The Doctrine and Covenants is an invitation to all people everywhere to come unto Christ. In the revelations of this book “one hears the tender but firm voice of the Lord Jesus Christ,” inviting all to come unto Him “preparatory to his second coming.” [1]

The purpose of a prophet is to prepare us in all things to come unto Jesus Christ.

The prophet is the “true messenger” of the Lord, called, authorized, and sustained by the Lord. As President Harold B. Lee taught, “If the children of the Lord, which includes all who are upon this earth, regardless of nationality, color, or creed, will heed the call of the true messenger of the gospel of Jesus Christ, . .  each may in time see the Lord and know that He is.” [2]

Our gratitude for a prophet should be like the gratitude of a lost child for a guide who can lead the way home again to the loving parent’s embrace.

By strictly heeding the prophet’s counsel, we can find ourselves once again encircled eternally in the arms of our Savior.

The Prophet, Seer, and Revelator

We sustain the President of the Church as a “prophet, seer, and revelator”; and “there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations.” If we want to return to the presence of the Lord, we must “give heed unto all his words and commandments,” receiving them, says the Lord, “as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.” [3]

The term “prophet”—at least in the English language—has come to mean a person who foretells the future. A true prophet can do this when called upon to do so, but this is not his primary task. In Old Testament Hebrew, the term for “prophet” is nabi, which probably meant something like “announcer” or “spokesman.” In ancient Israel, a prophet was one who spoke for God. This is how we understand the role of the Prophet of the Church: he is pre-eminently the “true messenger” of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord’s mouthpiece: “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.” [4]

In his role of seer, the President of the Church “sees” the way clearly. He is a trustworthy guide on the path to eternal life because of his seership. Ammon taught “that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have. . . . a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them.” [5] As a seer, the Prophet of the Church is the source of the sacred knowledge and ordinances we need to be exalted. He has the keys of the endowment and sealing, which are kept from the world to be made available only to those who qualify themselves for such blessings.

As a revelator, the Prophet is literally “the unveiler.” The word “revelation” originally meant “an unveiling.”  The Lord opens the veil for the Prophet, providing him instructions that he in turn passes on to us.  Revelation is a unique kind of knowledge that comes literally from within the veil and is unlike knowledge gained in any other way.  In a sense, the Prophet stands at the veil as the exclusive source of the light and knowledge we need to return to the arms of our Savior.

What is our responsibility in regard to the Prophet of God?

This is the promise to those who strictly heed the counsel and teachings of the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator:

“By doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.” [6]

It follows that those who disregard the Prophet’s instructions for whatever reason do not qualify for these blessings.

Anciently, the Prophet Moses tried to bring the children of Israel to their Lord and Savior, but they refused.  Moses was given the “key of the mysteries of the kingdom”; in other words, he held the keys of the priesthood just as the Prophet does today. He held the keys of the ordinances of salvation, including the ordinances of the temple, or the “mysteries of the kingdom.”  Without these ordinances, “no man can see the face of God, even the Father,” and live in His presence eternally.

Moses tried to teach these things to the children of Israel “so that they might behold the face of God,” but “they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord . . . swore that they should not enter into his rest . . . which rest is the fulness of his glory.” [7]

Today the Lord has fulfilled His promise of sending a prophet once again to Israel to gather them. The children of Israel today—including the Latter-day Saints—have the great privilege and responsibility this time of hearkening, of giving strict heed to the Prophet.

As in ancient times, “the duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to preside over the whole church, and to be like unto Moses—Behold, here is wisdom; yea, to be a seer, a revelator, a translator, and a prophet.” [8]

We have one like unto Moses among us: the living Prophet of God, President Gordon B. Hinckley. Our challenge and opportunity? To hearken to his words and obey them exactly. Where the ancient Israelites “hardened their hearts,” we must soften ours. 

“Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Redeemer, the Great I AM, whose arm of mercy hath atoned for your sins; who will gather his people even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, even as many as will hearken to my voice and humble themselves before me, and call upon me in mighty prayer. . . .

“Mine elect hear my voice and harden not their hearts. . . .

“The decree hath gone forth from the Father that they shall . . . prepare their hearts and be prepared in all things against the day when tribulation and desolation are sent froth upon the wicked.” [9]

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