President Joseph  F. Smith and his counselors in the First Presidency taught: "The Lord has...appointed one man at a time on the earth to hold the keys of revelation to the entire body of the Church in all its organizations, authorities, ordinances and doctrines.  The spirit of revelation is bestowed upon all its members for the benefit and enlightenment of each individual receiving its inspiration, and according to the sphere in which he or she is called to labor.  But for the entire Church, he who stands at the head is alone appointed to receive revelations by way of commandment and as the end of controversy.  (in James R. Clark, comp., Messages of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 6 vols. [1965-75], 4:270).

 "Now, as he speaks to us . it is as if the Lord Jesus Christ himself were addressing us.
.. Christ made this very clear when he said to others of his children a time ago, 'Blessed are ye if ye shall give heed unto the words of these . whom I have chosen from among you to minister unto you' (3 Nephi 12:1). . Your course should become clear, your priorities ought to be known to you. . . personal opinions vary. Eternal principles never do. When the prophet speaks . . . the debate is over". -Elaine Cannon, "If We Want to Go Up, We Have to Go On," New Era, Jan.-Feb. 1979, pp. 40-41.