Follow the Prophet

Since the days of Adam, God has followed a pattern in the way He reveals truth to His children. For truth that pertains to a specific individuals circumstances, He has given the gifts of prayer and the Holy Ghost to testify to our hearts and teach us personal revelation.

But when the truth needed pertains to the greater human family, He has called prophets to authoritatively say "Thus saith the Lord." This is important to understand because God is not the author of confusion. He does not reveal all things to all people at once. He first chooses a righteous man who He has prepared and tested to be His prophet, and reveals the truth to him.

Then others are called to be witnesses of these truths, and then the truth is preached to the ends of the earth.

When a Latter-Day Saint uses the term "the prophet" they are not merely referring to a person who can prophesy. But rather someone who holds the keys of administration of the work of the Lord on earth. This man is not only a prophet who can prophesy of a future event, but he is also a man who is given authority by the Lord to interpret the scriptures and the past.

In addition, He can receive new revelation for the needs of today. That is why the Prophets and Apostles in the Church today are sustained as "Prophets, Seers, and Revelators." Yes they are given the gift of prophecy, but they are also given the gift of a Seer who can translate ancient scripture if needed, and more often, interpret ancient scripture to bring out it's original meaning.

They are given a steady flow of revelation from the Lord to guide the work of the church and kingdom of God on the Earth.

When a new revelation is given, it comes from the President of the Church who is the only man who holds all the keys and is authorized by the Lord to receive such a revelation. But after a new revelation comes, it is presented to the rest of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles so they can pray and receive confirmation from the Holy Ghost that it is indeed from our Heavenly Father.

Then the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve acting together present the revelation to the church for a sustaining vote.

Only then can the Revelation be ratified and considered doctrine of the church. This is important to understand as it can be shown that even though a man may be called of God as a prophet, Lord still allows that prophet to have his own ideas. There have been statements of different apostles and prophets about different subjects that are their own opinion and not considered church doctrine.

We have been promised by the Lord that if we follow the Prophet we will not be led astray.

This pattern is not new. It has been around since the days of Adam. In the Old Testament the prophet Amos said:

Amos 3:7
7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, ^abut he ^brevealeth his ^csecret unto his servants the ^dprophets.

We should prepare our selves to be close to the promptings of the Holy Ghost so that when we are asked to sustain the prophet by following His teachings, we can feel the confirmation of the Spirit of His words and follow Him to safety.

One of the great blessings of the principle of revelation is that the Lord does not expect us to just follow blindly, but to ask Him for our selves for a confirmation from the Holy Ghost of the truthfulness of the Prophets words.

That being true, I have found that this confirmation can come almost immediately, even while the prophet is speaking. I have also found that the Lord makes it quite clear that this is His church and that the Prophets and Apostles are led by Him.

Having Prophets and Apostles gives a great deal of comfort. Because of these great men we don't have to worry about many of the questions we would have if there was no one in direct communication with God as was Moses.

We are blessed with both the ability to speak with God ourselves through prayer, and with experienced revelators who in many instances God has revealed himself just like he did the ancient Apostles and Prophets of the Bible and Book of Mormon.

The first man to hold these keys in our day was the Prophet Joseph Smith. He was blessed to open this last dispensation to prepare the world for the second coming of Jesus Christ.

His successors in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are also Prophets, Seers, and Revelators.

The living prophet today is Thomas S. Monson. I've included a picture of him and his councilors in this post. I've also included a small video of some of his teachings.

I know that he is a Prophet of the Living God. Every time I have heeded the council of the Prophets my life has been enriched and blessed.

I testify of the comfort and blessing it is to have the wise council of these brethren. I also testify that they will be a blessing to you if you will heed their warnings and instructions.

They are men of God, full of Love, full of power from on High.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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