Mormons are unique among Christians because their church leader is sustained not just as a faithful or inspired man, but as a literal prophet of God.
What Is a Prophet?
Latter-day Saints believe that a prophet is the Lord's authorized representative on earth. He acts as the mouthpiece of the Lord, through whom God speaks to the church as a whole.
Mormons believe that prophets speak the will of the Lord, may prophesy about future events, and receive revelations from God for the benefit of the church at the time.
Biblical Prophets
The Bible is replete with prophets such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and many more. Each preached the gospel, prophesied of redemption through Jesus Christ, and urged people to repentance.
Joseph Smith: First Mormon Prophet in this Dispensation
A "dispensation" is a period of time in which the gospel has been preached by a prophet living on the earth. Each time an Old Testament prophet was rejected and the world fell into apostasy, a new prophet would be called years later to begin a new dispensation.
Mormons believe that Jesus Christ organized His church while on the earth, but after His crucifixion and the deaths of the apostles, the world fell into apostasy again. In 1820, a new dispensation began with the calling of the prophet Joseph Smith.
LDS Church President
The current prophet is also the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He is the only person who receives revelation for the entire church, which would mean introducing a new Mormon doctrine or church-wide policy.
Succession of Mormon Prophets
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is led by a prophet and twelve apostles. When the current Mormon prophet dies he is succeeded by the most senior of the twelve apostles, who are believed to have been appointed by revelation from God.
Any of the apostles, however, would be fully qualified to become the new prophet and LDS church president. Each apostle is already ordained as a "prophet, seer, and revelator," but only the president of the church has the authority to act fully in that capacity.
Concerns about "Blind Obedience" and a Living Prophet
Many people are uneasy about the idea of a modern prophet. However, two assurances are in place for those who follow a prophet:
- Mormon doctrine says that a prophet will never be permitted by God to lead His church astray. Former president Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Remember whose church this is. It carries the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, who stands as its head. His is the power to remove any found remiss in his duty or who is teaching that which is not in harmony with His divine will."
- Members can always ask for confirmation from God on any prophetic teaching. Brigham Young is reported to have said that his greatest fear was that church members would take what he said as the mind and will of God without first praying and obtaining a witness of it for themselves.
Latter-day Saints are often criticized for "blind obedience," but most would argue that they obey because they have gained a personal witness that the current prophet is the Lord's true representative on earth.
Importance of a Living Prophet
Though the principles of the gospel of Jesus Christ never change, church policies come and go as peoples' needs and circumstances change. Ezra Taft Benson explained that "God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the Ark. Noah needed his own revelation. Therefore the most important prophet so far as you and I are concerned is the one living in our day and age to whom the Lord is currently revealing His will for us."
Latter-day Saints believe that current revelation is the most important scripture that they possess, since it is God speaking specifically to them, addressing the unique concerns of their time.
Today's LDS prophet speaks about the importance of family, staying out of debt, getting all the education possible, and avoiding pornography.
Listening to the LDS Prophet Today
The current prophet and apostles speak to the entire Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during a general conference held in April and October each year. Their talks are published in the May and November conference issues of the Ensign, the LDS church's magazine.
Prophets of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today dress in suits and ties, rather than the robes of Old Testament prophets, but their roles are believed to be the same. When a prophet passes away he is succeeded by one of the apostles of the church, and church members continue to follow prophetic guidance without interruption.
Readers interested in this topic should also see "Open Canon and Continuing Revelation in the LDS Church."
Sources:
- Brigham Young, quoted in Deseret News, 9 Dec. 1857, 317; 12 Feb. 1862, 257.
- Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Church is on Course." Ensign, November 1992.
- Ezra Taft Benson, "First Presidency Message: Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet." Liahona, June 1981.
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