What is a Prophet?

A prophet is God’s authorized mouthpiece to the world to bear witness of Jesus Christ’s divine Sonship and Messiahship, to proclaim God’s commandments to mankind, to call for repentance, and to explain how mankind can keep God’s commandments. God follows a pattern for revealing truth to His children through providing a prophet, scriptures, and the Holy Ghost to confirm truth.

A prophet is a revelator. He receives revelations from the Lord. These revelations have to do with the prophet’s stewardship. An example of prophetic stewardship can be found in the ministry of John the Baptist. He was a revelator, called to serve as a forerunner to the ministering Christ, to lead people to Him. He received his knowledge of Christ mostly through revelation. He preached and served in a very small area of Judea, within the confines of his calling and stewardship. Later, the Apostle Paul was given a stewardship to preach to the Gentiles. This he did, and he received revelation according to that realm of service. Much of what prophets teach is of a practical nature, geared to the current condition of the people they serve. This is why the world always needs prophets, and why God has chosen to send prophets to modern society. Said the ancient prophet Amos: “Surely the Lord will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). 1

Relationship Between the Latter-day Saints and the Modern Prophet

Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe that God has called and does speak to a prophet today. That man is Thomas S. Monson.  Mormons do not worship Thomas S. Monson, but do respect his prophetic calling and honor his life of goodness and service.

In the capacity of prophet, President Monson calls the world to repentance, expounds the commandments, and testifies of Jesus Christ.  Every six months, the Church convenes a General Conference where President Monson and others who serve as special witnesses of Jesus Christ give pertinent guidance and reproof. The Church broadcasts General Conference worldwide via satellite and internet and encourages members of the Church, as well as friends of other faiths, to receive the Church leaders’ messages of Mormon belief and doctrine.

Latter-day Saints consider these General Conference messages to be the word of God.

Some people may wonder if Latter-day Saints consider every word spoken by the President of the Church to be the binding word of God.

In 2007 the Church posted the following on www.lds.org:

Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency …and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles… counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture…, official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted. 2

Are Mormon Prophets Infallible?

Michael R Ash discussed this question in his excellent article “The Problem of Fundamentalism”:

“I make no claim of infallibility,” said President Spencer W. Kimball. 3 “We make no claim of infallibility or perfection in the prophets, seers, and revelators,” said Elder James E. Faust. Elder George Q. Cannon taught, “the First Presidency cannot claim, individually or collectively, infallibility.” 4

Some members have trouble accepting the fact that prophets have human weaknesses and can make mistakes. Prophets are not fax machines for the Word of God. Like all humans they must interpret and convey impressions through imperfect and incomplete human language and understanding. As Brigham Young once explained, there “isn’t a single revelation” given “that is perfect in its fulness.” God speaks “to us in a manner to meet our capacities.” 5

 

We must realize that prophets are just one of the many tools God utilizes in His plan to lead us back home. Prophets have the keys to the priesthood and can receive revelation and instruction for the entire Church. God’s ultimate plan, however, is that we, individually, come to Him through personal sacrifice, humility, obedience, and prayer, so that we may receive personal communication from on high.

Prophets and apostles—as mortal men—are not exempt from making errors. They are also entitled to their own opinions on areas where we have not received solid revelatory answers, and they are as free as all members to speculate on issues of history and science. The Lord assures us, however, that if we are living lives that allow the Holy Spirit to work within us and speak to us, if we are seeking God’s guidance through our actions, thoughts, and desires, if we pray always, accept Christ’s atonement and conform to His will, then we can receive our own revelation confirming those expedient teachings pertinent to our salvation. 6

Brigham Young, 2^nd president of The Church of Jesus Christ declared,

I am … afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates. 7

Personal Responsibility of Each Latter-day Saint

Ultimately, each Latter-day Saint individually approaches the throne of God to plead for the Grace of Jesus Christ’s Atonement to be efficacious in his or her behalf. The way is straight. The path made clear because God provides a prophet, scriptures and the Holy Ghost.

I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet of God. As I prayed and asked God for His confirmation, I felt a peace and joy in my mind and heart. My question dissipated and I felt a surety that President Monson is God’s chosen prophet on the earth today. I have prayed to know how to apply his messages in my life and the Lord has directed me in ways specific to my strengths and weaknesses. For instance, President Monson exhorted everyone to seek out the lonely in effort to love our neighbors as ourselves. As I prayed about how to follow that guidance, I felt impressed to spend more time with several widows in our area. Those visits blessed my life and I felt closer to the Savior as I followed the prophet’s counsel.

Have you wondered if God has called a prophet today as in ancient times? I invite you to contact missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, listen to their message, and pray to God to know for yourself if there is a living prophet on the earth today!

marc

I stood awkwardly behind a large black plastic garbage can, suddenly embarrassed that I hadn’t put on my shoes yet.  He didn’t care.  He smiled with warmth and kindness and I knew.  I knew.  This man was a disciple of Jesus Christ.

As an adult I still hold that memory as a treasure because now President Thomas S. Monson is the prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, sometimes inadvertently called the Mormon Church.

To understand the significance of prophets, imagine you’re getting ready to go out on a date with your spouse and you hear a knock on the front door.  There stands a very pleasant looking woman, “Hello.  I’m here to watch your children for you,” she smiles.

“I didn’t hire you,” you reply, puzzled.

“Well, I’m highly qualified.  I have a Ph.D. in early childhood development, I’m certified in CPR, and of course, I love children,” she explains. 

“Oh.  Well, that’s very nice of you to offer,” you say. “But I’ve chosen someone I know and trust to watch my children. I’m sure you’re a good person, but as a parent I get to decide who will guard my children in my absence.  And I’ve made my choice.”

Parents have both the responsibility and the privilege of guarding their children.  This same principle holds true in Heaven as well.  God the Father has chosen, in our absence from Him, guardians who lead, guide and protect us, His children.  They are prophets. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ adamantly claim to follow a living prophet.

A distinction, then, needs to be made between the self-aggrandizing and manipulating self-proclaimed “prophets” commonly highlighted in media, because their congregations have grown into mega-churches,  and the true and loyal servants of Christ who are called as prophets by God and given the authority and power to convey revelation from heaven.

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Savior explained that there would be many “false prophets” who would appear to be innocent like sheep but inwardly they would be “ravening wolves.”  He continued, “Ye shall know them by their fruits…  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit” (Matt. 7:15-18).

Jesus Christ explained that anyone may know a true prophet from a false prophet by examining the fruits which they bear, or in other words, the labors they perform and the life they live.  By utilizing this test of character and by examining the pattern of the Lord’s leadership found in both the Old and New Testaments, the validity and necessity of the claim of living prophets surfaces.

A prophet is a man who is called by God to lead His children.  Prophets always point the way back to Jesus Christ.  Prophets are humans and may have flaws and weaknesses like all humans do, yet through the call of God they are authorized and given authority to speak for the Lord.

Some may question why being called of God matters or what it entails. Many Christians feel they have been called of God to serve in ministries and to testify of Christ.  For members of the LDS church, the call of prophets by God is literal.

Most Christians are very familiar with Moses’ call to be a prophet and to free the children of Israel.  Samuel was called in the temple by the Lord and answered, “Here I am.” Likewise, in 1820, Jesus Christ and God the Father appeared to Joseph Smith as a teenager, calling him by name.  Joseph Smith was ordained, or blessed by having hands placed on his head, by the resurrected Peter, James and John, as well as other resurrected prophets.  They gave him the keys of the priesthood of God, the governing right to operate through God’s authority, thereby setting him apart as one who could speak on behalf of God.

Joseph Smith then called and set apart others with these same powers by blessing them with his hands on their heads.  These men comprised a restored quorum of twelve apostles.  Upon the death of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, the senior member of the quorum, became the acting president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and prophet.  All members of the quorum of the twelve apostles have the authority to speak as the voice of God because they have been ordained, as Joseph Smith was, by the laying on of hands by those who have authority.

Although many good Christians may feel called to serve God’s children, like the volunteer babysitter in the example, God chooses who He will to guide His children as prophets.  Christ, speaking to the Twelve Apostles of His day during the Last Supper, taught, “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…” (John 15:16).

The claim of living apostolic and prophetic authority, although unique to members of the Church of Jesus Christ in doctrine among Christian sects, follows the Lord’s pattern of leadership evident in both the Old and New Testaments.

Some question how the doctrine remains pure when a new prophet may alter a practice of a previous prophet. The biblical example of this is Peter addressing the circumcision of gentiles. Although circumcision had been well established as an integral part of the covenant between God and his people, when proselytizing of non-Jews began after the resurrection of Christ, the practice changed because of revelation.  As the prophet and senior member of the quorum of the twelve apostles, Peter was given the guidance to alter this practice.

In modern times, The Church of Jesus Christ is governed by this same spirit of revelation, which allows the current prophet to lead the people under his watch-care according to the will of the Lord, at times altering the practices of the church.  The core doctrines of the gospel, however, have always remained unchanged.

Elder Neil L. Anderson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, explained that the doctrine of the Church remains pure because it is, “taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is not difficult to find.”

Although I’ve had the unique experience of having a personal encounter with the prophet, Thomas S. Monson, anyone can come to know what I did by studying his words and his life and then contemplating his fruits and the continued pattern of the Lord’s leadership evident in the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and the living prophet.

A loving Heavenly Father has chosen someone to watch over us.

miranda

Miranda likes eating frozen cookie dough, playing with her four kids and her amazing husband, reading worthwhile things, and singing her lungs out. She graduated from BYU with a BA and continues learning new things everyday. She was recently interviewed for LDS Living in an article about how Latter-day Saints can better support military families and has been published in the Ensign magazine. She lives on a remote Air Force station in Cavalier in North Dakota where my husband is stationed in the USAF. We’ll only be here for two more months, but for the past two years it’s been home. We have four children Mason, Miriam, Cyrus and Gideon. They are ages 8, 6, 4, and 2 respectively. I love musical theater and am working on writing the book for a musical based on Corie ten Boom’s “The Hiding Place.” Have you read it? It’s an amazing story and I feel priviledged to be able to create my own adaptation of it. I also sew a bit and sing and I exercise. And I read quite a bit. I’ve worked in the nursery for about a year as my calling.

One day a few years ago, after taking care of matters at the office, I felt a strong impression to visit an aged widow who was a patient at a senior care center in Salt Lake City. I drove there directly.

When I went to her room, I found it empty. I asked an attendant concerning her whereabouts and was directed to a lounge area. There I found this sweet widow visiting with her sister and another friend. We had a pleasant conversation together.

As we were talking, a man came to the door of the room to obtain a can of soda from the vending machine. He glanced at me and said, “Why, you are Tom Monson.”

“Yes,” I replied. “And you look like a Hemingway.”

He acknowledged that he was Stephen Hemingway, the son of Alfred Eugene Hemingway, who had served as my counselor when I was a bishop many years ago and whom I called Gene. Stephen told me that his father was there in the same facility and was near death. Gene had been calling my name, and the family had wanted to contact me but had been unable to find a telephone number for me.

I excused myself immediately and went with Stephen up to the room of my former counselor, where others of his children were also gathered, his wife having passed away some years previous. The family members regarded my meeting Stephen in the lounge area as a response by our Heavenly Father to their great desire that I would see their father before he died and answer his call. I also felt that this was the case, for if Stephen had not entered the room in which I was visiting at precisely the time he did, I would not have known that Gene was even in that facility.

We gave a blessing to him. A spirit of peace prevailed. We had a lovely visit, after which I left.

The following morning a phone call revealed that Gene Hemingway had passed away—just 20 minutes after he had received the blessing from his son and me. [1]

Following the promptings of the Holy Spirit has enabled Prophet Thomas S. Monson to offer a lifetime of service to the Lord Jesus Christ.

The article in which this experience was recounted is called “Peace, Be Still,” and it is meant to demonstrate that the Lord is mindful of us every minute of our lives.  He knows us—every thought and molecule.  He usually blesses us through His servants, whom He prompts to bring us comfort through the Holy Ghost.  In this case, He sent a message through the Holy Ghost to President Monson, in order to bless the life of his old friend as he passed from mortality.

The Holy Ghost is sometimes called the Comforter, and he can offer us peace in the most trying of circumstances—Gene Hemingway’s family was blessed with peace at their loved one’s passing through this experience.  They were assured and comforted by God’s tender mercies specific to their trial and at the moment they needed them.

In some cases, instead of prompting one of God’s servants to minister to our needs, the Savior, through the Holy Ghost, does it Himself.  In the same article is a story of a girl who lost her brother to death.  On the anniversary of his passing, she nearly suffocated with grief.  She called upon the Savior in mighty prayer.  She longed for comfort.

I asked my Father in Heaven to please heal my heart. The pain was too much for me to deal with alone.  Then a feeling of peace, comfort, and love swept over my entire body. I felt as though God had wrapped His arms around me and was protecting me from the intense pain I had felt. I still missed my brother, but I was able to see with different eyes. There was so much for me to learn from this experience. I know the Lord’s love and peace are available. We need only to partake. [1]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpYagtCon2s&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y9H0fpxXY4&feature=youtu.be

Gale

Gale is a former fibro and CMP sufferer. She hopes this information will help other sufferers on their journey to good health.

President Monson served in the United States Navy during World War II. Of that experience he recalls:

I believe my first experience in having the courage of my convictions took place when I served in the United States Navy near the end of World War II.

Navy boot camp was not an easy experience for me, nor for anyone who endured it. For the first three weeks I was convinced my life was in jeopardy. The navy wasn’t trying to train me; it was trying to kill me. [1]

President Monson also recalls some of the important life lessons that he learned while serving in the Navy. One of those lessons was the courage to stand alone. In a Mormon Message video appropriately titled “Dare to Stand Alone” he recounts an incident that really helped him to fully understand the importance of this principle.

Of that incident President Monson has said:

Since that day there have been times when there was no one standing behind me and so I did stand alone. How grateful I am that I made the decision long ago to remain strong and true, always prepared and ready to defend my religion, should the need arise. [1]

He was ordained an elder in The LDS Church one week prior to leaving for active duty. He would soon learn another important life lesson that would involve using the Priesthood authority which he now had. That lesson was to always be willing to help to heal. He recalls:

The night preceding our Christmas leave, the barracks were quiet. Suddenly I became aware that my buddy in the adjoining bunk—a member of the Church, Leland Merrill—was moaning in pain. I asked, “What’s the matter, Merrill?”

He replied, “I’m sick. I’m really sick.”

The hours lengthened; his groans grew louder. Then, in desperation, he whispered, “Monson, aren’t you an elder?” I acknowledged this to be so, whereupon he pleaded, “Give me a blessing.”

I became very much aware that I had never given a blessing. My prayer to God was a plea for help. The answer came: “Look in the bottom of the seabag.” Thus, at 2:00 a.m. I emptied the bag. I then took to the night-light The Missionary’s Hand Book and read how one blesses the sick. With about 120 curious sailors looking on, I proceeded with the blessing. Before I could again stow my gear, Leland Merrill was sleeping. [1]

Of the experience President Monson commented, “If we are on the Lord’s errand, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. His help has come to me on countless occasions throughout my life.” [1]

Another important life lesson that he learned while serving in the Navy was the importance of being honest.He tells of a particular day where an officer had made the announcement that everyone who knew how to swim would be put on a bus and taken to San Diego for the day. Those who did not know how to swim were to stay behind for a full day of swimming lessons. He had learned how to swim as a boy and could do so quite well, so he got in line to go on the bus to San Diego. Instead of going to their destination they were taken to a gym and were ordered to jump in the deep end of the pool. He and most of his fellow shipmates did as ordered, but there were about 10 who did not know how to swim that were pushed into the water and allowed to go under twice before being pulled out. President Monson remarked, “I tell you, I was glad I hadn’t tried that! The experience taught me the value of being honest and true to yourself at all times.” [1]

By Keith Brown

Keith L. Brown

Keith L. Brown is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having been born and raised Baptist. He was studying to be a Baptist minister at the time of his conversion to the LDS faith. He was baptized on 10 March 1998 in Reykjavik, Iceland while serving on active duty in the United States Navy in Keflavic, Iceland. He currently serves as the First Assistant to the High Priest Group for the Annapolis, Maryland Ward. He is a 30-year honorably retired United States Navy Veteran.

of-common-sense.site123.me/

Over 20,000 people stood in absolute silence, waiting. And then, after about five minutes, the familiar figure of the honored guest appeared. But it wasn’t until Thomas S. Monson, prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints greeted, smiled, and shook hands with those standing close-by that he sat down and the respectful audience was seated.

That was the first tribute of an evening of beautiful music, narration and birthday wishes for President Monson’s 85th birthday celebration. Golden Days: a Celebration of Life, held at the Salt Lake City LDS Conference Center on Friday, August 17, 2012, centered on President Monson’s dedicated service to the world.

“We are here tonight to honor his service,” said President Henry B. Eyring, first counselor in the First Presidency. “We can do it tonight, tomorrow and as long as we live by serving others in the way he serves others.”

Hosts for the evening were Steve Young, NFL football Hall of Fame quarterback and founder of the Forever Young Foundation, and Jane Clayson Johnson, Emmy award-winning national news correspondent and former co-host of The Early Show on CBS.

Dallyn Vail Bayles, professional actor, singer and recording artist, Metropolitan Opera tenor Stanford Olsen and singer and actress Rebecca Luker were the guest performers. Music and commentary highlighted President Monson’s life and included some of his favorite songs, including Broadway tunes “Seventy Six Trombones” from the Music Man; “Tomorrow” from Annie; “All I ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera; “There But For You” from Brigadoon; and “Memory” from Cats. A deeply moving rendition of “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables performed by Bayles brought the audience to its feet.

An impressive procession of nearly 200 Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts singing the Trail builder’s hymn marched on to the stage and filled the aisles of the lower level of the center as a tribute to President Monson’s four decades on the National Executive Board of Boy Scouts of America. He is the recipient of the Silver Beaver and Silver Buffalo awards, the Bronze Wolf (the highest international scouting award), and the Silver Fox Award from Canada. In a prerecorded message Bob Mazzuca, Chief Scout Executive for the Boy Scouts of America, not only wished a happy birthday but also praised President Monson for his contribution to scouting.

About half way through the program, the audience joined the hosts, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square in singing a heartfelt “Happy Birthday” to the beloved prophet.

A documentary of President Monson’s life detailed significant events, including his romance and courtship of Frances Johnson, a coed at the University of Utah, and his service in the Navy during World War II which strengthened his commitment to live the gospel.

President Monson became a bishop when he was 22 years old and hung a picture of Christ in his office. Faced with difficult situations, he asked himself what Christ would do. That same picture has hung in every office–from bishop to president of the Canadian Mission and then as an apostle at age 36, and today as prophet.

The documentary explained that in 1968, President Monson promised the Latter-day Saints behind the Iron Curtain that they would one day have their own temple if they were faithful. At that time there were no buildings, no wards, stakes or mission. To them it seemed impossible but twenty years later, a temple was built in East Germany.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, recounted his experiences.

As a German I recollect the grand act of faith when during the Cold War you blessed our people and country behind the Iron Curtain with prophetic promises which seemed impossible at the time. The grandness of this historic moment was difficult for us to comprehend. Your faith stretched ours. That faith was rewarded, and we witnessed the literal fulfillment of your blessing. An Apostle of the Lord had been among us. We understood that President Thomas S. Monson was not only our friend, but that God was his friend.

President Uchtdorf said that he had travelled to a regional conference in North Germany with President Monson. It had been several years, but he remembered the names of many members and wanted to visit, a former stake president and patriarch, Michael Panitsch. President Uchtdorf explained that brother Panitsch was bedridden, very ill, and unable to attend the conference.

“So President Monson said, ‘Then we will go to him.’

I knew that President Monson had foot surgery shortly before the trip to Germany and could not walk without pain. When I shared with President Monson that Brother Panitsch lived on the fifth floor of an older building with no elevators but very high and long staircases, he only said, ‘Dieter, don’t you worry.’ And off we went.

Every few steps he had to pause to get over the pain. He never uttered a complaint. He would not give up. He gave Brother Panitsch a beautiful blessing, cheered him up, and thanked him for his lifelong service.

Helen Keller said, ‘I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light.’ President Monson, you are a friend who brings light to the dark, and you are the prophet of God for our time. We love and sustain you. We pray for you.”

President Eyring said that he had witnessed a tribute to President Monson in the desert of Arizona when they travelled toward the airport after the dedication of the Gila Temple. He recalled:

The prophet asked his driver to let him shake the hands of a couple and their small children who were standing in the sand at the edge of the road. There was not a house in sight, but as soon as President Monson began to shake hands with the children, more families began to appear. He greeted them all with a sunny smile and each smiled back in obvious delight. He bathed them in the warmth of the pure love of Christ, without concern for his own comfort and safety and oblivious to the reactions of anyone except those he loved and greeted.

The road and the barren hills reminded me of the land above the Sea of Galilee where crowds had gathered to feel the love of the mortal Lord.

Now, these Saints of the latter days were drawn to the Savior’s prophet, an ordained servant of their day. And he blessed them by his loving, patient, undivided attention as they paid him tribute. Not only were those he greeted given a golden moment, but so were those of us who saw it happen. I am not the same, nor is any of the participants, because having felt that love, we are changed.

More than once I have remembered his example and gone out of my way and out of my zone of comfort to someone in need of attention, encouragement, and help.

President Monson has done so much of this, spoken and written, so movingly and even asked us to go as he has in the Lord’s behalf to others. The Church has been changed across the earth for generations to come.”

Reverend Monsignor Joseph Fitzgerald of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City addressed President Monson in a prerecorded video tribute:

I have known you and Frances [and] some of your family for many years and have always been struck by the tremendous devotion all of you have for the betterment of other people, to the enrichment of our community, and of the greater world. . . . So many times I’ve heard you say, ‘We can’t let the hungry stay hungry, the homeless, homeless, or those without clothing, naked. We have to do everything we can together to help those people.’ And you have.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpYagtCon2s&feature=youtu.be

Keith L. Brown

Keith L. Brown is a convert to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having been born and raised Baptist. He was studying to be a Baptist minister at the time of his conversion to the LDS faith. He was baptized on 10 March 1998 in Reykjavik, Iceland while serving on active duty in the United States Navy in Keflavic, Iceland. He currently serves as the First Assistant to the High Priest Group for the Annapolis, Maryland Ward. He is a 30-year honorably retired United States Navy Veteran.

of-common-sense.site123.me/

Brigham Young, Second Mormon Prophet

Brigham Young was born in 1801. When he was fourteen his mother died and he began to support himself. In time, he would become a carpenter. He and his first wife became Mormon in 1832, a few months before she died, leaving him a single parent. In later years, he would tease LDS (Mormon) women by telling them he could probably keep house as well or better than most of them. It took him two years of study after his family obtained copies of the Book of Mormon to decide to join. He was looking for a church that more closely matched the New Testament church set up by Jesus than did the one to which he currently belonged and would not join until he was certain it was true.

In 1835, the Mormons organized the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who functioned as did the apostles in biblical times, and Brigham Young was ordained to be one of these original apostles. Although today, apostles gain seniority based on when they became apostles, all the original apostles were called at the same time, so seniority was based on age. For that reason, when Joseph Smith was murdered, Brigham Young became the new prophet.

The Mormon Church was young and new and functioning in a time that is not like ours. It is important to remember this when looking at things Brigham Young said. It is also important to understand the role a prophet plays in the Mormon church, so let’s start there.

In the Bible, we see God provided the world with a series of prophets, not just one. Each one added new things to the gospel. Some commandments were given just for their own time, such as building an ark or traveling to the promised land. Other laws were preparatory laws, meant to be a step towards a higher law. The Law of Moses is an example of this. We don’t practice the Law of Moses today, but it prepared us for the higher laws Jesus would introduce. From this, we see that God is looking at His church in a longer-range view than we are. We see things only in terms of our life. God looks at His church as an entity to be built line upon line, step by step.

Jesus’ teachings that when the Law of Moses was fulfilled we would move on to a higher law did not in any way undermine Moses’ role as a true prophet. Moses taught God’s law—for that time in history. Each prophet took us a little closer to the fullness of the gospel, but God’s followers had to learn to recognize the difference between practices and doctrine in order to understand why things sometimes changed.

Today, Mormon beliefs include an acceptance that God has not retreated and abandoned us, leaving us with no guidance to prepare for the Second Coming. The Bible never said God would never restore prophets to the earth. He said, in fact, that He would do nothing except through His prophets. Each prophet today, as in Biblical times, teaches God’s word according to eternal principles, the needs of the current day, and our place in the progression of revealed truths. This last is, remember, demonstrated in the Bible as teachings were gradually added to our knowledge of truth.

Today, we live in a world where something a leader says can be instantly transmitted around the world. Mormon leaders, like everyone else, have learned to be more specific in explaining what is official and what is not. If you visit LDS.org, the official Mormon website, you’ll see a few sections, such as the blog, clearly described as non-official. Apostles sometimes preface remarks given to non-LDS groups as being their own opinions, not as official LDS statements. In the early days there was less expectation that every word would be preserved and so leaders were more casual in their talk. Because the church was new and there was so little revealed, people often asked Brigham Young questions that did not yet have an official answer. Where God has not spoken, we are free to come to our own conclusions based on our understanding of the gospel. Even a prophet is allowed to have opinions, and so, Brigham Young would sometimes offer an opinion. In the actual setting, people probably understood the difference, but today, many people mistakenly believe that if he said it, it is official doctrine.

General Conference, the semi-annual meeting of the Mormons, was also different then. While today it is very formal, in those days it was not. People could ask questions and get impromptu answers, a combination of revealed doctrine and personal opinion. Some of these answers and talks were recorded in the Journal of Discourses. While interesting to read, the Journal is not official doctrine. It is not a compilation of Brigham Young’s speeches. It is a compilation of notes taken in shorthand by others when he spoke. Brigham Young did not review these transcribed notes or correct them or clarify. Today, when a talk is given in General Conference, each speaker is allowed, on Monday morning, to review the actual talk given and make corrections. This allows them to alter any opinions that appeared to be given as fact or to correct the unclear or incorrect statement that invariably slips in when one is speaking. This was not done then, and the Journal of Discourses was never vetted for accuracy or monitored to be certain that what was said is what was meant. Therefore, Mormons do not quote the Journal of Discourses when sourcing official teachings. They are used only to back up official statements or for personal interest.

When looking at Brigham Young as a source of official Mormon doctrine we must remember several things. Mormons believe in following a living prophet, not a dead one. This concept was clearly taught by Jesus every time people tried to use the Law of Moses to overthrow what He was teaching. He was the living prophet in addition to being the Savior, and it was His words they needed to follow. Mormons today also follow first the teachings of the living prophet. When quoting Brigham Young, it is important to then go forward to see what the most recent statement on the issue is. God has always treated his gospel as an ongoing course of study and learning, not a static one. Otherwise, Adam would have been the last prophet. It is the most recent statement that is the official one on canonized doctrine.

Canonized doctrine means doctrine that has been made official. Not all Mormon beliefs are equal. Some are official canonized doctrine and are those that affect our eternal salvation. These are really the only ones Mormons are interested in. Everything else is just interesting at best. Who is God? Who is Jesus Christ? How do we know what is true? What do we have to know and do to return to God? What is the Plan of Salvation? These are the questions Mormons focus on.

Thomas S. Monson, Mormon Prophet

However, these tend not to be the questions outsiders talking about Mormonism focus on. Instead, they often get sidetracked by things that are not official doctrine at all. Some things are simply speculation, more commonly believed in the past. Some are no more than insider jokes mistaken by outsiders as doctrine. Some are fringe things that simply aren’t important to us. If it doesn’t impact our ability to be saved and to return to God, it isn’t that important to us and Mormons pretty much don’t care today whether those things are true or not.

It’s also important to remember that everything credited to Brigham Young was not really said by him or was said in a different context. While we honor Brigham Young for his significant contributions to the Mormon Church in extraordinarily difficult times, and we do study his words, we do not consider him the current prophet. To find out what Mormons really believe, you need to look at the church today, not how it was in the 1800s.

If you’d like to know what parts of Brigham Young’s teachings Mormons do focus on, it can be enlightening to read a book that was taught in Mormon classes a few years ago. Mormons have been studying the words of past prophets and the manuals are considered appropriate research materials. Reading this can help you to understand the contributions Brigham Young made to the church and the parts of his teachings that apply to modern times. It will become clear that he is honored and respected and that we teach much of what he taught today. We know he was a prophet for his time, just as Thomas S. Monson is the prophet of ours. However, we do not consider him the current prophet, any more than we build our entire church on the teachings of Moses.

Read Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young

However, to get official and current teachings, you need to study the teachings of Thomas S. Monson, the current Prophet.

Sin Plays for Keeps

No enumeration of failure’s many faces would be complete without the Face of Sin. This culprit plays for keeps. The stakes are high. Paul declared: “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom. 6:23.) And who can disregard the word of the Lord:

“That which breaketh a law, and abideth not by law, but seeketh to become a law unto itself, and willeth to abide in sin, and altogether abideth in sin, cannot be sanctified by law, neither by mercy, justice, nor judgment.” (D&C 88:35.)

Thomas S. Monson, “Faces and Attitudes,” New Era, Sep 1977, 47

There is a way back

If any has stumbled in his journey, there is a way back. The process is called repentance. Our Savior died to provide you and me that blessed gift. Though the path is difficult, the promise is real: “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isa. 1:18.)

Don’t put your eternal life at risk. Keep the commandments of God. If you have sinned, the sooner you begin to make your way back, the sooner you will find the sweet peace and joy that come with the miracle of forgiveness.

Thomas S. Monson, “That We May Touch Heaven,” Ensign, Nov 1990, 45

Make Wise Choices

Many of you are familiar with the play Camelot. I’d like to share with you one of my favorite lines from this production. As the difficulties among King Arthur, Sir Lancelot, and Queen Guinevere deepen, King Arthur cautions, “We must not let our passions destroy our dreams.” This plea I would leave with you tonight. Do not let your passions destroy your dreams. Withstand temptation.

Remember the words from the Book of Mormon: “Wickedness never was happiness.”

Essential to your success and happiness is the advice “Choose your friends with caution.” We tend to become like those whom we admire, and they are usually our friends. We should associate with those who, like us, are planning not for temporary convenience, shallow goals, or narrow ambition—but rather with those who value the things that matter most, even eternal objectives.

Maintain an eternal perspective. Let there be a temple marriage in your future. There is no scene so sweet, no time so sacred as that very special day of your marriage. Then and there you glimpse celestial joy. Be alert; do not permit temptation to rob you of this blessing.

Make every decision you contemplate pass this test: What does it do to me? What does it do for me? And let your code of conduct emphasize not, “What will others think?” but rather, “What will I think of myself?” Be influenced by that still, small voice. Remember that one with authority placed his hands on your head at the time of your confirmation and said, “Receive the Holy Ghost.” Open your hearts, even your very souls, to the sound of that special voice which testifies of truth. As the prophet Isaiah promised, “Thine ears shall hear a word … saying, This is the way, walk ye in it.”

The tenor of our times is permissiveness. All around us we see the idols of the movie screen, the heroes of the athletic field—those whom many young people long to emulate—as disregarding the laws of God and rationalizing away sinful practices, seemingly with no ill effect. Don’t you believe it! There is a time of reckoning—even a balancing of the ledger. Every Cinderella has her midnight—it’s called Judgment Day, even the Big Exam of Life. Are you prepared? Are you pleased with your own performance?

Thomas S. Monson, “Be Thou an Example,” Liahona, May 2005, 112–15

Noah Preached Repentance

“A just man and perfect in his generations,” one who “walked with God,”11 was the prophet Noah. Ordained to the priesthood at an early age, “he became a preacher of righteousness and declared the gospel of Jesus Christ, … teaching faith, repentance, baptism, and the reception of the Holy Ghost.”12 He warned that failure to heed his message would bring floods upon those who heard his voice, and yet they hearkened not to his words.

Noah heeded God’s command to build an ark that he and his family might be spared destruction. He followed God’s instructions to gather into the ark two or more of every living creature that they also might be saved from the floodwaters.

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895–1985) taught in general conference more than half a century ago: “As yet there was no evidence of rain and flood. … [Noah’s] warnings were considered irrational. … How foolish to build an ark on dry ground with the sun shining and life moving forward as usual! But time ran out. … The floods came. The disobedient … were drowned. The miracle of the ark followed the faith manifested in its building.”13

Noah had the unwavering faith to follow God’s commandments. May we ever do likewise. May we remember that the wisdom of God ofttimes appears as foolishness to men; but the greatest lesson we can learn in mortality is that when God speaks and we obey, we will always be right.

Thomas S. Monson, “They Marked the Path to Follow,” Ensign, Oct 2007, 4–9

Joseph Smith was the first prophet in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are often referred to as Mormons. He was a prophet in the same way Noah and Moses were prophets in their time and Mormons view him and other prophets in the same way. They don’t worship him or put him above Jesus. He is a messenger, sent to testify of Jesus Christ and deliver messages from God that apply to our times.

Noah delivered God’s message of repentance and warned the people of a flood that would kill those who did not repent. It was a message only for that time, since God no longer floods the entire earth when people don’t repent. Had there not been a prophet at that time, no one would have received the message. In other times, other prophets have delivered different messages, such as John the Baptist’s message that Jesus had been born and would soon begin his ministry.

Mormons put their faith in Jesus Christ, but they also trust their prophets. God has taught us repeatedly to do so.

22 For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.

23 And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.

24 Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days (Acts 3, King James version of the Bible).

Joseph Smith was the first prophet after an unusually long period of apostasy. Just as God sent prophets to help His children prepare for the first coming of Christ, He loves His modern day children enough to send prophets to prepare them for the second coming. While we have the words of the previous prophets, times change and today we have questions and challenges that were not even around in the days of the first prophets. God needs a way to send us direct revelation concerning these new challenges and to remind us of the commandments already taught.

All Christians believe in prophets. We know about God and Jesus only through the teachings of the prophets. Christians don’t replace God with the prophets, but they do make use of what is taught by them. After all, they weren’t there when Jesus was on the earth and Jesus wrote nothing Himself, at least nothing that has come down to us. Everything we know about God and Jesus comes to us through the words of the prophets. We treat those words with respect and devour them in our search to know more about the Savior.

Does it seem so odd that God is talking to us again today? Mormons don’t believe God is incapable of continuing to speak to His children, nor do they believe He is so uninvolved and so caring He would leave us floundering as we prepare for the critical Second Coming. There are thousands and thousands of churches teaching conflicting information on what God wants us to do, all claiming to get their information from the same book, but interpreting it in different ways. Sending a prophet to us was a great act of love, and proof of God’s continuing involvement in our lives.

Joseph Smith was the first prophet of modern times. When he died, Brigham Young became the prophet. There has been a continuing progression of prophets to guide us, just as prophets came to guide the Jewish people through the process of preparing for Christ’s coming.

The job of a prophet is not to replace Jesus Christ, but to lead people to Him.

easier to believe that someone who lived anciently is a prophet than to believe someone in your own time is a prophet.

This was a problem faced by many Old Testament prophets, as well. When Noah preached of the flood and repentance, no one outside his own family took him seriously. He was just Noah, a man they saw working his orchards and going about town each day. It was hard to imagine someone so ordinary could be a prophet and so, when he prophesied, they didn’t listen. By the time the rain began, and they realized he really was a prophet, it was too late.

Jesus Christ himself commented on this challenge. He himself was just the carpenter’s son to many. He was too familiar, and without the distance of space or time, He seemed too ordinary to be a prophet and a God to the people who had watched Him all His life. “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, He was too familiar to those around Him, including His own brothers until His resurrection.

Today, people note there is a Mormon prophet, but they find it hard to believe a person in their own time could be a prophet. They presume that God is incapable or unwilling to talk to His children today, although they have no trouble believing He could and would talk to His children long ago. Distance lends validity.

God sent prophets to the early Israelites to prepare them for Jesus’ ministry on earth. He didn’t just teach Adam everything and then hope it all got passed down correctly. He continued to bring new prophets after Adam was dead, and they continued to prepare the world for the Savior’s birth. Times change, and the prophets taught practices that applied only to that time period—build an ark, gather manna, or head for the promised land, for instance. Without a prophet, no one would have known what to do in those unique situations.

Periodically, prophets were taken from the earth and the Israelites were left to fumble through on their own, due to their lack of obedience. However, each time, God eventually restored the prophets.

Now, we are preparing for Jesus to come again. Just as prophets were sent to prepare the world for the first coming, prophets have been sent to prepare for the second coming. If we needed prophets to prepare for one, we also need them to prepare for the other.

How, though, do Mormons know Thomas S. Monson is the prophet who has

been sent? Among all those who have claimed to be prophets, how have they identified this particular man as God’s true prophet?

Mormons are taught from their childhood or from the days they are contemplating converting to Mormonism, to find this out for themselves. They’re told that the testimonies of their parents, teachers, or missionaries are only a starting point. They must find out for themselves, and they must get this information from the only one they can completely trust to lead them on the correct path. This, means, naturally, they must ask God. Only God can tell them who their prophet really is.

Mormons believe they can go to God with any question and ask for guidance and wisdom. This was promised in James 1:5 in the Bible. It’s interesting to note many scholars believe the author of this book is the half-brother of Jesus Christ. The scripture reads:

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. (James 1:5)

This is the scripture that launched the restoration of the gospel. After the death of the Savior and the apostles, people began to get confused about doctrine. In fact, it began even before the apostles died, and they often worried about this in their letters found in the New Testament. Joseph Smith, a fourteen-year-old boy, read this scripture in the early 1800s and put it to the test. He went into the woods and prayed to know which church to join. God and Jesus Christ came in person to tell him not to join any of them, because the full gospel was no longer on the earth. There was not to be a new reformation—which may have been why he couldn’t join a church in the interim—but a restoration of truth.

This critical scripture was not written just for future prophets. It is a promise from God for every person with faith. While God and Jesus are not likely to appear to us in person, since we aren’t going to be launching the restoration in the future, we can still receive answers from God, and this is what Mormons are taught to do.

When a Mormon, or someone learning about the Mormons, wants to know what is true, they go to God in prayer. We teach our investigators (people learning about Mormons) to first study and learn from reliable sources, such as missionaries, Mormon friends, and the official Mormon websites. Then they think about it and even test it out. For instance, the best way to find out if the Savior really wants us to love our neighbor is to begin treating others with love and kindness and then see how we feel as we do. It’s often said by Mormon leaders that we cannot do wrong and feel right. If we can feel God’s spirit and feel peaceful and right, we know this is a true commandment.

Answers do not always come immediately. Sometimes a person must pray for many days or weeks to know the answer. Some have even prayed for years. Sometimes we can pray for one small part of the answer and then pray for other parts in other prayers. As our ability to understand how God communicates with us improves, we can better prepare to receive answers to the big questions.

Here’s how this might work in actual practice:

Susan has been talking to her Mormon friend about Mormon beliefs. The prophet topic really interests her, because she’s often wondered why God didn’t care enough about us to help us prepare for the Second Coming. She is encouraged by her friend to pray. However, she’s just not ready to know if Thomas Monson is the prophet. She decides to start a little smaller. She reads about Old Testament prophets and what God has said about them. Then she goes to God in prayer and tells Him she believes He must have sent a prophet at some time in recent years and asks if this is true. At first she feels nothing, because she’s not used to asking for confirmation, rather than physical help. However, she perseveres and trusts God. Soon she feels a powerful, warm, and comforting feeling in her heart. She knows it is from God, because she feels at peace.

In time, she is ready to know who that prophet is and returns to God in prayer. When she receives an answer again, she understands immediately the implications of this answer.

There are some who try to convince investigators not to pray about this. They say we can’t know who is answering the prayer. However, Mormons know God can do anything and that means He is capable of answering us in a way we can recognize. Mormons don’t underestimate God. We know Satan is not the author of peace and true joy. That comes only from God. Knowing this, Mormons are able to know in a way no one can take from them that God has sent us prophets in the last days because He loves us as much as He loved His early Israelites.

Describing his experience, Joseph said: “I was one day reading the Epistle of James, first chapter and fifth verse, … 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.” 17

“At length I came to the conclusion that I must either remain in darkness and confusion, or else I must do as James directs, that is, ask of God. …

“I retired to the woods to make the attempt. It was on the morning of a beautiful, clear day, early in the spring of eighteen hundred and twenty. …

“I kneeled down and began to offer up the desires of my heart to God. …

“I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me.

“When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other-This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” 18

The Father and the Son, Jesus Christ, had appeared to Joseph Smith. The morning of the dispensation of the fulness of times had come, dispelling the darkness of the long generations of spiritual night.

Volumes have been written concerning the life and accomplishments of Joseph Smith, but for our purposes here today perhaps a highlight or two will suffice: He was visited by the angel Moroni. He translated, from the precious plates to which he was directed, the Book of Mormon, with its new witness of Christ to all the world. He was the instrument in the hands of the Lord through whom came mighty revelations pertaining to the establishment of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the course of his ministry he was visited by John the Baptist, Moses, Elijah, Peter, James, and John, that the restoration of all things might be accomplished. He endured persecution; he suffered grievously, as did his followers. He trusted in God. He was true to his prophetic calling. He commenced a marvelous missionary effort to the entire world, which today brings light and truth to the souls of mankind. At length, Joseph Smith died the martyr’s death, as did his brother Hyrum.

Joseph Smith was a pioneer indeed.

(Thomas S. Monson, “They Showed the Way,” Ensign, May 1997, 50)

No description of models for us to follow would be complete without including Joseph Smith, the first prophet of this dispensation. When but 14 years of age, this courageous young man entered a grove of trees, which later would be called sacred, and received an answer to his sincere prayer.

There followed for Joseph unrelenting persecution as he related to others the account of the glorious vision he received in that grove. Although he was ridiculed and scorned, he stood firm. Said he, “I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it, neither dared I do it.” 17

Step by step, facing opposition at nearly every turn and yet always guided by the hand of the Lord, Joseph organized The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He proved courageous in all that he did.

Toward the end of his life, as he was led away with his brother Hyrum to Carthage Jail, he bravely faced what he undoubtedly knew lay ahead for him, and he sealed his testimony with his blood.

As we face life’s tests, may we ever emulate that undaunted courage epitomized by the Prophet Joseph Smith.

(Thomas S. Monson, “They Marked the Path to Follow,” Ensign, Oct 2007, 4-9)

The Prophet Joseph Smith faced temptation. Can you imagine the ridicule, the scorn, the mocking that must have been heaped upon him as he declared that he had seen a vision? I suppose it became almost unbearable for the boy. He no doubt knew that it would be easier to retract his statements concerning the vision and just get on with a normal life. He did not, however, give in. These are his words: “I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true. … I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it.” Joseph Smith taught courage by example. He faced temptation and withstood it.

Thomas S. Monson, “Be Thou an Example,” Ensign, May 2005, 112

The call of duty came to John E. Page when the Prophet Joseph Smith extended to him a call to serve as a missionary. John E. Page “murmured” and responded, “Brother Joseph, I can’t go on a mission to Canada. I don’t even have a coat to wear.”

The Prophet Joseph removed his own coat, handed it to Brother Page, and said, “Here, take this and the Lord will bless you.” John E. Page went on that mission to Canada and, during a two-year period, walked five thousand miles and baptized six hundred people. (See Andrew Jenson, “John E. Page,” The Historical Record, 5:57.)

Thomas S. Monson, “The Call of Duty,” Ensign, May 1986, 37

When Joseph was about six or seven years old, he and his brothers and sisters were stricken with typhus fever. Although the others recovered readily, Joseph was left with a painful sore on his leg. The doctors, using the best medicine they had, treated him, and yet the sore persisted. In order to save Joseph’s life, they said, he would have to lose his leg. Thankfully, however, soon after that diagnosis, the doctors returned to the Smith home and reported that there was a new procedure which might save Joseph’s leg. They wanted to operate immediately and had brought some cord with which to tie little Joseph to the bed so that he wouldn’t thrash about, since they had nothing with which to dull the pain. Young Joseph, however, told them, “You won’t need to tie me.”

The doctors suggested he take some brandy or wine so that the pain might not be so severe. “No,” young Joseph replied. “If my father will sit on the bed and hold me in his arms, I will do whatever is necessary.” Joseph Smith Sr. held in his arms his small child, and the doctors removed the diseased piece of bone. Although young Joseph was lame for some time afterward, he was healed.  At such a young age and countless other times throughout his life, Joseph Smith taught us courage-by example.

Thomas S. Monson, “The Prophet Joseph Smith: Teacher by Example,” Ensign, Nov 2005, 67