What Does It Mean for the Spirit to Be “Poured Out” Upon Us?

What Does It Mean for the Spirit to Be “Poured Out” Upon Us?  Joel prophesies about the Latter-days and says:

“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit.”

What does it mean for the Spirit to be “poured out” upon us? Sometimes, we may feel frustrated and wonder why our connection to the Holy Ghost feels like a drip or a trickle. By pondering on some of these meanings, we can better understand how to invite the powerful spirit of revelation into our lives.

The Blessings of the Restoration

Because of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we have an abundance of truth and light available. We have access to both ancient and modern scripture. We have the priesthood authority to make everlasting covenants and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. More than at any other time in history, we have the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth. The patterns to receive personal revelation are in place if we will follow them. Therein lies the question—will we?

In a world full of distractions, will we make the time to commune with the Lord? Will we faithfully follow His counsel and learn how we hear Him in our lives? President Russell M. Nelson taught, “In coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”

Becoming a Zion People

Individually, we have what we need for the Spirit of the Lord to be poured out on us if we use our agency appropriately. However, we also need to ponder on our duty to become a Zion people. As we do so, the Lord has promised, “And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.”

We can become a Zion people by seeking to eliminate the contention rampant in our society, striving to follow the two great commandments to love God and our neighbors, and serving diligently in the kingdom by ministering and sharing the gospel. As we work towards these ends, the Lord will pour out His Spirit upon all of us, revealing more of His wondrous mysteries.

How to Build a Framework for Revelation

There are things we can do to strengthen our ability to receive revelation. These include offering more meaningful prayers, partaking of the sacrament with purpose, resisting sin and temptation, and studying God’s words. Elder Dale G. Renlund offered some more insight in a General Conference address on how to build a framework to receive revelation. They were:

• Feasting on the words of Christ stimulates personal revelation.
• We receive personal revelation only within our purview.
• Personal revelation will be in harmony with the commandments of God and our covenants.
• Recognize what God has already given you while being open to further revelation.

“The elements of the framework for personal revelation are overlapping and mutually reinforcing. But within that framework, the Holy Ghost can and will reveal everything we need to soar onto and maintain momentum on the covenant path,” Elder Renlund said.

How can we continually invite the Lord to pour out His Spirit upon us?