How do you acquire the "spirit of prophecy"? Alma 12:7

How do you acquire the "spirit of prophecy"? Alma 12:7

Alma and Amulek speak to this guy Zeezrom, a non-believer. The way they speak to him convinces Zeezrom that they must have power from God because they are able to discern his thoughts. Mormon interjects with the comment that indeed, yes, they were able to discern Zeezrom's thoughts because they were given the spirit of prophecy.

What is this "spirit", how does it work, and how does one go about obtaining it?

Elder Porter had a really great talk about this topic in a 1996 General Conference, which you can read here. I will share with some comments.

Speaking of the supernal glory of that First Vision, President Gordon B. Hinckley has said: “Much has been written, much will be written, in an effort to explain it away. The finite mind cannot comprehend it. But the testimony of the Holy Spirit, experienced by countless numbers of people all through the years since it happened, bears witness that it is true, that it happened as Joseph Smith said it happened, that it was as real as the sunrise over Palmyra, that it is an essential foundation stone, a cornerstone, without which the Church could not be ‘fitly framed together.’”²

I repeat: the testimony of the Holy Spirit bears witness that it is true. That testimony is the means, in most instances, by which God reveals truth to mankind. It is not a new or strange phenomenon but is as old as the human race. The scriptures are replete with examples of God communicating with man. By revelation Adam and Enoch and Noah and Abraham and Moses and all of the faithful former-day Saints came to know of sacred things.

Basically: religion is all about how does God speak to man, and how can man know it. In other words, the spirit of prophecy, or revelation.

Nephi of ancient days taught this principle to his people. He said:
“And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men.

“But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.”³

The Holy Spirit does not teach the proud, the unteachable, the indolent, or the doubter. A deep desire for truth and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will prepare one’s heart to be taught spiritual things.

Conversely, anyone who has a deep desire for truth and who combines that with a seed of faith - like, even the faith that you might someday possibly be able to have faith, is promised by Jesus Christ himself that he will receive answers. Ask and ye shall receive. Seek and ye shall find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. It is likely not to come in an expected way, but the promise is sure. God answers earnest prayers.

Because, duh, he loves us.

The Lord Jesus Christ directs His work on the earth by revelation through the Holy Spirit. The power of this revelatory Spirit moves and motivates an army of more than 52,000 missionaries who take the gospel message to the four corners of the earth. When they are successful in their work, it is because of the witness they bear, a witness accompanied and confirmed by the power of the Holy Ghost.

At the end of 2016 there were just under 71,000 missionaries. Apparently that number has shrunk to 65,000 missionaries. I dunno exactly why, but it's probably good that some people are not serving full-time missions. It is possible that my anxiety would have disqualified me from serving a full-time proselyting mission. I guess I won't ever know, though someday I do hope to serve a mission with Danny. Especially a records-acquisition mission or something cool like that.

The Lord describes His emissaries as weak, unlearned, and despised. But He promises that through their efforts He will “thrash the nations by the power of [His] Spirit.”⁴

When President Hinckley returned from the British Isles last fall, he told us of an interview he had with a member of the British Broadcasting Company Radio Services. The reporter asked President Hinckley, “How do you expect people to listen to these callow youth?” President Hinckley had to explain to some of us that callow meant immature, inexperienced, and lacking sophistication. Then he pointed out to this reporter that “people do receive them and listen to them. They are wholesome. They are bright, they are alert, they are … clean.”⁵

And then at the general conference priesthood session held in October of last year, he said, speaking of the missionaries: “They are a miracle. … They speak out of their hearts, with personal conviction. Each is … an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their power comes not of their learning in the things of the world. Their power comes of faith, and prayer, and humility.”⁶

Jesus’ commandment to preach the gospel to all nations is obeyed as the servants of God bear testimony, in humility, across the earth. And the Lord responds to their sacrifices and bears witness of their words by revelation.

If you want to receive revelation, you need to humble yourself, try to seek answers both by studying and also by divine supplication, and most importantly, you need to wait until you receive answers. The answers will come. When they do, you have to be humble enough to receive them.