We Believe: Continuing Revelation

Article 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.  

We believe in all that God has revealed, both through ancient prophets and the former prophets of this time.  The scriptures are full of prophecies about Christ and about things that are going to take place in these days.  Prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel foretold events pertaining to both the birth and second coming of Christ.  John the Beloved had his great vision recorded in the Book of Revelation found at the end of the New Testament, which is all about the last days and things that are to come.  Prophets in our time have given us warnings and counsel from God on how we can best prepare for upcoming events in our world.

We believe that God continues to reveal His words today.  We are led by a prophet who reveals God's will in these times for us.  Every six months we have a General Conference of the Church in which the prophet, apostles, and other church leaders address us and direct us in what we should do. 

We believe that along with revelation coming through God's prophet and the General Authorities, we are each entitled to personal revelation from God.  These revelations are for us in our own personal lives, things we should do, people whom we can give aid, places and situations that are dangerous, and a witness about truths of the gospel from the Holy Ghost.  Elder Oaks, speaking of these two kinds of revelation in our day said, "We must use both the personal line and the priesthood line in proper balance to achieve the growth that is the purpose of mortal life...The children of God need both lines to achieve their eternal destiny. The restored gospel teaches both, and the restored Church provides both (Ensign Nov. 2010)."


We believe that God will yet reveal many things necessary for us in our days.  Just as God did not reveal to Adam how to build the ark nor to Moses the plans to build the Salt Lake City temple, God has not revealed everything necessary for us.  The heavens are not sealed, which is one of the greatest truths brought back through the Restoration of the Gospel.

I am grateful for revelation in my life.  I love the words of Joseph Smith when he said “Salvation cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister without it (History of the Church, 3:389)."  I have been blessed in my life greatly from the revelations of God, both in times past and in the present time.  I know I have received revelations on how I can be better and am taught each day by the Spirit as I continue to serve God and to try and stand a little taller each day.  As the Proverb teaches us, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart...and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6)."