Gospel Principles
Unit 3: Communication between God and Man
Chapter 9: Prophets of God
Concept 3: Through the Ages God Has Called Prophets to Lead Mankind
"There have been prophets on the earth since the days of Adam. Experiences of these great men excite and inspire us. Moses, an Old Testament prophet, led thousands of his people out of Egypt and slavery into the promised land. He wrote the first five books of the Old Testament and recorded the Ten Commandments. Nephi, a Book of Mormon prophet, sailed from Jerusalem to the American continent about six hundred years before the birth of Christ. This great leader and colonizer gave us many important writings in the Book of Mormon. John the Baptist was chosen to prepare the world for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Through Joseph Smith, a Latter-day prophet, the Lord restored the Church. Joseph Smith also translated the Book of Mormon while a young man.
We Have a Living Prophet on the Earth Today
We have a prophet living on the earth today. This prophet is the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has the right to revelation for the entire Church. He holds the "keys of the kingdom," meaning that he has the right to control the administration of the ordinances (Matthew 16:19 "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."). No person except the chosen prophet and president can receive God's will for the membership of the Church.
We should do those things the prophets tell us to do. President Wilford Woodruff said that a prophet will never be allowed to lead the Church astray:
"I say to Israel, 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 program. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so he will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty. God bless you" (Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pp. 212-13; see also Official Declaration 1).
Discussion
Name as many prophets as you can.
Who is the prophet who directs the Church today?
What do you know about the living prophet."