President Harold B. Lee on the importance of accepting and heeding revelation

President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1941. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1970-1972, then as Church president from July 1972 until his passing less than 18 months later in December 1973.

"As in olden times, so in our day, holy men of God speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost (2 Pet. 1:21), and whatsoever they speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the word of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation (D&C 68:4). It should be a great comfort to the Latter-day Saints in this day of which the Lord foretold, when peace should be taken from the earth, and the devil would have power over his own dominion, to hear the Lord say in revelation that in that day he would reign in the midst of his people and would have power over his Saints (D&C 1:35-36)....

"And so, obedient to that purpose, there have been in this day, our day, men commissioned of the Lord with power and authority, and he has given them the inspiration to teach and proclaim these things to the world for the purpose the Lord has set forth, and he has done it here in this conference and will continue to do so until the end of the conference, that the important things might be counseled by the elders of the Church to this people according to the inspiration and revelation they receive from time to time. As the Latter-day Saints go home from this conference, it would be well if they consider seriously the importance of taking with them the report of this conference and let it be the guide to their walk and talk during the next six months. These are the important matters the Lord sees fit to reveal to this people in this day in the year 1946."

- Harold B. Lee, "Living in the Bonds of Brotherhood,", Conference Report, April 1946, pp. 67-72
http://scriptures.byu.edu/gettalk.php?ID=228

I love President Lee's analysis. After noting the promise of the Lord that inspired servants can speak the mind and will of God, he comments what a "great comfort" it is for us today to know that God is in charge in these days of trouble and turmoil. A general conference gives us the chance to hear and feel that power in a special way. But we must not take lightly the things that are taught!

It is great counsel to consider that the conference report should be "the guide to [our] walk and talk during the next six months." We must not take lightly the counsel of God offered to us through His inspired messengers!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)