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.

As life becomes more and more complicated, many people are looking for answers to their questions. They search the internet, the bookstores, the television gurus, always hoping to find the best wisdom. Of course, the answers they find are from mortal men and are often based on worldly ideas, not eternal ones, and so they are prone to failure. There is only one source of absolute truth, and that source is God. Even though we can’t see God, we can communicate with Him through prayer, and just as importantly, when we pray, we open the doors for Him to communicate with us. We can learn how to pray in such a way that God will always answer our prayers.

Learning how to pray is one of the first skills a Mormon learns, either in childhood or as a potential convert. This is because until a person knows how to pray, he will be unable to know whether or not Mormonism is true. Once he has his answer, he can also use this same ability to receive answers to other kinds of prayer.

Prayer is communication with God, so it is easier to have effective prayers if we have a good relationship with God. Reading the scriptures and spending time in prayer are two ways to get to know who God is. Attending church, of course, is another way. As you build your knowledge of God and get comfortable talking to Him, your prayers will become more effective.

Mormon beliefs about prayer include a simple pattern to formal prayers. Of course, there are also time throughout the day when they communicate informally with Him, but during formal prayers, both public and private, they try to follow a basic pattern.

First, Mormons address God respectfully by name. Mormons often start prayers by saying, “Dear Heavenly Father” or something similar to that. They consider God to be the literal father of their spirits and treat him as they would a parent, with love and respect.

Next, Mormons thank God for the blessings they have received from God. This helps them to review their day and their lives in general to notice what is good. It is easy to get so focused on negative events that we lose sight of our blessings and fail to notice how God is working to help us through our trials. This step of our prayer encourages us to slow down and notice that God is present in our lives.

The third step is to ask God for what we need. This is an optional step, since there are times we will only be praying to thank God for what He has already done. This step comes with some responsibilities. As a wise parent, God knows it is never good to just give us anything we ask for without expecting us to do as much as we can on our own. Every parent knows the parent’s job is to make up the difference between what is needed and what the petitioner can do for himself. If we ask God to help us find a job, we need to actually search for and apply for jobs, not just sit back and wait for God to drop one in our laps. Instead, His job will be to lead us to the best job, to help us know what to say in the cover letter, and to do well in the interview. We always need to be prepared to tell God what we will be doing to make our desires happen and then to ask for only those things we can’t do ourselves.

It’s important to remember that God isn’t Santa Claus. He has to balance our wishes with the eternal plans He has for us and for others. What we want isn’t always what is best for us or for someone else who will be impacted. For instance, in the above-mentioned example of praying to get a job, if someone asks to get a specific job, they are also asking that the other applicants, who might also have prayed about the job, not get it. God must balance out all those requests and decide who most needs or will most benefit from that job.

What then is the purpose of praying, if God will do what is best? Prayer puts the situation into God’s hands, allowing Him to make the decision. It makes it easier for us to accept the decision, since we have agreed that He is best suited to know what is best.

If a decision has to be made, we’re to study it out, make a decision, and then take that decision to God for confirmation. If we learn we’ve made the wrong choice, we start over again. In this way, God allows us to improve our ability to make decisions and measure them against what God knows is best.

The next step in a prayer is to tell God anything else we’d like to tell Him. We can share details of our day or talk about what is on our minds. Then we close by saying, “In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.”

When we pray, we pray to God through Jesus Christ. This is a sacred responsibility. When we pray in His name, we need to be certain we are treating His name with respect. We should not be using prayer to be sarcastic or mean-spirited, to pray things that would offend Jesus, or to be frivolous. That doesn’t mean we can’t be cheerful or talk about mundane things. It does mean we need to be respectful because anything said in Jesus’ name must be a respectful use of that name.

Many people consider “amen” to be the end of their prayer. They jump up off their knees and head out for their day or go to sleep. When they learn how to pray, they only learn how to do their part of the prayer. Mormons, however, are taught that there is still another step.

Once we’ve asked God for help or advice or even just talked to Him, we need to remain on our knees and quiet. Prayer is not a monologue. It is a conversation. When we talk to other human beings, we don’t normally say our part and run off. We stay and listen to the other person’s response. We need to do the same thing in prayer. When we finish talking, we need to sit quietly and let God have a turn. As we sit or kneel without distractions, keeping our minds free of our own random thoughts, God can place His thoughts into our minds and hearts. In this way, we can receive answers to our questions or guidance in our decisions. We can also do this step within the prayer—ask a question and wait for the answer. The answers come in several ways. Most often, we feel a peaceful, comforting feeling in our hearts that tells us the decision we made was correct. Satan cannot bring peace and comfort. That is God’s gift to us. Sometimes thoughts will come into our minds, again accompanied by a feeling of peaceful rightness. If we are trying to find a job, this thought might come to us: “Ask Fred if there are openings in his company.” In this way, God shows us where the job we are looking for can be found. Very rarely do we hear an actual voice. On occasion, this will happen, but usually in situations of imminent danger, when there is no time to verify the thought came from God.

There are some who teach people not to pray for answers because they won’t know whom the answer is from. This is a direct contradiction of Biblical teachings, since the Bible, and Jesus Christ, specifically instruct us to pray for wisdom. (See James 1:5 in the New Testament.) In this verse, James says God promises to answer our prayers for wisdom. Mormons trust God to keep His promises, and they believe that if God promises to do something He will find a way to do it. This means He will make sure we can learn to recognize the ways He is communicating with us. For Mormons, it is important to trust God to keep His promises. Learning how to pray includes learning to trust God.

Finally, once we’re off our knees, we need to act as though we trust God to do what we’ve asked. If we’re asking for help finding a job, we need to head to the computer to search the job ads, demonstrating a willingness to do our part and also faith that God is going to lead us to that job. If we’re writing a book and want help, we need to sit down and start typing. If we ask for courage in a given situation, we need to go into it with a determination to trust God to help us through it.

Learning how to pray can change our lives forever. No longer do we have to guess at life’s questions. We can get our answers from the only being that has a perfect knowledge of us, our needs, and our eternity.

The Mormon prophet, Thomas S. Monson, taught this about the power of learning how to pray:

As we offer unto the Lord our family prayers and our personal prayers, let us do so with faith and trust in Him. Let us remember the injunction of Paul to the Hebrews: “For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”⁵ If any of us has been slow to hearken to the counsel to pray always, there is no finer hour to begin than now. William Cowper declared, “Satan trembles, when he sees the weakest Saint upon his knees.”⁶ Those who feel that prayer might denote a physical or intellectual weakness should remember that a man never stands taller than when he is upon his knees.

We cannot know what faith is if we have never had it, and we cannot obtain it as long as we deny it. Faith and doubt cannot exist in the same mind at the same time, for one will dispel the other.

Read Thomas S. Monson’s complete talk on prayer:

Thomas S. Monson, “Come unto Him in Prayer and Faith,” Ensign, Mar 2009, 4–9

When Jesus Christ began his mission on earth, he chose apostles to assist him. These apostles continued to run the church after His crucifixion and resurrection. They served as diligent missionaries, going out into the world to teach the gospel. Jesus Christ Himself worked to teach the gospel to everyone who came into his path. Sometimes people chose to approach Him, but other times He approached them. He and the apostles knew they had a message that would change lives if it were only listened to, and so they had the courage to approach people and share that message. When we love people we want them to have everything they need to make them happy and for Christians, this includes the gospel. In fact, Christians know Jesus Christ is the most important aspect of true joy. Missionary work is an act of love.

For this reason, Mormons have an extensive missionary program. They follow the Savior’s counsel to share His message with the world.

“19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Thomas Monson, the Mormon prophet, loves to talk about missionary work. Although he did not serve a mission as a young man because he served in the Navy, he did work as a mission president when he was only thirty-one years old, an unusually young age. He, his wife, and their children lived in Toronto, Canada for several years, overseeing the missionary work in that country. Since that time, President Monson has toured most of the missions of the church and has filled every position in the Missionary Department, and as a result, has more knowledge of missionary work through his church service than almost any other past or present church leader.

Because missionary work is a particular love of Thomas S. Monson’s, he speaks of it often.

There are several ways a Mormon can be a missionary for the Lord. A young man can, as part of his priesthood service (Mormons have a lay priesthood for all worthy males ages twelve and up) spend two years living away from home as a missionary. He goes at his own expense and lives by strict rules during this time. It is a time to develop self-discipline and a strong testimony, but most importantly it is a time to teach others about Jesus Christ. A young man who approaches his mission with the proper attitude will come home with a love for the culture in which he served, possibly a new language, the self-mastery to be successful at whatever he attempts, and a powerful testimony of Jesus Christ and the blessings that come from serving the Lord.

Women may also serve missions away from home, leaving at age 21 and staying for eighteen months. While they don’t have the same expectation to go, since they don’t have the priesthood, many young women do choose to do so and can often reach people the men can’t reach.

Older couples frequently serve missions together after they retire and so do retired singles. They also travel at their own expense wherever they are sent.

Some people choose to serve on a part-time basis from home. These missionaries are called ward missionaries and any adult can serve a ward mission who is worthy and is called to do so.

Finally, the church encourages all members to be missionaries. Without a specific calling, each Mormon can share the gospel through his actions and words with the people in his own life.

“Peter and John, those converted fishermen who became Apostles, were warned by the authorities not to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Their answer was firm: “Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19–20).

Paul, the Apostle, that sterling testifier of truth, was speaking to all of us—members and missionaries alike—when he counseled his beloved friend Timothy: “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12).

Elder Delbert L. Stapley, who served as a member of the Council of the Twelve a number of years ago, quoted Paul in his epistle to the Romans: “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation” (Rom. 1:16). Then Elder Stapley added: “If we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, then we should not be ashamed to live it. And if we are not ashamed to live it, then we should not be ashamed to share it” (Thomas S. Monson, “That All May Hear“, New Era, May 1996, 4).

Thomas Monson encourages all young men and those young women or older people who want to go to serve missions. He teaches that it will be an experience that changes their lives. What better way to learn to know and love the Savior than to spend two full years of your life serving Him and teaching about him? As a result, he encourages young people to seriously prepare for the mission. By already having a testimony and living the standards of a missionary a young person can get the very most from his mission.

Missionaries are called to teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thomas Monson taught this about the message missionaries present:

What is the gospel? It is the message we take, a message that declares that an angel flew in the midst of heaven and that the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. If we’ll remember that and the other elements of the message missionaries bear, we’ll be effective. In that message is the Book of Mormon, which is part and parcel of every missionary’s library—internal, what he knows, and external, what he teaches.

The Book of Mormon, the true nature of the Godhead—the world hungers for this message. It’s part of that which missionaries will take to the people.

Another element that I have found very important is that the Church is based on a foundation of Apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone (see Ephesians 2:20). And we emphasize a “living” prophet today. I testify that President Hinckley is such a living prophet—the prophet, seer, and revelator of the Church.

If I could put my finger on that portion of the gospel which seems to penetrate a broader range of people and penetrate more deeply their hearts and their souls and move them to action, it’s the plan of salvation, or our Heavenly Father’s plan—where we came from, why we’re here, where we go when we leave mortality.

It’s been my observation that the stumbling block for investigators is not the Word of Wisdom. It isn’t Sabbath day observance. It’s a testimony that Joseph Smith is a prophet of God. It’s very important that we declare that message. The message is divine. Remember that (Thomas S. Monson, “The Five M’s of Missionary Work”, New Era, Mar. 2007, 42–45).

The word “prophet” is mentioned in 293 verses in the Old Testament and in 154 verses in the New Testament. It was clearly an important topic to the writers of the Bible. We can’t possibly explore all of these verses in this article, but let’s look at a few of them. Most people start with the assumption that prophets were all well and good in the Bible times, but that Jesus was meant to be the last prophet. It is important, before one decides to tune out all possible modern prophets, to make absolutely certain that is what the Bible teaches, and that it isn’t just a decision made by man.

In the Old Testament, we see many examples of people refusing to recognize the validity of the current prophet. God spoke through Noah but the people chose to ignore him, preferring not to believe he was really a prophet. Perhaps they too felt prophets were old-fashioned and not needed any more. The consequences were severe.

Throughout Biblical history, we see how often people ignored or did not recognize the presence of a prophet. When the prophets went unrecognized and were not obeyed, people suffered. Those who allowed their hearts to recognize the spiritual promptings that would tell them a true prophet existed found safety and peace. In every era, whether or not prophets were on the earth, it has been the responsibility of each individual person to find out if there is a prophet and if so, who it is. That comes only from appropriate study and prayer. God promised to provide us with answers to our prayers if we ask, and He always keeps His promises.

Although many people today deny that a prophet will ever again be chosen by God, the Bible is actually very clear on the subject:

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7). Even more importantly, Paul, speaking after Jesus’ death and resurrection, taught;

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

 20And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;

 21In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: (Ephesians 2:20).

Paul assured church members the true church is built on a foundation of apostles and prophets with Jesus Christ as the cornerstone, something few of the modern churches have maintained, even though Paul said it was important.

This makes it clear prophets are God’s chosen way to communicate with His children on earth. Throughout the Bible, He has spoken through prophets, beginning with Adam, the very first man. From time to time, the people refused to listen to these prophets and they were withdrawn for a time. This is always the choice of a close-minded and disobedient people. When sufficient time passes, God calls a new prophet and gives this group of people a chance to enjoy communication from God once again.

“It is important to understand that God never sealed the heavens in the first place; man did. It was man who proclaimed there would be no more revelation, that God had said all He had to say. Yet how presumptuous for man to tell God that He can’t speak for His children!” (Ballard, M. Russell. “The Articles of Faith.” Our search for happiness: an invitation to understand the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Salt Lake City, Utah: Deseret Book Co., 1993. 96. Print.)

Since the Bible does not say God changed His mind about prophets, that is exactly what we do if we refuse to allow future prophets—we tell God how to do His job. Only God can decide if we need another prophet or not. Elder Ballard, in the book mentioned above, expressed gratitude that God loves us as much as He loved the people of the Bible.

If we study what happened after Jesus died, we see the church continued to operate. The apostles clearly had a leader at all times and that leader would be the new prophet. We see them acting with authority, announcing doctrine and policy…being prophets. Many people stop reading the Bible after the resurrection, but far more went on after that time, and it is worth noticing how the apostles acted and what decisions they made as they continued to lead the church.

It should be noted that in Acts we read of two people described as prophets, showing without question that there were prophets after Jesus died. (See Acts 15:32)

Even during apostasy, individuals with faith could communicate with God for their own purposes, but only a true prophet, called by God, has ever been able to speak for the entire church. And God said He would communicate in no other way, which means that believing there will never again be a prophet is to suggest God has permanently closed the door and locked it. Doing this suggests He is refusing to allow the Christian religion a means for settling the doctrinal debates that have divided the various branches of Christianity over the centuries or to receive the comfort and guidance of prophetic teachings. This simply does not fit what we know of a kind and loving God who wants to prepare us for the Second Coming in the same way He wanted to prepare us for the First Coming.

John the Baptist and Jesus Himself encountered the attitude that there were no more prophets. The Jews told Jesus the prophets were all dead and they didn’t understand, therefore, how He could be a prophet. (See John 8.) They preferred to think He might be a former prophet come back to earth. It seemed more comfortable to them to have a Moses or Elijah return than to get a brand new prophet and today, we encounter that same attitude. People seem a little anxious at the idea of a new prophet who will speak to their day and who cannot, therefore, be dismissed as addressing outdated issues or of giving pronouncements that don’t apply to our time.

Of course, not everyone who says he is a prophet is one. Only God can call a prophet and the Bible often discusses ways to evaluate a potential prophet:

Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men” (1 Kings 18:22). Elijah makes it clear that not everyone who claims to be a prophet really is. There have been false prophets since early in the world’s history. Of course, today, the argument doesn’t tend to be about who the prophet is, but whether or not there are prophets at all. Still, it is important to evaluate this topic. How do we know if someone is a true prophet or a false one?

The Book of Deuteronomy in the Old Testament tells us one way to recognize a true prophet. In these verses, the prophecy actually refers to Jesus Christ, but the criteria for recognizing a prophet can be applied to other prophets as well. In these verses, God explains how they will know true prophets from false ones. As you read, think about the Old Testament prophets you have studied and see if they measure up to these verses:

 15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not.

17And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken

 18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

 21And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?

 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him (Deuteronomy 18).

What do these verses teach us about identifying a prophet? First, the prophet will come from among the people and be like them. We see this to be true of all Biblical prophets, and also of all Mormon prophets. God promises that a prophet who has already been called as a prophet and then gives a false prophecy will die. This is something Mormons have been taught—that God will not allow a prophet to fall and yet keep preaching. Finally, they are told to watch to see if what the prophet says actually happens. Of course, most prophecies don’t come with a time frame. Noah spoke for an extraordinarily long time, prophesying of the flood many years before it really happened. The birth of Jesus Christ was prophesied from the beginning of time, causing many generations to pass away without seeing its fulfillment.

In a more modern example, Joseph Smith delivered a revelation known as the Word of Wisdom. It is the much discussed Mormon health code, which prohibits coffee, real tea, alcohol, and tobacco. It encourages people to eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables and to limit meat intake. This was not at all how people lived in the 1800s, when Joseph lived. In fact, it was only fairly recently that we understood the dangers of tobacco. Today, eating whole grains, fruits, and vegetables is exactly what experts tell us to do. Could a young, uneducated farm boy have known more about nutrition and tobacco than the experts of the time? Scientific studies have confirmed that Mormons live longer and have better health than others if they are living the complete Word of Wisdom, even when other factors are eliminated. We need to watch how the teachings of prophets have played out over the course of time.

Jesus was preparing us for the continuation of prophet after His death and a return of prophets after the apostasy. The reason He needed to explain how to tell real prophets from false ones is because there would be real prophets. He never at all said there would be no further prophets, but He did spend time preparing us to recognize those future prophets.

Perhaps the most telling proof that Jesus did not intend to be the last prophet is found in Ephesians 4. Again, this comes from Paul, a strong advocate of continued revelation. He wrote:

“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.

 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Paul explains that prophets were given to us to perfect the saints and that the need for prophets would continue until we enjoyed a unity of faith. As we look around us today, we can see the world has not yet achieved a unity of faith and so prophets are still needed to clarify doctrine, which is regularly debated and altered by the desires of human beings over the teachings of God.

This is why Mormons have no trouble accepting that God, who loves us, is happy to provide us with a prophet, as He promised He would, to guide us through the challenges of the Last Days.

Mormons are best known for their use of the Book of Mormon, but it is less well-known they consider the Bible equally important in their study of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They use the King James translation of the Bible in English and other translations in other languages, but they use both the Old and the New Testament.

Thomas S. Monson, the current Mormon prophet, gave an address to members of the Mormon Church in 1985, when he was an apostle. (Mormons have a prophet who is assisted by two counselors and also a quorum of twelve apostles who fill the same role as Jesus’ apostles.)

Read: Thomas S. Monson, “Come, Learn of Me”, Ensign, Dec. 1985, 46

The title of the talk is taken from Matthew, chapter 11 in the New Testament:

28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

The story of the Mormon Church began with a Bible and a teenage boy’s desire to know which church to join. Joseph Smith was fourteen when he read in James 1:5:

“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.” This scripture led him to pray in the woods near his home to find out what church to join. God instructed him not to join any of them, because none had the complete truth. When he was grown, God would send an angel to prepare him for the restoration of the gospel.

Since that time, Mormons have strongly emphasized the importance of the Bible and other scriptures. Children as young as eighteen months are taught scripture stories in church, with older children receiving more serious scripture training. Teens receive, in addition to Sunday School, a weekday religion class that focuses on one book of scripture a year for the four years of high school. Two of those years are spent on the Bible. College students receive, in addition to their Sunday School curriculum, a college-level course taken during the school year which allows them to study the scriptures in great detail. Sunday school classes for ages eight and up rotate on a four-year cycle, with two years being devoted to the Bible.

Mormon families are also taught to study the scriptures at home during daily scripture study and individuals are asked to study the scriptures on their own each day as well. In all, most Mormons are reading the scriptures several times each day in personal study, family study, and church classes.

For Thomas Monson, the scriptures are an important part of his faith. “The words of truth and inspiration found in our four standard works are prized possessions to me. I never tire of reading them. I am lifted spiritually whenever I search the scriptures. These holy words of truth and love give guidance to my life and point the way to eternal perfection.”

The Mormon prophet enjoys using examples of great Biblical heroes in his many religious talks. He holds them up as examples for Mormons to follow in their own lives.

For example, in 1987, he talked to Mormons about following the example of David in his battle against Goliath.

The battle for our souls is no less important that the battle fought by David. The enemy is no less formidable, the help of Almighty God no farther away. What will our action be? Like David of old, “our cause is just.” We have been placed upon earth not to fail or fall victim to temptation’s snare, but rather to succeed. Our giant, our Goliath, must be conquered” (Thomas S. Monson, “Meeting Your Goliath“, Ensign, Jan. 1987, 2).

President Monson likes to remind Mormons to remember the past and the many sacrifices that occurred so we could have the Bible in our hands. He speaks often of early Protestant reformers and their role, which was so critical to the beginnings of his own religion, even though Mormons, while Christian, are not Protestants:

“Space will not allow a detailed discussion here of the many individuals whose efforts have made the scriptures available to us. Were there space, we could explore the contributions of such chosen prophets as Moses, who brought us in written form the inspired writings of earth’s earliest times. We would think of Jewish leaders who preserved the records of Israel. We would remember the Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ whose testaments of His divine ministry on earth were so carefully kept. We would recall the sacrifices of Reformation leaders who, in some instances, gave their very lives to assure that common people could read the Bible.

In another talk, he said:

In due time honest men with yearning hearts, at the peril of their very lives, attempted to establish points of reference, that they might find the true way. The day of the Reformation was dawning, but the path ahead was difficult. Persecutions would be severe, personal sacrifice overwhelming, and the cost beyond calculation. The reformers were pioneers, blazing wilderness trails in a desperate search for those lost points of reference that they felt would lead mankind back to the truth Jesus taught.

Wycliffe, Luther, Hus, Zwingli, Knox, Calvin, and Tyndale all pioneered during the period of the Reformation. Significant was the declaration of Tyndale to his critics: “I will cause a boy that driveth the plough shall know more of the scripture than thou doest.”

Such were the teachings and lives of the great reformers. Their deeds were heroic, their contributions many, their sacrifices great—but they did not restore the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Of the reformers, one could ask: “Was their sacrifice in vain? Was their struggle futile?” I answer with a reasoned no. The Holy Bible was now within the grasp of the people. Each person could better find his or her way. Oh, if only all could read and all could understand! But some could read, and others could hear, and all had access to God through prayer” (Thomas S. Monson, “Led by Spiritual Pioneers”, Ensign, Aug. 2006, 2–8).

Mormons teach their members to be grateful to all those of any faith who helped bring us the scriptures because they are a critical part of our religion. Mormons turn to the scriptures to understand God’s relationship with man, to learn what God wants us to do, and to find comfort and inspiration. In the Bible, we learn how God ran His church in early times—apostles, prophets, priests, elders, and so forth—and can find the earliest models for their own structure.

Thomas S. Monson, having come from the printing industry, was instrumental in creating the award-winning Mormon edition of the Bible. This is a King James translation, but with footnotes and reference material that integrated the four books of the Mormon canon. It made it easier for a Mormon who reads a scripture in the Bible to quickly research to find out what the Book of Mormon says on the same subject, for instance and to be certain they are completely understanding the scriptures.

Just as the printing press made it easier for the first Bibles to be made available to more people, the development of computer technology made it much more possible for this six-year project to progress at a comparatively rapid pace.

President Monson noted many instances of miracles which helped the books come forth without error.

The Lord opened many doors at various times of need as the work progressed, and quiet miracles occurred to keep it moving. During the printing process, I witnessed such divine help, for I was the recipient. At the printing plant of the Cambridge University Press in Cambridge, England, I was shown the long battery of presses on which the Latter-day Saint edition of the King James version of the Bible was being printed. The work had been declared proofread and proofread, again and again, and pronounced free from error. As I walked along the press line, pausing briefly at the delivery end of each press, I removed from one a printed sheet. My eyes observed a horizontal rule that had been misplaced, making the text confusing to the reader. The press was stopped. The error was corrected. I paused to thank my Heavenly Father, and a warm feeling came over me. I learned that day the meaning of the poet’s words: “The smile of God’s approval is the greatest of all gifts.

The new edition of the Bible was a carefully carried out process. Three high level church leaders were put in charge of the  project, including President Monson, who was not yet president of the Church. He brought to the project administrative skills and his background in the printing industry. Boyd K. Packer, coming from the Mormon’s education department, brought an understanding of what teachers needed from the book and also an understanding of the needs to keep the final purchase price low. Elder McConkie had an unusually strong understanding of scriptures.

In addition, other specialists were brought in, including people who knew Greek and Hebrew and some who were experts in Mormon scripture.

Cambridge University Press, which had been printing Bibles since the 1600s, was interested in working on this project with the Mormons and they were selected, despite the great distance between the press and Salt Lake City, Utah. It was the largest printing project they had ever undertaken, but the effort won them a major award for best typesetting project in England.

The final project contained LDS specific footnotes, chapter summaries specific to Mormon teachings with cross-references as needed, maps, a concordance and a Bible dictionary. The work continued through several administrations. Today it is the standard Bible used in all Mormon classes, allowing teachers to send students to specific pages and to ensure all students have the same information available to them as they study in class or at home.

For a more detailed history of the history of the LDS edition of the Bible, see Wm. James Mortimer, “The Coming Forth of the LDS Editions of Scripture“, Ensign, Aug. 1983, 35.

Thomas Monson, the current Mormon prophet, is well-known for his compassion for others. It is a favorite theme in the talks he gives and in his own life as well. One aspect of his life best-known to Mormons is that as a young bishop (similar to a minister) he had responsibility for a large number of widows in his congregation. He watched over them carefully, bringing  them a roasting chicken each Christmas—and thus missing much of the Christmas celebration in his own home—and speaking at each of their funerals.

In the October 1971 General Conference (a semi-annual meeting held and broadcast world-wide) he gave a talk called “With Hand and Heart.” In this talk, he reminded people of their responsibility to help and to love others. He used, as evidence of our responsibility, several examples of how Jesus treated people in His own time.

“ 2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

  3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed (Matthew 8, King James translation of the Bible.)

Jesus was powerfully busy during His brief ministry, and very important, with a surprisingly large number of followers, given the short period of time in which he had to preach. Despite this, He did not focus His service on those with money, power, or the greatest ability to help Him in His work. In fact, most of His work appeared to be with those who could do little to improve His acceptance in His community. A leper was someone most people preferred to stay away from and certainly not to touch. President Monson points out that Jesus was not harmed by touching the leper, but the leper was healed by the Savior’s touch. From this we can learn the importance of reaching out and touching the lives of others, even those most people prefer to avoid.

In another example, Jesus took the hand of Peter’s mother to heal her. He took the hand of the daughter of Jairus in His to heal her.

His apostles clearly learned from Jesus’ example. One day, Peter and John were leaving the temple when a disabled man who was brought there each day to beg asked them for money. He didn’t appear to know who they were. John asked the man to look at them, which the man did, clearly hoping for a gift. Peter told the man he had no money, but that he would give the man what he had to give. He then commanded the man to stand up and walk. President Monson points out that we often conclude the story there, neglecting to note that Peter didn’t just give instruction—he reached out and helped the man to stand.

President Monson warns people against refusing to help someone because they believe the person brought his problems on himself or will never change.

“A few see beyond the outward appearance and recognize the true worth of a human soul. When they do, miracles occur. The downtrodden, the discouraged, the helpless become “no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God.” (Eph. 2:19.) True love can alter human lives and change human nature.

This truth was stated so beautifully on the stage in My Fair Lady. Eliza Doolittle, the flower girl, spoke to one for whom she cared and who later was to lift her from such mediocre status: “You see, really and truly, apart from the things anyone can pick up (the dressing and the proper way of speaking, and so on), the difference between a lady and a flower girl is not how she behaves, but how she’s treated. I shall always be a flower girl to Professor Higgins, because he always treats me as a flower girl, and always will; but I know I can be a lady to you, because you always treat me as a lady, and always will.” (Adapted from Pygmalion, in The Complete Plays of Bernard Shaw, p. 260.)

Eliza Doolittle was but expressing the profound truth: When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they will become what they should be. (Adapted from a quotation by Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe.)

In reality, it was the Redeemer who best taught this principle. Jesus changed men. He changed their habits and opinions and ambitions. He changed their tempers, dispositions, and natures. He changed their hearts. He lifted! He loved! He forgave! He redeemed! Do we have the will to follow?”

It should be noted Jesus and the apostles did not do background checks on those they served. When Jesus helped stop a woman from being stoned for adultery he did not say, “Well, let me look into it and see what kind of person you are and if you’re worthy of my service.” He served her knowing nothing more than the accusation against her and then talked to her about her responsibility. He treated her with dignity and respect, not as a sinner. Surely that act of kindness impacted her life, but whether or not it did, Jesus did the right thing. We aren’t taught to do the right thing only when we’re sure of the results.

It’s important to note that in these Biblical examples, both Jesus and His apostles did more than just talk. They knew sermons alone could not solve the problems faced by these people. Action—service—was needed. Moreover, it was personal service and included physical touch in most cases. This suggests that while donating to charity, for instance, is important in order to allow larger-scale projects to occur, it does not remove the need to do personal service as well. We must meet needs one-on-one, giving something of ourselves, and touching others, both spiritually and literally. One-on-one service is the most meaningful. It has more power to change lives than even the best institutional service and gives us more of an opportunity to meet exact needs in a personalized way.

President Monson’s message, in this talk, is to give with both our hands and our hearts because loving service changes lives. He promised that if we follow the Savior’s example in serving with both hand and heart, we can “lift and love our neighbor to a newness of life.”

Women hold a special place in the church. They are the center of service and of the home. They lead, preach, teach, and hold many positions in the church, and they create the heart of their families. Gordon B. Hinckley, the prophet of the Mormons, speaks about women and their roles in life.

A model of ideal womanhood is Ruth. Sensing the grief-stricken heart of her mother-in-law Naomi-who suffered the loss of each of her two fine sons-feeling perhaps the pangs of despair and loneliness that plagued the very soul of Naomi, Ruth uttered what has become that classic statement of loyalty: “Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” 14 Ruth’s actions demonstrated the sincerity of her words.

Through Ruth’s undeviating loyalty to Naomi, she was to marry Boaz, by which she-the foreigner and Moabite convert-became a great-grandmother of David and, therefore, an ancestor of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Thomas S. Monson, “Models to Follow,” Ensign, Nov 2002, 60

What the modernists, even the liberationists, fail to remember is that women, in addition to being persons, also belong to a sex, and that with the differences in sex are associated important differences in function and behavior. Equality of rights does not imply identity of functions. As Paul the apostle declared: “… neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” (1 Cor. 11:11.)

Recognizing the truth of this statement, may I issue to you three challenges for our times: first, sustain your husband; second, strengthen your home; third, serve your God.

Thomas S. Monson, “The Women’s Movement: Liberation or Deception?,” Ensign, Jan 1971, 17

Sisters, you are the epitome of love. You brighten your homes, you lead with kindness your children; and while your husbands may be head of the home, you surely are the heart of the home. Together, through respect for each other and sharing of responsibilities, you make an unbeatable team.

To me it is significant that when children need care and loving attention, they turn to you-their mothers. Even the wayward son or neglectful daughter, when he or she recognizes the need to return to the embrace of family, almost inevitably comes to Mother, who has never given up on her child.

Mother’s love brings out the best in a child. You become the model for your children to follow.

The first word a child learns and utters is usually the dear expression “Mama.” To me it is significant that on the battlefields of war or in peace, frequently when death is about to overtake a son, his final word is usually “Mother.” Sisters, what a noble role is yours. I testify that your hearts are filled with love.

Thomas S. Monson, “‘Be Thou an Example’,” Ensign, Nov 2001, 98

Beginning with Adam’s first conversation with God, the people who have lived here on Earth have benefitted from prophets. Prophets are priesthood holders who are authorized to speak for God. Many people are familiar with such Old Testament prophets as Moses or Noah.

Prophets are necessary in order for us to learn the commandments and to understand the teachings of God. Adam received teachings from God, but he was not the last prophet. God continued to send prophets to enlarge our understanding of gospel principles and to teach us how to cope with specific situations in our own time. Some teachings from prophets were meant to be followed or taught forever; others, such as the commandment to build an ark, was meant only for a specific situation or time.

Prophets helped to prepare the people of the world for the birth of the Savior, Jesus Christ. They were given prophecies that would help them recognize Him when He came, and taught the gospel to a level that would allow them to be prepared for His coming. When Jesus Christ began his mortal ministry, He too became a prophet-the greatest prophet of all time. As God’s only begotten Son, He had a much closer relationship to God than any other prophet.

After His death, the apostles Jesus had chosen carried on the work and received prophecy for the church. However, when they were gone, prophecy also left the earth. No one was authorized to receive prophecy on behalf of the entire church, a time referred to as the Great Apostasy.

This apostasy ended when Joseph Smith was chosen to become the first prophet of the latter-days. These are the final days before the return of the Savior, and just as prophets were called to prepare us for the first coming of Christ, they are again on the earth to prepare us for the second coming. God has promised that with this restoration, the world will never again be without a prophet.

The Mormons are led by a prophet today. An orderly system that leaves God entirely in charge makes certain we are never without a prophet, and to ensure prophets won’t be chosen through negotiations or votes. The church is led by the prophet, two counselers, and a quorum of twelve apostles. They are ordered based on when they were chosen to become an apostle. At the death of the prophet, the First Presidency (the prophet and his counselors) is dissolved. Each person returns to his place in the quorum and the most senior person then becomes the new prophet and selects new counselors. This leaves God entirely in control, since He controls the length of a person’s life.

Following this pattern, Thomas S. Monson is the current prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, often referred to as Mormons. In this role, he is the only person alive who can receive revelation for the entire church.

Every person can receive revelation for himself and for whatever he is responsible for. For instance, a father can receive revelation for his children, and a Sunday School teacher can receive revelation concerning how to teach her class. A bishop (a Mormon lay pastor) can receive revelation about how to lead his congregation. Only a prophet, however, can receive revelation for the entire church.

Mormons are taught that when they’re seeking to know what God wants them to know, they must look to the most recent prophet who has spoken on the subject. Otherwise, they might find themselves building an ark when it’s not going to rain. Although doctrine doesn’t change, practice does-as in the case of the ark. The doctrine is to follow the warnings God sends. The practice was to build an ark. Today, we still follow God’s warnings, but we don’t build arks because it’s a different time and our needs are different. So, while prophets throughout history, both in ancient times and in current times, have taught many things, it is the teaching of the most recent prophet we follow.

Many Christians today honor and follow the prophets of the Old Testament, and the Savior and His apostles. However, they find it somehow unsettling to have a prophet who is alive, even though the people of the Old and New Testament were expected to listen to their prophets while they were still alive. Today, people like their prophets to have been dead and buried for many centuries.

Theodore Tuttle said, “It is an easy thing to believe in the dead prophets. Many people do. For some mysterious reason there is an aura of credibility about them. It is not so with the prophet who lives among us, who must meet life’s everyday challenges. But it is a great thing to believe in the living prophets. Our salvation is contingent upon our belief in a living prophet and adherence to his word. He alone has the right to revelation for the whole Church. His words, above those of any other man, ought to be esteemed and considered by the Church as well as by the world. One day this truth will be understood.” (A. Theodore Tuttle, “What Is a Living Prophet?,” Ensign, Jul 1973, 18)

Jesus Christ spoke of this very problem. He said, “A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.” (Mark 6:4. In other words, we feel more secure with distant, impersonal prophets. But as Jesus understood better than most, a prophet is a prophet even if he lives next door to you. The only requirement is that he was personally chosen by God, and not by man.

Thomas S. Monson is today’s prophet. While he does not have a long beard, a white robe, or a staff, he is as much a prophet as was Moses or Noah because, like these Old Testament prophets, he was chosen by God.