Sister Barbara Thompson of the Relief Society General Presidency recalled, as a college student, listening to general conference on the radio and having the Holy Spirit confirm to her soul the truthfulness of the words of a General Authority.

"At that moment I had no doubt that the Savior lives. I also had no doubt that I was experiencing personal revelation which confirmed to me that Jesus Christ is the Son of God," Sister Thompson said during the Saturday morning of conference.

She said that throughout life, challenges and experiences cause people to know that they need divine help that comes through the Holy Spirit. Each may ask, "What is the answer to my problem?" and "How can I know what to do?"

"The way to receive personal revelation is really quite clear," Sister Thompson stated. "We need to desire to receive revelation, we must not harden our hearts, and then we need to ask in faith, truly believe that we will receive an answer, and then diligently keep the commandments of God."

Following this pattern does not mean individuals will receive an immediate answer with every detail of what to do, Sister Thompson observed, but if they keep the commandments and ask in faith, the answers will come in the Lord's way and time.

She noted that the Spirit speaks in many ways and read from Doctrine and Covenants, section 6, which explains ways in which to receive revelation and said that the personal revelation will come as individuals study scriptures, listen to and follow the counsel of the prophets and other Church leaders, and seek to live faithful, righteous lives.

"Our testimonies fortify and strengthen us as we face challenges in our daily lives," Sister Thompson said. She related a story from the book Daughters In My Kingdom: The History and Work of the Relief Society. Hedwig Biereichel, a member in Germany, suffered sorrow and deprivation during World War II. When asked how she was able to keep her testimony during all those trials, she replied: "I didn't keep a testimony through those times — the testimony kept me."

Sister Thompson said that to keep a strong testimony requires that the member nourish and strengthen it. "The Lord desires to bless us with guidance, wisdom and direction in our lives," Sister Thompson concluded. "He desires to pour down His Spirit up on us."