“We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.” [1] This is one of the many Articles of Faith that Latter-Day Saints believe in. For us, modern-day revelation and prophecy is an acceptable thing, and should come as no surprise. In Elder L. Tom Perry’s “We Believe All that God has revealed,” he states that Latter-Day Saints “declare to the world that the heavens are not closed. God continues to reveal His will to mankind, as He has in all periods of time when He has had authorized servants upon the earth.” [2] This is truly a strong belief of Latter-Day Saints, and we rely upon this faith of revelation strongly to help us through every day life.
But how can we receive or know of a revelation from our Lord? Elder Perry also informs us “Revelation can include visions, dreams, the spoken word, or other spiritual manifestations.” [2] Hearing of revelations given in these ways happens frequently throughout the scriptures, especially through dreams and visions. Joseph of Egypt is one primary example of a dream revelator. Joseph dreamt of his parents and brothers bowing down to him. He tells his brothers, “For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf… and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.” [3] Most people know that many years later, Joseph was indeed made a ruler over his brethren, and became only second to the pharaoh. Joseph also interpreted the baker and the butler’s dreams in prison, correctly saying that the baker would be in favor of the pharaoh again one day and the butler would soon be executed. [4]
Another example of revelation through dreams and visions comes from the prophet Daniel. The Lord explicitly tells us that Daniel “had understanding in all visions and dreams.” [5] With this understanding, Daniel was able to tell King Nebuchadnezzar of his dream and what the dream meant. Clearly the Lord spoke to both Daniel and Joseph through dreams and visions. But why did Joseph have dreams and his brothers didn’t? Why could Daniel interpret the King’s dreams when no one else could? The answer is found in Numbers 12:6 where it says, “Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.” [6] From this verse, it is easy to see that dreams and visions could hold the key of prophecy, meaning that the person having them has the gift of prophecy. Do we not consider both Daniel and Joseph of Egypt to be prophets of old?
Knowing that dreams and visions can hold the key to prophecy, we can relate it to other people who have experienced these dreams. Lehi for example dreamt of the Tree of Life and the Iron Rod. The Lord revealed these things to Lehi to help guide his family to the Promised Land and to return safely to our Heavenly Father after this life. [7] Joseph Smith, who is closer to our time, also experienced many visions and dreams. His First Vision is what led to the beginning of the only true church on Earth, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Seeing that these two men also had dreams and visions from God, we can testify that they are indeed prophets of the Lord.
Now that we have witnessed the many examples of past prophets having revelation, one may ask if anyone else may have a revelation. Do you have to be a prophet to receive dreams and visions of God? The Lord tells us in Joel 2:28-29 that He “will pour out [His] spirit upon all flesh; and [our] sons and [our] daughters shall prophesy, [our] old men shall dream dreams, [our] young men shall see visions: and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will [He] pour out [His] spirit.” [8] Clearly revelation is meant for anyone! Men, women, children, grandparents, and servants may all be recipients of a revelation through dreams and visions. Elder Perry testified, “We all have the right to petition the Lord and receive inspiration through His spirit within the realm of our own stewardship. Parents can receive revelation for their own family, a bishop for his assigned congregation, and on up to the First Presidency for the entire Church.” [2] If we pray diligently, and trust in the Lord, we may all have questions answered and worries comforted through the power of revelation.
A personal revelation through a dream actually happened with my grandmother when my dad was still very young. My grandmother (known to my cousins and myself as ‘Nam Claire) had a son named Kerrigan Healy Johnson, and was the seventh child born into their family. Kerry had experienced health problems his entire first two years of life, undergoing numerous doctor check-ups, medications, and even surgery. He was diagnosed with a form of tuberculosis called Avium TB within his first year, and my grandparents and Kerry spent the next year and a half fighting the disease. It was a long and hard process, but finally Kerry was pronounced cured on the last Friday of July in 1968. The following Wednesday, Kerry was hit by a car in front of my ‘Nam Claire’s house and killed instantly.
The following is an excerpt from my grandmother’s personal narrative of Kerry’s life, and tells about her experience with dreams and visions:
“All my life I had feared the death of any of my loved ones, but in 1968 I learned first hand it can also be a rich spiritual experience. In that year we were an ordinary couple, with a not too ordinary number of seven children, ranging in age from 15-year-old Kathy to two and 1/3 year old Kerrigan Healy. In the split minute it takes for a two year old to escape from an adult's protective eye, our Kerry slipped through a not quite latched screen door and while trying to rescue his tricycle from the gutter in front of our home on busy "B" Street, stepped in the path of a passing car and has left this life to return to our loving Heavenly Father.
“After Kerry was gone, I longed to become pregnant again. In 1969 we were fortunate enough to conceive and the baby was due in December at Christmas time. Shortly before delivery I had a wonderful dream about Kerry. In it he was walking hand in hand with a small girl with long red hair. He said to me, "Mom, this is Karalee, she is my sister and you need to be certain she becomes a part of our earthly family."
“Immediately after our baby girl was born, I knew it was not Karalee, because she had dark brown hair and the young girl with Kerry had shocking red hair, done up in braids that hung to her waist. I knew then, there was another baby to join our family.” [9]
This dream was a huge comfort to my ‘Nam Claire. She knew her family would live on and they would soon all join Kerry again, along with our Heavenly Father. I would just like to bear my testimony of revelations through dreams and visions. I have been comforted many times myself, and questions have been answered when I ask the Lord in faith. I love this church, and the fact that I have easy access to modern-day revelation, and I say these things in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Works Cited
1. Articles of Faith 1:9
2. L. Tom Perry, “We Believe All That God Has Revealed,” Ensign, November 2003.
3. Genesis 37:7-9
4. Genesis 40
5. Daniel 1:17
6. Numbers 12:6
7. 1 Nephi 8
8. Joel 2:28-29
9. Claire A. Johnson, “Our Sweetest, Littlest Guy,” 1979-1980.
11 comments:
In the 2nd paragraph you got the butler and the baker mixed up. The baker dies and the butler lives.
I really liked the last half of the blog. That was a touching story, and a powerful testimony. Thank you.
The organization of your blog flows well. I would like to see more of your own personal connections to this topic. Why do you think revelation comes to us in this way? What has the experience of your grandmother meant to you?
Nam Claire's story brought me to tears. Which of her children is your parent? The brown-haired girl or the red-haired girl? Or was it another boy who became your Dad?
It was another boy that became my Dad. The red head is my aunt Kara and the brunette is my aunt Katie. Kerry was born right after my Dad, they were only about two years apart. It's a good story huh? One of my family's favorites!
I think it is really cool that you have stories from your ancestors like that. Great job.
I liked Elder Perrys comment on how we all have the right to petition to the Lord for visions and dreams!! I really liked that. Great job!!
That was a powerful story and a powerful testimony thanks for sharing it.
I liked your blog very much, i especially enjoyed that you ended with your testimony.
Thank you for reminding me that revelation is for everyone.
I really loved being able to read your testimony! in reading it i could really feel the spirit!
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