Several years ago during the Saturday session of a Stake Conference the Area Authority of the Church who was speaking to us asked if there were any questions. I had a question and it was, "How do you know the difference between inspiration and emotions?" His answer: "It's a process."
It took me some time to understand this answer but over the next year I started to see how it truly applies to life. Gaining understanding of spiritual things is a process. It takes time and experiences to learn the basic principles of the gospel, including discerning what is inspiration (personal revelation from the Holy Ghost) and what is personal emotions.
In The Doctrine and Covenants the Lord tells us how to know what comes from Him:
"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
"Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation..." (D&C 8:2-3).
One of the ways I've learned to discern answers to prayers is to ask myself three questions:
- Does it make sense to my mind?
- Does it feel right in my heart?
- Is it in line with keeping God's commandments?
Inspiration often doesn't come in the way or time frame that we expect. Elder Robert D. Hales said:
"Revelation comes on the Lord’s timetable, which often means we must move forward in faith, even though we haven’t received all the answers we desire" ("Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets," Ensign, Nov 2007, 86–89).
Through time and personal experiences I have more fully been able to discern what thoughts and feelings are inspiration, and what are only emotions.
Learn 10 ways to prepare for personal revelation or how you can know that something is true or not.
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