Prophets

• 1 Nephi 22:2

"... 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 43:1-7

Only the prophet is authorized to receive revelations for the church.

• D&C 107:65-67,91-92

Duties of the President of the Church. Derscription of his calling.

• Amos 3:7

"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets."

• Numbers 12:5

"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."

• Article of Faith 6

We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.

• Ezra Taft Benson, "Fourteen Fundamentals ...", Tambuli, June 1981

Brigham Young Cited: "I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in these book." (Refering to the scriptures.)

• George Q. Cannon, "Gospel Truth"

Scriptures insufficient to guide us w/o living prophets.

• Tad R. Callister, "The Inevitable Apostasy and the Promised Restoration", p. 77

Cites Papias in the early second century as follows:

"For I imagined that what was to be got from books [the scriptures] was not so profitable to me as what came from the living and abiding voice."

Cites Ralph Waldo Emerson (as cited by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, "Prophets, Seers, and Revelators", p. 8) as follows:

"It is my duty to say to you that the need was never greater [for] new revelation than now. The doctrine of inspiration is lost. ... Miracles, prophecy, ... the holy life, exist as ancient history [only]. ... Men have come to speak of ... revelation as somewhat long ago given and done, as if God were dead. ... It is the office of a true teacher to show us that God is, not was; that He speaketh, not spake."

• Thomas S. Monson, “They Marked the Path to Follow,” Ensign, Oct 2007, 4–9

Talks about prophets as examples and models to follow.

• Elder Ezra Taft Benson, "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet", 26-Feb-1980

The prophet is the only an who speaks for the Lord in everything.

The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

The prophet will never lead the Church astray.

The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

The prophet does not have to say "Thus saith the Lord" to give us scripture.

The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

The prophet is not limited by men's reasoning.

The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.

The prophet may be involved in civic matters.

The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency--the highest quorum in the Church.

The prophet and the presidency--the living prophet and the First Presidency--follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.

• Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 88

Reflections by the prophet upon a man's being surprised that Joseph Smith was nothing but a man. Prophets are men "subject to like passions as we are".

• Joseph Smith, compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", p. 120

"Fifth - 'Do you believe Joseph Smith, Jun., to be a Prophet?'

Yes, and every other man who has the testimony of Jesus. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.-Rev. 19:10."

Cross-References

• Balaam
• Brigham Young
• Church organization
• False Prophets
• Jonah
• Joseph Smith, Jr.
• Personal Revelation
• Prophecy
• Scriptures