Acts 11, 15

The Savior Directs His Church through Revelation

Peter and James speak to the apostles, elders and other members at Jerusalem on the matter of circumcision. Outtakes: include some of the people shooting the film, different shots of the group of people listening.

Jesus told His Apostles that the gospel would be preached to all nations. Doing this, however, would require difficult changes to long-held Jewish traditions. With Jesus’s Ascension into heaven, these changes needed to be made through revelation. The intent of this lesson is to deepen your understanding of how the Savior directs His Church through revelation to His prophet and apostles.

A friend’s question

Imagine that a friend not of your faith learns about your belief in modern-day prophets and apostles. Though your friend believes in prophets and apostles of the Bible, he has a hard time accepting the idea that God works through them today. He asks you, “How does Jesus speak to the prophet and apostles?”

How confident are you in your ability to respond to this question?
What would you say to your friend?

While there are several ways to respond, Acts 11 and 15 illustrate two ways that Jesus Christ directs His Church through revelation.

Revelation to the prophet

After Peter’s vision and experience with Cornelius (see Acts 10), he traveled to Jerusalem and taught these newly revealed truths to other Church leaders.

After arriving in Jerusalem, Peter recounted his vision and experience with Cornelius (see Acts 11:1–18).

Read Acts 11:4–18, looking for how you see God guiding the Church.

What do you learn from this account about how the Lord directs His Church?

From Peter’s experience we learn that Jesus Christ directs His Church by revelation to His prophet, the senior Apostle.

How can knowing this truth help to strengthen your testimony of Jesus Christ and His prophet?
Why do you believe the Church today is being guided by revelation to the Lord’s prophet?

Revelation through councils

Another example of how the Savior gives revelation to His prophets and apostles is illustrated in Acts 15.

Missionaries Paul and Barnabas taught and baptized many Gentiles. Some Jewish Christians came to Antioch and taught that male Gentile converts needed to observe the law of Moses by being circumcised in addition to living the gospel taught by Jesus Christ and His Apostles (see Acts 15:1, 5; see also Guide to the Scriptures, “Circumcision,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Read Acts 15:2 to see how Paul and Barnabas sought to resolve the issue.

Why do you think Paul and Barnabas sought guidance from the Church leaders at Jerusalem?

One truth that is illustrated in Acts 15 is that by counseling together and seeking revelation from God, Church leaders receive inspiration about difficult problems. As Peter and other Church leaders counseled together, they received guidance from God. They sent letters informing Church members of their inspired decision not to require circumcision of Gentile converts, and they included an invitation to obey other commandments.

A council is a group of people who come together to discuss matters of importance and how to respond to them. To understand more about how a council works in the Church, read the following from the General Handbook:

The leader [of a council] encourages members to speak openly and honestly. The diverse backgrounds, ages, experiences, and viewpoints of council members enrich the council. Members share suggestions and listen to each other respectfully. As they seek to know the Lord’s will, a spirit of inspiration and unity can prevail.

(General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 4.4.3, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

How would you summarize what a council in the Church is?

The Jerusalem Council

Read Acts 15:6–15, 22–28, looking for evidence of the different parts of a council. Copy the following chart into your study journal. In the right column, write words or phrases from the verses that correspond to the phrases in the left column.

Operates under priesthood keys
Focused on the good of individuals and families
Allows expression from council members
Leads to unity

Modern-day leaders also use councils to invite the Lord’s guidance in Church matters. President Russell M. Nelson shared the following:

Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives

When we convene as a Council of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve, our meeting rooms become rooms of revelation. The Spirit is palpably present. As we wrestle with complex matters, a thrilling process unfolds as each Apostle freely expresses his thoughts and point of view. Though we may differ in our initial perspectives, the love we feel for each other is constant. Our unity helps us to discern the Lord’s will for His Church.

In our meetings, the majority never rules! We listen prayerfully to one another and talk with each other until we are united. Then when we have reached complete accord, the unifying influence of the Holy Ghost is spine-tingling! We experience what the Prophet Joseph Smith knew when he taught, “By union of feeling we obtain power with God” [Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 393–94]. No member of the First Presidency or Quorum of the Twelve would ever leave decisions for the Lord’s Church to his own best judgment!

(Russell M. Nelson, “Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2018, 95)

Writing on a piece of paper with a pen or pencil.

Optional: Want to Learn More?

Revelation to Church leaders

In his talk “The Doctrine of Christ,” Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles used the accounts recorded in Acts 11 and 15 to teach about revelation to Church leaders. Consider studying the entire talk or watching the following video from time code 6:10 to 11:34.

What are some examples of continuing revelation?

Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about revelation being received for the Church. Watch “The Blessings of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives” from time code 4:55 to 6:42, available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

The Blessing of Continuing Revelation to Prophets and Personal Revelation to Guide Our Lives

Elder Cook also taught that the prophet and apostles receive inspiration from the Spirit and direct revelation from the Savior. Watch “Prepare to Meet God” from time code 13:37 to 14:15.

How can councils work in a family?

President M. Russell Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about family councils in his talk “Family Councils” (Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 63–65).