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Teachings of the Living Prophets Student Manual Religion gc.lds.org TEACHINGS OF THE LIVING PROPHETS podcast STUDENT MANUAL Religion 333 Ensignn Liahona TEACHINGS OF THE LIVING PROPHETS STUDENT MANUAL Religion 333 Published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Salt Lake City, Utah Comments and corrections are appreciated. Please send them to: Seminaries and Institutes of Religion Curriculum 50 E North Temple Street Salt Lake City UT 84150-0008 USA E-mail: [email protected] Please list your complete name, address, ward, and stake. Be sure to give the title of the manual. Then offer your comments. © 2010 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved Printed in the United States of America English approval: 6/09 C o n t e n t s Introduction ..............................................................................................1 Chapter 1 Our Need for Living Prophets .................................................4 Chapter 2 The Living Prophet: The President of the Church ...................14 Chapter 3 Succession in the Presidency ................................................28 Chapter 4 The Quorum of the First Presidency ......................................42 Chapter 5 The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles .....................................56 Chapter 6 General Conference ............................................................. 70 Chapter 7 Studying General Conference Addresses .............................. 84 Index ............................................................................................94 Introduction President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of Today, as during the meridian of time, the First Presidency explained the role of the foundation of the Church is the apostles prophets and the need for the revelation and prophets (see Ephesians 2:20) and they receive: the revelation they receive (see Amos 3:7; “The prophets, seers, and revelators Matthew 16:16–18). The Lord reveals His have had and still have the responsibility will through His servants the prophets and privilege of receiving and declaring and has declared, “My word shall not pass the word of God for the world. away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my “. These are the prophetic oracles who servants, it is the same” (D&C 1:38). have tuned in over the centuries to the ‘celestial transmitting station,’ with a responsibility to relay the Lord’s word to others. “This Church constantly needs the guidance of its head, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This was well taught by President George Q. Cannon, [while serving in] the First Presidency: ‘We have the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants; but all these books, without the living oracles and a constant stream of revelation from the Lord, would not lead any people into the Celestial Kingdom of God’ [Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, 2 vols., sel. Jerreld L. Newquist (1974), 1:323]. “Revelation was required to establish this Church. Revelation has brought it from its humble beginnings to its present course. Revelation has come like flowing, living water. Continuing revelation will lead it forward to the windup scene. But as President [J. Reuben] Clark told us, we do not need more or different prophets. We need more people with ‘a listening ear’ (in Conference Report, Oct. 1948, 82)” (“Continuing Revelation,” Ensign, Aug. 1996, 2, 4, 6–7). In the Hall of the Prophets, located in the Conference Center, sculpted representations of prophets of this dispensation are a stately reminder that continuous revelation is being received. 1 Teachings of the Living Prophets divine appointment of the living prophets is promised to each of us as we study the counsel of the Brethren and resolve to sustain them through our obedience. This manual will assist you in your study of the living prophets. How This Manual Is Organized Each chapter of this student manual has four parts: “Introduction,” “Commentary,” “Points to Ponder,” and “Suggested Assignments.” Introduction Each chapter begins with a brief introduction. This will help you focus on the chapter’s central topic. Commentary Scriptures and the words of prophets, apostles, and other General Authorities in the “Commentary” section explain and clarify the doctrines and principles associated with the chapter’s central topic. Careful reading of the commentary will help you understand the need and role of living prophets in an ever-changing world. Points to Ponder Your testimony will be The Purpose of This Manual The “Points to Ponder” section will help strengthened as you study the you ponder what you have learned. Elder words of the living prophets. The purpose of the Teachings of the Living Prophets Student Manual is to help you Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the strengthen your testimony of living prophets Twelve Apostles affirmed that pondering and their teachings. It discusses our need for brings valuable results: “As you ponder living prophets, the role of the President of and pray about doctrinal principles, the the Church, the divine order of succession Holy Ghost will speak to your mind and in the Presidency, the Quorum of the First your heart. New insights will come and Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve principles relevant to your situation will Apostles, and the importance of general distill upon your heart” (in Conference conferences. President Harold B. Lee (1899– Report, Oct. 2000, 19; or Ensign, Nov. 1973) taught, “It is not alone sufficient 2000, 18). for us as Latter-day Saints to follow our Suggested Assignments leaders and to accept their counsel, but At the conclusion of each chapter are we have the greater obligation to gain for assignments that encourage personal ourselves the unshakable testimony of the application. Please note that these divine appointment of these men and the assignments are suggestions and can be witness that what they have told us is the adapted according to your individual needs will of our Heavenly Father” (in Conference and direction from the Holy Ghost. If you Report, Oct. 1950, 130). A witness of the are enrolled in the Teachings of the Living 2 Introduction Prophets institute course (Religion 333), your teacher may incorporate some of these assignments into your course. Taking time to do these assignments will give you additional opportunities to be taught by the Holy Ghost. Note: To more effectively use the “Points to Ponder” and “Suggested Assignments” sections, you may want to use a study journal or notebook to record questions, thoughts, goals, and impressions from your study. Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles encouraged us to write down impressions from the Spirit: “It is through the repeated process of feeling impressions, recording them, and obeying them that one learns to depend on the direction of the Spirit more than on communication through the five senses” (“Helping Others to Be Spiritually Led” [address to religious educators, Aug. 11, 1998], 3). Information for Those with Disabilities If you have difficulty using this manual due to a disability, please contact your instructor for additional resources. Alternative formats of this student manual may be available at si.lds.org. 3 Chapter Chapter 1 Our Need for Living Prophets Introduction Notes Since the days of Adam, one way the Lord against you; yea, and the Lord God will has communicated His will to His children disperse the powers of darkness from before has been through prophets (see Amos 3:7 ). you, and cause the heavens to shake for Prophets teach us God’s will and reveal your good, and his name’s glory” ( D&C His divine character. They are preachers of 21:4, 6 ). With prophets to guide righteousness and denounce sin, and when us, we can be sure of God’s will inspired to do so, prophets foretell future concerning us. We can be assured events. Most importantly, prophets bear that when we follow the counsel Chapter 1 Overview witness of Jesus Christ. The Lord promised of living prophets, we can better 1. The Lord reveals His will that if we “give heed” to the words of the navigate through the troubled to living prophets now as times we live in. prophet, “the gates of hell shall not prevail He did in the past. 2. Today’s problems are met with divine solutions. Commentary 3. Revelation is constant in this dispensation. The Lord Reveals His Will to Living • The fi nal gospel dispensation Prophets Now as He Did in the Past began with the calling of a 4. The Lord’s Church is prophet— built on the foundation of • Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum Joseph Smith. apostles and prophets. of the Twelve Apostles explained that As in past from Adam down to the current President 5. The First Presidency and dispensations, of the Church, prophets have been an the Quorum of the Twelve God’s will is important part of the Lord’s plan: Apostles are prophets, given to His seers, and revelators. “The very fi rst [dispensation of the President James E. Faust children gospel] was in the time of Adam. Then through the process of 6. What are prophets, seers, came dispensations of Enoch, Noah, revelation. President James E. and revelators? Abraham, Moses, and others [see Bible Faust (1920–2007) of the First 7. Prophets help us build Dictionary, “Dispensations,” 657–58]. Presidency discussed the faith in Jesus Christ. Each prophet had a divine commission necessity for constant 8. Prophets teach for our to teach of the divinity and the doctrine revelation: “Much revelation bene t. of the Lord Jesus Christ. In each age received, in this time as well as these teachings were meant to help the anciently, has been doctrinal. 9. Safety comes in knowing people. But their disobedience resulted in Some of it has been operational and applying the apostasy. and tactical. Much of it is not teachings of the living “Thus a complete restoration was spectacular. President John prophets. required. God the Father and Jesus Christ Taylor reminds us: ‘Adam’s 10.
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