Holy cow. Has it really been 18 weeks since General Conference? Crazy.
This talk is a talk I’m excited to go back and read because (for me) it was a tiny bit difficult to follow while listening to it. I’m just looking forward to studying it on paper so I categorize the different points.
“Two Lines of Communication”
Elder Dallin H. Oaks
Of the Quorum of the Twelve
What did you learn and/or understand better from this talk? What did you feel like it encouraged you to do?
Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Diapers and Divinity 
I’ve not been going in the order you’ve been posting on the internet. I’ve kinda been reading whatever talk I feel like reading (which is prbly why I haven’t responded to these the last few weeks or so). But I actually read this talk a week or so ago because I had to give a talk on personal revelation (spinning off of Pres. Bednar’s BYUI devotional, “Line Upon Line, Precept Upon Precept”). Here were some things that I felt were pertinent to me:
#1) Be worthy. “The direct, personal channel of communication to our Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost is based on worthiness and is so essential that we are commanded to renew our covenants by partaking of the sacrament each Sabbath day. In this way we qualify for the promise that we may always have His Spirit to be with us, to guide us.”
#2) Be independent enough, but not so independent that you don’t listen to priesthood authority when you ought to. “Some seek to have their priesthood leaders make personal decisions for them, decisions they should make for themselves by inspiration through their personal line. …Similarly, we cannot communicate reliably through the direct, personal line if we are disobedient to or out of harmony with the priesthood line.”
Bottom line, these two things go hand in hand. One is not complete without the other.
“We must use both the personal line and the priesthood line in proper balance to achieve the growth that is the purpose of mortal life. If personal religious practice relies too much on the personal line, individualism erases the importance of divine authority. If personal religious practice relies too much on the priesthood line, individual growth suffers. The children of God need both lines to achieve their eternal destiny. The restored gospel teaches both, and the restored Church provides both.”
I like how he describes the wonderful balance that should exist between these two lines. Both are for our benefit and both lead us closer to Heavenly Father, but their power and effect are magnified when they are used in harmony.
I second what Jan had to say. Glad to have had the chance to read through this again.
Wow! I’m first!
I really liked this talk. I love Elder Oaks’ matter-of-fact way in his topics. In this one, he clearly defines our need for both a personal and priesthood line of communication with our Heavenly Father.
I really liked this talk and how it spells out the purposes of both lines and why we need both in our lives. I especially liked this quote:
“Relying entirely on the personal line, they go their own way, purporting to define doctrine and to direct competing organizations contrary to the teachings of prophet-leaders. In this they mirror the modern hostility to what is disparagingly called “organized religion.” Those who reject the need for organized religion reject the work of the Master, who established His Church and its officers in the meridian of time and who reestablished them in modern times.”
Both lines are important. One should not be without the other if we are truly following Christ. That’s one of the best things about the gospel. We individually know but collectively are guided by Heavenly Father through the priesthood.
I was impressed with how important it is to find the balance between the personal line and the priesthood line like everyone else had talked about.