“Sometimes I think that my dreams might have real importance. How can I tell whether they have a meaning or are just random?” New Era, Oct. 2014, 40
Sometimes I think that my dreams might have real importance. How can I tell whether they have a meaning or are just random?
Photo illustration by Cody Bell
The scriptures give several examples showing that dreams can sometimes be a source of revelation. But each of us also knows from experience that dreams are often nonsensical or downright weird, which can make us question whether any dream could ever really mean anything. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has shared how he has learned to tell whether a dream contains revelation: “Inspired communication in the night is generally accompanied by a sacred feeling for the entire experience. The Lord uses individuals for whom we have great respect to teach us truths in a dream because we trust them and will listen to their counsel. It is the Lord doing the teaching through the Holy Ghost. However, He may in a dream make it both easier to understand and more likely to touch our hearts by teaching us through someone we love and respect” (“How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal Life,” Ensign, May 2012, 46).