Revelation flows
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President Boyd K. Packer said he has watched the standards upon which civilization — morality, marriage, home and family — must depend for its survival be swept aside one piece at a time.
"Our happiness depends upon living those very standards," said President Packer, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve, in his Sunday morning conference address.
He quoted Paul's prophecy that in the last days men would be "despisers of those that are good, . . . lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God" (2 Timothy 3:3-4), and that "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13).
"He was right. Nevertheless, when I think of the future, I am overwhelmed with a feeling of positive optimism," President Packer said.
He referred to Paul's counsel to Timothy that he would be safe because "thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus' (2 Timothy 3:15).
He said he has heard people ask why there is not the flow of revelation published as scripture today as in the early years of the Church. He explained that the revelations that came through Joseph Smith laid the permanent foundation through which the gospel could go forth to every nation.
"The early revelations, published as scripture for the permanent guidance of the Church, define the ordinances and covenants that are still in force.
"One of those scriptures promises, 'If ye are prepared ye shall not fear' (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30). Let me tell what has been done to prepare us. Perhaps you will then understand why I do not fear the future, why I have such positive feelings of confidence."
Acknowledging it would be impossible to list all of what has been put in place by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve in recent years, he described a few of these events, beginning with the determination more than 40 years ago to prepare a Latter-day Saint edition of the scriptures that would cross-reference the unaltered King James Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. He said that the project took 12 years to complete with the help of more than 600 people, and that computer technology made possible the organization of tens of thousands of footnotes and a subject-matter index. Original manuscripts of the Book of Mormon came into Church hands, making possible the correction of printers' errors.
Most notable, he said, are 18 pages in the Topical Guide under the heading of "Jesus Christ," the most comprehensive compilation of scriptural information on the name of Jesus Christ ever assembled in the world.
"Two new revelations were added to the Doctrine and Covenants — section 137, a vision given to Joseph Smith the Prophet on the occasion of the administration of the endowment, and section 138, President Joseph F. Smith's vision of the redemption of the dead. Then just as this work was being closed for printing, the marvelous revelation on the priesthood was received and announced in an Official Declaration (see Doctrine and Covenants Official Declaration — 2), proving that the scriptures are not closed."
He told how, through an enormous translation effort, the Triple Combination has been published in 24 languages, with others to follow, and the Book of Mormon is printed in 106 languages; with 49 translations underway.
President Packer said the Church's entire curriculum was restructured, having all courses of study in priesthood and auxiliary organizations revised to "center on the scriptures, to center on Jesus Christ, to center on the priesthood, and to center on the family."
The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve issued "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" and "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostle," President Packer said. He listed several other events, including the spread of seminaries and institutes throughout the world, the reserving of Monday nights for family home evening, the "Preach My Gospel" program for missionaries, and the new course of study for priesthood and Relief Society that is centered on the teachings of presidents of the Church.
"These things all witness of continuing revelation," he declared. "There are other things, too numerous to describe in detail. There is in the Church a central core of power deeper than programs and meetings or associations. It does not change. It cannot erode. It is constant and certain. It never recedes or fades.
"While the Church is housed in chapels, it lives in the heart and soul of every Latter-day Saint. . . . Every soul who willingly affiliates with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and seeks to abide by its principles and ordinances is standing 'on Zion's hill.' "
