Nephi indicated that when the Book of Mormon goes forth to confound the false doctrines and philosophies mentioned in 2 Nephi 28, many people would be “angry because of the truth of God” and will say “we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!” (verses 28–29). Making such a claim seals the heavens, discounts the need for living prophets, and denies the power of the Holy Ghost. Nephi warned those who nurture this attitude: “From them shall be taken away even that which they have” (verse 30).
The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) explained the shortcomings of the Bible: “Much instruction has been given to man since the beginning which we do not possess now. … Some of our friends … are bold to say that we have everything written in the Bible which God ever spoke to man since the world began. … Does it remain for a people who never had faith enough to call down one scrap of revelation from heaven, and for all they have now are indebted to the faith of another people who lived hundreds and thousands of years before them, does it remain for them to say how much God has spoken and how much he has not spoken? … It is nowhere said in that volume by the mouth of God, that He would not, after giving, what is there contained, speak again” (History of the Church, 2:18).
To say that the Lord “cannot speak” today as in days past would be to put limitations on God. President James E. Faust explained the need for modern revelation: “Does God love us less than those led by the ancient prophets? Do we need his guidance and instruction less? Reason suggests that this cannot be. Does he not care? Has he lost his voice? Has he gone on a permanent vacation? Does he sleep? The unreasonableness of each of these proposals is self-evident” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1980, 16; or Ensign, May 1980, 13).