CONTINUOUS REVELATION THROUGH LIVING PROPHETS - Chapter 7 from the Life of Howard W. Hunter

"We are guided by a living prophet of God - one who receives revelation from the Lord."

Due to General Conference last week, today was our Fast and Testimony Sunday and we were pleased to have our Young Women and their leaders join us for our opening exercises.

Sister Emma Kuykendall conducted the meeting and we stood to recite the Young Women's Theme after the opening song and prayer. Announcements were made on our upcoming night meeting, April 14th at 6:30 and every one was asked to please park and enter on the 'other' side of the building and go directly to the Primary room. Sister Terry Josephs read a beautiful thank you note from the platoon in Kuwait who were the recipients of the scarves that were knitted and crocheted for our Stake service project. The Young Women were excused to go to their classes. 

Sister Della Mae Chadwick was our teacher today on Chapter 7 of our manual about the Life of Howard W. Hunter.

The introduction to this chapter expresses President Hunter's thoughts and feelings upon being sustained as President of the Church in the General Conference of October, 1994.

He spoke of the great responsibility of taking on this calling and how he prayed to be worthy and equal to the task before him. He explained that he was able to draw strength and reassurance in his "conviction that the Church is led not by men but by Jesus Christ Himself, who prepares and inspires those He calls to preside."

He said, "My greatest strength through these past months has been my abiding testimony that this is the work of God and not of me. Jesus Christ is the head of this church. He leads it in word and deed. I am honored beyond expression to be called for a season to be an instrument in his hands to preside over his church. But without the knowledge that Christ is the head of the Church, neither I nor any other man could bear the weight of the calling that has come. . .

"Like my Brethren before me, I receive with this calling the assurance that God will direct his prophet."

Sister Chadwick asked the question, "How do you feel about Christ being the head of the church?"

There was some discussion from the class members and one person mentioned it seems that members of other churches have some confusion concerning the Godhead. They worship the Godhead, but many do not consider the three members of the Godhead to be individual persons.  Another person mentioned that knowledge that Christ is the head of the church relieves a lot of pressure on us, since the Savior leads us in His way and we don't need to be concerned with establishing principles and rules. He has set the bar for us.

If we allow ourselves to be as an empty vessel, the Spirit can enter to fill our vessel and lead and guide us in the way we should go.

Many other churches seem to be lead by committee, making changes in policy and principles according to the discussion of the committee. We believe the Lord's commandments and the principles of the Gospel are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Rules and commandments do not change because of man's decisions.

In each dispensation, God has raised up prophets as His spokesmen.

As we read the Old Testament, we find the writings of great men of the past who are referred to as prophets. The books of the New Testament contain the writings, teachings, and history of a later dispensation who also were referred to as prophets. In the Book of Mormon, we have the record of the prophets of the western part of the world.

We read that, "A prophet is one who has been called and raised up by the Lord to further God's purposes among his children. He is one who has received the priesthood and speaks with authority. Prophets are teachers and defenders of the gospel. They bear witness of the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Righteous leadership has been needed in each dispensation of time, and God chose prophets for this purpose long before they came to this mortal existence." (Jeremiah 1:5; Abraham 3:23)

President Hunter says that "A study of the revelations of the Lord in holy writ confirms the fact that it is continuous revelation that guides prophets and the Church in any age."

The Church has had a prophet, seer, and revelator down through its history.  There is, today, interaction between God and man.  Jesus Christ is at the head of the Church and He directs His prophet. Counselors to the Prophet and members of the Council of the Twelve Apostles are also prophets, seers, and revelators in leading the Church with guidance from the Lord.

President Hunter tells us that, "Members of the Church do not have to listen to an uncertain trumpet. They can believe the voice of their leaders, knowing they are guided by the Lord."

God provides guidance for His children through a living prophet today.

We read in Revelations 14:6 that, "I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people." This is to be a distinctive sign of the last days preceding the second coming of Jesus Christ.

President Hunter says, "We testify to all the world that heavenly ministers have already appeared in our age, bringing authority from heaven and restoring truths. . ."  God continues to provide guidance for all his children through a living prophet today. He tells us that "the Lord reveals his mind and will to his anointed prophets and that there is an unending stream of revelation flowing constantly from . . . heaven to God's anointed servants on earth." 

In this day of spiritual famine, we can find spiritual abundance by heeding the voice of the prophet.

Amos predicted that there would come a spiritual famine. He said ". . . not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord." (Amos 8:11)

Many today struggle in confusion and frustration while trying to resolve religious doubts and conflicts. Again, Amos has predicted, ". . . they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it." (Amos 8:12)

Sister Chadwick asked us, "How does having a living prophet help us? 

The prophet receives direct inspiration and revelation from Heavenly Father for the entire Church.  When we listen to our prophet, we receive greater understanding and knowledge of the gospel and the plan of our Heavenly Father. 

President Hunter tells us that the confusion and frustrations suffered by others in the world are not common to faithful members of the Church because "in what appears to be a spiritual famine, there are many who have found a spiritual abundance."

We can help others to gain a greater understanding of the gospel by following the example of the Savior. As we look at others around us we should seek to find the good in them because that is what Christ looks for. If we start simply, we can teach others that they are a daughter/son of God and that they are loved. 

President Hunter testifies that "the gospel in its fullness has been restored in these latter days and that there is a prophet on the earth today who speaks the mind and will of the Lord to those who will hear and have the faith to follow."

If we follow the teachings of the living prophets, we will not go amiss. 

We read that the most important prophet to people of past dispensations was the one then living, teaching and revealing the will of the Lord in their time. These prophets were raised up by the Lord as his spokesmen to the people of that particular age and for the specific problems of that age. 

The present living prophet is our leader, our teacher. We take direction from him for life in our modern world and the problems we encounter. As we read accounts of past prophets, we can see the great blessing that comes to us from having living prophet. If what we believe is in keeping with what the prophet says, we can know we are in the right.

Sister Chadwick asked the question, "What are the functions of the prophets?"

Responses were that through the inspiration of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ prophets are able to see and predict future events. They can institute and make changes to better existing programs. They receive revelations for the benefit of the entire church.

President Hunter further explains that "The First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, called and ordained to hold the keys of the priesthood, have the authority and responsibility to govern the Church, to administer its ordinances, to teach its doctrine, and to establish and maintain its practices." 

Should the President of the Church become ill or not be able to function in all the duties of his office, his two Counselors carry on the work of the Presidency. "Any major questions, policies, programs or doctrines are prayerfully considered in council by the Counselors in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. No decision emanates from the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve without total unanimity among all concerned."

In general conference, we receive inspired counsel from prophets, seers, and revelators.

Sister Chadwick asked us "In what way did the talks in our last General Conference inspire or heal you?"

The most popular topic mentioned was the talk of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland in which he restated the basics of the Gospel, their importance in our lives and told us that if we know we are doing our best, even if it's not perfect, that is okay.

One sister mentioned that she realized that it is the Prophet that helps us stay in the "boat".

Another topic mentioned was how healing is obtained through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ and that faith in the power of the Atonement can help and heal us and keep us healthy and happy.

We are blessed to have a living prophet on the earth today and we are blessed when we follow the prophet. 

Be sure to read your May 2016 Ensign for complete coverage of the April 2016 General Conference and all the talks from the General Women's Conference.

Your Bloggess,

Karen