We are sent here on earth to be tried and tested but we are not sent here alone. God has provided the help necessary for our salvation. One of the help that we need is instruction from God. This instruction is given through the prophets.  A prophet is called of God to testify of Him and to lead mankind through continuous revelation. He receives revelations even on the things that will yet come to pass.

We have a living prophet in our day by the name of Thomas S. Monson. The living prophet is the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who has the authority to lead the Church and all its affairs, including the building of the kingdom of God here on earth (Doctrine & Covenants 132:7). He also has been conferred the power and keys of the Holy Priesthood. His words does not only inspire many souls to come unto Christ, but his life, even more, speaks so much of how much he loves the Lord by following His commandments.

Sustaining the prophets of God does not only happen when members of the Church raise their hands during general, stake and ward/branch conferences. It happens more often than we think. We sustain him when we pray and fast for him, when we listen and study his words, and when we follow his counsel.

President Wilford Woodruff, one of the previous leaders of the Mormon Church, once said, “The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place.” President Woodruff’s statement is a testimony that the Lord is at the head of the Church and that His purposes are always for the welfare of His people.

The blessings of following the counsels of the prophets of God may not seem very evident sometimes. There are times that it may conflict with what we feel and what we desire, but they can see what we can’t see. Most often, they see the dangers that lie ahead of a certain decision so they forbid us to make it. They also see the blessings that lie ahead when we do not do what they forbid.  We have been promised that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against [us]; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before [us], and cause the heavens to shake for [our] good, and his name’s glory” if we obey the prophets (Doctrine and Covenants  21:6).

When we are clouded with doubts whether or not we should follow the prophets of God, we can be comforted by the Lord’s words, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (Doctrine & Covenants 1:38).

Prophets of God—the living prophet today and all the prophets that lived before us—are men of God. They are seasoned men whose faith have been tried and tested through adversities over time. They are men foreordained to lead the Church even when they were still spirits. They were chosen to come to earth at a time that they will be needed by the Lord to lead His people. They have been prepared since the foundation of the world. However, becoming a prophet is also a summation of the righteous choices that they made in their mortal journey. These men, like us, are not perfect, but they have been qualified by the Lord when they were called to stand as the representatives of the Lord here on earth. Following the prophets is following the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Aside from prophets mentioned in the Bible, Mormons also believe in living prophets. They guide and direct all of God’s children today just like He did in the olden times. The prophet receives revelation from God that is specific for the challenges we face in our day. Having a living prophet is a reminder that God never forgets His children. He loves us and He is mindful of our needs.

I grew up a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, so I learned and believed in living prophets since I was a little child. Even though I’ve accepted this truth all my life, I still had to gain a personal testimony that God indeed calls prophets in our time. I gained that testimony as I listened and obeyed the counsel of the prophet and by reading the scriptures. In the Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 the Lord said,

“What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

Isn’t it a great comfort to know that God calls prophets in our time? This means that He loves us and cares about our salvation. He has provided a way for us to receive direction from Him so that we’ll know what we need to do to gain eternal life.

We have a living prophet today and his name is President Thomas S. Monson. He receives revelation and direction from God just like the prophets of old. In one of his recent talks, he counseled everyone to follow the example of the Savior and to be a light in the lives of others. To hear the prophet speak is a reminder that God has not forsaken us and that He never will.

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The Doctrine and Covenants is one of the canonized scriptures, often referred to as the standard works, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is collection of divine revelations given to the Prophet Joseph Smith for the establishment of the kingdom of God on earth. The Doctrine and Covenants is unique from the other set of scriptures because it is not a translation of ancient records. The revelations contained in it are answers to prayers as the Prophet and his associates sought the guidance of the Lord on how to establish His Church.

The Prophet Joseph Smith said that the Doctrine and Covenants is “the foundation of the Church in these last days, and a benefit to the world, showing that the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom of our Savior are again entrusted to man.” –True to the Faith, 158.

As a Mormon, studying the Doctrine and Covenants helps me understand the importance of revelation in our day. Our generation is different from that of ancient times. We face challenges that are unique to our dispensation. Therefore, we need direction from the Lord that is suitable for our needs and circumstances. It is indeed a great blessing and comfort to know that the Lord continually reveals His will to us today. The Doctrine and Covenants is a proof of that truth.

The Doctrine and Covenants contains 138 sections which are revelations given for the direction of the saints and the establishment of the Church. It also includes the Official Declaration 1 and 2 which addresses the topics of polygamy and the priesthood being extended to all worthy male members of the Church.

In Doctrine and Covenants 1:37, the Lord said, “Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.” The Lord’s promises are sure and it is our responsibility as members of the Church to read and understand the revelations written in the Doctrine and Covenants and to gain a testimony of it. President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “…this Doctrine and Covenants contains the word of God to those who dwell here now. It is our book. It belongs to the Latter-day Saints.”

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