Elders Quorum
Teachings of Presidents of the Church Lorenzo Snow Chapter 20, “The Kingdom of God Moves Forward”
‘In 1844, while fulfilling an assignment in the eastern United States, Lorenzo Snow learned that the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum had been martyred. He said: “The news of this sad event, of course, came wholly unexpected, and struck me with profound astonishment and grief, which no language can portray.’ Obeying instructions from the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he made preparations to return to his home in Nauvoo, Illinois.1
He later recalled: ‘It was thought by some in the days of Joseph that this Church could not prosper except Joseph guided its destinies, and when the time came when he was to pass away from this world as a martyr into the spirit world, the Saints throughout the kingdom of God were greatly agitated. It was something unexpected. They hardly knew how things would then move. The responsibility [to lead the Church] then devolved upon the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles; and through the blessings of God upon them and the spirit of inspiration that dwelt in their bosoms, and under the guidance of the Almighty, the kingdom moved forward.’2”
“The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540)
People had a hard time letting go of Joseph smith, much like a new member of the church will have trouble going forward in the church once the Missionaries that taught them are transferred or return home.
"[God] is constantly communicating to us things that we never knew before. This knowledge and intelligence is growing upon us continually.
“… We have received too much knowledge to be thwarted in our purposes. Those who desire to persecute and overthrow Mormonism, let them go on and do their work. … Our work is to grow in the knowledge of God, to keep the commandments of God, to be faithful and to continue to increase and to become more and more perfect as we advance in years."(In Conference Report, Apr. 1900, 3–4)
Whenever I receive opposition to my beliefs, I reflect on the knowledge I have received and the effect the Church has had on my life and the lives of my family.
"We watch, hear, read, study, and share the words of prophets to be forewarned and protected. For example, “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” was given long before we experienced the challenges now facing the family. “The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles” was prepared in advance of when we will need it most.
“We may not know all the reasons why the prophets and conference speakers address us with certain topics in conference, but the Lord does." (Elder Robert D Hales, “Strengthening Faith and Testimony”, October 2013 General Conference)
At the time the proclamation was given it was needed and very timely and yet how much more do we need that guidance today.
Sunday School
Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Lesson 42
Why is a prophet needed today when we have the Holy Spirit? The Holy Ghost is to testify of truths that we hear. The Holy Ghost is to testify to us as to whether those that are teaching us are lead by God and if they are who they say they are. The Holy Spirit is to prevent us from being lead astray.
The Holy Ghost is also to guide us, within our stewardship, in what we should say as we teach.
God is an organized being. Jesus organized an organization when he was here. Once the Holy Ghost was bestowed on the apostles they were not released as apostles.
“The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us today. God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of the ancient scripture plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering which you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece” (President Ezra Taft Benson, in Conference Report, Korea Area Conference 1975, 52)
Nor did Noah's people get instruction from Adam to get in the ark or specific instruction on what was happening in their society at that very moment that needed to be changed to prevent the rains from coming at all.
Doctrine and Covenants 68:3-4
3 And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost.
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by theHoly Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.
Doctrine and Covenants 20:26
26 Not only those who believed after he came in the meridian of time, in the flesh, but all those from the beginning, even as many as were before he came, who believed in the words of the holy prophets, who spake as they were inspired by the gift of the Holy Ghost, who truly testified of him in all things, should have eternal life,
Doctrine and Covenants 21:1 - commanded to keep a record, just like prophets of old were to keep a record for future days, months, years, and generations. It was not to remove the need for future prophets, but to add a witness.
1 Behold, there shall be a record kept among you; and in it thou shalt be called a seer, a translator, a prophet, an apostle of Jesus Christ, an elder of the church through the will of God the Father, and the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ,
A seer sees the future. Joseph foretold the civil war. The Proclamation on the Family was given before the gay movement gained such political influence.
Doctrine and Covenants 101:43-54 - The parable of the watchman on the tower to explain why we need current prophets.
If there is a prophet he can see what the destroyer is planning and prepare the people to defend against it.
Sacrament Service
A missionary getting ready to leave to go to the Mexico Mexico City Mission spoke to us about happiness.
Our happiness is the design of all blessings he gives us...even our trials.
A father whose son recently left for a mission to the Spain Madrid Mission. I thought he said that his son is in the Madrid temple choir, but perhaps it was the Madrid MTC choir. He is in a video on YouTube singing at that temple.
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