We sometimes talk about hearing a voice or feeling a burning in the bosom. But that may not be the way you sense the Holy Ghost. Sometimes we do ourselves a disservice by talking about how the Holy Ghost speaks to us because for some people, the Holy Ghost doesn’t “speak.” They would not describe receiving communication from the Holy Ghost as “hearing.” The Spirit may speak with a voice occasionally to some, but He can also “speak” with feelings, with thoughts, or even with dreams and visions, and it will always be within the framework that God has revealed.

The scriptures describe various ways in which the Holy Spirit communicates:

• The voice of the Spirit is not loud, but gentle and calm, like a whisper; it is simple, discreet, and of remarkable purity (see 1 Kings 19:11–12; Helaman 5:30–33; 3 Nephi 11:3; Doctrine and Covenants 85:6). While some may refer to the Spirit “hitting them over the head with a club,” that has not been my experience. The whisperings of the Spirit are delicate, easy to miss if we are not focused, much like the third heart sound or the murmur of the heart condition known as mitral stenosis.

  The delicacy of personal revelation may be easily missed because it frequently comes without a full explanation. You may feel prompted to take a certain course of action. When a friend or family member asks, “Why?,” it may be difficult to explain because you do not have a good explanation. An explanation may be beyond what was revealed to you. The friend or loved one may then find a flaw in the reasoning you try to provide, and you can very quickly talk your way out of following the prompting. In this situation, return to your original impression and avoid trying to fabricate an explanation.

• The voice of the Spirit can be piercing and burning (see Helaman 5:30–33; 3 Nephi 11:3; Doctrine and Covenants 9:8; 85:6).¹ Such a communication should cause us to pay attention. This is usually a persistent feeling that is not easily dismissed. It is distinct and penetrating, not to be ignored. It is often a way to get your immediate attention.

• The voice of the Spirit touches both the mind and the heart (see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3). When both mind and heart are involved in communication, the surety of that communication is enhanced. Communication from the Spirit may be confused with sentimentality or empathy. But when the Spirit touches both mind and heart, you can be more confident of the inspiration.

  Touching the mind and heart need not originate simultaneously. The genesis of the spiritual prompting may come first to the heart, with feelings such as empathy for suffering. This feeling may prompt reasoning. Then enlightenment may come as to a proper course of action. Conversely, one might reason oneself to a course of action and then later feel a confirmation in the heart.

• The voice of the Spirit brings peace, joy, and hope, not fear, anxiety, and worry (see Doctrine and Covenants 6:22–23; 11:13). While spiritual communications can cause one to “tremble” (see Helaman 5:30–33; 3 Nephi 11:3), generally the sensations of peace, joy, and hope predominate. Even in dire situations, the Spirit can whisper peace.

• The voice of the Spirit will prompt you to do good, not evil (see Omni 1:25; Moroni 7:16–17; Doctrine and Covenants 11:12–14). Church members sometimes ask, “How do I know whether the thought I have is my own or if it is from the Holy Ghost?” Perhaps a better question to pose to ourselves is this: “Should I act on this particular thought?” The prophet Mormon answered this second question. He taught: “Every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. ... The way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge. ... I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil” (Moroni 7:13, 15–17).

  The Lord gave similar instructions to Hyrum Smith. The Savior said, “And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit” (Doctrine and Covenants 11:12).

  These are the criteria to determine whether we should act on a particular thought—it promotes believing in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ; it promotes loving and serving Them; and it promotes doing good.² If the thought meets these criteria, then does it really matter whether it was planted directly by the Holy Ghost in that exact moment or if the thought arose due to a lifetime of experiences and prior decisions? In reality, it does not.

• The voice of the Spirit is enlightening and delightful, not confusing (see Alma 32:28; Doctrine and Covenants 11:13). If things seem confusing, one can rest assured that further revelation is needed because revelation from God brings clarity. To the early members of the Church in this dispensation, the Savior said that revelations “were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding” (Doctrine and Covenants 1:24). God’s intent is not to baffle us but to help us. When Alma was “weighed down with sorrow ... and anguish of soul, because of the wickedness of the people” whose city he had departed, an angel delivered him this message: “Blessed art thou, Alma; therefore, lift up thy head and rejoice, for thou hast great cause to rejoice; ... And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city ... and preach again unto the people.” The message was clear. It was enlightening and not confusing. Alma knew precisely what he had to do. He “returned speedily to the land” (Alma 8:14–16, 18).

  A similar thing happened to another prophet of God. When Nephi, the son of Helaman, was “much cast down because of the wickedness of the people ... , a voice came unto him” announcing that he was blessed because of his diligence in doing God’s will. He was promised “that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to [God’s] will.” He was instructed to continue preaching. Nephi did not even stop to go “unto his own house, but did return unto the multitudes ... and began to declare unto them the word of the Lord” (Helaman 10:3–12).

  We also know that “the works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught” (Doctrine and Covenants 3:1). If we are doing something and it is “frustrating,” we might ask ourselves if we are following God’s direction or trying to do it in a way that is not His way.
  

Recognize how revelation works

In this book, Dale G. Renlund helps readers understand both the principles and practice of personal revelation. Drawing on gospel truths and his personal experiences as a cardiologist, Renlund explains how personal revelation works. Like learning to use a stethoscope, learning to recognize the Spirit requires effort and practice. The spiritual skill must be developed over a lifetime, but the effort brings great blessings. Available at Deseret Book, deseretbook.com, and via Bookshelf+.

More

More articles for you:
▶ A way to hear God’s answers more clearly when you’re making decisions
▶ One of the most important ways to prepare for life-changing revelation
▶ Is a thought from me or the Spirit? Elder Renlund’s advice for when you feel uncertain

Notes
1. See also Boyd K. Packer, “The Candle of the Lord,” Ensign, January 1983.
2. See Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ (2023), 109; Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley (1997), 260–61.