President Henry B. Eyring on faith, revelation, and the doctrine of Christ

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"I know from experience that answers will come to fit your needs and your spiritual preparation. If you need an answer that is important to your eternal welfare or that of others, the answer is more likely to come. Yet even then, you may receive—as did Joseph Smith—the answer to be patient. (See JS-H 1:53.)

"If your faith in Jesus Christ has led to a heart softened through the effects of His Atonement, you will be more able to feel the whisperings of the Spirit in answer to your prayers. My personal experience is that the still, small voice—which is real—is clear and discernible in my mind when I feel an internal quiet and submission to the Lord’s will. That feeling of humility can be best described as 'Not my will, but thine, be done.' (Luke 22:42.)

"This process of revelation is why you will hear speakers teach in this conference what is called the doctrine of Christ. (See 2 Nephi 31; 3 Nephi 11:31–39.) Revelation comes to us in proportion to the degree to which we have sought to take the doctrine of Christ into our hearts and implement it in our lives.

"You remember from the Book of Mormon that Nephi taught us that faith in Jesus Christ is the key to receiving revelations of truth and the key to having the confidence that we are following the Savior’s direction."

- Henry B. Eyring, "The Faith to Ask and Then to Act," General Conference October 2021, Saturday evening

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One of the key invitations of this general conference, starting with President Nelson's opening remarks, was for each listener to seek personal revelation through the messages that would be shared. President Eyring expanded on that invitation with a message about faith in Christ and hearing the voice of God.

An important first step is to have our hearts softened through the influence of the Lord's Atonement. That enables us to feel inspiration more keenly.

This was a key insight for me:

As we come to understand and implement "the doctrine of Christ" in our lives, we will be much more receptive to revelation from heaven. Learning and applying that doctrine is one of the most important things we can individually do!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)