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#21 The Facts On The Mormon Church
21. How important is the concept of
inspiration and revelation within the Mormon Church?
In question 2 we saw that Mormonism was founded upon alleged
revelations given to Joseph Smith. Throughout its history the Mormon Church has
stressed the importance of accepting supernatural revelations.
Mormonism accepts revelations on two levels:
1) canonical (the acceptance of a new
scripture) and
2) individual (personal, supernatural guidance).
As far as the Church is concerned, "The canon of scripture is still open;
many lines, many precepts, are yet to be added; revelation, surpassing in
importance and glorious fullness any that has been recorded, is yet to be given
to the Church and declared to the world." This is the basis upon which the
Church accepted three volumes in addition to the Bible as scripture-the Book of
Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. In
fact, to deny continuous revelation, as Protestantism generally does, is,
according to Mormonism, a "heresy and blasphemous denial" of God Himself.
In addition to the importance of revealed scripture, the Church teaches the
urgency of person revelation from God for both Mormon leadership and laity.
Without this, one cannot, allegedly, discern God's work from Satan's or truth
from error. Hence, the necessity of individual "divine" guidance is also
actively stressed. Such, revelation may involve an audible voice from God,
supernatural dreams, the use of angelic messengers, or communication from the
dead, etc.
Mormons assert that direct revelation from God is guiding Church leadership
on a daily basis: "The Spirit is giving direct and daily revelation to the
presiding Brethren in the administration of the affairs of the church."
Bruce McConkie further emphasized that every good Mormon also receives
revelation from God and that it is the duty of Mormons to "gain personal
revelation and guidance for their personal affairs."
This concept of individual and corporate revelation is crucial for
understanding how Mormonism was led into the occult practices and unbiblical
doctrines historically. Once the safeguards of biblical authority were rejected,
once an uncritical openness to supernatural revelation was accepted, the fate of
the Church was sealed. Mormonism could only become an occult religion.
Indeed, the occult philosophy of many spiritistic mediums resembles the
revelations given to Smith and other Mormon prophets (including the importance
of revelation from "the dead," personal ministry to the dead {proxy-baptism},
the doctrine of preexistence, polytheism, different levels of postmortem
existence and schooling on the spirit plane, man as God, eternal progression,
etc).
All this is why no less an authority than the late Walter Martin observed.
"Occultism in Mormon theology is undeniable." Jerald and Sandra Tanner also
document occultism in Mormonism, Magic and Masonry; Joseph Smith and Money
Digging; and other works.
Taken from The Facts On The Mormon Church, by
John Ankerberg and John Weldon, published by, Harvest House Publishers.
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