Oracle
Oracle
A prophetic presence.1 The oracles of God, meaning the revelations of God, which were given to us from Joseph Smith as the foundation, as the font from which we draw. But it was always intended that there should arise in you, the power of obtaining oracles for yourself.2
1 Come, Let Us Adore Him, 17.
2 40 Years in Mormonism Lecture 5, “Priesthood,” 24.
Other references:
“I believe that the purpose of the heavenly association is to accomplish two things: One, is to have valid ordinances. And the second, is to obtain answers or direction. I want to read from The Teachings the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 272: ‘Where did the kingdom of God begin? Where there is no kingdom of God there is no salvation. What constitutes the kingdom of God? Where there is a prophet, a priest, or a righteous man unto whom God gives His oracles; there is the kingdom of God and where the oracles are not, there the kingdom of God is not… The plea of many in this day is, that we have no right to receive revelations; but if we do not get revelations, we do not have the oracles of God; and if they have not the oracles of God, they are not the people of God. But say you, What will become of the world, or the various professors of religion who do not believe in revelation and the oracles of God as continued to His Church in all ages of the world, when He has a people on earth? I tell you, in the name of Jesus Christ, they will be damned; and when you get into the eternal world, you will find it will be so, they cannot escape the damnation of hell.’ [The oracles of God, meaning the revelations of God, and the revelations of God were given to us from Joseph Smith as the foundation, as the font from which we draw. But it was always intended that there should arise in you, the power of obtaining oracles for yourself.] Continuing [quoting Joseph Smith], “As touching the Gospel and baptism that John preached, I would say that John came preaching the Gospel for the remission of sins; he had his authority from God, and the oracles of God were with him, and the kingdom of God for a season seemed to rest with John alone. The Lord promised Zacharias that he should have a son who was a descendant of Aaron, the Lord having promised that the priesthood should continue with Aaron and his seed throughout their generations. Let no man take this honor upon himself, except he be called of God, as was Aaron; and Aaron received his call by revelations. An angel of God also appeared unto Zacharias while in the Temple, and told him that he should have a son, whose name should be John, and he should be filled with the Holy Ghost. Zacharias was a priest of God, and officiating in the Temple, and John was a priest after his father, and held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood, and was called of God to preach the Gospel of the kingdom of God. The Jews, as a nation, having departed from the law of God and the Gospel of the Lord, prepared the way for transferring it to the Gentiles. But, says one, the kingdom of God could not be set up in the days of John, for John said the kingdom was at hand. But I would ask if it could be any nearer to them than to be in the hands of John. The people need not wait for the days of Pentecost to find the kingdom of God, for John had it with him, and he came forth from the wilderness crying out, ‘Repent ye, for the kingdom of heaven is nigh at hand,’ as much as to say, ‘Out here I have got the kingdom of God, and you can get it, and I am coming after you; and if you don’t receive it, you will be damned;’ and the scriptures represent that all Jerusalem went out into John’s baptism. There was a legal administrator, and those that were baptized were subjects for a king; and also the laws and oracles of God were there; therefore the kingdom of God was there; for no man could have better authority to administer than John; and our Savior submitted to that authority Himself, by being baptized by John; therefore the kingdom of God was set up on the earth, even in the days of John.’” (Denver Snuffer, “Priesthood” talk, 11/2/2013)
T&C Section 90
1 A commandment given unto Joseph, saying, Thus says the Lord: Verily, verily I say unto you my son, your sins are forgiven you according to your petition, for your prayers and the prayers of your brethren have come up unto my ears. Therefore, you are Blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the Kingdom given unto you, which Kingdom is coming forth for the last time. Verily I say unto you, The keys of this Kingdom shall never be taken from you while you are in the world, neither in the world to come. Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given unto another, yea, even unto the church, and all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they hold them, lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation thereby, and stumble and fall when the storms descend, and the wind blow, and the rains descend and beat upon their house. (T&C 90:1 A revelation given at Kirtland, Ohio, 8 March 1833, through Joseph Smith Jr.)
Glossary of Terms: Generation
“…While there are living oracles that are in communication with God, that is the best definition of a generation.” (T&C Glossary of Terms: Generation)
Denver Snuffer Blog, D&C 90:2, October 31, 2012
“Joseph Smith taught: ‘What constitutes the Kingdom of God? an administrator who has the power of calling down the oracles of God, and subjects to receive those oracles no matter if there is but 3, 4, or 6 there is the kingdom of God’ (William Clayton Journal entry January 22, 1843, capitalization as in original).” (Denver Snuffer Blog, “3 Nephi 13:33,” 10/25/2010)