ENGAGING GOSPEL DOCTRINE 139

Lesson 13: “I Will Give unto Thee the Keys of the Kingdom”

Class Member Reading: Matthew 15:21-17:9

21Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.” 23But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.” 24He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” 27She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! (Jesus interprets the woman’s clever pushback as great faith) Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

29After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. 30Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, 31so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing (These miracles allude to Messianic expectations; see Isaiah 61.1-2; 58.6). And they praised the God of Israel. 32Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.” 33The disciples said to him, “Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?” 34Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you?” They said, “Seven, and a few small fish.” 35Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, 36he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. (As we previously discussed, this is sacrament imagery) 37And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. 38Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. 39After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.

16The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” Then he left them and went away.

5When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6Jesus

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said to them, “Watch out, and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7They said to one another, “It is because we have brought no bread.” 8And becoming aware of it, Jesus said, “You of little faith, why are you talking about having no bread? 9Do you still not perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11How could you fail to perceive that I was not speaking about bread? Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” 12Then they understood that he had not told them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. An absolutely essential interpretive crux. Both Catholics and Mormons base authority claims in large part on this scripture. Joseph Smith taught that the “rock” is revelation, but it is not mutually exclusive—revelation, revelation through a living prophet, and Peter as an example of a prophet all work. What did Matthew mean by this passage (Matthew is the only one of the gospel writers to use the word “Church”/ekklesia)? The authors of the Oxford Bible Commentary note, “The verse is among the most controversial in all scripture” This “church” is an “end-time community, the counterpart of the Sinai congregation (which in Deuteronomy is called the ekklesia)…The most natural reading is that this rock’ (petra-we have a wordplay) refers to Peter, the foundation stone of the new temple which Jesus builds. This does not mean Peter is the first holder of an office others will someday hold, as Roman Catholic tradition has it. But he is surely more than a representative disciple, as so many Protestants have anxiously maintained. Rather, he is a man with a unique role in salvation history. His person marks a change of the times…his faith is the means by which God brings a new people into being…Peter is given the keys to the kingdom, which is explicated to mean that he has the authority to bind and loose (cf. 18:18)…Peter, as a sort of supreme rabbi of the kingdom, is given teaching authority. His decisions stand” (Oxford Bible Commentary, 865).

21From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.” 23But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” Jesus’ wording is

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staggeringly sharp…Peter goes from being the “rock” to “Satan” (an adversary). Peter knows Jesus is the Messiah, but does not yet understand what that role truly means.

24Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 25For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. 26For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life? (Knowing Greek helps here. Two words for life are “zoe”, like zoo, which is the state of being alive, and psuche, the soul, the self. Our soul, deepest well-being, that is the priority that we should not give up for other rewards) 27“For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. 28Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

17Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Read from the Oxford Bible Commentary)

Additional Reading: Mark 7:24–9:10; Luke 9:18–36; 12:54–57; Bible Dictionary, “Revelation,” 762; “Transfiguration, Mount of,” 786.

Mark 7:24–9:10

24 ¶And from thence he arose, and went into the borders of Tyre and Sidon, and entered into an house, and would have no man know it: but he could not be hid.

 25 For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet:

 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he

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would cast forth the devil out of her daughter.

 27 But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs.

 28 And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs.

 29 And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. Note the differences between Mark and Matthew—Mark make it sounds like it was only because of the woman’s clever remark that Jesus healed her daughter. Matthew has Jesus remaining silent for a time before answering and implies that he is ignoring her because he was sent only to those of the House of Israel.

 30 And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.

 31 ¶And again, departing from the coasts of Tyre and Sidon, he came unto the sea of Galilee, through the midst of the coasts of Decapolis.

 32 And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him.

 33 And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; I appreciate how earthy this healing is.

 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

 35 And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain.

 36 And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;

 37 And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

8 1 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

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 3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

 4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

 5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

 6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

 7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

 8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

 9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

 10 ¶And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

 11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

 13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

 14 ¶Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

 15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

 17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

 18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

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 19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

 20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

 21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

 22 ¶And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

 23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

 24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

 25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. (This is a very interesting healing as it is at first only partially effective. Some scholars conclude that this event represents the growing understanding of Jesus’ true mission, as represented by Peter’s development—understanding Jesus is the Messiah, but then understanding what that means).

 26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

 27 ¶And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Cæsarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

 28 And they answered, John the Baptist: but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

 29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ. (Note that the specific material about Peter is not present in Mark)

 30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

 31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying,

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Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

 34 ¶And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.

 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

 9 1 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. (The most straightforward interpretation of this verse is that Jesus believed his generation would mark the ending of the world/coming of the Kingdom of God. Paul believed the same thing, thus the “we who are alive” wording of 1 Thess. 4:15)

 2 ¶And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them.

 3 And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

 4 And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

 5 And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

 6 For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

 7 And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

 8 And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

 9 And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no

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man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead.

 10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean. (Note how much more ignorant and confused the disciples are in Mark)

Luke 9:18–36

 18 ¶And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

 19 They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

 20 He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. (Again, only Matthew has the “you are Peter” saying)

 21 And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

 22 Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

 23 ¶And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.

 28 ¶And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

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 29 And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

 30 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:

 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

 32 But Peter and they that were with him were heavy with sleep: and when they were awake, they saw his glory, and the two men that stood with him.

 33 And it came to pass, as they departed from him, Peter said unto Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias: not knowing what he said.

 34 While he thus spake, there came a cloud, and overshadowed them: and they feared as they entered into the cloud.

 35 And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

 36 And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

12:54–57

 54 ¶And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

 55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

 56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

 57 Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right? (Not sure why this is assigned)

Bible Dictionary, “Revelation,”

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The English word revelation is translated from a Greek word apocalypse, meaning to make known or uncover. This is in contrast to apocrypha, which connotes covered or concealed. Divine revelation is one of the grandest concepts and principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for without it, man could not know of the things of God and could not be saved with any degree of salvation in the eternities. Continuous revelation from God to His Saints, through the Holy Ghost or by other means, such as visions, dreams, or visitations, makes possible daily guidance along true paths and leads the faithful soul to complete and eternal salvation in the celestial kingdom. The principle of gaining knowledge by revelation is the principle of salvation. It is the making known of divine truth by communication with the heavens and consists not only of revelation of the plan of salvation to the Lord’s prophets but also a confirmation in the hearts of the believers that the revelation to the prophets is true. It also consists of individual guidance for every person who seeks for it and follows the prescribed course of faith, repentance, and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ. “The Holy Ghost is a revelator,” said Joseph Smith, and “no man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations” (HC 6:58). Without revelation, all would be guesswork, darkness, and confusion.

In the Lord’s Church the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve are prophets, seers, and revelators to the Church and to the world. In addition, every person may receive personal revelation for his own benefit. It is contrary to the laws of God for any person to receive revelation for those higher in authority (see D&C 28:2–8; 100:11; 107:91–92).

“Transfiguration, Mount of,” 786.

This very important event in the New Testament occurred about a week after the promise made to Peter that he would receive the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 16:13–19; 17:1–9). On the mount, the Savior, Moses, and Elias (Elijah) gave the promised keys of the priesthood to Peter, James, and John (HC 3:387), which enabled these brethren to carry forth the work of the kingdom on the earth after the departure of Jesus. These keys were later given to all of the Twelve.

The Transfiguration occurred in about October, (How do we know?) some six months before the death of Jesus. The brethren saw the Lord in a glorified and transfigured state. They also saw a vision of the earth as it will appear in its future glorified condition (D&C 63:20–21; HC 1:283); saw and conversed with Moses and Elijah, two translated beings; and heard the voice of the Father bearing witness that Jesus is His beloved Son, in whom the Father is pleased, and commanding the brethren to hear (obey) Him. See also Mark 9:2–10; Luke 9:28–36; 2   Pet. 1:16–18 .

The event is important in many ways: Necessary priesthood authority was conferred upon Peter, James, and John; the significance of the Savior’s work was emphasized;

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and the unity of various dispensations and the close relationship of Jesus and His prophets was demonstrated. Few events in the Bible equal it in importance. A similar event occurred on April 3, 1836, in the temple at Kirtland, Ohio, where the same heavenly messengers conferred priesthood keys upon the Prophet Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery (D&C 110). (Legitimizing narratives)

Scripture Chain:

Proverbs 29:18

 18 Where there is no vision (chazon, revelatory vision), the people perish (Heb: to be let loose, NRSV: “cast off restraint”): but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Amos 3:7

 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

1   Corinthians 2:9–12

 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Touching scripture.

Galatians 1:11–12

 11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.

 12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. And yet it is worth thinking about the human component even of a direct revelation (In the description “God appears to you”, there is still a human component). The balance of divine and human in aspects of spirituality and religion is one of the most

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important issues to figure out.

2   Peter 1:20–21

 20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation (Very problematic scripture. What is the alternative? Waiting for official pronouncements on every single verse?).

 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Alma 5:46

 46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. Good recipe for revelation.

Moroni 10:5

 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Other Reading:

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Revelation

See this page in the original 1992 publication.

Author: Riddle, Chauncey C.

Receiving personal revelation is a vital and distinctive part of the LDS religious experience. Response to personal revelation is seen as the basis for true faith in Christ, and the strength of the Church consists of that faithful response by members to their own personal revelations. The purpose of both revelation and the response of faith is to assist the children of men to come to Christ and learn to love one another with that same pure love with which Christ loves them.

TYPES OF REVELATION. A dispensation of the gospel of Jesus Christ is a series of personal revelations from God. These revelations may be direct manifestations from God, as in the following typical cases:

1. theophanies (seeing God face-to-face), as in the first vision of the Prophet Joseph Smith, which came at the beginning of the present dispensation (JS-H 1:15-20)

2. revealed knowledge from the Father that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:13-17; see also Spirit of Prophecy)

3. visitations of angelic persons, such as the appearance of the angel Moroni to Joseph Smith (JS-H 1:30-32)

4. revelations through the Urim and Thummim, by which means Joseph Smith translated the book of mormon

5. open visions, as when Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon were shown the kingdoms of the hereafter (see Doctrine and Covenants: Section 76)

6. physically hearing the voice of God, as is recorded in 3 Nephi 11

7. receiving the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit, as in the experience of Elijah (1 Kgs. 19);

8. receiving the gifts of the spirit (D&C 46)

9. having a burning in the bosom as an indication of the will of God, as in the explanation given to Oliver Cowdery (D&C 9:8)

10. dreams (1 Ne. 8:2-32)

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11. manifestations of the Light of Christ, by which all men know good from evil (Alma 12:31-32; D&C 84:46-48).

Such direct manifestations of the mind and will of God are known as gifts and are contrasted with signs. Gifts always have a spiritual component, even when they have a physical aspect. Signs are physical manifestations of the power of God and are a form of revelation from God, though they may be counterfeited and misinterpreted. Signs may show that God is at work, but spiritual gifts are required to know how one should respond.

REVELATION TO THE CHURCH. In every dispensation, God appoints his prophet to guide his people. The prophet's purpose is not to be an intermediary between God and others, though a prophet must often do so. His purpose is, rather, to assist others to receive from God the personal revelation that he, the prophet, has taught God's truth, which will show the way to Christ.

The prophet as head of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and all other persons who preside in the Church, including General Authorities, stake presidents, bishops, general presidencies, and parents, may receive revelation for the benefit of those over whom they preside. These revelations can be passed on to the membership of the Church through conference and other talks and in personal counsel. But each individual is entitled to know by personal revelation that these messages given through presiding authorities are truly from the Savior himself. President Brigham Young expressed concern that the Latter-day Saints would "have so much confidence in their leaders" that they would "settle down in a state of blind self-security," abandoning the responsibility to obtain their own revelation: "Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not" (JD 9:150).

Presiding quorums in the Church are entitled to revelation for the Church on matters of doctrine, policies, programs, callings, and disciplinary actions, as each might be appropriate to a given quorum. Decisions of these quorums are to be made only by the personal, individual revelation of God to each member of that quorum. "And every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the unanimous voice of the same; that is, every member in each quorum must be agreed to its decisions, in order to make their decisions of the same power or validity one with the other" (D&C 107:27).

The scriptures contain the inspired writings of God's appointed prophets and are provided to others for their edification (D&C 68:2-4). By this means, people have received the inspired words recorded in the Old and New Testaments. Through revelation, the Prophet Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon (see Book of Mormon Translation By Joseph Smith) and received those things set forth in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Latter-day Saints anticipate that more prophetic scripture will yet be revealed and that scripture written by past prophets but now lost to the world will be restored (2 Ne. 29:11-14; D&C 27:6; see also Scriptures: Forthcoming Scripture). The true meaning of all scripture is to be revealed by the power of the Holy Ghost to the

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individual reader or hearer (2 Pet. 1:20; D&C 50:17-24).

PERSONAL REVELATION. After baptism and confirmation, each member has the right, when worthy, to the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost (see Gift of the Holy Ghost). Through that companionship all the gifts of the Spirit are revealed to faithful individuals, who accomplish their mortal works in righteousness through the gifts and power of God revealed to and through them (Moro. 10:25). The challenges of living by personal revelation include (1) distinguishing revelation from God through his Holy Spirit from personal thoughts and desires, and from the influences of Satan (see Devils); (2) following the teachings and directions of the living prophet of God; and (3) living by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt. 4:4; John 3:5-8; D&C 50:13-24;98:11-13; Deut. 8:3).

In modern societies, the idea of divine revelation is widely discounted for many reasons, including the violent acts that some have perpetrated while claiming divine direction. But God has made it known through the restoration of the gospel that revelation is available to all who seek it and that failure to seek spiritual guidance and direction is itself a mistake and a form of wishful thinking. Humans have eternal spirits, and each person experiences the supernatural influences that work upon his or her own spirit. Better than to ignore the spiritual side of oneself is to study one's personal spiritual experiences until they make sense. Those who acknowledge spiritual experiences are called the "honest in heart," and they are candidates for the revealed riches of godliness (D&C 8:1;97:8).

The fundamental revelation from God is the knowledge of good through the Light of Christ (John 1:9). The prophet Lehi taught his children that because of the choices made by Adam and Eve, their descendants receive supernatural knowledge of both good and evil, making a choice between the two necessary in fulfillment of the purpose of earth life. After mortality God returns to each human being eternally the good or evil each chose in life (Alma 41:1-5; 2 Ne. 2:27).

But before any final judgment, each person will be taught the gospel of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. This gospel is the good news that the Son of God will assist all persons to stop doing evil and will save them from the consequences of all the evil they have done if they will believe in him and repent. Acting to accept this revelation constitutes faith in Jesus Christ, which, if it continues, may bring additional revelation from God: more instruction; the gifts of the Spirit; the knowledge imparted through saving ordinances of the new and everlasting covenant; angelic visitations; visions; the revelation to know God himself face to face; and finally, the revelation to be given the fulness of godhood, to be made joint-heirs with Christ (D&C 121:29).

The LDS concept of individual revelation as fundamental to all human experience helps explain other distinctive LDS teachings. The key to making the proper distinction between supernatural revelation and its counterfeit is that fundamental knowledge of good and evil. Individuals must experiment, being as honest in heart and mind as they can, until they can see clearly what is good and what is evil. Those who learn to distinguish good

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from evil in this life can then distinguish the good spirit from the evil spirit. They then can distinguish the true gospel of Jesus Christ from its counterfeits, the true path of righteousness from the byways of covenant breaking and bending, and the true and living God from the image of God produced by their own wishful thinking (Moro. 7:5-19).

Joseph Smith taught the Saints how to recognize and receive revelation: A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus [TPJS, p. 151].

To learn to communicate with others by the gifts of that Holy Spirit makes it possible for one to be a prophet or prophetess of God. Latter-day Saints believe that through divine revelation every child of Christ may, and should, become a prophet or a prophetess to his or her own divinely appointed stewardship (Num. 11:29), holding fast to that which is good and rejecting that which is evil (1 Thes. 5:19-21).

Thus, the human problem is not to get revelation, but to understand the revelation one receives, to respond only to that which is good, and to minister only that which is good. The servants of Christ are counseled to look to him and to him only for light and truth. They are told not to take counsel from any human being or to hearken to any person unless he or she speaks by the power of the Holy Spirit. Truth, light, righteous power, and salvation come from above, from God himself, through divine revelation, and not from human beings or from below (2 Ne. 28:30-31).

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