As it says in 1 Samuel 9:9, “(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)”

The doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (which is frequently mistakenly called the “Mormon Church”) teaches that all seers are prophets, but not all prophets are seers. There is a story in the Book of Mormon (a book of scripture that is a companion to the Bible) where seers are discussed in more detail. A record was found by a group of people, but it was in a language they could not understand. They brought the record to their king, but no one in their kingdom could translate the record.

Book of Mormon Seers

A man named Ammon, who held the priesthood (the power and authority to act in God’s name), came among their people and the king asked if Ammon could translate the record. Ammon said he could not translate the record, but he knew of someone in his own kingdom who could. These are Ammon’s words:

Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.

And behold, the king of the people who are in the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from God.

And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet.

And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God.

But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.

Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings (Mosiah 8:13–18).

From this scripture, we learn that a seer may be given power from God to use these interpreters (also called a Urim and Thummim) to learn from God anything which God wishes him to know. In addition, a seer can have things revealed to him by God about the past, the present, and the future.

Living Seers Today

General authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators. General authorities of the Church include the president of the Church and his two counselors, as well as the men who comprise the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. This structure is the same as it was immediately following Jesus’ resurrection, when he made Peter, James, and John the head of the Church and more men were called to fill up the Quorum of the Twelve. Sustaining these leaders means that the members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recognize these men have been called of God and have been given the authority to lead His church on the earth. By sustaining these men, members promise to follow their counsel as they would God’s, recognizing that their words come from God.

Joseph Smith as a Seer

Joseph Smith was called as the first prophet, seer, and revelator of this last dispensation of time. A dispensation is a period of time in which the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth and a prophet is leading God’s people. However, due to wickedness and apostasy (a turning away from the truth), the fulness of the gospel has been lost periodically. Each time the fulness has been restored, it has begun a new dispensation. Modern scripture teaches that our day is the last dispensation before Jesus Christ will come again to the earth.

The Book of Mormon contains a marvelous prophecy about Joseph Smith being called as a seer in our day. This prophecy says the prophet would be named Joseph and would come through the line of Joseph of Egypt; that this prophet would be a seer and would restore the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the descendants of Israel and to the whole earth; and that those who tried to destroy him would be confounded. (See2 Nephi 3:6–14.)

It is a testimony of God’s love for His children that He will never leave them without His spokesperson for long, even when they turn away from Him. There are living prophets, seers, and revelators today. They are the general authorities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What a wonderful blessing to have men who act as the mouthpieces of God to reveal His will for His children today. Study for yourself the words of these living seers by reading the words of the semi-annual General Conferences of the Mormon Church.

dwhite

Doris White is a native of Oregon and graduated from Brigham Young University with a degree in English and a minor in Editing. She loves to talk with others about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Precious young people, 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 that testifies of truth. As the prophet Isaiah promised, “Thine ears shall hear a word … saying, This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21).

The tenor of our times is permissiveness. A most popular feature of one of the leading newspaper Sunday supplements portrays the idols of the movie screen, the heroes of the athletic field-those whom many young people long to emulate-as flouting 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. It’s called Judgment Day, even the Big Exam of Life. Are we prepared? Are we pleased with our own performances?

Thomas S. Monson, “Standards of Strength,” NewEra, Oct 2008, 2-5

I turn next to the courage you will need to be chaste and virtuous. You live in a world where moral values have, in great measure, been tossed aside, where sin is flagrantly on display, and where temptations to stray from the strait and narrow path surround you. Many are the voices telling you that you are far too provincial or that there is something wrong with you if you still believe there is such a thing as immoral behavior.

Isaiah declared, “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness.”
Great courage will be required as you remain chaste and virtuous amid the accepted thinking of the times.

In the world’s view today there is little thought that young men and young women will remain morally clean and pure before marriage. Does this make immoral behavior acceptable? Absolutely not!

The commandments of our Heavenly Father are not negotiable!

Powerful is this quote from news commentator Ted Koppel, host of ABC’s Nightline program for many years. Said he:

“We have actually convinced ourselves that slogans will save us. ‘Shoot up if you must; but use a clean needle.’ ‘Enjoy sex whenever with whomever you wish; but [protect yourself].’

“No. The answer is no. Not no because it isn’t cool or smart or because you might end up in jail or dying in an AIDS ward-but no, because it’s wrong. …

“What Moses brought down from Mt. Sinai were not the Ten Suggestions, they are Commandments. Are, not were.”
My sweet young sisters, maintain an eternal perspective. Be alert to anything that would rob you of the blessings of eternity.

Thomas S. Monson, “May You Have Courage,” Ensign, May 2009, 123-27

Because sexual intimacy is so sacred, the Lord requires self-control and purity before marriage, as well as full fidelity after marriage. In dating, treat your date with respect, and expect your date to show that same respect for you. Tears inevitably follow transgression. Men, take care not to make women weep, for God counts their tears….

From ancient times comes an example which emphasizes this truth. Darius, through the proper rites, had been recognized as legitimate king of Egypt. His rival, Alexander, had been declared legitimate son of Ammon; he, too, was Pharaoh. Alexander found the defeated Darius on the point of death and laid his hands upon his head to heal him, commanding him to arise and resume his kingly power, concluding, “I swear unto thee, Darius, by all the gods, that I do these things truly and without fakery,” to which Darius replied with a gentle rebuke, “Alexander, my boy … do you think you can touch heaven with those hands of yours?”

Brethren, are we prepared to touch heaven as we fill our priesthood callings?

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

Permissiveness, immorality, pornography, and the power of peer pressure cause many to be tossed about on a sea of sin and crushed on the jagged reefs of lost opportunities, forfeited blessings, and shattered dreams.

Anxiously you ask, “Is there a way to safety? Can someone guide me? Is there an escape from threatened destruction? The answer is a resounding yes! I counsel you: Look to the lighthouse of the Lord. There is no fog so dense, no night so dark, no gale so strong, no mariner so lost but what its beacon light can rescue. It beckons through the storms of life. It calls, “This way to safety; this way to home.”

The lighthouse of the Lord sends forth signals readily recognized and never failing. These words of warning, these safety standards, are printed in a small booklet soon to be distributed and entitled For the Strength of Youth.

May I share with you the introduction to the booklet, prepared by the First Presidency of the Church:

“Our beloved young men and women,

“We want you to know that we love you. We have great confidence in you. …

“We desire everything in this world for you that is right and good. You are not just ordinary young men and women. You are choice spirits who have been held in reserve to come forth in this day when the temptations, responsibilities, and opportunities are the very greatest. You are at a critical time in your lives. This is a time for you not only to live righteously but also to set an example for your peers. …

“God loves you. … His desire … is to have you return to Him pure and undefiled, having proven yourselves worthy of an eternity of joy in His presence. …

“We counsel you to choose to live a morally clean life. …

“You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible! Years of happiness can be lost in the foolish gratification of a momentary desire for pleasure. …

“You can avoid the burden of guilt and sin and all of the attending heartaches … as you keep the standards outlined in the scriptures and emphasized in this pamphlet. …

“We pray that you-the young and rising generation-will keep your bodies and minds clean, free from the contaminations of the world, that you will be fit and pure vessels to bear triumphantly the responsibilities of the kingdom of God in preparation for the second coming of our Savior.” (For the Strength of Youth, 1990, p. 1.)

Thomas S. Monson, “The Lighthouse of the Lord,” Ensign, Nov 1990, 95