Revelations are basically answers to prayers, that tell us what it is God wants. The spirit is what speaks to us. It is difficult to explain but I'll do my best. ALSO, I do not believe only LDS members receive revelation - ESPECIALLY when it comes to decisions concerning our families. So, to answer your question about being the steward of your children - yes, I believe you are and I believe you receive personal revelation from God regularly on their behalf. As I said, revelations are basically answers to prayers. We pray about our children and we receive answers regarding how to tend to their needs. There are times when we have impressions of what needs to be done. These impressions are also personal revelation. Satan can imitate spiritual gifts. Which means he can imitate revelation. It is important to be able to recognize the spirit and also to remember that revelation cannot be received outside of stewardship. You bring up that you can make suggestions. It is the same here. Someone can come to me and say, "I really love this song and I think the choir should perform it." At that point I may feel good about that and go ahead and perform the song. There are other times, such as President Hinckley's song, that I feel prompted to sing a very particular song. This was the case when we performed "My Redeemer Lives" I was choosing a song to perform with the choir and I felt impressed to perform this song. We prepared it, the day we sang the song was the day President Hinkley passed away. The choir sang his testimony that day. There was no coincidence. When it comes to the primary president (children's group), she may receive revelation concerning the needs of a certain class or the spiritual needs of a particular child. She may be prompted to see how a child is doing outside of church. She may feel the need to have a certain topic lightly touched on. It is much more than just planning. It is working with God on how things are done. It is Christ's church, and He lets us know if there is a special need. I have no say over who works in the primary. If I have a problem I can bring it up, but ultimately I have no decision-making ablities there. My son was having a difficult time being in primary due to his disablity. He was really struggling and had taken to sitting under a table in the hall instead of attending the large group mtg. I spent time trying to work on what to do with the primary presidency and we all did a lot of praying. Then they received different callings and I wasn't certain what would happen because I spent so much time working with them and I think things will start to happen for my son and they are released. But God knows our needs, and our children's needs, and He works through revelation. The person called as president is a person who already had a personal relationship with my son. I was happy about this. Once she was extended the call by the Bishop, she then has to pick counselors. I spoke to her about this following the public calls, when I found out who her counselors are. She told me she felt very impressed to call two women she had never before met. She wasn't even certain what one of them looked like. One of them is an Occupational Therapist. The primary president did not know this until after the calling was extended - I was the one that told her. Whether you, or anyone else can say this - makes no matter. The Bishop and then the Primary President received revelation concerning who should work in the primary. It was a direct answer to my prayers. These women have my son out of the hall and in the room, they have him PARTICIPATING in primary. They have the skills necessary to help my son and God knew that and had them placed there. THIS is revelation. What is not revelation is a person telling their neighbor or their friend (both not in their stewardship) that "God told me you need to __________" or "God says you'll be happier if you sell your house and move" -- etc. It is through a stewardship. Visions. As I said earlier, they are rare and sacred and people don't talk about them even to other church members. The visions I hear of most often are usually things like dreaming about a child that is waiting to be born and wanting to join the family. On occasion you might hear of a parent who sees a child getting hurt if they are to do a certain thing - kind of a warning. I have never heard of a vision of God being given to someone other than a prophet, AND I have not heard of a prophet since Joseph Smith who has had a vision of God- although - feel most likely have (they do not say). Visions happened regularly through the Bible. Samuel heard God call his name. Moses saw God's face and spoke to Him mouth to mouth. Peter, James and John were there during the transfiguration and watched as Jesus spoke with Moses and Elias. They heard the voice of God. So visions are very Biblical. However, as you said they are something that we need to be careful with. They will only come through the correct stewardship. Even then we are taught to not take someone's word for it, but to pray to know for ourselves (we are taught the same with revelation). The best example I have of this (of the top of my head) is from the Book of Mormon - I'm certain there are Bible examples too. Lehi had a vision in the wilderness concerning his family. Background: Lehi was a prophet who left Jeruselem at God's command. He took his family with him. When he shared his vision with his family. Most of his sons laughed and mocked him. Nephi, on the other hand went and knelt in prayer and asked God. Because of his faith, God showed Nephi what his father had seen and it was explained to him as well. Nephi didn't just take his father's word for it, but knowing his father was a prophet he also did not discount it. Instead, he asked the Lord of its truthfulness. This is something we are counseled to do. Basically, personal revelation (answers to prayer) is how we can discern what is truth and what is not. God will revel to us the truthfulness of what is said, taught or done. There are stewardships. . . if a person steps outside of a stewardship we can immediately know to be even a bit more than wary. I cannot receive revelation or impressions (same thing) for someone elses children. I may make suggestions, but ultimately I cannot KNOW what God would have for the child. It is the same with visions - and personal revelation is an integral part of knowing how to interpret a vision. I have not had a vision - I really don't expect to ever have one - but I do believe they happen. I cannot stress enough though, that stewardship is the very first and foremost important aspect of revelation, visions and prophesy. Only the prophet Thomas S. Monson can receive these things on behalf of the world. |