Monday, May 26, 2008

Chapter 2: Revelation: Avenue to Truth, A: God Gives Truth to His Children Through Revelation

God communicates with his children through revelation. God never communicates directly to us, but communicates through Jesus Christ to us.
And thus the Gospel began to be preached from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Moses 5:58

All revelation since the fall has come through Jesus Christ, who is the Jehovah of the Old Testament. In all of the scripture, where God is mentioned and where he has appeared, it was Jehovah who talked with Abraham, with Noah, Enoch, Moses and all the prophets. He is the God of Israel, the Holy One of Israel; the one who gave and fulfilled the law of Moses. The Father has never dealt with man directly and personally since the fall, and he has never appeared except to introduce and bear record of the Son.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:27

In giving revelations our Savior speaks at times for himself; at other times for the Father, and in the Father's name, as though he were the Father, and yet it is Jesus Christ, our Redeemer who gives the message.
Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:27
God has always used revelation to communicate with his children. God uses revelation now and will always use revelation to speak to us. God wants to talk to us, and it is only through our own lack of listening and worthiness that God would stop talking to us.
For he that diligently seeketh shal find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in titmes of old a in times to come; wherefore the course of the Lord is one eternal round.
1 Nephi 10:19

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.
Articles of Fath 1:9
If there is anything we know, it is through revelation. God posesses all truth and the mere discovery does not allow us to lay claim to it.
Fo what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
1 Cor 2:11

Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How unserachable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God.
Jacob 4:8

One great reason why men have stumbled so frequently in many of their researches afer philosophical truth is that they have sought them with their own wisdom, and glories in their own intelligence, and have not sought unto God for that wisdom that fills and governs the universe and regulates all things. That is one great difficulty with the philosophers of the world, and it no exists, that man claims to himself to be the inventor of everything he discovers. Any new law and principle which he happens to discover he claims to himself instead of giving glory to God.
John Taylor, The Gospel Kingdom, 47
God guides his people as a whole through revelations to his prophets. The prophet is the one who speaks for all to God, and no one else can claim to receive revelation for the church as a whole. This is how God keeps order in his kingdom.

And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words in is mouth; and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. And he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.
Exodus 4:15-16

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet amoung you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
Numbers 12:6

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, [until] he reveal his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7, Brackets from Joseph Smith Translation

And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the Spirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall come up on the children of men according to the flesh.
1 Ne 22:2

But behold, verily, verily, I says unto three, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. for he reciveth them even as Moses... And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church; For I have given him the keys of the mysteries, and the revelations which are sealed, until I shall appoint unto them another in his stead.
D&C 28:2, 6-7

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.
Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 111

It is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves; therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed to them.
Smith, Teaching of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 21
The scriptures contain revelation that have been received throughout the history of Earth. We have them now so that we can benefit from them now. We are greatly blessed to have so much revelation in this day and age.

All scripture is gien by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 3:17

Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled. What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
D&C 1:37-39

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:20-21
We can receive personal revelation for ourselves. This revelation comes when we ask for it, when we are worthy for it, and when we are ready to receive it.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering.
James 1:5-6

And whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is right, believing that ye shall receive, behold it shall be given unto you.
3 Nephi 18:20

Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
D&C 8:2

For thus saith the Lord--I, the Lord am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness an din truth unto the end... And to them I will reveal all mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pretaining to my kingdom. Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and tings to come will I show them, even the things of many generations. And their wisdom shall be great and their understanding reach to heave; and before them the widom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught. For by my spirit will enlighted them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will--yea even thos e things which eyes has not seen or ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man.
D&C 76:5,7-10

God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but that He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye the Lord; for all shall know Him (who remain) from the least to the greatest.
Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 149

No comments: