Title: The Spirit of Revelation
Author: David A. Bednar
Publisher: Deseret Book
Genre: Inspirational/Biographical
Year Published: 2021
Number of Pages: 154
Binding: Hardback
ISBN-13: 978-162972-948-0
Price: $19.99
Reviewed by Trudy Thompson for the Association for Mormon Letters
Let me begin this review that by stating that I have never read or reviewed a more amazing book in my life! As I read this book to review it, I was jotting down nearly every other page number so that I could refer back to it! The Spirit of Revelation, by David A. Bednar, is a timely and badly needed volume. Elder Bednar wrote it to help us sort through the clamor and the clutter of our daily lives, in a pandemic world where now more than ever we need the sweet comforting Spirit of the Lord to guide and direct us.
Elder Bednar’s counsel and guidance is direct and comes with a warning: He quotes Joseph Smith’s counsel to the Saints, “Nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit, when they think they have the Spirit of God.” He then goes on to quote Proverbs 2:2, “Apply thine heart to understanding.” If what we know in our hearts is confirmed in our minds by the witness of the Holy Ghost, that understanding is a revealed conclusion and a spiritual gift.
As Elder Bednar and his wife Susan travel throughout the world teaching, preaching, reaching for the members and non-members alike, they discourage the taking of notes as they speak. Instead, they encourage people to tune into what thoughts, impressions, and feelings they are experiencing at the moment and to use those impressions to recognize the various forms of revelation in their lives
Throughout the book, many crucial principles are taught. These include: The Hearing What is Not Said Principle, The Line upon Line Principle, The Not Knowing Beforehand Principle, The Not My Will But Thine Principle, The Diligence and Heed Principle, and many more examples. Within each principle, Elder Bednar provides an example of a story from his life and encourages the reader to identify and find the correct principle involved as he continues to tutor and instruct us.
Elder Bednar goes on to instruct with this additional wise counsel:
In our homes and church classes and meetings, teaching, testifying and explaining the gospel the Lord’s Way includes observing, listening, and discerning as prerequisites to talking. The sequence of these four interrelated processes is significant. Please note that active observing and listening precede discernment-and that observing, listening, and discerning come before speaking. Employing this pattern requires a teacher or speaker to rely upon the Spirit of the Lord to identify and focus upon learners’ individual needs-both before and during a learning experience.
The Spirit of Revelation is meant to be studied, pondered, prayed about, utilized, and then studied and applied again and again. A one-time read-through will simply not suffice with Elder Bednar’s superb manual. Every Latter-day Saint home should have this in a prominent place for their constant use. Every Latter-day Saint Ward, Branch, or Mission Library should have this on its shelves. If we will but follow the loving guidance and instruction contained therein, we will indeed be on the right path to one day find ourselves weeping at the Feet of our Beloved Savior as we find our way back to Him!!