We Believe: Doctrines of Mormonism: Revelation: to the Church

List of Doctrines on "Revelation: to the Church"

Author's Note: Every truth of the gospel intended as a testimony to the world is revealed from God to men through the recorded witness of many prophets in written scriptures. Every asserted doctrine and every interpretation of scripture must be tested against those recorded testimonies and be in harmony with them.

661. Revelation to the Church is continuous.

662. Only the President of the Church—the prophet, seer, and revelator—has the right to receive new revelation for the Church (or amendatory revelations, or to give authoritative interpretations of scriptures, or to change in any way the existing doctrines of the Church).

663. For new revelation to be binding on the Church (when the President of the Church receives revelation for the Church), it must be proclaimed universally to the Church.

661. Revelation to the Church is continuous.

Elder Wilford Woodruff
Boyd K. Packer
Hugh B. Brown
John A. Widtsoe
George Q. Cannon
President Spencer W. Kimball
James E. Faust
James E. Faust
David B. Haight
President Spencer W. Kimball
Joseph Smith
Moroni, son of Mormon
President Joseph F. Smith
Gordon B. Hinckley
Joseph Smith
Amos

Elder Wilford Woodruff

The Lord never had—and never will have to the end of time—a Church on the earth without Prophets, Apostles, and inspired men. Whenever the Lord had a people on the earth that He acknowledged as such, that people were led by revelation. (In Tabernacle, July 20, 1883, JD24:240) TLDP:568

Boyd K. Packer

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, p. 137) TLDP:569

Hugh B. Brown

Divine revelation has always been a characteristic of the living Church—it is absolutely essential to its continued existence in an organized state on the earth. . . .
Without continued revelation there can be no authorized ministry on the earth, and without authorized officers there can be no Church of Christ. . . .
. . . [W]e cannot believe that [God's] Church in one dispensation would be blessed and led by . . . "live" revelation and in another dispensation leave a distraught and imperiled world with only the recorded messages of ancient prophets, some of which messages were for specific purposes and under special circumstances. We believe that revelation both "live" and recorded is now, and will continue to be, available to men. Whenever the Lord has recognized his Church, he has given through his prophets messages of warning, instruction, and hope. . . .
So we may trace the line of revelators, men who have stood, each in his time, as the medium through whom God speaks to his people, from Moses to Joshua, through the Judges, on to David and Solomon and down to Zachariah and Malachi. Christ himself, came to this world to reveal God to men, and he himself was led and directed by revelation from his Father while he dwelt on this earth. . . .
The scriptures, then, are not only replete with evidence, but conclusive in proving that God does and always has, whenever there has been a dispensation of the gospel upon the earth, been in touch with his people. . . .
From the scriptures cited [John 7:3; Genesis 5:24; Luke 1:28,31; John 12:49-50; 1 Corinthians 2:10-11; Ephesians 1:10] and many others, it seems evident that revelation from God to man has been a vital characteristic and standard procedure in all dispensations of the gospel. All the prophets and leaders of ancient times were led, directed, chosen, inspired by God himself through revelation. CR1961Oct:94-96

John A. Widtsoe

Again, do not misunderstand me. I do not mean that this church and kingdom is static, that we stand still. I believe in a living, growing church, which is in need of and does receive revelation from day to day. Nothing is more certain to me than that we were founded in revelation from God, and that we are guided daily by such revelation. We shall have revelation for our guidance to the end of time: but such new revelations as may come will never supersede, destroy or abrogate the fundamental principles upon which this Church rests its body of doctrine. A new revelation merely adds and develops and more nearly completes that which has formerly been given. CR1934Oct:10

George Q. Cannon

As Latter-day Saints, we need constantly the guidance of Jehovah. 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, 1:323) TLDP:568

President Spencer W. Kimball

Since that momentous day in 1820, additional scripture has continued to come, including the numerous and vital revelations flowing in a never-ending stream from God to his prophets on earth. Many of these revelations are recorded in another scripture called the Doctrine and Covenants. Completing our Latter-day Saint scriptures is the Pearl of Great Price, another record of revelation and translated writings of both ancient and modern prophets.
There are those who would assume that with the printing and binding of these sacred records, that would be the "end of the prophets." But again we testify to the world that revelation continues and that the vaults and files of the Church contain these revelations which come month to month and day to day. We testify also that there is, since 1830 when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was organized, and will continue to be, so long as time shall last, a prophet, recognized of God and his people, who will continue to interpret the mind and will of the Lord. . . .
I say, in the deepest of humility, but also by the power and force of a burning testimony in my soul, that from the prophet of the Restoration to the prophet of our own year, the communication line is unbroken, the authority is continuous, a light brilliant and penetrating continues to shine. The sound of the voice of the Lord is a continuous melody and a thunderous appeal. For nearly a century and a half there has been no interruption. CR1977Apr:115

James E. Faust

My testimony of the divinity of the callings of the presiding Brethren as the representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ flows from the deepest wellspring of my soul. For many years, I have watched the process of continuous revelation which emanates from God through the keys, authority, and under direction of the President of the Church. I testify that this revelatory power has directed this work since April 6, 1830. (CR 1996Apr; The Prophetic Voice, Ensign, May 1996, p.4)

James E. Faust

This process of continuous 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.” (CR 1989Oct; Continuous Revelation, Ensign, November 1989, p.8)

David B. Haight

A distinguishing feature of the Church is the claim to continuous revelation from the Lord—“the making known of divine truth by communications from its heavens.” (James E. Talmage, The Articles of Faith, 12th ed., Salt Lake City: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1924, p. 296.) Today, the Lord’s Church is guided by the same relationship with Deity that existed in previous dispensations. (CR 1986Apr; A Prophet Chosen of the Lord, Ensign, May 1986, p.7)

Related Witnesses:

President Spencer W. Kimball

Never again will God be hidden from his children on the earth. Revelation is here to remain.
In the early years of his newly established dispensation, the Lord set his divine law of succession, and prophets have followed each other and will continue to follow each other in never-ending divine appointed succession, and the secrets of the Lord will be revealed without measure.
Man never needs to stand alone. Every faithful person may have the inspiration for his own limited kingdom. But the Lord definitely calls prophets today and reveals his secrets unto them as he did yesterday, he does today, and will do tomorrow: that is the way it is. CR1977Apr:115

Joseph Smith

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. (The ninth of the thirteen Articles of Faith; letter to John Wentworth, March 1, 1842) Articles of Faith :9

Moroni, son of Mormon

And again I speak unto you who deny the revelations of God, and say that they are done away, that there are no revelations, nor prophecies, nor gifts, nor healing, nor speaking with tongues, and the interpretation of tongues;
8. Behold I say unto you, he that denieth these things knoweth not the gospel of Christ; yea, he has not read the scriptures; if so, he does not understand them.
9. For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? (Moroni addresses those who deny the revelations of God, A.D. 400-421) Mormon 9:7-9

President Joseph F. Smith

The theology of our Church is the theology taught by Jesus Christ and His apostles, the theology of scripture and reason. It not only acknowledges the sacredness of ancient scripture, and the binding force of divinely-inspired acts and utterances in ages past; but also declares that God now speaks to man in this final Gospel dispensation. (Address from the First Presidency of the Church to the world, delivered to and accepted by vote of the Church in general conference, April 1907) CR1907Apr (Appendix) 4

Gordon B. Hinckley

To the world we give our witness that there is revelation of the word of God as certainly in the atomic age as there was in the age of Jeremiah. It is just that simple and just that true. CR1964Apr:39

Joseph Smith

Abraham received all things, whatsoever he received, by revelation and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne. (Revelation relating to the new and everlasting covenant, July 12, 1843) D&C 132:29

Amos

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos prophesies the downfall of Israel, about 770-750 B.C.) Amos 3:7

Author's Note: From the very beginning when revelation to man began with Adam, revelation to prophets and to the Church has been continuous. Elder Joseph F. Smith spoke about this in 1873. He said that the Lord's laws, rites and ceremonies existed from the beginning:
"Undoubtedly the knowledge of [the law of sacrifice] and of other rites and ceremonies was carried by the posterity of Adam into all lands, and continued with them, more or less pure, to the flood, and through Noah . . . to those who succeeded him, spreading out into all nations and countries, Adam and Noah being the first of their dispensations to receive them from God. What wonder, then, that we should find relics of Christianity, so to speak, among the heathens and nations who know not Christ, and whose histories date back beyond the days of Moses, and even beyond the flood, independent of and apart from the records of the Bible. The ground taken by infidels, that 'Christianity' sprang from the heathen, it being found that they have many rites similar to those recorded in the Bible, &c, is only a vain and foolish attempt to blind the eyes of men and dissuade them from their faith in the Redeemer of the world, and from their belief in the Scriptures of divine truth, for if the heathen have doctrines and ceremonies resembling to some extent those which are recorded in the Scriptures, it only proves what is plain to the Saints, that these are the traditions of the fathers handed down from generation to generation, from Adam, through Noah, and that they will cleave to the children to the latest generation, though they may wander into darkness and perversion, until but a slight resemblance to their origin, which was divine, can be seen." (JD15:325)

662. Only the President of the Church—the prophet, seer, and revelator—has the right to receive new revelation for the Church (or amendatory revelations, or to give authoritative interpretations of scriptures, or to change in any way the existing doctrines of the Church).

J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
Delbert L. Stapley
James E. Talmage
Joseph Smith
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Charles W. Penrose
President George Albert Smith, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay
Boyd K. Packer
Elder Ezra Taft Benson
Mark E. Petersen
Joseph Smith
J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
Amos
Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
President Joseph Fielding Smith
President Joseph F. Smith
Patriarch Joseph F. Smith
Joseph Smith
Joseph Smith

J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

Only the President of the Church, the Presiding High Priest, is sustained as Prophet, Seer and Revelator for the Church, and he alone has the right to receive revelations for the church, either new or amendatory, or to give authoritative interpretations of scriptures that shall be binding on the Church, or change in any way the existing doctrines of the Church. He is God's sole mouthpiece on earth for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only true Church. He alone may declare the mind and will of God to his people. No officer of any other Church in the world has this high right and lofty prerogative. . . .
When any one except the President of the Church undertakes to proclaim a revelation from God for the guidance of the Church, we may know he is not "moved upon by the Holy Ghost."
When any one except the President of the Church undertakes to proclaim one unsettled doctrine of the Church, we may know that he is not "moved upon by the Holy Ghost," unless he is acting under the direction and by the authority of the President.
Of these things we may have a confident assurance without chance for doubt or quibbling. (Church News, July 13, 1954) MPSG1989:66

Delbert L. Stapley

I bear witness to you, my brothers and sisters, that God sustains him [the living prophet] and no one else in the world today but him, because he has the holy calling of prophet, seer, and revelator, representing the Lord upon the earth in our time. He only has the right to revelation for the people of the Church, and if all people would understand that, they would not be tossed about by those who would seek to divert their minds from the Church and its glorious principles. . . .
[I]f the people of the Church understand the calling and position of the chosen and anointed prophet of God, they will be fortified against false teachers and anti-Christs, and we do have them among us. CR1953Oct:70; DCSM:45

James E. Talmage

The Lord observes the principle of order and fitness in giving revelation to His servants. Though it is the privilege of any person to live so as to merit this gift in the affairs of his special calling, only those appointed and ordained to the offices of presidency are to be revelators to the people at large. Concerning the President of the Church, who at the time of the revelation here referred to was the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord has said to the elders of the Church: "And this ye shall know assuredly, that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me. . . . And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments; And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me." [D&C 43:3,5-6] AF:209

Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord

For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.
3. And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.
4. But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.
5. And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;
6. And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.
7. For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed. (Revelation: message for the nations of the earth, Feb. 1831) D&C 43:2-7

Elder Ezra Taft Benson

Let me give you a crucial key to help you avoid being deceived. It is this—learn to keep your eye on the Prophet. He is the Lord's mouthpiece and the only man who can speak for the Lord today. Let his inspired words be a basis for evaluating the counsel of all lesser authorities. Then live close to the Spirit so you may know the truth of all things. (At Brigham Young University, Oct. 1966) MPSG1989:58

Charles W. Penrose

We don't want to prevent men from thinking. I have heard some of my brethren say, "Well, do you want to stop men from thinking?" Not at all. Liberty to think and liberty to act upon the thought if you don't infringe the rights others. . . . [B]ut my brethren, it isn't your province nor mine to introduce theories into the Church that are not in accordance with the revelations that have been given. Don't forget that. And if any change in policy is to be introduced, it is to come through the proper channel. The Lord said only his servant Joseph should do that while he lived, and then after he died others were to be called to occupy the place, and the key is in the hands of the man who stands at the head, if any change is to be introduced in our Church. CR1918Apr:21-22

President George Albert Smith, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., David O. McKay

(First Presidency)
When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions, or an extraordinary gift of inspiration conveys something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions of its constituted authorities, Latter-day Saints may know that it is not of God, no matter how plausible it may appear. Also, they should understand that directions for the guidance of the Church will come by revelation, through the head. (Published message of the First Presidency of the Church, Dec.29, 1945, republishing a message of the previous First Presidency in 1913, comprised of Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, and Charles W. Penrose) MOFP6:244

Boyd K. Packer

Revelation continues in the Church: the prophet receiving it for the Church; the president for his stake, his mission, or his quorum; the bishop for his ward; the father for his family; the individual for himself. CR1974Apr:139

Elder Ezra Taft Benson

The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today's instructions from God to us today. God's revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of the ancient scripture plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering which you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord's mouthpiece. ACR(Seoul)1975:52; MPSG1989:58-59

Mark E. Petersen

The Church of Jesus Christ, then, should always be led by living apostles and prophets who would receive the constant guidance of heaven. They would continue always in the Church as seers and revelators for the people.
But as they so ministered they would be providing also new and additional scripture appropriate to the times in which they lived, according to the Lord's pattern.
The prophets of the early Christian church ministered in their day just as the Old Testament prophets did during the preceding centuries. And why? Because they followed this same divine pattern, for as Amos explained, the Lord works only through prophets. (Amos 3:7)
When there are no prophets, there is no divine direction, and without such guidance the people walk in darkness. . . .
The world has been so confused by the conflicting creeds of men that the truth had to be given to mankind once again to disabuse their minds and correct their thinking. There was only one way in which this could be done and that was by new revelation. But to have new revelation requires the presence of a prophet to receive it, for as Amos said, the Lord will not act except through prophets. (See Amos 3:7.) CR1978Apr:95,98

Related Witnesses:

Joseph Smith,
receiving the Word of the Lord

But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses .
3. And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the Church.
4. And if thou art led at any time by the Comforter to speak or teach, or at all times by the way of commandment unto the church, thou mayest do it.
5. But thou shalt not write by way of commandment, but by wisdom;
6. And thou shalt not command him who is at thy head, and at the head of the church;
7. 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. (Revelation for Oliver Cowdery, Sept. 1830) D&C 28:2-7

J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

You are not, whether high or low, to change the doctrines of the Church or to modify them, as they are declared by and in the Standard Works of the Church and by those whose authority it is to declare the mind and will of the Lord to the Church. The Lord had declared he is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Speaking in behalf of the First Presidency [see letter of First Presidency, MOFP6:208-09] to seminary, institute, and Church school teachers at Aspen Grove. Entire speech published in Deseret News, Church Section, Aug. 13, 1938 and in IE1938Sep:520ff; reprinted in MOFP6:44-58. The speech was extracted for use as Lesson 18 of the Melchizedek Priesthood course of study 1969-70, p. 129ff) MPSG1969-70:137

Amos

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos prophesies the downfall of Israel, about 770-750 B.C.) Amos 3:7

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith

Let me add that when a revelation comes for the guidance of this people, you may be sure that it will not be presented in some mysterious manner contrary to the order of the Church. It will go forth in such form that the people will understand that it comes from those who are in authority, for it will be sent either to the presidents of stakes and the bishops of the wards over the signatures of the presiding authorities, or it will be published in some of the regular papers or magazines under the control and direction of the church, or it will be presented before such a gathering as this at a general conference. It will not spring up in some distant part of the Church and be in the hands of some obscure individual without authority, and thus be circulated among the Latter-day Saints. Now, you may remember this. . . .
Now, the Lord is not going to give unto any woman in this Church a revelation for the Church. He is not going to give unto any man in this Church, other than the one who is properly appointed, a revelation for the guidance of the Church, for everything will be done in order. CR1918Oct:55

President Joseph Fielding Smith

Now, brethren, I think there is one thing which we should have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord.
An individual may fall by the wayside, or have views, or give counsel which falls short of what the Lord intends. But the voice of the First Presidency and the united voice of those others who hold with them the keys of the kingdom shall always guide the Saints and the world in those paths where the Lord wants them to be. CR1972Apr:99; MPSG1989:58

President Joseph F. Smith

. . .I know this, that God has organized his Church in the earth, and I know that when he designs or purposes to make any change in the matter of governing or controlling or presiding over the affairs of his Church, that he will make the change, and that he will make it in such a way that the whole people of the Church, who are doing right, will understand and accept it. I know that the Lord will not raise up "Tom, Dick, or Harry," here, there and everywhere, claiming to be Christ, or "one mighty and strong," claiming to be inspired and called to do some wonderful thing. The Lord will not deal with men in that way; that while the organization of the Church exists, while quorums and councils of the Priesthood are intact in the Church, the Lord will reveal his purposes through them and not through "Tom, Dick, or Harry." Put that in your little notebooks now, and remember it; it is true. CR1912Apr:10

Patriarch Joseph F. Smith

When Heber J. Grant, whom you have sustained [as President of the Church], and I expect will again sustain before this conference is over, issues instruction as prophet, seer, and revelator, that word should be scripture to us. It is the word of the Lord Himself through His prophet, and it may be that sometimes that advice is not exactly in accordance with our personal desires. It has never been the business of a prophet of God to tell people what they wanted to hear; it is the business of a prophet, and I imagine it is a very unpleasant business sometimes, to tell the people what the Lord wants them to know and to do, and we who hold the Priesthood should take the Church seriously enough to be obedient to the scriptures. CR1943Apr:76

Joseph Smith

And again, the duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses —
92. Behold, here is wisdom; yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church. (Revelation on priesthood, received as the Twelve met in council, March 28, 1835) D&C 107:91-92

Joseph Smith,
quoted by Elder Joseph Fielding Smith

I will inform you that 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. (Letter to Jared Carter, April 13, 1833) HC1:338; TPJS:21; DGSM:5

Author's Note: When the Lord wants his children to learn and understand any doctrine, He will teach it to them by the repeated influence of the Holy Ghost through His witnesses the prophets: that same Spirit will prompt more than one prophet to reiterate the doctrine, hence two or more witnesses will always affirm the doctrine. Observe how any new doctrine first comes to men by revelation through the President of the Church, be it new, amendatory or an authoritative interpretation changing in any way the existing doctrines of the Church. Thereafter the Apostles of the Lord, who are ordained prophets, teach that new or amended doctrine by the repeated influence of the Holy Ghost, thus verifying in a sense the revelation given to the President of the Church. But the reverse is not the pattern of the Lord. Apostles do not come forth with new or modified revelation to the Church, for that is the calling of its President. By heeding the teachings of the Apostles we can obtain a greater understanding, a keener insight into revealed doctrines as the Holy Ghost verifies to us those truths spoken by the Apostles. We come thereby to that "unity of the faith" spoken of by Paul: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" (Ephesians 4:13)

We lose much on those occasions when we prefer to use our intellectual talent and judgment in matters pertaining to the Spirit instead of our spiritual discernment. When the Holy Ghost speaks through a prophet, we ought to let the Holy Ghost in us give full credence to those inspired words of the prophet. The Spirit should override the talent of our meager intellects. We ought to humbly and gratefully honor and respect those scriptural expressions of prophetic witnesses so they become part of our own spiritual fiber. Then the spirit in us will also find room for deep gratitude toward those worthy prophets through whom the Lord has spoken.

663. For new revelation to be binding on the Church (when the President of the Church receives revelation for the Church), it must be proclaimed universally to the Church.

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith
President Joseph F. Smith
President Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, J. Reuben Clark, Jr.
Patriarch Joseph F. Smith
President Joseph F. Smith

Elder Joseph Fielding Smith

Let me add that when a revelation comes for the guidance of this people, you may be sure that it will not be presented in some mysterious manner contrary to the order of the Church. It will go forth in such form that the people will understand that it comes from those who are in authority, for it will be sent either to the presidents of stakes and the bishops of the wards over the signatures of the presiding authorities, or it will be published in some of the regular papers or magazines under the control and direction of the church, or it will be presented before such a gathering as this at a general conference. It will not spring up in some distant part of the Church and be in the hands of some obscure individual without authority, and thus be circulated among the Latter-day Saints. Now, you may remember this. . . .
Now I maintain that there is no occasion for any member of this Church to have a doubt in his mind regarding matters of revelation as coming for the guidance of the Church, because when such things come they will come in the proper channels and be presented by those who are ordained to this calling and who are known to the Church. CR1918Oct:55-56

President Joseph F. Smith

President Heber J. Grant, Anthony W. Ivins, J. Reuben Clark, Jr.

(First Presidency)
It is alleged [by an apostate group] that on September 26-27, 1886, President John Taylor received a revelation from the Lord [pertaining to continued polygamous marriages]. . . .
[S]o far as the authorities of the Church are concerned and so far as the members of the Church are concerned, since this pretended revelation, if ever given, was never presented to and adopted by the Church or by any council of the Church . . . the said pretended revelation could have no validity and no binding effect and force upon Church members, and action under it would be unauthorized, illegal, and void. (Official statement from the First Presidency, June 17, 1933) MOFP5:327

Related Witnesses:

Patriarch Joseph F. Smith

President Joseph F. Smith

The theology of our Church is the theology taught by Jesus Christ and His apostles, the theology of scripture and reason. It not only acknowledges the sacredness of ancient scripture, and the binding force of divinely inspired acts and utterances in ages past; but also declares that God now speaks to man in this final Gospel dispensation. (Address from the First Presidency of the Church to the world, delivered to and accepted by vote of the Church in general conference, April 1907) CR1907Apr(Appendix)4

We Believe: Doctrines and Principles

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Revelation: to the Church

661. Revelation to the Church is continuous.

Related Witnesses:

662. Only the President of the Church—the prophet, seer, and revelator—has the right to receive new revelation for the Church (or amendatory revelations, or to give authoritative interpretations of scriptures, or to change in any way the existing doctrines of the Church).

Related Witnesses:

663. For new revelation to be binding on the Church (when the President of the Church receives revelation for the Church), it must be proclaimed universally to the Church.

Related Witnesses: