Elder Dallin H. Oaks: 'Lines of communication'

The Lord has given His children two lines of communication with Him — the "personal line" and the "priesthood line," said Elder Dallin H. Oaks. All Church members should understand and be guided by both essential lines of communication.

"We must use both the personal line and the priesthood line, in proper balance, to achieve the growth that is the purpose of mortal life," said Elder Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve in his Sunday morning conference address. "If personal religious practice relies too much on the personal line, individualism erases the importance of divine authority. If personal religious practice relies too much on the priesthood line, individual growth suffers. The children of God need both lines to achieve their eternal destiny. The restored gospel teaches both and the restored Church provides both."

The personal line

Elder Oaks said in the personal line, members pray directly to their Heavenly Father and He answers them by the channels He has established, without any mortal intermediary.

"This personal line of communication with our Heavenly Father through His Holy Spirit is the source of our testimony of truth, of our knowledge and of our personal guidance from a loving Heavenly Father. It is an essential feature of His marvelous gospel plan, which allows each one of His children to receive a personal witness of its truth."

The direct personal channel of communication is based on worthiness.

"The personal line is of paramount importance in personal decisions and in the governance of the family. Unfortunately, some members of our Church underestimate the need for this direct, personal line. Responding to the undoubted importance of prophetic leadership — the priesthood line, which operates principally to govern heavenly communication on Church matters — some seek to have their priesthood leaders make personal decisions for them, decisions that they should make for themselves by inspiration through their personal line. Personal decisions and family governance are principally a matter for the personal line."

Elder Oaks gave two cautions about the personal line of communication.

1."In its fullness the personal line does not function independent of the priesthood line."

2. "We cannot communicate reliably through the direct personal line if we are disobedient to or out of harmony with the priesthood line."

The priesthood line