What a reassuring miracle it is to know that God has spoken to His children in the past and that He continues to speak to them through prophets today!
This past weekend, I have rejoiced as I have witnessed God speak to His children. My soul has been reminded that He has not abandoned us, that He is in control, and He will guide us through this life.
How did I see this? I saw God speaking to us, His children, through His prophet.
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What is a Prophet?
A prophet is one called by God to speak to the world for Him. As His messenger, a prophet gives the people of the earth guidance and direction from heaven. His main responsibility is to be a witness of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
God has spoken through prophets to His children throughout time. We read biblical accounts of prophets like Adam, Noah, Isaiah and others testifying of Christ and teaching His doctrine.
Again, in the spring of 1820, God spoke to and began preparing another prophet: Joseph Smith. In response to Joseph’s humble prayer for divine guidance, God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, appeared to him. Through this prophet, the Lord restored–or brought back–His New Testament church to the earth. Since 1820, the Lord has chosen and spoken through successive prophets on the earth. What a reassuring miracle it is to know that God has spoken to His children in the past and that He continues to speak through prophets today!
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President Nelson’s Guidance and Witness
This year marks the 200th anniversary of Joseph Smith’s first vision, which initiated the restoration of the Lord’s church. This weekend, I watched and participated in a general conference of this church — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — celebrating this anniversary.
I listened to President Russell M. Nelson speak as the Lord’s prophet today. Just as prophets of old, he spoke much needed words of direction. He gave us an invitation to act, to participate together in a global day of fasting and prayer for relief from the present pandemic. His counsel reached beyond the physical needs of this time: “We can store our own reserves of food, water and savings. But equally crucial is our need to fill our personal spiritual storehouses with faith, truth and testimony.”
President Nelson also bore witness of our Savior and instructed us on how to find hope: “Our ultimate quest in life is to prepare to meet our Maker. We do this daily by striving to become more like our Savior, Jesus Christ, and we do that as we repent daily and receive His cleansing, healing and strengthening power. Then we can feel enduring peace and joy, even during turbulent times.”
(Listen to President Russell M. Nelson’s full opening address here)
As I listened to his words, I felt their truthfulness so strongly. I felt peace and joy. I felt answers to questions my heart has been asking. I heard God speaking to me. “…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.” (Scriptural direction given to God’s children through the prophet Joseph Smith in 1831).
In today’s world generally, but especially in the currently unique state of things, a living prophet on the earth is such a beacon of hope. In this time when stores, schools, and stadiums are closed, how beautiful it is that the heavens are not. Though current circumstances dictate that we physically separate and isolate, we are not alone. We are not on our own to navigate this crazy time–or any of life’s challenges. We have a loving Heavenly Father who wants us to successfully find direction through life. And God often speaks to us through His prophet on the earth. When Heavenly Father does so, ours is the privilege and opportunity to hear Him, follow the guidance given, and feel the peace offered to us.
Invitation: What are you doing to hear God through His prophet today? What blessings do you notice as you do so? #HearHim
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