How do you know what career path you should choose? How do you know what college to go to? How do you know who to date? Who should I hang out with? How do you know if you should go on a mission? How do you know who to marry? Should I go to seminary tomorrow? Should I go to church today? Should I watch the Super Bowl today? Should I throw a Super Bowl party today?
Should I go to Gil Bradshaw‘s Super Bowl party today?
The answer to these questions are found in Jesus Christ.
In D &C 9, God teaches us how to receive inspiration it states:
“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.”
After I have studied it out in my mind, then I asked God (as the scripture says). God will give me a good feeling or a burning in your bosom if your choice is right.
God also says, “But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong.”
In other words if the direction you’re heading is wrong then you will not have any of those positive feelings and you will begin to forget the thing that is wrong.
Not all prayers are answered the same. we may not get a burning in our bosoms and we may not forget the thing which is wrong but God loves his children, and will clearly answer the prayers of those who are willing to obey him.
I was recently called to be the teachers quorum president and I was asked to select the presidency members. I spend a significant amount of time, studying out in my mind who would be the counselors and secretary. I really struggled with this because I had my own ideas of how I wanted this to go. So I asked God if my plan was good, and he gave me a different idea that I was at peace with. And through this process God helped soften my heart and giving me ideas that I couldn’t come up with on my own. Now the teachers quorum presidency is sick.
So let’s practice! Let’s apply Gods pattern to receive inspiration for a very common question
WHO SHOULD I MARRY. First we are supposed to study it out in our minds we can make a list of qualities that we would like our future spouse to have. Here are some questions that I have to help me when it comes time to chose my bride?
Am I attracted to her?
Does she love the gospel ?
Would she be a good mother?
Is she a hard worker?
Is she fun and happy?
Will I get along with her family?
Is she intelligent?
Does she surf ?
Has she truly repented off her sins?
Will she only have eyes for me?
Will she lead me to eternal life
Is she funny?
I can use this list to help me decide who to date. When the time comes I can compare the women I am interested in marrying with the quality’s I have on my list. Then I can pray to God and ask him if I am making the right decision and I know he will make it clear to my mind and my heart what I should or shouldn’t do.
Ezra Taft Benson said when we put God first, all other things fall into their proper place or drop out of our lives.
In closing, I know that this pattern for receiving inspiration from God found in D and C section 9 helps us make the right decisions under any circumstance.