“How wonderful it is that we believe in modern revelation. I cannot get over the feeling that if revelation were needed anciently, when life was simple, that revelation is also needed today, when life is complex. There never was a time in the history of the earth when men needed revelation more than they need it now.
“I want to testify to you, my brothers and sisters, that the book of revelation is not closed. God directs this day and time and speaks as certainly today as He did in the days of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob” (meeting, Madrid, Spain, May 29, 2004).
Mormon.org - Revelation
Ben H answered…
"It's revelatory. Let me explain. We as "Latter-day Saints" follow the gospel of Jesus Christ in it's fullness. Everything that Christ has ever taught He has once again revealed through a modern prophet. This fullness allows us, as members of Christ's church, to receive constant revelation. This is one of the things that makes us different from other churches. We are based almost entirely around receiving revelation, or direction from God. We use the gift of the Holy Ghost, which we have by the laying on of hands by someone who has authority from God, to get revelation from God. We get revelation from God through the prophet, Thomas Monson. We get revelation from God through church attendance and temple worship. We get revelation from God through prayer and scripture study. And all of this revelation is so that God can tell us Himself what we need to do to get back to Him. No other Church has the amount of revelation, not to say that they we are better, just that they're missing out. The lifestyle that we live is, ideally, 100 percent guided by God's Holy Spirit. None of us are perfect, so no one quite attains the full 100 percent, but at least the option is there. "
The ninth Article of Faith states:"We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."
LDS Newsroom - Modern Revelation
"Belief in prophets and apostles at the head of the Church does not mean that members blindly follow their leaders. While the prophet of God receives revelation and inspiration to guide the Church as a whole, revelation flows at every level, including to the leaders of congregations and to individual families and members. In fact, individual members are expected to seek that kind of divine guidance to help them in their own lives, in their responsibilities in the Church and even in temporal pursuits, including their occupations. Members are also expected to prayerfully seek their own “testimony” or conviction of the principles their leaders teach them."
David A. Bednar - The Spirit of Revelation
"The spirit of revelation is available to every person who receives by proper priesthood authority the saving ordinances of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost—and who is acting in faith to fulfill the priesthood injunction to “receive the Holy Ghost.” This blessing is not restricted to the presiding authorities of the Church; rather, it belongs to and should be operative in the life of every man, woman, and child who reaches the age of accountability and enters into sacred covenants. Sincere desire and worthiness invite the spirit of revelation into our lives."
LDS Newsroom - Modern Revelation
"Belief in prophets and apostles at the head of the Church does not mean that members blindly follow their leaders. While the prophet of God receives revelation and inspiration to guide the Church as a whole, revelation flows at every level, including to the leaders of congregations and to individual families and members. In fact, individual members are expected to seek that kind of divine guidance to help them in their own lives, in their responsibilities in the Church and even in temporal pursuits, including their occupations. Members are also expected to prayerfully seek their own “testimony” or conviction of the principles their leaders teach them."
David A. Bednar - The Spirit of Revelation
"The spirit of revelation is available to every person who receives by proper priesthood authority the saving ordinances of baptism by immersion for the remission of sins and the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost—and who is acting in faith to fulfill the priesthood injunction to “receive the Holy Ghost.” This blessing is not restricted to the presiding authorities of the Church; rather, it belongs to and should be operative in the life of every man, woman, and child who reaches the age of accountability and enters into sacred covenants. Sincere desire and worthiness invite the spirit of revelation into our lives."
MormonWiki - Revelation
"Revelation is defined as "communication from God to His children on earth. Revelation may come through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost by way of inspiration, visions, dreams, or visits by angels. Revelation provides guidance that can lead the faithful to eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom." Mormonism, like the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), is rare among Christian denominations in that it asserts that revelation is continuous; much modern revelation has been received and is recorded in the Scriptures of the Mormon Church.
"Revelation is defined as "communication from God to His children on earth. Revelation may come through the Light of Christ and the Holy Ghost by way of inspiration, visions, dreams, or visits by angels. Revelation provides guidance that can lead the faithful to eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom." Mormonism, like the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), is rare among Christian denominations in that it asserts that revelation is continuous; much modern revelation has been received and is recorded in the Scriptures of the Mormon Church.
Video: Jeffrey R. Holland - God's Words Never Cease
"Some Christians, in large measure because of their genuine love for theBible, have declared that there can be no more authorized scripture beyond the Bible. In thus pronouncing the canon of revelation closed, our friends in some other faiths shut the door on divine expression that we in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold dear: the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price, and the ongoing guidance received by God’s anointed prophets and apostles. Imputing no ill will to those who take such a position, nevertheless we respectfully but resolutely reject such an unscriptural characterization of true Christianity." Read the entire talk HERE.
tDMg
Kathryn Skaggs
Hello Kathryn!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy your writings. But I also wonder, when was the last time ANYTHING was revealed by a living Prophet(I'm not talking about the revelations to only have one pair of earrings, etc.)? I don't think any Prophet since Joseph Smith has used the phrase "Thus sayeth the Lord", or spoke in the first person, on behalf of God. So if you use that, admittedly arbitrary, measure of revelation, then it's been almost 170 years. I guess you could count the Family Proclamation. But what revelations have Thomas S. Monson had that many faithful struggling Mormons so desperately need (who are loosing home, jobs, and suffering so greatly)? I am so disappointed in the General Conference talks Pres. Monson gives and I know of so many others who miss President Hinckley so incredibly much. But then Pres. Hinckley did not reveal any latter-day revelations either. Do you know that I mean? I am really struggling here along with so many others today in the church.
I wish I had the answer you are seeking, but I doubt that I do. However, as I'm writing about as we speak, literally, and will post later today, the revelation that the church would extend the priesthood to every worthy male member was huge! As I've been studying this over the last few days my testimony has increased in modern-day revelation, specifically related to our prophets. The process that was undertaken to receive that revelation was truly profound.
DeleteI realize that there are many that only accept revelation, as coming straight from God to the President of the Church, when it is accompanied by the mandate "thus saith the Lord". However, I sincerely believe that with the individual gift of the Holy Ghost that each member is commanded to receive, when doing so, we have the ability to discern true revelation from God with or without a "thus saith the Lord" attached to it.
I've had that experience countless times. And honestly, even if a "thus saith the Lord" revelation did come forth I would still require that very personal witness of truth for myself. So yes, wouldn't it be nice to have both, but for me I am much more concerned with truth being witnessed to me, personally, by the Spirit.
I have a strong testimony that our greatest reliance in these last days must be our individual relationship with God and our ability to listen to His Spirit. The Spirit will testify to us when truth is taught, expounded, etc... It is the Spirit whose mission it is to bring us back into the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Kathryn,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your response....I appreciate you taking the time to do that. I do think the "Priesthood for every worthy male" was a huge step in the right direction and I remember how thrilled I was when it was announced. Please don't feel that I am belittling that progress at all. But, a huge issue many are struggling with now is that we need some guidance from our living Prophet, Pres. Monson. I know I do not need to tell you the issues members are dealing with today. But, we get only talks that we could hear in primary from the Prophet. Don't get me wrong...I love Thomas S. Monson. But his talks are all fluff and no meat....and many, many are starving today. I hope you know what I'm trying to say. Even the other apostles give deeper more instructional talks. Oh well...I am just watching so many of my friends and family falling away from the church right now. President Monson has been a part of this along with other historical issues and so forth. I do know that God loves me and I do know the church has so much good to offer us....it gets very discouraging at times. Thank you again for listening. I love your blog and I'm glad I've found it!
Sorry it took me so long to approve your comment, as I was deeply engrossed in writing today's post.
DeleteI am aware of what your are referring to and I feel your sincere concern. I can only have faith that the needs of those you are referring to will be addressed and that ultimately you will be strengthened in your ability and desire to remain faithful to the gospel.
I feel very confident in saying that I truly believe, that no matter what issues we as individual members struggle with regarding our membership, that if we will remain close to the spirit we will be guided on our journey until reconciliation is obtained -- whenever that may be.