Lifespan

Born August 21, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Thomas S. Monson was sustained as a ward bishop at the age of 22. He also served at a relatively young age in the Temple View Stake in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1959, he was called to serve as president of the Canadian Mission. In 1963, at the age of 36, he was ordained an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was set apart as second counselor in the Church’s First Presidency in 1985 and as first counselor in 1995. In February 2008, Thomas S. Monson was sustained as President of the Church. (more…)

Lifespan

Born June 23, 1910 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Died January 27, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Gordon B. Hinckley was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of eight in 1919. From 1933 to 1935 he served a full-time mission in Great Britain. Upon his return, he became employed by the Church, where he worked for the next 22 years. At age 47, he was ordained an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Four years later he was ordained an Apostle, and from 1981 to 1995, he served as Counselor to Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, and Howard W. Hunter. In 1995, at age 84, he was sustained as President of the Church, until his passing on January 27, 2008. (more…)

The Greek word apostasia indicates a “falling away” from the truth, especially true religion (see 2 Thes. 2:1-3). That having been said, it seems perhaps more accurate to say that true apostasy is more of a “turning away” or “turning against” than a mere passive departure through neglect. “Perhaps even more accurately, apostasy could be described as a particular group turning its back on God or rejecting the covenant relationship offered through His household (2 Chronicles 29:6; Jeremiah 2:27). Accordingly, apostasy is not necessarily a desertion from religion itself but rather a perversion of, or a rebellion against, true religion. Thus, apostasy does not require total departure from one’s faith but rather a rejection of God’s laws and His prophets or divinely appointed leadership” (Where Have All the Prophets Gone? p. 19).

(more…)

God has never seemed to feel a restriction in time or geography to accomplish His purposes. Rather, He calls those whom He has prepared and who are willing to serve. Thus, His Old Testament prophets came from Egypt, Babylon, and points between, including Canaan, Israel, and Judah. New Testament Apostles were from Judea, Galilee, and nearby areas, but they traveled throughout the known world before their deaths, preaching the gospel of the Son of God.

(more…)

Joseph Smith Jr. founded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the state of New York in April, 1830. He served as its first President and as prophet and seer of the Church. Joseph Smith was a remarkable man. Of that there seems to be little room for doubt. But a prophet? That is an important question-a very important question. Joseph was given to deep questions about the subject of religion as a young man. He sought truth among the organized religions of his day, but remained unsatisfied. In time, as an answer to his sincere pleadings with God on this subject, he received a visit from two heavenly beings: God the Father and the Son. From this foundation, he received education and preparation through future revelations, answers to prayers, heavenly ministrants, and the quiet whisperings of the Holy Spirit.

(more…)

Suppose that God were to insert into today’s world a modern Moses, a prophet assigned once again the stewardship for directing God’s kingdom on earth. If such an event were to happen, it would be the most significant spiritual outpouring in centuries. It would be important to investigate it. One claim to such a prophetic appointment that is worth examining is that of Joseph Smith Jr., divinely appointed leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This web site does not have the mission of putting forth his entire case (see instead www.josephsmith.com). However, the doctrine and organization that came forth under his direction is remarkable in both its comprehensive breadth and pinpoint accuracy relative to what was lost through apostasy. (more…)

Although writing systems have long been around, and religious texts seem to have often formed the core of a culture’s written records, the establishment of an agreed-upon scriptural canon has often been somewhat in dispute. Add to that the fact that it is only within the past three or four centuries that literacy has become a fairly common practice for “the masses,” and we quickly understand why a prophet was so critical in maintaining doctrinal purity and consistency prior to that time. Because a set scriptural canon was not often established, and because the average person did not have access to it anyway, the non-cleric needed to have access to the heavens for seeking answers beyond his own personal prayers. The prophet served that role. (more…)

Prophets are not cut from a common mold, as if they were so many gingerbread cookies filled with inspired spices and identical communication conduits to heaven. Each is a human being, complete with individual strengths, weaknesses, habits, backgrounds, skill sets, and the like. Beyond that, God raises up prophets to address various issues and to perform various missions. It is difficult to imagine the leadership of Moses and his interaction with the children of Israel being replaced by the solitary impetuousness of Samson, for example. Nonetheless, there do seem to be some features common to the role of prophet as filled by all types of regular and extraordinary people. These are: (more…)

Of course false prophets exist. They have existed in past generations and they exist today. Justin Martyr, writing only a couple of generations after the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, declared:

And just as there were false prophets contemporaneous with your holy prophets, so are there now many false teachers amongst us, of whom our Lord forewarned us to beware; so that in no respect are we deficient, since we know that He foreknew all that would happen to us after His resurrection from the dead and ascension to heaven. For He said we would be put to death, and hated for His name’s sake; and that many false prophets and false Christs would appear in His name, and deceive many: and so has it come about. For many have taught godless, blasphemous, and unholy doctrines, forging them in His name (in AnteNicene Fathers, 1:240). (more…)

Ultimately, the best way to find out if a man is truly called of God as His prophet is to ask God himself for a spiritual witness. After all, religion is a matter of spiritual understanding and experience, and this question deals with one of the most important issues of organized religion: how God manages His affairs on the earth and through what administrative structure(s) He operates.
(more…)