It is essential to have living prophets to guide Christ's Church and its members.
That was the message shared Saturday morning by Elder Claudio R.M. Costa of the Seventy. "It is a great blessing to receive the word, commandments and guidance of the Lord in these difficult days of the earth. The prophet can be inspired to see the future in benefit of mankind," he said.
The scriptures teach that the Lord will reveal to His prophets anything that He feels is necessary to communicate to His children. He will reveal His will and give instruction through His prophets. "The Lord promised us that if we believe in the holy prophets, we should have eternal life."
Elder Costa referenced a talk given by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1980 at a BYU devotional entitled "Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet." He highlighted eight of the principles shared by President Benson in that address.
First: "The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything."
Elder Costa said, "In our day, the prophet of God has told us to love our fellow man, to serve, to take care of the rising generation, to rescue the inactive or less-active, to do the many things that we call Prophetic Priorities. We need to understand that these priorities are God's priorities, and the prophet is His voice in communicating it to all of the Church and the world."
Second: "The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works."
Elder Costa said, "The living prophet is receiving specific revelations for us."
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 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."
Elder Costa read other principles President Benson addressed, saying the prophet: can receive revelation on any mater — temporal or spiritual; may be involved in civic matters; will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly. The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency — "'follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.'" The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.
— Jason Swensen