In a Church where every member has the promise of revelation, there must be rules and standards about how this guidance is received. Authoritative revelation must come within the boundaries of stewardship, and once again the Lord outlines these principles, this time for the new converts of the Church in Ohio.

In 1833 a situation similar to the controversy with “Mrs. Hubble” arose when John S. Carter, an elder of the Church in the eastern United States, wrote to Joseph Smith about disunity among the Saints in his area. He wondered specifically about a woman named Jane McManagal Sherwood, a convert in Benson, Vermont, who claimed she had received “visions of the Lord” (John S. Carter Journal, April 5, 1833, CHL). In response to this situation, Joseph Smith replied in a letter. The Prophet instructed, “It is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the Church or anyone to receive instruction for those in authority higher than themselves, therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed​ to them, but if any ​have a vision​ or a visitation from an heavenly messenger it must be for their own benefit and instruction, for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the church is invested in the keys of the kingdom” (Letter to John S. Carter, 13 April 1833, 30, JSP).

As it was in the days of Joseph Smith, so it is in our time. Every worthy member of the Church is entitled to receive revelation, but it must come within the proper stewardship and from those with the appropriate authority.

The Book of Mormon provides specific details about how the ancient Saints worshipped together: “The church did meet together oft, to fast and to pray, and to speak one with another concerning the welfare of their souls. And they did meet together oft to partake of bread and wine, in remembrance of the Lord Jesus” (Moroni 6:5–6). Likewise, in these verses the Lord commands the Church to edify and instruct each other during the time they are assembled together.

While a spiritual connection to God is cultivated on an individual level, there are also great advantages to meeting regularly with other believers. Elder D. Todd Christofferson taught, “In the Church we not only learn divine doctrine; we also experience its application. As the body of Christ, the members of the Church minister to one another in the reality of day-to-day life. All of us are imperfect; we may offend and be offended. We often test one another with our personal idiosyncrasies. In the body of Christ, we have to go beyond concepts and exalted words and have a real ‘hands-on’ experience as we learn to ‘live together in love’” (“Why the Church?” October 2015 General Conference).

While our personal studies and devotion draw us closer to God, being involved in the communities formed by Church members gives us great opportunities to act on the principles we are taught and to apply the principles of the gospel as we interact with our fellow saints.

While the Church values and upholds the importance of learning, the Lord also explains to the Church elders that they are sent forth to teach and not to be taught. Those with a charge to teach the gospel must ensure that their message is shared. They cannot afford to be caught up in arguments or debate. While those who teach are able to learn much about the faith and belief of the people they serve among, they also have a solemn obligation to lift up their voices and share the message of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the latter-days. Elder Athon H. Lund taught,

We have only one object in view in going out amongst the nations, and that is to follow the Master’s instructions—to go out and teach men. That is our work. We do not go out to win battles as debaters; but we go out to teach men that which we have received, which we know is true. If men are not willing to receive it, that is their own concern, not ours. . . . The Elders do their duty, and leave the result to the Lord. Those who seek to debate with our Elders and thirst for the honor of beating them in argument, do not want to be taught, they simply want contention. (Conference Report, October 1902, 80–81)

An essential part of understanding the Church’s missionary efforts comes from understanding the Lord’s commandments to warn the people. As explained in these verses, the Lord calls the people of the world to repentance through the voice of His servants, through ministering angels, and through the natural calamities which will exist in the last days. In the scriptures, natural disasters are often seen as manifestations of God’s punishment for wickedness. Such events can also be seen as a way of opening doors for the gospel, softening hearts, and bringing people to the Savior.

In 2005 Hurricane Katrina destroyed large parts of the city of New Orleans and ravaged the regions around the Gulf of Mexico in the United States. Speaking of the damage, President Gordon B. Hinckley noted, “Many have lost all they had. The damage has been astronomical. Literally millions have suffered. Fear and worry have gripped the hearts of many. Lives have been lost.” Listing the tragedy of the lives lost and property damaged in the hurricane, President Hinckley also noted,

With all of this, there has been a great outpouring of help. Hearts have been softened. Homes have been opened. Critics love to talk about the failures of Christianity. Any such should take a look at what the churches have done in these circumstances. Those of many denominations have accomplished wonders. And far from the least among these has been our own Church. Great numbers of our men have traveled considerable distances, bringing with them tools and tents and radiant hope. Men of the priesthood have given thousands upon thousands of hours in the work of rehabilitation. There have been three and four thousand at a time. There are some there tonight. We cannot say enough of thanks to them. Please know of our gratitude, of our love, and of our prayers in your behalf.

Disputing any notion of the hurricane damage being a punishment from God, President Hinckley also added, “Now, I do not say, and I repeat emphatically that I do not say or infer, that what has happened is the punishment of the Lord. Many good people, including some of our faithful Latter-day Saints, are among those who have suffered. Having said this, I do not hesitate to say that this old world is no stranger to calamities and catastrophes. Those of us who read and believe the scriptures are aware of the warnings of prophets concerning catastrophes that have come to pass and are yet to come to pass” (“If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear,” October 2005 General Conference).

The increasing calamities of the last days can be seen not simply as divine retribution but as a way to open doors and provide the men and women called of God with opportunities to spread the work of God through humanitarian service.

At the end of the revelation the Savior speaks of the Millennium, or the thousand years of peace following the Savior’s return to the earth (Isaiah 2:4; Revelation 20:4; D&C 29:11). It has long been an article of faith for the Latter-day Saints that “Christ will reign personally upon the earth” (Article of Faith 10). While peace in Christ can be achieved at any time or place, our belief in the return and reign of Christ is not figurative but literal. An editorial published in the Church periodical Times and Seasons in July 1842 declared,

It has been the design of Jehovah, from the commencement of the World, and is his purpose now, to regulate the affairs of the World in his own time; to stand as head of the universe and take the reins of government into his own hand. When that is done judgement will be administered in righteousness: anarchy and confusion will be destroyed, and “nations will learn war no more.” It is for want of this great governing principle that all this confusion has existed: “for it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps;” this we have fully shewn. (Times and Seasons, 15 July 1842, 856, JSP)