Elder Richard G. Scott on seeking personal revelation

Elder Richard G. Scott (1928-2015) served as a Seventy from 1977-1988, when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles.  He passed away in September 2015 at the age of 86.

"Humility is a fertile soil where spirituality grows and produces the fruit of inspiration to know what to do. It gives access to divine power to accomplish what must be done. An individual motivated by a desire for praise or recognition will not qualify to be taught by the Spirit. An individual who is arrogant or who lets his or her emotions influence decisions will not be powerfully led by the Spirit.

"When we are acting as instruments in behalf of others, we are more easily inspired than when we think only of ourselves. In the process of helping others, the Lord can piggyback directions for our own benefit.

"Our Heavenly Father did not put us on earth to fail but to succeed gloriously. It may seem paradoxical, but that is why recognizing answers to prayer can sometimes be very difficult. Sometimes we unwisely try to face life by depending on our own experience and capacity. It is much wiser for us to seek through prayer and divine inspiration to know what to do. Our obedience assures that when required, we can qualify for divine power to accomplish an inspired objective."

- Richard G. Scott, "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life," General Conference April 2012
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Every sincere disciple of Christ desires and seeks inspiration from God for his or her personal life. We want to be led and guided in the right paths, to know we are doing His will. Elder Scott spoke beautifully about the process of receiving personal revelation to guide our life. One great key to that process is humility, which "gives access to divine power" and qualifies us to receive spiritual teaching. Nephi warned about those who "wear stiff necks and high heads" and live in "pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms" as contrasted with "the humble followers of Christ" (2 Ne 28:14).

Elder Scott teaches that we will often receive inspiration when we are focused on serving and blessing others; with the interesting concept that God will "piggyback directions for our own benefit" as He guides us in serving others.

The wise and humble follower of Christ, then, will turn to God in humble prayer for the guidance and help in life that will bless through choices and challenges. One of God's greatest desires is to help us "succeed gloriously" in this mortal experience.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)