At times it seems easier to believe in
the prophets who have passed on than to believe in the living oracles and
follow the counsel and direction they give for our day and time yet we do have
a living prophet on the earth today and this is why. Each dispensation of time
presents itself with different needs relative to social, cultural, and
technological advancements of existing civilisations. Times change and so do
the people. New warnings are needed pertinent to evils of the day and the
prophecies of the Second Coming.
“With the restoration of the priesthood
in 1829, there was a restoration of prophets in this dispensation. Living
prophets are leading this church today. The greatest security of members of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints comes from learning to listen to
and obey the words and commandments that the Lord has given through living
prophets.
"If we listened to the prophets of
this day, poverty would be replaced with loving care for the poor and needy.
Many serious and deadly health problems would be avoided through compliance
with the Word of Wisdom and the laws of sexual purity. Payment of tithing would
bless us and we would have sufficient for our needs. If we follow the counsel
given by the prophets, we can have a life in mortality where we do not bring
upon ourselves unnecessary pain and self-destruction.
“This does not mean we will not have
any challenges. We will. This does not mean we will not be tested. We will, for
this is part of our purpose on earth. But if we will listen to the counsel of
our prophet, we will become stronger and be able to withstand the tests of
mortality. We will have hope and joy. All the words of counsel from the
prophets of all generations have been given so that we may be strengthened and
then be able to lift and strengthen others." (Robert D. Hales, Hear
The Prophet's Voice and Obey, Ensign, May 1995, p 17)
We, members of this glorious Church of
Jesus Christ get somewhat complacent about all the blessings our membership offers.
May we never be like this member who was reminded of this very thing:
"She couldn't stand still. The
mention of a living prophet had aroused in her a great enthusiasm. As I
continued the lesson, the woman was up again and again, her hands flying as she
asked for clarification and elaboration. She wanted to know everything she
could about David O. McKay and his calling.
'He's a prophet', I repeated. 'Like
Jeremiah or Moses or Peter'. The concept was powerful and she wanted
desperately to understand.
'How does a man get to be a prophet?'
she asked.
"I spoke then of years of preparation,
and talked to her of obedience and faithfulness and study and prayer and
service - those qualities that enabled a man to fulfill such a calling.
'But the most important requirement is
that he be called of God' I explained, 'because he receives revelation from the
Lord and delivers it to the people. He speaks to us the words and the will of
God.'
'How?'
'Pardon me?'
'How does he speak to you?' she asked.
'I mean, how does he let you know what the Lord says and what he expects? When
he has a message, how does he deliver it?'
"This was a missionary's dream. In
nineteen months of proselyting and teaching I had never seen anyone so excited
about the restoration of the gospel and the idea of a living prophet. She
seemed aflame with a need to know the present word of God.
'Every six months, the Church holds a
General Conference' I said. 'People attend from all over the world, and
President McKay speaks, usually three or four times, during the three days of
the conference'.
"I could see in her eyes a great desire
to sit and listen to the living words of a living prophet.
'But does everyone attend?' she asked.
Then thinking of herself, she added, 'What about those who can't come to
conference?'
“I smiled. This woman was a joy to
teach. 'The Church publishes a magazine called the Improvement Era', I
responded. 'A month or two after conference, the entire proceedings of the
conference are published in one of the issues. Everyone who wants to can get a
copy and read the talks'.
"But there was more, and speaking of the
magazine had reminded me. 'That isn't all'. I was nearly as excited as she was
now. 'Every month President McKay writes the editorial in the Improvement Era.
Every month we get a written message from the Prophet of God'.
'That's wonderful!' she exclaimed, and
I agreed. In my mind the faucets were running, the baptismal font already
filling. She said she had one more question. I didn't mind. After nineteen
months as a missionary, I could answer any question about living prophets that
an investigator could ask. Any question, that is except this one. As she spoke,
I saw the plug being pulled, the water draining from the font.
"Her eyes shining with delight and
anticipation, she said: 'What did he say last month?'
"I could not answer her question. I knew that President McKay had been writing the editorials for the Improvement Era during most of the years of my life. But I had never read a single one of them."
- Ted Gibbons
- CATHRYNE ALLEN
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