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.

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.

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