Podcast Summary: "The Gift of Revelation"

Speaker: Elder John A. McCune (General Authority Seventy)
Podcast: BYU Speeches
Released: December 9, 2025

Overview

In his devotional address, "The Gift of Revelation," Elder John A. McCune explores the principles underpinning personal revelation. Speaking to BYU students during a stressful finals week, McCune aims to demystify the process of receiving revelation, emphasizing its variability, the conditions under which it is received, and the purpose it serves in discipleship and daily life. Drawing on personal stories from his service, church leadership, and missionary experiences, he encourages listeners not to fixate on formulas, but rather to understand the spiritual principles that can make revelation a consistent, practical guide in life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Importance and Reality of Revelation

• Necessity Today: President Nelson has counseled "it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting and constant influence of the Holy Ghost." (02:04)
• No Standard Formula: McCune stresses that “there is no formula” for revelation, nor is this meant as a comprehensive review—just helpful principles. (02:30, 02:50)
• Personal Stories: He hesitates to share sacred experiences, noting that dramatic revelations are rare; more often, guidance comes without realization until looking back. (03:20)

2. Principles of Receiving Revelation

a. Be Agents Who Act

• “Revelation is best received when we are acting or moving as agents... Too often we see God's children sitting still anxiously waiting for every part of their life to be clearly laid out..." (03:49)
• Use the analogy of driving: you need to be in motion for steering to have any effect. (04:00)
• "If you are really trying to listen and to be a disciple of Christ, you are walking in the Spirit more than you maybe realize." (04:23)

b. Revelation Comes in Varied Ways

• “There is no one way to receive revelation... Our Heavenly Father knows how we each think and how we will best hear and respond...” (05:11)
• Means include thoughts, peace, unsettled feelings, comments from others, or “more dramatic means such as a dream.” (05:33)
• “We should never compare ourselves in our spiritual journey with others… The way God communicates with us can be uniquely ours.” (06:15)

c. Revelation Is Efficient and Purposeful

• God’s communications are "given for perfect purposes"—not to satisfy curiosity, but to effect necessary change or guidance. (08:05)
• Example: When selecting counselors as a new Stake president, both he and his wife were guided to the same names under time pressure, illustrating God’s efficiency. (08:27–09:54)
• “If our Heavenly Father gives us revelation and we choose to not act on it, he might choose to give us less revelation.” (10:07)

d. Revelation Operates with Order and Stewardship

• "We receive revelation in our own lane and within our own responsibilities… we do not have a right to usurp another’s agency..." (10:35)
• Example: Marriage promptings should never be used coercively; both individuals must receive guidance. (11:21)
• Cites President Oaks' teaching of two lines of revelation: personal and priesthood, both essential and needing to be balanced. (11:54)

e. It Requires Effort and Work

• “There are times that the veil seems very thin... but in my experience these times are rare... We often have to put out great effort..." (13:26)
• Examples of scriptural figures (Elijah, Enos, Nephi, Oliver Cowdery) who struggled or wrestled for answers. (13:57–14:59)
• Powerful story: After a missionary’s death, McCune was able to perform transfer assignments with miraculous guidance, but found next cycle much harder, demonstrating that effort is ongoing and required. (15:04–17:07)

f. Practice and Patience Needed

• Receiving revelation “takes practice." President Nelson counsels to pray about all things, listen, write, act, and repeat to “grow into the principle of revelation.” (17:31)

g. Worthiness and Righteous Living

• Worthiness facilitates revelation. Elder Renlund: "Like a stethoscope that needs to be in good repair... we need to be in good spiritual repair to receive revelation." (18:37)
• "We do not need to have achieved perfection to receive personal revelation... That gift is not reserved for use until we are perfect. It is our gift to use here and now." (19:07)
• Not only remove the bad, but "fill our houses with righteousness" through spiritual habits. (20:14)
• Correction as Revelation: Sometimes chastening is the revelation we need—"Some of the most profound lessons of life... come in the form of revelatory correction." (20:56)

h. Timing: Revelation Cannot Be Forced

• President Oaks compares seeking revelation to inviting the President of the United States: "one person, however important, is in no position to put conditions upon or impose personal timing upon... the highest authority in the universe." (21:42)

i. Requires Focus and Environment

• “Our minds must be on spiritual matters to receive the Spirit. This can include putting ourselves in an environment where excessive noise is eliminated…” (22:54)
• Emotional states like anger, hurt, or defensiveness "will drive away the Holy Ghost." (23:19)
• Personal anecdote: Struggling with career, he receives clarity while praying during a freeway drive in L.A., learning God needs disciples in all professions. (24:54–25:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Acting in Faith:

  • "If you are really trying to listen and to be a disciple of Christ, you are walking in the Spirit more than you maybe realize." (04:23)

• On Receiving Revelation in Different Ways:

  • "We should never compare ourselves in our spiritual journey with others, particularly when it comes to receiving revelation. As unique sons and daughters of God, the way God communicates with us can be uniquely ours." (06:15)

• Efficiency of God’s Communication:

  • "Do you see the efficiency? [Debbie] was already spiritually prepared for my service as a stake president. Knowing in advance would just have increased her stress level unnecessarily." (09:41)

• Effort Required:

  • "Through the process of effort and work, we gain faith, diligence, and Christlike attributes that contribute to our becoming more like the Father." (17:07)

• On Perfection and Worthiness:

  • "Of course, we do not need to have achieved perfection to receive personal revelation. If that were the case, the Holy Ghost would not be very busy." (18:54)

• On Correction as Revelation:

  • "Some of the most profound lessons of life that can be learned come in the form of revelatory correction and chastisement from the Lord. We can be eternally grateful for these moments of divine correction." (20:56)

• On Personal Influence and Vocation:

  • "He needed plumbers, architects, accountants, electricians, and even investment managers, as his children who needed rescuing were in all of these spheres of influence. It changed my approach at work." (25:06)

• Final Witness:

  • "I witness that revelation brings joy and peace. May we seek to better understand and receive revelation in our lives. I testify of a loving Heavenly Father." (26:14)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic/Story | |--------------:|:-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:35 | Speaker intro and BYU connection | | 01:40 | Introduction to personal revelation | | 03:49 | Principle 1: Act as agents in receiving revelation | | 05:11 | Principle 2: Variety in how revelation comes | | 08:05 | Principle 3: Revelation’s efficiency and purpose | | 10:35 | Principle 4: Order—revelation by stewardship and responsibility | | 13:26 | Principle 5: The effort required for revelation | | 15:04 | Story of missionary tragedy and miraculous revelation | | 17:31 | Principle 7: Practice and patience needed | | 18:37 | Principle 8: Worthiness and righteous living facilitate revelation| | 20:56 | Correction as a form of revelation | | 21:42 | Principle 9: We cannot force revelation—timing is God’s | | 22:54 | Principle 11: Focus and environment for revelation | | 24:54 | Story: Career dilemmas and revelation in daily life | | 26:14 | Testimony and final encouragement |

Conclusion

Elder John A. McCune’s address is simultaneously practical and deeply spiritual, addressing both the longing and apprehension many feel about personal revelation. His remarks underline that revelation is diverse, rarely dramatic, but always purposeful and available to all who seek in righteousness. Through stories, scriptural examples, and doctrinal clarity, he invites listeners to not only welcome revelation but to actively pursue it, trust its timing, and act with the assurance that God communicates personally and individually.