OBTAINING the Spirit THROUGH Counseling TOGETHER Five principles General Authorities use to invite the Spirit into their councils.

By R. Val Johnson Church Magazines

s members of the Church, we can Principle 1: Pray, Ponder, experience the guidance of the Holy and Counsel Together A Ghost in our personal lives. Whether Before being called to the Quorum of the we are struggling with a family challenge, a Twelve, Elder Robert D. Hales learned from problem at work, or a Church assignment, President Boyd K. Packer the first vital step in we can receive divine direction if we will obtaining the Spirit when seeking inspiration ask, seek, and knock (see Matthew 7:7; D&C with another: praying, pondering, and coun- 88:63). The Church magazines and manuals seling together. He related: are filled with stories of members and leaders “We were assigned to reorganize a stake who have sought revelation and received it. and began by kneeling in prayer together. These stories usually reflect a solitary effort After interviewing priesthood leaders and involving individual study, prayer, fasting on having prayer, Elder Packer suggested that occasion, sincere repentance if necessary, and we walk around the building together. As we moving forward in faith. But we can obtain walked, he demonstrated a vital principle of direction from our Heavenly Father in another seeking . . . revelation—the principle the Lord way, and it can be quite powerful. This is the taught Oliver Cowdery: ‘Behold, . . . you must revelatory process of counseling with others. study it out in your mind’ (D&C 9:8). We pon- The principles that guide a person to receive dered our assignment, counseled together, and individual revelation are much the same as listened to the voice of the Spirit. When we those that influence members of a group, went back, we prayed and studied further, and but other principles are involved as well. then we were prepared to receive revelation.” 1 Because members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles regularly Principle 2: Seek Unity counsel together to arrive at decisions, their The next principle is to seek unity in experiences illustrate these principles in action. making the decision. Such unity is difficult

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We can obtain direction from our Heavenly Father in a way that can be quite powerful. This is the revelatory process of counseling with others.

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY CODY BELL AND CRAIG DIMOND June 2012 37 

to achieve without the Spirit. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve related an experience common in meetings of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. He said that a proposal was brought to a meeting, and the president of the quorum at the time, President Howard W. Hunter (1907– 1995), said, “This is so critically impor- tant [that] I would like to hear the feeling of each member of the Twelve independently about this proposal.” Elder Scott remembered, “We were meets a time schedule or to check off saw tears streaming down his face. going around the circle giving our an agenda item.” 2 Revelation had been given to both of feelings: ‘I think that’s all right; seems us—but only by continuing to seek all right to me.’ [Then] it came to one of Principle 3: Move Forward our Heavenly Father’s will as we the members of the Twelve, and . . . he with Faith moved forward in faith.” 3 said, ‘I don’t know why; I can’t put Elder Scott’s comment about not my finger on any specific thing that I forcing a decision is echoed by Elder Principle 4: Let the Spirit Help You don’t feel good about, anything that I’d Hales, who shared a story that illus- See Others’ Points of View change, but I think we’re about ready trates the need for patience and faith Counseling together is not always a to commit a disaster.’” Elder Scott said in seeking heaven’s help: smooth experience. Individuals with that this one comment stopped the “As a General Authority, I was strong opinions can prevent a group discussion. He remembered that when assigned to help reorganize a stake from coming to a consensus. In such the same item came up on the agenda presidency under the direction of situations, humility and a willingness at the next meeting, President Hunter Elder Ezra Taft Benson. After praying, to be guided by the Spirit can move looked around the room. No one interviewing, studying, and praying the group through the impasse. said anything. Then President Hunter again, Elder Benson asked if I knew Elder Scott gave this advice: wisely said, “I see there’s still unsettled who the new president would be. I “Humility is teachability by the Holy feelings about this; we’re not going to said I had not received that inspiration Spirit. . . . When we are humble in that make a decision today.” yet. He looked at me for a long time sense, we can be prompted by the Elder Scott continued, “Now that’s and replied he hadn’t either. However, Lord. . . . the way I think the Lord wants us we were inspired to ask three worthy “[One] way the Spirit might guide to relate to each other—to not force priesthood holders to speak in the you is to lead you both to recog- things, not be in such a hurry . . . , Saturday evening session of confer- nize each other’s point of view. And but to truly let the Spirit guide, and ence. Moments after the third speaker when there are differences, to try and sometimes that takes time. But it’s bet- began, the Spirit prompted me that he understand where each one’s coming ter to make the right decision guided should be the new stake president. I from so that you can reach an agree-

by the Spirit than make one that looked over at President Benson and ment . . . that’s not powered by either BY CODY BELL PHOTO ILLUSTRATION

38 Ensign individual’s desires or point of view. . . . Francis M. Lyman, had decided, President Perfect Order “Another [way the Spirit might guide us is in] Lyman “was the first on his feet to say, in All Things the ability to change. We aren’t just necessar- ‘Brethren, I move that that becomes the opin- The Prophet ily born with the right decisions in our mind. ion and judgment of this Council.’” Joseph Smith taught a group of priesthood Sometimes we need to adjust . . . our perspec- The motion was seconded and then leaders a principle that tive. . . . The Twelve do this all the time by agreed upon unanimously. “Six months did all those in counsel talking about an issue. We may begin at oppo- not pass before the wisdom of that leader with one another site points, but we talk it through and the Spirit was demonstrated,” wrote President McKay.6 could well adopt: guides what [each person] says. . . . And pretty “When a council leader reaches a “Each [person in soon we’re beginning to coalesce an agree- decision,” Elder Ballard concluded, the council] should speak in his turn and ment—not a forced agreement—but an honest “the council members should sustain it in his place, and in 7 agreement and a direction to take. . . . wholeheartedly.” his time and season, “It generally requires some relaxation of Years ago, President Stephen L. Richards that there may be per­ my own feelings, some accommodation of (1879–1959), First Counselor to President fect order in all things; my own desires and feelings, so the group David O. McKay, testified that “in the spirit and . . . every man . . . can make a unanimous decision that is sat- under which we labor, men [and women] can should be sure that he isfactory but may not absolutely meet the get together with seemingly divergent views can throw light upon the subject rather than desires of every individual. You make some and far different backgrounds, and under spread darkness, . . . concession, not a major one necessarily, but the operation of that spirit, by counseling which may be done some concession—never a concession in together, they can arrive at an accord. . . . by men applying principle, but maybe in approach, so that we “I have no hesitancy in giving you the themselves closely to can get a decision that works.” 4 assurance, if you will confer in council as you study the mind and are expected to do, God will give you solu- will of the Lord, whose Spirit always makes Principle 5: Look to the Person Who tions to the problems that confront you.” 8 Presides to Confirm the Inspiration manifest and dem­ What works for the General Authorities onstrates the truth to Elder M. Russell Ballard shared an experi- can work for wards, branches, and fami- the understanding of ence President David O. McKay (1873–1970) lies—indeed, for any group of people, large all who are in posses­ related of a council meeting in which the or small—seeking inspiration from our sion of the Spirit.” Apostles were considering a question of great Heavenly Father. ◼ History of the Church, 2:370. importance. President McKay and the other NOTES Apostles “felt strongly about a certain course of 1. Robert D. Hales, “Personal Revelation: The Teachings and Examples of the Prophets,” Ensign, Nov. 2007, 87. action that should be taken, and they were pre- 2. Richard G. Scott, in “A Conversation on ‘Act under pared to share their feelings in a meeting with the Direction of the Spirit’” (interview, Leadership Enrichment Series for Church employees, Salt Lake the First Presidency. To their surprise, President City, Feb. 23, 2011). 3. Robert D. Hales, “Personal Revelation,” 87–88. Joseph F. Smith [President of the Church at the 4. Richard G. Scott, in “A Conversation on ‘Act under the time] did not ask for their opinion in the mat- Direction of the Spirit.’” 5. M. Russell Ballard, “Strength in Counsel,” Ensign, Nov. ter, as was his custom. Rather, ‘he arose and 1993, 78. 5 6. David O. McKay, Gospel Ideals, 264, in M. Russell said, “This is what the Lord wants.”’” Ballard, “Strength in Counsel,” 78. Even though the decision was different 7. M. Russell Ballard, “Strength in Counsel,” 78. 8. Stephen L. Richards, in Conference Report,

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY CODY BELL PHOTO ILLUSTRATION from what the President of the Twelve, Oct. 1953, 86.

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