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.

Modern day revelation as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 112:28 teaches, “But purify your hearts before me; and then go ye into all the world, and preach my gospel unto every creature who has not received it.” Additional instructions are given in Doctrine and Covenants 84:62, “Therefore, go ye into all the world; and unto whatsoever place ye cannot go ye shall send, that the testimony may go from you into all the world unto every creature.”

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ (Latter-day Saints) emphatically profess that the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ was not merely for a choice few, but rather all people can have the opportunity to partake of its wondrous blessings. Therefore, following in the footsteps of our Great Exemplar who admonished His disciples, ““Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15), they count it a privilege to be able to share the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ with any and every person they meet.

Everyone should be Involved in Missionary Work

Everyone should be actively engaged in missionary work. Like the original twelve apostles, every person who professes to be a modern day disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, is commissioned to take the message of the gospel to all corners of the earth. The gospel is a messenger to prepare the way before the Lord. Said the Savior,

 And even so I have sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the Gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me (Doctrine and Covenants 45:9).

The Savior further admonished, “Behold, I sent you out to testify and warn the people, and it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:81). And so, as the message is carried throughout the world, the rallying cry of the Lord’s royal missionary army should echo that of the prophet Jeremiah, “O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the Lord” (Jeremiah 22:29).

All are called to Send Forth the Message of the Gospel

David O. Mckay, the 9^th President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ, exhorted, “Every member a missionary!” In addressing the early Saints of the Church, he proposed a profound question – a question that remains applicable in this dispensation of time. He said, “The world is hungry to hear the truth. … We have it. Are we equal to the task—to the responsibility God has placed upon us?” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1945, 113–14.)

The Master commanded His disciples to:

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen (Matthew 28:19-20).

Considering the commandment given by the Savior to His disciples, President McKay taught,

The text … “go ye unto all the world” is really the missionary injunction given by the risen Christ to his Apostles. In effect He says:

Consider this work unfinished until all nations shall have accepted the gospel and shall have enlisted themselves as my disciples. …

With the same direct commission from the risen Lord who with the Father appeared in person in the beginning of the nineteenth century, the proclamation of the gospel is being made by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to “every nation, kindred, tongue and people” as fast as means and personnel can carry it forward (In Conference Report, Oct. 1949, 118.)

Responding to the subject of the magnitude and urgency of missionary work, and why everyone needs to be involved, Elder Jeffery R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second highest governing body in The Church of Jesus Christ), in his 2006 General Conference address titled “Prophets in the Land Again”, commented:

As surely as the rescue of those in need was the general conference theme of October 1856, so too is it the theme of this conference and last conference and the one to come next spring. It may not be blizzards and frozen-earth burials that we face this conference, but the needy are still out there—the poor and the weary, the discouraged and downhearted, those “[falling] away into [the] forbidden paths” we mentioned earlier, and multitudes who are “kept from the truth because they know not where to find it.” They are all out there with feeble knees, hands that hang down, and bad weather setting in. They can be rescued only by those who have more and know more and can help more. And don’t worry about asking, “Where are they?” They are everywhere, on our right hand and on our left, in our neighborhoods and in the workplace, in every community and county and nation of this world. Take your team and wagon; load it with your love, your testimony, and a spiritual sack of flour; then drive in any direction. The Lord will lead you to those in need if you will but embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ that has been taught in this conference. Open your heart and your hand to those trapped in the twenty-first century’s equivalent of Martin’s Cove and Devil’s Gate. In doing so we honor the Master’s repeated plea on behalf of lost sheep and lost coins and lost souls (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Prophets in the Land Again”, Ensign, November 2006).

Why Mormon Boys Serve Missions

Indeed a great work has begun, and the preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ is the responsibility of all followers of Christ. In The Church of Jesus Christ it is a specific duty for men who hold the priesthood. Latter-day Saint theology teaches that the priesthood is the authority given to worthy male members of the Church to act in God’s name for the salvation of His children. Latter-day Saints further believe and teach that the same priesthood authority that existed in Christ’s original Church exists in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today.

Scriptures teach that the “field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul” (Doctrine and Covenants 4:4). Wherefore, any young man of the priesthood who has a desire to go on the Lord’s errand and labor in His vineyard preaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ is called to the work. And as Thomas S. Monson, President and Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ, has taught, “Whom the Lord calls, the Lord will qualify,” and “When you’re on the Lord’s errand, you’re entitled to the Lord’s blessings.”

As these young priesthood holders diligently prepare to “embark in the service of God” they are reminded that they must be willing to serve God with all of their heart, might, mind and strength, and if they do so, they are promised that they will be able to “stand blameless before God at the last day” (See Doctrine and Covenants 4:2). Scriptures further teach that the qualifications for the work are “faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God” (See Doctrine and Covenants 4:5).

While serving as a Mission President in Australia, the late Bruce R. McConkie wrote concerning being on the Lord’s errand:

I am called of God. My authority is above that of the kings of the earth. By revelation I have been selected as a personal representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is my Master and he has chosen me to represent him. To stand in his place, to say and do what he himself would say and do if he personally were ministering to the very people to whom he has sent me. My voice is his voice, and my acts are his acts; my words are his words and my doctrine is his doctrine. My commission is to do what he wants done. To say what he wants said. To be a living modern witness in word and deed of the divinity of his great and marvelous latter-day work.

During the Priesthood Session of the April 2013 General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ, President Monson poignantly asked the young men of the Aaronic Priesthood, “Young men, are you ready to respond? Are you willing to work? Are you prepared to serve?” [1] He further admonished the young men,

At best, missionary work necessitates drastic adjustment to one’s pattern of living. It requires long hours and great devotion, selfless sacrifice and fervent prayer. As a result, dedicated missionary service returns a dividend of eternal joy which extends throughout mortality and into eternity. The challenge is to be more profitable servants in the Lord’s vineyard. [1]

During the course of his remarks, President Monson also shared a four-point formula that would ensure anyone embarking on a mission success in the mission field. Those four points are: search the scriptures with diligence, plan your life with purpose, teach the truth with testimony, and serve the Lord with love.

Why do Mormon boys serve missions? Answer: to preach the message of the restored gospel, and through that message and the testimony and witness of the Holy Spirit, bring precious souls – men, women, and children unto the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the missionary who redeemed the precious souls of all mankind, gives this blessed assurance as recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 18:15-16:

15 And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

16 And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!

The words of Joseph Smith, the first Prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ, puts this entire discussion into its proper frame. Said he,

The standard of truth has been erected; No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the great Jehovah shall say the work is done.

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/

… I have [discovered] that countless experiences I have had were not necessarily those one would consider extraordinary. In fact, at the time they transpired, they often seemed unremarkable and even ordinary. And yet, in retrospect, they enriched and blessed lives—not the least of which was my own. [2]

Through his humorous and heartfelt reflections of these “unremarkable” events, we come to know the unconditional love, friendship and devotion to God that endear us to our prophet.

A Righteous Mother Teaches Compassion

President Monson was born on August 21, 1927, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to G. Spencer and Gladys Condie Monson. President Monson has fond memories of his mother.

I learned many lessons from my mother. I must have been a very active boy, for Mother was always telling me, “Slow down, Tommy, slow down. You’re on the verge of Saint Vitus’ dance!” You know, I never did know what Saint Vitus’ dance was. All I knew was that Mother said I was on the verge of it—and the way she spoke the words, I assumed it was a drastic ailment. [3]

Sister Swinton said:

He learned Christlike living at home, where charity—the pure love of Christ—compassion, and a desire to lift and bless the lives of others were the standard and where, though his parents did not read him the scriptures, they lived them. [1]

President Monson grew up during the Great Depression, “between the tracks” on the west side of Salt Lake City, and learned much of compassion for others from his mother. [1] He said:

Since we lived just a block or two from the railroad tracks, frequently men, unemployed, without funds for food, would leave the train and come to our house for something to eat. … Indelibly imprinted on my mind is the picture of a gaunt and hungry man standing at our kitchen door, hat in hand, pleading for food. Mother would welcome such a visitor and would direct him to the kitchen sink to wash up while she prepared food for him to eat. She never skimped on quality or quantity; the visitor ate exactly the same lunch as did my father. As he wolfed down the food, Mother took the opportunity to counsel him to return to his home and his family. When he left the table, he had been nourished physically and spiritually. These men never failed to say thank you. Tears in their eyes revealed ever so silently the gratitude of their hearts. [3]

A Christmas Lesson on Following Christ

In addition to teaching compassion through her example, President Monson’s mother allowed her son to learn by experience. One such occurred on Christmas Day when he was about 10 years old. The prophet recalls that he really wanted an electric train. “Not … the economical and everywhere-to-be-found wind-up model train, but rather one that operated through the miracle of electricity.” Although this was during the Depression, his parents—likely through some sacrifice— presented to him a beautiful electric train. His mother also purchased a less expensive, non-electric train set for the son of a widow who lived down the road. Young Tommy, as he was called then, noticed an oil tanker car that his set lacked, and begged his mother for it. She finally gave in, saying, “If you need it more than he does, then take it.” He took the oil tanker, and they brought the gift to Mark Hansen. President Monson concludes:

[Mark] had never anticipated such a gift and was thrilled beyond words. He wound the key in his engine, it not being electric like mine, and was overjoyed as the engine and two cars, plus a caboose, went around the track. Mother wisely asked, “What do you think of Mark’s train, Tommy?” I felt a keen sense of guilt and became very much aware of my selfishness. I said to Mother, “Wait just a moment—I’ll be right back.”

As swiftly as my legs could carry me, I ran to our home, picked up the oil tanker car plus an additional car of my own, ran back down the lane to the Hansen home, and said joyfully to Mark, “We forgot to bring two cars which belong to your train.” Mark coupled the two extra cars to his set. I watched the engine make its labored way around the track and felt a supreme joy difficult to describe and impossible to forget. [4]

Sometimes the simplest lessons are the most profound—and the most memorable.

The ‘Other Half of His Success Story’

It is often said that behind every good man is an even better woman. Certainly, behind President Monson is a righteous woman who stands by his side and takes care of their home so that he can serve the Lord. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (with the First Presidency, the governing body of The Church of Jesus Christ), said:

One of the sweetest chapters in a book of life filled with things of the heart and of the spirit begins with President Monson’s courtship of Frances Johnson. [5]

President Monson recounts the beginning of their courtship:

The first day I saw Frances, I knew I’d found the right one. The Lord brought us together later, and I asked her to go out with me. I went to her home to call on her. She introduced me, and her father said, “‘Monson’—that’s a Swedish name, isn’t it?” I said, “Yes.”

…Then he went into another room and brought out a picture of two missionaries with their top hats and their copies of the Book of Mormon. “Are you related to this Monson,” he said, “Elias Monson?”

I said, “Yes, he’s my grandfather’s brother. He too was a missionary in Sweden.”

Her father wept. He wept easily. He said, “He and his companion were the missionaries who taught the gospel to my mother and my father and all of my brothers and sisters and to me.” He kissed me on the cheek. And then her mother cried, and she kissed me on the other cheek. And then I looked around for Frances. She said, “I’ll go get my coat.” [6]

Their daughter, Ann Monson Dibb, said:

 Mom is the other half of Dad’s success story, the half no one really knows. He gave a conference address once entitled “Anonymous” about people who serve so faithfully and give so much, yet never seek recognition. That talk applies beautifully to my mother; maybe he even wrote it about her. He couldn’t have done what he has done without her. [5]

Thomas S. Monson and Frances Johnson were married October 7, 1948, in the Salt Lake Temple. They were blessed with 3 children, 8 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Frances passed away in 2013, and her funeral was broadcast to members of the Church. [7]

A Loyal and Devoted Friend to the Widows

President Monson is well-known for his love of others. Elder Holland said:

Loyalty is a word which often comes to the lips of those who best know Tom (or in his youth, “Tommy”) Monson. His is a deep-seated, undying loyalty to friends of many years, friends he might not be expected to remember in the rush of his now very busy life—but remember them he does.

His lifelong friend John Burt says, “Tom’s care of the widows who lived in his ward—eighty-seven of them—is an example of his loyalty and devotion to people. When the rest of us were released as bishops, we just kind of moved on to the next task and left the widows to our successors. Not Tom. He somehow found time to keep visiting them. He is the most loyal man I know. He never forgets where he came from, and he never forgets the people who knew him before he was ‘somebody.’” [5]

A bishop is the priesthood leader of the ward—or congregation. The priesthood is the authority that God gives to worthy males to act in all things for the salvation of His children. When President Monson was the bishop, there were over a thousand people in the ward, and a bishop is the presiding priesthood leader of each one. One experience taught him to listen to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost—no matter what. At 23, he was the bishop of his ward. He was in a stake leadership meeting (a stake is comprised of a group of wards) when the prompting came to go to the hospital. He had been asked to give an elderly member of his ward a blessing, and had planned to go right after the meeting. During the meeting, the prompting was very strong but he didn’t want to disrupt everyone there. He hurried out after the last speaker—even before the closing prayer. Elder Holland said:

Running the full length of the corridor on the fourth floor of the hospital, the young bishop saw some extra activity outside the designated room. A nurse stopped him and said, “Are you Bishop Monson?” “Yes,” was the anxious reply.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “The patient was calling your name just before he died.”

Fighting back the tears, Thomas S. Monson turned and walked back into the night. He vowed then and there that he would never again fail to act upon a prompting from the Lord. He would acknowledge the impressions of the Spirit when they came, and he would follow wherever they led him, ever to be “on the Lord’s errand.” [8]

President Monson never forgot that experience. As he served as the bishop and in other callings, President Monson faithfully visited his 87 widows the rest of their lives. Elder Holland said:

Nearly all of those eighty-seven widows are gone now, but their “bishop” kept visiting them to the end. One night during the Christmas holidays some years ago, President Monson was making his customary rounds to “his” widows, leaving gifts purchased from his own pocket, including plump dressed chickens that were, in the early years, raised in his own coops. In one of the many Salt Lake City rest homes he has come to know so intimately, he found one of his ward members, alone and silent in the darkened room of a world made even darker by the onset of blindness. As President Monson made his way to this sweet sister’s side, she reached out awkwardly, groping for the hand of the only visitor she had received in the whole of the Christmas season. “Bishop, is that you?” she inquired. “Yes, dear Hattie, it is I.” “Oh, Bishop,” she wept through sightless eyes, “I knew you would come.” They all knew he would come, and he always did. [5]

A Window to the Love of the Savior

President Monson’s love for others shows his true devotion and love for our Savior, Jesus Christ. An experience recounted by Elder Holland illustrates the tenderness of President Monson’s love for people.

A well-meaning person once told President Monson that it was useless for him to visit these elderly people, talking at length with them when they seldom answered a word. “You might as well save your time and breath, Elder Monson. They don’t know who you are.”

“Whether they know me or not is beside the point,” the determined Thomas Monson replied. “I don’t talk to them because they know me; I talk to them because I know them.” [8]

After serving as bishop, President Monson served in the stake presidency and then as a mission president. He was ordained an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ in October 1963 at the age of 36. He has served as a counselor in the Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ since 1985. President Monson had a distinguished career in publishing and printing. [7] Regardless of the success he attains, President Monson never forgets those he has met along the way. The late Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, then an Apostle of Jesus Christ, said:

I have known President Monson for a long time. He is a mighty man of Israel who was foreordained to preside over this Church. He is well-known for his captivating stories and parables, but we who know him best understand that his life is a practical and exemplary model of the application of those stories. While it is a compliment to him that many of the great and mighty of this world know and honor him, perhaps it is an even greater tribute that many of the lowly call him friend. To his core, President Monson is kind and compassionate. His words and deeds exemplify his concern for the one. [9]

Lisa M.

I am a wife and mother of 4 beautiful children in a small town in the mountains of Idaho. We ski as a family in the winter and camp, fish, and go to the beach in the summer. I’m a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I am grateful for the Savior and the blessings of the gospel in my life.

Our Savior Jesus Christ has many roles and responsibilities, all of them eternal in scope. The prophets and apostles have given countless addresses about the Savior, His life, mission, and roles. As John said, “even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written” about Jesus Christ (John 21:25).

The Living Christ

The prophets and apostles issued a statement about Jesus Christ entitled “The Living Christ,” in which they declare their witness of the Savior’s life and mission. They identify some of His roles and responsibilities: “He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Messiah of the New. Under the direction of His Father, He was the creator of the earth.” From these two sentences, we learn that Jesus was the Jehovah worshipped by the Jews in the Old Testament. It was He who instructed Abraham, and gave the Law to Moses. He is also the Messiah to whom the Jews looked for and still look for today. He is also the creator of the world; God the Father was still involved in the creation, but He directed Jesus, who did the creating. Later, the document states: “He was the Firstborn of the Father, the Only Begotten Son in the flesh, the Redeemer of the world.”

Although this statement says that Jesus was the “Firstborn of the Father,” Jesus is eternal and uncreated.  This may sound confusing, but we know from modern revelation that God, the Eternal Father is the organizer of our spirits, but that we existed as individual intelligences before our spiritual creation.  Jesus’ spirit was organized first, and that could have happened billions of years ago.

Roles of Jesus Christ

Elder Russell M. Nelson, an apostle of Jesus Christ, talks about ten of the Savior’s many roles. He lists the following responsibilities: “Creator, Jehovah, Advocate with the Father, Immanuel, Son of God, Anointed One, Savior and Redeemer, Judge, Exemplar, and Millennial Messiah” (“Jesus the Christ, Our Master and More,” Ensign April 2000). Elder Nelson discusses each responsibility in further detail, but is careful not “to imply any order or priority because all He accomplished was equally supernal in scope”:

• Creator. Jesus Christ, under the direction of the Father, created the earth and everything on it. Elder Nelson says, “This hallowed Creator provided that each of us may have a physical body, uniquely individual . . . We honor Jesus as our Creator, divinely directed by His Father.”
• Jehovah. Elder Nelson cites numerous scriptures in both the Old and New Testament, showing that Jesus Christ of the New Testament is indeed the same God worshipped by Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
• Advocate with the Father. An advocate is “one who pleads for another.” The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, speaks clearly about Jesus’ role as our advocate: “He shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved” (2 Nephi 2:9). Elder Nelson says, “Comprehending Him as our Advocate, Intercessor, and Mediator with the Father gives us assurance of His unequaled understanding, justice, and mercy.”
• Immanuel. The Hebrew name Immanuel means “with us is God.” Jesus was born in fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy that “a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).
• Son of God. Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus is literally the Son of God. Elder Nelson speaks about Jesus’ unique parentage: “From His Heavenly Father, Jesus inherited His potential for immortality and eternal life. From His mother, Jesus inherited death.”
• Anointed One. The titles “Christ” and “Messiah” both mean the anointed in Greek and Hebrew, respectively. Elder Nelson says, “One may add either of these titles . . . both signifying an anointed by God for that supernal responsibility” of saving all mankind.
• Savior and Redeemer. These roles refer specifically to Jesus’ Atonement. He saved all mankind from sin and death, and redeems us, making it possible for us to return to God.
• Judge. Jesus will preside at the final judgment. The Book of Mormon states: “The keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name” (2 Nephi 9:41).
• Exemplar. Jesus is our ultimate example in all things. He lived a perfect and flawless life, and we need to strive to become more like Him. In Matthew He instructs us, “Be ye therefore perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Elder Nelson says, “His hopes are for your full potential to be realized: to become as He is!”
• Millennial Messiah. This responsibility of Millennial Messiah is yet in the future. Here, Elder Nelson speaks of the day when Christ will come again, and “direct the affairs of His Church and kingdom.”  

These ten roles are not an all-inclusive list of Jesus’ responsibilities. All of the other prophets and apostles have talked about and testified of Jesus Christ and His divine roles. The following addresses are some of what living prophets and apostles have said about our Savior:

“He is Risen!” President Thomas S. Monson

“The Mediator,” Elder Boyd K. Packer

“The Seven Christs,” Elder Bruce R. McConkie

“The Doctrine of Christ,” Elder D. Todd Christofferson

megan

Megan is a graduate of BYU-Idaho and recently married member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is a writer and avid reader, and loves music, hiking, and her family.

Spirit Paradise and Spirit Prison

Latter-day Saints believe that when a person dies, he or she goes to either paradise or spirit prison. People who have accepted the gospel of Jesus Christ and made and kept the necessary covenants while on earth go to paradise. People who have not accepted and lived the gospel, either because they did not live it, rejected it, or did not have the opportunity to hear it, go to spirit prison. Paradise and spirit prison are active places. Spirits from paradise go to teach other spirits the gospel. Spirits in spirit prison can accept the gospel of Christ, and their ordinances (religious ceremonies) can be done vicariously for them by people on earth.

Paradise and spirit prison aren’t permanent. Jesus Christ will return to the earth, and all the people whose spirits are in paradise or spirit prison will be resurrected (reunited with their perfected physical bodies). Eventually, all people who have lived, do live, or will live on earth will be judged by Jesus Christ, and then “receive an eternal dwelling place in a specific kingdom of glory.” [1]

Kingdoms of Glory

Latter-day Saints believe that heaven is split into three degrees or kingdoms: the Celestial, Terrestrial, and Telestial Kingdoms. We also believe in perdition, a kingdom that is not a kingdom of glory. The Church of Jesus Christ teaches that “the glory we inherit will depend on the depth of our conversion, expressed by obedience to the Lord’s commandments. It will depend on the manner in which we have ‘received the testimony of Jesus’ (Doctrine and Covenants 76:51).” [1] Latter-day Saints believe that Jesus taught the principle of kingdoms of glory in John 14:2 when He said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions,” and that the prophet Joseph Smith received further revelation about the kingdoms of glory. Joseph Smith’s revelation is recorded in Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants.

• Celestial Kingdom. The celestial is the highest of the three degrees of glory, and is where Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live. People who inherit this kingdom of glory will dwell forever in the presence of God and Jesus Christ. This is the ultimate goal: to inherit celestial glory. The Doctrine and Covenants states that people who inherit the celestial kingdom are “just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant” who “received the testimony of Jesus” (D&C 76:51, 69). A person cannot reach the celestial kingdom through works alone; the grace of Jesus Christ is also necessary. Latter-day Saints also believe that to inherit celestial glory, one must have made all of the necessary covenants (promises with God) and performed the ordinances that He has commanded. These include the baptismal covenant and other sacred temple covenants, including marriage.

• Terrestrial Kingdom. The Church of Jesus Christ teaches: “Individuals in the terrestrial kingdom will be honorable people ‘who were blinded by the craftiness of men’ (D&C 76:75).” Included in this group are members of The Church of Jesus Christ who were less valiant in following the Savior, and individuals who rejected the gospel in mortality but accepted it in the spirit world. Individuals who did not have the opportunity to receive the gospel on earth but accept it in the spirit world will not inherit this kingdom; they can still inherit the celestial kingdom.

• Telestial Kingdom. The telestial kingdom is for people who “received not the gospel of Christ, neither the testimony of Jesus” (D&C 76:82). They rejected the gospel and did not accept Jesus Christ.

• Perdition. Perdition is not a kingdom of glory and is reserved only for people who accepted the fulness of the gospel and then willfully rejected their knowledge. There will not be many individuals who meet the requirements to be sent to perdition.

Works and Grace

Jesus Christ will judge all of us according to our actions, and then we will go to a kingdom to dwell eternally. It is up to us to do all we can in this life to reach the celestial kingdom; but not one person, except the Savior, can reach the celestial kingdom alone. Latter-day Saints believe in the importance of both works and grace; we need both to reach celestial glory.

The Importance of Faith

Latter-day Saints have a lot of additional revelation about heaven, which is very comforting, especially upon the death of a loved one. It is comforting to know that our ancestors can dwell in the same glory we can and that the gospel of Jesus Christ includes everyone. It is also humbling to realize that we cannot attain our goal of celestial glory without the grace of our Savior.

However, with all that Latter-day Saints know about heaven and life after death, there is and will always be some uncertainty. What can be frightening about life after death is that it is unknown, and we can be unsure of exactly what it will be like. We may be uncertain how complicated family relationships might be worked out, or unsure of what our family members are doing on the other side of the veil.

I believe that these worries, while they may be legitimate, needn’t worry us right now. Heavenly Father is ultimately in charge and with His perfect knowledge and understanding will work everything out. I believe that we know enough to help us get back to Heavenly Father. Sure, there are things about heaven we don’t know. But that’s okay, because if we knew everything right now, we wouldn’t need faith.

megan

Megan is a graduate of BYU-Idaho and recently married member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is a writer and avid reader, and loves music, hiking, and her family.

Elder Dallin H. Oaks, an apostle and leader of The Church of Jesus Christ, stated concerning the Second Coming of Christ:

Four matters are indisputable to Latter-day Saints: (1) The Savior will return to the earth in power and great glory to reign personally during a millennium of righteousness and peace. (2) At the time of His coming there will be a destruction of the wicked and a resurrection of the righteous. (3) No one knows the time of His coming, but (4) the faithful are taught to study the signs of it and to be prepared for it. (“Preparation for the Second Coming,” Ensign, May 2004).

When Will He Come?

Matthew 24:36 says of the Second Coming: “Of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” Only Heavenly Father knows when the Second Coming will happen; not even the angels know when. Neither Latter-day Saint prophets nor members predict the day of the Second Coming. We know that it will happen, but not exactly when. However, the scriptures have given us some signs of the Second Coming so we can know when it’s getting closer.

What Are the Signs of His Coming?

Matthew 24 gives many signs of Jesus’ Second Coming. Some of these signs include: false Christs who will deceive many; wars, and rumors of wars; famines, pestilences, and earthquakes; abundant iniquity; and the love of many growing cold. Other less discouraging signs include: the restoration of Jesus Christ’s gospel; the gospel being preached to all the world; the coming of Elijah (see Malachi 4:5–6); and the building of a city called the New Jerusalem (see 3 Nephi 21:23–25).

Some of these signs have already been fulfilled, while others are yet to be fulfilled. For example, the coming of Elijah as prophesied in Malachi has been fulfilled with the appearance of Elijah to Joseph Smith in April 1836 (see Doctrine and Covenants 110:13–16). Some signs, such as wars, famine, and earthquakes, could be said to be fulfilled, but they are also continuing to be fulfilled. It’s often difficult to put checkmarks beside each sign of the Second Coming.

What are the Prophecies of His Coming?

Isaiah prophesied that “the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6); that “the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). In Acts, after Jesus ascended into heaven, two angels came to the apostles and said: “This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). This foretells the day when the Savior will come to earth again. These and many other prophesies in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and from our own day, prophesy of the day when Jesus will come again. 

What Will Happen When He Comes?

Paul wrote to the Thessalonians:

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Latter-day Saints take this to mean that all those who have died who were righteous will be resurrected first. All people who are on earth at the Second Coming will be caught up into heaven, while the wicked will be destroyed (2 Thessalonians 2:8). The earth will be cleansed with fire, and then Christ will rule and reign on the earth for a thousand years, a period known as the Millennium. Isaiah prophesied of the Millennium, speaking of a time when “a king shall reign in righteousness” and “my people shall dwell in peaceable habitation” (Isaiah 32:1, 18). The Millennium will be a wonderful time, when there will be no wickedness or evil on the earth, and we will dwell in peace and love.

Preparing for the Second Coming

For many people, reading the signs and prophecies of the Second Coming can be a bit frightening. While some of the signs of the Second Coming are wonderful, many speak of destruction and desolation. It can be easy to be frightened of what the future holds, especially as the world grows more evil and dark. However, prophets have promised us that “if ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). If we are following the Savior, we have nothing to fear from the Second Coming. In fact, for the righteous, the Second Coming and Millennium will be joyful and wonderful. Even as the world becomes more evil, the gospel is continuing to spread across the globe, bringing light and happiness to thousands. We must do all we can to prepare ourselves both spiritually and physically for the Second Coming, knowing that if we are prepared, we need not fear, but should rejoice.

megan

Megan is a graduate of BYU-Idaho and recently married member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She is a writer and avid reader, and loves music, hiking, and her family.

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

Sister Monson Was Endeared by Her Family

President and Sister Monson were married for 64 years. In October 2013 they would have celebrated 65 years of marriage. They have three children – Thomas Lee, Ann Frances, and Clark Spencer. Making mention of her in his biography titled To the Rescue, President Monson stated, “If there was ever a heroine in my life, it would have to be Frances.” [2] The LDS Church news release stated that President Monson recognized his companion as the family’s “beacon of love, compassion and encouragement.” [1] Again in his biography, President Monson further commented, “I am so grateful for my mother-in-law. She brought into the world a lovely daughter who is my wife and companion, who I can assure you is her husband’s keeper, and the keeper of her children as well — a noble daughter of our Heavenly Father.” [2]

Ann Monson Dibb, the only daughter of President and Sister Monson, once made a comment in an Ensign article titled President Thomas S. Monson: Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith about her mother that could now serve as an appropriate tribute as she recalled the true character of one of Heavenly Father’s special daughters:

My mother is unlike many of the women of today’s generation. Instead of looking for the recognition of the world, she has always received her acknowledgment of worth from such things as the happy smile of a son or the outstretched hand of a grandchild. President Wilford Woodruff once said that the mother has greater influence over her posterity than any other person can have, and her influence is felt through time and eternity. I am grateful to my mother, thankful for her influence and pray that I might always be worthy of her love. As I reflect upon the many blessings which I have received as the daughter of an apostle of the Lord, the one which means the most to me is the gift and blessing of the woman he married, my mother.”  [3]

In a recent YouTube video posted on Friday, 17 May 2013, by LDS Public Affairs, Ann Dibb Monson remarks that a person could not know her mother without her father, and a person could not know her father without her mother. They made each other complete. Ann further comments that this became even more evident during her father’s visits to her mother’s hospital room during the past 6 and a half weeks.

A Life of Dedication and Devotion

Frances Beverley Johnson was born on 27 October 1927, to Franz Emanuel Johnson and Hildur Augusta Booth Johnson. She was the youngest, and only daughter of 5 children, and was named after her father. She grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah during the days of the Great Depression. The date of her death, 17 May, would have been the birthday of her father, as well as, the birthday of President Monson’s father. She was born of Swedish descent.

She attended Emerson Elementary School, and was a graduate of East High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. She became proficient in both playing tennis and playing the piano in her teenage years. Following high school, she studied math and science at the University of Utah, and worked at the Deseret News in the accounting department at a local department store to help pay the cost of her education. While she was attending the University, she met, and fell in love with a young man, Thomas S. Monson, who would become her eternal companion. Her father, Franz, felt an immediate connection with young Thomas Monson because Monson’s great uncle had baptized him into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweden. Thomas Spencer Monson and Frances Beverley Johnson were married for all time and eternity in the Salt Lake City, Utah Temple on 7 October 1948. He was 21 years of age, and she was 20.

As a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ, Sister Monson had a keen understanding of the meaning of service. She served in the Relief Society and Primary. “She also earned the church’s Golden Gleaner award, part of a now-discontinued program for 18-to-30-year-old single church members, by meeting a rigorous set of requirements for church activity and self-improvement.” [3] She also served with President Monson in the LDS Canadian Mission, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.

The LDS Church news release further stated that, “Sister Monson lived a Christ-centered life in word and deed. She will forever be remembered for her kindness and quiet, sustained support of her husband in his Church duties.” [1]

A Loving Legacy Left to Her Family

Frances Beverley Johnson Monson will always be remembered as a woman who had a heart full of compassion, was patient and understanding, always had words of encouragement to share, and loved the Savior. She was always by her eternal companion’s side and supported him in all of his many Church callings throughout the years. “My mother is the other part of my father’s success story because she has been supportive of him in everything he’s done,” Sister Dibb (Ann Monson Dibb, daughter of President and Sister Monson) said. [2]

As the matriarch of the Monson home, she nurtured each of her three children in the admonition of the Lord. She clearly understood the words of Solomon, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:26.) Perhaps one of the guiding principles from the scriptures that she used in the rearing of her children, and instilled in each of them, is also found in the wise words of Solomon, “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:6.) As her children now, and in the days ahead, reflect upon the love that this remarkable woman gave to each of them, and the lessons that she taught them, will be able to say with surety, “We do not doubt our mother knew it” (see Alma 56:48, Book of Mormon.)

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/

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.

Mormons believe that Jesus Christ is the literal Son of God and of Mary. They have no doctrine on how this parentage came to be and rumors concerning Mormon beliefs on this subject are not true. It is considered unimportant to our eternal salvation. What is important is that this duel mortal and divine heritage allowed Jesus Christ to do things we could not do for ourselves. While His mortality allowed Him to experience and understand the challenges and temptations we face, His divinity allowed him to overcome death to be resurrected. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus took on all the sins ever created, an extraordinarily selfless and painful act, one that required the ministering of angels to get through. Then he suffered on the cross, another painful experience. However, after three days, He rose from the dead and broke the bonds of death for all of us.

What do these events mean for us? Mormons believe that justice required that we live perfect, sinless lives here on earth. This, of course, would be impossible for anyone but Jesus Christ. Fortunately, God loves us so much He chose to balance justice with mercy. He authorized a proxy ordinance in the form of the atonement, which means that Jesus Christ would suffer for our sins and atone for them in a way we could not. His atonement, death, and resurrection made it possible for us to be saved.

To a Mormon, being saved means more than making a one-time statement of faith. It is an ongoing process. The idea that being saved is a way of living and not just an act derives in part from the following scriptures in the Bible and the Book of Mormon:

Bible:

Not every one that saith‍ unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth‍ the will‍ of my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 7:21).

Book of Mormon:

24 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.

25 Wherefore, may God raise you from death by the power of the resurrection, and also from everlasting death by the power of the atonement, that ye may be received into the eternal kingdom of God, that ye may praise him through grace divine. Amen (2 Nephi 10:24).

What this means is that Mormons believe we must accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and be baptized. But if we simply stopped there, going on to live any life we wanted without regard to the commandments, we would be demonstrating that our statement of faith was false and without commitment. Our lives must be an outward demonstration of our internal faith. God gave us commandments and like any good parent, He expects us to keep them, as shown in the Biblical scripture above. The greater our faith, the easier it is to keep the commandments. For those with perfect faith, obedience is not a burden.

We might remember that in the Bible a young man came and asked Jesus what he should do. Jesus mentioned several commandments and the man said he’d been doing all those things since he was a child. Jesus raised the bar—he challenged the man to give away all his possessions and to follow Jesus. This the young man was not able to do. His possessions were more important to him than Jesus Christ at that time. His choices and his acts demonstrated the validity and depth of his conversion.

Mormons understand that although we must keep the commandments, keeping them alone is not enough. A person cannot make a list of commandments and then work down the list without an inner commitment. The commandments must be kept for the proper reason—not to receive a reward but as a natural outgrowth of our deep faith in and love for Jesus Christ. Only when our hearts and motives are pure are we doing exactly what Jesus Christ asked of us when he said in John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Mormons believe that because of the atonement, everyone will rise from the dead and live forever. We each have the right and ability to repent, something not fully possible prior to the atonement. At baptism, we understand that we are saved, but that we must do our part and live a Christ-like life. Then, when we have done our part, the part Jesus Christ personally required of us during His mortal ministry, He will do His part—a part we cannot possibly do for ourselves. We are saved only through Jesus Christ because we could not have saved ourselves had He chosen not to come to Earth and atone for our sins. Our eternal salvation is a partnership of love between God, Jesus Christ, and ourselves.

Learn more about whether or not Mormons believe in being saved by grace.

Thomas S. Monson, the current Mormon prophet, has spoken often on Easter. Following is one testimony he shared of the very first Easter:

“Next week the Christian world will celebrate the most significant event in recorded history. The simple pronouncement, “He is not here, but is risen,” was the first confirmation of the literal Resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The empty tomb that first Easter morning brought comforting assurance, an affirmative answer to Job’s question, “If a man die, shall he live again?”^…

With all my heart and the fervency of my soul, I lift up my voice in testimony as a special witness and declare that God does live. Jesus is His Son, the Only Begotten of the Father in the flesh. He is our Redeemer; He is our Mediator with the Father. He it was who died on the cross to atone for our sins. He became the firstfruits of the Resurrection. Because He died, all shall live again. “Oh, sweet the joy this sentence gives: ‘I know that my Redeemer lives!’” May the whole world know it and live by that knowledge, I humbly pray, in the name of Jesus Christ, the Lord and Savior, amen.” (See I Know That My Redeemer Lives!” Ensign, May 2007, 24, 25.)

Terrie Lynn Bittner

The late Terrie Lynn Bittner—beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend—was the author of two homeschooling books and numerous articles, including several that appeared in Latter-day Saint magazines. She became a member of the Church at the age of 17 and began sharing her faith online in 1992.