Gospel Principles
Unit 3: Communication between God and Man
Chapter 9: Prophets of God
Comments and Resources

'President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., said: 
   "The President of the Church, the Presiding High Priest, is sustained as a prophet, seer, and revelator for the Church, and he alone has the right to receive revelations for the Church, either new or amendatory, or to give authoritative interpretations of Scriptures  that shall be binding on the Church, or change in any way the existing doctrines of the Church.  He is God's sole mouthpiece on earth for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the only true Church.  He alone may declare the mind and will of God to his people.  No officer of any other Church in the world has this high right and lofty prerogative.
   "So when any other person, irrespective of who he is, undertakes to do any of these things you may know he is not 'moved upon by the Holy Ghost,'  in so speaking unless he has special authorization from the President of the Church."  (Address to Seminary and Institute Faculty, Brigham Young University, 7 July 1954.)'

During the study of this topic, we will learn the duty of a prophet, why the Lord has called or not called prophets, and why it is necessary that we follow the living prophet.

Resources
Gospel Principles, chapter 9.
Truth Restored, chapter 5,14.

Scriptures:
1 Nephi 1:5-20
  5 Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people. 
  6 And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly. 
  7 And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen. 
  8 And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God. 
  9 And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day. 
  10 And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament. 
  11 And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read. 
  12 And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord. 
  13 And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon. 
  14 And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish! 
  15 And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him. 
  16 And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account. 
  17 But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make an abridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the record of my father then will I make an account of mine own life. 
  18 Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. 
  19 And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world. 
  20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance. 

Mosiah 8:13-18; 11:20-29; Mosiah 12; 13
Mosiah 8:13-18
  13 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. 
  14 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. 
  15 And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet. 
  16 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. 
  17 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. 
  18 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 11:20-29
  20 And it came to pass that there was a man among them whose name was Abinadi; *and he went forth among them, and began to prophesy, saying: Behold, thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me, saying, Go forth, and say unto this people, thus saith the Lord Wo be unto this people, for I have seen their abominations, and their wickedness, and their whoredoms; and except they repent I will visit them in mine anger. 
  21 And except they repent and turn to the Lord their God, behold, I will deliver them into the hands of their enemies; yea, and they shall be brought into bondage; and they shall be afflicted by the hand of their enemies. 
  22 And it shall come to pass that they shall know that I am the Lord their God, and am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of my people. 
  23 And it shall come to pass that except this people repent and turn unto the Lord their God, they shall be brought into bondage; and none shall deliver them, except it be the Lord the Almighty God. 
  24 Yea, and it shall come to pass that when they shall cry unto me I will be slow to hear their cries; yea, and I will suffer them that they be smitten by their enemies. 
  25 And except they repent in sackcloth and ashes, and cry mightily to the Lord their God, I will not hear their prayers, neither will I deliver them out of their afflictions; and thus saith the Lord, and thus hath he commanded me. 
  26 Now it came to pass that when Abinadi had spoken these words unto them they were wroth with him, and sought to take away his life; but the Lord delivered him out of their hands. 
  27 Now when king Noah had heard of the words which Abinadi had spoken unto the people, he was also wroth; and he said: Who is Abinadi, that I and my people should be judged of him, or who is the Lord, that shall bring upon my people such great affliction? 
  28 I command you to bring Abinadi hither, that I may slay him, for he has said these things that he might stir up my people to anger one with another, and to raise contentions among my people; therefore I will slay him. 
  29 Now the eyes of the people were blinded; therefore they hardened their hearts against the words of Abinadi, and they sought from that time forward to take him. And king Noah hardened his heart against the word of the Lord, and he did not repent of his evil doings. 

Mosiah 12   <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/12>
Abinadi is imprisoned for prophesying the destruction of the people and the death of King Noah The false priests quote the Scriptures  and pretend to keep the law of Moses Abinadi begins to teach them the Ten Commandments. About 148 B.C. 

Mosiah 13   <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/mosiah/13>
Abinadi is protected by divine power He teaches the Ten Commandments Salvation does not come by the law of Moses alone God himself shall make an atonement and redeem his people. About 148 B.C. 

Helaman 10;13;14
Helaman 10   <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/hel/10>
The Lord gives Nephi the sealing power He is empowered to bind and loose on earth and in heaven He commands the people to repent or perish The Spirit carries him from congregation to congregation. Between 23 and 20 B.C. 

Helaman 13   <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/hel/13>
The prophecy of Samuel, the Lamanite, to the Nephites. Comprising chapters 13 to 15 inclusive. 
Samuel the Lamanite prophesies the destruction of the Nephites unless they repent They and their riches are cursed They reject and stone the prophets, are encircled about by demons, and seek for happiness in doing iniquity. About 6 B.C. 

Helaman 14   <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/hel/14>
Samuel predicts light during the night and a new star at Christ s birth Christ redeems men from temporal and spiritual death The signs of his death include three days of darkness, the rending of the rocks, and great upheavals of nature. About 6 B.C. 

D&C 1; 68:3-5
D&C 1
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, during a special conference of elders of the Church, held at Hiram, Ohio, November 1, 1831. HC 1: 221 224. Many revelations had been received from the Lord prior to this time, and the compilation of these for publication in book form was one of the principal subjects passed upon at the conference. This section constitutes the Lord's Preface to the doctrines, covenants, and commandments given in this dispensation. 
1 7, The voice of warning is to all people; 8 16, Apostasy and wickedness precede the Second Coming; 17 23, Joseph Smith called to restore to earth the Lord s truths and powers; 24 33, The Book of Mormon brought forth and true Church established; 34 36, Peace shall be taken from the earth; 37 39, Search these commandments. 
D&C 68: 3-5
  3 And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. 
  4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. 
  5 Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants. 

Exodus 4

Exodus 4   <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/ex/4>
The Lord gives signs to Moses Aaron chosen as a spokesman Israel is the Lord s firstborn and must be released to serve him Circumcision of Moses son Moses and Aaron lead Israel in worship. 

Articles of faith 1:6
  6 We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth. 


Topical Guide: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/tg/contents> 
               Prophets, Mission of.
               False Prophets
               Guidance, Divine
               Prophecy
               Prophets, Rejection of
               Seer

Bible Dictionary: <http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/bd/contents>
                  Prophet.
                  Divination
                  Revelation
                  Seer
                  Urim and Thummim

 

Chapter 9: Prophets of God
Concept 1: Introduction

'Joseph Smith
Brigham Young
John Taylor
Wilford Woodruff
Lorenzo Snow
Joseph F. Smith
Heber J. Grant
George Albert Smith
David O. McKay
Joseph Fielding Smith
Harold B. Lee
Spencer W. Kimball
Ezra Taft Benson
Howard W. Hunter
Gordon B. Hinckley

The Lord has sent prophets in our own day.

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

Many people live in darkness, unsure of God's will.  They believe that the heavens are closed and that people must face the world's perils alone.  How fortunate are the Latter-day Saints!  We know that God communicates to the Church through his prophet.  With grateful hearts, Saints the world over sing the hymn, "We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days."'




Concept 2: What Is a Prophet?

'A prophet is a man called by God to be his representative on earth.  When a prophet speaks for God, it is as if God were speaking.  A prophet is also a special witness for Christ, testifying of His divinity and teaching His gospel.  A prophet teaches truth and interprets the word of God. He calls the unrighteous to repentance.  He receives revelations and directions from the Lord for our benefit.  He may see into the future and foretell coming events so that the world may be warned.

A prophet may come from various stations in life.  He may be young or old, highly educated or unschooled. He may be a farmer, a lawyer, or a teacher.  Ancient prophets wore tunics and carried staffs. Modern prophets wear suits and carry briefcases.  What, then, identifies a true prophet? A true prophet is always chosen by God and called through proper priesthood authority.

Latter-day Saints sustain the First Presidency and the Twelve Apostles as prophets.  However, when we speak of "the prophet of the Church," we mean the President of the Church, who is President of the high priesthood.

Discussion

What is a prophet?
What powers and gifts does he have?
What does he do?
What office does he hold in the Church?'




Concept 3: Through the Ages God Has Called Prophets to Lead Mankind

'There have been prophets on the earth since the days of Adam.  Experiences of these great men excite and inspire us. Moses, an Old Testament prophet, led thousands of his people out of Egypt and slavery into the promised land.  He wrote the first five books of the Old Testament and recorded the Ten Commandments.  Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, sailed from Jerusalem to the American continent about six hundred years before the birth of Christ.  This great leader and colonizer gave us many important writings in the Book of Mormon.  John the Baptist was chosen to prepare the world for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Joseph Smith, a Latter-day prophet, the Lord restored the Church.  Joseph Smith also translated the Book of Mormon while a young man.

We Have a Living Prophet on the Earth Today

We have a prophet living on the earth today.  This prophet is the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  He has the right to revelation for the entire Church.  He holds the "keys of the kingdom," meaning that he has the right to control the administration of the ordinances (Matthew 16:19 "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.").  No person except the chosen prophet and president can receive God's will for the membership of the Church.

We should do those things the prophets tell us to do.  President Wilford Woodruff said that a prophet will never be allowed to lead the Church astray:

"I say to Israel, the Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of this Church to lead you astray.  It is not in the program.  It is not in the mind of God.  If I were to attempt that the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so he will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty.  God bless you" (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 212-13; see also Official Declaration 1).

Discussion

Name as many prophets as you can.

Who is the prophet who directs the Church today? 
What do you know about the living prophet.'


Concept 4: We Should Sustain the Lord's Prophet

'Many people find it easy to believe in the prophets of the past.  But it is much greater to believe in and follow the living prophet.  We raise our hands to sustain the President of the Church as prophet, seer, and revelator.

How can we sustain the prophet?  We should pray for him.  His burdens are heavy, and he needs to be strengthened by the prayers of the Saints.

We should study his words.  We can listen to his conference addresses or read them in Church publications.

We should follow his inspired teachings completely.  We should not choose to follow part of his inspired counsel and discard that which is unpleasant or difficult.  The Lord commanded us to follow the inspired teachings of his prophet:

"Thou shalt give heed unto all his [the prophet's] words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;

"For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith" (D&C 21:4-5).

The Lord will never allow the President of the Church to lead us astray.

Discussion

What we can do to follow and sustain the prophet?

Where can we learn of his counsel today?'



Concept 5: Great Blessings Follow Obedience to the Prophet

'If we obey, the Lord promises, "The gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you; and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory" (D&C 21:6).

When we do as our prophet directs, blessings pour down from heaven.  A story from the life of Lorenzo Snow, the fifth president of the restored Church, shows how God rewards his people for their obedience.  In those days the Church was suffering great financial trouble and had little money to pay its debts.  Then more trouble came.  A great drought afflicted many of the Saints. President Snow went to the Lord and prayed for relief.  One day as the prophet was speaking in the St. George Tabernacle in Utah, the Holy Ghost inspired him to promise the Saints that they would receive rain if they would pay a full tithe.  He quoted Malachi: "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, . . . and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).  The people obeyed their prophet, and the rains fell on the parched crops.

In order to stand, the true Church must be built upon the foundation of prophets (Ephesians 2:20 "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner [stone];").  We are blessed in this insecure world to have a prophet through whom the Lord reveals his will.

Discussion

Share an experience in which obedience to the counsel of the prophet was a blessing.

Additional Scriptures

Numbers 12:6 (God speaks through prophets)
6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

1 Samuel 9:9 (prophet called a seer)
9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire 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.)

Luke 1:70 (God speaks through prophets)
70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:

D&C 45:10, 15 (God speaks today as in days of old)
10 Wherefore, come ye unto it, and with him that cometh I will 1reason as with men in days of old, and I will show unto you my strong reasoning.
15 Wherefore, hearken and I will reason with you, and I will speak unto you and prophesy, as unto men in days of old.

1 Nephi 22:2 (by the Spirit things are made known to prophets)
22 And I, Nephi, said unto them: Behold they were manifest unto the prophet by the voice of the Spirit; for by the Spirit are all things made known unto the prophets, which shall come upon the children of men according to the flesh.

D&C 68:3-5 (when the Lord's servants speak as moved by the Holy Ghost, it is the mind, will, and voice of the Lord)
 3 And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. 
  4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation. 
  5 Behold, this is the promise of the Lord unto you, O ye my servants. 

D&C 107:65-67, 91-92 (duties of the President of the Church)
65 Wherefore, it must needs be that one be appointed of the High Priesthood to preside over the priesthood, and he shall be called President of the High Priesthood of the Church; 
  66 Or, in other words, the Presiding High Priest over the High Priesthood of the Church. 
  67 From the same comes the administering of ordinances and blessings upon the church, by the laying on of the hands. 
      "  "  "
  91 And again, the duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses 
  92 Behold, here is wisdom; yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet, having all the gifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church. 

D&C 43:1-7 (only the prophet is authorized to receive revelations for the Church)
1 O hearken, ye elders of my church, and give ear to the words which I shall speak unto you. 
  2 For behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye have received a commandment for a law unto my church, through him whom I have appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations from my hand. 
  3 And this ye shall know assuredly that there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations until he be taken, if he abide in me. 
  4 But verily, verily, I say unto you, that none else shall be appointed unto this gift except it be through him; for if it be taken from him he shall not have power except to appoint another in his stead. 
  5 And this shall be a law unto you, that ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments; 
  6 And this I give unto you that you may not be deceived, that you may know they are not of me. 
  7 For verily I say unto you, that he that is ordained of me shall come in at the gate and be ordained as I have told you before, to teach those revelations which you have received and shall receive through him whom I have appointed. '



-----------------
Moroni 10:4-5
"4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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