This past week I had an opportunity to gain a few insights about revelation. I believe the better we can understand revelation the more time we can spend more time doing his will. The Lord certainly has His own timetable, but in order to be able to be quick to observe, we need to recognize revelation for what it quickly.

Looking in the scriptures, there seems to be a diacotomy under what circumstances revelation is given. I think it helps us recognize how revelation is given line upon line.

In the first group we see revelation given that declares the final destination or the end result in a situation at which we can or will arrive at. Nephi and his brothers were commanded to go back and get the plates, but did not receive much more guidance than that. These are opportunities to be anxiously engaged.

The second grouping involves revelation centered around what the next step should be.  We work line upon line as we come to understand the Lord would have us do. When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, there were many times the Lord spoke with Moses, instructing him on what was needed. Most notably, at the edge of the Red Sea,  we know that it was by revelation that Moses led the Children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground (see D&C 8:2-3).

In Doctine and Covenants 26, we find another example:

Behold, I say unto you that you shall let your time be devoted to the studying of the scriptures, and to preaching, and to confirming the church at Colesville, and to performing your labors on the land, such as is required, until after you shall go to the west to hold the next conference; and then it shall be made known what you shall do.

Experience with Both
There is a great over-aching plan of Salvation that affects each one of us. The Lord has the whole thing laid out before him, but in His infinite wisdom (and even mercy) He reveals the parts that pertain to us bit by bit, thus allowing the most amount of growth. Sometimes that takes the form of knowing the goal and growing through the process of getting there.  Other times it is knowing what the next step is without fully being able to anticipate the full impact of that direction.

Elder Bednar taught,

The gradual increase of light radiating from the rising sun is like receiving a message from God “line upon line, precept upon precept” ( 2 Nephi 28:30). Most frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation. Such communications from Heavenly Father gradually and gently “distil upon [our souls] as the dews from heaven” ( D&C 121:45). This pattern of revelation tends to be more common than rare and is evident in the experiences of Nephi as he tried several different approaches before successfully obtaining the plates of brass from Laban (see  1 Nephi 3–4). Ultimately, he was led by the Spirit to Jerusalem, “not knowing beforehand the things which [he] should do” ( 1 Nephi 4:6). And he did not learn how to build a ship of curious workmanship all at one time; rather, Nephi was shown by the Lord “from time to time after what manner [he] should work the timbers of the ship” ( 1 Nephi 18:1).

Revelation is a continual process of seeking and understanding God’s will and developing the faith and character necessary to fulfill it.  We can trust there is great purpose in the time and effort it takes.