God continues to speak His word and reveal His truth — revelations which mandate an open canon of scripture, said Elder Jeffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve.
"Some Christians, in large measure because of their genuine love for the Bible, have declared that there can be no more authorized scripture beyond the Bible," he said. "In thus pronouncing the canon of revelation closed, our friends in some others faiths shut the door on divine expression that we in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hold dear — the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, the Pearl of Great Price and the ongoing guidance received by God's anointed prophets and apostles."
Speaking Sunday afternoon, Elder Holland began his address by paying tribute to President Thomas S. Monson. Church members had the important privilege during conference of witnessing the "settling of the sacred prophetic mantle" on President Monson's shoulders, Elder Holland said.
Continuing revelation does not demean or discredit existing revelation, said Elder Holland. "The Old Testament does not lose its value in our eyes when we are introduced to the New Testament and the New Testament is only enhanced when we read the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ."
Elder Holland asked the worldwide congregation to not misunderstand: "We love and revere the Bible...," he said. "The Bible is the word of God. It is always identified first in our canon, our standard works of the Church."
One of the great purposes of continuing revelation through living prophets is to declare to the world through additional witnesses that the Bible is true, he said
Elder Holland added that scriptures are not the ultimate source of knowledge for Latter-day Saints. "They are manifestations of the ultimate source. The ultimate source of knowledge and authority for a Latter-day Saint is the living God. The communication of those gifts comes from God as living, vibrant, divine revelation."
That doctrine lies at the very heart of the Church and its message to the world, he said. "We believe in a God who is engaged in our lives, who is not silent, not absent."
Elder Holland said in declaring new scripture and continuing revelation, "we pray we will never be arrogant or insensitive."
"With a love and affection born of our Christianity, we invite all to inquire into the wonder of what God has said since biblical times and is saying even now....
"I testify that the heavens are open.... In our heart-felt devotion to Jesus of Nazareth as the very Son of God, the Savior of the World, we invite all to examine what we have received of Him, to join with us, drinking deeply at the well of water springing up into everlasting life, these constantly flowing reminders that God lives, that He loves us, and that He speaks. I express the deepest personal thanks that His works never end and His words never cease."
