Spirit of Prophecy

While reading, I came across this verse:
2 Ne. 25:4
4 Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy. But I give unto you a prophecy, according to the spirit which is in me; wherefore I shall prophesy according to the plainness which hath been with me from the time that I came out from Jerusalem with my father; for behold, my soul delighteth in plainness unto my people, that they may learn. (Italics added)

I know Nephi was a prophet and had this gift.

So does this mean that only prophets have this gift? Will I not understand the words of Isaiah unless they are defined and clarified by prophets?

Here are some wonderful excerpts that helped clarify:

From Elder Robert D. Hales: A testimony is the spirit of prophecy (see Rev. 19:10). It is a personal revelation from God, revealing the truthfulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. A testimony comes through the Holy Ghost; it makes a deep and lasting impression on the soul.

From Elder Bruce R. McConkie:
As members of the church and kingdom of God on earth, we enjoy the gifts of the Spirit—those wonders and glories and miracles that a gracious and benevolent God always has bestowed upon his faithful saints. The first of these gifts listed in our modern revelation on spiritual gifts is the gift of testimony, the gift of revelation, the gift of knowing of the truth and divinity of the work. This gift is elsewhere described as the testimony of Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy. This is my gift. I know this work is true.

I have a perfect knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that he was crucified for the sins of the world. I know that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God through whose instrumentality the fullness of the everlasting gospel has been restored again in our day. And I know that this Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the kingdom of God on earth, and that as now constituted, with President Harold B. Lee at its head, it has the approval and approbation of the Lord, is in the line of its duty, and is preparing a people for the second coming of the Son of Man.

And I know further that the Lord pours out upon his people today the same glorious and wondrous gifts enjoyed by the ancient saints. To us in this day he gives the spirit of prophecy and of revelation, even as he did to them of old. “I will tell you” the glories and wonders of the everlasting gospel, he says; “I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart. Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation.” (D&C 8:2–3.)

Another by Elder McConkie:
The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. It is a gift of the Spirit. It comes in full measure only to faithful members of the Church. It is reserved for those whose right it is to have the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. It is the spiritual endowment which sets a man apart as a prophet in fulfillment of the prayer of Moses: “Would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!” (Num. 11:29.)

Also referring to the spirit of prophecy is this from a Proclamation given by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1980:
We testify that the spirit of prophecy and revelation is among us. “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God” (A of F 1:9). The heavens are not sealed; God continues to speak to his children through a prophet empowered to declare his word, now as he did anciently.

So I think what I am learning is that although prophets, former and living, have the gift of prophecy, and can and DO prophecy in our day, I, a member of Christ's church, am able to receive this gift if I earnestly seek and keep myself clean and pure. I will understand the scriptures as they apply to me and my family...in my own little sphere.

Wonderful!!

So, while the family sleeps, I'll post.

It is quiet...relatively.

I can hear my husband snoring, an airplane over head, the traffic rushing to and fro, and of course the clicking of the keys as I type.

I feel happy, content that everything works out.

I am a natural stresser. I don't like it. So, I search for places and moments of peace to help me hold steady when I feel like my world is swirling...or being jumbled about.

In these quiet mornings when I feel the whispers of peace from the Spirit, my mind steadies and the stress dissipates.

Anyway, time to get mentally ready for the day, before the day gets ahead of me.

Transition

So, we've been back for almost 2 1/2 weeks now.

Living in transition is really quite an experience.

I realize that leaving Texas and all that we were learning and living...and leaving so suddenly...I really felt like it had torn a hole in my heart.

You know the stages of losing a loved one? Well, in some respects, I have been dealing with similar feelings. Going through similar stages.

Grateful for supportive family around.

And grateful for the Spirit that teaches me that I can have peace and enjoy this moment...even if it not what I hoped for. Life is full of experiences and this is one I get to have now.