Article of Faith #9

Have we been given all the truths that God wants to give us?  Here is what we believe as stated in 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.

God does not change.  Malachi teaches us that in the Old Testament (Malachi 3:6.) If that is true, he will continue to teach us and guide us in the same way he has since the beginning.  In other words, he will continue to teach us things that are important for us to know.  God didn't reveal all his truths to Adam and Eve, but rather he gave to them those things that they needed, when they needed it.  The same has been true through all the recorded history.  Prophets have been revealed many truths over the years, which they have taught their people.

It is the same today!  God continues to reveal to us the truths of the gospel.  Many of those revealed truths that are much more recent than the Old and New Testaments can be found in a book we call the Doctrine and Covenants.  In there, we learn many important things.  Most of the revelations there teach us more about our Savior, Jesus Christ, but there are many other things that have been given to bless and help us.  For example, many think that we are strange because we do not drink alcoholic beverages, nor smoke, nor drink tea and coffee.  The reason for that, is the revelation that was given to Joseph Smith, and recorded in section 89 of the Doctrine and Covenants. 

There are many other examples of modern day revelation.  I know that God will continue to give us important truths.

One other point that I would like to make about revelation is that revelation can be personal.  In other words, not every revelation from God comes through the current prophet.  We can each know for ourselves what is true, and what is not.  That is an example of revelation as well.  God does not want us to "blindly follow" what our leaders tell us.  He wants us to know for ourselves what is true.  There is a scripture found at the end of the Book of Mormon that teaches us how we can get that personal revelation.  It is found in Moroni 10:3-5.  There we learn that after we learn of something new, we need to ask God, in prayer if it is true, and he will give us the answer (if we really desire to know).  Matthew in the New Testament teaches us the same thing.  In Matthew 7:8, he says: "For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened."