4/18/2018 - Section 90:4-7

April 18, 2018

Section 90:4-7

Prophets Succession, Follow the Prophet, Modern Day Revelation, Church Government Counselors,

V 4 is a lesson in the government of the church: “Nevertheless, through you (JS) shall the oracles (this can mean a revelation or the person through whom the revelation is given) be given to another, yea, even unto the church.”  The reading a quote from President Joseph Fielding Smith illuminates the process of succession for our prophets: “The word of the Lord was fulfilled wherein he said that through Joseph Smith the oracles should be given to the Church, and by command of the Lord the Prophet, in Nauvoo a few months before his death, called the apostles together and said to them that the Lord had commanded him to confer upon them all the keys and authorities which he had had conferred upon him, so that the work could be ‘rolled off’ of his shoulders onto theirs. He thereupon conferred upon them this divine governing power, but this governing power could ot be exercised by any one of the twelve while the Prophet was living. Upon his death the right to preside and set in order and to hold the keys of authority in the priesthood and in the Church, rightfully belonged to President Brigham Young and by authority of the ordination he had received under the hands of Joseph smith and by being sustained by his brethren and the Church, he was vested with the supreme power.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:388)

All that is reinforcing information to me, as well as letting me see how the Lord prepares his church to be ready to go forward. But it is verse 5 that I love: And all they weo receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they hold them lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation therby, and stumble and fall when the storms descend and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon their house.” The scriptures tell me to trust the Lord and to trust the Church. When I do that I feel uplifted, and I am able to feel the calm reassurance of the spirit resting upon me, and that is the reason why I have always honored and valued the Church and the Prophet who guides the Church.

One more clarification from the study manuel: “Counselors can do everything their presiding officer directs them to do, as if the president were personally acting. In this sense they are equals. However, they have no power to act independent of the president….The Counselors do not possess the power of the President and cannot act in Church matters without direction and consent of the President.”