The Spirit of Prophecy and the Spirit of Revelation

In Sunday school on Sunday (July 17th), the lesson was covering Alma chapters 17–22, but we never made it out of chapter 17. I, myself got stuck near the beginning of Alma chapter 17

In this chapter we find Alma, as he is traveling to Manti from the land of Gideon southward, where he met with the sons of Mosiah, who were traveling to the land of Zarahemla. In verses 2–3 it reads,

“Now these sons of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord; yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God.”

I became stuck on this part, where it reads that the sons of Mosiah, “had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation.” Recently I’ve been reading Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith all the way through.

A few years ago I realized how the book, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith was compiled and published. We don’t actually have any discourses that Joseph Smith gave that were perfectly captured word for word. He normally would assign at least two people to take notes as he spoke, but there wasn’t really a good or quick enough means for them to capture everything. In 1938 Joseph Fielding Smith, as the Church Historian, worked to compile the various teachings of Joseph Smith into this one book. Often times they would use source material from multiple journals and notebooks in order to attempt to reconstruct the actual words Joseph Smith actually spoke. There is another book that has been published called, “Words of Joseph” that has taken some of these source materials and grouped them in chronological order. I have been reading Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith while also reading and comparing the various sources from Words of Joseph to get a better idea of what Joseph Smith was actually teaching and saying.

As I read verse 3 in Alma chapter 17 and I came to the part where it talked about the sons of Mosiah having the “spirit of prophecy” and the “spirit of revelation” I began to remember that Joseph Smith spoke a lot about these things as well, and I remembered just recently reading about it within the previous week.

I began to ponder, “why was it important that Mormon included those things as he was abridging the original records? What does that say about the sons of Mosiah? Are they attempting to communicate something more important about the sons of Mosiah?” Either way there was a very strong feeling and impression I was getting where those two terms were really shouting out to me. So I began to dig deeper into attempting to understand what Mormon was wanting us (the reader) to understand about these sons of Mosiah.

I remembered reading where Joseph Smith explained that the testimony of Jesus was the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation. I know today, most of the members of the LDS church interpret the “testimony of Jesus” as meaning that you have a testimony about Jesus. I remembered that Joseph spoke of it as meaning something much bigger than that. I remembered that he taught that you receive or hear Jesus testify to you. The only way you can have Jesus’ testimony is if you hear Him give it to you.

I wondered what more the scriptures might have to say about the “testimony of Jesus” and “spirit of prophecy.”

First I found this verse in chapter 19 of Revelations, where an angel has appeared to John and is speaking with him, and walking him through this marvelous vision as his guide. In verse 10 of chapter 19, it reads,

“And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”

Here in this verse we learn that the spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus. Now I was able to understand that indeed, the sons of Mosiah, having the spirit of prophecy also have the testimony of Jesus. The fact that the scripture uses the word, “the” instead of “a” seems to denote that it means something much more than simply just having “a” testimony of Jesus.

This verse in Revelations does provide a connection between the spirit of prophecy and the testimony of Jesus. I still however, don’t understand what the testimony of Jesus actually means.

I found another verse that was referring to the “spirit of prophecy” in the Doctrine and Covenants.

D&C 131:5 (May 17th, 1843.) The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.

This presents another term to us that seems to also be connected to the “spirit of prophecy” and that term is “the more sure word of prophecy.” What exactly is “the more sure word of prophecy”?

On June 27, 1839 Joseph Smith spoke about the doctrine of election and said,

“Peter exhorts us to make our calling and election sure. This is the sealing power spoken of by Paul in other places.”

13. In whom ye also trusted, that after ye heard the word of truth, the Gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,

14. Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory, that we may be sealed up unto the day of redemption.” — Ephesians, 1st chapter.

“This principle ought (in its proper place) to be taught, for 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, for the day must come when no man need say to his neighbor, Know ye that Lord; for all shall know Him (who remain) from the least to the greatest. How is this to be done? It is to be done by this sealing power, and the other Comforter spoken of, which will be manifest by revelation.”

The interesting thing to note, is that the scripture that Joseph Smith refers to and reads, never actually uses the words “calling and election” but it does say, “Holy Spirit of promise” so, does “Holy Spirit of promise” actually mean, “calling and election”?

“There are two Comforters spoken of. One is the Holy Ghost, the same as given on the day of Pentecost, and that all Saints receive after faith, repentance, and baptism. This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. In such a case, there may be more of a powerful effect upon the body, and visible to the eye, than upon an Israelite, while the Israelite at first might be far before the Gentile in pure intelligence.”

“The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted.”

“When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses.”

Note the 16, 17, 18, 21, 23 verses:

16. And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever;

17. Even the Spirit of Truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him; but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

18. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.* *

21. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

23. …If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

“Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions — Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn.”

“The Spirit of Revelation is in connection with these blessings. A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas, so that by noticing it, you may find it fulfilled the same day or soon; (i.e.,) those things that were presented unto your minds by the Spirit of God, will come to pass; and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation, until you become perfect in Christ Jesus.” — TPJS — (June 27, 1839.) DHC 3:379–381.

Now I have a new connection that has been given to us through Joseph Smith. I am able to understand that this “calling and election” is in connection with the “Spirit of revelation.” The spirit of revelation is the spirit of prophecy. The spirit of prophecy is the testimony of Jesus.

So now we must ask, “Is the testimony of Jesus” the “calling and election”? Is the “more sure word of prophecy” the “calling and election”? And is it tied to receiving the second comforter?

On July 2, 1839 Joseph Smith said,

“Salvation cannot come without revelation; it is in vain for anyone to minister without it. No man is a minister of Jesus Christ without being a Prophet. No man can be a minister of Jesus Christ except he has the testimony of Jesus; and this is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever salvation has been administered, it has been by testimony. Men of the present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either; and I will say that no man knows these things without this.” — TPJS — “No Salvation Without Revelation” — (July 2, 1839.) DHC 3:383–392.

Here we have a true connection being made with these terms by Joseph Smith. Now we are able to understand that the “testimony of Jesus” is the “spirit of prophecy.” We are also given an example where Joseph Smith brings up this requirement of having to “see.” Which now begs the question, “Does the testimony of Jesus or the spirit of prophecy, require someone to actually see Jesus?”

On May 14, 1843 Joseph Smith gave a talk where he talked about 2 Peter chapter 1. In that talk, Joseph said that Peter was hinting at the teaching of “calling and election.”

“Now, there is some grand secret here, and keys to unlock the subject. Notwithstanding the apostle exhorts them to add to their faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, etc., yet he exhorts them to make their calling and election sure. And though they had heard an audible voice from heaven bearing testimony that Jesus was the Son of God, yet he says we have a more sure word of prophecy, whereunto ye do well that ye take heed as unto a light shining in a dark place. Now, wherein could they have a more sure word of prophecy than to hear the voice of God saying, This is my beloved Son.”

“Now for the secret and grand key. Though they might hear the voice of God and know that Jesus was the Son of God, this would be no evidence that their election and calling was made sure, that they had part with Christ, and were joint heir with him. They then would want that more sure word of prophecy, that they were sealed in the heavens and had the promise of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Then, having this promise sealed unto them, it was an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Though the thunders might roll and lightnings flash, and earthquakes bellow, and war gather thick around, yet this hope and knowledge would support the soul in every hour of trial, trouble and tribulation. Then knowledge through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the grand key that unlocks the glories and mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”

“Compare this principle once with Christendom at the present day, and where are they, with all their boasted religion, piety and sacredness while at the same time they are crying out against prophets, apostles, angels, revelations, prophesying and visions, etc. Why, they are just ripening for the damnation of hell. They will be damned, for they reject the most glorious principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and treat with disdain and trample under foot the key that unlocks the heavens and puts in our possession the glories of the celestial world. Yes, I say, such will be damned, with all their professed godliness. Then I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election surer for yourselves, by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it, etc.” — TPJS (May 14, 1843.) DHC 5:387–390.

Here we learn that the more sure word of prophecy is indeed receiving your calling and election. Receiving your calling and election is receiving a promise from the Lord of Eternal Life in the Kingdom of God.

Three days later, Joseph Smith went on to repeat this same teaching, making it even more clear;

“The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the holy priesthood. It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.” — TPJS “Salvation and Sure Word of Prophecy” (May 17, 1843) DHC 5:392.

There it is, Joseph Smith providing us with a very solid and blunt definition of “the more sure word of prophecy” and connecting it to the “spirit of prophecy.” Also as he defines the more sure word of prophecy it is the exact same definition he gave for the “calling and election” that Joseph Smith has been talking so much about near the end of his life. It’s interesting to me that Joseph Smith taught about the Second Comforter and calling and election a lot. It was a fundamental part of his teaching, yet today in the teachings of Mormonism, it is never taught. It’s not found in any lesson manual and never taught during general conference. The teaching has been almost completely lost and is now thought of as part of the “mysteries of God” that is of very little importance to our salvation.

In fact, in the talk Joseph Smith gave on May 14, 1843, he went on to talk more about the importance of this principle. Take special note of Joseph’s invitation at the very end of the paragraph.

Compare this principle once with Christendom at the present day, and where are they, with all their boasted religion, piety and sacredness while at the same time they are crying out against prophets, apostles, angels, revelations, prophesying and visions, etc. Why, they are just ripening for the damnation of hell. They will be damned, for they reject the most glorious principles of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and treat with disdain and trample under foot the key that unlocks the heavens and puts in our possession the glories of the celestial world. Yes, I say, such will be damned, with all their professed godliness. Then I would exhort you to go on and continue to call upon God until you make your calling and election surer for yourselves, by obtaining this more sure word of prophecy, and wait patiently for the promise until you obtain it, etc. — TPJS (May 14, 1843.) DHC 5:387 — 390.

Then on the 21st of May 1843 (Sunday Morning) at the Temple Stand, Joseph Smith gave a talk and this is what was recorded by James Burgess in his notebook,

“First Chapter second Epistle of Peter. The first four verses are the preface to the whole subject. There are three grand Keys to unlock the whole subject. First what is the knowledge of God, Second what is it to make our calling and election sure. Third and last is how to make our calling and election sure. Ans, it is to obtain a promise from God for myself that I shall have Eternal life. that is the more sure word of prophycy. Peter was writeing to those of like precious faith with them the Apostles First to be sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise that is the testimony of Jesus Second how is he to get that Holy Spirit; Ans except a man be born again he cannot see the Kingdom of God; second except a man be born of water and the spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. Ques. What is it for a man to obtain salvation Ans, It is to triumph over every foe or ascend far above all enemies for the last enimey to conquor is death and untill that is done you have not obtained salvation J. Smith Prophet. Nauvoo.” — Words of Joseph

In these notes we see that Joseph elaborated on what the Holy Spirit of promise or the testimony of Jesus actually is. The testimony of Jesus, is to obtain a promise from God for yourself, that you shall have eternal life. And that promise from God himself, is the more sure word of prophecy. Which this, is also referred to as receiving your calling and election and is connected with receiving the second comforter, which is Jesus.

Here is how that same talk by Joseph Smith was written in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

“Contend earnestly for the like precious faith with the Apostle Peter, “and add to your faith virtue,” knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, charity; “for if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Another point, after having all these qualifications, he lays this injunction upon the people “to make your calling and election sure.” He is emphatic upon this subject — after adding all this virtue, knowledge, etc., “Make your calling and election sure.” What is the secret — the starting point? “According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” How did he obtain all things? Through the knowledge of Him who hath called him. There could not anything be given, pertaining to life and godliness, without knowledge. Woe! woe! woe to Christendom! — especially the divines and priests if this be true.”

“Salvation is for a man to be saved from all his enemies; for until a man can triumph over death, he is not saved. A knowledge of the priesthood alone will do this.”

“We have no claim in our eternal compact, in relation to eternal things, unless our actions and contracts and all things tend to this. But after all this, you have got to make your calling and election sure. If this injunction would lie largely on those to whom it was spoken, how much more those of the present generation!”

“1st key: Knowledge is the power of salvation. 2nd key: Make your calling and election sure. 3rd key: It is one thing to be on the mount and hear the excellent voice, etc., and another to hear the voice declare to you, You have a part and lot in that kingdom.” TPJS — (May 21, 1843.) DHC 5:401–403.

I’m now willing to say that Mormon was trying to communicate something much more meaningful about the sons of Mosiah than is initially understood by the terms being used. As I took a much deeper look into those terms that were shouting out at me as I sat in the padded chair during the Sunday School lesson. Mormon was trying to inform the reader that these sons of Mosiah had received their calling and election. That the sons of Mosiah had received the second comforter and that they were indeed Prophets, having the testimony of Jesus and thus having the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation. I think that tells us much more about the characters of these great men of the Book of Mormon.