On January
10, 2016, President Russell M. Nelson gave
a marvelous talk to young adults in which he shared internal details of how
the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles work together in unity to
obtain divine solutions to the “thorny” problems that confront the Church. By
so disclosing, he gave comfort and assurance of Divine direction to the spiritually-attuned
and prepared listeners in his world-wide audience. But he also caused some other
observers to begin
debating among themselves regarding how the process works and even to
question its legitimacy. He stated:
We sustain 15 men
who are ordained as prophets, seers, and revelators. When a thorny problem
arises—and they only seem to get thornier each day—these 15 men wrestle with
the issue, trying to see all the ramifications of various courses of action,
and they diligently seek to hear the voice of the Lord. After fasting, praying,
studying, pondering, and counseling with my Brethren about weighty matters, it
is not unusual for me to be awakened during the night with further impressions
about issues with which we are concerned. And my Brethren have the same
experience.
The First
Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles counsel together and share all the
Lord has directed us to understand and to feel individually and collectively.
And then we watch the Lord move upon the President of the Church to proclaim
the Lord’s will.
This prophetic
process was followed in 2012 with the change in minimum age for missionaries
and again with the recent additions to the Church’s handbook, consequent to the
legalization of same-sex marriage in some countries. Filled with compassion for
all, and especially for the children, we wrestled at length to understand the
Lord’s will in this matter. Ever mindful of God’s plan of salvation and of His hope
for eternal life for each of His children, we considered countless permutations
and combinations of possible scenarios that could arise. We met repeatedly in
the temple in fasting and prayer and sought further direction and inspiration.
And then, when the Lord inspired His prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, to
declare the mind of the Lord and the will of the Lord, each of us during that
sacred moment felt a spiritual confirmation. It was our privilege as Apostles
to sustain what had been revealed to President Monson. Revelation from the Lord
to His servants is a sacred process, and so is your privilege of receiving
personal revelation.
For most listeners and readers,
this explanation is clear, forthright, edifying, and uplifting: the resurrected
Jesus the Christ, who lives today and directs His Church, continues to reveal
His will by the power of the Holy Ghost to His prophets and apostles. Such firm
acknowledgment of Divine communication is manna from heaven—pleasing
confirmation that God is near His prophet and His people—to the truly faithful
and receptive.
As mentioned, some others were not
pleased to learn the will of the Lord; to find out that the Lord thought
differently than they do; to know that He disagreed with them. Part of the
reason for the questioning was because some were looking
for a loophole; for a way to label Divine revelation human policy; for a
way to marginalize or excuse. After all, they reason, policies have been
revised before and might be again. The call to the discontented was to be
patient until the Church reverses or softens what some hoped was a
temporary policy implementation—how wrong they were.
The following quotations (extracted
from my published
reference compilation Determining
Doctrine) provide further explanations of the process President Nelson
mentioned in his talk:
Heber J. Grant:
I was
called into the Council of the Twelve Apostles by a revelation of the Lord to
President John Taylor, and from the time that I entered the Council of the
Twelve, two years after John Taylor was made President of the Church, until the
day of his death, I met with him, week after week, in the Endowment house, and
I know that he was a servant of the living God; I know that the inspiration of
the Lord came to him; and I know that upon all occasions, whenever he said:
"This is what the Lord desires," and his associates in the council of
the apostles sustained his position, that upon every occasion he was vindicated
and the inspiration of the Lord to him showed that his wisdom by the power of
God, had been superior to the wisdom of other men. Several times I have gone to
meetings in the old Endowment house, knowing that a certain matter was to be
discussed, and my mind was as perfectly set upon a certain position on that
question as it is possible for a man to have his mind set. I believe I am as
decided in my opinions as the majority of people. I have heard it said that
there is nobody as stubborn as a Scotchman except a Dutchman; and I am Scotch
on my father's side and Dutch on my mother's (laughter). While I have gone to
meetings in the old Endowment house determined in favor of a certain line of
policy, I have willingly and freely voted for the exact opposite of that
policy, because of the inspiration of the Lord that came to John Taylor. Upon
every such occasion the servant of the Lord, President Taylor, was vindicated,
and his superior judgment, by the inspiration of the Lord, asserted itself in
favor of those things that were for the best good of the people.
From the
President's opening speech, at the 89th annual conference of the Church, June
1, 1919. (James R. Clark, comp., Messages
of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
6 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1965-75], 5:128-29.)
Mark E. Petersen:
In the
Church, if the Lord is going to give revelation for the body of the Church, he
gives the revelation to the President of the Church. The President of the
Church doesn’t just get up and announce it spontaneously and automatically. The
way he proceeds is this: he brings any matter of policy or business or doctrine
first to his counselors. Then they bring it to the meeting of the First
Presidency and the Council of the Twelve which convenes each Thursday morning
at 10:00. Those fifteen men sit as a council, and they call it the Council of
the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve. The President presents the
business there, and after due deliberations, after everyone has had opportunity
to ask questions, after prayer has been said earnestly on the subject, then a
vote of acceptance or rejection is asked for. After an affirmative vote has
been taken, and there has been unanimous decision, then such policy is
announced to the Church. That’s the way it works, as a practical matter.
(“Revelation,” Address to religious educators, 24 August 1954; cited in Charge to Religious Educators, 2nd ed.
[Salt Lake City: Church Educational System and The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, 1982], 137-38.)
Harold B. Lee:
As I come
to you this morning with a humble heart to talk to you about revelation, I come
to you as one who sits in the company of men who live close to their Heavenly
Father. There have been occasions when I have had within me a feeling of
sureness about things. I have seen matters come before the First Presidency and
the Council of the Twelve in our weekly meetings. I’ve seen a decision reached,
not based upon reasoning, but upon an impression which after that decision had
been made has been found to have been a Heaven-sent direction to protect and to
guide.
I recall an
incident a little over six months ago when an important matter had been decided
upon, and the Presidency had called the Twelve to announce the decision. After
the decision had been made, it was a thrilling thing to hear the President of
the Church say, “Brethren, the Lord has spoken.” (“Divine Revelation,” Address
to the Brigham Young University Studentbody, October 15, 1952, 9-10.)
Harold B. Lee:
I remember
Brother John A. Widtsoe used to tell us about being asked at a conference, “How
long has it been since the Church received a revelation?” Brother Widtsoe
stroked his chin thoughtfully and said, “Oh, probably since last Thursday.”
That startled his interrogator. However, there are many written revelations
that are not in the Doctrine and Covenants. (“The Place of the Living Prophet,
Seer, and Revelator,” Address to Religious Educators, 8 July 1964; cited in Charge to Religious Educators, 2nd ed.
[Salt Lake City: Church Educational System and The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints, 1982], 111.)
Harold B. Lee:
Brother
John A. Widtsoe used to tell us about a group who gathered around him between
meetings at a stake conference, and someone said, “Oh, Brother Widtsoe, how long
has it been since the Church received a revelation?” And Brother Widtsoe
stroked his chin for a moment and said, “Oh, probably since last Thursday.”
When he said Thursday, he was referring to the meeting that is held in an upper
room of the temple—the Presidency and the Twelve meet each Thursday. Brother
Widtsoe knew, as I know and as all who attend those meetings know, that there
we see in perspective the whole Church brought to review. We see wisdom beyond
human wisdom, decisions prompted by powers beyond ourselves. We left our
meeting a week ago last Thursday and I walked out of the meeting with President
Hugh B. Brown. He said, “Wasn’t that marvelous to see that display of
intelligence as we presented these very difficult problems?” Maybe it’s only been
since last Thursday that the Church has had a revelation. (“Loyalty,” Address
to religious educators, 8 July 1966; cited in Charge to Religious Educators, 2nd ed. [Salt Lake City: Church
Educational System and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1982],
64.)
Harold B. Lee:
Keep in
mind that the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ are divine. Nobody
changes the principles and doctrines of the Church except the Lord by
revelation. But methods change as the inspired direction comes to those who
preside at a given time. If you will analyze all that is being done and the
changes that are taking place, you will realize that the fundamental doctrines
of the Church are not changing. The only changes are in the methods of teaching
that doctrine to meet the circumstances of our time. You may be sure that your
brethren who preside are praying most earnestly, and we do not move until we
have the assurance, so far as lies within our power, that what we do has the
seal of divine approval. (“God’s Kingdom—A Kingdom of Order,” Ensign, January
1971, 8.)
Spencer W. Kimball:
Revelations
continue to come to this great kingdom all the time. I suppose there is never a
week when there are not revelations received. These revelations are approved. The
President does not just announce some day, “Here is a new revelation.” The
Presidency and the Council of the Twelve, the governing body of this Church are
in session every Thursday. The important matters come before them, and the
revelations of the Lord are approved by the people….
You need
not think of revelations as being something very casual. Every week they come
to the Church. I could mention numerous of them, if time permitted, that you
probably haven’t thought of as a revelation. (“Revelation,” Address given at
the Brigham Young University Stake Conference, January 13, 1957, 9-10.)
Spencer W. Kimball:
The
revelations come as requested and needed; for instance, in 1947, when President
George Albert Smith was the President of the Church, there came a revelation to
the Church regarding missions, and counselors were given to mission presidents
for the first time. That was immediately published all through the Church, in
the Church Section of the Deseret News,
an official letter to all mission presidents, and everybody in the Church had
access to the knowledge of that change in the policy of the Church within a
matter of days after it had been given. It was not necessary that that
revelation be included in the Doctrine and Covenants. They are all in the
minutes and in the files. (“Revelation,” Address given at the Brigham Young
University Stake Conference, January 13, 1957, 2.)
Gordon B. Hinckley:
Ten years
ago last Friday I was sustained in this great Tabernacle as a member of the
Council of the Twelve. These have been wonderful years, fraught with a thousand
faith-promoting experiences in many parts of the earth. But of all the
experiences I have had, the most rewarding have come in participating in the
weekly meetings of the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve in the
temple that stands to the east of us. Here there is prayer, an earnest pleading
for the will of the Lord. And in this sacred place is manifest the spirit of
revelation as decisions and programs affecting the Church are proposed and
presented. (Conference Report, October 1971, 161-62.)
Gordon B. Hinckley:
The First
Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles, called and ordained to hold
the keys of the priesthood, have the authority and responsibility to govern the
Church, to administer its ordinances, to expound its doctrine, and to establish
and maintain its practices….
Any major
questions of policy, procedures, programs, or doctrine are considered
deliberately and prayerfully by the First Presidency and the Twelve together.
These two quorums, the Quorum of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the
Twelve, meeting together, with every man having total freedom to express
himself, consider every major question….
No decision
emanates from the deliberations of the First Presidency and the Twelve without
total unanimity among all concerned. At the outset in considering matters,
there may be differences of opinion. These are to be expected. These men come
from different backgrounds. They are men who think for themselves. But before a
final decision is reached, there comes a unanimity of mind and voice. (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley [Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book, 1997], 77-78.)
Gordon B. Hinckley:
I have now
served in the general councils of this Church for 45 years. I have served as an
Assistant to the Twelve, as a member of the Twelve, as a counselor in the First
Presidency, and now for eight years as President. I want to give you my
testimony that although I have sat in literally thousands of meetings where
Church policies and programs have been discussed, I have never been in one
where the guidance of the Lord was not sought nor where there was any desire on
the part of anyone present to advocate or do anything which would be injurious
or coercive to anyone. (Conference Report, April 2003, 64-65.)
Boyd K. Packer:
Recently
President Hinckley reminded the Brethren that, while we are men called from the
ordinary pursuits of life, there rests upon us a sacred ministry. And we take
comfort in what the Lord said to the original Twelve: “Ye have not chosen me,
but I have chosen you, and ordained you.”
While each
feels his own limitation, there is strength in unity. ever in the history of
the Church have the Brethren of the First Presidency and the Twelve been more
united.
Each week
we meet together in the temple. We open the meeting by kneeling in prayer, and
we close with prayer. Every prayer is offered in the spirit of submission and
obedience to Him who called us and whose servants and witnesses we are.
The Lord
requires that “every decision made by either of these quorums must be by the
unanimous voice of the same” and that “the decisions of these quorums…are to be
made in all righteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness and
long suffering, and in faith, and virtue, and knowledge, temperance, patience,
godliness, brotherly kindness and charity.” This we earnestly strive to do.
We know
that we hold the power of the priesthood “in connection with all those who have
received a dispensation at any time from the beginning of the creation.” We
think of those who have preceded us in these sacred offices, and at times we
feel their presence.
We are
overcome with what the Lord said of those who hold these sacred callings:
“Whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be
scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall
be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God
unto salvation.” (“The Twelve Apostles,” Ensign,
November 1996, 7-8.)
L. Aldin Porter:
When you
see any document, any address, any letter, any instruction that is issued by
the Council of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve, it should be
recognized for what it surely is—the mind and the will of the Lord to his
people in this day. (Conference Report, October 1994, 83.)
I once
thought that I had discovered something of an unimportant exception in these
methods of discussing and approving needed action in moving the work of the
Church forward. While the following two items do not directly concern receipt
of revelation from the Lord, they do concern church ecclesiastical affairs as
discussed in Council.
And perhaps in a way they provide a
chuckle or two and a smile, for at first glance they do seem somewhat
contradictory (the kind of thing unscrupulous anti-Mormons try to exploit). After
further thought, to my mind a better explanation is that the Lord works in
mysterious ways and accomplishes His purposes despite the human predilections
and foibles of His servants. Then-Elder Monson did not do or even think of
doing what Brother Packer indicated was never done in Council meetings; what
Brother Monson did instead was pray—and then the Lord opened the way:
Boyd K. Packer:
It would be
unthinkable deliberately to present an issue in such a way that approval
depended upon how it was maneuvered through channels, who was presenting it, or
who was present or absent when it was presented.
There is a
rule we follow: a matter is not settled until there is a minute entry to
evidence that all of the Brethren in council assembled (not just one of us, not
just in committee) have come to a unity of feeling. Approval of a matter in
principle is not considered authority to act until a minute entry records the
action taken—usually when the minutes are approved at the next meeting. (Lucile
C. Tate, Boyd K. Packer, A Watchman on
the Tower [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1995], 243.)
Thomas S. Monson:
As I was proceeding toward
recommending the creation of stakes in Adelaide and Perth, Australia, I knew
that President Joseph Fielding Smith, who was President of the Council of the
Twelve at the time, had serious reservations about the creation of stakes beyond
the North and South American Continents. Reluctantly he granted approval for
the Twelve to recommend to the First Presidency a stake in Adelaide, Australia.
He said very casually, “The next time I wouldn’t be surprised but what you will
recommend a stake way over in Perth, Australia!” My heart sank, for in my
briefcase was the recommendation for a stake to be created in Perth.
I waited a
few weeks, and then on the morning when I was to present the item for
consideration of the Twelve, I prayed earnestly that President Smith would be
amenable to the recommendation. Usually President Smith would look at the
proposed agenda and then focus on something which caused him concern, which
meant that particular item didn’t have much chance of being approved. As he
proceeded through the agenda, just before he came to the item pertaining to
Perth, he excused himself to go to the restroom and asked Elder Harold B Lee to
carry on. Elder Harold B. Lee carried on during the period when the Perth
proposal was considered and approved, after which President Smith returned to
the room. It was the only time during the seven and one-half years that he
served as my quorum president when I ever remember his leaving one of our
temple meetings. I was pleased to have the opportunity to bring into existence
the Perth Australia Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
(Thomas S. Monson, On the Lord’s Errand:
Memoirs of Thomas S. Monson [Salt Lake City, Utah], 1985, 290.))
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