Continuing revelation is so important to us because the world and our lives are ever changing. It’s important for the prophet and church leaders to receive revelation and such for the church in order to lead and guide in a way that will be most beneficial and allow saints to remain strong in the surrounding world.
Additionally, things change in our own lives and thus we must continually be seeking personal revelation to guide us and show us the way to righteousness. It’s a matter of asking the Lord in faith what decisions should be made and then either following his guidance or choosing your own path and hoping the Lord will correct you if needed. Revelation is what allows for us to progress and understand in what ways we can improve.
Topic 1: The first topic that is related to something I’ve been facing kind of takes me back to young women’s. It’s the idea of choice and accountability. I’m quite excellent at making my own decisions and owning up to them. I work really hard so that my time is well managed and I do well in the things I choose to excel in. However, I find myself often choosing not to help others and having a lack of sympathy for them because they make poor choices which leaves them relying on my help which I’m often not willing to give at that point. I want to better understand and know when it’s okay for me to allow others to carry their own burdens, and when I should be serving them. I feel like the Christlike thing to do is always to help, but at the same time I have difficulty understanding how someone will learn and grow if they aren’t responsible and accountable for their own decisions.
Quote 1: “May we maintain the courage to defy the consensus. May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong.” —President Monson, April 2016 General Conference
Quote 2: “When you are faced with an important decision, be sure that your choice will lead you nearer to Christ.” —Paul V. Johnson, “Making Righteous Choices”
Quote 3: “I would argue that, in many cases, lightening the load of someone else is easy—because it is their load. The burden is not weighing us down. If we are earnestly striving to do God’s will, He will often direct us to those who might need our help, and He will inspire us as to what we might do—if we are paying attention. And sometimes Heavenly Father takes matters into His own hands and does what needs to be done when others can’t do it.” —James D. Stice, “The Weight of the World,” 2001
Quote 4: “But you can help. There are so many out there whose burdens you can lift. There are the homeless, there are the hungry, there are the destitute all around us. There are the aged who are alone in rest homes. There are handicapped children, and youth on drugs, and the sick and the homebound who cry out for a kind word. If you do not do it, who will?” —President Hinckley, 1989
Topic 2: The other topic that additional understanding of will allow for my increased happiness is making good habits. A lot of times I get stuck where I am and feel like I need to move or something big in my life has to change before I can change or improve something smaller. I’m sure that this is not the case, but I would like to understand more how I can improve myself in this way.
Quote 1: “Because of the gospel, we can focus on fulfilling our purpose, rather than spending our entire life trying to discover our purpose.” —Brother Randall L. Ridd, 2015
Quote 2: “We sow our thoughts, and we reap our actions; we sow our actions, and we reap our habits; we sow our habits, and we reap our characters; we sow our characters, and we reap our destiny” —President David O. McKay
Quote 3: “Endurance is important. Stay with it, no matter how hard it may be. Stick-to-it-iveness is another way of expressing endurance. Don’t give up when the going gets tough. Often we’re tempted to quit when success may be just around the corner. The world is not looking for quitters but for men who will stick to the job, no matter how tough it may be. A person who gives up easily will never gain success.” —O. Leslie Stone, “Essentials for Success”
Quote 4: “When we are consistently praying morning and night, studying our scriptures daily, having weekly family home evening, and attending the temple regularly, we are actively responding to His invitation to “come unto Him.” The more we develop these habits, the more anxious is Satan to harm us but the less is his ability to do so. Through the use of these tools, we exercise our agency to accept the full gifts of His atoning sacrifice.” —Richard G. Scott, “Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority” October 2014