Revelation - Who Gets It

There seems to be a lot of confusion in the church about revelation to those other than a small circle. When it comes up in classes, members seem to be quick to pass it off with a couple of catch phrases, rather than considering its importance to our salvation. The usual flow of conversation is that people get it for their callings, someone quotes one experience or two in their lifetime, and then the fear factor is presented of someone going off with revelations that were from false sources. And that leads to the statement that it is only the prophet who is entitled to revelation for the church. That usually is the death of the conversation.

2 Pet 1:19-21 "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost."

I would pose the question that if prophesies in the Scriptures aren't for private interpretation because they were given by the Holy Ghost, wouldn't that also make the rest of Scripture not for private interpretation, having also been given by the Holy Ghost? And if so then doesn't that then mean that only the Holy Ghost can tell us what the Scriptures are saying: That we have to become "holy men [and women] of God" "moved by the Holy Ghost" to interpret them? And this requires revelation. So every moment we spend reading the Scriptures should be moments of revelation. We should be being prophets and prophetesses unto ourselves.

Of course those appropriately programmed will now want me to add the classical oogy-boogy and say but only the prophet is entitled to revelation for the church. I would ask, however, how many people have you personally met who have claimed to have received revelation for the whole church? I've never met one. Yet I have met countless numbers who have received revelation pertaining to doctrine while reading the Scriptures. And even if I'd met 10 people having claimed revelation for the whole church, that would still make it almost no one in comparison. So the oogy-boogy is really a bit of a nonsense fear concept of Satan's to get us to do nothing in regard this subject, is my opinion. I'm not saying that no one has ever gone off on a tangent and imagined himself to be the new prophet. But the same fear is used in regard religion. It could be a false one so let's not listen to any. An irrational solution.

D&C 42:61 "If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things--that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal."

So it is only by being taught these mysteries and peaceable things that we can obtain joy and eternal life. And this has to be done by revelation to a "Holy man of God" (hopefully you). These have to be obtained by the Holy Ghost (D&C 36:2, 39:5).

I would encourage all to despise not the gifts of the Spirit. Use revelation and gain eternal life.