Spiritual guidance from the Holy Ghost is a divinely appointed and invaluable form of assistance available to aid in navigating life's challenges, Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve taught during the Saturday morning session of general conference.
"Father in Heaven knew that you would face challenges and be required to make some decisions that would be beyond your own ability to decide correctly," he said. "In His plan of happiness, He included a provision for you to receive help with such challenges and decisions during your mortal life. That assistance will come to you through the Holy Ghost as spiritual guidance.
"It is a power beyond your own capability that a loving Heavenly Father wants you to use consistently for your peace and happiness. … Sometimes the impressions are just general feelings. Sometimes the direction comes so clearly and so unmistakably that it can be written down word for word, like spiritual dictation (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2)."
Revelations from the Holy Ghost may come in response to a wide swath of circumstances. The one common thread running through all such promptings, though, is that the Lord never obligates members of the Church to accept His guidance.
"I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you," Elder Scott said. "Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. "
According to Elder Scott, some potential barriers to receiving the guidance of the Holy Spirit include "strong emotions such as anger, hate, passion, fear, or pride." He added to the list pornography, the addictive power of which Satan has become a master as using to limit individual capacity to be led by the Spirit.
Two fruits of an enhanced spirituality are the inspiration to know what to do and the power to do it. Because learning to recognize and apply spiritual promptings is a lifelong endeavor, it behooves Church members to consistently exercise both their faith and patience.
Elder Scott said, "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 Holy Spirit. Our Father expects you to learn how to obtain that divine help by exercising faith in Him and His Holy Son, Jesus Christ. … Have patience as you are perfecting your ability to be led by the Spirit. By careful practice, through the application of correct principles, and by being sensitive to the feelings that come, you will gain spiritual guidance. I bear witness that the Lord through the Holy Ghost can speak to your mind and heart."
Watch video of this talk and other conference talks at ksl.com