We Believe in Continuing Revelation

The image above is a quotation from the 9th Article of Faith. It states that members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe that God continues to talk to man in this age and time. We believe that each person can receive revelation for the stewardship he/she has that can guide them to perform in their offices according to the will of God. We also believe that each individual can receive revelation about the decisions of leaders to know that they are acting in God’s will.

In this post, I’m going to focus on the only person who can receive revelation for the world. That person is the living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson. In “A Living Prophet for the Latter Days“, Elder Allen D. Haynie states:

Knowing by revelation that there is a living prophet on the earth changes everything. It causes one to be uninterested in the debate about when is a prophet speaking as a prophet or whether one is ever justified in selective rejection of prophetic counsel. Such revealed knowledge invites one to trust the counsel of a living prophet, even if we do not fully understand it. After all, a perfect and loving Father in Heaven has chosen the pattern of revealing truth to His children through a prophet, someone who never sought such a sacred calling and who has no need of our help to be aware of his own imperfections. A prophet is someone God has personally prepared, called, corrected, inspired, rebuked, sanctified, and sustained. That is why we are never spiritually at risk in following prophetic counsel.

How Do I Know That the President Nelson Is the Prophet?

I mentioned above that each one of us can receive personal revelation about the actions of the leaders of the Church. At the same time, we can also receive personal revelation that a leader has been called by God to perform in his/her office. A lot of Latter-day Saints won’t ask God directly if the current president of the Church is God’s prophet. When He is presented, the Holy Ghost normally bears record of that fact immediately. At least, that has been my experience.

However, when something “controversial” is introduced by the prophet, we can always ask God to confirm that what has been said is His will. There are two questions that should be asked of God in this situation. The first is “Have you called <<Name of Leader>> to be in the leadership position he/she occupies?” The second is “Is the doctrine/policy/guidance the leader has given Yours?”

These two questions when asked “with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto, by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moroni 10:4). The key to asking is, to be honest and sincere with a desire to know the truth. Even if the truth turns out to be something we don’t necessarily agree with.

Why Is It Important to Have a Living Prophet?

Over the course of Earth’s history, God has revealed His plan to its inhabitants. In fact, we state with firm belief that the entire gospel of Jesus Christ can be found in the scriptures. With that in mind, why, then, do we need a living prophet? What more could God reveal to us that hasn’t already been revealed?

There is a trap inherent in thinking that the words of former prophets can be applied to every situation today. This trap caught the Jewish people several times as we see illustrated in the Old Testament. How many times did they rely on the words of Abraham or Moses instead of the prophet God had called that lived with them? How many times did it work out for them in the end?

Then, let’s take the example of Jesus Christ, the Messiah, coming down and living with the Jews. Did the Jews recognize Christ as the Messiah they were waiting for? Some did, and it was through the Holy Ghost as Jesus told Peter: “And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17).

Nevertheless, other Jews proclaimed that they had Abraham as a father and didn’t want to hear the good news of Christ’s gospel when He Himself brought it unto them.

Do we do this today? Do we rely on the words of former prophets to contradict the words of our living one? Do we get caught in the trap of believing our “favorite” prophet more than the current one anointed by God to lead His church?

The last question I have is this one: Who better to explain the will of God to us in our days than a living prophet? Who else understands our current situation and context on this earth? Why would God leave us alone without His help in understanding where we should go to find eternal life?

What Are the Effects of Following the Living Prophet’s Counsel?

The attached PDF document is a summary from the Church News on 100 pieces of counsel delivered by President Nelson since he became the prophet. As you read through them, look and see how many relate specifically to the world we live in today.

Personally, there are several pieces of counsel in that list that struck my heart and made me want to be a better person (15). Others have given me comfort in my journey on the covenant path (83). Lastly, some of the counsel has helped me to change direction in my life and focus on things of the most importance (12).

I want to take a moment to discuss number 35: “You can get personal revelation for your circumstances, just as naturally as I can for my circumstances.” How can we not believe in revelation when the prophet has told us we can get it? Why would we ever not want to ask God to reveal to us His plan and His truth? I know that I would be completely lost in life without the personal revelations I have received. I also know that the only way I can get those revelations is by going to God in prayer and asking.

Conclusion

We believe in continuing revelation. God has not left us to our own devices. He has organized His church in a way that lets each leader seek His guidance on how to properly oversee his/her stewardship. God has also promised to give each of us personal revelation to guide our own lives and to know whether or not those called to be leaders are guiding us correctly. Finally, God has called a prophet to lead the world. This man is the only person living on the earth with the authority to receive God’s direction for mankind. This only happens as God reveals His will through “his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

Tips for Teaching

When discussing this topic you may want to consider:

1. Discuss the 9th Article of Faith. Why is it important that God continue to reveal His will to His children on the earth?
2. Ask the class members to discuss why those with callings in the Church need to receive revelation.
3. Why is personal revelation so important? You may want to discuss the relationship between personal revelation and agency.
4. Review the list of counsel from President Nelson found in this post. Is there any counsel that might benefit the class? Which pieces of counsel have you applied in your life that you could share? Print out a copy of the list or, with appropriate permission, email a copy of the list to the members of the class so they can ponder on the counsel given.