Learning to Listen: Principles for Personal Revelation

by Dale G. Renlund

The gift of the Holy Ghost is available to all those who have been confirmed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yet how often do we seek personal revelation to help guide us in our lives? And how confident are we in our ability to listen to and understand what the Holy Ghost is trying to tell us?

While most Latter-day Saints understand the principles of personal revelation in the abstract, many struggle to apply them. In this book, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles helps readers understand both the principles and practice of personal revelation and addresses the sincere desire of many Latter-day Saints to have the influence of the Holy Ghost more abundantly in their lives.

Drawing on gospel truths and his personal experiences as a cardiologist—including an extended metaphor on the delicate art of listening through a stethoscope—Elder 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.

When Latter-day Saints begin to regularly seek and rely on the Holy Ghost, they can experience a greater sense of assurance, peace, and hope in their mortal experiences. They may become more able to help those they love and more capable of relying on the Savior as their divine, kind Heavenly Friend and of receiving the comfort and direction He offers.

“If we are trying to keep the Holy Ghost with us and desire to improve our skill over time,” writes Elder Renlund, “God will bless us to have His Spirit with us, especially if we desire it more abundantly. My hope is that the principles and applications in this book will help improve your abilities and enable your confidence to grow in receiving, understanding, and acting on personal revelation.”

Genres: Religion, Lds, Audiobook, Church, Nonfiction, Faith, Spirituality

160 pages, Hardcover

Published August 18, 2025

About the author

Elder Dale G. Renlund was named an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on October 3, 2015.

Elder Renlund had served as a General Authority Seventy since April 2009 prior to being named to the Quorum of the Twelve. He previously served in the presidency of the Africa Southeast Area.

After receiving B.A. and M.D. degrees from the University of Utah, Elder Renlund received further medical and research training at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was a Professor of Medicine at the University of Utah and the Medical Director of the Utah Transplantation Affiliated Hospitals (UTAH) Cardiac Transplant Program.

Elder Renlund has served in numerous church callings including full-time missionary in Sweden, stake president, bishop, and Area Seventy.

Elder Renlund was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, in November 1952. He married Ruth Lybbert in 1977. They are the parents of one daughter.

Reviews

[Shauna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this one and now will read the hard copy so I can take notes. Recommend!

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterclass on personal revelation. Jam-packed with principles and analogies that teach personal revelation in a very relevant and easy-to-understand way. Loved it.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to it and now I'd like to go and get a hardback copy so I can mark it and add notes. I loved his comments about the sacrament and many others I'd like to remember.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The analogies between auscultation (listening to the heart with a stethescope) and listening to personal revelation are apt. Renlund equates the two and weaves a narrative that is comforting and inspiring.

Takeaways:

It takes practice to tune into personal revelation and it is worth the effort.

There is no time-line and no one is behind.

Seek help if a physical or mental anomaly is preventing you from feeling God's love for you.

[Michele]

Insightful. I marked this book up! (I love to do that in books like this ;)) This book inspired me to be more intentional in my every day living to go to Him and strive to hear Him and just as importantly, to act on what i hear and feel more consistently. Truth is, God is anxious for us to always feel His love for us. God is so good!

[Karen Danielson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short book teaching principles of personal revelation. Nothing we don’t already know but everything we constantly need to be reminded of.

[V Back · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is with reading again

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned several new things from this little book. I loved his shared experiences so that I can know to understand my own.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book on receiving revelation by Elder Renlund
Listened on audiobook

[Jason Burt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great advice for receiving personal revelation with a great analogy to heart doctors and auscultation (listening to sounds from the heart with a stethoscope).

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wanted more thoughts about those struggling with depression and anxiety and struggling with the spirit. But perhaps that's beyond the scope of this book. Otherwise good council.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book! Some favorite quotes:

"Knowing and doing are intertwined, especially in addressing the important topic of seeking and relying on the Holy Ghost in our lives (p. x)."

"The stethoscope helps doctors hear sounds that they otherwise would not be able to hear (p. 1)."

"Some sounds are easy to perceive; others are more difficult. It took practice to hear subtle but still important sounds... I became skilled enough to hear even the most difficult, low-pitched sounds... I learned, though, that if I was exposed to loud noises, like those at a sports event, my hearing was slightly diminished the following day and my ability to use the stethoscope expertly was impaired... So, I had to intentionally focus and pay attention. I wanted to make sure I heard all the sounds, and I did not want to fabricate or imagine sounds that were not there (p. 2)."

"'What good is this hanging on a wall?' (p. 4)"

"Just as physicians need to use a stethoscope competently to help their patients, we need to learn to skillfully rely on the Holy Ghost... Perhaps we are guilty of figuratively rendering a beautiful gift useless (p. 4)."

"'In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost' (Russell M. Nelson, p. 5)."

"If we do not have a burning desire to learn how to access and listen to the Holy Ghost better--how to hear and be confident in what we hear--we will probably remain novices with mediocre skills (p. 5)."

"The power of the Holy Ghost can come upon a person before baptism and witness that the gospel is true. But the right to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost is a gift that can be received only by the laying on of hands by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder after authorized baptism into the Church of Jesus Christ (p. 6)."

"Latter-day Saints who do not become competent in seeking and relying on the Holy Ghost are living below their sacred privilege (p. 7)."

"As our skill in seeking and relying on the Spirit increases, our confidence to act on promptings from the Spirit also increases (p. 9)."

"God's love is perfect. Our ability to sense that love is not. There are things that we can do to increaseour receptivity to God's love (p. 9)."

"The Holy Ghost is the third member of the Godhead. He is often referred to as the Spirit or the Spirit of God, and He performs vital roles in our lives. He bears witness of the Father and the Son, reveals the truth of all things, and sanctifies those who have repented and been baptized. A testimony borne of the Holy Ghost provides personal assurance of the gospel's truth, offers guidance, and empowers us to share out beliefs with others (p. 13)."

"The Holy Ghost's first purpose is to testify of truth (p. 14)."

"The second revelaed purpose of the Holy Ghost is to guide us. He directs us in doing good and helps us become better. He leads us to do what is right. He helps us repent because the Holy Ghost is the agent of change (p. 16)."

"Third, the Holy Ghost comforts us. His companionship enhances our feelings of self-worth, fills us with confidence before God, and helps us to be optimistic even in the face of difficult circumstances (p. 19)."

"'Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for priesthood power that makes it possible that no matter what happens, we can be together forever.'... As Ruth's prayer ascended to heaven, the Holy Ghost conveyed the doctrine of eternal families from my head to my heart (p. 20)."

"'The gift of the Holy Ghost is one of the greatest gifts that God has given His children' (p. 20)."

"For the Holy Ghost to testify of truth, provide guidance, and proffer comfort to us, we need to learn how to listen (p. 21)."

"'Specialists learn more and more about less and less until finally they know everything about nothing' (p. 22)."

"With the help of the Holy Ghost, we can transform our divine nature into our eternal destiny, but only if we recognize the framework within which the Holy Ghost functions to bring us personal revelation... reliance on prior revelation (direction from living apostles and prophets, handbooks and manuals), reliance on scriptures, personal purview and prerogative, and harmonization with commandments and covenants (p. 23)."

"Feasting on the words of Christ, as found in the scriptures, stimulates personal revelation (p. 24)."

"It is remarkable how frequently a Church leader will direct someone struggling with an issue to read the Book of Mormon (p. 24)."

"The scriptures also teach us how to receive personal revelation. We ask for what is right ad good and not for what is contrary to God's will (p. 24)."

"The Lord revealed that 'no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church except my servant Joseph Smith... until I shall appoint... another in his stead' (D&C 28:2, 7, p. 25)."

"I did not need to pray about this request for one simple but profound reason: Only the prophet receives revelation for the Church. It would be 'contrary to the economy of God' for others to receive such revelation, which belongs to the prophet's purview and prerogative. Personal revelation, on the other hand, rightly belongs to individuals. You should seek revelation for where to live, what career to follow, and whom to marry (p. 26)."

"Personal revelation will be in harmony with the commandments of God and the covenants we have made with Him (p. 27)."

"The Lord occasionally does change, amend, or make exceptions to His revealed commandments, but these ar emade through prophetic revelation and not personal revelation (p. 28)."

"'Seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For he counseleth in wisdom' (Jacob 4:10, p. 29)."

"You would be naive to think that you could pick up a stethoscope and be as effective as I once was in diagnosing heart problems. I would also be naive to think that my ausculatation skills are as good today as they once were... Cardiologists need years of study and experience to recognize the different types of sounds, distinguish the meaning of each sound, and identify the cardiovascular disorders that may cause them (p. 33)."

"Physicians can begin using a stethoscope to good effect even before they become expert at its use (p. 34)."

"Personal revelation takes effort--spiritual effort... Prayer is necessary but not sufficient (p. 34)."

"The Holy Ghost cannot 'remind' you of something you have not first put in your head (p. 35)."

"When seeking specific guidance, we should study the matter out in our minds (p. 36)."

"To evaluate metaphorical fruit, one needs to observe, reason, and discern whether the result is good or not... The Lord expects us to focus on a problem, study it out, think about it, then formulate various solutions. It seems that only then can personal revelation reliably come (p. 37)."

"Seeking guidance from the Holy Ghost requires consistent and diligent work (p. 38)."

"Acting on the spiritual promptings that we receive is another way we prepare for future personal revelation (p. 39)."

"Skills in receiving personal revelation are rarely maintained when we expend no effort (p. 39)."

"Acting in faith, striving to be a disciple of Christ and do His work, is what brings the Spirit into our lives (p. 40)."

"Coming to unity requires time and effort to communicate and discuss (p. 40)."

"Unity in our personal revelation comes when we work under the influence of the Spirit using Christlike attributes (p. 41)."

"Like a stethoscope that needs to be in good repair to be used effectively, we need to be in 'good spiritual repair' to receive revelation from the Holy Ghost (p. 43)."

"We try our best to keep God's commandments and do not rationalize sinful behavior. When we stumble, we repent. If we do not, we limit the ability of the Holy Ghost to say anything to us other than, 'You need to repent!' We are unlikely to receive any other revelation until we do... God has given us the gift of the Holy Ghost to help us in the process. The gift is not reserved for use until we are perfect; it is our gift to use here and now (p. 43)."

"When we keep on trying, the Holy Ghost can help us, be our constant companion, and tell us all things that we should do (p. 45)."

"We should seek to do things that invite the Spirit instead of things that repel the Spirit. We watch, read, listen to, and participate in things that invite us to do good and serve and love God (p. 45)."

"'If something we think, see, hear, or do distances us from the Holy Ghost, then we should stop thinking, seeing, hearing, or doing that thing' (David A. Bednar, p. 45)."

"As we repent daily and strive to avoid environments and attitudes incongruent with the Spirit, we likewise keep ourselves in 'good spiritual repair,' capable of hearing even the subtle 'sounds' of personal revelation (p. 46)."

"To receive personal revelation, we must develop and maintain a heart that is sensitive to the Spirit--a soft heart (p. 47)."

"A spiritually hard heart... has a difficult time filling with the Spirit (p. 48)."

"Having a spiritually hard heart is the equivalent of telling the Holy Ghost that we know everything already. We may block the route through which we can receive more of God's word or answers to our prayers by not allowing the Holy Ghost to 'fill' us. We need to be open to the Spirit so we can be taught all things that we should do (p. 50)."

"Why would anyone want to limit God's direction? (p. 53)"

"King Benjamin identified several of the components that create and maintain a soft heart... Consider the components of gratitude, humility, and meekness (p. 53)."

"Gratitude is often a prerequisite for feeling the Spirit in our lives and seeing the hand of the Lord every day (p. 53)."

"Before exhorting us to ask God about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon... Moroni exhorted us to 'remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men' (p. 54)."

"Our gratitude grows as we always remember that redemption comes only because of Jesus Christ (p. 55)."

"When we are humble and meek, we recognize our dependence on the Lord (p. 55)."

"Meekness both invites the Spirit and is in turn a fruit of the Spirit (p. 56)."

"Meekness is a manifestation of our understanding that we are dependent on the Savior. Meekness reinforces gratitude for Him and helps us remain teachable by the Holy Ghost (p. 57)."

"An additional component that King Benjamin mentioned that helps create and maintain a soft heart is prayer (p. 58)."

"'Pray is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant but that are made contidnail on our asking for them' (p. 59)."

"This spiritual work of seeking the Spirit includes praying fervently to the Father with faith in Jesus Christ (p. 60)."

"Do we think we already know everything? Are we too proud to admit we need help? Are we too embarrassed to ask? What keeps us from praying as often as we should to help build a better relationship with our Father in Heaven? (p. 61)"

"I have found that prayers are rarely answered unless they are heartfelt and I really intend to act on the spiritual promptings that come (p. 61)."

"Personal and private acts of devotion help us qualify for the daily companionship of the Holy Ghost (p. 63)."

"As we diligently study the scriptures, we learn from the examples of men and women whose lives have been blessed as they followed the Lord's revealed will (p. 63)."

"Life-changing revelation is not reserved for prophets. When we study the scriptures, the Holy Ghost can bring to our remembrance passages that we can use to help others (p. 65)."

"The cardiologist and the patient may be frustrated, but sometimes the best medical practice is to prescribe and accept a period of waiting (p. 68)."

"Personal revelation requires patience (p. 68)."

"We need to be patient and trust in the Lord's timing. Demanding revelation from God on your timetable is unwise... When we are patient, we are less likely to be myopic and can better see life from an eternal perspective (p. 69)."

"When we take time to ponder, we open ourminds and hearts to the guiding influence of the Holy Ghost (p. 69)."

"Patiently pondering helps us to see the ending and provides us encouragement to trust God (p. 70)."

"When using a stethoscope, the heart sounds are soft and relatvely quiet so distractions must be eliminated (p. 71)."

"Our minds must be on spiritual matters to receive those promptings. We must be open to direction (P. 72)."

"The Holy Ghost eommunicated in different ways to different people (p. 76)."

"The voice of the Spirit is not loud, but gentle and calm, like a whisper; it is simple, discreet, and of remarkable purity (p. 77)."

"The delicacy of personal revelaton may be easily missed because it frequently comes wihtout a full explanation (p. 77)."

"When both mind and heart are involved in communication, the surety of that communication is enhanced (p. 78)."

"The voice of the Spirit brings peace, joy, and hope, not fear, anxiety, and worry (p. 78)."

"God's intent is not to baffle us but to help us (p. 80)."

"Another way revelation comes to me is in the form of short, concise, and imperative directives, such as : 'Go!,' 'Do it!', and 'Say it!' Rarely does it come with a clear explanation... But the absence of this information does not diminish the prompting or the need to follow it (p. 82)."

"A spiritual mentor may... help you recognize that the Holy Ghost has communicated with you in the past (p. 85)."

"If you wonder whether you have ever felt the Spirit, perhaps you could ask yourself these questions:
Have I ever felt peaceful making a righteous decision?
Have I ever felt an increased capacity to resist temptation?
Have I ever felt an increase in love for others?
Have I ever felt an increased desire to serve others?
Have I received ideas as to how to help others?
Have I ever desired to be a peacemaker in a conflict?
Have I simply known what to do in a complex situation?
Have I ever thought, 'That is a true principle!'?
Have I ever wanted to share the gospel with someone? (p. 86)"

"As I reflect on all the little decisions along my career path, I realize that each prompting I acted on put me in a place to act on the next prompting (p. 88)."

"We can get better at recognizing how the Spirit communicates with us (p. 89)."

"Repeated listneing helps clarify a patient's condition and course. Changes in heart sounds can be detected, marking a change in the clinical situation. The treatment plan can then be altered (p. 90)."

"Revelation is often given 'line upon line,' meaning that we must act in faith on what GOd has already revealed (p. 91)."

"The Lord leads His Church 'line upon line' and 'precept upon precept,' just as He leads us (p. 94)."

"We need to be involved in helping a family member or actively working on a problem before receiving the revelation (p. 95)."

"When you have faith that you can receive revelation and you have experience receiving revelation, your confidence to receive further personal revelation is enhanced (p. 96)."

"Sometimes we feel as though we have not received clear direction from the Holy Ghost. We then wonder how to move forward (p. 96)."

"'We should study things out in our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment' (Dallin H. Oaks, p. 97)."

"Acting on prior personal revelation facilitates subsequent personal revelation (p. 98)."

"Take it one step at a time, and be aware that course corrections may come (p. 101)."

"Jesus Christ will compensate for any unfairness that you experience in this life (p. 103)."

"God in His wisdom knows that a vital part of our mortal experience is to walk by faith and not know everything (p. 104)."

"We wait on the Lord and His timetable to reveal His truths through the means that He has established. We can be misled if we try to force spiritual things (p. 107)."

"As we pray for inspiration, we compare our spiritual impressions with the scriptures and the teachings of living prophets... If our spiritual impressions align with what has already been revelaed and is within the other principles and parameters that the Lord has established, then we can be assured that we have received genuine personal revelation and can proceed accordingly (p. 108)."

"Spiritual momentum is generated by conscientiously preparing for and worthitly partaking of the sacrament each week (p. 113)."

"As we keep the Holy Ghost as a companion through repenting and renewing our covenants during the sacrament, our spiritual foundaiton is strengthened (P. 115)."

"As we conscientiously partake of the sacrament, we invite the Holy Ghost into our lives. And as the Holy Ghost exerts a greater influence in our lives, we progressively and iteratively develop Christlike attributes. Our hearts change. Our dispoistion to do eveil diminishes... As we draw closer to God, the enabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ will come into our lives (p. 118)."

"In the temple, our relationship with God deepens and His Spirit blesses us with a greater capacity to receive personal revelation (p. 119)."

"By making and keeping temple covenants, we learn more about the Lord's purposes and receive a fulness of the Holy Ghost (p. 119)."

"One of the greatest messages that the Holy Ghost can convey through personal revelation is that God and the Savior love you (p. 121)."

"God's love is infinite and perfect. There has never been nor will there ever be a definiency of God's love (p. 122)."

"The inability to feel God's love can result from physical, mental, or emotional illness (p. 124)."

"If you are doing something that is causing diminished receptivity, repent... Repentance is a joyful process because we can return to alignment with God (p. 125)."

"The second part of the prescription is feasting, not nibbling, on the words of Christ (p. 125)."

"Never miss an opportunity to partake of the sacrament and attend the temple (p. 125)."

"Exercise even greater faith in Heavenly Father and His plan, and in Jesus Christ and His Atonement (p. 126)."

"Continue to pray (p. 126)."

"Search for evidence that God's love is present (p. 127)."

"Serve others (p. 127)."

"You are never alone. You've been given the gift of the Holy Ghost... The Spirit can encourage... fills us with light... hope... power (p. 129)."

"God continues to reveal His will (p. 132)."

"The Holy Ghost... will show you all things (p. 133)."

[Nate Tiger Carrion · Rating 1 out of 5]

As I sat amidst the scattered remnants of my literary indulgences, a sea of discarded pages and worn covers that seemed to stretch on forever, my gaze fell upon the book that had sparked my latest bout of disillusionment. The title, once promising, now seemed like a cruel joke, a feeble attempt to peddle shallow wisdom to the unsuspecting masses. I had picked it up with the intention of gifting it to a friend, a gesture of goodwill that had ultimately proved to be a monumental mistake.

The book's brevity was the first thing that struck me—a paltry 150 pages that seemed to whisper "insubstantial" and "superficial" in my ear. For someone like me, who craved depth and complexity in the written word, this was an instant turn-off. I yearned for tomes that would challenge my perspectives, that would wrestle with the intricacies of the human condition and emerge victorious. This... thing, on the other hand, seemed like a hastily assembled pamphlet, a trite and uninspired attempt to convey messages that I had heard before, and better, from more nuanced and thoughtful authors.

But it was not just the book's length that had left me cold. The price tag, a staggering $22.00, seemed like an affront to all that was reasonable and just. For a work so slender, so lacking in substance, to demand such a hefty sum was nothing short of extortionate. And the fact that the eBook cost the same? It was a slap in the face, a brazen attempt to fleece the unsuspecting reader of their hard-earned cash.

As I delved deeper into the book's contents, my disillusionment turned to outright disgust. The text seemed to espouse a brand of trite, feel-good spirituality that rang hollow in my ears. It was the kind of vacuous, superficial nonsense that I had come to associate with the LDS Ensign, a publication that seemed more concerned with peddling a sanitized, Disneyfied version of reality than with confronting the harsh truths of the human experience.

And then, of course, there was the issue of the author's motivations. It seemed clear to me that their primary concern was not with conveying meaningful insights or exploring the complexities of the human condition, but rather with lining their pockets with gold. The book's brevity and its lack of depth and substance seemed like a calculated attempt to churn out a lucrative product, rather than a genuine attempt to create something of value.

But my aversion to this book went far deeper than a simple disagreement over its literary merits. You see, I had a history with the LDS church, a history that was marked by pain, trauma, and rejection. I had sought help from them in my time of need, and they had turned me away, telling me to pray for forgiveness for the sins of my parents, who had physically and emotionally abused me and my brother. The hypocrisy, the callousness, and the greed of the church had left me with scars that still lingered to this day.

As I sat there, surrounded by the detritus of my literary disappointments, I couldn't help but feel a sense of bitter vindication. This book, with its shallow wisdom and its crass commercialism, seemed like the perfect embodiment of everything that I despised about the LDS church and its ilk. It was a symbol of the corruption, the hypocrisy, and the greed that seemed to pervade every level of organized religion, a reminder that, no matter how hard they might try to present themselves as paragons of virtue, they were ultimately just as flawed, just as human, as the rest of us.

And so, I say to you, dear reader, do not waste your money on this book. It is a waste of time, a waste of effort, and a waste of resources. Instead, seek out works that challenge you, that provoke you, and that inspire you to think critically and deeply about the world around you. For it is only through such works that we can hope to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and of the world and to create a more just, more compassionate, and more equitable society for all.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seeking, receiving, and acting on personal revelation is a skill that needs to be diligently learned and consistently practiced. I picked up this book to help contribute to my education and practice. Elder Renlund shares principles and practical approaches to receiving revelation he’s learned through his personal and professional experience as a cardiologist. Some things that increase our receptivity are: feasting (studying and pondering) on the words of Christ, the sacrament and temple, sincere prayers (and staying on our knees for a while after), searching for evidence of God’s love, and serving others. Revelation comes “line upon line” and I’m hoping the things I’ve learned while pondering the truths in this book will add another layer to my understanding and practice.

Chapter 9
Questions to help recognize when you have been influenced by the Spirit
-“Perhaps you could ask yourself these questions: Have I ever felt peaceful after making a righteous decision? Have I ever felt an increased capacity to resist temptation? Have I ever felt an increase in love for others? Have I ever felt an increase desire to serve others? Have I received ideas as to how to help others? Have I ever desired to be a peacemaker in a conflict? Have I simply known what to do in a complex situation? Have I ever thought ‘That is a true principle’? Have I ever wanted to share the gospel with someone? These feelings are often manifestations of the Holy Ghost influencing us to do good.”

Chapter 12
-President Nelson – “Pray to have eyes to see God’s hand in your life and in the world around you. In other words, ask God to show you when He is directing things in your life, when he’s protecting you, or when He’s helping you. Ask Him to tell you if He is really there, if he knows you. Ask Him how He feels about you. And then listen.”

Conclusion
-Revelation is ongoing personally and for the church (9th Article of Faith) - “I believe all that God has revealed to me in the past, what he is revealing to me day by day, and I believe that if I diligently seek it, he will yet reveal many great and important things to me pertaining to my mission here in mortality.”

Principles
1-Proximity
2-Confidence
3-Acting when unsure
4-Avoid placing limits on God
5-Interpreting spiritual promptings correctly
6-Trusting God
7-Knowing when revelation has not been received
8-Humility to corroborate

[Jeff Birk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book if you're looking to enhance and deepen your understanding of how to hear and follow the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Elder Renlund uses his experience as a cardiologist in drawing many comparisons and analogies between that and hearing the Holy Ghost, particularly when it comes to using a stethoscope. Preparation to hear his voice, ways we hear it, guardrails for receiving personal revelation, what to do if you feel you aren't hearing it, etc. A short but very full book. I especially liked the part in chapter nine where he says if you feel you haven't felt the spirit, ask these questions:
-Have I ever felt peaceful after making a righteous decision?
-Have I ever felt an increased capacity to resist temptation?
-Have I ever felt an increase in love for others?
-Have I ever felt an increased desire to serve others?
-Have I received ideas as to how to help others?
-Have I ever desired to be a peacemaker in a conflict?
-Have I simply known what to do in a complex situation?
-Have I ever thought, "That is a true principle?"
-Have I ever wanted to share the gospel with someone?
These are obvious manifestations of the Holy Ghost which I sometimes have overlooked, especially #2. A definite re-read sometime in the future. The gift of the Holy Ghost is truly one of the greatest gifts we can enjoy and pursuing his companionship should be a top priority in these last days.

[Karyn Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Main Takeaways:

- members who do not become competent in seeking and relying on the Holy Ghost are living below their sacred privilege

- never fall into the spiritual death trap of being casual about seemingly small actions and thereby jeopardizing things of eternal importance, regardless of circumstance

- scripture study “stimulates” personal revelation. “Scripture study is more productive when focused on helping others. . . [rather] than on satisfying my own curiosity or illuminating my own mind.”

- importance of distinguishing between personal and prophetic revelation

- revelation takes real spiritual effort and sometimes labor

- don’t implicitly limit revelation by imposing prescriptions on the bounds within which I will accept revelation

- gratitude is a prerequisite for feeling the spirit

- life changing revelation is not reserved for prophets

- rather than “HF; what should I do?” Ask a specific question that he can answer yes or no to

- President Nelson in June 2019 leadership conference said that often we hear that our covenants are “renewed” at baptism, but “it’s much more than that. I’ve made a new covenant.”

- to have the spirit:
1. Repent
2. Feat, not nibble, on scriptures especially the BOM
3. Sacrament and temple
4. Exercise faith
5. Prayer
6. Search for evidence of God’s love
7. Service

[Winslow Morrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been somewhat ashamed of my writing. I remember sitting on the back porch of my parents' house, my mother in tears, frustrated because she couldn't explain to a then-10-year-old Winslow how periods and commas worked. Man, did I feel dumb.

A PhD has also reinvigorated earlier feelings as professors read my work, comment on all the mistakes, and then make me rewrite what seems like 40 more articles until they get tired, rewrite it themselves, and allow it for what it is: trash.

This book pointed out that self-esteem is linked to good writing and that it is easy to gauge someone's worth from their writing.

I loved that and it rings true. Maybe it’s time to work on my writing.

I didn't care for all the examples of writers, many of whom were commenting on subjects I couldn't care about, and their writing skills within their profession. To me, it made the book feel much longer than it needed to be.

[Cami Putnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dale G Reland, a renowned heart surgeon an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints tell us a little bit about how learning to listen in his profession also helped him to listen to the spirit of God.

He teaches ways to fine tune your ability to find answers to prayers and know the direction of your life’s path that God has in store for us all. I took my time on this book. There was is a lot here to stop and think about before moving to the next part.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, insightful book on spiritual discernment. As a nurse, the ongoing stethoscope analogy stood out to me—the idea of “oscillating” to hear clearly mirrors the real effort it takes to quiet yourself and listen to the Spirit. A concise, meaningful read that makes the principle of spiritual listening very practical. Interesting he was a cardiologist before his church service a neat tid bit I didn’t know.

[Jason Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. There were lots of insights about what we need to do to recognize and be prepared to hear the promptings of the Spirit. There’s a wonderful prescription at the end that gives a good summary of the book. I also appreciated the comparisons the author made to his time as a cardiologist and listening to the heart. A great read for anyone looking to feel closer to Heavenly Father and listening to Him.

[Marj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dale G. Renlund--physician and apostle--teaches us the importance of listening. Using his medical experience, listening through a stethoscope, Elder Renlund explains how personal revelation works.

Elder Renlund says, "Receiving revelation is governed by principles established by God. I know that the Holy Ghost can and will show you all things that you can do."

[Daria · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was 17, I taught a YW class about revelation and made a list similar to his prescription for feeling God’s love. That was about ten years ago but I still have the list tucked in my scriptures. It was wonderful to compare what Elder Renlund had to say and what I had observed as a young woman. I learned a lot about the sacrament and the Holy Ghost.

[Doug · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fulsome, straightforward exploration of the revelatory process with unique insights and suggestions for personal improvement. Highly recommend to anyone wanting the influence of the Holy Spirit with them every day.

[Douglas Fugate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource for those who are desiring to learn HOW to receive personal revelation. He uses several examples from his medical background to illustrate how each of us can develop and increase our ability to "Hear" the Holy Spirit.

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic. I really liked Elder Dale G. Renlund's words about revelation, prayer, and partaking of the sacrament. I feel like I often listen to talks he gives over and over. His words really stand out to me and inspire me.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as Pres/Elder Uchtdorf found meaningful Gospel insights from his profession as a pilot, Elder Renlund draws from his profession as a cardiologist to make connections with principles of listening to the Spirit. Excellent book, and worthy of multiple readings.

[Vibeke Hiatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like how Elder Renlund pulls from his experience as a cardiologist to offer new analogies about receiving revelation and listening to the Spirit. I needed to be reminded of much of the information in this book, and even received new impressions to help with my life right now. A great read.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I highly recommend it. It really answered some hard questions that I have been searching for an answer. It helped me to better understand the sacrament and I am excited to think about the things mentioned in the sacrament ordinance.

[Sharon Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libby. The Church has encouraged us to seek more revelation in our lives. What a timely remarkable book

[M Summ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*home library
So good!!