Revelation - Clear message that often makes sense in the moment and always makes sense at some point

Sometimes, often with those who are young in the gospel, people receive what they think is revelation but it is not. One of the traits of something that isn't revelation is that it makes little or no sense. The first few chapters of 1 Nephi help explain that it's important for revelations to make sense.

For example, by some standards people would say giving up your land and your riches to go out into the wilderness with your family makes no sense. However, if you've clearly seen in a vision that your home will be destroyed, it's important to know what to do. Lehi was told to have his family leave. This makes sense given the knowledge Lehi had. (Also, he'd had 3 revelations, at least, on this topic.)

Also, Nephi killing Laban is an excellent example. Once again, killing someone would generally be something you wouldn't have a revelation to do. However, consider the circumstances and specifically what Nephi was told.

1) They had to get the plates.

2) Laban had already tried to kill them after their second attempt to get the plates through legitimate means (asking for them and offering to trade for them).

Here's the dialogue between the Spirit and Nephi:

10 And it came to pass that I was ^aconstrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.

Nephi doesn't want to kill him.

Then Nephi considers the context on his own and why the Lord might want him to be killed.

11 Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had ^ctaken away our property.

Then Nephi is told to slay him again and is also told that his posterity would dwindle in unbelief if they didn't have the plates (Nephi's taught a consequence he didn't realize would occur without the plates.)

12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;

13 Behold the Lord ^aslayeth the ^bwicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is ^cbetter that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in ^dunbelief.

Then Nephi thinks about why his posterity would falter without the plates as the Spirit told him:

14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: ^aInasmuch as thy seed shall keep my^bcommandments, they shall ^cprosper in the ^dland of promise.

15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the ^alaw of Moses, save they should have the law.

16 And I also knew that the ^alaw was engraven upon the plates of brass.

17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments.

Therefore, after being told 2 times to slay Laban, and considering himself why that might be necessary, and then being told again to slay Laban and also being told an additional reason why it was necessary (without the plates his posterity would lose faith), he finally decides to do it. It actually made sense to do it.

Now, I realize that sometimes we need to do things that don't make sense at the time, but generally when revelation is given, it is told us in our minds and our hearts. (D.C. 8:2-3) In other words, it is logical in some way and feels right. Getting supposed revelation to do something that just doesn't make any sense probably isn't revelation. If it is important or necessary, God will give us some idea about why it's important.