Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-01-25
THE WAY OF REVELATION

We have received two or three let
tcrs Of inquiry concerning the subject
of revelation TO the Church OF Jesus
Christ Of Lattor.day folnta The
writer's are curious 90 know The man
ner In which such divine commuuica-
lions are received We are willing 10
give such Information as Is at our
command when questions ore asked
with desire 70 obtain II But some
times they are pfopounded IN an owl
dent spirit Of sceptICism and ndioule,
and we feel under no obligation 10 glyo
them serious attention I'm this care
we VIII endeayor 70 explain
Revelation from God IS given in the
same way md by TIE same means that
the Lord has used from the beginning
Of time. That ls, by His own voice
ana presence, by His Son Jesus christ
by angels sent with authority to speak
in His name, or by the inspiration Of
the Holy Ghost the Spirit Of Truth.
The prophet Joseph Smith at the
opening OF this dispensatlon. was yis-
tied by the Father and the Son IN hea-
venly light. They spoke to him In an
audible voice lie received instruc-
lions from the lips Of the Son, the
substance OF which has been published
to the world lie afterwards received
yAitatons from angels, who impaired
to him messages which they had TO
bear from heaven TO earth, He was
also endowed with the Holy Ghost, by
which he was inspired TO deliver the
word Of the Lord TO the people. who
we're entitled 10 receive Of the same
Spirit so that they could understand
those teachings and know that they
were true and divine
The successors 70 Joseph Smith the
Prophet In Che leadership Of the Church
which he established by divine COM
mandment and authority, have each
stood as the mouthpiece Of God to the
Church, and have received communl-
cations by heavenly vision and by the
manifestations OF the Holy Ghost to
them for the guidance OF the Saints,
What they speak under that inspiration
IL the mind and win Of the Lord and
Ia received az were the inspired teach
lngs Of the Prophets in former days.
The operations Of the Spirit Of revela.
ton and inspiration upon the soul Of
man are not to be understood by those
who are not spiritual The things OF
God are spiritually discerned. II per.
sons who inquire on this sub
sect can understand how Peter re-
ceiyed his knowledge from God
that Jesus Was the Christ, how Isaiah
jeremiah. Ezekiel and other Prophets
came with the burden OF the word Of
the Lord. and how those Prophets and
others wrote and spoke "as they were
moved upon by the Holy Ghost" they
can also understand how revelations
are received and impaired 10 the
Church of Jesus Christ In the present
age.
The Spirit Of revelation acts on the
spirit OF man ~ clearly and pereepi-
bly, as the light Of the sun upon the ma
turol eye lbs manifestations are real
not imaginary They bring conviction,
understanding certainty They reveal
the things OF God, In order to receive
them there must be harmony between
the Spirit that imparts and the person
who receives, The soul Of man must be
sensitive TO the impressions made by
that divine Spirit or there viii be no
communication A human eye that does
not respond TO the sclntillations OF
light cannot perceive any physical OBJ
ject; neither can n soul that Is not alive
and awake and IN condition to respond
TO the operations of the Spirit 81 Truth
behold and comprehend the things OF
God which are spiritual
The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Lat
ter-day Saints has been led from the
beginning by the guidance OF the Holy
Ghost through the appointed channels
Of communication. and every member
brought into harmony with that same
Spirit has been able TO understand is
teachings through the living ofacies
ana 90 know that they We're Of Cod
also has been privileged to receive di,
vine light and Inspiration personally
direct from the Source OF all iN(eill.
genoe, every one according to his OF
ker station. requirements and desires II
righteousness.
This divine light must he sought for
ask and ye shall receive, seek ant
ye shall find, IS a great truth which
was uttered by the Son Of God wher
on earth and has been repeated In Ties,
latter times TO perceive anything nat
ursny visible natural light is neces
sary and also the opening Of ones eyes
TO behold anything afar OF an effort o
vision is requisite on a similar prin
ciple the spirit Of man must use tina
energy with which It is endowed I,
reach ny to God SO as to receive o
the Hight that comes from His pres
ence by which alone spiritual thing
can be dlseerned and comprehended.
Is the laws OF nature must be OBJ
served IN order 20 obtain natural re
suits. SO .he laws OF the kingdom o
heaven must be obeyed IN order TO OBJ