Prophets and Church leaders/Revelation after Joseph Smith

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Why have so few revelations after Joseph Smith been added to the Doctrine and Covenants?

Questions

• If every President of the Church is a prophet, seer, and revelator, why have so few revelations after Joseph Smith been added to the Doctrine and Covenants?
• Revelations used to be printed in Church periodicals such as the Times and Seasons and the Evening and Morning Star. Why are revelations no longer published on an ongoing basis?

To see citations to the critical sources for these claims, click here

Answer

Prophets continue to receive revelation this days, so we can be successful in this life. They are like a bishop, but for the entire world. They are men that are capable of making mistakes, but Latter-Day Saints believe that if they follow the modern day prophet, they will be blessed. The teachings of the prophets are based on the scriptures, and when God decides to reveal new doctrine, he will do it by his prophets. When prophets receive revelation, it does not always necessarily mean that we are going to hear the prophets teach us new doctrine.

Revelation after Joseph Smith

Summary: If every President of the Church is a prophet, seer, and revelator, why have so few revelations after Joseph Smith been added to the Doctrine and Covenants? Revelations used to be printed in Church periodicals such as the Times and Seasons and the Evening and Morning Star. Why are revelations no longer published on an ongoing basis?

Are there no new revelations?

Summary: Why have so few revelations after Joseph Smith been added to the Doctrine and Covenants?

Do modern prophets prophesy? Or, are they simply "men of their time?"

Summary: Is they anything special about prophets that set them apart from others, or are they simply "men of their time?" Do modern day prophets actually prophesy of anything?

Must all apostles literally see Christ?

Summary: Must a man see Christ literally in order to be called as an apostle?

• • Post-Joseph Smith Divine Manifestations--Nineteenth Century—
    Brief Summary: Many nineteenth century prophets and apostles reported divine visions after Joseph Smith. (Click here for full article)
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  • Post-Joseph Smith Divine Manifestations--Twentieth Century—
    Brief Summary: Many twentieth century prophets and apostles reported divine visions after Joseph Smith. (Click here for full article)
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Prophecy fulfillment may extend into the Millennium

Summary: The fulfillment of prophecy does not end with death--blessings, promises, and fulfillment extend into the Millennial years of the Lord.

Orson Hyde ordination blessing: altered in History of the Church?

Summary: It is claimed that the ordination blessing given to Orson Hyde is an example of false prophecy. They also claim that Hyde's blessing was altered in the History of the Church for propaganda reasons.

Oliver Cowdery

Summary: Blessings given by Oliver Cowdery.

Heber C. Kimball - stand until the coming of the Lord

Summary: It is claimed that the ordination blessing given to Heber C. Kimball is an example of false prophecy.

Parley P. Pratt's reply to Sutherland

Summary: Parley P. Pratt replied to an anti-Mormon author and made a prophecy about the world's end that did not come to pass. What can you tell me about this?

Joseph Smith, Jr., to continue in the priest's office until Christ comes

Summary: It is claimed that the father's blessing given to Joseph Smith, Jr., in which Joseph Sr. "declar[ed] that I should continue in the Priest's office until Christ comes," is an example of a false prophecy.

Joseph F. Smith at Smoot hearings

Summary: It is claimed that at the Smoot hearings, Joseph F. Smith said that he never received revelation.

Joseph Smith, Sr.

Summary: Blessings given by Joseph Smith, Sr.

Brigham Young ordination blessing

Summary: FairMormon has found no criticism about the blessing given to Brigham Young upon his ordination as an apostle. His blessing is referenced by at least one other blessing, however, and so is included here for reference.

Destruction of New York, Albany, and Boston

Summary: Wilford made a prophecy that included the destruction of New York by earthquake, Albany by fire, and Boston by flood. Brigham Young confirmed this as a true revelation. Since no earthquake, fire, or flood has yet destroyed them, does this make both Woodruff and Young guilty of false prophecy?

Prophecy fulfillment may extend into the Millennium

Summary: The fulfillment of prophecy does not end with death--blessings, promises, and fulfillment extend into the Millennial years of the Lord.

Claims that President Monson doesn't bear witness of foundational doctrines

Summary: It has been claimed that President Thomas S. Monson does not bear testimony of such foundational concepts as the truth of the Book of Mormon, the reality of Joseph Smith's First Vision, and so forth. Some have wondered if this means that he intends to downplay such doctrines, or if he does not believe strongly in them.

Joseph F. Smith on revelation at Smoot hearings

Summary: It is claimed that at the Smoot hearings, Joseph F. Smith said that he never received revelation.

I bear witness that the Lord lives, that Jesus is the Christ. This I know. I know that He lives. I know that He directs this Church. Sometimes I wish that there were the authorization to say more, say it plainer, but that is the way we say it—the same as a Primary child would say it, that He lives, that we know.

— Boyd K. Packer, Address at Ricks College Faculty and Staff Dinner, 24 August 1988;
cited in Boyd K. Packer, "I Have That Witness," in  Mine Errand from the Lord (Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 2008).

The Doctrine and Covenants contains foundations revelations establishing core doctrines, the organization of the Church and the priesthood, and the manner of ordinances. Prophets after Joseph Smith have and continue to receive revelation, but only in a few circumstances have these revelations been foundational enough to necessitate them being added to the LDS canon.

This pattern is reflected in the Bible as well. Moses, the founding prophet of that dispensation, produced five books of scripture, which were the basis of religious instruction for the next several centuries. The books that followed Moses for the next couple centuries were mostly historical accounts (Joshua, Judges, Ruth), with only occasional revelations recorded by subsequent prophets.

Joseph himself stopped receiving so many revelations as the government of the church was established. At this point in his life he said that the Lord should not be petitioned for every little thing, especially if revelations on the same subject had already been given or information "about the things the knowledge of which men ought to obtain in all sincerity before God for themselves." After the 12 apostles were organized the number of revelations that Joseph received decreased dramatically. Around 1835 Joseph stopped receiving revelations as people remember him to have done, nine years before his martyrdom.

Revelation continues in the Church

Elder John A. Widtsoe explained that we still have revelation in the Church, even if it is not being added to the Doctrine and Covenants:

There is...need of continuous revelation. However, we must understand that there are two classes of revelation given by God to man. The first deals with the structure and content of the plan of salvation. Once given it does not need to be given again. Adam received it. *** Christ gave the same revelation to man in His dispensation. So did Joseph Smith in his dispensation. The foundation, or platform, once given does not need to be given again unless men forget the truth.

Then there are revelations that fit the changes in our lives, meet our new needs, help us overcome unforeseen conditions—revelations for our daily guidance.

This great country, the United States of America, has found itself in a great depression. We have the Gospel. What did the Lord do? He spoke to his Prophet, and we have what is known as the Welfare Program. It is the application of the eternal principles of the Gospel to present day needs. It is as revelation. We have that type of revelation continuously.

So, when people say: "We ought to have revelation now as we did in the day of Joseph," we must answer, "Open your eyes; we do have revelation every day; such as we need from day to day."

Revelations have been given to Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith and President Heber J. Grant. Every one of them has had revelation whereby the Church has been guided.

Notes