Shortly after Christ's resurrection, two of the disciples were journeying from Jerusalem to Emmaus, a village about five miles away. One, we are told from the account in Luke 24, was Cleopas, possibly the brother-in-law of Mary, mother of the Lord. (See John 19:25.) The identity of the other is not given. In any case, they were evidently well acquainted with the Lord and, it is reasonable to suppose, had felt the power of His teachings and even witnessed some of His miracles.

On this occasion, the risen Jesus approached and began to walk with them. But the scripture tells us their eyes were "holden," or restrained, and they did not recognize Him. When He asked the reason for their sad demeanor and conversation, they were amazed that He would be unacquainted with the visible and dramatic events of the past few days concerning Jesus of Nazareth, His wonderful works, His arrest, mock trial and crucifixion. His body was found to be missing from the sepulchre, and some of their associates had returned from there with accounts of a vision and angels.

With His identity still unknown to them, Christ taught them from the scriptures, showing that these events were according to divine plan and prophecy culminating in His glorification. As evening drew on, they implored Him to abide with them. Only then, as He blessed and broke bread and gave it to them, were their eyes opened that they might recognize Him, whereupon He vanished from their sight.

In reflecting on the experience, they recalled the feeling they had while He talked with them on the road to the village. "Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" they said. (See Luke 24:32.)

Why were they restrained from recognizing Him at first? Was it not for their own education? By association, they had now learned to identify the feeling they had as personal revelation. They now knew what such divine communication feels like, as it were. In coming days and years, this knowledge would be vital to them and other disciples, as the Lord would no longer be with them in the flesh, but would commune with them by means of the Holy Spirit.

The language of Luke 24:32 is alluded to in latter-day revelation. Oliver Cowdery, who desired to translate the Nephite record but failed, was told that he had not understood the means of divine communication employed in such work. "Behold, I say unto you that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right." (Doctrine and Covenants 9:8, emphasis added.)

Personal revelation can come in various ways. But revelation through divine visitations, visions, even dreams, is relatively rare. Almost always, it is far more subtle, a manifestation to the mind and heart that attends careful pondering and study, the "still small voice" of 1 Kings 19:12; 1 Nephi 17:45; and Doctrine and Covenants 85:6.

The Prophet Joseph Smith taught: "A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.,) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 151.)

We, each of us, should strive to become more accustomed to receiving and recognizing personal revelation by obeying the commandment to "seek . . . earnestly the best gifts" (see Doctrine and Covenants 46:8) including the gift of personal revelation.