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TODAY'S THEME
I projected in my just previous post (37k) that in the next post (this post!) we would review other things that the prophet Moroni wrote in the Name of the Lord, Jesus Christ. I have decided to postpone that to Post 37m in order that I could follow up with one more important principle that we should consider regarding the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation, the subject we considered in my post 37k.
This is such an important part of the functioning of the Lord Jesus Christ's Church in our day, I felt it shouldn't be overlooked.
You may want to review what was written in Post 37k to better understand the subject more fully you will now read in this Post.
As indicated in the previous post I have extracted the following from my Post 19 which I published in 2008. It is a continuation of that.
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| The Prophet Joseph Smith -by David Lindsley |
"We never can comprehend the things of God and of heaven, but by revelation. We may spiritualize and express opinions to all eternity; but that is no authority. The doctrine of revelation far transcends the doctrine of no revelation; for one truth revealed from heaven is worth all the sectarian notions in existence."
Yesterday, August 17, 2008, throughout the entire world wherever a branch or ward of this Church (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) has been established (among the over 13 million members of this church) the assigned lesson for the Melchizedek Priesthood (for adult men) and the Relief Society (for adult women) was something we were invited to study previously in our Joint Lesson Manual and then be taught by an assigned teacher the following lesson: Revelation and the Living Prophet.
From Lesson 16, pages 195-196 of the text book used throughout the church, world-wide (translated into a very large number of different languages and dialects) I quoted which I placed under the picture of Joseph Smith above. That quote is from an address given by the Prophet, Joseph Smith in an LDS Church Conference Held on April 21, 1834 (from minutes of the conference recorded by Oliver Cowdery.)
The Pearl of Great Price, Articles of Faith, #9 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.
"Salvation cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister without it. … No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever salvation has been administered, it has been by testimony. (See Revelation 19:10) Whenever salvation has been administered, it is by testimony. Men of the present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either; and I will say that no man knows these things without this.
Jesus in His teachings says, "Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." What rock? Revelation.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded upon direct revelation, as the true Church of God has ever been, according to the Scriptures (Please read each of these scriptures the Prophet Joseph Smith asked his listeners to read: Amos 3:7, and Acts 1:2; and through the will and blessings of God, I have been an instrument in His hands, thus far, to move forward the cause of Zion.”
Joseph Smith (emphasis added)
Now that you have read the Prophet Joseph Smith's words about the importance and place of revelation in the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, you can read from this same lesson material something he said about the role of prophecy and revelation in the work of leadership of the presidency of the Church and in the lives of all other worthy members.
. . .The Presidents or [First] Presidency are over the Church; and revelations of the mind and will of God to the Church, are to come through the Presidency. This is the order of heaven, and the power and privilege of [the Melchizedek] Priesthood. It is also the privilege of any officer in this Church to obtain revelations, so far as relates to his particular calling and duty in the Church. (emphasis added)
We do not consider ourselves bound to receive any revelation from any one man or woman without his being legally constituted and ordained to that authority, and giving sufficient proof of it.
. . . It is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church, or any one, to receive instructions for those in authority, higher than themselves; therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed to them; but if any person have a vision or a visitation from a heavenly messenger, it must be for his own benefit and instruction; for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the Church are vested in the keys of the kingdom.” (emphasis added)
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Mormon Messages
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This website is not owned by or affiliated with the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church.
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Neil Birch
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