Again, when the subject of the Manifesto (meaning that instrument through which plural marriages were discontinued in the Church) was under discussion, one of the brethren chanced to remark that he assisted in framing the document for publication; whereupon this colloquy took place:
"Senator—I understand this Manifesto was inspired.
"Elder—Yes.
"Senator—That is your understanding of it?
"Elder—My answer was that it was inspired.
"Senator—And when it was handed to you it was an inspiration, as you understand, from on high, was it not?
"Elder—Yes.
"Senator—What business had you to change it?
"Elder—We did not change the meaning.
"Senator—You have just stated you changed it.
"Elder—Not the sense, sir. I did not say we changed the sense.
"Senator—But you changed the phraseology?
"Elder—We simply put it in shape for publication, corrected possibly the grammar, and wrote it so that—
"Senator—You mean to say that in an inspired communication from the Almighty the grammar was bad, was it? You corrected the grammar of the Almighty, did you?"
Another "smart" saying which apparently appeals to the humor of some of our youth; and here and there you may hear now and then something said, in an irreverent manner, too, about the absurdity of correcting the Almighty's grammar.
One other item: One of the Elders, pursued in the investigation by one of the most adroit of the senators, finds it necessary to make a correction of one of his statements, whereupon this follows:
"Senator—Have you had any revelation or commandment in regard to the testimony you should give in this case?
"Elder—No, sir.
"Senator—There is no inspiration of that or any part of it?
"Elder—As to the testimony I should give here?
"Senator—As to the testimony you have given or are to give.
"Elder—No; I do not know that I have, particularly—I came here to answer the questions of the committee.
"Senator—But I want to know whether you are answering them under the direction of the Lord, according to your belief, or merely in your human and uninspired capacity?
"Elder—I believe I shall answer the questions that are asked me here as the Spirit of the Lord directs me, and truthfully.
"Senator—Do you mean to say that the Spirit of the Lord directs you in your answers here?
"Elder—I believe so.
"Senator—You believe so?
"Elder—Yes, sir.
"Senator—Then in your belief, did the Spirit of the Lord direct you to make the answer which you just took back and said was a mistake?
"(A pause and silence.) Well, if you cannot answer it I will not press it."
Previously this senator had said to the Elder: "Do you not think that in this hearing it behooves you to be a little careful of your answers so that in so important a matter you do not have to take back in two or three minutes what you have said?"
This is spoken of, according to reports that reach me, as a severe reproof administered by a "worldling" to one who believed himself to be an inspired man, and more or less of comment is made upon this circumstance, as upon the others I have named.
Now, this brings before you, not all that is said, but some few things that are said with reference to the investigation before the senate committee; and I think they touch questions of considerable interest on the subject of revelation. It is this subject I propose to consider, especially the effect these several incidents of the investigation have upon the subject of revelation. Let us now return and consider these questions one by one.
To begin with, let us have an understanding about revelation itself. As I understand it, "revelation is the name of that act by which God makes communication to men. Inspiration in the name of that influence, that divine influence, which operates upon the minds of men under which they may be said to receive divine guidance." The inspiration may be strong or it may be weak. It may be so overpowering in its character that the person for the time being loses largely his own individuality and becomes the mouthpiece of God, the organ through which the Divine speaks to the children of men. There exists all degrees of inspiration, from human intelligence and wisdom slightly influenced up to that fulness of inspiration of which I have spoken. Revelations may be made from God to man in various ways. They may be made by God in his own proper person, speaking for himself. On such occasions I take it that the revelation would be most perfect. I know of no more beautiful or complete illustration of such a perfect revelation than that great revelation with which the dispensation of the fulness of times began, when God the Father and Jesus the Christ, stood revealed in the presence of Joseph Smith, when every veil was removed, and the glory of God extended throughout the forest in which the Prophet had prayed; when he heard the Father speak to him as one friend speaks to another, saying: "Joseph, this is my beloved Son; hear him." Then followed a conversation with this second divine personage, to whom he was thus so perfectly introduced, and from whom he received the light and knowledge that laid the foundations of this great latter-day work. There was no imperfection whatsoever in that revelation; it was complete, overwhelming, and one of the most remarkable revelations that God has deigned to give to the children of men. Revelations may be made, and have been made, by the visitation of angels, such as when Moroni came and revealed the existence of the Nephite record, the American volume of scripture, the Book of Mormon; and who afterwards from time to time, met with the Prophet of the last dispensation and gave him knowledge and information as to the manner in which the Church should be organized, and how its affairs should be conducted. Then again, revelations may come through the operations of the Holy Spirit upon the mind of man as when the Prophet Joseph took Urim and Thummim and with them, and by their aid, under the influence of Holy Spirit, translated the Book of Mormon into the English language. In a similar manner the Lord influences the minds of his servants when preaching the gospel, and thus delivers his word to the Church and to the world.
Through all these various means God speaks, and it is our good fortune to be his witnesses, that he speaks in these various ways as well today as in ancient times.