Can Get Between Joseph And...

can get between Joseph and the Twelve in this world or in the world to come. ¶

"How often has Joseph said to the Twelve, 'I have laid the foundation and you must build thereon, for upon your shoulders the kingdom rests.' " ¶

(Documentary History of the Church, Vol. 7, p. 230.) Brigham Young, the leader of the exodus across the plains, also said: ¶

"I do not wish men to understand I had anything to do with our being moved here, that was the providence of the Almighty; it was the power of God that wrought out salvation for this people, I never could have devised such a plan." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 41.) Most recorded revelations in the Doctrine and Covenants and in the Bible were from deep feelings and an impressive consciousness of direction from above. But some were more direct. The believer of the Bible would hardly question the call of Enoch, nor the call of Saul of Tarsus, nor that of Barnabas. And yet, those same Bible readers would take upon themselves the assumed authority to preach and teach and perform ordinances without special authority from God. ¶

Brigham Young received a vision before building this beautiful temple on this block. Here are his own words: ¶

". . . five years ago last July, I was here and saw in the Spirit the Temple not ten feet from where we have laid the Chief Corner Stone. I have not inquired what kind of a Temple we should build. Why? Because it was represented before me ... it will have six towers to begin with instead of one. . . ." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. ¶

1, p. 33.) If all the spectacular manifestations and visions and pertinent dreams and healings and other miracles were written in books, it would take a great library to hold them. ¶

Comparable to the numerous revelations of the past would be the one of Wilford Woodruff, President of the Church in the last century: ¶

"I had some remarks last Sunday upon . . . revelation. Read the life of Brigham Young and you can hardly find a revelation that he had wherein he said, 'Thus saith the Lord.' But the Holy Ghost was with him; he taught by inspiration and revelation. . . . Joseph said, 'Thus saith the Lord' almost every day of his life, in laying the foundation of this work. ¶

But those who followed him have not deemed it always necessary to say, 'Thus saith the Lord.' Yet they have led the people by the power of the Holy Ghost. . . . ¶

"It is by that power that we have led Israel; by that power President Young presided over and led the Church. By the same power, President John Taylor presided over and led the Church. And that is the way I have acted according to the best of my ability in that capacity. ... He is giving us revelation, and will give us revelation until the scene is wound up. ¶

"I have had some revelations of late and very important ones to me and I will tell you what the Lord has said to me. . . . ¶

". . . The Lord . . . has told me exactly what to do ... I went before the Lord, and I wrote what the Lord told me to write. . . ." (Deseret News, Nov. 7, 1891.) The work goes forward — and one prophet succeeds another. ¶

Joshua succeeded Moses, who had laid his hands upon him and ordained him. And then the Lord said: ¶

"There shall not any man be able to stand before thee [Joshua], all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." (Josh. 1:5. ¶

Italics added.) Upon Elisha fell the mantle of Elijah. ¶

And likewise, the mantle of Joseph Smith fell on Brigham Young when he seemed to be transformed before the people who seemed to hear the voice of Joseph and see the person of Joseph. This remarkable miracle was attested to by great numbers of people. ¶

The mantle of Joseph fell from Brigham to John Taylor, to Wilford Woodruff, to Lorenzo Snow, to Joseph F. Smith, to Heber J. Grant, to George Albert Smith, and to our Prophet today, President David O. McKay. Revelations have continued: Brother Merrill, president of the Logan Temple, received a comforting manifestation; Elder Melvin J. Ballard's call, as told by President Grant, was remarkable. ¶

President Joseph F. Smith's vision in 1918 on the redemption of the dead was most comprehensive; the temple work for the signers of the Declaration of Independence is illuminating; President Grant's Arizona experience is remarkable; Heber C. Kimball's experience of unusual discernment in the Endowment House — these and numerous experiences of latter-day authorities all are testimony that, as George Q. ¶

Cannon said, there has never been a single minute since 1830 when the people were left without the revealed guidance of the Lord. QD, Vol. 26, p. 64.) The Almighty is with His people The Almighty is with this people. ¶

We shall have all the revelations that we shall need if we will do our duty and keep the commandments of God. ¶

If men could just realize that there may be sound even though few ears hear it. There are revelations even though most minds be materialistic and most hearts impenetrable. ¶

Remember that of all who traveled the "way to Damascus" that notable day, only Paul heard and recognized the face and voice of our Redeemer. And that of all the numerous professionals and court attaches in Babylon's court, only Daniel received the dream of Nebuchadnezzar and its interpretation; and while Belshazzar and others saw the handwriting on the wall, only the Prophet Daniel could give it meaning. ¶

Remember: ¶

If there be eyes to see, there will be visions to inspire. ¶

If there be ears to hear, there will be revelations to experience. ¶

If there be hearts which can understand, know this: that the exalting truths of Christ's gospel will no longer be hidden and mysterious, and all earnest seekers may know God and his program. ¶

I bear witness that there will never be an "end of the prophets," as implied in my Bible, but that Christ's Church moves on through the revelations of God to its divinely called leaders. ¶

This I know in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. ¶