If you've asked this question, you’re not alone. For many of us, revelation sometimes can be hard to recognize. In part, the answer depends on how you’re living and how humble you are. If you do your best to be worthy of the Spirit and strive to be humble so that the Lord can direct you, answers will come (see D&C 112:10).
One key to remember is that inspired thoughts are usually confirmed with inspired feelings (see D&C 8:2).
Boyd K. Packer once said:
"The Holy Ghost speaks with a voice that you feel more than you hear. It is described as a "still small voice." And while we speak of "listening" to the whisperings of the Spirit, most often one describes a spiritual prompting by saying, "I had a feeling ..."
...Revelation comes as words we feel more than hear. Nephi told his wayward brothers, who were visited by an angel, "Ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words."
The scriptures are full of such expressions as "The veil was taken from our minds, and the eyes of our understanding were opened," or "I will tell you in your mind and in your heart," or "I did enlighten thy mind," or "Speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts." There are hundreds of verses which teach of revelation.
President Marion G. Romney, quoting the prophet Enos, said, "While I was thus struggling in the spirit, behold, the voice of the Lord came into my mind." Enos then related what the Lord put into his mind.
"This," President Romney said, "is a very common means of revelation. It comes into one's mind in words and sentences. With this medium of revelation I am personally well acquainted." [close quote]
When ideas come to our mind that are accompanied by powerful feelings in our heart from the Spirit, then it is usually an indicator that what we are thinking is right. This powerful connection to the heart is an indicator of inspired thoughts. To help us understand whether or not our thoughts are in harmony with the gospel, we have to put together a few tests that can help evaluate the appropriateness of what we are thinking.
The Edification Test:
"And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness" (D&C 50:23). To edify means to uplift, or build up, spiritually. If we are getting a prompting, or if thoughts are coming to our mind, that do not edify our lives, then know the prompting is not from God but is “darkness.” We need to ask ourselves: What does this lead to? What will be the result of this action I am feeling prompted to take? “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith” (Galatians 5:22). The fruit, or result, of a false prompting is just the opposite: hatred, guilt, anger, doubt, etc.
The Stewardship Test:
Stewardship is something we have been given responsibility over. For example, we are all stewards of or responsible for our physical bodies. A newly ordained Teachers quorum president can receive inspiration regarding how to govern his quorum and help its members. Parents can receive inspiration regarding how to direct their family. We cannot receive revelation for something or someone we do not have stewardship, or responsibility for. For example, we can’t receive a revelation telling our Bishop how to run the ward, or who to call to a calling, unless we are the Bishop. Joseph Smith taught that, “it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves.”
The Brethren test:
In early Church history, a member named Hiram Page had found what he thought was a seer stone, and was receiving revelations through it. Some of what Hiram Page was teaching through his false revelations was different than what Joseph Smith was teaching (See D&C 28:11-12).
In other words, we cannot receive revelation telling us to do or believe something different than the living prophets of God.
If we have run our thoughts through these three tests and they pass with flying colors, yet we still aren't sure if they are right, then Elder Richard G. Scott said we should move forward with what the prompting is. He said, “Most often what we have chosen to do is right. He will confirm the correctness of our choices His way…If, in trust, we begin something which is not right, He will let us know before we have gone too far. We sense that help by recognizing troubled or uneasy feelings.” [close quote]
As you ponder whether a thought or feeling is from the Spirit, consider this counsel from the prophet Mormon: "For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God" (Moroni 7:16).
Along these lines, President Gordon B. Hinckley taught, “That’s the test, when all is said and done. Does it persuade one to do good, to rise, to stand tall, to do the right thing, to be kind, to be generous? Then it is of the Spirit of God”. [close quote]
“A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” -Joseph Smith
So do your best to be worthy of the Spirit, listen carefully, pay attention to those thoughts and promptings, and act. The Lord will help you along the way, and over time you’ll learn more about how the Spirit speaks specifically to you.
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