Law and Love by Elder Oaks

This week's reading will be Law and Love by Elder Oaks from the Saturday Afternooon session. It's on page 26 in your Ensign.

This is THE TALK that spoke to me when it was given. I've been looking forward to studying it in depth.

Revelation

• “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Over the past year or two this promise has stuck out to me over and over again in my stripture study. I'm curious to know how many times this promise is repeated in the scriptures. It is powerful! It's a promise!
• "And I have leared that I always need to be ready to receive it (revelation)." In my youth, I remember reading in my youth, a quote from the General Young Women's priesident that said, in essence, each of us needs some time to be alone with God each day and to tell him how things really are with us. As we commit ouselves to have spiritual quiet time each day, we open ourselves up for revelation to flow how and when the Lord sees fit.
• I appreciated Elder Nelson's explanation on why it is difficult to follow a prophet:"A desire to follow the prophet requires much effort because the natural man knows very little of God and even less of His prophet. Paul wrote that “the natural man [receives] not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” The change from being a natural man to a devoted disciple is a mighty one." The word "foolishness" stuck out to me. Just like, we often don't heed spiritual promptings, because they seem foolish. It takes faith to trust the words of a living prophet and heed them. We don't know until we obey, what blessings may be predicated upon that obedience. So, what have you done for someone today? (As counciled by Pres. Monson?) Prophetic council is so easy to interpret as a good suggestion, rather that council from a living prophet of God, isn't it? Maybe it doesn't seem foolish, but sometimes it doesn't seem all that significant; but I trust it is.

• One must ask with a sincere heart, really intending to follow the divine direction given. How often do we say our prayers, saying the things "we should say" without really thinking about it? I have been doing it way too much lately. It seems like life is going by so fast, my intent is going down hill. I'm going to work on that.
• I also really like his story of saying something to a man that had a great impact on that man many years later. We are always planting little seeds for good or ill-be it words or actions. We just never know what someone will remember.
• "God's long-established pattern of teaching His children through prophets assures us that He will bless each prophet and He will bless those who heed prophetic counsel." This was one of those quotes that hit me-mostly because it just makes plain sense. Following the prophet has always been the best, and it always will be the best.