We Believe.... Modern-day Revelation

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.


Here are the words of Elder Ballard in his book Our Search for Happiness concerning modern revelation.
     " Among the most wondrous of all the gifts of the Spirit is the gift of revelation. As the Old Testament prophet Amos declared, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). While there have been times during the earth's history when, because of apostasy and unbelief, the Lord's Church has not been present upon the earth and therefore revelation to and through chosen prophets has ceased for a time, that is not the case in our day. The gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored, and God continues to reveal His will through men whom He has called to be His representatives.
     It is important to understand that God never sealed the heavens in the first place; man did. It was man who proclaimed that there would be no more revelation, that God had said all He had to say. yet how presumptuous for a man to tell God that He can't speak to His children! Indeed... Heavenly Father spoke to a 14-year-old boy who approached him in simple, earnest prayer and who clearly believed that He would respond. I take comfort in knowing that God loves His children today as much as He loved those in ancient times who had the blessing and benefit of prophetic direction.
     But God doesn't speak only to those who have been called to be prophets and revelators. You and I can receive personal revelation for our own lives and for our families and personal responsibilities if we will live in such a way that we can be open and receptive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit when they come. Said the Lord through the Prophet Nephi: "I will give 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 shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have" (2 Nephi 28:30)."
     I add my testimony along with Elder Ballard's that I know that the Heavens are in fact open and God truly does speak to us now, just as He did in times of old. I know that the Prophets in these latter-days indeed received direct revelation from God Himself for the benefit of us so we can know what we need to do to prepare for the Coming of the Lord. I also know that God not only speaks to His Prophets, but He also speaks to us if we turn to Him in humble prayer and then if we listen to the Spirit for our answers. He will guide and direct us and our families in what we need to do to live a truly peaceful, joyous life especially during times when needed most.