Line upon Line:
D&C 9:7–9

In these verses the Lord tells Oliver Cowdery what more he could do to receive revelation. The same advice applies to you.

Doctrine and Covenants 8 and 9 are revelations to Oliver Cowdery through the Prophet Joseph Smith. Oliver desired the gift of translation when he was the Prophet’s scribe. The Lord told Oliver he would be blessed with the knowledge he desired if he was faithful.

Oliver, however, did not do all he needed to do to translate the ancient records at that time, so the Lord told him to continue as a scribe. The Lord promised him another chance to translate if he continued to be faithful.

Read these scriptures to see examples of people whose pondering and study led them to great revelations:

• 1 Ne. 11:1

• Hel. 10:2–5

• D&C 138:11

What problems do you need the Lord’s help with?

Think through your problem, pondering what you can do to resolve it, and then consult with the Lord in prayer. If you “ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive a knowledge” (D&C 8:1), He will answer you. But remember the Lord will respond in His own way and time (see D&C 88:63–68).

stupor = a daze or state or reduced sensibility

[Still, Small Voice]

“What does a ‘burning in the bosom’ mean? Does it need to be a feeling of caloric heat, like the burning produced by combustion? If that is the meaning, I have never had a burning in the bosom. Surely, the word ‘burning’ in this scripture signifies a feeling of comfort and serenity. That is the witness many receive. That is the way revelation works.

“Truly, the still, small voice is just that, ‘still’ and ‘small.’”
—Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Teaching and Learning by the Spirit,” Ensign, Mar. 1997, 7.

To learn more about receiving revelation, read these articles in the Gospel Library at www.lds.org: “Communion with the Holy Spirit” (Ensign, Mar. 2002) by President James E. Faust, “Personal Revelation: The Gift, the Test, and the Promise” (Ensign, Nov. 1994) by President Boyd K. Packer, and “Scripture Reading and Revelation” (Ensign, Jan. 1995) by Elder Dallin H. Oaks.

Editors’ note: This page is not meant to be a comprehensive explanation of the selected scripture verses, only a starting point for your own study.