In a classic talk from 1980, then Elder Ezra Taft Benson outlined “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet.” He debunked some of the common misunderstandings about what prophets can and cannot do and what it means to sustain and follow them. It’s worth studying and thinking about in greater depth. Consider his measuring stick for self-evaluation: “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?”

Key Points

• 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.

Reflection Questions

What did Elder Benson help you understand about the scope of prophetic revelation?

How could pride and your own knowledge potentially become an obstacle to following the prophet?

Which fundamental surprised you the most? What did you learn?

This is part of a series sharing talks and resources related to the role of living prophets in our personal lives and in the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I attempt to share reliable sources and accurately represent what the Lord and His authorized servants have taught, but my insights are my own and I am not an official Church representative.

In October 2014, Sister Carole F. McConkie bore testimony of the blessings that come from accepting and obeying the teachings of the prophets and apostles. Her message was “Live according the Words of the Prophets.”

Key Points

• Heavenly Father sends prophets because he loves all His children and wants them to know His plan.
• Following prophets keeps us on the covenant path necessary for our eternal progress.
• Prophetic teachings are not always popular but they are always right, and we are blessed when we heed and follow.
• Teaching and living prophetic counsel in our homes can build our families on “the rock of our Redeemer.”
• The Savior warned that when we reject the prophets we put ourselves in spiritual peril.

Reflection Questions

What warnings and blessings are found in the scriptures she quoted in her talk?

What does it mean to me to “stand with the prophet,” and how does that help me grow in my relationship with the Savior?

How have the words of prophets strengthened my home and relationships?

This is part of a series sharing talks and resources related to the role of living prophets in our personal lives and in the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I attempt to share reliable sources and accurately represent what the Lord and His authorized servants have taught, but my insights are my own and I am not an official Church representative.

In the October 2023 Liahona, President Dallin H. Oaks wrote an article called “The Sure Witness of Modern Prophets.” He explains the importance of priesthood keys in the ordination and authority of living prophets.

Key Points

• The divine authority of priesthood keys is traceable only to Apostles and is only available by ordination.
• The priesthood keys originally held by Jesus Christ were lost through Apostasy and only became available again through the Restoration as revealed to Joseph Smith.
• Jesus Christ directs his church today through direction to His authorized prophets and apostles.
• Special witnesses have a unique testimony of the Savior.
• When you don’t understand every teaching that is given, you can know for yourself if a prophet is a prophet.
• An apostle is trained by the Lord for his holy calling.

Reflection Questions

What blessings do I enjoy because priesthood keys are on the earth today?

How can my own testimony of the Savior be strengthened by special witnesses?

What have I done (or can I do) to strengthen my testimony that the prophet is truly a prophet?

This is part of a series sharing talks and resources related to the role of living prophets in our personal lives and in the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I attempt to share reliable sources and accurately represent what the Lord and His authorized servants have taught, but my insights are my own and I am not an official Church representative.

In the most recent general conference (Oct. 2023), Elder John C. Pingree gave a talk called “Eternal Truth.” While the focus was on the revelatory patterns our Heavenly Father uses to make truth available to His children, Elder Pingree also outlined the important role that prophets play in making truth known.

Key Points

• Because understanding truth is important to our eternal progress, we can consider these questions: What is truth, and why is it important? How do we find truth? When we find truth, how can we share it?
• Truth is revealed through relationships between Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, prophets, and us.
• Prophets receive and share truth from God.
• Our responsibility is to seek and act upon truth and grow in our relationship with God and Christ.
• In this process, we must be responsive to the Holy Ghost and align ourselves with prophets.
• Questions that help us discern eternal truths: Is the concept taught consistently in the scriptures and by living prophets? Is the concept confirmed by the witness of the Holy Ghost?
• Doctrines are fixed and eternal; policies can change. “The Lord works through His prophets to uphold His doctrine and to modify Church policies according to the needs of His children.”
• When truths we long for have not yet been revealed, we should patiently wait on the Lord and not complain.

Reflection Questions

How can I know if teachings from prophets and apostles are true? What sources can witness of their truth?

How can I show patience and faith while waiting for truths to be revealed?

If revelation comes through relationships between Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, prophets, and me , how can I strengthen those relationships?

This is part of a series sharing talks and resources related to the role of living prophets in our personal lives and in the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I attempt to share reliable sources and accurately represent what the Lord and His authorized servants have taught, but my insights are my own and I am not an official Church representative.

In October 2014, before Russell M. Nelson was the president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or even President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, he gave a talk called “Sustaining the Prophets.” He clarified how authority in the Church differs from authority in the world and what it really means to sustain prophets, seers, and revelators.

Key Points

• When he performed heart surgery on Elder Spencer Kimball, Russell Nelson felt the spirit testify that he (Kimball) would be the prophet. He knew the Lord was preserving and preparing him.
• We don’t cast votes to choose church leaders; we agree to sustain them.
• Common consent means we acknowledge that Jesus Christ’s authority is in the Church.
• Sustaining is binding upon us to uphold and defend prophetic priorities.
• Unanimously seeking the Lord’s will among 15 authorized servants protects the membership of the Church.
• The organization of the Church allows for the Lord’s direction and proper use of priesthood keys under any circumstance, even when a prophet is ill or disabled.

Reflection Questions

How does the church leadership differ from leadership in the world? In whom do I put my trust, and why?

What does my sustaining vote really mean? Do my words and actions show evidence that I sustain the prophet and apostles?

This is part of a series where I plan to share talks and resources related to the role of living prophets in our personal lives and in the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I intend to share reliable sources and accurately represent what the Lord and His authorized servants have taught, but my insights are my own and I am not an official Church representative.