Thomas Monson

When Jesus Christ organized His church, He chose twelve men to assist Him in His work. He called them apostles, which means, “one sent forth.” (See Luke 6:13.) In John 16, He taught them their role in His ministry:

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.”

From this we learn that a man cannot call himself to be an apostle—the call must come from God. Their assignment was to be a special witness to the divinity of Jesus Christ and to be missionaries to the world. Later in the chapter, he warns them the world will hate them, not because of who they were as people, but because of Jesus and His teachings.

We can see the Savior considered it important to have twelve apostles, because when Judas turned on Jesus Christ and was removed as an apostle, he was replaced by Matthias.

The structure of the early church, then, was to have Jesus at the head of the Church, with twelve apostles serving under Him. From the Old Testament, and the earliest days of the New Testament, we see that God placed a prophet as the earthly head of the church. Jesus Christ, of course, was always the head of the church, with the prophet serving as His representative.

The apostle Paul outlined how the Savior’s church was meant to operate. In Ephesians 2:20, he said, “20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;” In Ephesians 4:11 he enlarges his explanation of how the church is to be built:

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Since this was meant to be the form for God’s church until we were all unified in the faith, it is clear there is a still a need for that structure. We are not yet unified as a world in the Christian faith.

However, most churches have abandoned the original, Christ-chosen method of leading God’s church. They have abandoned the concept of prophets and apostles for newer structures. Many churches reject the idea that God will continue to provide prophets today to help us navigate these complex religious times, and some believe prophets were not needed once Jesus came. That, of course, is not found in the Bible. In fact the Bible reports that at least two of the apostles were considered prophets after Jesus died:

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them (Acts 15:32). This chapter helps to illustrate the reason apostles and prophets were still needed after Jesus died. In this chapter, we learn the Saints at Antioch were arguing over the need for circumcision. The apostles made the decision. In times in which there were no apostles and prophets, people simply had to guess and these types of dissentions led to the formation of many different churches.

Because God understood the wisdom of having a church structured with prophets and apostles, when He restored the church in modern times, He instructed Joseph Smith to use this same structure. Since Jesus is no longer on the earth, a prophet takes the place of earthly head of the church, under the direction of Jesus Christ.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are nicknamed Mormons, structure their church under the ancient pattern described in Ephesians 4:11. They demonstrate the truthfulness of God’s promise to do nothing except through His prophets. (See Amos 3:7.)

Today, the apostles are the second highest presiding body of God’s modern restored church. The highest presiding body is the First Presidency, consisting of the prophet and two counselors. Together, these fifteen compose a group of full-time servants of God, who travel the world testifying of the divinity of Jesus Christ. They also manage the work of the church.

The apostles hold the keys to the kingdom of God. This term means they hold the authority to preside over the church. We read of these keys of authority in the Bible, in Matthew 16:19, when Jesus tells Peter:

And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

We saw that the Bible described two of Jesus’ apostles as prophets. All apostles are called as prophets, seers, and revelators, although only the prophet, who also acts as president of the Church, holds all the keys and can receive revelation for the entire church. He must then take that revelation to the apostles and allow them to receive personal revelation on the subject for themselves. Finally, the prophecy is given to the entire church for a sustaining vote, meaning the members promise God they will live by the revelation and support it. Revelation is never received and then kept private. It is given for the purpose of helping God’s children understand what God wants them to do or to know, just as it was in Biblical times.

Having a church built on prophets and apostles protects us. During the long apostasy that began when Jesus and the apostles were dead and ended when Joseph Smith was chosen as the first prophet of the restoration, the Christian faith survived, but it lacked a foundation. Just as the apostles found church members arguing over circumcision, throughout history, churches have debated a wide range of critical doctrine. These debates could not be resolved by having the prophets and apostles ask God for the truth, because there were none. Church leaders could search the Bible, but often interpreted it in different ways. When they could not agree, they had to either put the doctrine to a human vote or divide the church. Over the years, many churches have formed due to disagreements over important saving doctrines.

A foundation of prophets and apostles avoids this. Just as in ancient times, Mormons can turn to the apostles and prophets to guide them when they don’t understand a scripture reference or don’t know how to apply Biblical teachings to decidedly modern issues. In those who have prayed to God to know who today’s prophet really is, there is security in knowing God is at the head of the Church, still guiding, directing, and teaching His children through his apostles and prophets, just as He promised to do in the Bible.

On November 2, 2011, Thomas S. Monson spoke to students at Brigham Young University. Thomas Monson is the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and is also their prophet. The members of this church are sometimes referred to as Mormons, an acceptable nickname for the people, but not for the religion.

President Monson advised his listeners, who filled the Marriot Center on campus, to become examples of the believers, as counseled by the apostle Paul in the Bible:

Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

Paul also called on us to be a light unto the world. President Monson defined light as something that illuminates. When we are examples of righteousness, we illuminate a dark world.

Every person is given the light of Christ, which helps us to discern truth when we hear it. Moroni, a prophet whose writings are found in the Book of Mormon, taught a similar truth:

“For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God” (Moroni 7:19).

President Monson said many people have let outside influences dim their lights until they are almost out, and we must be careful not to let that happen. We have a responsibility to keep our light strong so it can shine for others. We need to strengthen our testimonies and recognize our reliance on God. Too many think they are in need of nothing greater than themselves.

President Monson shared a story of Clayton Christiansen, a well-known professor at Harvard. HE received a scholarship to Oxford after leaving Brigham Young University. He realized it would be hard to live the gospel at Oxford, given the demands for meetings and activities the scholarship demanded. He had read the Book of Mormon seven times, but felt he had not yet received an answer as to whether or not it was true. He felt he needed to know the church was true in order to remain strong in the church during this time. Previously, he had only read the Book of Mormon when assigned to do so, and his goal had merely been to complete the assignment. He decided he needed his own testimony, not one based on his parents’ faith.  He decided to read the Book of Mormon every night from eleven to midnight. He didn’t know if he could afford to spend a full hour on this, but he committed to do it—for himself this time. He began by promising God that if God would tell him it was true, he would dedicate his life to the gospel, and if it wasn’t true, he’d dedicate his life to finding what was true. Night after night he read and prayed. When he finished 2 Nephi, he received a personal testimony of the Book of Mormon. He continued reading each night, and each time the Spirit confirmed to him the truthfulness of the book.

To be a light to others, we first have to strengthen our own testimony, or to gain it, as Clayton Christiansen did. Then we can share that with others. Those who are good examples are witnesses of Christ’s teachings through their own actions and can have a powerful impact on the lives and faith of others. Thomas S. Monson admonished the students to always be known as followers of Christ, not afraid to share their beliefs and always showing others how a follower of Christ lives.

Quoting the Lion King movie, he said, “Look inside yourself. You are more than you have become. Remember who you are.”

Watch the entire address by Thomas S. Monson.

We can draw lessons from prophets of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (inadvertently called by friends of other faiths as the “Mormon Church“).

I believe a prophet’s example is one of the strongest sermons given over the pulpit of life.

VISUAL ACUITY

In John 1:35-36, John the Baptist discerned Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the Law of Moses, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God.”

I hope to increase my visual acuity of the Savior, discerning who He really is and what He means to me: His divinity, His doctrine, His Atonement He alone could only perform, and His work shouldered by prophets and apostles even to this day.

John’s special witness of Jesus did not fall on deaf ears either.

In verse 37, we read, “And the two disciples heard him speak …”

Revelation is communication from God to mankind. From the very beginning of time, God has communicated with His children on earth, helping them to learn what is true and how to live. This revelation happens at many levels, from the revelations given to prophets for all mankind to the quiet communication of God to an individual child with a personal problem.

Most people think of revelation in terms of the Biblical prophets, who spoke directly to God and received great visions. Only a prophet can receive revelation for the entire church. When a prophet of God speaks, we are all accountable for what he teaches, even if we choose to ignore what is taught. A common example of this would be when Noah called the people to repent. When they did not, the flood came and they paid the price—choosing not to accept the revelation didn’t make it invalid or free them from the need to obey. This helps us to understand the importance of finding out what is true and what source provides truth. When a prophet speaks, God expects us to listen, so first, we must find out to whom He is speaking.

God gives revelation to those who have stewardship or responsibility over the subject of the revelation. This is why only the prophet can receive revelation for the entire church. He is the person with that stewardship. A leader of a religious congregation can receive revelation for his congregation, because that is his special stewardship. When he ends his service to that congregation, he is no longer entitled to revelation for that position. A parent can receive revelation concerning his children. All of us can receive revelation for our own lives, as well.

Even in Biblical times, important revelation meant for everyone was fairly rare. Most of the time, the prophets simply reminded people of what they’d already been taught and still needed to act on. Most revelations did not come through visions and visitations, but through quiet revelation. Prophets normally receive revelation in exactly the same way everyone else does.

That said, how do ordinary people receive revelation for their own lives?

To receive recelation from God, we must prepare ourselves to receive it. We need to build a relationship with Him so that we understand how His gospel works and how He interacts with us. This involves reading the scriptures to study how God has interacted with us in the past and what He expects of us today. Then we need to live the way He has asked us to live.

It means spending time in real prayer—not reciting prayers, but speaking to Him from our hearts about our worries and fears. We need to tell God how thankful we are for what we’ve already received because that helps us become more aware of our blessings and God’s role in them. Then we need to sit quietly and wait to see what happens. In time, we’ll come to recognize a peaceful, warm sensation in our hearts that tells us God is nearby and listening. Satan cannot bring peace or joy. These feelings are always from God.

Once we’ve learned to recognize these feelings and are living in a way that shows respect for God and His teachings, we can receive personal revelation. Revelation will most often come in quiet ways, so we have to be patient and listen with our hearts. We need to turn off the music, the television, and other distractions, especially when we are just learning to recognize what revelation feels like.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes called Mormons, are taught to first study an issue out in their minds. For instance, if a student wanted to know which college to attend, she would research a variety of them and select the one she feels is best for her. Then she would take her choice to God and ask Him if she’s chosen well. A warm and peaceful feeling is God’s reassurance that she has made a good choice. (It might be that several schools would meet with His approval.) A confused or negative feeling tells her she needs to start again.

Sometimes revelation comes in the form of a thought of impression. It will take practice to know which impressions are revelations and which are just thoughts. As you act on those thoughts, you will learn how to know which are from God. A thought from God might be a simple suggestion: “Lisa is lonely. Go visit her today.”

On rare occasions, a revelation will come in actual words you can hear. This is usually in the case of an emergency, where there isn’t time to analyze whether or not the thought was an impression or a mere thought. “Go to the baby. She’s in danger.”

Modern prophets, like prophets of old, receive revelation from God, most often in the same form we do. God considers revelation important, and we, as ordinary children of God, can receive personal revelation just as Moses received it in his day.

Who is God’s prophet today?

Have you ever finished reading the Bible and sighed in disappointment because there was nothing else? God’s words are so important, so wonderful, you wish you had more of them to read. Have you ever searched the Bible for an answer to a modern problem that simply wasn’t covered by the Bible, and wondered what God would want you to do about it?

When we study the Bible, we see that the needs of God’s people changed often. Noah needed to build an ark, but Moses didn’t. He needed to lead people through the wilderness safely. Each prophet had specific challenges he faced, based on political and social conditions and the specific behaviors of people in that time. New challenges arose, new temptations, and new ways of thinking. In the New Testament, when Jesus died, his apostles struggled to keep people from adapting false or slightly false beliefs based on their cultures, the rise of Greek philosophy, or simply a misinterpretation of teachings. Sometimes the new Christians simply had questions that hadn’t been answered, so they guessed, and often they guessed wrong. The apostles struggled to keep these from arising, but often without success. For instance, in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is found chastising members for believing there would be no resurrection of the dead. He also scolded the Galatians for their lapse into false teachings. (See Galatians 1.) Paul spoke strongly to the Colossians about their rising faith in Gnosticism, a false belief that was invading early Christianity.

Read more about early signs of the Apostasy.

After the apostles were gone, no one else had the authority to receive revelation from God. Most Christians today accept that prophecy ended either with Christ’s death or after the death of the apostles. Mormons (a nickname informally used to describe those who are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) believe the apostles were called as prophets, entitled to seek truth from God and to proclaim it officially. Acts 15:32 says, “And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.” Judas and Silas, of course, were apostles ,demonstrating that apostles are also prophets.

During the long years in which there were not prophets, times changed dramatically. Issues that were not a concern—or not even invented yet—became challenges for Christians world-wide. Although the early church struggled, brave men and women worked hard to keep it alive and growing. However, they often struggled to know what was true. Although they studied the Bible, they often disagreed over essential doctrines. When this happened, it often led to the creation of new religions.

During the reformation, courageous men spoke out, boldly proclaiming that Christianity no longer existed in a pure form that matched what was taught by Jesus Christ. They believed corruption and false doctrine had crept in over the years. Many died for their courage. These leaders did the best they could to resolve what they considered to be incorrect doctrine, but even within the Protestant movement, there was not always agreement about what was wrong, and today there are many different Protestant sects, all teaching conflicting doctrine, even on subjects that are eternally critical.

Many people today, anxious to find the truth, look at these many churches and their conflicting doctrines, and then turn to the Bible. They note that in Amos 3:7, we are promised, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” They wonder if this means God is doing nothing important today, and yet, the last days are here and the Second Coming is approaching. Surely God is doing important things to prepare for that time. How can they know what those things are and what their own responsibility is in these last days?

Thinking people yearn for a prophet. They ask, “Does God speak today? Does He love us enough to guide us through the complexities of a world that is entirely different than the one in which the Bible was written? Is there a way to know what is true in an ever-growing complexity of competing ideas?”

Mormons say yes, God does speak today. He does love us enough to help us work through these last days knowing exactly what is true. Mormons do not believe that when Jesus died, God retreated and now refuses to speak to us, or that He is disinterested in helping us find the truth. Mormons do not believe God doesn’t want us to pray to Him to find out what is true.

In 1830, a fourteen-year-old boy named Joseph Smith had many of the same questions  with which people today struggle. In view of the contradictions taught by the various Protestant churches in his area, he wondered how he could possibly know which church to join. While reading the Bible, he came across James 1:5:

5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

He decided this was the obvious solution to his problem. God was really the only sure source of truth—anyone else could be wrong. He went into the woods to pray and received his first vision—a visit from God and Jesus Christ. Jesus instructed him not to join any of the currently existing churches. The lack of prophecy had caused too many errors to slip into the doctrine.

Once he was an adult, God sent an angel named Moroni to train him for his future role as the first prophet of modern times. In Biblical times, God often took the prophets from the earth, but He always returned them in time, and He had done so once again.

Today, our complex world holds many challenges for those who want to obey God’s word. Essential doctrines on family, the road to salvation, baptism, and other doctrine are being debated with fervor and sometimes even described as unimportant or subject to modern fads. Since Joseph Smith assumed his place as the first prophet of the restoration, there has continued to be a prophet at the head of the Church. Today’s prophet is Thomas S. Monson.

Does God speak today? He does. Through his prophets and apostles, He helps us to understand the choices available to us and the consequences for each choice. When new situations arise, God can help us know how to approach them. Instead of having to pray individually about every possible doctrine—a time consuming and complicated process that essentially involves creating your own religion—you are able to pray to know if President Monson really is a prophet. God will tell you—He has promised to do so. Then, having that assurance from God, you will know you can trust him. However, if at any time he were to say something you were not sure about, you would again be free to pray to know for yourself.

Mormons believe in personal revelation. They believe God speaks to the entire church through the prophets, but they also believe God speaks to us individually if we ask Him to do so. We may not hear actual words, but our hearts will assure us the answer really is from God. Although there are some who warn people not to pray about truth, the Bible tells us we should and that God will answer—Mormons believe the promise of James 1:5. Satan cannot fill our hearts with peace and joy, so it is very easy to tell who is answering your prayers.

Do you want to know more about Thomas S. Monson? Try these websites to learn about him:

Thomasmonson.com: An unofficial website by ordinary Mormons

Biography of Thomas S. Monson

Speeches by Thomas S. Monson

Often, people who want to keep others from researching The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do so by telling others it is a cult. They use the nickname of its members—Mormons—to suggest the members follow a moral named Mormon or perhaps the first president of the Church, Joseph Smith, instead of Jesus Christ.

Labels like cult or non-Christian are common techniques designed to play on the emotions. Those who encourage name-calling don’t want their own followers to think. An emotionally loaded term like Mormon cult helps many people to simply feel something and stops them from taking the time to research or even think it through. Some who were taught this admitted they didn’t know why they used the term or even what it really meant.

If you’ve never looked up the word in a real dictionary, take a moment to do so. A quick visit to the Oxford Dictionary shows us what a cult is. In real dictionaries, the most common usage for a word is the first one. The further down the list the term is, the less common the definition is.

The first definition—the most common usage—is: “a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object.” Does this describe Mormonism? Mormons do not worship objects. They worship God and Jesus Christ. If those people are accepted as particular figures, then they are part of a cult, but so is every other Christian religion. Contrary to popular gossip, Mormons do not worship either Mormon or Joseph Smith. Both these men were prophets, just as were Moses and Noah in the Old Testament. They are treated the same way we treat Biblical prophets—we honor and respect them, but do not worship them, anymore than members of other Christian and Jewish religions worship Noah.

The most common definition of a cult, then, either does not apply to Mormons or it applies to all Christian religions, depending on what you accept as the figure a cult worships. Mormon cult” is an inaccurate term according to this definition.

The second definition of cult is, “a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister.” With more than 14 million people worldwide, the religion of the Mormon people is hardly small. There are approximately as many Mormons in the United States as there are Jewish people. The first part of this definition also makes the term “Mormon cult” invalid. The second part of this is that the cult must have beliefs that others consider strange or sinister. This, of course, is a subjective statement that can be applied to any religion—or any person. What seems very normal to one person seems weird or sinister to another. Every religion has aspects others see as weird or sinister—communion, tithing, angels, even belief in a Savior. Many religions have martyrs who chose to die rather than to deny their faith. Non-religious people often find it sinister that religious people are taught this is a worthwhile decision, while religious people find it inspirational. Many social issues accepted as natural to some religions seem weird or sinister to others—issues related to abortion, immigration, or the definition of marriage for instance. This definition is generally useless in terms of defining a cult.

The final and least common definition of a cult in this dictionary is: “A misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing.” Mormons don’t worship things, so this definition does not apply. As for the misplaced or excessive admiration, this again is a generic statement and subject to personal opinion. This statement would only create a Mormon cult if the person referred to is Jesus Christ, but of course Mormons—and other Christians—don’t consider their belief in Jesus Christ excessive or misplaced.

In an article on the CNN website, Richard Mouw, president of the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, addressed this subject. Fuller is an evangelical Christian seminary. He explained that he has studied cults extensively and also meets regularly with a closed-door group of Mormons, including Mormon apostles and an equal number of evangelical leaders. While Mormons and evangelicals have many theological differences, he has found the differences aren’t as large as he once thought.

Mouw does not believe there is a Mormon cult. As one example, he says cults do not participate in respectful discussions of religious issues and feel only they benefit from God’s favor. His participation in the religious group is, he says, one sign Mormons are not a cult. They enjoy learning about other religions and discussing the issues. They also quote and study religious leaders of other faiths. (If you read through speeches by Mormon leaders, you’ll see quotes from rabbis, Mother Theresa, and leaders from many religious faiths.)

He says cults do not promote scholarship or have universities and law schools that allow them to participate in the world’s discovery of information. He reminds his readers that Brigham Young University, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is a world-class university. In addition, many of the church’s top leaders have advanced degrees from ivy league universities. They are not afraid of knowledge and education.

Mouw showed some of his students a video of a Mormon apostle speaking on the last week of Jesus Christ’s life and on the atonement. (The video can be viewed at the end of this article.) The students admitted that they would have thought he was an evangelical minister had they not known he was a Mormon. There was nothing uncomfortable, strange, or referring to a “different Jesus” in his speech.

Read My Take: This evangelical says Mormonism isn’t a cult.

When researching a religion, it is important to follow Jesus’ counsel to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Mouw said he has been asked if evangelicalism is a cult. No one wants his or her religion referred to that way, especially if it’s not true. We need to treat the religions of others the way we want others to treat our own religion.

One step to doing this is to do accurate research. Learn how to validate sources and recognize bias. If you read an article that says Mormons worship Joseph Smith, for instance, and then you discover that isn’t true (it isn’t true!), then you know the author is not a knowledgeable or trustworthy source. If someone were going to learn about you, would you ask them to go only to your enemies and those who want to destroy you for their information? Of course not. You’d want them to talk to you. When researching any religion, go to the religion’s own sources, ones its members would consider valid. This is, presumably, how you research your own religion, so it should be how you research other religions.

Visit Mormon.org or LDS.org for official information. Mormon.org is designed for people who are not Mormon and want to learn the basics. LDS.org is for Mormons, although nearly everything is accessible, including the student and teacher manuals for the actual classes taught at church and the official magazine. Only congregational websites are excluded, to protect the privacy of the members, and sections for people who hold a specific church job—but even Mormons can’t get into those unless they currently hold those positions.

Another step is to use inclusive language. Using insulting nicknames or terms is un-Christ-like. Speak using respectful terminology and show the kind of respect to others about their beliefs you want others to show for yours. Accept the way others describe themselves. Deciding who is and is not a Christian is God’s prerogative and so our job is to simply accept the self-definition of each group. We don’t have to agree with each doctrine, but we do need to respect how they see themselves.

“Mormon cult” is an inaccurate term, as a review of dictionary definitions shows. It is nothing more than a way to manipulate emotions and prevent listeners from doing what God has told us to do in order to find out which church is God’s church: Pray (James 1:5, New Testament.)

Watch the video that looked like an evangelical sermon to some evangelical theology students.

Robert Liefson teaches for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed “Mormons”) in the Seminary and Institute program for young adults, serves as volunteer fire chief in Woodruff, and is the parent of 6 children from 5-19 years of age.

I was blessed to be raised in a home where I regularly heard the stories of Biblical Prophets such as Moses, Noah, Isaiah, Elijah and Abraham. I was taught the writings of the Prophet Amos in the Old Testament where it is recorded, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets.” Many people have posed the question, “Why hasn’t God called Prophets in our day the way He did in ancient times?” Because of their belief that there are prophets today, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) gather every six months in a general conference to hear their counsel. Thanks to the advances of modern technology, this LDS conference is broadcast to countless radio and television stations and translated into ninety-two different languages. It has been my personal practice to watch conference in my home on television. This conference experience would be unique for me as I had the privilege to attend in person with members of my family at the conference center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

As the start of the session drew closer I anticipated the entrance of President Thomas S. Monson the current president (“Mormon prophet”) of the Church of Jesus Christ, to take his place among the leaders. His two counselors entered and were seated. It was impossible to miss the empty chair between them. There was a similar hole in my heart as I grew uneasy that he would not be in attendance. To say I was disappointed would be a huge understatement. The meeting began without any word of explanation concerning President Monson’s absence. The Mormon Tabernacle choir performed a hymn, well known to members of the Church “We Ever Pray for Thee, Our Prophet Dear.” Thy lyrics include the promise and hope that “God will give to thee comfort and cheer; As the advancing years furrow thy brow.” The second verse contains the phrase, “That strength be given thee to do thy part, to guide and counsel us from day to day.” The words of the hymn brought some comfort to my heart and perfectly expressed my feelings. I noticed my wife had written on the top of her notepad, “Where is President Monson?” Read the rest of this entry »

Thomas S. Monson, the prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the true name of the Mormon Church), told a story in November of 1983 that explains one of the uses of fasting and prayer. President Monson was serving as a mission president in Toronto, Canada. This means he oversaw all the missionaries in the area, some young men who arrive at the age of nineteen, and some retired couples.

One missionary became extremely sick and doctors believed he might not survive the surgery he required. His parents were contacted and soon arrived to be with him. President Monson and the father of the young missionary gave him a priesthood blessing. This is done by having the men place their hands on his heads and praying for God’s will to be accomplished.

The missionary, Elder Davidson, was in a hospital room with five other husky and usually hungry men. While he was having his surgery, the nurse arrived with breakfast, a larger than usual portion because the men always wanted more than they were given. However, when she tried to serve it to the first man, he refused it. Each of the other four patients also refused breakfast that morning. When the nurse asked what the problem was, they explained that Elder Davidson had told them a lot about his religious beliefs. One thing they had learned was that he believed that if people fasted and prayed, they could bring about miracles. They had decided to fast and pray that day for Elder Davidson, even though they weren’t Mormon themselves.

Not only was the surgery a success, but when Thomas S. Monson tried to pay the surgeon, he refused to take any money. He said that it was the first time he’d ever done a surgery where he felt his hands were guided by a higher power. Because of this, he felt it inappropriate for him to take payment.

Read the complete story:

Crisis at the Crossroads by Thomas S. Monson

Mormons follow the Biblical teachings of fasting and prayer. Let’s look at fasting first.

For Mormons, fasting means to go without food or drink of any kind, even water. They do this once a month if they are physically able to do so, usually the first Sunday of the month. They fast for twenty-four hours, which requires them to miss only two meals if they time it properly. During this time, they spend extra time in prayer, and often choose a purpose for their fasting, just as the men in the above story focused their fast on helping their friend survive surgery. Mormons might fast to gain a testimony of a particular doctrine, to help a struggling family member or friend, or to give them strength to confront a challenging situation in their own lives.

Fasting allows them to focus on spiritual matters and also humbles them, making them more receptive to God’s teachings. During the fast, they will pray and then wait for answers and because they are making this sacrifice, they are better able to recognize the answers given.

As an interesting side note, when Mormons fast, they donate the money they would have spent of food and drink—and often an additional sum as well—to a special fund used only to help the poor. None of the money is used for administrative costs, so all of it goes to feed someone who would otherwise be hungry, homeless, or without other necessities.

Jesus taught that fasting could strengthen us spiritually and allow us to bring about miracles that cannot be accomplished any other way. (See Matthew 17:14-21.)

Prayer is a critical part of the fasting process. Jesus taught his followers to pray and he prayed to His Father Himself, sometimes publicly to set the example. Mormons are noted for the number of times they pray to God in a given day. They are taught to pray each morning and evening in a personal prayer, a couple prayer if married, and in a family prayer if they have children or others living in their homes. In addition, they pray prior to meals and before scripture study. Then, of course, they also talk to God at any time during the day when they feel a need or desire to do so. Many keep an ongoing conversation going all day long.

The Mormon religion started with a prayer, making that doctrine especially meaningful to its members. When Joseph Smith, the first prophet, was fourteen, he read James 1:5 in the New Testament. It said that if you lacked wisdom—needed to know something—you could ask God and it promised God would respond. He took the scripture to heart and went into the woods to pray, where God and Jesus Christ appeared to Him to answer His question about which church to join.

Of course, most people don’t get quite that direct an answer to their prayers; however, God does promise to answer every meaningful and righteous prayer. He may answer in three ways—yes, no, or not yet—but He always answers.

To receive answers to prayers, Mormons follow a prescribed pattern. They do not use written and recited prayers except in a few formal situations and never in their personal prayers. (Recited prayers are reserved for situations like blessing the sacrament, similar to communion, or baptism.) Although there aren’t exact words, there is a pattern which is very simple.

Mormons begin their prayer by addressing God by name. They use a simple phrase such as, “Dear Heavenly Father” or “My Father in Heaven.” Next, they offer thanks for the blessings God has given them. In this way, before they start asking for things, they are reminded of the good He has already done and of His attentiveness to their needs. They also demonstrate to God they are paying attention themselves and that they are not taking these gifts for granted.

These expressions of gratitude can be followed by requests for help, although Mormons sometimes offer thanks and nothing else. Mormons believe they should not treat God like Santa Claus, asking Him for things they can do for themselves. A person who needs a job will still sit at the computer looking for work, rather than going off to play and expecting God to drop a job in his lap. He will trust God to show him where to look for the job he needs, but he will continue to look. A Mormon will also act as if he expects his prayer to be answered. For instance, if he prays for an opportunity to introduce someone to Jesus Christ, he will begin to learn more and to decide how to discuss the Savior, even though he can’t yet think of anyone who doesn’t already know about Jesus.

Mormons close their prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, because we pray to God through Him. The prayer is then ended with the traditional “Amen.”

For Mormons, prayer serves many purposes. It helps them make God a partner in their lives, a part of everything they do. It also allows them to build a close, personal relationship to Him so that when they return home, they know Him well. They build trust in God and learn to recognize how He communicates with them.

God promised, in James 1:5, that He would answer our prayers. Mormons believe God keeps His promises and that if He says he will give us wisdom, He will do so in a way we can recognize. Although some religions teach people not to pray for truth because they won’t know who is answering the prayer, Mormons trust that God can do anything—including making His answers identifiable. For that reason, after they pray, they are taught to remain quietly on their knees, waiting to see if God would like to speak with them. Prayer is not a one-way communication.

Mormons generally research their problems first and come to a conclusion on their own. Then they go to God for confirmation of their choices. When we have made the right choice, God fills our heart with a feeling of peace and joy. Satan cannot create peace or joy. When we are wrong, we often feel confusion or a “stupor of thought.” This tells us we need to start over with the study process.

The more we pray and turn to God in faith, the greater our faith grows and the closer our relationship to Him will be.

In Matthew 24:3-8, Jesus warned his disciples that in the last days, there would be many false prophets. Some would claim to be Jesus Christ and would be believed by many. Others would, according to Paul (2 Timothy 4:3-4) ignore sound doctrine and instead gather false teachers who would tell them what they wanted to hear. These are false prophets.

A false prophet does not need to be a religious person or call himself a prophet. Many secular writers, speakers, and television personalities devote much of their time to denying Jesus Christ and leading people away from Him. A secular false prophet can often be more dangerous than a religious one for this reason, since they close the mind to things of the spirit. From the beginnings of time, men have had to struggle to know who the true prophet was and to decide whether or not to follow him. Even great prophets like Moses and Noah had to face those who saw them as false prophets.

Because so many religions are unwilling to believe God still speaks to mankind, religious people find themselves struggling to know what it is God wants them to do or to believe. They have the Bible, but there are many translations, each of which alters the meaning a bit. Sometimes the Bible simply confuses even the great scholars, who debate the meanings of its verses. While it is a valuable resource, and one used by Mormons (a nickname for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints), it is not always an easy source for knowing just what God wants us to know. Readers of two different religions will translate the verses in two different ways.

God is not the God of confusion. Confusion is Satan’s tool, not God’s. Being all-wise, God naturally would choose a better way for people to know what is true and what is not. Would he expect us to listen to a million conflicting voices and then have to guess which teachings to believe? Of course not.

The Bible clearly outlines how God communicates with his children. “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” God promised He would help us know what is true because He would tell the prophets, who would then tell us.

There are some who say that once Jesus died, God discontinued the prophets and vowed never to speak to His children again. While it’s true there have been periodic times of apostasy among God’s children, when prophets were withdrawn because the people had chosen not to listen to them, God has always restored the prophets after a while. It’s also clear He did not withdraw the prophets immediately upon Jesus’ death. In Acts 15:32, we read:

And Judas and Silas, being prophets also themselves, exhorted the brethren with many words, and confirmed them.

This was after the death of Jesus Christ, so we can see prophecy continued after the death and resurrection of the Savior. They were not false prophets—they were apostles, who also serve as prophets, seers, and revelators in God’s Church. The Bible says the Savior’s church is built on a foundation of prophets and apostles, with Jesus Christ as our cornerstone.

And yet, despite the Bible’s warning that God’s true church must have a foundation of prophets and apostles and its promise that God will do nothing without first telling His prophets, very few churches even claim to have a prophet or apostle. When they aren’t sure what the Bible means, they are left to guess at it. This is why there are so many churches in the world today, why doctrine is too often chosen by councils like the one at Nicene, and why some churches put truth to a vote. They don’t have anyone who communicates with God directly to learn what is true.

And seeing this makes it clear why a loving God would not leave His children to struggle along without a guide as they prepare for the last days. The world is very different from the New Testament world. We need a prophet’s guidance to show us how to navigate this complex world.

In the 1800s, a teenager named Joseph Smith faced many of the problems we’ve discussed here. He visited church after church and heard conflicting teachings. Every church was sure it had it right—but they couldn’t all be right. He read in the Bible that if you ask God for wisdom, God will give it to you. (See James 1:5.) Wisdom was what he needed, so he went into the woods to pray. He asked to know which church was God’s church. God and Jesus Christ appeared to him, God introducing Jesus and Jesus answering his question. He was told none of them had the complete truth and to wait.

As a young adult, he received a visit from an angel named Moroni, who tutored him in preparation for the restoration of the complete gospel. When he was ready, Joseph Smith was shown records Moroni had hidden away in ancient times, when he lived on earth. These records are now known as the Book of Mormon. Mormon was a prophet—Moroni’s father—and is not worshipped by Mormons. He is treated in the same way Mormons and other Christians treat prophets from the Bible.

The Book of Mormon serves as proof that Jesus Christ really was divine and the Son of God, not just an ordinary prophet or teacher. Jesus was known to these people before He was even born, and He appeared to them on the American continent after his death and resurrection. This visit makes clear Jesus is the Savior of all, not just the people who lived in his small, geographical region.

Joseph Smith became the first prophet of the restored gospel. He fulfilled God’s promise that God will always work through prophets to deal with us. Since that time, there has always been a prophet on the earth and will be until Jesus Christ returns and there is no longer a need for one.

How can you know if the modern Mormon prophet is a true prophet or a false prophet? You can know in the same way Joseph Smith learned not to join any of the existing churches. If you have faith in the Bible, you will know that as James promised in the New Testament, you can ask God to tell you what is true. While some say we must not trust James’ promise, because you can’t tell who is answering you, Mormons disagree. They trust the Bible and they trust God. If He makes a promise, He finds a way to keep it. This means He will help you to know the source of the answers He sends. Satan cannot bring feelings of peace and joy.

Mormons, even children, are taught they must never take anyone’s word for whether or not the Mormon prophet is the real prophet. They are taught they must pray and ask God to confirm that information for them—they know God will answer, so they have nothing to fear from teaching their members to do so. The Bible warns, in the same section that asks you to pray, that you must pray with complete faith, nothing wavering. This means you must be prepared to accept the answer, even if you hoped you wouldn’t receive the answer you did.

Why does it matter whether or not we know if God has sent a prophet? So many of the things religious people debate is essential to our salvation. Do you really want to guess about what is true when eternity is at stake? Do you want to take the word of a human being as to how to interpret the Bible? Or would you rather trust God, the only source of truth? By asking God what is true and what you must do, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

On the pages of this website, you will be able to find many of the teachings of the current Mormon prophet, Thomas S. Monson. Mormons first study an issue out and come to a conclusion. They then take what they believe is true to God and ask a yes or no question. If you ask if Thomas Monson is the Mormon prophet, a “yes” will feel peaceful, joyful, and right. You’ll feel what some people describe as a swelling in the heart. A “no” will lead to feelings of negativity, confusion, all the things that tell you God is not accepting your decision.

Remember, though, you must go into this with a complete desire to learn the truth, not just a confirmation of what you want to be true, and you must act on your answer. To ask God what is true and then to reject or ignore His answer is unworthy behavior in a Christian.

Millions of Mormons have put truth to the test. Try it yourself. Trust God—He is listening and He does hear and answer prayers.

With the tenth anniversary of 9/11, many of us have spent some time pondering those events and remembering much of the pain and devastation that day caused in our lives and consciousness. The effects of that day have not ended. Families are still mourning loved ones who were lost, and families continue to lose loved ones who are willing to lay down their lives for the freedoms of others. Yet, this war, that has now been going on for ten years, is so far removed from most of us in the United States that it is easy to pretend like it is not happening. It is easy to forget the devastation, hurt, and fear we felt ten years ago. However, with that pain and loss came a binding together such as I had never known was possible in this country.

It had been a long time since I had heard people speak proudly in public about God and our relationship to Him, both individually and as a country. Yet, for the weeks and months following the attack, people came together in a profound and touching way. We remembered God. We remembered all He has given us, the protection that He had offered so many times, the strength He continued to offer. We found comfort in Him and in each other.

After a few months, though, that reflection and power seemed to fade. President Thomas S. Monson was asked to write a piece for the Washington Post blog “On Faith” for the tenth anniversary of that fateful day. He shared some thoughts that reminded us that God is always there, even when we don’t call on Him. We should call on Him more, in the good times as well as the bad. He remarked on the country’s behavior after 9/11:

“There was, as many have noted, a remarkable surge of faith following the tragedy. People across the United States rediscovered the need for God and turned to Him for solace and understanding. Comfortable times were shattered. We felt the great unsteadiness of life and reached for the great steadiness of our Father in Heaven. And, as ever, we found it. Americans of all faiths came together in a remarkable way.”

This time served to remind us how much strength we have when we lean on our Father in Heaven. However, President Monson also noticed how quickly we seemed to forget, “Sadly, it seems that much of that renewal of faith has waned in the years that have followed. Healing has come with time, but so has indifference. We forget how vulnerable and sorrowful we felt. Our sorrow moved us to remember the deep purposes of our lives. The darkness of our despair brought us a moment of enlightenment. But we are forgetful. When the depth of grief has passed, its lessons often pass from our minds and hearts as well.”

The counsel that a living prophet of God gives us is to draw near to God now and always: “The way to be with God in every season is to strive to be near Him every week and each day. We truly ‘need Him every hour,’ not just in hours of devastation. We must speak to Him, listen to Him, and serve Him. If we wish to serve Him, we should serve our fellow men. We will mourn the lives we lose, but we should also fix the lives that can be mended and heal the hearts that may yet be healed.”

I draw a great deal of comfort from knowing that we have a living prophet of God who offers us counsel and encouragement. I also am comforted to know that God is unwavering in His love for me and in His constancy. He will always be there for all of us to lean on, and can bless our lives so much more if we are willing to allow Him in for our joys and sorrows alike.