Don't Expect the Prophets to Reveal Everything to You
Here's a follow-up to an earlier post of a similar title.
To all those who complain about those who share only part of their visions, here is just one example from the Book of Mormon:
"And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be."
- 2 Nephi 32:7
The Prophet is not the only person who can receive revelation. Nor is revelation confined to those whom the members of the Church sustain as "prophets, seers, and revelators" (the president of the Church, his counselors, and the 12 apostles).
Certainly those men, and more specifically the prophet (the president), are the only ones who can receive revelation for the entirety of the Church.
But there is nothing that states that revelation is not available to others.
If fact, the contrary is evident throughout the scriptures as well as from statements from our prophets, seers, and revelators. Everyone who seeks for it is entitled to personal revelation, as well as revelation for those under their stewardship.
Revelation is not only visions of the future. Revelation includes spiritual promptings. It includes flashes of on insight that seem to come out of nowhere, but which give us the guidance, direction, or inspiration we may have been seeking.
Revelation includes prophesy, but it is more than that. Revelation can also include other gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of discernment, or the ability to reveal the truth of all things through the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." - Moroni 10:5
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." - John 16:13
If you didn't realize it, in order to know "the truth of all things" or to be guided "into all truth" you have to know what is false, fake, or half-true.
I am certain the many prophets, both of the official general authorities as well as those who are regular members of the Church, would love to be able to share all of their revelations, visions, prophesies, etc. But they are held back by the Spirit. They know that too many members of the Church have stiffnecks, aren't willing to seek out truth or knowledge, are content in their normal routine, and don't want to have greater light and understanding. The prophets mourn because of the unbelief and wickedness of the people, and this includes members of the Church.
The prophets also realize there are many who would go to extremes, and take certain statements either out of context or as exclusive, instead as a piece to the whole. This is evident by those who are essentially die-hard proponents of someone who has had visions, and who lift that person up in their eyes as a "Prophet" who provides guidance that the leaders of the Church don't give.
So, the prophets are left to teach the basics of the Gospel, to urge and encourage people to seek after personal revelation. The honorable ones who share some of their prophetic visions are those whose message is always to "to follow the Prophet" and to "come unto Christ." They do not support, encourage, or even suggest anything be done out of the proper order in the Church. And all that they share lends support to previous statements, counsels, advice, and admonitions given to members of the Church by the Prophets and general authorities.
While it would be easy and convenient for us, the common members, if the Prophets told us everything they know, and everything which has been revealed to them, the reality is most members would do no more than they are currently doing. Those members would then be under greater condemnation. Many members would esteem the words as naught. Others would ridicule or mock the additional revelations and teachings. Many would justify how they are the exception and don't need to follow the counsel, or they will follow when things are more convenient in their lives. And it could be that there would be additional truths revealed which many might find as "offensive" or sacrilege or blasphemy because the those truths go against established traditions or against what most considered as acceptable.
2 Nephi 33:2
2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.
1 Nephi 19:7
7 For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.
Ether 13:13
13 And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden; but great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether; but they esteemed him as naught, and cast him out; and he hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people.
The sum of it all is we need, we must, have the Spirit to guide us. We must seek out the guidance of the Spirit. It is through the Spirit that we can receive personal revelation. As we prove to the Lord that we are worthy of his trust, we can expect to have more things revealed to us.
To all those who complain about those who share only part of their visions, here is just one example from the Book of Mormon:
"And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be."
- 2 Nephi 32:7
The Prophet is not the only person who can receive revelation. Nor is revelation confined to those whom the members of the Church sustain as "prophets, seers, and revelators" (the president of the Church, his counselors, and the 12 apostles).
Certainly those men, and more specifically the prophet (the president), are the only ones who can receive revelation for the entirety of the Church.
But there is nothing that states that revelation is not available to others.
If fact, the contrary is evident throughout the scriptures as well as from statements from our prophets, seers, and revelators. Everyone who seeks for it is entitled to personal revelation, as well as revelation for those under their stewardship.
Revelation is not only visions of the future. Revelation includes spiritual promptings. It includes flashes of on insight that seem to come out of nowhere, but which give us the guidance, direction, or inspiration we may have been seeking.
Revelation includes prophesy, but it is more than that. Revelation can also include other gifts of the Spirit, including the gift of discernment, or the ability to reveal the truth of all things through the Holy Ghost.
"And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." - Moroni 10:5
"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." - John 16:13
If you didn't realize it, in order to know "the truth of all things" or to be guided "into all truth" you have to know what is false, fake, or half-true.
I am certain the many prophets, both of the official general authorities as well as those who are regular members of the Church, would love to be able to share all of their revelations, visions, prophesies, etc. But they are held back by the Spirit. They know that too many members of the Church have stiffnecks, aren't willing to seek out truth or knowledge, are content in their normal routine, and don't want to have greater light and understanding. The prophets mourn because of the unbelief and wickedness of the people, and this includes members of the Church.
The prophets also realize there are many who would go to extremes, and take certain statements either out of context or as exclusive, instead as a piece to the whole. This is evident by those who are essentially die-hard proponents of someone who has had visions, and who lift that person up in their eyes as a "Prophet" who provides guidance that the leaders of the Church don't give.
So, the prophets are left to teach the basics of the Gospel, to urge and encourage people to seek after personal revelation. The honorable ones who share some of their prophetic visions are those whose message is always to "to follow the Prophet" and to "come unto Christ." They do not support, encourage, or even suggest anything be done out of the proper order in the Church. And all that they share lends support to previous statements, counsels, advice, and admonitions given to members of the Church by the Prophets and general authorities.
While it would be easy and convenient for us, the common members, if the Prophets told us everything they know, and everything which has been revealed to them, the reality is most members would do no more than they are currently doing. Those members would then be under greater condemnation. Many members would esteem the words as naught. Others would ridicule or mock the additional revelations and teachings. Many would justify how they are the exception and don't need to follow the counsel, or they will follow when things are more convenient in their lives. And it could be that there would be additional truths revealed which many might find as "offensive" or sacrilege or blasphemy because the those truths go against established traditions or against what most considered as acceptable.
2 Nephi 33:2
2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.
1 Nephi 19:7
7 For the things which some men esteem to be of great worth, both to the body and soul, others set at naught and trample under their feet. Yea, even the very God of Israel do men trample under their feet; I say, trample under their feet but I would speak in other words—they set him at naught, and hearken not to the voice of his counsels.
Ether 13:13
13 And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden; but great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether; but they esteemed him as naught, and cast him out; and he hid himself in the cavity of a rock by day, and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people.
The sum of it all is we need, we must, have the Spirit to guide us. We must seek out the guidance of the Spirit. It is through the Spirit that we can receive personal revelation. As we prove to the Lord that we are worthy of his trust, we can expect to have more things revealed to us.
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