Elder Richard G. Scott: To Acquire Spiritual Guidance

This was one of the best talks of the entire conference.

Elder Scott starts by asking three questions that outline what he will be talking about:

What can you do to enhance you capacity to be led to correct decisions in your life? What are the principles upon which spiritual communication depends? What are the potential barriers to such communication that you need to avoid?

He quoted President John Taylor being told by the prophet Joseph Smith, "never to arise in the morning without bowing before the Lord, and dedicating myself to him during the day."


The Holy Ghost, he explains, is "a power, beyond your own capability, that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness." Elder Scott then adds this important counsel:

I am convinced that there is no simple formula or technique that would immediately allow you to master the ability to be guided by the voice of the Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. Were you to receive inspired guidance just for the asking, you would become weak and ever more dependent on Them. They know that essential personal growth will come as you struggle to learn how to be led by the Spirit.

Then he delivered this promise powerful promise:

I witness that as you gain experience and success in being guided by the Spirit, your confidence in the impressions you feel can become more certain than your dependence on what you see or hear.


He then said:

Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it.


Elder Scott then related two very powerful experiences he had. The first occurred at a priesthood meeting in Mexico City where a humble Mexican priesthood leader taught a lesson that was especially noteworthy for the love that the leader showed for the Savior and for those the leader taught. This was contrasted with a Sunday School lesson in Elder Scott's home ward where the teacher seemed to be "using the teaching opportunity to impress the class with his vast store of knowledge" by choosing "obscure references and unusual examples to illustrate the principles of the lesson"


It was "in the environment" of the second lesson that Elder Scott illustrated another point. He talked about distinct impressions he received and specific counsel. After the class he found a quiet place to record his impressions. He then pondered them to see if he accurately recorded them. He made some changes, then studied them. Then he prayed about what he had been taught by the Spirit. He gave thanks. Then he was impressed to ask, "Was there yet more to be given?" He said he received more impressions, so he followed the same process, at the end asking again, "Is there more I should know?" There was and he received another sacred experience that he recorded and would not have received if he did not ask if there was more. 

Elder Scott then gives a caution and another promise:

However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when that guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily.


The second half of Elder Scott's talk is about things that block the Spirit. He talks about sin in general and pornography in specific.

I share a warning. Satan is extremely good at blocking spiritual communication by inducing individuals, through temptation, to violate the laws upon which spiritual communication is founded. With some, he is able to convince them that they are not able to receive such guidance from the Lord.


Note: That is one of the most damaging things about sin -- causing one to "violate the laws upon which spiritual communication is founded."

Elder Scott addresses the excuse that pornography "does no harm to anyone else." He says:

Participation in pornography in any of its lurid forms is a manifestation of unbridled selfishness. How can a man, particularly a priesthood bearer, not think of the emotional and spiritual damage caused to women, especially his wife, by such abhorrent activity?


Elder Scott then gives this excellent counsel as a standard that would be good to emulate:

An individual with foundation standards and an enduring commitment to obey them is not easily led astray. Someone who is increasingly repulsed by grievous sin and who exercises self-restraint outside human influence has character.


Finally, he counsels patience in developing our ability to be led by the Spirit. The keys, he says, are

By careful practice, through the application of correct principles, and by being sensitive to the feelings that come, you will gain spiritual guidance.


This was a great talk. It would be wise to re-read this talk every month or so to check and see how you are doing in your ability to 1) be sensitive to the Spirit, and 2) resist the temptations of Satan.