Quote of the Day: Richard L. Evans

Richard L. Evans:

“We find ourselves often quoting the words of the prophets, and, lest there be some doubt as to what a prophet is, we submit that it is one who, under the appointment and inspiration of the Lord God, speaks truth as the spirit moves him, regardless of what the world is thinking and regardless of what men would like to hear.

“And, therefore, a prophet is seldom popular, and the cost of being a prophet is always great, for he may be called upon to say those things which are not pleasing, ... and he may find himself fighting against a tide of mass-misconception, and, as history records, be stoned, crucified, banished, ridiculed, shunned, or rejected. For the truth is not pleasing unto all men, and time has proved that majorities are not always right....

“It is not important that a prophet should say those things with which you and I are in full accord. But it is important that you and I should bring ourselves into full accord with those things which a prophet speaks by virtue of his office and calling” (RichardL. Evans, “On Being a Prophet,” Improvement Era, Nov. 1939, p.672).

The Parable of the Watchtower

The parable of the watchtower was a revelation that was given to Joseph Smith in December of 1833. I think that this parable is even more applicable today, when the adversary is designing even more crafty weapons to use against the kingdom of God. It begins by telling of a Nobleman who wants to guard his vineyard.






43 And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my will concerning the redemption of Zion.
44 A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive-trees;
45 And set watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine olive-trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.
46 Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded them, and planted the olive-trees, and built a hedge round about, and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.

The problem that comes next is that the servants begin to question the need for a watchtower at all.

47 And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?
48 And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace?
49 Might not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need of these things.
50 And while they were at variance one with another they became very slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their lord.

What the Nobleman foresaw, actually came to pass. A thief came in the night and raided his vineyard.

51 And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled; and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive-trees.

Of course the Nobleman is upset, and wants to know how this thing could happen.

52 Now, behold, the nobleman, the lord of the vineyard, called upon his servants, and said unto them, Why! what is the cause of this great evil?
53 Ought ye not to have done even as I commanded you, and—after ye had planted the vineyard, and built the hedge round about, and set watchmen upon the walls thereof—built the tower also, and set a watchman upon the tower, and watched for my vineyard, and not have fallen asleep, lest the enemy should come upon you?
54 And behold, the watchman upon the tower would have seen the enemy while he was yet afar off; and then ye could have made ready and kept the enemy from breaking down the hedge thereof, and saved my vineyard from the hands of the destroyer.

Today God gives us watchmen on the tower to warn us of dangers to come. Those watchmen we call Prophets. I'm so thankful for a living prophet who can foresee dangers and warn us how to protect ourselves. In recent years, the Prophet gave us forewarning by giving us the Proclamation on the Family. This came about at a very important time, before same sex marriage became such a huge political issue. The Prophet warned us to safeguard marriage, and to fight for this cause. He continues to give us counsel to help us prepare for what may lie ahead. I am thankful for this protection that the Lord provides for us.

Warning Voices of Modern Day Prophets and Apostles

How God Speaks Today

Some months back I put a poll on this blog asking the question, "Does God speak today?". Most people who answered the question, agreed that God does in fact speak today. Now I know that we can all receive answers to our prayers. I have had countless prayers answered. I use the word "countless" for good reason; I can't begin to number the answers I've received because they are so numerous. I know that God will answer all who pray to Him in faith. In that way, God does speak today. But I want to discuss the bigger picture. Here are some questions I would like you to consider:
--If God had something He wanted to tell His believers today, how would he tell them? There are many believers, in many religions throughout the world. If, for example, He wanted to add a new commandment, or warn us of a present day situation, how would He tell us?

--Which church or organization would He work through? Would He go to the leaders of each separate church? Who within that church would he speak to? For example, the Baptist church in America is quite large and strong. But who would God speak to if He wanted to give a message to the entire "Baptist religion"? Or would he go to the President of the United States. How would God get the message out to the world?

--I asked if God speaks today. My next question is, "When was the last time God spoke to His believers, and what did He say?"

--If God does speak today, then why are there so many different Christian religions with differing beliefs?

I can answer all of these questions with one point of doctrine. God does speak today, as He did in days of old. God gives modern day guidance for modern situations. God does have a pattern for how to communicate with His people. This pattern was set up long ago. In the Old Testament, Amos asks us some rhetorical questions. He asks, "Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey?", and "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" He asks some common sense rhetorical questions, and then he says, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Amos 3:7 From Adam, to Abraham, to Isaac, to Moses, to Isaiah, and on through time, God has spoken through prophets to lead and direct His people. The Prophet can then communicate God's will to the church. We have a living Prophet today, even Thomas S. Monson. This is the pattern that was set up in olden times, and that we follow today. Like Moses of old, Pres. Monson can receive revelation, and within minutes can communicate that message to the church as a whole. Joseph Smith was also a prophet, as were those who succeeded him in these modern days. Through them, the work of building up the kingdom of God on the earth is going forward like a stone cut out of the mountain without hands that rolls until it fills the earth. As the Prophet Joseph Smith once said, "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done” (History of the Church, 4:540). We do have a living Prophet today who stands at the head of God's church. He is the watchman on the tower. "7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me." Ezekial 33:7 This is the work of a Prophet. I am thankful that we have a living prophet today.

Why Prophets?

This post is to help partially answer the same question that was answered in my last one about the Book of Mormon. I wanted to explain more in detail why we need Prophets. I think in recent years in our modern civilization, the term "Prophet" has received a bad connotation, but in ancient days, Prophets were revered.

--The Prophet receives revelation for the church as a whole. Another term for this is "Seer". We believe that individuals can receive revelation for their own lives, but you can imagine the chaos if any church member received revelation to guide the church. Each person receives revelation, or inspiration for their sphere of responsibility and authority. Just as the prophet Moses led the children of Israel, the prophet today receives revelation about what direction the church as a whole should go. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7)


--The Prophet receives scripture for the church. Once again, you can imagine the chaos if every member were allowed to add scripture. In modern day scripture we are told, "Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion." (Doctrine and Covenants 132:8)

--Prophets testify of Jesus Christ.
"18 But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19 ¶ Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began" Acts 3:18-21

---Prophets act as "watchmen on the tower" to raise a warning voice about danger that is coming. Many times our prophets have warned us of things that would be dangerous for us. For example, Joseph Smith recieved the revelation known as the "Word of Wisdom". It counseled us not to drink alcohol, tea, or coffee, and to not use tobacco. This was given many years before it was known the dangerous effects of these substances. While tea and coffee are generally not thought to be as harmful to the body as alcohol and tobacco, still physicians will agree that we are better off without them.

The Bible dictionary had this to say about prophets: "The work of a Hebrew prophet was to act as God's messenger and make known God's will. The message was usually prefaced with the words "Thus saith Jehovah." He taught men about God's character, showing the full meaning of his dealings with Israel in the past. It was therefore part of the prophetic office to preserve and edit the records of the nation's history; and such historical books as Joshua, Judges, 1 and 2 Sam., 1 and 2 Kings were known by the Jews as the former Prophets. It was also the prophet's duty to denounce sin and foretell its punishment, and to redress, so far as he could, both public and private wrongs. He was to be, above all, a preacher of righteousness. When the people had fallen away from a true faith in Jehovah, the prophets had to try to restore that faith and remove false views about the character of God and the nature of the Divine requirement. In certain cases prophets predicted future events, e.g., there are the very important prophecies announcing the coming of Messiah's kingdom; but as a rule prophet was a forthteller rather than a foreteller. In a general sense a prophet is anyone who has a testimony of Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost, as in Num. 11: 25-29; Rev. 19: 10." (Bible Dictionary..."prophet")