The Living Prophet

Write the following question on the board: Who is the most important prophet for you?

Invite the class to ponder this question and listen for the answer as you read the following statement by President Ezra Taft Benson.

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President Ezra Taft Benson

“The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age” (“Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” New Era, May 1975, 17).

• Why do you think the living prophet is the most important prophet for us?

After students respond, continue reading President Benson’s statement:

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President Ezra Taft Benson

“This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us. … Every generation has need of the ancient scripture, plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering that you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece. That is why it is essential that you have access to and carefully read his words in Church periodicals” (“Jesus Christ—Gifts and Expectations,” 17).

Explain that we sustain all the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. However, the President of the Church is the only person who is authorized to exercise all the priesthood keys on the earth and the only person who is authorized to receive and declare revelations for the entire Church.

• According to what you have learned in recent lessons, when has the President of the Church declared revelations for the entire Church or announced significant changes in the way the Church operates? (Answers might include when President Wilford Woodruff issued the Manifesto regarding plural marriage [see Official Declaration 1], when President Joseph F. Smith declared previously unknown truths about the postmortal spirit world [see D&C 138], and when President Spencer W. Kimball declared that the blessings of the priesthood were to be made available to all worthy members of the Church [see Official Declaration 2].)

Invite a student to read the following statement by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf aloud. Invite the class to listen for a truth concerning revelation in our day.

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President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“One of the glorious messages of the Restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ is that God continues to speak to His children! He is not hidden in the heavens but speaks today as He did in ancient days. …

“God’s priceless instructions to humankind are found in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. In addition, the Lord speaks to us through His servants, as He will again at … general conference” (“Why Do We Need Prophets?” Ensign, March 2012, 4).

• What doctrine concerning revelation did President Uchtdorf teach? (Students may use different words, but they should identify something similar to the following doctrinal statement: The Lord continues to speak to us today through His living prophet. You may want to write this doctrine on the board.)

• Where can we find the words of the living prophet? (Answers might include general conference, Church magazines, LDS.org, and mormonchannel.org.)

To help students understand the significance of the Lord continuing to speak through His living prophet, invite a student to read aloud the following statement by President John Taylor. Ask the class to listen for why continuing revelation through prophets is important.

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President John Taylor

“We require a living tree—a living fountain—living intelligence, proceeding from the living priesthood in heaven, through the living priesthood on earth. … And from the time that Adam first received a communication from God, … it always required new revelations, adapted to the peculiar circumstances in which the churches or individuals were placed. Adam’s revelation did not instruct Noah to build his ark; nor did Noah’s revelation tell Lot to forsake Sodom; nor did either of these speak of the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt” (in The Gospel Kingdom, sel. G. Homer Durham [1987], 34).

• According to President Taylor, why do we need a living prophet? (Through the living prophet, God gives direction specific to the needs and circumstances of the time.)

• How can understanding the need for continuing revelation affect the way you listen to or read the words of the living prophet?

To help students discuss the counsel of the living prophet, select one or more general conference addresses given by the President of the Church in the past year. Provide a copy of a talk for each student in the class. Give students time to look for doctrines and principles the living prophet is currently teaching.

After students have had sufficient time to read, ask them to list doctrines and principles the President of the Church is teaching. Consider asking a student to write their responses on the board.

To help students understand and feel the importance of the doctrines and principles they have identified, ask some or all of the following questions:

• Which of these principles or doctrines do you feel are especially relevant to you? Why?

• In what ways are you and your family trying to follow the counsel of the prophet?

• Why do you think it is important that we study and apply what the current President of the Church is teaching?

Write the following questions on the board, and invite students to answer them in their class notebooks or scripture study journals:

Invite students to act on what they have written. Testify that as they do so, they can have confidence that Heavenly Father will bless them. Encourage students to consistently study and apply the teachings of living prophets.

Invite students to share their testimonies of living prophets.

As a conclusion to this seminary year, encourage students to continue studying the scriptures every day. If they will be taking the next seminary course, you might suggest that they begin studying the Old Testament. You may want to invite a student to testify of the blessings he or she has received by continuing to read the scriptures daily even when seminary has not been in session.