Mormons believe in—Continuing Revelation

You may not have noticed, but I'm a bit of a thinker (wink, wink). Sometimes I like to just sit and try to imagine eternity. It only takes a few seconds before my brain starts to hurt because eternity is simply not a concept my feeble, mortal mind can fathom. It's moments like those that I feel the absence of the knowledge and truth that exists all around us. Just think of how much less we'd know without the Bible and the prophets of God to teach the Gospel and guide His children?! I'm so glad to have the records of those prophets and God's revealed word in the scriptures {Article of Faith #8}.

Personally, I don't think I know much more than any of the people who lived in the Bible. Sure, as far as technology is concerned, we're more advanced. But when it comes to God and religion, we're the same. I read their stories and I see the similarities: they had families, jobs, trials, daily ups and downs. I also read the influence the prophets had on those people and the way they were blessed and protected. The prophet was there to bridge the gap between man and God, and pass on God's revelations to help people see through that "dark glass" of life a little more clearly.

Why is revelation so wonderful and helpful? As Paul has said:

"For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known" 

(1 Corinthians 13:9-12).

Mankind, as advanced and knowledgeable as we have become, has not evolved to a point where we no longer need God's guidance. That is why He calls prophets, and why He reveals His will and knowledge to His children, bit by bit, as we show our faith in Him. That's why I believe God has revealed knowledge before, that He reveals knowledge now through a prophet, and that He will continue to reveal further knowledge of His Kingdom.

This may sound too incredible to believe, and yet I do. I find it no more incredible that He would call a prophet to communicate God's will, through revelation, now, than it was for the people throughout the Bible and the Book of Mormon. God is still God, and we are still mortal and human and full of fallacies. While God does not change, we humans change at a rapid pace. We need His continuing guidance, through revelation, to help us navigate an ever changing world.

Moses—receiving revelation from God.

Joseph Smith, in an address to the House of Representatives, stated:

“That the most prominent difference in sentiment between the Latter-day Saints and sectarians was, that the latter were all circumscribed to some peculiar creed, which deprived its members the privilege of believing anything not contained therein, whereas the Latter-day Saints have no creed, but are ready to believe all true principles that exist, as they are made manifest from time to time" (History of the Church, 5:215).

It is my belief and knowledge, through study and experience, that God who knows all, reveals His will in His time and in His way. His words and revealed will are just as relevant today as they were 2,000+ years ago. He does not reveal it all at once; otherwise our poor feeble minds would probably collapse under the weight. But he gives "unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that say, we have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have" (2 Nephi 28:30).

Continue reading: {Article of Faith #10} Who are God's Covenant People?