you live in a season in which the adversary has become so effective at disguising truth that if you don’t have the Holy Ghost, you will be deceived. Many obstacles lie ahead. The distractions will be many" ("Coming Closer to Jesus Christ," February 10, 2026).
Prophets quoting prophets -- must be important! That we all may survive, thrive, and avoid the deception characteristic of our day because of the patterns we have cultivated to hear, recognize, and give heed to the loving guiding words of our loving Father in Heaven.
