Private revelation
Divine communication to individuals, distinct from public revelation.
A private revelation is a communication of divine reality to an individual or a small group, as distinguished from public revelation intended for all humanity. In Christian theology, such revelations are considered helpful for living by the established faith but are not seen as adding to or amending the completed public revelation. The Catholic church maintains an official skeptical predisposition toward accounts of private revelation, and recognition by church authority does not elevate belief in them to the level of dogmatic faith.
Catholic theology
In Catholic teaching, public revelation reached its completion and perfection in Christ, and according to Thomas Aquinas, it ended entirely with the death of John the Apostle. Private revelations are understood to be unable to surpass, correct, improve, fulfill, complete, or perfect this public revelation. Divine revelation, found in the Word of God and in Christ, also encompasses living tradition (the sensus fidelium), the magisterium, the sacraments, and Catholic dogma. Because living tradition and the magisterium are part of divine revelation, they carry divine authority. The sacraments, as elements of divine revelation, cannot have their essential natures altered, though their ceremonial forms can change. Catholic dogma is likewise part of divine revelation and thus unchangeable, but church councils have clarified which truths are dogmas. More numerous doctrines, however, have allowed for deeper understanding through careful study of biblical roots and historical context. Theologians play an essential role here, since bishops are not given the charism to receive new revelations but to determine what constitutes authentic Catholic teaching, especially for doctrines central to the faith and defined dogmatically.
Latter Day Saint theology
In the Latter Day Saint movement, continuing revelation is the principle that God or divine agents continue to communicate to humankind. Joseph Smith, Jr. used the Lord's revelations to Moses in Deuteronomy to explain the importance of continuous revelation for guiding those who seek diligently to know God's precepts. The two largest denominations, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the Community of Christ, have added modern public revelations to their canon of scriptures. The LDS Church emphasizes private or personal revelation from God by the power of the Holy Ghost as the only pathway to true knowledge of Jesus Christ. Boyd K. Packer explained the source and process of personal revelation and warned against overreliance on a rational or theological approach to knowledge of gospel principles. Spencer W. Kimball also stressed the importance of personal revelation over analytical understanding of Jesus Christ's message. Church leaders teach that true personal revelation should never contradict official revelation from church leadership. Hartman Rector Jr. taught criteria for knowing whether revelation is from God. James E. Faust distinguished apostolic revelation, received by prophets, seers, and revelators for the world, from personal revelation, which individuals, parents, and leaders receive for their own responsibilities but not to declare the word of God beyond those limits.
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