Galatians 1

Paul is concerned that the Galatians are being taught and accepting false doctrine. In this case, it was false doctrine about keeping the Law of Moses as part of the gospel. His message is, the gospel of Jesus Christ, its beliefs and doctrines are not things that are determined by man. True religion comes to man from God through revelation. In the first chapter of Acts, we saw how God directs the church by revelation to the leaders he had ordained. I do not doubt the sincerity of a person who earns a degree in religion at a seminary and decides to become a pastor. But the authority to teach the gospel does not come by earning a degree. It comes through the way God ordained. He established the pattern for who truth was to be revealed and taught. He did it so there wouldn't be confusion over what is true and what isn't, to avoid differing religions about him. So Paul's message is, the gospel he preached to them didn't come from himself or another man; it came by revelation from Jesus Christ. He says that unless the gospel is preached to them by a man who has authority or by an angel sent from God, it cannot be true.

I think one of biggest challenges for people comes from the fact that God chooses servants who are human, who have their own weaknesses and faults, who sometimes make mistakes, offend or say something wrong because of their weaknesses. What we have to remember is, in the church, individuals do not determine the doctrine or saving ordinances. Those come by revelation. There is security in having a quorum of 12 apostles who cannot act or proclaim anything for the church unless it is unanimous and then agreed upon by prophet who holds all of the keys. Even the prophet does not act upon a revelation he receives without the unanimous agreement of the 12. He will wait until all of them have a confirming revelation of their own regarding what he has received before he will move forward on it. An example of this is the revelation President Kimball received on the priesthood being available to all races of men. He did not pronounce that revelation and act on it until he had met with the 12 and they all knew by revelation it was of God.