"Make up your mind to live humbly and in such a way
that you will always have the spirit of the Lord to be your friend."
--President Lorenzo Snow ( Prophet 1898-1901)
From those two quotes by a past prophet and a current prophet we learn that personal revelation
and a constant influence of the Holy Ghost is vital for our spiritual survival!
We also learn that we must live worthily and humbly in order to
have that constant companionship of the spirit and to receive personal revelation.
In 3 Nephi 14:7-8 it reads
7-Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
8- For everyone that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
I believe there are 3 ways in which we must be humble in order to receive personal revelation and benefit from the revelation that we receive.
FIRST
The humility to ask or pray for the revelation you wish to receive.
SECOND
The humility to seek for your revelation or the answers to your prayers.
THIRD
The humility or knock or apply the revelation in which you receive.
About five years ago I was at a water park with my friends. After we ate, I put my wallet under my towel so it was out of plain sight and we went to have fun. When we got back my wallet was gone. I frantically looked everywhere and I had the feeling to say a prayer and ask for help finding it but me being prideful said to myself, I have looked everywhere and it's gone, I'm not going to find it. I was right, I didn't find it because I wasn't even humble enough to ask God for help when I needed it.
For some reason there is something in the natural man that hates asking for help but we can't expect revelation or miracles or answers or help from God if aren't humble enough to ASK.
Another example is when I went to a devotional and when it was over a friend asked how it was. I told him a little about what was taught to us and he started crying. It turns out he had been praying that whole week for help with what that entire devotional was about. He had the humility to ask but lacked the humility to seek and because of this he missed an incredible opportunity to have his prayers answered and receive his revelation he has been asking for.
The last example I have is about having humility to recognize and apply the revelation we receive.
My companion and I were walking through this neighborhood and had a strong feeling to knock on a certain door. A friendly man answered, saw that we were representatives of Jesus Christ and told us that he had been praying for guidance from the Lord. He had been going to church every Sunday but felt there was something more than what he had. He had been seeking through the scriptures for guidance and 30 seconds after he finished praying, here we stood on his porch. His answers was on his porch but he told us he was going to stay with his current religion and keep doing what he was doing. This wonderful man had the humility to ask, he had the humility to seek but he wasn't humble enough to knock or apply the revelation he received because he wasn't humble enough to recognize the answers to his prayer so his prayers were answered in vain.
I have a testimony that all those who are humble enough to ask for, seek for, and apply revelation will receive revelation.
I have a testimony that the heavens are open and that if we are living humbly and worthy of the guidance of the sprit then God will speak to us through personal revelation.
I have a testimony that this church is Christ's church and it is guided by a modern day prophet who has been called by God to lead His church and all of His sons and daughters.
I love this gospel!
I love the temple!
A wonderful couple here, Brother and Sister Brandon took my companion and me to the Portland Oregon Temple last week. It was a great day!
Transfers are March 15th, and after 3 months, part of me wants to be transferred but part of me never wants to leave Silverton.
Today we went on a hike to the Abiqua Falls but we went a different way which ended up being more difficult and even required ropes in some areas. On the way back a nice man in a truck gave us a ride back down which we were very grateful for.
Being a missionary is quite amazing. It has changed my life. There really isn't any way to put it into words but I feel the spirit constantly and it truly is amazing.
I am so grateful for all of your prayers, I can feel the difference it makes and every now and again I can almost literally feel people praying for me.
Love, Elder Saunders
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