The Miracle of Revelation
The Mormon Church is a church of prophecy and miracles. Many people who believe prophecy is no longer relevant also believe that miracles no longer exist in the world. Prophecy is, in a sense, a kind of miracle—both require belief that God still has a hand in the world today. And in today’s troubled times, it’s almost more comforting to believe that God has stepped back—when what we require is faith in Him and that He cares deeply about our welfare and guidance.
Mormons believe in such things as the gift of interpretation and translation of tongues. Heavenly assistance in such things is found, for example, in relation to the Mormon missionary field. They believe that God assists missionaries who are earnestly endeavoring to learn a new language to do so.
Mormons also believe in healing by the will and power of the Lord. They believe in an authority called the priesthood, which is given of God and is the authority to act in his name. By the priesthood and faith and the gift of healing do elders of the priesthood heal the sick. Miracles are always subject to the will of the Lord, however, and miracles are not always accomplished because we wish them to be accomplished. Elders proceed through faith (and also the faith of the ill) and the guidance of the spirit, but accept the will of the Lord in all things.
Prophecy and revelation are also received through the will of the Lord and one should be willing to act on and obey the revelation received. In Mormonism, the Church is lead by a prophet, but he is not the only one who can receive revelation, although he is the only one that can receive revelation for the entire Church.
The Prophet bears the gift of prophecy, after all, which is the ability to see things which are, which were, and which are to come. Prophets speak God’s words to the Church, to the world as a whole and may warn of the future, so that believers and any who listen with faith may prepare. Beyond this, prophets work under the Lord’s guidance for the benefit of all. A prophet may speak something that the world has heard for centuries, but because he speaks it now, it is what the Lord would have us here and consider now, at this time. A prophet may reiterate such things as Christ’s divinity and that He lives today.
In Mormons’ beliefs, God 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, to tell him not to join any of the churches currently on the earth. But many visions have been had since of many prophets and Mormon members may have inspired dreams as well, for their personal application.
Dreams and visions, and prophecy, are a form of revelation, which is how God communicates to man in many forms. God communicates with humanity most often through the still, small voice of the Holy Ghost. Again, every person can receive revelation from the Holy Ghost, but, again, never for the entire Church. For his or herself, yes, and for the behalf of those they preside over. For example, a mother or father may receive truths that their family needs to know.
Mormons believe personal revelation to be very important to the faith and testimony of members. Indeed, 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.