If you were watching General Conference this Sunday morning, your heart probably melted as you watched President Monson’s physical strength begin to fail on him in front of the entire Church. He started strong, and then all of the sudden it was as if an entire lifetime of church service came crashing down on to his shoulders.

It’s the first time that I can remember actually praying specifically for a person at the pulpit so that they would have the strength to endure. As I watched this man, this great man, struggle through the last half of his message, I couldn’t help but become emotional. For me, it was as if the words he was speaking at the moment took a backseat to the symbolism of what I was witnessing, and in that moment, it was as if his spirit was speaking directly to mine.

I can’t imagine what the last couple years, let alone months have been like for President Monson. His amazing wife Frances who has supported him and been with him through everything, passed away. The world’s values are exponentially declining and effecting members of the church. He feels a responsibility to be there for them and comfort them.

It has now become commonplace for people to show up at conference to show their opposition to him in person. This sweet 88 year old man has done nothing but serve people for an entire lifetime and now has to deal with hearing the phrase “the vote has been noted” over and over again every 6 months. That has had to take a toll on him.

He has had to watch three of his best friends pass away within the last few months. He’s had to speak and preside at their services, attend to their families, and is expected to be the one that is lifting others spirits. He’s had the monumental task of not only presiding over the church “short handed”, but calling three new apostles. He’s the one that mentally has to bear the scrutiny, the questioning, the speculating. All of this has had to take a toll on him.

How does a person get to sleep at night with that kind of burden, and yet here he was Sunday morning, speaking first, ramping up the strength to stand up once again and bring messages of goodness to all of those that love, respect, and look up to this Christian soldier.

I’m sitting here waiting for the next session of conference thinking about him, wishing that I could have run up there and thrown his arm around my neck and shoulders to bear the weight of his body and the weight of his worries and concerns. I wish I could have held him up like he has done for so many of us in the church for so many years.

Truly, he has worn out his life in the service of others.

Guest Author

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.

President Monson was born on 21 August 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and has lived a fulfilling life. He served his country in the military for a short stint, having enlisted in the United States Navy near the conclusion of World War II, at the age of 18. After the Navy, he attended the University of Utah and graduated Cum Laude in business in 1948. Soon thereafter he began working for the Deseret News daily newspaper in Salt Lake City as an advertising executive. At the young age of 22, after his marriage to Frances Beverly Johnson, he was called to serve as the Bishop of the Sixth-Seventh Ward in Salt Lake City and faithfully attended to the temporal and spiritual needs of each of 85 widows in the ward. It was also here that he began his lifelong involvement with the Boy Scouts of America.

In 1955, he was called to serve as a counselor in the Stake Presidency of the Temple View Stake in Salt Lake City. And from 1959 to 1962, he served as President of the LDS Church’s Canadian Mission, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. After returning from Canada, he resumed work at the Deseret News, eventually becoming general manager of the Deseret News Press. He was working there at the time of his call to serve as an Apostle, in 1963. [1]

This year marks President Monson’s 85th birthday, and the Church is planning to celebrate his special day with “Golden Days: A Celebration of a Life,” a gala musical event which is scheduled for Friday, 17 August 2012, at 8 p.m. in the Church’s Conference Center located in downtown Salt lake City, Utah. The gala will feature the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square, and other guest performers. The duties of master of ceremonies for the event will be shared by former BYU and NFL football legend Steve Young and former news anchor and author Jane Clayson Johnson.

According to the press release by the Church of Jesus Christ on Friday, 8 June 2012, the evening will “take a nostalgic look back at President Monson’s illustrious life from his childhood, marriage and stint in the U.S. Navy during World War II to his decades of service (in the church).” [2]

Of this event, Steve Young said:

It is a privilege to play a small part in (this) recognition. President Monson has served other people all his life. I know he’s more comfortable in that role than having any accolades focused on him. This celebration is a great way to let him know how much he is loved and appreciated. [2]

Free tickets for this event are required and will be distributed through a random selection process due to an expected high level of demand. Beginning Saturday, 16 June 2012 at 12:01 MDT, those interested in obtaining tickets will be able to register online at www.lds.org/events or via telephone at 801-570-0080 (local callers) or 1-866-537-8457 (long distance or out of state callers.) Registration for tickets will remain open until 11:59 PM MDT on Monday, 25 June 2012. Those who are selected to receive tickets will be notified by email on Thursday, 5 July 2012. Only one registration per household is permitted, and the maximum number of tickets that can be requested is four. Standby tickets will be made available the day of the event.

The program will also be shown over the LDS church satellite system on Saturday, Aug. 18, with subsequent rebroadcasts to many areas of the world. It will be rebroadcast in its entirety on BYU TV on Saturday, Aug. 18, at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Aug. 19, at 10 a.m.; and Monday Aug. 20, at 3 a.m. All times are MDT. [2]

Concerning this gala event, Jane Johnson added:

So many around the world have been influenced by President Monson’s warmth, compassion and genuine love of people. We celebrate and honor his extraordinary life of service and leadership. [2]

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/

God Speaks to Us through His Prophets

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Prophet on the Earth Today

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

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

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

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

Come, Listen to a Prophet’s Voice

Come, listen to a Prophet’s voice,

And hear the word of God,

And in the way of truth rejoice,

And sing for joy aloud.

We’ve found the way the Prophets went

Who lived in days of yore.

Another Prophet now is sent,

This knowledge to restore.

 

The gloom of sullen darkness, spread

Through earth’s extended space

Is banished by our living Head

And God has shown His face.

Through erring schemes, in days now past,

The world has gone astray,

Yet Saints of God have found at last

The straight and narrow way.

(Hymns #21, verses 1 and 2)

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

Additional Resources:

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

Study by Topic: Prophets

Christ’s Church

nora

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

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

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

Thomas S. Monson: Prophet, Seer, and Revelator

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

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

Prophets: Look to God and Live

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

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

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

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

Looking to Jesus Christ

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

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

He is risen! He is risen!

Tell it out with joyful voice.

He has burst his three days’ prison;

Let the whole wide earth rejoice.

Death is conquered; man is free.

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

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

nora

Most people think of revelation in terms of the Biblical prophets, who spoke directly to God and received great visions. Only a prophet can receive revelation for the entire church. When a prophet of God speaks, we are all accountable for what he teaches, even if we choose to ignore what is taught. A common example of this would be when Noah called the people to repent. When they did not, the flood came and they paid the price—choosing not to accept the revelation didn’t make it invalid or free them from the need to obey. This helps us to understand the importance of finding out what is true and what source provides truth. When a prophet speaks, God expects us to listen, so first, we must find out to whom He is speaking.

God gives revelation to those who have stewardship or responsibility over the subject of the revelation. This is why only the prophet can receive revelation for the entire church. He is the person with that stewardship. A leader of a religious congregation can receive revelation for his congregation, because that is his special stewardship. When he ends his service to that congregation, he is no longer entitled to revelation for that position. A parent can receive revelation concerning his children. All of us can receive revelation for our own lives, as well.

Even in Biblical times, important revelation meant for everyone was fairly rare. Most of the time, the prophets simply reminded people of what they’d already been taught and still needed to act on. Most revelations did not come through visions and visitations, but through quiet revelation. Prophets normally receive revelation in exactly the same way everyone else does.

That said, how do ordinary people receive revelation for their own lives?

To receive recelation from God, we must prepare ourselves to receive it. We need to build a relationship with Him so that we understand how His gospel works and how He interacts with us. This involves reading the scriptures to study how God has interacted with us in the past and what He expects of us today. Then we need to live the way He has asked us to live.

It means spending time in real prayer—not reciting prayers, but speaking to Him from our hearts about our worries and fears. We need to tell God how thankful we are for what we’ve already received because that helps us become more aware of our blessings and God’s role in them. Then we need to sit quietly and wait to see what happens. In time, we’ll come to recognize a peaceful, warm sensation in our hearts that tells us God is nearby and listening. Satan cannot bring peace or joy. These feelings are always from God.

Once we’ve learned to recognize these feelings and are living in a way that shows respect for God and His teachings, we can receive personal revelation. Revelation will most often come in quiet ways, so we have to be patient and listen with our hearts. We need to turn off the music, the television, and other distractions, especially when we are just learning to recognize what revelation feels like.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose members are sometimes called Mormons, are taught to first study an issue out in their minds. For instance, if a student wanted to know which college to attend, she would research a variety of them and select the one she feels is best for her. Then she would take her choice to God and ask Him if she’s chosen well. A warm and peaceful feeling is God’s reassurance that she has made a good choice. (It might be that several schools would meet with His approval.) A confused or negative feeling tells her she needs to start again.

Sometimes revelation comes in the form of a thought of impression. It will take practice to know which impressions are revelations and which are just thoughts. As you act on those thoughts, you will learn how to know which are from God. A thought from God might be a simple suggestion: “Lisa is lonely. Go visit her today.”

On rare occasions, a revelation will come in actual words you can hear. This is usually in the case of an emergency, where there isn’t time to analyze whether or not the thought was an impression or a mere thought. “Go to the baby. She’s in danger.”

Modern prophets, like prophets of old, receive revelation from God, most often in the same form we do. God considers revelation important, and we, as ordinary children of God, can receive personal revelation just as Moses received it in his day.

Who is God’s prophet today?

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.