Doctrine & Covenants Lesson # 37
“We Thank
Thee, O God, for a Prophet”
Introduction
Kara’s excellent lesson is a great lead-in to this week’s
topic of the necessity for a prophet. And I just got back from the mission
farewell for Sam Stephens who grew up in the Provo 3rd Ward. Both Kara and Sam
referenced Pres. Monson’s talk in April 2017 General Conference about the
necessity of not only reading, but studying and pondering the Book of Mormon
every day. Hugh Nibley once wrote
I have always thought in reading the
Book of Mormon, "Woe to the generation that understands this book!"
To our fathers, once the great persecutions ceased, the story of the Nephites
and the Lamanites was something rather strange, unreal, and faraway—even to the
point of being romantic. The last generation did not make much of the Book of
Mormon. But now with every passing year this great and portentous story becomes
more and more familiar and more frighteningly like our own.[1]
From the Joseph Smith Translation of the New Testament
comes this prophecy which is being fulfilled in front of our eyes
[There will be ] wars, and rumors of
wars. . . . For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes. . . . And . . .
because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold.” But “the end .
. . , or the destruction of the wicked,” will not come until the “Gospel of the
Kingdom shall be preached in all the world” (JS—Matthew 1:28–31).
I was talking to some friends about the recent fires,
earthquakes, hurricanes, etc. And I flippantly said that this is “last days
stuff.” But that it is, and it is only going to get worse, so to whom do we
turn? We turn first to our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ in prayer, to Their
words in scripture, and then to those who receive revelation for us today—our
prophets, seers, and revelators. And we can do so with full faith and
confidence in what they have to tell us, knowing that if we follow them, not
only do we not need to fear, but we will have peace and joy. In fact, right on
the front page of lds.org is a link to President Eyring’s talk on how to increase
faith and quiet fear.
So why do we need a living prophet? Well I think it is
pretty obvious, but here is President Benson speaking when he was President of
the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles:
The most important prophet, so far as
we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the
prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us today. God’s revelation to
Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of
the ancient scripture plus the current scripture from the living prophet.
Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering which you should do is of the
latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece (in Conference Report, Korea
Area Conference 1975, 52).
When I joined the Church in 1980, President Kimball was
the prophet, so I have been fortunate to learn from 5 living prophets and
presidents of the Church. Can you think back and remember what you learned from
the prophets since you have been members of the Church? President Kimball
taught me about forgiveness, and I have followed his example a few times to
read all the Standard Works in one year. Pres. Benson got me reading the Book
of Mormon every day and warned about pride; Pres. Hunter committed me to more
frequent temple attendance; Pres. Hinckley was probably the prophet I saw most
in person and gave me a very sacred experience at the rededication of the Swiss
Temple. He taught me to be kinder, more accepting, less judgmental (Something I
am still working on). I loved his sense of humor. I was happy to accept his
challenge to read the Book of Mormon through quickly. And Pres. Monson
continues to inspire us. Urging us to rescue those in need. Years ago I heard
him talk about standing firm against the current and I have tried to do that.[1]
Just recently, then, I realized I need to be better at studying and pondering
what I read in the Book of Mormon. I’d love to hear your thoughts on your
prophets.
[1]
We live at a time when many in the world have slipped from the moorings of
safety found in compliance with the commandments. It is a time of
permissiveness, with society in general routinely disregarding and breaking the
laws of God. We often find ourselves swimming against the current, and
sometimes it seems as though the current could carry us away. I am reminded of
the words of the Lord found in the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon. Said
the Lord, “Ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves
of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall
come.”1
My brothers and sisters, He has prepared us. If we heed His words and live the
commandments, we will survive this time of permissiveness and wickedness—a time
which can be compared with the waves and the winds and the floods that can
destroy. He is ever mindful of us. He loves us and will bless us as we do what
is right. (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/closing-remarks?lang=eng).
The roles of our living prophet
Here is a scripture chain that we will look at in class,
hopefully
Doctrine and Covenants 1:38; 21:4–5; 43:2; 68:3–4. (The prophet speaks for the Lord and reveals the
Lord’s will.)
Doctrine and Covenants 20:21–26; Mosiah 13:33. (The prophet testifies of Jesus Christ and
teaches the gospel.)
Doctrine and Covenants 21:1; Mosiah 8:13–18. (The prophet is a seer.)
Doctrine and Covenants 107:91–92 (The prophet presides over the
Church.)
D&C 101:43–54 is a parable which is particularly
applicable to today. The Prophet sees the enemy far off and warns us. How many
times have they warned us about food storage—physical preparation for disaster.
Now, it seems, the emphasis is on spiritual preparation for disaster.
Heeding the words of our living prophet D&C 21:4–6
Here is an excerpt from a talk by Harold B. Lee from
1970—47 years ago:
We have some tight places to go before
the Lord is through with this church and the world in this dispensation, which
is the last dispensation, which shall usher in the coming of the Lord. The
gospel was restored to prepare a people ready to receive him. The power of
Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. There will be inroads
within the Church. There will be, as President Tanner has said, “Hypocrites,
those professing, but secretly are full of dead men's bones” (Matt. 23:27). We
will see those who profess membership but secretly are plotting and trying to
lead people not to follow the leadership that the Lord has set up to preside in
this church.
Now the only safety we have as members
of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day
when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and
commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, “as he receiveth
them, walking in all holiness before me—as if from mine own mouth, in all
patience and faith” (D&C 21:4-5).There will be some things that take
patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the
Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social
views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to
these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and
faith, the promise is that “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).
I will admit, that when I read this, I wondered how many
warnings from the Lord’s prophets I have been ignoring.
Here is Pres. Hinckley
Brethren and sisters, the tide of evil
flows. It has become a veritable flood. Most of us, living somewhat sheltered
lives, have little idea of the vast dimensions of it. Billions of dollars are
involved for those who pour out pornography, for those who peddle
lasciviousness, for those who deal in bestiality, in perversion, in sex and
violence. God give us the strength, the wisdom, the faith, the courage as
citizens to stand in opposition to these and to let our voices be heard in
defense of those virtues which, when practiced in the past, made men and
nations strong, and which, when neglected, brought them to decay.[1]
President Benson taught us: “Keep your eye on the
Prophet, for the Lord will never permit his Prophet to lead this Church astray”
(Improvement Era, Dec. 1966, 1145).
I hope that this lesson will be inspiring and not
depressing. That knowing that there are prophets, seers, and revelators whose
advice and counsel we can be secure in following, does lead us to have peace
and increased faith while surrounded by the turmoil that is modern-day society.
Additional resources for this lesson
- “All
Things Must Be Done in Order”: This article discusses early
revelations on the role of the prophet in the Church.
- Prophets
of the Restoration: This section has resources on the life and
ministry of each Church President.
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