C. C. Harrison Weblog

Personal Revelation is the Antidote for Addiction

• 9 June 2009 6:38 pm

As the reading for this morning’s 6:30 meeting, I drew some quotes from Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s article, “How to Get Personal Revelation,” published in the June, 1980 issue of the New Era.

“As a people, we are in the habit of saying that we believe in latter-day revelation. . . . But, ordinarily, when we talk in this way, we are thinking of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, or Spencer W. Kimball. We are thinking of apostles and prophets—men who are called, selected, or foreordained to hold the positions that they hold and to do the ministerial service that is theirs. We are thinking of them and of the general principle of the Church itself operating by revelation.”

[b]“But what I desire to point attention to is the fact that revelation is not restricted to the prophet of God on earth. The visions of eternity are not reserved for Apostles—they are not reserved for the General Authorities. Revelation is something that should be received by every individual. God is no respecter of persons, and every soul, in the ultimate sense, is just as precious in his sight as the souls of those who are called to positions of leadership.”

“But my suggestion is that we need to devote an increasingly large portion of our time in the actual pursuit of knowledge in the spiritual realm. When we deal with spiritual realities, we are not talking about gaining something by reason alone, we are not talking about conveying in some way knowledge to the mind or the spirit that is within us through the senses alone, but we are talking about revelation. We are talking about learning how to come to a knowledge of the things of God by attuning the spirit that we have to the eternal Spirit of God. Such a course, primarily, is the channel and way that revelation comes to an individual.”

“We talk about latter-day prophets; we think in terms of prophets who tell the future destiny of the Church and the world. But, in addition to that, the fact is that every person should be a prophet for himself and in his own concerns and in his own affairs. It was Moses who said, ‘Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them’ (Num. 11:29).”

–end of this morning’s reading–

The personal comments and reflections offered here are an expanded version of my sharing online, this morning:

I know there are some (both in the Church and outside of it) who think that the “Mormon way” is to follow our leaders like dumb sheep. They think that to “Follow the prophet” is the highest expression of faithfulness in LDS doctrine, but it is not the highest way for an LDS person to live. It is the Primary children’s song, because they are just that–children. The day will come, though for everyone of them–and for everyone of us–when they will have to experience what it means to receive personal revelation directly from God for themselves.

In another talk (Ensign, June 1971), Elder McConkie stated: “Religion comes from God by revelation and deals with spiritual things; and unless and until a man has received revelation, he has not received religion, and he is not on the path leading to salvation in our Father’s kingdom.”

And again Elder McConkie quoted the Prophet Joseph: “Joseph Smith said: ‘The Holy Ghost is a revelator.’ And, ‘No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.’ (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith [Deseret Book Co., 1968], p. 328.)

I have found that there is nothing else except exercising faith in this principle of personal revelation that comforts and counsels me at a place deep enough in my soul to reach the roots of my addictive urges. Only when I go to the Lord and seek His thoughts and impressions and strength am I satisfied and strengthened against the temptations and sins that otherwise so easily beset me.

This is all the woman who “wrote” HDDMFB did. She believed that if she prayed for words of wisdom and guidance from the Lord, and impressions of what to do to live free of her addiction–the Lord would give them to her. And He did.

I share these things to the praise and glory of our Heavenly Father and of His Son, our Savior–my Savior every hour I will forsake my idolatry and have Him be the only True and Living God.

Here’s the rest of my online sharing:

It is not the leaders who try to make themselves out to be THE only ones to have open access to God. I think that is plainly shown. It was ME, all those years, who did not believe and go to God—not until my addiction brought me down into absolute destitution–nothingness.

Only then was I in a “readiness to hear the word” as the Book of Mormon puts it. Only then did I stop trying to save myself by all my righteous doings (never once seeking personal, specific guidance from the Lord), and cry out as Alma, O Jesus, Thou Son of God, . . .” And lo and behold, He answered my prayer!! I mean literally, I heard an answering “voice”–and that was the beginning of recovery for me. I couldn’t even get started out of the pit of my idolatry to my addictions until I cried out to Him and He came into my mind and heart through the “portal” of His Light and I began to acknowledge that HE was the only name, way and means by which I could be saved.

In the Name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

• Filed under
  • Addiction and Recovery
  • , On Personal Revelation