The Mormon belief in living prophets, which include all of the Presidents of the Church.
Living prophets
Last updated 2009-10-05
Living prophets
Mormons believe in living prophets - human beings who are prophets of God in the same way as Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and the Apostles.
They point out that Christ himself said that he would send prophets after him.
A modern prophet
The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at any given time, is a prophet.
The 16th President of the Church is Thomas S. Monson (1927- ) who became President in February 2008.
Continuous revelation
Although the essential truths of God do not change, they do need to be adapted to suit the particular context in which they are being applied. Because there are living prophets, God is able to ensure that people get the teachings they need to follow his will.
God gives the prophets revelations of what they should write and say. (A revelation is a communication from God.)
So Mormons believe that revelation is a continuing process through which God still instructs us.
Prophets today
The first Mormon prophet was Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church.
Mormons believe the teaching and writing of Joseph Smith was the result of revelations from God, and they believe that the teaching and writing of their present-day prophets are similarly inspired.
The leaders of the Church are the current prophets, able to receive revelation from God on both religious and practical issues. Mormons believe that God uses these prophets to direct the Church as a whole, as well as to direct individual believers.
Prophets aren't always prophets
Mormons do not believe that everything a prophet says is inspired by God (and nor do the prophets). Prophets are human beings who God has chosen to speak through - but not everything they say is being said by God. Joseph Smith said that "a prophet is only a prophet when acting as such".
Everyone can be inspired by God
In fact all believers can receive inspiration from God, but God uses the senior officials of the Church for revelations that are intended to affect all members. These revelations are intended to bind the whole Church together.
A modern prophecy
One of the best-known examples of modern revelation occurred in June 1978 when President Spencer W. Kimball gave the revelation that all worthy males could hold the priesthood. This eliminated discrimination against African-Americans in the Church.
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