Fourteen Fundamentals of Following the Prophets
by Elder Ezra Taft Benson
February 26, 1980
Contents
My beloved brothers and sisters, I am honored to be in your presence
today. You students are a part of a choice young generation--a generation
which might well witness the return of our Lord. Not only is the Church
growing in numbers today, it is growing in faithfulness and, even more
important, our young generation, as a group, is even more faithful than
the older generation. God has reserved you for the eleventh hour--the great
and dreadful day of the Lord. It will be your responsibility not only to
help bear off the kingdom of God triumphantly but to save your own soul
and strive to save those of your family and to honor the principles of
our inspired constitution.
To help you pass the crucial tests which lie ahead I am going to give
you today several facets of a grand key which, if you will honor them,
will crown you with God's glory and bring you out victorious in spite of
Satan's fury. Soon we will be honoring our prophet on his eighty-fifth
birthday. As a Church we sing the song, "We Thank Thee, 0 God, For
a Prophet." Here then is the grand key: follow the prophet. And here
now are fourteen fundamentals in following the prophet, the President of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
First Fundamental
First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
In section 132, verse 7, of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord speaks
of the Prophet--the President--and says: "There is never but one on
the earth at a time on whom his power and the keys of this priesthood are
conferred." Then in section 21, verses 4-6, the Lord states:
Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words
and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking
in all holiness before me;
For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience
and faith.
For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against
you.
Did you hear what the Lord said about the words of the prophet? We are
to "give heed unto all his words"--as if from the Lord's "own
mouth."
Second Fundamental
Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
President Wilford Woodruff tells of an interesting incident that occurred
in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith:
I will refer to a certain meeting I attended in the town of Kirtiand
in my early days. At that meeting some remarks were made that have been
made here today, with regard to the living oracles and with regard to the
written word of God. The same principle was presented, although not as
extensively as it has been here, when a leading man in the Church got up
and talked upon the subject, and said: "You have got the word of God
before you here in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants;
you have the written word of God, and you who give revelations should give
revelations according to those books, as what is written in those books
is the word of God. We should confine ourselves to them."
When he concluded, Brother Joseph turned to Brother Brigham Young and
said, "Brother Brigham, I want you to take the stand and tell us your
views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God."
Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down;
he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine
and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: "There is
the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning
of the world, almost, to our day. And now," said he, "when compared
with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not
convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or
a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather
have the living oracles than all the writing in the books." That was
the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the
congregation: "Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord,
and he has told you the truth." [in Conference Report, October 1897,
pp. 18-19)
Third Fundamental
Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
The living prophet has the power of TNT. By that I mean "Todays
News Today." God's revelations 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. Therefore,
the most important reading we can do is any of the words of the prophet
contained each week in the Church Section of the Deseret News, and any
words of the prophet contained each month in our Church magazines. Our
marching orders for each six months are found in the general conference
addresses, which are printed in the Ensign magazine.
I am so grateful that the current conference report is studied as part
of one of your religion classes--the course entitied "Teachings of
the Living Prophets," number 333. May I commend that class to you,
and suggest that you get a copy of the class manual at your bookstore,
whether you're able to take the class or not. The manual is entitled "Living
Prophets for a Living Church."
Beware of those who would pit the dead prophets against the living prophets,
for the living prophets always take precedence.
Fourth Fundamental
Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.
President Wilford Woodruff stated: "I say to Israel, The Lord will
never permit me or any other man who stands as president of the Church
to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of
God." (The Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, selected by G. Homer Durham
[Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1946], pp. 212-213.)
President Marion G. Romney tells of this incident, which happened to
him:
I remember years ago when I was a Bishop I had President [Heber J.]
Grant talk to our ward. After the meeting I drove him home....Standing
by me, he put his arm over my shoulder and said: "My boy, you always
keep your eye on the President of the Church, and if he ever tells you
to do anything, and it is wrong, and you do it, the Lord will bless you
for it." Then with a twinkle in his eye, he said, "But you don't
need to worry. The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray."
[In Conference Report, October 1), p. 78]
Fifth Fundamental
Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training
or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
Sometimes there are those who feel their earthly knowledge on a certain
subject is superior to the heavenly knowledge which God gives to His prophet
on the same subject. They feel the prophet must have the same earthly credentials
or training which they have had before they will accept anything the prophet
has to say that might contradict their earthly schooling. How much earthly
schooling did Joseph Smith have? Yet he gave revelations on all kinds of
subjects. We haven't yet had a prophet who earned a doctorate in any subject,
but as someone said, "A prophet may not have his Ph.D. but he certainly
has his LDS." We encourage earthly knowledge in many areas, but remember,
if there is ever a conflict between earthly knowledge and the words of
the prophet, you stand with the prophet, and you'll be blessed and time
will vindicate you.
Sixth Fundamental
Sixth: The prophet does not have to say "Thus saith the Lord"
to give us scripture.
Sometimes there are those who haggle over words. They might say the
prophet gave us counsel, but that we are not obligated to follow it unless
he says it is a commandment. But the Lord says of the Prophet Joseph, "Thou
shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give
unto you" (D&C 21:4).
And speaking of taking counsel from the prophet, in D&C 108:1, the
Lord states: "Verily thus saith the Lord unto you, my servant Lyman:
Your sins are forgiven you, because you have obeyed my voice in coming
up hither this morning to receive counsel of him whom I have appointed".
Said Brigham Young, "I have never yet preached a sermon and sent
it out to the children of men, that they may not call scripture" (Journal
of Discourses, 26 vols. [London: Latter-day Saints' Book Depot], 13:95).
Seventh Fundamental
Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what
we want to know.
"Thou hast declared unto us hard things, more than we are able
to bear," complained Nephi's brethren. But Nephi answered by saying,
"the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the
very center" (1 Nephi 16:1, 3). Or, to put it in another prophet's
words, "Hit pigeons flutter."
Said President Harold B. Lee:
You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may
contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It
may interfere with some of your social life.... Your safety and ours depends
upon whether or not we follow.... Let's keep our eye on the President of
the Church. [in Conference Report, October 1970, p. 152-153)
But it is the living prophet who really upsets the world. "Even
in the Church," said President Kimball, "many are prone to garnish
the sepulchres of yesterday's prophets and mentally stone the living ones"
(Instructor, 95:257).
Why? Because the living prophet gets at what we need to know now, and
the world prefers that prophets either be dead or mind their own business.
Some so-called experts of political science want the prophet to keep still
on politics. Some would-be authorities on evolution want the prophet to
keep still on evolution. And so the list goes on and on.
How we respond to the words of a living prophet when he tells us what
we need to know, but would rather not hear, is a test of our faithfulness.
Said President Marion G. Romney, "It is an easy thing to believe
in the dead prophets." And then he gives this illustration:
One day when President Grant was living, I sat in my office across the
street following a general conference. A man came over to see me, an elderly
man. He was very upset about what had been said in this conference by some
of the Brethren, including myself. I could tell from his speech that he
came from a foreign land. After I had quieted him enough so he would listen,
I said, "Why did you come to America?" "I am here because
a prophet of God told me to come." "Who was the prophet;"
I continued. "Wilford Woodruff." "Do you believe Wilford
Woodruff was a prophet of God?" "Yes, I do." "Do you
believe that President Joseph F. Smith was a prophet of God?" "Yes,
sir."
Then came the sixty-four dollar question. "Do you believe that
Heber J. Grant is a prophet of God?" His answer, "I think he
ought to keep his mouth shut about old age assistance."
Now I tell you that a man in his position is on the way to apostasy.
He is forfeiting his chances for eternal life. So is everyone who cannot
follow the living Prophet of God." [in Conference Report, April 1953,
p. 125]
Eighth Fundamental
Eighth: The prophet is not limited by men's reasoning. There will be
times when you will have to choose between the revelations of God and the
reasoning of men--between the prophet and the politician or professor.
Said the Prophet Joseph Smith, "Whatever God requires is right, no
matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof until long
after the events transpire" (Scrapbook of Mormon Literature, vol.
2, p. 173).
Would it seem reasonable to an eye doctor to be told to heal a blind
man by spitting in the dirt, making clay, and applying it to the man's
eyes and then telling him to wash in a contaminated pool? Yet this is precisely
the course that Jesus took with one man, and he was healed. (See John 9:6-7.)
Does it seem reasonable to cure leprosy by telling a man to wash seven
times in a particular river? Yet this is precisely what the prophet Elisha
told a leper to do, and he was healed. (See 2 Kings 5.)
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,
saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my
ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. [Isaiah
55:8,9]
Ninth Fundamental
Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter--temporal or
spiritual.
Said Brigham Young:
Some of the leading men in Kirtland were much opposed to Joseph the
Prophet, meddling with temporal affairs... .
In a public meeting of the Saints, I said, "Ye Elders of Israel....
will some of you draw the line of demarcation, between the spiritual and
temporal in the Kingdom of God, so that I may understand it?" Not
one of them could do it....
I defy any man on earth to point out the path a Prophet of God should
walk in, or point out his duty, and just how far he must go, in dictating
temporal or spiritual things. Temporal and spiritual things are inseparably
connected, and ever will be. [Journal of Discourses, 10:363-364]
Tenth Fundamental
Tenth: The prophet may be involved in civic matters.
When a people are righteous they want the best to lead them in government.
Alma was the head of the Church and of the government in the Book of Mormon,
Joseph Smith was mayor of Nauvoo, and Brigham Young was governor of Utah.
Isaiah was deeply involved in giving counsel on political matters and of
his words the Lord Himself said, "Great are the words of Isaiah"
(3 Nephi 23:1). Those who would remove prophets from politics would take
God out of government.
Eleventh Fundamental
Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following
the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
The learned may feel the prophet is only inspired when he agrees with
them; otherwise, the prophet is just giving his opinion--speaking as a
man. The rich may feel they have no need to take counsel of a lowly prophet.
In the Book of Mormon we read:
0 that cunning plan of the evil one! 0 the vainness, and the frailties,
and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise,
and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing
they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it
profiteth them not. And they shall perish.
But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.
And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned,
and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and
their wisdom, and their riches--yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and
save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before
God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.
[2 Nephi 9:28,29,42]
Twelfth Fundamental
Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world
or the worldly.
As a prophet reveals the truth it divides the people. The honest in
heart heed his words, but the unrighteous either ignore the prophet or
fight him. When the prophet points out the sins of the world, the worldly
either want to close the mouth of the prophet, or else act as if the prophet
didn't exist, rather than repent of their sins. Popularity is never a test
of truth. Many a prophet has been killed or cast out.
As we come closer to the Lord's second coming, you can expect that as
the people of the world become more wicked, the prophet will be less popular
with them.
Thirteenth Fundamental
Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency--the
highest quorum in the Church.
In the Doctrine and Covenants, the Lord refers to the First Presidency
as "the highest council of the Church" (107:80) and says, "whosoever
receiveth me, receiveth those....the First Presidency, whom I have sent"
(112:20).
Fourteenth Fundamental
Fourteenth: The prophet and the presidency--the living prophet and the
First Presidency--follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.
President Harold B. Lee relates this incident from Church history:
The story is told in the early days of the Church--particularly, I think,
at Kirtland--where some of the leading brethren in the presiding councils
of the Church met secretly and tried to scheme as to how they could get
rid of the Prophet Joseph's leadership. They made the mistake of inviting
Brigham Young to one of these secret meetings. He rebuked them, after he
had heard the purpose of their meeting. This is part of what he said: "You
cannot destroy the appointment of a prophet of God, but you can cut the
thread that binds you to the prophet of God and sink yourselves to hell."
[In Conference Report, April 1963, p. 81]
In a general conference of the Church President N. Eldon Tanner stated:
The Prophet spoke out clearly on Friday moming, telling us what our
responsibilities are... .
A man said to me after that, "You know, there are people in our
state who believe in following the Prophet in everything they think is
right, but when it is something they think isn't right, and it doesn't
appeal to them, then that's different." He said, "Then they become
their own prophet. They decide what the Lord wants and what the Lord doesn't
want."
I thought how true, and how serious when we begin to choose which of
the covenants, which of the commandments we will keep and follow. When
we decide that there are some of them that we will not keep or follow,
we are taking the law of the Lord into our own hands and become our own
prophets, and believe me, we will be led astray, because we are false prophets
to ourselves when we do not to follow the Prophet of God. No, we should
never discriminate between these commandments, as to those we should and
should not keep. [In Conference Report, October 1966, p. 98]
"Look to the Presidency and receive instruction," said the
Prophet Joseph Smith (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, selected by
Joseph Fielding Smith [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938], p. 161).
But Almon Babbitt didn't, and in the Doctrine and Covenants section 124,
verse 84, the Lord states:
And with my servant Almon Babbitt, there are many things with which
I am not pleased; behold, he aspireth to establish his counsel instead
of the counsel which I have ordained, even that of the Presidency of my
Church.
In conclusion, let us summarize this grand key, these "Fourteen
Fundamentals in Following the Prophet," for our salvation hangs on
them.
First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.
Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.
Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.
Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training
or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.
Sixth: The prophet does not have to say "Thus saith the Lord"
to give us scripture.
Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what
we want to know.
Eighth: The prophet is not limited by men's reasoning.
Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or
spiritual.
Tenth: The prophet may be involved in civic matters.
Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following
the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world
or the worldly.
Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency--the
highest quorum in the Church.
Fourteenth: The prophet and the presidency--the living prophet and the
First Presidency--follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.
I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet
are true. if we want to know how well we stand with the Lord, then let
us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain. How closely
do our lives harmonize with the words of the Lord's anointed--the living
prophet, the President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First
Presidency?
May God bless us all to look to the prophet and the presidency in the
critical and crucial days ahead, is my prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
