“Do we have revelations given for our time?” New Era, Apr. 1974, 10
“Do we have revelations given for our time as the Saints did in the early days of the restored church?”
Answer/President Marion G. Romney
The answer is yes.
Beginning in 1820 with the First Vision and continuing through the life of the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed most of the great fundamental principles and ordinances of the gospel together with instructions concerning the organization and operation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These revelations apply to and serve the Church today as they did when they were first revealed to the Prophet. Obviously they do not need to be revealed anew.
Whenever there has been in the mind of the Lord a need for further revelation for the guidance of the Church, he has given it to the living prophet. For example, the Lord revealed to the prophet, President Heber J. Grant, the welfare program. President Grant’s first counselor, President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., one of the principal movers of the program, said:
“Now I say to you, that … revelation of the Holy Ghost, did come to President Grant. Not only in this case, but in others. And through that revelation, inspiration if you wish to call it, from the Holy Ghost, President Grant launched [the] great Welfare Plan.” (Address given by President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., at Central Utah Welfare Region, August 3, 1951.)
During my time as a General Authority, the Lord has revealed many things to the prophets. Two examples are the correlation program and an expanded program for supervising in the stakes and missions the rapidly growing membership of the Church.
Every presiding officer in the Church who is magnifying his calling receives revelation today to guide him in the performance of the duties of his office, just as in the early days of the Church.
Every member of the Church who will hearken to the voice of the Lord receives revelation for his own guidance. (See D&C 84:46–47.) “Ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (D&C 4:7) is not an idle promise. The Lord’s statement to Oliver Cowdery is applicable to all of us:
“… verily, verily, I say unto you, that assuredly as the Lord liveth, who is your God and your Redeemer, even so surely shall you receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive. …
“Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
“Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.” (D&C 8:1–3.)
So long as the church of Jesus Christ remains on earth this principle of revelation will be operative; and we have assurance from the Lord that his church shall never again be taken from the earth nor given to another people.