D&C 28

The Lord instructed Oliver Cowdery -

"...no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 28:2)

In relationship to these revelations and commandments as well as men called of God, the Lord taught a new doctrine -

"For all things must be done in order, and by common consent in the church, by the prayer of faith."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 28:13)

Some may suggest that common consent allows the saints to vote whether to accept and individual or a doctrine.  But this is not the case nor the purpose.  "Common consent" allows the saints to exercise their agency to sustain the individual and/or the doctrine or not.  Common consent does not allow voting in some sort of democracy to determine its acceptance.  When revelations or callings are extended by those that hold priesthood keys -

"...whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 1:38)

We are always given the opportunity to visibly sustain with our own agnecy such revelations.  It is the order of the Celestial kingdom in following the Savior.  Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained -

"Administrative affairs of the Church are handled in accordance with the law of common consent. This law is that in God's earthly kingdom, the King counsels what should be done, but then he allows his subjects to accept or reject his proposals. Unless the principle of free agency is operated in righteousness men do not progress to ultimate salvation in the heavenly kingdom hereafter. Accordingly, church officers are selected by the spirit of revelation in those appointed to choose them, but before the officers may serve in their positions, they must receive a formal sustaining vote of the people over whom they are to preside. (D&C 20:60-67; 26:2; 28; 38:34, 35; 41:9-11; 42:11; 102:9; 124:124-145.)" (Bruce R. McConkie, MD, pp. 149-50.)



Charles Penrose also wrote -

"It was designed by the Almighty in the organization of this Church, that the voice of the people should respond to the voice of the Lord. It is the voice of the Lord and the voice of the people together in this Church that sanctions all things therein. [Sec. 20:63-66.] In the rise of the Church the Lord gave a revelation which said that 'all things shall be done by common consent.' And the Lord designs that every individual member shall take an interest therein, shall bear a part of the responsibility, and shall take upon him or her the spirit of the Church, and be an active living member of the body." (Charles W. Penrose, JD 21:45-46.)