How To Learn From Prophets

Warning: This post is for those who are faithfully seeking answers to questions. It cannot be used in parts.

    An uneducated view of our church may suggest that our prophets are infallible, and critics frequently use this for their attacks. If you claim that prophets and apostles can’t make mistakes while speaking over the pulpit, whether it be general conference talks or somewhere less formal then you are sorely mistaken. As multiple apostles have pointed out and as several linked instances have shown, not everything said by a general authority is truth (Collection of Quotations by FAIR LDS (this website is great for faithful questions), Sweetwater, Sweetwater Revisited).

    The gospel topics essay for revelation states that it is communication from God to his children. This may include comfort, teachings, directions, or anything else that God gives us. Our church teaches that everyone can receive revelation for themselves or for those they are called to receive revelation for, but that our current prophet is the only one who can receive revelation for the whole church. Some people get confused though, they accidentally think that prophets are always getting revelation from God. Shockingly, just like in our personal lives, our prophets aren’t always directly guided by God. They have to get revelation the same way we do, and often make the same mistakes we do (the biggest example of which is probably race and the priesthood).

    So how do we know if something is revelation or tradition? The answer here has multiple parts. I will start with the requirement that you look through a Celestial lens as President Russell M. Nelson has recently asked you to do. Then the first step is to pray and ask God for guidance. Next, look at the proposed issue and with the help of the Holy Ghost, consider what experts have to say on the subject. President Russell M. Nelson has said that, “good inspiration is based upon good information” (General Conference, spring of 2018).

    There is a lot of good information about topics and a lot of bad information. The scriptures teach us to, “seek learning, even by study and also by faith” (D&C 88:118). It is important to make sure that those you are seeking information have good credentials and as little bias as possible. Some good places to find experts can be from BYU, other religious study centers or even some secular study centers. One of the best places to reference is the BYU Religious Studies Center rsc.byu.edu. In all questions, you can study conference talks, the scriptures, and other divinely inspired texts.

    Finally, make an informed opinion and bring it to the Lord. The Lord has taught us in the Doctrine and Covenants to “study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right” (D&C 9:8). If you are told you are wrong, then you should go back and study some more, until you are taught the correct principle or doctrine. Some other helpful hints from Mormon about seeking learning can be found in Moroni 7.

    While looking for the truth, always keep an eternal perspective. This can mean a few separate things, but most importantly, it means remembering God’s plan for us: “To bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). Something I have slowly come to realize while studying is that everything God uses follows his patterns. Learn those patterns carefully, and you will be better equipped to understand what is, and what is not, from Him.