James E.
Faust, “Continuing Revelation,” Liahona, Aug. 1996, 3
I wish to discuss a special dimension of the gospel: the necessity for constant
communication with God through the process known as divine revelation. This principle is basic to our
belief. President Wilford Woodruff declared, “Whenever the Lord had a people on
the earth that he acknowledged as such, that people were led by revelation” (The Discourses of Wilford
Woodruff, selected by G. Homer Durham, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946,
page 138). I affirm at the beginning that the inspiration of God is available
to all who worthily seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This is particularly
true of those who have received the gift of the Holy Ghost.
I wish to focus, however, on God’s communications to all of His children
through prophets, as distinguished from personal revelation received by individual members
of the Church and others. The prophets, seers, and revelators have had and
still have the responsibility and privilege of receiving and declaring the word
of God for the world. Individual members, parents, and leaders have the right
to receive revelation
for their own responsibilities but have no duty nor right to declare the word
of God beyond the limits of their own responsibilities.
I use as my text the ninth article of faith: “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
Past
Revelation
The first part of the ninth article of faith states, “We believe all that
God has revealed.” Through the ages, God’s messages to His children generally
have been revealed through prophets. Amos tells us, “Surely the Lord God will
do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). These are the prophetic
oracles who have tuned in over the centuries to the “celestial transmitting
station,” with a responsibility to relay the Lord’s word to others. The
principal qualifications of a prophet in any age are not wealth, title,
position, physical stature, scholarship, or intellectual attainment. The two
qualifications are, first, a prophet must be called as such by God and ordained
by one known to have legal and spiritual authority (see D&C
42:11), and second, he must receive and declare revelation from
God. No man knows the ways of God except they be revealed unto him (see Jacob 4:8).
Over the centuries revelation
from prophets has come incrementally. The Lord stated, “For he [God] will give
unto the faithful line upon line, precept upon precept; and I will try you and
prove you herewith” (D&C
98:12).
Revelations
have come by different means. Among other ways, they have come by the guidance
of the Holy Ghost (which is perhaps most common), by the spoken word, and by
visits from holy messengers.
Present
Revelation
The ninth article of faith continues: “We believe … all that [God] does now
reveal.” [A of F 1:9] For some strange reason it seems
easier for many to believe the words of dead prophets rather than those of
living prophets. The greatest revelator in our time has been Joseph Smith. In
the difficult period between 1823 and 1843, just 20 years, 134 revelations were received, printed, and
made public.
Each of the 92 Apostles called since then has been sustained as a prophet,
seer, and revelator. But the prophets, seers, and revelators succeeding
Joseph as Presidents of the Church have been those Apostles in whom all of the
keys of Christ’s earthly kingdom have been active and functioning.
We now move forward nobly and boldly, with courage and conviction, led by
our prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley. He is in every respect entitled to our
sustaining action. For 35 years he has been sustained as an Apostle of the Lord
Jesus Christ. He is the senior Apostle on the earth. He has been ordained and
set apart as the prophet, seer, and revelator to the world. He has been
sustained as the President of the Church. He is the presiding high priest over
all the priesthood on the earth. He alone holds and exercises all the keys of
the kingdom under the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the head of this Church and is
the chief cornerstone. President Hinckley is leading this work forward and is
assisted by two counselors and sustained by the Quorum of the Twelve.
I do not believe members of this Church can be in full harmony with the
Savior without sustaining His living prophet on the earth, the President of the
Church. If we do not sustain the living prophet, whoever he may be, we die
spiritually. Ironically, some have died spiritually by exclusively following
prophets who have long been dead. Others equivocate in their support of living
prophets, trying to lift themselves up by putting down the living prophets,
however subtly.
In our lifetime we have been favored with ongoing communication from the
heavens, which have been open to the prophets of our time. Major divine
pronouncements have included what we now know as section 138 of the Doctrine
and Covenants [D&C 138], given in 1918. Surely one of the
greatest divine disclosures came in 1978, when the blessings of the priesthood
and temple became available to all worthy male members. Line upon line and
precept upon precept, new knowledge and direction have been given to the
Church.
Thus, by revelation
in our day the Seventies have been given an expanded role as members of Area
Presidencies and in general Church administration, helping the First Presidency
and the Twelve “in building up the church and regulating all the affairs of the
same in all nations” (D&C
107:34). Many other divine instructions have also been
received. Much revelation
received, in this time as well as anciently, has been doctrinal. Some of it has
been operational and tactical. Much of it is not spectacular. President John
Taylor reminds us: “Adam’s revelation
did not instruct Noah to build his ark; nor did Noah’s revelation tell Lot to forsake Sodom; nor
did either of these speak of the departure of the children of Israel from
Egypt. These all had revelations
for themselves” (Millennial Star, 1 November 1847, page 323).
In our time God has revealed how to administer the Church with a membership
of over nine million differently than when there were just six members of the
Church. These differences include the use of modern technology, such as films,
videos, computers, and satellite broadcasts, to teach and communicate new ways
to conduct missionary work in various nations; the location and building of
temples; and many others.
This process of revelation
comes to the Church very frequently. President Wilford Woodruff stated, “This
power is in the bosom of Almighty God, and he imparts it to his servants the
prophets as they stand in need of it day by day to build up Zion” (The
Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, page 56). This is necessary for the Church
to fulfill its mission. Without it, we would fail.
Future
Revelation
A very encouraging portion of the ninth article of faith we have been
considering is its conclusion, “We believe that He will yet reveal many great
and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” Elder Boyd K. Packer,
now Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, stated: “Revelation is a
continuous principle in the Church. In one sense the Church is still being
organized. As light and knowledge are given, as prophecies are fulfilled and
more intelligence is received, another step forward can be taken” (The Holy
Temple, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1980, page 137).
This Church constantly needs the guidance of its head, the Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. This was well taught by President George Q. Cannon, formerly a
member of the First Presidency: “We have the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the
Book of Doctrine and Covenants; but all these books, without the living oracles
and a constant stream of revelation
from the Lord, would not lead any people into the Celestial Kingdom of God.
This may seem a strange declaration to make, but strange as it may sound, it is
nevertheless true.
“Of course, these records are all of infinite value. They cannot be too
highly prized, nor can they be too closely studied. But in and of themselves,
with all the light that they give, they are insufficient to guide the children
of men and to lead them into the presence of God. To be thus led requires a
living Priesthood and constant revelation from God to the people according to the
circumstances in which they may be placed” (Gospel Truth: Discourses and
Writings of President George Q. Cannon, 2 vols., selected by Jerreld L.
Newquist, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1974, 1:323).
When does this promised revelation
come? Only God knows. It comes as needed. To whom does it come? To obtain the
answer to this, we must go back to the words of Amos: “Surely the Lord God will
do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). This ongoing revelation will
not and cannot be forced by outside pressure from people and events. It is not
the so-called “revelation
of social progress.” It comes from God. The Church is governed by the prophet
under the guidance and direction of God. Parley P. Pratt disclosed: “The
legislative, judicial, and executive power is vested in Him [the Lord]. He
reveals the laws, and he elects, chooses, or appoints the officers; and holds
the right to reprove, to correct, or even to remove them at pleasure. Hence the
necessity of a constant intercourse by direct revelation between him and his church” (Millennial
Star, March 1845, page 150).
We have been promised that the President of the Church, as the revelator for
the Church, will receive guidance for all of us. Our safety lies in paying heed
to that which he says and following his counsel.
The doctrine of this Church was stated by Elder Stephen L. Richards of the
Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “They [the First Presidency] are the supreme
court here on earth in the interpretation of God’s law.
“In the exercise of their functions and delegated powers they are controlled
by a constitution, a part of which is written and a part of which is not. The
written part consists in authenticated scripture, ancient and modern, and in
the recorded utterances of our latter-day prophets. The unwritten part is the
spirit of revelation
and divine inspiration which are appertinent to their calling.
“In formulating their interpretations and decisions they always confer with
the Council of the Twelve Apostles who by revelation are appointed to assist and act
with them in the government of the Church. When, therefore, a judgment is
reached and proclaimed by these officers it becomes binding upon all members of
the Church, individual views to the contrary notwithstanding. God’s Kingdom is
a kingdom of law and order” (in Conference Report, October 1938, pages 115-16).
How, then, one might ask, can we be so sure that, as promised, the prophets,
seers, and revelators will never lead the people astray? (see Joseph Fielding
Smith, in Conference Report, April 1972, page 99; or Ensign, July 1972,
page 88). One answer is contained in the grand principle found in the 107th
section of the Doctrine and Covenants:
“And every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the unanimous
voice of the same. …
“The decisions of these quorums, or either of them, are to be made in all righteousness,
in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and long suffering, and in faith,
and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness
and charity;
“Because the promise is, if these things abound in them they shall not be
unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord” (D&C
107:27, 30-31).
The requirement of unanimity provides a check on bias and personal
idiosyncrasies. It ensures that God rules through the Spirit, not man through
majority or compromise. It ensures that the best wisdom and experience are
focused on an issue before the deep, unassailable impressions of revealed
direction are received. It guards against the foibles of man.
The responsibility for determining the divine validity of that which one of
the oracles of God may state does not rest solely upon him. President J. Reuben
Clark, formerly a member of the First Presidency, stated, “We can tell when the
speakers are ‘moved upon by the Holy Ghost’ only when we, ourselves, are ‘moved
upon by the Holy Ghost’ ” (J. Reuben Clark: Selected Papers on Religion,
Education, and Youth, edited by David H. Yarn Jr., Provo, Utah: Brigham
Young University Press, 1984, pages 95-96). This is in harmony with the counsel
of President Brigham Young:
“I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders
that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I
am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their
eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that
in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that
influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by
the revelations
of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by
the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are
walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not” (Discourses of Brigham Young,
selected by John A. Widtsoe, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1941,
page 135).
Revelation
was required to establish this Church. Revelation has brought it from its humble
beginnings to its present course. Revelation has come like flowing, living
water. Continuing
revelation will
lead it forward to the windup scene. But as President Clark told us, we do not
need more or different prophets. We need more people with “a listening ear” (in
Conference Report, October 1948, page 82).
We make no claim of individual infallibility or perfection as the prophets,
seers, and revelators. Yet I humbly state that I have sat in the company of
these men and I believe their greatest desire is to know and do the will of our
Heavenly Father. Those who sit in the highest councils of this Church and have
participated therein as inspiration has come and decisions have been reached
know that this light and truth is beyond human intelligence and reasoning.
These deep, divine impressions have come as the dews from heaven and settled
upon them individually and collectively. So inspired, we can go forward in
complete unity and accord.
I witness humbly that I know the Lord guides His Church through His
servants. I know them to be noble, righteous, dedicated servants of the Lord. I
pray that we may be responsive to His Spirit and be found listening to the
oracles He has appointed. I so pray because I know that we mortals, without the
aid of revelation,
cannot know the purposes of God.
Gospel topics: scripture study, spirituality
Ideas
for Home Teachers
1. The Lord’s prophets, seers, and revelators have had and still have the
responsibility of receiving and declaring the word of God for the world.
2. Members are not in full harmony with the Savior without sustaining his
living prophet on the earth, the President of the Church.
3. Our safety lies in paying heed to that which the President of the Church
says and following his counsel.
4. Revelation
was required to establish this Church. Revelation has brought it to its present
course. Continuing
revelation
will continue to lead it forward.
[illustration] The
First Vision, by Bruce Bennett
[illustration] Christ
Presides over the Temple, by Ted Gorka
[photo] Photograph by
Maren Mecham
[photo] Photograph by
Jed Clark
© 2003 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All
rights reserved.