Prophets
Intro: Relay Service/Prophet
Example of relay service... deaf person calling a hearing...
compare to how Heavenly Father, tells Prophet, Prophet tells us.
Emphasize that it is Heavenly Father's message to his children told through the prophet.
I. Scripture D&C 1:38
D&C 1:38
“Whether by mine own voice or the voice of my servant, it is the same.”
II. Scripture Story: King Benjamin
Mosiah 1-2
Apply King Benjamin to us today.
Heavenly Father tells our prophet what he wants us to know and then our prophet tells us.
Our prophets tell us in special meetings like General Conference.
Sometimes we aren't able to actually hear the prophet, so it is written down and delivered to our homes.
III. Why is it Important to Listen to our Prophets?
Maze Analogy
Imagine you are in a maze that is made up of tall hedges. The bushes are too thick to see through, too tall to see over, and you can’t tell whether you are headed towards a dead-end until you are right there.
You start off knowing the approximate direction of where the exit is, but quickly lose your bearings and can’t do anything more that wander aimlessly until you find the correct path out. Then you notice a little look- out tower.
You climb the tower and you can regain your bearings again and plot a path to exit.
Apply the Maze to REAL LIFE.
Life is similar to being in a maze. It is easy to get caught up in the “maze of life” and focus only on that is right in front of us.
What are some concerns that are in YOUR maze of life?
friends, peer pressure, grades, temptations, rules, etc
There is someone we can look to who has been given the keys to be the “look-out” for our day and time. They have the perspective of being able to see all the twists and turns in the maze and give us guidance and direction that will help us reach the finish line safely.
IV. Different Modern Prophets
Pictures of Prophets covering picture of Christ.
Groups of three
1. scribe -write prophets name and guiding principle on the chalkboard
2. share a fun fact or tidbit about that prophet
3. share that prophet's "guiding principle" and how we can apply it to our lives today
Conclusion: TESTIMONY
My witness of Joseph Smith and Russel M Nelson
Although we hear the Prophets voice it is Heavenly Father's message. I know as we listen to our prophet that we will know what our Heavenly Father wants us to do. We will find the answers we are looking for and our testimonies of the gospel and of the Savior will grow.
President Gordon B Hinckley
He was the 15th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He has a great love and concern for all people .
Favorite hymn, “God of Our Fathers, Known of Old”;
Favorite dessert, pie and ice cream.
Favorite quotation: ‘And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:22-23).
He has traveled all over the world to meet with the Saints and to tell them that God “will shower down blessings upon those who walk in obedience to His commandments.” He has dedicated more temples than any other General Authority.
Each Thursday morning the members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles have a meeting in the Salt Lake Temple, they are driven in carts underground from the Church Office parking lot to the temple. During the cold winter months, President Hinckley always wore a coat and a hat during the brief ride. As his cart passed under Main Street, President Hinckley knew that when he was within the confines of the temple, rather than under the street and, without a word, would remove his hat and place it in his lap. He seemed to know instinctively when that moment arrived. It was such a simple yet profound expression of reverence and respect for the House of the Lord.
His guiding principle taught: DO YOUR BEST
President Thomas S. Monson
He was the 16th President of the Church
Favorite song: O Divine Redeemer
Favorite food: Turkey dinners, pies, any flavor of ice cream, chocolate
He served in the United States Navy near the close of World War II.
Hobbies – Raising pigeons, fishing
Occupation – Publishing and printing
As a teenager, he rescued a girl from drowning while swimming in the Provo River.
Can wiggle his ears.
President Monson often took the time to do small acts of service, such as visiting the gravesite of a missionary, and caring for the sick and the lonely, serving the widow and the fatherless, the poor and the oppressed.”
President Monson changed the minimum age for young men to serve LDS missions was being lowered from 19 to 18, and for young women from 21 to 19.
He encouraging church members to be "a little kinder and more thoughtful."
President David O. McKay
He was the 9th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Favorite song, “O Say, What is Truth?”;
Favorite food, Cummings chocolates
Favorite expression, “True Christianity is love in action.”
He encouraged missionary work when he said; “EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY”.
He taught the importance of family and home by saying that having a righteous family is the best success we can have in this life.
President Lorenzo Snow
He was the 5th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He loved to learn.
He had many illnesses and almost drowned during a storm near Hawaii.
One time, when he was in a special room in the Salt Lake Temple, he prayed to know how to lead the Church.
“When he finished praying, he thought he would hear a voice, or have a warm feeling, or something would happen. He waited and waited. He left the room disappointed.
When he turned the corner into the hall, he saw Jesus standing about three feet about the floor. He looked as though he was standing on a plate of gold. He was wearing beautiful white robes, and his face, body and robes were so bright that it was hard to look at him.
Jesus gave Lorenzo Snow many instructions and then left.”
He taught the saints to pay their tithing and that if they did the Lord would bless them with all they needed.
President Spencer W. Kimball
He was the 12th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Favorite song, “I Need Thee Every Hour,”
Favorite food, date-nut bread crumbled into a glass of milk;
Favorite quotation or a lesson from him, “Lengthen your stride.”
On his dest was a plaque with he motto “DO IT”
Under his direction, temples were build in many areas of the world.
President Monson one time noticed one of President Kimball’s shoes had a large hole in it and said to the prophet’s secretary, Arthur Haycock, “You can’t let the President wear those shoes.” Brother Haycock said that he frequently hid those shoes, but President Kimball searched for and found that particular pair most of the time.
“President Kimball was known for his statement, ‘My life is like my shoes — to be worn out in the service of the Lord.’
President George Albert Smith
He was the 8th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
When he was young he was very poor and had to work very hard.
Favorite song: Let Us Oft Speak Kind Words
Favorite food: apple pie with a little warm milk on it;
He helped people after WWII, who needed food and supplies.
“Starvation was rampant in Germany and in other nations of Europe. President Smith met with United States President Harry Truman and said, ‘We’d like to send welfare supplies to the starving people of Europe, but the bureaucracy and the red tape in postwar Europe are keeping us from doing so.’
President Truman heard his plea and opened the way. He asked, ‘How many months will it take for you to assemble your supplies?’
President Smith replied, ‘President Truman, they’re already assembled. All you need do is say go, and they’ll be rolling within 24 hours.’ Lives were saved as a result.”
He was known as a peacemaker and for his compassion
He developed a creed that was a guide for his life: “I would be a friend to the friendless…I would not be an enemy to any living soul”
President Harold B Lee
He was the 11th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Favorite song, “Praise to the Man”;
Favorite food, bread and milk;
Favorite quotation, “Stand ye in holy places, and be not moved” (D&C 87:8).
He told the saints to hold Family Home Evening, teach their children and protect them from the temptations of the world.
He encourages the saints to be in tune with and to be responsive to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit.
President Ezra Taft Benson
He was the 13th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He was the oldest brother of 11 kids.
He graduated from BYU
He was the only President of the Church to have received the honor of ‘Most Preferred Man’ at BYU when he was a student there
Favorite song, “How Great Thou Art”;
Favorite food, fresh raspberries;
Favorite quotation: “What manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).
He served as United States Secretary of Agriculture.
He loved the Book of Mormon and encouraged us all to study the Book of Mormon.
President Howard W Hunter
He was the 14th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Favorite hymn, “Have I Done Any Good in the World Today?”;
Favorite food, Alaskan crab;
Favorite scripture, “Let another man praise thee … and not thine own lips” (Proverbs 27:2).
He encouraged each member to live worthy to receive the blessings of the temple.
He told us to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to “treat each other with more kindness, more patience, more courtesy, and forgiveness.”
Guiding Principle:encouraging those who had strayed from the gospel to COME BACK
President John Taylor
He was the 3rd president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
He learned to make furniture.
He didn't get baptized until he was 28 years old.
He was known for defending the church and especially Joseph Smith.
He was with Joseph Smith, in Carthage Jail, when Joseph Smith was killed. He was shot also, but he was wearing a jacket and in the pocket of his jacket was a watch. The bullet hit the watch and saved President John Taylor life.
President Heber J. Grant
He was the 7th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
His dad died when he was only 5 days old.
When he was young he wanted to play baseball, but wasn't very good at throwing the ball. The other boys would laugh at him and call him a sissy. He shined people shoes to earn a dollar. He bought a baseball and practiced throwing until his arm would hurt. He ended up playing on a baseball team that won the Championship in 3 different states.
He was the first mission president in Japan.
He introduced the Church Welfare Program and started the DI.
President Joseph F. Smith.
He was the 10th president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
When he was a baby, he almost died when a gang threw a mattress on top of him as they robbed his families house.
When he was 8 years old, he crossed the plains with his mother in a covered wagon.
He served a mission in Hawaii.
He started the Family Home Evening Program and the Children's Friend.
President Joseph Fielding Smith
He was the 10th President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Favorite song, “Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire”
Favorite food: sweet pickles;
Favorite quotation, ‘Wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10).
He invited all to come unto Christ.
He said “There is no cure for the ills of the world except the gospel of Jesus Christ…The Lord Loves you. He wants youth receive the full blessings of the gospel.”
He was direct in his teaching of adherence to gospel principles, and yet he was particularly tender in his attitude toward those who fell short.
The Guide by Robert Marcum
A number of years ago a young man who is an excellent skier went with friends to the wilds of the Yukon to experience the ultimate in deep-powder skiing. A helicopter took them high into the mountains, far away from safety, ski patrols, and hospitals. They were virtually hundreds of miles from anywhere with nothing but 8,000 feet of vertical drop before them. Their guide was a 70-year-old man, small and seemingly fragile. He told them to stay directly behind him and he would get them down safely, but if they veered off to the right or left, chances were they would fall into a crevice or onto the sharp rocks at the bottom of unseen cliffs.
Suddenly my friend realized that his life was in the hands of this old gentleman whom he hardly knew and who certainly didn’t look like a man who could ski long miles through heavy powder to safety. The young man felt his stomach knot up. But suddenly the old man dropped over the edge, and one by one his friends followed. There was no other way down, and he quickly forced his muscles to move him over the edge and onto the path of the guide now moving quickly away from him.
The descent was awesome. His doubts about the guide were dispelled as he followed a path that led him past sheer cliffs he would not have seen until it was too late. As he noticed these death traps out of the corners of his eyes, he clung even more desperately to the path his guide was making some distance in front of him.
His confidence in the old gentleman was complete when he suddenly stopped them from crossing a seemingly wide-open snowfield. It looked like some of the finest powder he had ever seen, but his first impulse to reject his guide’s words was replaced by the realization that his guide had brought him this far in safety and now was no time to stop trusting him. So he followed as they labored through heavy snow to climb up and around the snowfield, finally arriving below it. Stopping, they turned and looked behind them. What they saw made him take a deep breath. The snowfield wasn’t a snowfield at all, but a crevice several hundred feet deep with a snow bridge two or three feet thick. Had they attempted to cross it they would have surely broken through and plummeted to their deaths on the jagged rocks and ice below.
By the time they had reached the bottom, my friend was humbled by the ability of his “fragile” guide. Through years of preparation, the guide had gained a knowledge that went much deeper than the eye could see. His life was dedicated to keeping people like my friend from serious harm. Over the next few days they would ski some of the most beautiful country in the world, dangerous country with disaster hidden in its deep snow. But their guide was ever vigilant in protecting them, and they were able to relax and really enjoy the marvelous, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Following the prophet is not much different. Although somewhat older than most of us, his experience, knowledge, and, most importantly, his ability to be directed by the Lord, will lead us safely to our destinations. But we must trust him and follow him very carefully. It is only when we decide that we have a better way that we endanger our spiritual lives. Believe in him, and remember, God chose him. He is the prophet and God will direct and advise him. A safer course cannot be found.
