Chapter 22

How Can We Tell the Difference between True and Counterfeit Forms of Revelation?

"O be wise; what can I say more?" (Jacob 6:12).

Learning to Recognize True Revelation

If:

• There is truly counterfeit revelation, as we have now shown there is; and
• The counterfeit forms are so imitative of the real thing; as we have now shown they are; and
• These counterfeit forms are an ever-present possibility;

Then:

How do we tell the difference?

Fortunately, the Lord has not left us to work this out on our own. He has given us the principles that govern the giving and receiving of revelation (chapters 13–20). From these we can derive some practical guidelines, or tools, that help us in determining if something is true revelation or not.

What makes the guidelines truly operative, however, is that we also have the Spirit. The Spirit will help us discern between true and false revelation if we earnestly seek for the Lord's guidance. The Prophet Joseph made a statement on false spirits that is worthy of repeating:

The great difficulty lies in the ignorance of the nature of spirits, of the laws by which they are governed, and the signs by which they may be known; if it requires the Spirit of God to know the things of God; . . . the spirit of the devil can only be unmasked through that medium.¹

Here then are some guide-lines and questions we can use as "markers" to help us evaluate revelatory experiences. Since they are based on principles already discussed, only brief reference will be made to these principles here.

Guideline 1: Is What Is "Revealed" in Harmony with the Gospel and in Keeping with the Nature of God including the order he has established in the church?

God does not lie, nor does He ever contradict Himself. He never seeks to confuse or trick us by sending false spiritual messages to test us.

As a simple example: God has said: "He that looketh upon a woman to lust after her shall deny the faith, and shall not have the Spirit" (D&C 42:23). Yet one young struggling missionary told me that the Spirit told him that as long as he doesn't do anything more than watch it, there is not that much harm in pornography.

Another aspect of this has to do with the nature of God. All of God's attributes are held in perfection. He is all powerful, all knowing, perfectly loving, perfectly holy. Nothing the Father and the Son do—and nothing they have the Spirit do for them—will ever run counter to that perfect nature. Once we understand that, our desire becomes to emulate those characteristics in our own lives. And we also desire to approach God in all reverence and with a great respect for His sacred and holy nature.

A simple example: Contention is completely opposite to God's nature. Yet some missionaries and members feel "inspired" to argue or contend about religion, engaging in what someone once characterized as a "scriptural artillery duel." Sadly, they think they are being courageous and doing God's will when in actuality they are offending the Spirit.

We have earlier shown that God's house is a house of order. Here is another aspect of this guideline. Testing something against the proper order of things helps to avoid confusion and gives members a clear measure to help determine whether something is really coming through the Spirit to them.

A simple example: A well-meaning neighbor told a woman who had just given birth to a premature baby, and then lost the child, that if her husband had taken the time to give her a priesthood blessing before rushing her to the hospital, the baby wouldn't have died. The grieving mother believed her and grew bitter to think that God would punish them for such forgetfulness in a time of extremely high stress. Though she came from a strong, active home, she left Church activity for an extended period of time.*

Questions to Ask Ourselves for Evaluation:

• Does the claimed revelation contradict gospel principles or Church programs and procedures as established by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve?
• Is the purported revelation (and how it was given) in harmony with God's nature; that is, is it reverent, orderly, sacred, decorous, enlightening, sensible, natural, holy, dignified, and uplifting?
• When we hear a sensational rumor or prophecy or a new interpretation of doctrine or scripture, or a "faith-promoting" story, do we check to see if it came through established patterns of communication from those who lead the Church?
• Is someone without priesthood keys or designated authority trying to direct or correct someone for whom they have no responsibility?

Guideline 2: Does What Is Given Edify?

Moroni taught that a clear test of whether something is from God or Satan is whether it leads us to do good, to be better, in a word, to draw closer to Christ (see Moroni 7:16–18). As noted earlier, edification means to lift one spiritually, to build a stronger spiritual foundation; to make someone stronger in their discipleship. And the Lord has flatly stated: "That which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness" (D&C 50:23).

A simple example: So-called revelations that are titillating to the senses or speculative or sensational, or that lead us to act in raucous or irreverent or inappropriate ways do not edify, and therefore are not of God.

Questions to Ask Ourselves for Evaluation:

• Does what is given in the revelation lead us to do good and to strive to be more like the Father and the Son?
• Did this supposed revelatory experience bring light and truth, enlightenment and understanding to our minds and hearts?

Guideline 3: Does What Is Given Go Counter to the Principle of Spiritual Self-Reliance?

In Chapter 17, we saw that the Lord has clearly stated that He is not pleased with those who must be commanded in all things. He calls such a person "a slothful and not a wise servant" (D&C 58:26). In several places the Lord has also taught that some things do not matter to Him and that we can do "as seemeth you good" (D&C 60:5).

A simple example: Taking too literally the promise that the Spirit will direct us in all aspects of our lives, one couple, sincerely desiring to be "more spiritual," would not choose which kind of cereal to eat for breakfast each morning until they had received a "confirmation" from the Spirit.

Questions to Ask Ourselves for Evaluation:

• Are we expecting to be led by the Spirit in every tiny, detailed aspect of our lives, including trivial things—such as what brand of toothpaste to buy, or what cereal to eat for breakfast—that do not matter to the Lord? (see D&C 58:26–27).
• Could this possibly be a case where the Lord is telling us that this decision is our choice, that it doesn't matter to Him, or that either alternative is acceptable to Him?
• Are we always using language such as: "The Spirit told me to do this" or "The Spirit has told me where to go" or "I don't do anything until I have a confirmation" or "I never prepare for a class. I just wait as the class begins until the Spirit tells me what to teach"?

Guideline 4: Does the Motive Behind This "Revelation" Seem to Be to Get Personal Gain, Glory, or Benefit for the Receiver?

There will always be attendant blessings when the Lord gives us direction and guidance through the Spirit. His promise is that if we ask, we will receive, if we seek, we shall find, and if we knock, it will be opened to us (see Matthew 7:7–8). However, He also warns that we should ask only for that which is "expedient" for us, and which "is right" (D&C 88:64–65; Mosiah 4:21; 3 Nephi 18:20). Often false revelation is generated by ego; that is, even as certain individuals claim such things are coming from the Lord, the underlying motivation is to bring attention, glory, adulation, or personal gain to themselves. Of such we should be especially wary.

A simple example: A brother sharply critical of his stake president's "spirituality and worthiness" offered himself as the new replacement so that all could be "put right" in the stake.

Questions to Ask Ourselves for Evaluation:

• Does the revelation further the work of the Lord and bring glory to Him rather than glory, benefit, or personal gain to the individual receiving it?
• Does the revelation pertain to a financial scheme that is being touted as "inspired" but that will, if successful, actually bring the greatest benefit to the person who has received the "revelation"?
• Even when there might not be financial gain, does what the person is teaching or claiming to be true bring him or her personal fame, glory, importance, or adulation and therefore qualify as a form of priestcraft (2 Nephi 26:29)?

Guideline 5: Has the Lord Confirmed That This Particular Revelation Comes from Him?

We have noted several times throughout this book that one of the things that typically seems to accompany true spiritual experiences is a confirmation of some kind. There are exceptions to that, but generally the Lord lets us know that revelations have come through His grace and mercy. The confirmations don't always come immediately; in some cases they may be delayed for some time, but they do come.

A simple example: The person who was questioning whether God loved her had an impression not to eat at a certain restaurant, which she ignored. Later she became very ill through food poisoning, which not only confirmed the validity of the warning but gave her the witness she was seeking that God did love her (see pp. 103–4).

Questions to Ask Ourselves for Evaluation:

• After following what we thought might be promptings of the Spirit, did we receive some kind of clear confirmation that what we received was from the Lord?
• Only the Lord knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts (see D&C 6:16). Have we received something in our mind or heart that no one else except the Lord could have known?
• After careful prayer, pondering and honest searching of the heart, does it
feel right? (see D&C 9:8–9).
• Do I feel at peace with this decision or with accepting what was received (see D&C 6:23)?

Guideline 6: Can We Honestly Say That Our Greatest Desire Is to Do God's Will?

One of the most important things we can do is to search our own hearts with scrupulous honesty. We must examine our motives, our desires, our actions, our conclusions. One of the things that should become a standard part of our daily prayers is not only "Thy will be done," but "Heavenly Father, help me to be sensitive to Thy voice. Help me to recognize revelation when it comes, and to distinguish it from the false voices of the world or my own emotions."

Earlier I cited the case of a young bishop who had had a remarkable experience while giving a priesthood blessing to a young mother who had suddenly fallen unconscious and had been rushed to the hospital (see page 8).

The feeling that came to him as he was speaking was so positive and so powerful that he was sure it was from the Lord. Convinced of that, he then pronounced some very wonderful and specific promises for her. Yet she passed away a few hours later, contradicting what he had said.

As he shared that with me many years later, he was still agonizing over it. When I asked what conclusions he had come to about the experience, his answer was a wonderful lesson about how we can let our own emotions get in the way. He said:

I know without question that the feelings I had were from the Lord. But in my great desire to bless this woman and her family I put my own interpretation on what I was feeling. Now I understand that the Lord was saying to me, "It's all right. I am here. I will bless her. I am going to call her home, but this is my will. Be at peace, and let the family be at peace." But I wanted so badly to intervene and stop this husband's suffering that I assumed the Lord was saying, "I am going to heal her, so you can make her promises about staying longer in mortality."

Then came a wonderful reminder for all of us. He said, "I have never again given a blessing without being very conscious that I must speak for the Lord and not just express my own desires."

Questions to Ask Ourselves for Evaluation:

After honestly examining our own hearts can we truly say that:

• Our motives are pure, that is, that our greatest desire is to promote God's work and not some selfish purpose of our own?
• We are truly willing to accept revelation in God's "own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will" (D&C 88:68)?
• We are not seeking to "counsel the Lord" (Jacob 4:10) and tell Him how to solve our problems or what He needs to do for us?
• We are not making the same mistake as Oliver Cowdery when the Lord told him, "You took no thought save it was to ask me" (D&C 9:7)?
• We are not asking for something that is not "expedient" for us?
• We are not asking for revelation on an issue concerning which God has already told us what needs to be done?
• Our own needs are deliberately pushed way down so that what we desire most is to be in harmony with God's will?

In Summary

One of the paramount purposes of this mortal existence is to learn how to receive, recognize, and then respond to the voice of the Lord. Part of that challenge lies in distinguishing His voice from all other voices, including our own emotions, false revelation from the evil one, and the subtle siren voices of the world.

Gratefully, the Lord has given us much help in this matter. He has told us what His voice is like. He has taught us how the Holy Spirit works with us. He has given us principles to guide and direct us in this challenging quest. Most of all, He has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us. Early on in this book, we suggested that a well-known scripture might appropriately be amended to read, "For God so loved the world that He gave us the gift of the Holy Ghost." Thankfully, it is the Spirit that makes the process of revelation work and helps us to distinguish His voice from all others.

Notes

Note: All emphasis in scriptures in this work has been added by the author.

* This is an actual case shared with me after I had spoken on personal revelation in a fireside. This woman who had lost the baby told me she had not been to Church for several years, then told me why. Before I could do anything more then shake my head is disbelief, she said, “But my neighbor didn’t have any stewardship over me, did she?” “No, she didn’t,” I agreed. “Then that couldn’t have been from the Lord?” I assured her that I could not believe that (1) the Lord required that couple to stop and give a blessing when she was hemorrhaging and in danger of losing her life as well; (2) that a loving Heavenly Father was punishing her; and therefore (3) her neighbor. Though well-meaning, was out of order in taking in upon herself to correct this couple for what she thought they should or should not have done’ The woman was weeping by then and said something like, “Thank you for teaching me that principle . That will make all the difference now. “

^ 1. Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:573–74.