Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Gramps,
Can you please explain the Oracles of God?
Scott, from Columbus, Ohio.

Dear Scott,
There are three different definitions for the word, oracle. It could refer to 1) a person through whom a deity is believed to speak; 2) the shrine from which such a person speaks, or 3) an answer, decision or statement given by such an oracle. In the New Testament and in the Doctrine and Covenants it appears that the 3rd definition of oracle is intended—0

What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God (Romans 3:1-2)

In other words, through the Jews came the oracles, or the words of God. The biblical definition of the word in the New Testament states “the words or utterances of God; of the contents of the Mosaic law.”
Section 90 of the Doctrine and Covenants was a revelation given specifically to Joseph Smith, that begins—

Thus saith the Lord, verily, verily I say unto you my son, thy sins are forgiven thee, according to thy petition, for thy prayers and the prayers of thy brethren have come up into my ears. Therefore, thou art 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 thou art in the world, neither in the world to come; Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to 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 winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon their house (D&C 90:1-5).

Through the Prophet the oracles or statements of the Lord were to be given to another, yea, even unto the church. In other words, we receive the word of God through the prophets, and having done so, , let [us] beware how [we] hold them lest they are accounted as a light thing, and [we] are brought under condemnation thereby, and stumble and fall when the storms descend
Gramps

Copyright © 2024 Ask Gramps - Q and A about Mormon Doctrine. All Rights Reserved.
This website is not owned by or affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon or LDS Church). The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. The views expressed by individual users are the responsibility of those users and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org.

Pin It on Pinterest