Editing Revelation (section)

=====Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints=====
Members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] sustain the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|President of the Church]] as [[prophet, seer, and revelator]], the only person on earth who receives revelation to guide the entire church. They also sustain the two counselors in the [[First Presidency]], as well as the [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles]], as prophets, seers, and revelators.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/prophets?lang=eng |title=Prophets |publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref> They believe that God has followed a pattern of continued revelation to prophets throughout the history of mankind to establish doctrine and maintain its integrity, as well as to guide the church under changing world conditions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bd/revelation?lang=eng |title=Revelation |publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref> When this pattern of revelation was broken, it was because the receivers of revelation had been rejected and often killed. In the meridian{{what|date=September 2021}} of time, Paul described prophets and apostles in terms of a foundation, with Christ as the cornerstone, which was built to prevent doctrinal shift—"that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of doctrine".<ref>Eph 2:20 and 4:11–14, see also Matt 16:17–18</ref> To maintain that foundation, new apostles were chosen and ordained to replace those lost to death or transgression, as when Matthias was called by revelation to replace Judas (Acts 1:15–26). However, as intensifying persecution led to the imprisonment and martyrdom of the apostles, it eventually became impossible to continue the [[apostolic succession]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-16-the-church-of-jesus-christ-in-former-times?lang=eng |title=Gospel Principles Chapter 16: The Church of Jesus Christ in Former Times |publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref>

Once the foundation of apostles and prophets was lost, the integrity of Christian doctrine as established by Christ and the apostles began to be compromised by those who continued to develop doctrine despite not being called or authorized to receive revelation for the body of the church. In the absence of revelation, the post-apostolic theologians had no choice but introduced elements of human reasoning, speculation, and personal interpretation of scripture (2 Pet 1:19–20), which over time led to the loss or corruption of various doctrinal truths, as well as to the addition of new man-made doctrines. That naturally led to much disagreement and schism, which over the centuries culminated in the large number of Christian churches on the earth today. Mormons believe that God resumed his pattern of revelation when the world was again ready by calling the Prophet Joseph Smith to restore the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the earth.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-17-the-church-of-jesus-christ-today?lang=eng |title=Gospel Principles Chapter 17: The Church of Jesus Christ Today |publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref> Since that time there has been a consistent succession of prophets and apostles, which God has promised will not be broken before the Second Coming of Christ (Dan 2:44).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/topics/church-organization/the-church-of-jesus-christ?lang=eng |title=The Church of Jesus Christ |publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org |access-date=2014-05-12}}</ref>

Each member of the LDS Church is also confirmed a member of the church following baptism and given the "gift of the Holy Ghost" by which each member is encouraged to develop a personal relationship with that divine being and receive personal revelation for their own direction and that of their family.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-21-the-gift-of-the-holy-ghost?lang=eng |title=Gospel Principles Chapter 21: The Gift of the Holy Ghost |access-date=14 June 2024 |publisher=churchofjesuschrist.org}}</ref> The Latter Day Saint concept of revelation includes the belief that revelation from God is available to all those who earnestly seek it with the intent of doing good. It also teaches that everyone is entitled to personal revelation with respect to his or her [[stewardship]] (leadership responsibility). Thus, parents may receive inspiration from God in raising their families, individuals can receive divine inspiration to help them meet personal challenges, church officers may receive revelation for those whom they serve, and so forth.

The important consequence of this is that each person may receive confirmation that particular doctrines taught by a prophet are true, as well as gain divine insight in using those truths for their own benefit and eternal progress. In the church, personal revelation is expected and encouraged, and many converts believe that personal revelation from God was instrumental in their conversion.<ref>{{cite web | title=Continuing Revelation | work=Mormon.org | url=http://www.mormon.org/learn/0,8672,1084-1,00.html | access-date=August 5, 2005}}</ref> [[Joseph F. Smith]], the sixth president of the LDS Church, summarized this church's belief concerning revelation by saying, "We believe… in the principle of direct revelation from God to man" (Smith, 362).<ref>{{cite book| author =Smith, Joseph F.| title =Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph F. Smith| chapter =41: Continuing Revelation for the Benefit of the Church| date =November 2007| page =362| publisher =The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints| location =Salt Lake City, UT| url =https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/teachings-joseph-f-smith?lang=eng| isbn =978-1-59955-103-6}}</ref>