I wasn’t familiar with this talk until my mom pointed out To Guide Us In These Latter Days in the October 2023 digital version of the Liahona magazine. It’s from Paul V. Johnson’s BYU-H devotional given on Feb. 18, 2020.

Key Points

• When We Follow the Prophet, We Are Blessed
• When Societies Start to Drift, Many Reject the Counsel of Prophets
• We Make a Personal Choice to Follow the Prophet or Not
• Blind Guides Try to Separate Us from Jesus Christ
• Prophets Beckon Us to Come to the Savior

Reflection Questions

What do you learn from President Nelson’s example of following prophets?

How can you soften your heart and be open to correction from prophets? How can that humility bless you?

What “blind guides” do you maybe pay more attention to than the prophets?

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.

President Kevin J. Worthen gave a BYU Devotional about The Power of Prophetic Promises on Jan. 10, 2023.

Key Points

• We can overcome our anxieties and challenges by focusing on prophetic promises.
• God’s promises are certain and operate in accordance with eternal laws.
• President Nelson makes prophetic promises following this pattern:
  • States “I promise” . . .
  • Identifies prerequisites for obtaining the promised blessings
  • Describes the promised blessings
• Studying these promises can change us.
• President Nelson repeated promises miracles.

Reflection Questions

What promises has President Nelson made most recently? What are the prerequisites to obtain those promises?

In what areas of your life can you “seek and expect miracles”?

What would it take for President Nelson’s promises to change you? How might that happen?

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 honor of President M. Russell Ballard, who passed away this week, I wanted to share one of his talks with his testimony of the Savior’s involvement with his church and leaders. The message is titled, “God is at the Helm.”

Key Points

• Though imperfect, prophets and apostles can lead us safely through our mortal journey.
• Christ leads his church through prophets. “We cannot separate Christ from His servants.”
• Prophets are commissioned to testify of Christ, and they have been historically unpopular.
• Rather than focusing on their human weakness, try to see God’s hand in their ministry.
• Prophets are duty bound to raise a voice of warning.
• Stay “in the boat,” and trust that God’s plan is in place.

Reflection Questions

What do Elder Ballard’s comments about human weakness in all kinds of relationships help you learn about how you can realistically view prophets and apostles?

How have prophets recently raised a voice of warning? What priorities have arisen in recent prophetic teachings?

In what ways have prophets helped you better understand God’s plan of salvation?

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 1998, Elder Merrill C. Oaks gave a talk called, “The Living Prophet: Our Source of Pure Doctrine.” It was a brief talk with some profound insights. I recall it being the first time I began to understand the concept of an ongoing Restoration rather than a one-time event.

Key Points

• Heavenly Father will yet reveal many important things related to the kingdom of God.
• Additional scripture has continued to come through prophets since the 1820 revelation to Joseph Smith.
• “Some of the procedures of the Church were not completely developed early in this dispensation and have been amplified and clarified by subsequent prophets.”
• “Our protection from erroneous doctrine lies in an overriding belief in continuing revelation to the current prophet.”
• The teachings of a current prophet take precedence over those of a dead prophet.

Reflection Questions

What principles do you learn from President Harold B. Lee’s story?

What evidence have you seen of amplified or clarified doctrine over time by prophets?

How can prophets protect you from erroneous doctrine?

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.