The Miracle of Revelation
In short, revelation is God speaking to man. It is important because God knows everything, and we need His help. Because revelation is God speaking to man, it is a miracle. Anyone may receive revelation and guidance from God for their own personal lives, but a prophet is someone called by God with a special assignment to lead the Church and act as the mouthpiece of God, to say and teach what God would have His children know. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church) believe that God loves His children and that He continues to call prophets on the earth in our day.
But revelation is not the only miracle that still happens in our day. Mormons believe ”in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth” (Article of Faith 7). An example of tongues and interpretation of tongues is when Mormon Missionaries are give divine assistance to learn a new language so that they might preach the Gospel in foreign lands.
Mormons also believe in healing by the will and power of the Lord. They believe in an authority called the priesthood, which is the power of God given to man. This is the authority to act in God’s name. Miracles are subject to the will of the Lord (He knows what is best for us), and miracles do not always happen just because we want them to happen. Sometimes Heavenly Father has something better in mind, something that our minds cannot comprehend at the moment (Cf. Doctrine and Covenants 58:32-4; Isaiah 55:8-9). Elders bless the sick through faith and the guidance of the spirit, but accept the will of the Lord in all things.
In Mormon Doctrine, God also still communicates to man through dreams and visions. The first vision of Joseph Smith, the founder of the Mormon religion, is probably the best known of Mormon visions—God the Father and Jesus Christ visited him when he was fourteen,. They told him not to join any of the churches currently on the earth, because “all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; that those professors were all corrupt; that: ‘they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof’ (Joseph Smith History 1:19).
Yes, visions are real, yes dreams happen, but usually God communicates with His children through the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost, which everyone can–and is entitled–to receive. But just like other things, there are rules to revelation. One may only receive revelation if they are worthy, for God will not (and cannot) dwell in temples that are not clean. Another rule is that one may only receive revelation in accordance with his or her stewardship.
Mormons believe personal revelation to be very important to the faith and testimony of members. Mormons are encouraged to seek out the Lord’s word on whether the Church and its doctrines are true, whether a certain action they want to take is right, or how they might help someone else. The Lord will guide all of us individually if we commune with him.
“Has the day of miracles ceased? Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made.” (Moroni 7:35-38).