revelation.

i am reading a book right now entitled, hearing the voice of the lord, authored by elder gerarld n. lund. i love reading books of a spiritual nature and expanding my knowledge and testimony of gospel principles. i generally only read books written by prophets. like i told my mama the other day, i have come to learn that "just because it is in deseret book, does not make it doctrine." she wholeheartedly agreed.

this book could not have been given to me at a more appropriate time in my life. it starts out with a quote from president kimball that says,

" the Almighty is with this people. we shall have all the revelation that we shall need if we will do our duty and keep the commandments of God...remember: if there be eyes to see, there will be visions to inspire. if there be ears to hear, there will be revelations to experience. if there be hearts which can understand, know this: that the exalting truths of Christ's gospel will no longer be hidden and mysterious and all earnest seekers may know God and his program."

president kimball's emphatic manner of delivering advice and counsel is unsurpassed to me. i love reading all of his talks and books. and i just love that quote. this book by elder lund is rather simplistic, but it is backed by biblical references and quotes from prophets of old and today. it is a beautiful outline of how we can have the hearts to understand and the ears to hear the revelations that the Lord has in store for each one of us.

there have been some things weighing heavily on my mind and heart for so long now. my amazing parents are well aware of this and they are always so careful in their addressing of these subjects with me. but luckily for me, they know how to listen to the Lord. and though we only briefly discussed the issue the other day, it was followed by a long heartfelt email full of love and wisdom to help me in my struggles and time of decision making.  i am so grateful to them and know that they are qualified to receive revelation on my behalf and that they are caring enough to tell me, no matter how sensitive the subject. 

later, i was able to go to the temple and spend some time there to more deeply ponder their advice and what the Lord would want me to do. sometimes it is just exhausting not knowing where to go in life. while in the temple i reflected on a lot of the counsel in this book, my patriarchal blessing and upon what my parents had shared with me. even though i have not sung the song "a child's prayer" in years, the lyrics came to me so clearly in their entirety and i was washed over with a comfort and love that only my Heavenly Father could provide. 

there are still so many uncertainties in my life and so many decisions that i have yet to make. but i am so happy  to know that i am blessed with such loving parents, caring friends, access to temples, and a strong, personal relationship with my Heavenly Father. all is well.
A Child's Prayer

Heavenly Father, are you really there?
and do you hear and answer every child's prayer. 
Some say that Heaven is far away, 
but i feel it close around me as i pray.

Heavenly Father, i remember now,
something that Jesus told Disciples long ago. 
Suffer the children to come to me, 
Father in prayer i'm coming now to thee.

Pray, He is there. 
Speak, He is listening. 
You are his child, 
his love now surrounds you.

He hears your prayer, 
He loves the children, 
of such is the Kingdom, 
the Kingdom of Heav'n.