Does God Speak to Humans Today?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Doctrine and Covenants 41-44 in a lesson titled “My Law to Govern My Church.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

The Church grew rapidly in 1830 and 1831, particularly with a rush of new members in Kirtland, Ohio. This growth was exciting and encouraging to the Saints, but it also presented some challenges. How do you unify a quickly expanding group of believers? Specifically, what do you do when they bring doctrine and practices from their previous faiths? For example, when Joseph Smith arrived in Kirtland in early February 1831, he found new members sharing common property in a genuine attempt to imitate the New Testament Christians (see Acts 4:32-37). The Lord made some important corrections and clarifications on this and other topics. He did this largely through a revelation recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 42 that He called “my law to govern my church” (verse 59). In this revelation, we learn truths that are fundamental in establishing the Lord’s Church in the latter days. And we learn that we have a lot more to learn: “If thou shalt ask,” the Lord promised, “thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61).

The scripture block contains the following principles: (1) “He that receiveth my law and doeth it, the same is my disciple” (Doctrine and Covenants 41), (2) The Lord gives me commandments because He loves me (Doctrine and Covenants 42), (3) “Remember the poor” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:30-42), and (4) God gives revelation to guide His Church – and to guide me (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61, 65-68; 43:1-16).

This essay will discuss principle #4 “God gives revelation to guide His Church – and to guide me” (Doctrine and Covenants 42:61, 65-68; 43:1-16). This is an “umbrella” principle that covers several other principles, and the “umbrella” principle covers both personal revelation for individuals and families and revelation for callings and responsibilities in the Church of Jesus Christ. Consider the principles contained in these verses:

61 If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

66 Ye shall observe the laws which ye have received and be faithful.

67 And ye shall hereafter receive church covenants, such as shall be sufficient to establish you, both here and in the New Jerusalem.

68 Therefore, he that lacketh wisdom, let him ask of me, and I will give him liberally and upbraid him not.

One principle here is that Heavenly Father will give “revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge” if we ask for them. A supporting principle is that we can “know the mysteries and peaceable things” if we will converse with God. A connecting principle is that this knowledge brings joy and eternal life.

A second important principle, found in verse 66, is that we must be obedient and faithful to the law that we have already received – as well as committed to being obedient to any added information – before new revelation will come. Obedience to previous laws shows sincerity in asking for more information.

A third important principle, found in verse 68, is that God will listen to our prayers, and He will give us wisdom without “upbraiding” us. This principle guided Joseph Smith to offer his first oral prayer. He read the principle in James 1:5: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

The second part of this scripture block (Doctrine and Covenants 43:1-16) concerns receiving revelation for the Church of Jesus Christ. Doctrine and Covenants 43:1-7 explain who is authorized to receive revelation for the Church of Jesus Christ.

1 O hearken, ye elders of my church, and give ear to the words which I shall speak unto you.

2 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand.

3 And this ye shall know assuredly—that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me.

4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead.

5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments;

6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me.

7 For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed. [Empasis added.]

These verses explain that the Lord chooses the person to whom He will speak, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ will know who the person is. If that person remains righteous, the Lord will speak to him until he dies and another person is chosen. If the person does not remain righteous, the Lord will take away all power except the power “to appoint another” person to replace him.

In his address during the April 2018 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, President Russell M. Nelson gave his first talk as President of the Church. He spoke on the topic of “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives.” As part of his talk, he said the following. Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives

Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.” …

I urge you to stretch beyond your current spiritual ability to receive personal revelation, for the Lord has promised that “if thou shalt [seek], thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.”

Oh, there is so much more that your Father in Heaven wants you to know. As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught, “To those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, it is clear that the Father and the Son are giving away the secrets of the universe!”…

My beloved brothers and sisters, I plead with you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation. Let this Easter Sunday be a defining moment in your life. Choose to do the spiritual work required to enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost and hear the voice of the Spirit more frequently and more clearly.