My thoughts on revelation

On Sunday we had this incredible lesson from our Relief Society President about Personal Scripture Study. She used a talk from Richard G. Scott in our past April conference about personal study. We laid out the what, why, who, how, when and where. It got me really motivated to start studying my scriptures! I definitely have been horrible at it, and usually I just open to a chapter and read. But after this lesson I feel compelled to really study and dig into the scriptures. I feel that it is very important as members of our church to know the doctrine we believe. Also to know and be familiar with the scriptures so we can teach our children. It is one of my responsibilities as a mother to teach my children about the Gospel. If I don't know it well, how can I possibly expect to teach my children well?

So, I started my first study session today. It actually worked out marvelously because we got asked to speak in church last night for this Sunday. Not alot of time to prepare. The subject? Article of Faith 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.

Tough.

So I opened my scriptures and tried cross referencing and looking up words in the dictionary and looking at Conference talks etc. So far I've learned alot about the Kingdom of God. In the Bible Dictionary it says that Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are used interchangeably in some cases. However, they can mean two different things. Kingdom of God generally means "the Church." Kingdom of Heaven also means the church, but it also means the true church on earth is the pathway to heaven. The kingdom of God on earth is limited to ecclesiastical (or pertaining to church) power. However, in the millenial era, the Kingdom of God will become a political and ecclesiastical power and have worldwide jurisdiction in political realms after a "full end of all nations" or end of the world.

So basically, article of faith 9 is not only stating the our Church is one of continuing education and revelation, but that God will reveal many great (unusually large in size, numerous, considerable in power or intensity) and important (of great significance or consequence) things pertaining to the Kingdom of God (the church on the earth now and the future power of the church later).

As I searched Conference talks I came across some great reminders: "God continues to reveal His will to mankind; as He did in the past, now in the present and as He will in the future." (L. Tom Perry "Articles of Faith" '98) Also Jeffery R. Holland's "Prophets, Seers and Revelators" from the 2004 Liahona, he talks about something Ralph Waldo Emerson said: "It is the office of a true teacher to show that us God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake." Essentially, Elder Holland is reminding us that you can't have a church that doesn't have communication with God. That God will continue to reveal things to us. We have prophets and apostles now just like they did with Matthew, Mark, Luke and with Moses. They just don't wear long robes anymore.

My take away message (among many) is that basically, this church has to grow and develop as the world and the people there-in grow and develop. You can't have a church that is based only on ancient scripture with no modern day revelation. You can't have a church that doesn't communicate with God. Also, God is not going to do anything before he tells the Prophet. We can receive revelation for ourselves, but not for the church or world. That's the responsibility, mantle and gift given to the prophet. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Why would He abandon us and give us no guidance during a time when we need it most?

Now to put all those thoughts together in a 10 minute talk. :-)