Prophets, ancient and modern

Most Christian churches believe in the idea of prophets, but they usually believe in prophets in a past sense.  Mormons believe in prophets both ancient and modern. They believe that God did not stop talking to man after the close of the Bible, but, rather, that God continues to speak and will continue to speak to his children throughout the future of the world.  As the Bible stands as a record of God’s dealings with prophets in ancient days, so does modern scripture stand as a record of God’s dealings with prophets in modern days. 

What Mormons believe, also, is that prophets do a great deal more than tell the future.  Prophecy is not only a tool to tell the world what is to come.  This is what is often thought of, mind, as the role of a prophet.  After all, prophets have foretold both disasters and great events – but what we must also remember is to what purpose prophets foretell such things.  Often, the purpose is to call people to repentance.  Often, the purpose is to testify of Christ.  Many prophets foretold the coming of Christ long before he was born.  But, in a way, the foretelling is less important than the witnessing – and prophets are witnesses, profound witnesses who see more than we can.

The Apostle Peter explains how God calls prophets to be witnesses to teach His message to others:

We are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God (Acts 10:39-41).

Prophets stand as witnesses of the pure truths of God – it is these that prophets teach the people.  This is why prophets are far more than foretellers.  While they may see the future if truth requires it, it is truth that is their business, it is truth that they see.  And what they preach are the doctrines of Christ – prophets, modern and ancient, always point us toward following Jesus Christ and God the Father. 

God has always called prophets.  The prophet Amos wrote that “the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).  Paul tells us that “God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues” (1 Cor. 12:28).  Apostles are also prophets, prophets whom God places at the head of his Church.  They reveal God’s word.  Just as the writings of ancient prophets became scriptures, modern prophets’ words become scripture.  The Doctrine and Covenants explains:

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 (D&C 68:4, see also 2 Peter 20-21).

The Mormon Church is led by prophets and apostles.  The first Mormon prophet, Joseph Smith, founded the Church and received many revelations about its organization.  These revelations are now in the Doctrine and Covenants, one of the core books of Mormon scripture.  The Lord also revealed to Joseph Smith the location of an important and ancient book of scripture, lost to the world – the Book of Mormon.  Through Joseph’s prophetic role and gifts, he was able to translate the Book of Mormon into English.  The book was published as a witness to the world, as another testament of Christ.

Joseph Smith was killed by a mob in 1844, and Brigham Young succeeded him as prophet.  Brigham Young led the Mormons to Utah, to escape persecution.  There, they settled.

After Brigham Young’s death came John Taylor, and one prophet has succeeded another until the present day.  Now, Gordon B. Hinckley is the living prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Mormon prophets are prophets until death.  The Church is carefully organized so that there will always be another prophet to take their place and lead the Church.  Usually, the Prophet acted as one of the Twelve Apostles before becoming the Church President.