Our Living Prophets
Do you have a
living prophet? This is one of the most frequent questions that we are
asked.
 | No, our two living prophets are now dead, because they were
killed by persecutors. Joseph Smith was killed in 1844, and
James Strang was killed in 1856, both by bullets.
|
| Nothing in the scriptures
ensures that one would remain on earth at all times. This is
something that other Mormons are emotionally conditioned to believe
without any scriptural basis.
|
| We do not
elect their replacements like other Mormons do. Ours are chosen
by written revelation in accordance with D&C 28:7; 43:4; 102:9.
|
| A prophet must have the ability to
prophesy, but the other Mormon leaders do not, or at least nobody
can show us a prophecy.
|
| Other
Mormons admit they were without a prophet from June 1844 to
December 1847, when Brigham Young was eventually elected as first
president. Consider the following quotes from Brigham Young,
and decide whether you believe him.
-
Journal of
Discourses, 5:177
"I do not profess to be a Prophet. I never called myself so;
but I actually believe I am, because people are all the time
telling me that I am."
-
Journal of
Discourses, 6:320
"A person was mentioned to-day who did not believe that
Brigham Young was a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator. I wish to ask
every member of this whole community, if they ever heard him
profess to be a Prophet, Seer, and Revelator, as Joseph Smith was?
. . . Who ordained me to be First President of this Church on
earth? I answer, It is the choice of this people, and that is
sufficient."
-
Journal of
Discourses, 13:166
"It has been remarked sometimes, by certain individuals, that
President Young has said in public that he was not a prophet nor
the son of a prophet."
-
Times and
Seasons, 5:618
"You are now without a prophet present with you in the flesh
to guide you; but you are not without apostles . . ."
|
|
Matthew 7: 15-20
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by
their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit,
neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that
bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them."
 |
This shows
that it is not nice manners, number of followers, diplomacy, sense
of humor, likeability, or softness that makes a prophet true. It
is his fruits or produce that makes him a prophet. The fruits of a
prophet are prophecies, the fruits of a seer are visions, the
fruits of a revelator are revelations, and the fruits of a
translator are translations. |
|
James Strang
had the fruits of a prophet, seer, revelator, and translator. He
continued to prophesy, reveal, translate, and see. He was ordained
by angels, translated plates to whom witnesses attested, and was
martyred in 1856. |
|
Other
Mormons have prophets that are like fig trees, that do not bring
forth any fruit at all, and they produce no scriptures or
commandments from God for which to even ask God to know if they
are true. |
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