General Conference April 2005 - Pages 4 - 9

As a preface to his modern-day revelations, the Lord stated -

"...What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:38)

And speaking of the priesthood leadership of the Church, the Lord instructed -

"And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation." (Doctrine and Covenants Section 68:4)

After completing the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, I have opted to review the talks given in the recent April 2005 General Conference. I consider this the most current "...will of the Lord ...mind of the Lord...word of the Lord...voice of the Lord" and scripture to the saints.

President Boyd K. Packer related -

"When I first read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover, I read the promise that if I “would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if [the things I had read were] true; and if [I would] ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he [would] manifest the truth of it unto [me], by the power of the Holy Ghost” (Moro. 10:4). I tried to follow those instructions, as I understood them.

If I expected a glorious manifestation to come at once as an overpowering experience, it did not happen. Nevertheless, it felt good, and I began to believe."

In contrast, I personally had an overpowering experience, to which I have never doubted. President Packer then brings the following verse to light in a way I had never considered -

“By the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things” (Moro. 10:5; emphasis added)"

He explains -

"I did not know how the Holy Ghost worked, even though the Book of Mormon explains it a number of times in a number of ways.

I studied and learned that “angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.” It said, as well, that one is to “feast upon the words of Christ; [with the promise that] the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do” (2 Ne. 32:3).

And it says plainly that “if ye cannot understand … it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock” (2 Ne. 32:4).

I also read, “If ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do” (2 Ne. 32:5)."

The wisdom taught here is that the truth of all things may not come directly to an individual by the power of the Holy Ghost, but by the power of the Holy Ghost, the words of Christ are revealed to his servants, the prophets. For -

"...Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." (Old Testament Amos 3:7)

It is our burden to "feast upon the words of Christ" to come to know the truth of all things.

"...And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it.
34 These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man;
35 For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them;
36 Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words."
(Doctrine and Covenants Section 18:33 - 36)