The idea of keeping our sacred things secret is something that the Latter-day Saints covenant to do during the reception of their Temple Endowment. For most of the Latter-day Saints, that's where this idea originally comes from.
This idea of keeping our most sacred experiences secret also comes from Third Nephi.
3 Nephi 19: 31-34:
31 And it came to pass that he (Jesus) went again a little way off and prayed unto the Father;
32 And tongue cannot speak the words which he prayed, neither can be written by man the words which he prayed.
33 And the multitude did hear and do bear record; and their hearts were open and they did understand in their hearts the words which he prayed.
34 Nevertheless, so great and marvelous were the words which he prayed that they cannot be written, neither can they be uttered by man.
They understood exactly what Jesus said, but His words were so sacred that these people knew by the power of the Holy Ghost that they should never write those words and never talk about those words.
The True Prophets of God are told by the Holy Ghost what they can speak about and what they should keep to themselves. It has been this way from the beginning of time.
3 Nephi 26: 9-12:
9 And when they shall have received this, which is expedient that they should have first, to try their faith, and if it shall so be that they shall believe these things then shall the greater things be made manifest unto them.
10 And if it so be that they will not believe these things, then shall the greater things be withheld from them, unto their condemnation.
11 Behold, I was about to write them, all which were engraven upon the plates of Nephi, but the Lord forbade it, saying: I will try the faith of my people.
12 Therefore I, Mormon, do write the things which have been commanded me of the Lord. And now I, Mormon, make an end of my sayings, and proceed to write the things which have been commanded me.
A True Prophet of God is always told what he is permitted to reveal to the public, and what he should keep to himself.
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Notice Brigham Young's instruction regarding this important subject. Brigham Young had a direct influence upon the way that many of us view the Lord's will regarding the revelation of our sacred experiences to the public. For many Latter-day Saints, this is where this particular viewpoint came from.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.126:
There is one idea entertained by the "Mormons" which is somewhat of a stumbling-block to the people, and apostates handle it to suit their purpose. It is, that we consider the Bible merely as a guide or fingerboard, pointing to a certain destination. This is a true doctrine, which we boldly advance. If you will follow the doctrines, and be guided by the precepts of that book, it will direct you where you may see as you are seen, where you may converse with Jesus Christ, have the visitation of angels, have dreams, visions, and revelations, and understand and know God for yourselves. Is it not a stay and a staff to you? Yes; it will prove to you that you are following in the footsteps of the ancients. You can see what they saw, understand what they enjoyed.
Question: Is Brigham Young testifying about himself and the special experiences he has had?
Answer: Not directly. Instead, he is testifying about the Bible revealing to us some of the possible fruits of the Bible.
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Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.68:
If true principles are revealed from heaven to men, and if there are angels, and there is a possibility of their communicating to the human family, always look for an opposite power, an evil power, to give manifestations also; look out for the counterfeit.
The Latter-Day Saints' Millennial Star, Volume 4:
Since the rise of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many brilliant and splendid men have stood in connection with the work, where are they now, and what was the secret of their falling away? We answer unhesitatingly, they rejected counsel; they spurned at the authority of God imparted to his servant the prophet, or deemed themselves, like Satan, better qualified to do the work of the Lord than he whom the Father had chosen and appointed.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.338:
Visions of a Personal Nature – I ask, Is there a reason for men and women being exposed more constantly and more powerfully, to the power of the enemy, by having visions than by not having them? There is and it is simply this – God never bestows upon his people, or upon an individual, superior blessings without a severe trial to prove them, to prove that individual, or that people, to see whether they will keep their covenants with him, and keep in remembrance what he has shown them. Then the greater the vision, the greater the display of the power of the enemy.
So when individuals are blessed with visions, revelations, and great manifestations, look out, then the Devil is nigh you, and you will be tempted in proportion to the visions, revelation, or manifestation you have received.
If the Lord Almighty should reveal to a High Priest, or to any other than the head, things that are true, or that have been and will be, and show to him the destiny of this people twenty-five years from now, or a new doctrine that will in five, ten, or twenty years hence become the doctrine of this Church and Kingdom, but which has not yet been revealed to this people, and reveal it to him by the same Spirit, the same messenger, the same voice, the same power that gave revelations to Joseph when he was living, it would be a blessing to that High Priest, or individual; but he must rarely divulge it to a second person on the face of the earth, until God reveals it through the proper source to become the property of the people at large. Therefore when you hear Elders say that God does not reveal through the President of the Church that which they know, and tell wonderful things, you may generally set it down as a God's truth that the revelation they have had is from the Devil, and not from God. If they had received from the proper source, the same power that revealed to them would have shown them that they must keep the things revealed in their own bosoms, and they seldom would have a desire to disclose them to the second person.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.341:
Miracles, or these extraordinary manifestations of the power of God, are not for the unbeliever; they are to console the Saints, and to strengthen and confirm the faith of those who love, fear, and serve God, and not for outsiders.
"Why do not the people speak with tongues?" We do, and we speak with tongues that you can understand, and Paul says he would rather speak five or ten words in a language that can be understood, than many in a language that cannot be. This is what may be conveyed.
Statement: Brigham is telling us that extraordinary manifestations are NOT for public consumption.
Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, selected and arranged by John A. Widtsoe, p.343-344:
A sister who received the gift of tongues is not thereby empowered to dictate her president, or the Church. All gifts and endowments given of the Lord to members of his Church are not given to control the Church; but they are under the control and guidance of the Priesthood, and are judged by it. Some have erred upon this point, and have been led captive by the Devil.
If you say that you want mysteries, commandments, and revelations, I reply that scarcely a Sabbath passes over your heads, those of you who come here, without your having the revelations of Jesus Christ poured upon you like water on the ground.
Some are very anxious that I should have visions. I have all that the Lord gives to me; and all that he keeps back he may; for that is no concern of mine. We are on the old ship Zion; and if God is not at the helm, the old ship will wreck and go to the Devil. As for my taking charge of the Kingdom of God on the earth, exclusively and independently of direction from heaven, I shall not do any such thing. If the Lord does not direct the old ship and act as captain and pilot, it will go to destruction.
He is at the helm, and will stay there. If you and I will bring our feelings to the point I have just spoken of, he will continue to guide the welfare of Zion and all its rights.
Brigham Young
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The idea of keeping our sacred things secret also came directly from this Scripture. This one is worth memorizing, because it is used a lot among the True Prophets of God:
Alma 12:9-11
9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell.
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