God Speaks to Us through His Prophets

All throughout recorded history, God has called prophets to speak His words to His children. Ancient prophets included Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah. Peter and Paul were prophets. Prophets have always received and taught God’s word to His children in every age, calling their people to repentance and testifying of Jesus Christ, both before and after His mortal ministry. They lead God’s people in their day. They warn their people of the specific dangers of their time. Most of all, they point the way back to God. In good times and in bad, prophets of God provide a moral beacon to show us the way to go in an often confusing world. Amos, an Old Testament prophet, put it this way:

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).

Hosea spoke about how prophets lead and bless the lives of their people:

I have also spoken by the prophets, and I have multiplied visions, and used similitudes, by the ministry of the prophets (Hosea 12:10).

And by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved (Hosea 12:13).

Aside from the words of Jesus Himself, everything we know about God comes from the words of His prophets, throughout all the ages of the world. Moses wrote about the creation of the earth, and recorded the Ten Commandments he received from God on Mount Sinai. Even our knowledge of our Savior, Jesus Christ comes to us through the writings of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Peter and Paul. The words of the prophets are essential to our eternal lives.

The Prophet on the Earth Today

When God restored His ancient Church through revelation in modern times, He called and ordained a new prophet, Joseph Smith, to once again reveal God’s will to His people. Like all the prophets of old, Joseph Smith called the people of his day to repentance and testified of the Savior, Jesus Christ. He warned the early Mormons of danger and showed them the way to return to God. God commanded Joseph Smith to organize The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1830. Since then, the Church and the world have been blessed with living prophets to guide us in modern times, just as in times of old.

Thomas S. Monson has been called of God to be His prophet today. Thomas S. Monson is the current President of the Church of Jesus Christ. He has been ordained a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator through the priesthood authority passed down from Joseph Smith. President Monson is a humble and loving man who is worthy and willing to carry the heavy burden of being the Prophet of the Lord. Mormons know that he listens to what God says to him, and then passes it on to us. He always testifies of Jesus Christ to the world, no matter what the personal cost. If we listen to and do what Thomas Monson teaches us, he will help light the way for us to return again to our Father in Heaven.

General Conference: Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice

President Monson will preside over the 182nd annual General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He will speak several times. Mormons will listen attentively to what God, through His living prophet today, has to tell us. A Mormon hymn speaks of the blessings of listening to the prophet:

Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice

Come, listen to a Prophet’s voice,

And hear the word of God,

And in the way of truth rejoice,

And sing for joy aloud.

We’ve found the way the Prophets went

Who lived in days of yore.

Another Prophet now is sent,

This knowledge to restore.

 

The gloom of sullen darkness, spread

Through earth’s extended space

Is banished by our living Head

And God has shown His face.

Through erring schemes, in days now past,

The world has gone astray,

Yet Saints of God have found at last

The straight and narrow way.

(Hymns #21, verses 1 and 2)

Come listen yourself to the voice of God’s living prophet on the earth today. You can tune in to Mormon General Conference by finding a local TV, radio, or cable station. Or you can listen by going to lds.org. You will be blessed by following the words of the prophet. He will help you understand the gospel of Jesus Christ, and help light the way through the confusing landscape of the modern world.

Additional Resources:

182nd General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Study by Topic: Prophets

Christ’s Church

nora

“What are you looking at down there?” I recognized that voice—it was President Thomas S. Monson.

I quickly looked up and responded, “Oh, nothing.” (I’m sure that clever response inspired confidence in my abilities!)

But he had seen my subdued countenance and my heavy briefcase. He smiled and lovingly suggested, while pointing heavenward, “It is better to look up!” As we traveled down one more level, he cheerfully explained that he was on his way to the temple. When he bid me farewell, his parting glance spoke again to my heart, “Now, remember, it is better to look up” (Elder Carl B. Cook, October 2011 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints).

Thomas S. Monson: Prophet, Seer, and Revelator

Thomas S. Monson is more than just the President of the Church. He is a living prophet, seer, and revelator. As the Lord’s spokesman on the earth today, he holds the priesthood responsibility to communicate God’s will to individuals, to the Church, and to the world. He is not just the prophet for Mormons; he is the prophet for all humankind. His brief communication to Elder Cook helped Elder Cook look to God, and find in his Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ the comfort that he needed. This is the role of a prophet:

Since then I have pondered this experience and the role of prophets. I was burdened and my head was down. As the prophet spoke, I looked to him. He redirected my focus to look up to God, where I could be healed and strengthened through Christ’s Atonement. That is what prophets do for us. They lead us to God (Elder Cook, October 2011).

Prophets: Look to God and Live

There are many stories in the scriptures of prophets looking to God, and directing the people to do the same. Elijah looked to the heavens to call down fire to consume his offering, and rain to end the drought. Stephen, “being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). Elder Cook talks about Moses, who was commanded to raise a brass serpent on a pole when the children of Israel were dying after being bitten by poisonous serpents. All who were willing simply to look at the brass serpent, which represented our Savior, Jesus Christ, were healed.

Nephi, a prophet who lived in the Americas just prior to the coming of Jesus Christ, taught his people to look to the Savior for life, healing, and forgiveness. In The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Nephi used the story of the brass serpent to try to convince his people to have faith in Christ. Speaking of Moses, Nephi said:

Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.

And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal (The Book of Mormon, Helaman 8:14-15).

Looking to Jesus Christ

President Thomas S. Monson, like all the prophets before him, is asking us to look to Jesus Christ for direction and for encouragement. He works diligently every day of his life to communicate to us how important it is to look to our Savior always, in good times and in bad. Through the atonement of Jesus Christ, we can find the strength to repent of our sins, keep the Lord’s commandments, and endure the trials of life. The prophet’s words can communicate the words and the love of Christ to us, and it is through the love of God that we can experience our greatest joys here on earth. The prophet’s testimony of Christ also plants in our hearts the hope of eternal life to come. As President Thomas S. Monson said in a speech given on Easter Sunday, 2010:

My beloved brothers and sisters, in our hour of deepest sorrow, we can receive profound peace from the words of the angel that first Easter morning: “He is not here: for he is risen” (Matthew 28:6).

He is risen! He is risen!

Tell it out with joyful voice.

He has burst his three days’ prison;

Let the whole wide earth rejoice.

Death is conquered; man is free.

Christ has won the victory! (“He Is Risen!” Hymns, no. 199)

As one of His special witnesses on earth today, this glorious Easter Sunday, I declare that this is true, in His sacred name—even the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior—amen.

nora