The
spiritual gift of revelation is a great blessing in our lives. As we righteously
exercise and honor this sacred gift, we demonstrate to God our increasing trustworthiness.
We should not expect to receive additional revelation if we do not treat
appropriately the revelations we already have received. “It is given unto many
to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command
that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he
doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which
they give unto him” (Alma 12:9).
Now the
warnings. Some overzealous and even fanatical individuals or groups have
claimed to receive spiritual direction to say or do things that are contrary to
the established doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It
is vitally important to always remember that the Holy Ghost will NOT prompt an
individual to violate sacred covenants and disobey God’s commandments.
The
Spirit of the Lord will NOT prompt any person to think or act in a manner that
is contrary to the doctrine and the authorized practices of the Savior’s restored
Church as contained in the holy scriptures. In the repeated teachings of the
Lord’s apostles and prophets, and in the authorized proclamations and declarations
of the Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.
The Lord declared,
“Behold, mine house is a house of order, . . . and not a house of confusion” (Doctrine
and Covenants 132:8). If a person purports to receive revelation for
purposes outside of his or per particular ecclesiastical calling or responsibilities,
then you can be sure that such revelations are NOT from the Lord—such as a
Church member who professes to receive revelation to guide the Church at the
local or general level, or a person who invokes the principle of revelation to
guide another person over whom he or she has no presiding authority and
according to the order of the Church.
I repeat
again for emphasis the warning of the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Nothing is a
greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false
spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God” (Times and Seasons,
April 1, 1842, 744. In Joseph Smith Papers, https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/times-and-seasons-1-april-1842/10).
As we strive to emulate the Christlike attributes of modesty, meekness, and
humility, then we will avoid the spiritual extremes and excesses that can lead
to deception and the awful prospect of “withdraw[ing] [our]selves from the
Spirit of the Lord, that it may have no place in [us] to guide [us] in wisdom’s
paths that [we] may be blessed, prospered, and preserved” (Mosiah 2:36). (David
A. Bednar, The Spirit of Revelation [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book,
2021], 37-38, emphasis in italics in original)
