One thing that we believe as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is that there is a prophet on the earth right now. There were many prophets on the earth who we know from the Bible. There is a prophet in our day and his name is President Thomas S. Monson. Before him was Gordon B. Hinckley. We also have twelve apostles who are witnesses of Jesus Christ that work with the Prophet. The church is organized just like when Jesus organized it when He was alive. When we have General Conference twice a year we are able to listen to them speak through inspiration. I was reading one talk by one of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, and wished that so many people would read it so they could understand a little bit better about our church. I have problems expressing my thoughts and feelings so I'll be quoting a lot from what Elder Holland said. There are a few things that I really liked and wanted to share.
The main focus of Elder Holland's talk was to explain that "God continues to speak His word and reveal His truth." There are many people who do not believe that they can communicate with God and that He communicates with us. Also that the Bible is the only way that God communicates with us. When people have questioned our beliefs because we have the Book of Mormon they recite Revelation 22:18, "For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of ... this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book."
What Elder Holland pointed out was that "this verse applies only to the book of Revelation, not the whole Bible. Those scholars of our day acknowledge a number of New Testament “books” that were almost certainly written after John’s revelation on the Isle of Patmos was received. Included in this category are at least the books of Jude, the three Epistles of John, and probably the entire Gospel of John itself. Perhaps there are even more than these." But a more simple explanation to this is "one collection of texts bound in a single volume—did not exist when that verse was written."
Jehovah said to Moses, "My works are without end, and ... my words ... never cease" (Moses 1:4). I would have a hard time believing that God would abandon us, when we are trying to do what is right, while we are on this earth. There are many problems and heart ache that everyone goes through on this earth and Heavenly Father is there to help us get through it. He doesn't take trials and difficulties away, but will help us along.
"The ultimate source of knowledge and authority for a Latter-day Saint is the living God. The communication of those gifts comes from God as living vibrant, divine revelation." I liked this quote from Elder Holland. One thing that I love is that this church is not trying to sell you something. We only want to teach you what the Lord wants us to know but the only way that you can really believe is through the communication you have with God. It is through prayer and personal revelation that you come to know if what is taught is true or not. Heavenly Father wants us to return to Him. He has given us a Savior to provide a way for us to return.
"We believe in a God who is engaged in our lives, who is not silent, not absent, nor, as Elijah said of the god of the priests of Baal, is He “[on] a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be [awakened].” In this Church, even our young Primary children recite, “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”"
I know that Heavenly Father speaks to the Prophet that is on the earth at this day and the Prophet relays that to us. I know without a doubt that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and wants for us to return to Him. I have been able to see the clear path that He has given us to come back to Him.
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