Sophie's Sacrament Talk

and this is how thrilled she was when she found out about it... :)

I was asked to speak on personal revelation. My first thought was, in my 14 years I am not for certain I have felt personal revelation in my life. 
Revelation means to make know or to uncover. Because of revelation, man can know the things of God. Personal revelation is a gift from our Father in Heaven. It consists of individual guidance for those who seek for it and when followed in faith, repentance, and obedience in the gospel of Jesus Christ, one is entitled to it. 

One of the ways I guess I have had personal revelation in my life is through the gift of the Holy Ghost. “The Holy Ghost is a revelator” said Joseph Smith, “and no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.”  So as it turns out, I have received personal revelation because I have received the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
Another way I can receive personal revelation is through a Patriarchal Blessing. As a church we have the priesthood and authority through which special blessings are given. As descendants of Abraham of old we are entitled to all the blessings promised him and his posterity. But there are other things we should know about ourselves. Only the Lord knows what our true lineage is, what is in store for us, what we should guard against, how we can serve, and what our particular mission in life is and what we can be blessed with if we live true and faithful. These things we can learn through a patriarchal blessing given by proper authority. Heavenly Father has made it possible for each of us to receive personal revelation to help us know what he expects of us. A patriarchal blessing identifies a person’s talents, lineage, and potential. It can motivate, guide, and give warnings, counsel, and comfort. I am preparing to get my patriarchal blessing and when I get it I can use it throughout my life. I can pull it out to study it often to remember that my Father in Heaven loves me, and he has a plan for my life, if I will live worthy, he will guide me in all I do. 
Also, I have learned revelation from the prophets and there examples. The prophets receive revelation through prayer from our Heavenly Father. All throughout the scriptures it speaks of prophets receiving personal revelation. Peter’s personal revelation gave him a testimony of Jesus Christ. Adam and Eve called upon the name of the lord and received personal revelation. And Elijah’s personal revelation came from a still small voice.  A more recent revelation is the Proclamation of the Family. It was created through personal revelation from the prophet. At the time we had no idea the attack of family would be coming but look at the world today because of that revelation we know the importance of family and how to define it. The prophets used personal revelation in their life as well and we can also. We can pray to our Heavenly Father and know for ourselves God’s purpose and direction for us. 
How can we receive personal revelation? In studying for this talk and all the information I have read there seems to be a key to help prepare us to see the Lord’s hand in our life.
1. We need to Search the scriptures. How many times have I heard stories about how the scriptures come alive for people and whatever problem they have can be answered in the scriptures. I hope that through scripture study, I can receive answers to problems in my life and be guided through the scriptures.
2. We need to keep the commandments and live the way Heavenly father wants us to live.
3. We need to ask in faith for his guidance in our life. 
Russel M. Nelson said: “To access information from heaven, one must first have a firm faith and a deep desire. One needs to ‘ask with a sincere heart with real intent, having faith in Jesus Christ’ (Moroni 10:4). 4. Pray to our Father often so we can have a personal relationship with him. If we don’t strive for that personal relationship, it will be hard to recognize guidance He is giving us.