Prophets

What is a prophet?  Other than a man that people always seem hate and try to kill in the Bible. They have rough lives. A prophet is a man that speaks for God. A prophet receives revelation from God to warn us, help us, and teach us. No one can be a prophet unless they've been called of God and given God's authority to act in His name, which we call the Priesthood.  Hebrews 5:4 reads, "And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." God has always had prophets. They are all over the scriptures and testify of Jesus Christ. "As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began"(Luke 1:70).

We can each receive revelation from God for ourselves or our families or people that we are trying to help, but only a prophet can receive revelation for the whole church and the world.  Also, God will never tell us to do anything that is contrary to His commandments unless He tells it to His prophets.  So I can't go around telling people that God said it's OK to steal as long as the value is under $5 or that I have received the revelation that the whole world doesn't have to keep the Sabbath day holy anymore.  No one has that authority except for God's current prophet on the earth.

God's current, modern-day prophet is Thomas S. Monson.

He has been called of God and given the Priesthood authority to lead and guide the Church but he is also the prophet for the whole world, not just Mormons.  He is the president and leader of the Church as well as the prophet.  I love and respect him just like I love and respect the prophets of old.  I will talk more about modern prophets and why/how we have them in a future post.  Stay tuned!

Having prophets is a demonstration of God's love for us. Since the beginning of the world, God has sent His prophets to testify of Jesus Christ and to prophecy to us and tell us what God would have them say. "For behold, did not Moses prophesy unto them concerning the coming of the Messiah, and that God should redeem his people? Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began - have they not spoken more or less concerning these things?"(Mosiah13:33)

Unfortunately, not everyone listens to the prophets. There is a constant cycle in the Bible where God will call a prophet, the people listen, but then after a time they start to reject the prophets and not listen to their counsel. The Bible is full of this cycle. A verse in 2 Chronicles 36:16 reads: "But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against his people, till there was no remedy." God is always willing to help us and guide us, but if we don't listen to His messengers then he will take them away. A period where there are no prophets because the people have rejected them is called an apostasy. During an apostasy, none of God's authorized servants are on the earth and the people aren't living the principles of the gospel. But mercifully, God always calls another prophet when the people are once again ready to receive one. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets"(Amos 3:7).

God wants us to know His will. He wants us to follow Him and to keep His commandments. He doesn't want us to be in the dark. He has given us so many things: prophets, leaders, scriptures, prayer, church, and family to help us stay on His path. We are all His servants and are here to do His will so that we can one day return to live with Him and our families forever. I am so grateful that God has given us prophets. God's word has not ceased. He still speaks to us today through His prophets and modern revelation. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He loves us today just as much as He loved the people in Biblical times. He is an unchanging God and will continue to speak to us as long as we listen to His prophets and don't cast them aside.

"What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same"(Doctrine and Covenants 1:38)

Amen.