Today, the blog prompt poses this question: "Why were some of Joseph Smith's Nauvoo sermons recorded as scripture?"
Some of the prophet Joseph Smith's teachings were recorded in the Doctrine & Covenants because we believe God still speaks to and reveals important teachings to the prophet on the earth, just like he did to Isaiah, Nephi, Peter, and others. One of the fundamental beliefs of Latter-day Saints is that we have a living prophet on the earth today, just as in days of old. We believe that God, although unchangeable, continues to provide revelation (just like he did in biblical days) and guidance to his children on the earth. Article of Faith 9 explains this: "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." The true gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, which, in essence, "re-opened" the heavens. Although I believe that God's children living in the dark ages could and did still communicate with him, the priesthood of God was not on the earth, and as such, there was no prophet of God on the earth.
Joseph's Smith's teachings are just as pertinent, holy, and divine as those written by Noah, Malachi, and Moroni. It makes perfect sense to me that they would be included in our scripture. The church has grown and expanded, and we no longer insert every prophetic teaching into our quads, but we consider the words of God's prophets and apostles, no matter the age they lived in, to be scripture of God.
I have a testimony that not only does God speak to his prophet, but that he can speak to each of us. As children of God, we have the right to communicate with him-- a right provided by him. This right is a tremendous blessing in my life. Heavenly Father communicates with his children through the Holy Ghost. If we pray and study and come unto him, he will answer us in whatever form we need. We will feel the Spirit. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).
I am so grateful for the knowledge that I am a spirit daughter of God-- the greatest, most loving being in our universe. Of course he communicates with us! Of course he listens to us, just as my loving mortal parents listen to and care about me. The heavens are open. God's spirit and priesthood power are on the earth today-- this is truly good news! As we pray and seek out Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, we often find that they have been there all along, prepared to strengthen or comfort us. A favorite scripture of mine comes from 1 John: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us" (verse 14). That's the confidence I have in him, too.
One last quote, from a favorite~ Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Some of the prophet Joseph Smith's teachings were recorded in the Doctrine & Covenants because we believe God still speaks to and reveals important teachings to the prophet on the earth, just like he did to Isaiah, Nephi, Peter, and others. One of the fundamental beliefs of Latter-day Saints is that we have a living prophet on the earth today, just as in days of old. We believe that God, although unchangeable, continues to provide revelation (just like he did in biblical days) and guidance to his children on the earth. Article of Faith 9 explains this: "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." The true gospel of Jesus Christ was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, which, in essence, "re-opened" the heavens. Although I believe that God's children living in the dark ages could and did still communicate with him, the priesthood of God was not on the earth, and as such, there was no prophet of God on the earth.
Joseph's Smith's teachings are just as pertinent, holy, and divine as those written by Noah, Malachi, and Moroni. It makes perfect sense to me that they would be included in our scripture. The church has grown and expanded, and we no longer insert every prophetic teaching into our quads, but we consider the words of God's prophets and apostles, no matter the age they lived in, to be scripture of God.
I have a testimony that not only does God speak to his prophet, but that he can speak to each of us. As children of God, we have the right to communicate with him-- a right provided by him. This right is a tremendous blessing in my life. Heavenly Father communicates with his children through the Holy Ghost. If we pray and study and come unto him, he will answer us in whatever form we need. We will feel the Spirit. "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16).
I am so grateful for the knowledge that I am a spirit daughter of God-- the greatest, most loving being in our universe. Of course he communicates with us! Of course he listens to us, just as my loving mortal parents listen to and care about me. The heavens are open. God's spirit and priesthood power are on the earth today-- this is truly good news! As we pray and seek out Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ, we often find that they have been there all along, prepared to strengthen or comfort us. A favorite scripture of mine comes from 1 John: "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us" (verse 14). That's the confidence I have in him, too.
One last quote, from a favorite~ Ralph Waldo Emerson:
Teach that God is,
not was.
Teach that God speaks,
not spake.
not was.
Teach that God speaks,
not spake.
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