The Restoration Proclamation declares, “The promised Restoration goes forward through continuing revelation.” President Russell M. Nelson testified, “Revelation continues to flow from the Lord during this ongoing process of restoration” (“Hear Him,” General Conference, April 2020). And he added, “The ongoing Restoration needs ongoing revelation” (“The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” General Conference, October 2021).
This week’s Come, Follow Me lesson asks the following intriguing question: “Have you ever thought of yourself as part of the Restoration of the gospel?” It then gives us the following invitation: “As you prepare to study how the gospel was restored in the 1800s, you might start by pondering how it was restored in your life.”
If the Restoration of the gospel requires revelation, then the story of the Restoration in my life includes multiple occasions in which I have received personal revelation. It includes answers to prayers, affirming the truth of basic gospel principles and helping me to understand their application in my life. It includes moments when I just knew that a church leader had been chosen by God and was delivering a message with personal significance to me. It includes priesthood blessings I have received, including my patriarchal blessing, which have given me specific guidance and insight to help me make wise decisions.
And just as the global Restoration is still unfolding, my own personal Restoration of the gospel remains incomplete. I don’t yet fully understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I don’t yet fully apply it in my life. I continue to need God’s help to navigate changing challenges and opportunities which continually highlight opportunities for growth and development in my life. As the Savior continues to reveal His gospel to me, He continues to reveal me to myself—helping me see my weaknesses, my strengths, my vulnerabilities, and my eternal possibilities.
Lehi told his son Joseph that a future prophet would “work mighty wonders, and do that thing which is great in the sight of God, unto the bringing to pass much restoration unto the house of Israel” (2 Nephi 3:24). I like that phrase: “much restoration.” It implies that the work goes on, that no matter how much has already been restored, there is still more to come. Much but not all. We are all part of the ongoing Restoration. The gospel is being restored to us, one principle at a time, and we are also being restored. The heavens are open; God’s work of restoration continues for each of us.
Today, I will be grateful for the knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ which I have gained over time. I will remember that the Restoration is ongoing in my life, just as it is globally. I will continue to seek revelation, so that the work of personal restoration can move forward.
Awesomeness.
I just finished writing out the whole Book of Mormon. It took me over six years because I left myself open to what the Lord would have me learn about what was happening in the scriptures. I’d write them down as thoughts, Now I realize those thoughts were personal revelation for me. How I love that we are part of an ongoing revelation church. I’m thankful the Lord trust us to talk to us today, for what’s important to know today. On going revelation is a blessing.
What a great experience, and thank you for sharing! I can relate to receiving personal revelation as I try to “translate” scriptural passages into my own language.
Love these thoughts! Thank you!
Thanks for the comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the post.