I think this is very important to remember. I’d be wary of anything that feels compulsive.

Also, I like Elder Packer’s ideas about the latitude that God gives his children in making decisions. He tells of his experience in counseling young married couples–how many of them seem to obsess on decisions that they are generally free to make on their own. He cites instances when couples were agonizing over what kind of home they should build, for example. And Packer’s counsel to them was (in so many words): the lord probably doesn’t care what kind of home you build. Whether it’s ranch or mediterranean will most likely be up to you. What the Lord does care about is how you will live in it after it’s built–and whether or not you are honest and considerate in the design and construction process, etc.

At any rate, let me just say that (as one who has acquired a little bit of painful hind-sight in these matters) along side the lessons we get in learning to trust the Lord, we must also be open to the kind of instruction that makes us trustworthy–and that (imo) will involve a great deal of latitude in decision making.

Tim, thanks for sharing your experience. It never occurred to me that the Lord might be giving me experience, instead of $ profit. Thanks for helping me think outside the “box”.

Howard, I like your comment about yes and no questions. The idea of plausible deniability is something of interest to me as well. I’m looking for this in the teachings of the prophets. If you have a quote on this please share.

Thomas, Sharing actual concerns and experience is powerful. Thanks for sharing your experience with the restaurant. The last part about “thy will and not mine”, and cleaning corners is sagest of counsel.

A couple years ago my wife and I bought a restaurant. I’ve never received any more sure an answer to a prayer – certainly not on anything temporal. The answer was, and I could write it down, it came so clear: ‘the endeavor will be a blessing for your employees, your business partners and your family.’ Along with the feeling of surety, and the Spirit not only in my heart, but all around. Nothing for me, I remember thinking at the time. There is another bit about moving, but I’ll leave that off.

Anyway, we sold the restaurant, and between my business partners and myself we lost over $100,000. However, I visited with two of my former employees last night. They told me the time when I was their boss they call “the Golden Age of Tom.” (I thought I’d cry, I care about those kids.) And they talked about what they had learned while they worked for me. It is hard to see where the blessing to my business partners is – but our association isn’t over, and there is more to life than money. I won’t get into that too much because this is a public forum. But there have been lessons for all involved. It got my family out of Seattle – something my wife had been anxious to do for some time – and on a course, I’m not sure what, but I’m sure correct. Finally, for me, it has been the most difficult year of my life. I’ve averaged 3-4 hours of sleep a day – except when I get 12. I often wake up and feel like someone has slugged me in the gut. But there has been a purging going on. I’m more chaste, more patient, and far far less concerned with financial success in and of and for itself.

Just sayin.

I find that I sometimes don’t receive an answer until I can honestly say ‘thy will and not mine be done.’ A far trickier place to arrive at than we usually grant. There is a lot more to it than saying it. We sometimes have to sweep some hidden corners clean.

~

When we think we are receiving yes and no answers it has been my experience that “no” actually means I have not received an answer at all. So we are actually receiving a confirmation or nothing, not a yes or no. Sometimes I can sort this out by inverting the question and asking it in way that would result in the opposite answer.

The Spirit respects agency. That is why he speaks in such a still small voice; the small voice preserves agency by creating a form of plausible deniability. Was that a prompting…or not? Did I actually feel/hear something…or not?
Release the Spirit from his obligation to respect your agency and his voice will grow louder, much louder. We can do this by following Christ’s example; not my will but thine be done. We can turn our agency over to the Lord by laying our will down in prayer and dedicating ourselves to acting as his servant.

You are not the only one that goes through a struggle in your efforts to understand inspiration in your business ventures. I have experienced a similar pattern in a lifelong pursuit that is a hobby yet has possibilities for producing income. At times I feel impressed to invest time and energy into the research and development required to bring it to fruition. At other times, I feel that it should be left alone for awhile and that my time is more profitably spent elsewhere. I keep it on the back burner.

I sometimes wonder if my hobby will ever turn into anything profitable, but then perhaps the profit is not meant to be financial, but personal development and enlightenment. In other words, my time is not wasted because I am learning and growing and who knows, perhaps someday my ideas may be of help to someone else who can use them to profit in their life.

I don’t know if this is much help. I just wanted to share that you are not alone in what you described. I just go with the flow. Sometimes I work on my hobby and am satisfied with the progress. Then there are times that I wonder why I just spent so much time on the project that doesn’t seem practical.

Stick with it. There must be a reason for it. I sometimes think my hobby is like what often engaged Boyd K. Packer – carving and painting birds. His works are truly beautiful but are certainly not the primary work of his life, are they? Perhaps the same could be said for our projects – they can bring diversion, relaxation and a sense of accomplishment.

Then again, maybe this is an exercise for you to develop spiritual sensitivity that will help you hear the whisperings of the spirit to a higher degree in your life, perhaps to be used in a calling down the road. It takes faith to both want to hear the impressions of the spirit and to learn how to interpret them profitable. God bless you in your efforts.