In his new book Learning to Listen, Elder Dale G. Renlund shares a powerful story about how we can prepare to receive revelation—not just for ourselves but also to support others.
“Life-changing revelation is not reserved for prophets,” he writes. “When we study the scriptures, the Holy Ghost can bring to our remembrance passages that we can use to help others.”
What We Need to Do
In 1984, Elder Renlund served as a bishop in Baltimore, Maryland. A world-renowned eye surgeon named Ronald G. Michels joined the Church during this time and later developed a life-threatening cancer.
Although his doctors recommended chemotherapy, Ronald received a bleak prognosis—he would likely not survive for more than six months, even with treatment. Some Church members urged Ronald to not take the medicine in order to demonstrate his faith in God. Ronald felt unsure about what to do and sought Elder Renlund’s counsel.
“He told me his situation, the advice of his doctors, and the advice of some Church members,” Elder Renlund writes. “He said, ‘Dale, you are my bishop. If you tell me to take the pills, I will. If you tell me not to, I won’t.’”
Elder Renlund says that as he thought about how to respond, the Spirit prompted him to share a scripture he had studied recently. He writes:
“As I struggled to formulate a response, a scriptural passage came to my mind that seemed applicable. I remembered that my wife and I had recently read from the Book of Mormon the letter Captain Moroni had written to the governor of the land, Pahoran. In encouraging Pahoran to give more support to the armies that were fighting for freedom, Moroni wrote: ‘Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain.’
“Moroni repeated himself for emphasis: ‘Or do ye suppose that the Lord will still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?’ (Alma 60:11, 21).
“I asked Ron to read these verses and then asked, ‘What do these verses teach you?’
“He replied, ‘I think it means that I should take the pills and continue to exercise my faith.’
“He took his prescribed medicine, followed the advice of his doctors—making use of the means that the Lord had provided—and exercised his extraordinary faith. He lived much longer than expected, approximately eight years.”
Reflecting on this experience, Elder Renlund recognizes that the Holy Ghost brought these verses to his mind to help his friend.
“Ron knew it as well,” he says. “It was key to receiving the revelation that answered his question.”
Since then, he has prioritized reading the scriptures to prepare to be receptive to similar promptings. He writes, “Over time I have come to know that one of the most important personal, private acts of devotion that qualify me for personal revelation is studying and pondering the scriptures.”
Recognize how revelation works
More articles for you:
▶ Elder Renlund’s counsel to a man whose confidence in receiving revelation was deeply shaken
▶ How to open your heart to receive more revelation
▶ My life-changing realization about how the Spirit speaks to us
