The Web of Revelation
A young Saint’s basic model of revelation looks like a circle between a person and God. Prayers go up, answers come down. The answers will be from the Holy Ghost if its a question, or simply blessings if the prayer is a request.
This is a good model of revelation to have.
A Saint who pays attention in Church will develop a fuller model of revelation.
They still pray but also realize they need to be “studying it out in their mind” with the help of the scriptures and also proposing solutions to the Lord. They also realize that some of their answers will come through the Holy Ghost, or through dreams, or visions. But they also realize some answers will come through the prophets and apostles, the current ones and the former ones whose answers got written down into scripture, and who are engaging the Lord the same way they are.
This is a good model.
We can add to it.
Let’s add to the bottom. It’s not just a Person. We belong to groups that can and should get guidance as a body. Marriages, Quorums, Wards, Families, Extended Families, Businesses, Associations, Friendships, Partnerships, Affiliations, Mannerbunds.
The doctrine of counseling together is an aspect of this part of the model.
This is a good add to the model.
Let’s add more to the top.
We are all aware that the great God of the universe condescends to listen to us and hear us out. We are aware that He wants us to propose solutions and explain facts even though He already knows them. But our approach to the Church is much more passive. We sometimes just assume that those who are in authority do not need anything from us, ours just to obey. Not so.
We should also be asking our leaders and giving them information and possible solutions.
This is also a good add to the model.
Now lets take another look at the personal level. We grow in wisdom directly from the people around us that we commit to. We have feedback loops that bring us closer to the TRUTH the WAY and the LIFE, line upon line, precept upon precept. These feedback loops are our Experience especially if we Experiment. Our Health. Beauty. Nature. Joy. Friendship. Reading. Discussion. Education. The Examples of others. Art, Poetry, Music. Our overlapping and multiple Identities. Thinking. Taking on Responsibilities and trying to execute Goals. Fatherhood and Motherhood. Church Callings.
This is a good add.
We could also add angels, the spirits of our ancestors, and the mighty dead to the mix.
If your implicit model of revelation isn’t as complicated as a conspiracy theorist’s bulletin board, and just as exciting to you, you are missing out.
JRL in AZ
April 16, 2021
Excellent thoughts. Recent training and experience has taught me that revelation comes more frequently and easily as I/we counsel together about how to best bless others. Elder Cook just recently mentioned in the Church News podcast that he receives revelation most often when trying to figure out how to help someone else. And in my calling, I am usually stuck looking for answers until I counsel with my quorum members and counselors. Even if none of us knows the answer, the Lord often provides the answer as we counsel together in love. The Spirit guides our thoughts and gives us answers.
Also, about keeping our leaders apprised of needs and possible solutions – I find it very instructive that both the Relief Society and the Primary began as efforts by women to address things within their stewardship. Perhaps the same kind of thing will emerge as thousands of leaders and parents try to figure out how to make the Children and Youth initiative work in practice.
And I think it is so important to teach our children about how revelation works. Otherwise, they will be disappointed and possibly disillusioned as they seek revelation for themselves.
Wm Jas Tychonievich
April 16, 2021
Curious as to why it says “Christ” at the top, when the usual LDS model is that we pray to the Father and receive answers from the Holy Ghost.
Wm Jas Tychonievich
April 16, 2021
Also, shouldn’t there be something analogous to “pray, propose solutions” going from the person to the bishop as well?
Bookslinger
April 16, 2021
WJT: Christ speaks through the Holy Ghost. Or as Moroni wrote, the Holy Ghost speaks the words of Christ. And Christ also speaks with “divine investiture” which I think was coined by Talmage. In the N.T., He said He speaks only the words that He heard/received from the Father.
I don’t know if that makes sense to anyone else, but when I got around to linking that passage in Moroni, to that other passage in the NT, it finally made sense to me, and it worked under the “of one mind and purpose” part too.
T. Greer
April 22, 2021
None of the diagrams include action. action is needed! (Also here).
G.
April 22, 2021
Experience
Experiments