We all may and must see God

We all may and must see God
Type of Quote:
Categories: Seek After Christ, See God, See Christ, Revelation, Personal Revelation
Location: General Conference
Author: Bruce R. McConkie

Revelation to prophets Joseph Smith and the prophets had revelation. They saw God, viewed the visions of eternity, entertained angels, came upon Mount Zion, stood in heavenly places, and had communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn.Of these very experiences Joseph Smith said: “. . . God hath not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known unto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them” (Ibid., p. 149).Revelation for all menNow let me read the words of a revelation, the words of the Lord God himself, the very words of Deity. These words, spoken to Joseph Smith, announce that revelation is for all men, that every faithful member of the Church can commune with his Maker, without limit and without restraint.They are: “For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.”Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.”And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.”Yea, even the wonders of eternity shall they know, and things to come will I show them, even the things of many generations.”And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught.”For by my Spirit will I enlighten them, and by my power will I make known unto them the secrets of my will—yea, even those things which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man”  D&C 76:5-10Thus we learn that any man who obeys the law entitling him to receive revelation shall see and hear and know for himself. Revelation for the Church comes through those who are prophets, seers, and revelators to the Church, but personal revelation, revelation for the guidance of the individual, revelation which says to a man and a woman, “Son, daughter, thou shalt be exalted; thou shalt have part and lot in my kingdom,” this revelation comes to them as individuals, alone and apart from all others.Joseph Smith received this revelation: “Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am”  D&C 93:1The brother of JaredAmong those who complied with the law of righteousness here revealed was the brother of Jared, a prophet who lived some 2,000 years before our Lord’s birth into mortality. Of thee vision which he saw, Moroni says: “. . . because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw . . . the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting.”Wherefore, having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him”  Ether 3:19-20Personal righteousnessFrom these revelations we learn that there are no limitations placed upon any of us. Revelations are not reserved for a limited few or for those called to positions of importance in the Church. It is not position in the Church that confers spiritual gifts. It is not being a bishop, a stake president, or an apostle that makes revelation and salvation available. These are high and holy callings which open the door to the privilege of great service among men. But it is not a call to a special office that opens the windows of revelation to a truth seeker. Rather it is personal righteousness; it is keeping the commandments; it is seeking the Lord while he may be found  Isa. 55:6God is no respecter of persons  Acts 10:34 He will give revelation to me and to you on the same terms and conditions. I can see what Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon saw in the vision of the degrees of glory—and so can you. I can entertain angels and see God, I can receive an outpouring of the gifts of the Spirit—and so can you.The course to gloryThere are goals to gain, summits to climb, revelations to receive. In the eternal scope of things we have scarcely started out on the course to glory and exaltation. The Lord wants his saints to receive line upon line, precept upon precept, truth upon truth, revelation upon revelation, until we know all things and have become like him.Let us press forward in making our callings and elections sure  2 Pet. 1:10 until, as Joseph Smith said, we shall have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend us, or to appear to us from time to time, and until even he will manifest the Father unto us (seeTeachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 151).