I don't think non-LDS understand what LDS believe about revelation. Some of the posts in this thread demonstrate my point.
I want to try something and see if it helps Christians on RF to understand what we believe. (Actually I should only speak for myself and what I believe). I'm not asking that you agree and accept. I just want you to get to a better level of understanding.
Suppose that you are living in the area of the Holy Land shortly after the resuurection of Christ. Suppose you never met him in person. Suppose that you hear Paul preaching, you feel a witness of the Holy Spirit that what he says is true. You become a Christian. Paul is alive. Peter is alive. Others who saw the resurrected Lord are alive. You don't have a Bible, but you have the Old Testament. You also have some epistles which you read and enjoy. The canon of scripture is growing. The authors of the scriptures are alive and well and continue to produce writings which will later be canonized. You, as a Christian, do not consider the canon of scripture to be closed nor do you expect it to close. You are living in the midst of living witnesses of Christ who continue to receive and teach his word by revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus has already been born, lived, died, resurrected and ascended to heaven. You never met him. He left behind living witnesses who represent him and can speak authoritatively concerning his divinity and resurrection. You gain strength in your own spritual witness as you hear them testify with conviction of what they saw and heard and felt.
Imagine yourself in that place and time. How do you see Peter, James, John, and Paul and the others? How do you interact with and accept their epistles, which are not yet canonized? Do they ever make personal statements, which you disgaree with? Do you assume some of what they say, in certain circumstances, may be personal opinion only and not revealed doctrine? How do you reconcile this? Are you accepting that they are less than perfect? Are you accepting that more of the word of God will yet be revealed from them? Are you excited and anxious for more? Do you feel like they should stop writing any more epistles, because the ones you have, you feel are sufficient?
As an LDS, I see myself as living in such a time. While its 2008, I see the same New Testament Church, if you will, in action and in existence in the LDS church. I see living prophets walking the earth. I get council and advice, sometimes opinions, and sometimes revelations through them. The canon is still growing. I'm excited and hope to receive more truth. I see a vibrant, Holy Ghost filled, church of God.
in a nutsheel, what I'm trying to say is that my perspective on continuing revelation, living prophets, and an open scriptural canon, is the same perspective which I believe you would have if you were alive in the days immediatley after the resurrection of Christ.
