Latter-day Saints have a great interest in pursuing knowledge. Brigham Young (1801–77) said it best: "[Our] religion … prompts [us] to search diligently after knowledge. There is no other people in existence more eager to see, hear, learn, and understand truth."6
On another occasion he explained that we encourage our members "to increase [their] knowledge … in every branch of [learning], for all wisdom, and all the arts and sciences in the world are from God, and are designed for the good of his people."7
We seek after knowledge, but we do so in a special way because we believe there are two dimensions of knowledge: material and spiritual. We seek knowledge in the material dimension by scientific inquiry and in the spiritual dimension by revelation. Revelation is God's communication to man—to prophets and to every one of us if we seek it.
Revelation is clearly one of the distinctive characteristics of our faith. The Prophet Joseph Smith was directed and edified by a continuing flow of revelation throughout his life. The immense quantity of his published revelations, including the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants, carried forward his unique calling as the Prophet of this last dispensation of time. In this prophetic revelation—to Joseph Smith and to his successors as Presidents of the Church—God has revealed truths and commandments to His prophet-leaders for the enlightenment of His people and for the governance and direction of His Church.
This is the kind of revelation described in the Old Testament teaching that "the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). Joseph Smith declared, "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was founded upon direct revelation, as the true Church of God has ever been."8 He asked, "Take away the Book of Mormon and the revelations, and where is our religion?" He answered, "We have none."9
Joseph Smith also taught that because revelation did not cease with the early Apostles but continues in these modern times, each person can receive personal revelation for his or her conversion, understanding, and decision making. "It is the privilege of the children of God to come to God and get revelation," he said. "God is not a respecter of persons; we all have the same privilege."10
The New Testament describes such personal revelation. For example, when Peter affirmed his conviction that Jesus was the divine Son of God, the Savior declared, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17).
Personal revelation—sometimes called "inspiration"—comes in many forms. Most often it is by words or thoughts communicated to the mind by sudden enlightenment or by positive or negative feelings about proposed courses of action. Usually it comes in response to earnest and prayerful seeking. Jesus taught, "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you" (Matthew 7:7). Revelation comes when we keep the commandments of God and thus qualify for the companionship and communication of the Holy Spirit.
Some wonder how members of the Church accept a modern prophet's teachings to guide their personal lives, something that is unusual in most religious traditions. Our answer to the charge that Latter-day Saints follow their leaders out of "blind obedience" is this same personal revelation. We respect our leaders and presume inspiration in their leadership of the Church and in their teachings. But we are all privileged and encouraged to confirm their teachings by prayerfully seeking and receiving revelatory confirmation directly from God.
Most Christians believe that God closed the scriptural canon—the authoritative collection of sacred books used as scriptures—shortly after the death of Christ and that there have been no comparable revelations since that time. Joseph Smith taught and demonstrated that the scriptural canon is open.11 In fact, the canon of scripture is open in two ways, and the idea of continuing revelation is crucial to both of these.
First, Joseph Smith taught that God will guide His children by giving new additions to the canon of scriptures. The Book of Mormon is such an addition. So are the revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. Continuing revelation is necessary for us to receive what the Lord would have us understand and do in our own time and circumstances.
Second, continuing revelation opens the canon as readers of scripture, under the influence of the Holy Ghost, find new scriptural meaning and direction for their personal circumstances. The Apostle Paul wrote that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God" (footnote c, from Joseph Smith Translation). This means that in order to understand scripture, we need personal inspiration from the Spirit of the Lord to enlighten our minds. Consequently, we encourage our members to study the scriptures and prayerfully seek inspiration to know their meanings for themselves. The ultimate knowledge comes by personal revelation through the Holy Ghost.
Jesus taught, "By their fruits ye shall know them" (Matthew 7:20). To me, to countless other believers, and to many observers, the fruits are good—good for the members, good for their families, good for their communities, and good for their nations. The millions of dollars worth of supplies and services The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and its members quietly and efficiently provide in response to tragedies such as the earthquake in Haiti in January 2010 are evidence of that fact.
As an Apostle I am called to be a witness of the doctrine, work, and authority of Christ in all the world. In that capacity I bear witness of the truth of these premises of our faith.
For the full text in English, visit www.lds.org/fundamental-premises-of-our-faith.