It is one
thing for something to be inspired or revelatory and therefore scriptural, and
another for it to be canonized and become binding on the members of the
Church—meaning their lives and conduct will be judged by the content of the
scripture. The four standard works of the Church are canonized scripture; what
is said under the influence of the Holy Spirit at General Conference is true
and timely/relevant counsel, but is not canonized scripture, binding on the
members. These are distinctions that seem to be lost on some members (and most
non-Mormons) but would be helpful to all if understood.
From Determining Doctrine:
From the Doctrine and Covenants:
And, behold, and lo, this is an
ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission
is appointed unto them to go forth—
And
this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by
the Holy Ghost.
And
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. (D&C 68:2-4.)
Bruce R. McConkie:
Anything
spoken by the Father, Son, or Holy Ghost, by the angels of heaven, or by mortal
man when moved upon by the Holy Ghost, is scripture. Such spoken words are the will, mind, word,
and voice of the Lord. (D.&C. 68:1-5.)
Since it is
a comparatively rare thing for mortal man to hear the personal voice of Deity,
or to converse with angels, it follows that most scriptural utterances are
given to man by revelation from the Holy Ghost.
These statements, made by the power of the Holy Spirit, consist of the
identical words which the Lord himself would speak under the same
circumstances. They are indeed the
Lord’s words because he authorizes and directs the Holy Ghost to influence and
guide men in giving utterance to them.
It is by
the power and guidance of the Holy Ghost—that Spirit Personage who, as a member
of the Godhead, has power to speak with unerring certainty to the spirit within
man—that the saints “have the mind of Christ.” (1 Cor. 2:16.) That is, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost,
the saints are enabled to think what our Lord thinks, to give voice to the very
words he does or would speak, and to act as he would act in the same
situation. What is true of the mortal
saints is also true of the heavenly saints, for “Angels speak by the power of
the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ.” (2 Ne. 32:32.)
All
scripture is true. It is composed wholly
and solely of pure, unvarnished, irrefutable, and eternal truth. “Thy word,” O God, “is truth.” (John
17:17.) “By the power of the Holy Ghost
ye may know the truth of all things.” (Moro. 10:5.)
All
scripture comes by revelation. Whenever
any revealed truth is expressed in words, those words are scripture. “The Holy Ghost is a revelator,” Joseph Smith
said, “No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations.” (Teachings, p. 328.) And when those revelations are either spoken
or written, they are scripture.
Most
scripture has been, is now, and will continue to be oral and unrecorded. Throughout the length and breadth of his
earthly kingdom, the Lord’s agents are frequently moved upon to speak, testify,
prophecy, exhort, expound, preach, and teach by the power of the Holy
Ghost. Such inspired utterances benefit
and bless those who speak them and the spiritually endowed among the
hearers. (Mormon Doctrine, p. 614.)
(Quoted in Doctrinal
New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1973],
1:55-56.)
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