How Do I Receive Personal Revelation?

Introduce the doctrine

Invite the young women to list some important decisions they will need to make in the next few years. Write the list on the board.

What is personal revelation? How can personal revelation help with the important decisions we must make?

Learn together

D&C 8:2–3;

2 Yea, behold, I will ^atell you in your mind and in your ^bheart, by the ^cHoly Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.

3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses ^abrought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

What does this scripture teach us about how we receive personal revelation? Does anyone have a personal experience receiving revelation through thoughts and feelings that you would like to share? How do you think we might distinguish between our own thoughts and feelings and those that are inspired?

D&C 9:7–9

7 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.

8 But, behold, I say unto you, that you must ^astudy it out in your ^bmind; then you must ^cask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your ^dbosom shall ^eburn within you; therefore, you shall ^ffeel that it is right.

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

What process should we follow if we want to seek personal revelation?  How could you “study out” some of the upcoming decisions written on the board?

Watch the video “Patterns of Light: The Spirit of Revelation.”

What does Elder Bednar teach us about the timing by which we receive revelation?  What should we do if revelation comes more slowly than we would like?

Female Role Model Activity

The manual suggests the following activity:

“With permission from the bishop, invite exemplary women from the ward to share how they have sought personal revelation to make similar decisions.”

It is a wonderful idea to have diverse, local women visit your class and share personal experiences with the Young Women.  This would be an uplifting and interesting activity if it is feasible in your ward or branch.

However, sometimes it is hard to find guest speakers while so many people are busy in other classes, and the added red tape directed by the manual—that the bishop must approve these guests—makes this activity even more complicated to carry out.*

Alternatively, here are three Mormon women who can visit your class “virtually.”   I think the diverse paths of these women exemplify why personal revelation is so necessary.  They have all found ways to serve God, their families and humankind while choosing their own, unique  lifestyles.  Personal revelation can help us discover our unique life callings.

http://www.mormonchannel.org/Im-a-mormon?v=1414215715001

http://www.mormonchannel.org/Im-a-mormon?v=911104832001

http://www.mormonchannel.org/Im-a-mormon?v=911104828001

Live what we are learning

Invite the young women to choose one of the important upcoming decisions they listed on the board and begin the process of seeking personal revelation on that topic by “studying it out” during the upcoming week.

* Why must a bishop approve women from your own ward visiting the class? Why is the Young Women President unqualified to approve classroom guests?  Why must the already overworked bishop concern himself with such details?

This lesson plan was originally written in 2014 to accompany the Young Women Lesson: How Do I Receive Personal Revelation?