From a Christian perspective, the call to serve as God’s chosen representative to His children is remarkably consistent in the scriptural record. God chooses the man whom He wants, either directly or through an existing prophet or spiritual leader. The newly called prophet is given authority to act in his new role, and sometimes a miracle accompanies the call, especially for a dispensation head or founding prophet. (more…)

The word prophet comes from the Greek word prophetes, which means to speak for or in the name of someone. Although many think of prophets as foretelling the future, it is more often the case that they act as forthtellers, that is, as God’s messengers they speak to current rather than future issues, including social situations.The role of prophet is also closely related to that of a seer and a revelator. Though God may speak to His prophets through visions, dreams, feelings, whisperings of the Spirit, and through angels, on rare occasions He also speaks with them face to face, such as was the case with Moses (see Deuteronomy 34).

We can view prophets in both a general sense through the spirit of prophecy and as a prophet assigned to fulfill a specific assignment. The majority of this site will deal with the latter, that is, a prophet called to represent God to His children in a specific calling. We’ll look at what a prophet is and what a prophet isn’t. We will look at patterns and prophecies. We’ll answer some of your questions and perhaps cause you to ask more. But in the end, we hope you will feel more assured than ever that God is in control of the universe, that He is indeed your Father in Heaven, and that He loves you. One way of manifesting that love is through His servants, the prophets.

At the center of belief in a Supreme Being is the question of how one receives God’s word. Sacred writings from prophets, inspired scribes, divinely appointed teachers, and others provide a foundation and framework for understanding how God interacts with His children. Despite the value of such records such as the Holy Bible and other texts, it is living oracles, not writings, that are the most valuable source of divine inspiration. For example, the early Christian bishop Papias wrote in approximately A.D. 140: “If ever someone who had accompanied the presbyters should come, I examined carefully the words of the presbyters, [to learn] what Andrew, Peter, Philip, Thomas, John, Matthew, or any other of the disciples of the Lord said and what things Aristion and the presbyter John, disciples of the Lord, are saying. For I did not suppose the contents of books would profit me so much as the words and living voice” (quoted by Eusebius, Eccl. Hist. 3.39.1, 3-4).

The Bible, selected pseudepigrapha and apocrypha, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the earliest Christian tell us how man has responded to prophecy in each dispensation. Typically the righteous ultimately reject God and turn from His ways. Cain learned that evil can bring personal gain and taught that secret to others. The righteous seed of Noah eventually succumbed to evil, built the Tower of Babel, and were scattered. The venerable line of Abraham through Ephraim was finally severed because of apostasy, and Israel’s worship of Egypt’s false gods resulted in its enslavement. Following Moses, Israel on numerous occasions turned its back on God, rejecting Him and His covenant, and were eventually conquered and scattered. Christ’s fulfillment of the Law of Moses, the reestablishment of His Church on earth, and the apostolic ministry that followed were also rejected in time by succeeding Christian leaders and the membership at large, causing again the repetition of apostasy as in each preceding dispensation.

The movers and shakers of the Reformation attempted to correct false teachings and end centuries of corruption; however, disunity and lack of authority prevented a full restoration of primitive Christianity. After the Age of Reason and the Great Awakening, the establishment of America and freedom of religion inspired another awakening and doctrinal reformation, including a proliferation of new Christian denominations and nineteenth-century restorationist movements. One of those who claimed a full restoration of truth is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their claim to have been led by a living prophet since the church’s inception is worth noting.

Sources:

Where Have All the Prophets Gone? Scott R. Petersen

Lifespan

Exact dates are not known.

Ministry

According to the Gospel of John (13:18), Jesus chose Judas Iscariot as one of his Twelve Apostles knowing that Judas would betray him. Accordingly, it is for his betrayal of Jesus, in return for 30 pieces of silver, that Judas Iscariot is known. He died directly following the betrayal, either by hanging himself or by leaping to his death (the accounts in Matthew and Acts differ).

Preparation and Calling

Nothing is known of Judas’ background prior to his calling as one of Jesus’ select Twelve, other than that he came from a village in southern Judea named Kerioth.

Interaction with God

Unknown.

Social Situation

The Apostle John claimed that Judas was a thief. He sold his Savior out to the Jewish authorities for 30 pieces of silver, but we cannot determine his motives for doing so from the scriptural record.

Key Teachings

Unknown.

Testimony of Christ

Unknown.

Living with the Prophet

NA

Sources:

LDS Bible Dictionary

Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan

Lifespan

Exact dates are not known.

Ministry

James, along with fellow Apostles Peter and John, formed the inner core or presidency of the Twelve Apostles. He was at the Mount of Transfiguration and Gethsemane. The book of Acts mentions that Herod Agrippa I had him killed, making him the second martyr of the church (Stephen was first) and the first of the Apostles to die (after Judas Iscariot, of course).

Preparation and Calling

James was in the fishing business, partnered with his brother John and Simon Peter, when Jesus called them to join him.

Interaction with God

Unknown.

Social Situation

Same as other of the Twelve in general.

Key Teachings

Unknown, although he clearly loved the Savior.

Testimony of Christ

Unknown.

Living with the Prophet

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Sources:

LDS Bible Dictionary

Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan

Lifespan

Exact dates not known.

Ministry

The New Testament does not provide a record of James’ ministry.

Preparation and Calling

Although there is speculation that this James is the same as James the younger, and therefore the son of one of the Marys at both the crucifixion and resurrection, we cannot know for certain how he was prepared to serve as one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles.

Interaction with God

Unknown.

Social Situation

Same as other of the Twelve in general.

Key Teachings

Unknown.

Testimony of Christ

Unknown.

Sources:

LDS Bible Dictionary

Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan

Lifespan

Uncertain.

Ministry

It is possible that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. Nothing certain is known about his particular ministry, although an apocryphal text speaks of his proselyting in Egypt, Persian, India, and Armenia.

Preparation and Calling

Unknown.

Interaction with God

Unknown.

Social Situation

Same as other of the Twelve in general.

Key Teachings

Unknown.

Testimony of Christ

Unknown.

Living with the Prophet

NA.

Sources:

LDS Bible Dictionary

Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan

Lifespan

Exact dates are uncertain.

Ministry

Though not one of the Twelve in the New Testament, Joseph, surnamed Barnabas, was nonetheless considered an Apostle and therefore a prophet and teacher of righteousness. He seems to have served as Paul’s senior companion in taking the gospel to Cyprus and Iconium, and was actually responsible for introducing Paul (then Saul) to Jesus’ original Apostles.

Preparation and Calling

Joseph Barnabas was a Jew from Cyprus who was very supportive of the growth of the Church. Little else is known.

Interaction with God

Unknown.

Social Situation

Barnabas played a leading role in taking the gospel of Jesus Christ to the gentiles. He made a large donation to the church in Jerusalem and actively proselyted with Paul.

Key Teachings

Little is known of Barnabas’s teachings in the scripture canon, although a second-century text called the Epistle of Barnabas is credited to his name.

Testimony of Christ

Unknown.

Living with the Prophet

One of Barnabas’s first recorded acts in the New Testament was a large financial contribution to the Church in Jerusalem. He supported the new faith by selling his land and bringing the proceeds of the sale to the Apostles for their use as they saw fit. But we need not be wealthy landowners to contribute to the cause of promoting the gospel. What can you do to support the work of those who are called to move the work of God forward in today’s world?

Sources:

LDS Bible Dictionary

Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan

Lifespan

Exact dates are uncertain. Concerning Andrew’s death, tradition holds that he was martyred on an X-shaped cross. (An interesting sidenote: that symbol is now on the flag of Great Britain and represents Scotland, whose patron Saint is Andrew.)

Ministry

Andrew’s home town was Bethsaida of Galilee. He made his living as a fisherman, with his brother Simon Peter, on the Sea of Galilee prior to his calling as a disciple of Jesus.

Preparation and Calling

Andrew was apparently a disciple of John the Baptist. He was Simon Peter’s brother, and first introduced Simon Peter to Jesus. They were later called together to become disciples of Jesus. Andrew was not as prominent as his brother in early Church leadership, although he is usually listed as either second or fourth in scriptural lists of the Twelve Apostles.

Interaction with God

Unknown.

Social Situation

Jesus was beginning His ministry when He called on Andrew to put down his fishing nets and follow Him as one of His chosen disciples. Despite the obvious challenges brought by such a life change, Andrew unhesitatingly did so.

Key Teachings

Unknown.

Testimony of Christ

Unknown.

Living with the Prophet

Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist. When Andrew met Jesus, he recognized Him as the Messiah, and went first to his own brother, Simon Peter, to tell him the good news. Unlike Andrew, many of us are sometimes hesitant to tell those we love most how we feel about spiritual matters. Resolve today that before the week is over, you will share with a family member your feelings about your Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sources:

LDS Bible Dictionary

Oxford Companion to the Bible, edited by Bruce M. Metzger and Michael D. Coogan

Lifespan

Probably the latter half of the seventh century B.C.

Ministry

Zephaniah was a prophet in the land of Judah.

Preparation and Calling

Zephaniah was the great-great-grandson of King Hezekiah. He was probably familiar with the royal courts and also the spiritual leadership of the country. He likely also came from a family that had some wealth and social standing.

Interaction with God

If the book’s literary format is indicative of Zephaniah’s actual experience, he had a series of dialogues with the Lord Himself. Each of the seven parts of the book includes both a speech by the Lord and one by Zephaniah, except the last one, which includes only the Lord’s.

Social Situation

The people of Judah were being significantly influenced by the powerful Assyrians. They had begun dressing like the Assyrians and worshiping their gods. Zephaniah saw the errors of their ways and taught against this trend.

Key Teachings

Zephaniah instructed the people to become humble, obey God, and worship only the one true God. He also taught of God’s desire to bring home those who had been driven away from Jerusalem.

Living with the Prophet

Zephaniah taught that while it is tempting to become a real fan of shopping beyond one’s means and then showing off the purchases, it is far more important to become humble and worship God. How can you show your devotion to your Father in Heaven more than your devotion to the clothing god or other forms of false worship?

Sources

Learning Bible, the book of Zephaniah

Holy Bible, the book of Zephaniah

Oxford Companion to the Bible, s.v. “Zephaniah, the Book of”