To be...a Prophet Seer Revelator...and Translator

People are upset. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who have been as active as active gets...many their whole lives are now wondering if they've somehow placed their ladder of faith up against the wrong wall. These are not to be confused with those of weak faith and devotion that long have looked for an excuse to hang up their religion hat to spend more time worshipping at the altar of the NFL and other such probation wasting pursuits. The type that desire to live unrestrained from cultural and religious confines that would prevent their natural man from "taking the wheel". Those that have no depth of earth that dry up when the sun comes up.

To assume that ALL people who are now questioning the soundness of where they've placed their faith as a club for the "weakest among us" would be all too wrong. Upon thoughtful examination one finds that with so many if you knew them from the beginning "that after the most straitest sect of our religion they (I) lived a ^aPharisee." (Acts 26:5) They have long checked every box of what the culture makes an "active member" and even more important...they have gained testimonies of Joseph Smith...the Book of Mormon...and more. 

The public square is filling to overflowing with people from all culturally esteemed callings and demographics who are picking up the pieces of the picture they once held as inviolate, trying to make sense of what the picture should be when its pieced back together, that is...if they believe it even can be. The conversation these are having that has led to this reevaluation of faith is particularly around where the leadership of the church is steering "the good ship Zion". 

Are they disillusioned due to increasing ties to the UN feeling that such entangling alliances will lead to destructions foretold in scripture and by previous church presidents? Is it due to being troubled about the 100 Billion dollars that's invested in companies that many believe are actively destroying freedom and financially supporting the great whores gathering? Is it due to spending time with the pope and calling him "His holiness" and bringing the church consistently more mainstream? Is it due to those who are scouring the Joseph Smith papers and finding discrepancies that meaningfully alter doctrine and church history? Perhaps the big one, is it due to the handling of the covid matter and endorsing the MRNA inoculation as "Safe and effective" and a "literal Godsend" when personal experience and the "experts" they believe are showing otherwise? The public square is a-buzz with conversations about all this and more.

In these conversations it almost always comes down to a persons conclusions about the fallibility of one held up as a "prophet". It is not my intent to tackle that topic in this post. There are others who have gone in depth into the scriptures surrounding this topic that can be reviewed. Generally at the heart of the matter peoples views fall into the extremes of...

1. Yes...I know that doctrine says that prophets are fallible...and I understand that on some level...but I don't generally believe it. I will do whatever the prophet asks and believe that is a sign of my following Christ. Their slogan is "If it's good enough for the prophet...it's good enough for me!!" Perceived answers to the will of the Lord for themselves are seen as false revelations if they don't line up with current counsel. Any criticism of leaders of the church is the road to apostasy. "What's the point of having a prophet if you have to question everything they say!?"

2. I understand that the scriptures and church history teach and show that prophets are fallible and I believe it. This makes my personal relationship with Deity that much more important so that I can "Hear Him" and what He'd have me do personally and not "rely on the arm of flesh". Christ is the "prophet" that we must hear as He has told us. Early church history and scripture tell us that we should be calling out church leadership if we feel if something has gone far afield from what it should be. Even to voting them out according to the law of common consent.

3. I'm so done with this church...and even God. Later suckaaaaas!

I see these three and of course shades in between as an observer. For those who find themselves particularly in group 2 who are temple attending or who will be viewing a conference where the 15's names are read to be sustained as "prophets seers and revelators"...the public discourse has people asking "Since I have problems with XYZ...can I actually raise my hand and say I sustain them as prophets seers and revelators? Will I be denied a temple recommend in my upcoming interview for having misgivings about the questions that ask me to sustain them?"

Well...the first thing that we each need to do is to decide what we believe the definition of "sustain" is in this context.

WEBSTERS 1828 - "SUSTAIN"

3. To support

5. To support in any condition by aid

Those in group 1 above may take a stance about "supporting" that say's something like "Yes...I do believe that XYZ may be a bad idea...but I sustain them as prophets seers and revelators and so I'll publicly support what they're doing with my words and actions". Something like a cheerleader who yells "go team prophet!" even if they think their team is doing bad plays. Right now, there are people who are saying "Yes...I believe that the MRNA inoculation is poison...but I will sustain the prophet and have it injected into my body. If it kills me, God will reward me for my obedience". These are those that subscribe to more of a "in any condition" sort of definition. If these are willing to read and understand "The prophets" meaning Isaiah on in the Old Testament...they will find much scripture that flies in the face of this position.

So what for people in group 2? Is the question if it is correct to suppose that the 15 should be found squarely on one side of a dichotomy of being true or false prophets...or is it to what degree they have received the gifts of being "prophets seers and revelators"? If it's believed they are false prophets entirely...then is there really any good reason to raise your hand saying you sustain them?! It's possible that you could believe someone is a false prophet and yet say "I sustain you in becoming a true one!" If you still believe the 15 receive revelation from the Lord on some matters, and yet are as the drunkards of Ephraim on other matters...can't you still sustain them on the things that are still correct? 

One might say more rightly say...

"I sustain the first presidency and twelve as prophets seers and revelators to the degree that they have accepted the gifts to be prophets seers and revelators."

IF YOU REMEMBER ANYTHING FROM THIS POST THIS IS WHAT I DESIRE TO STICK WITH YOU.

BEING A PROPHET...SEER...REVELATOR...AND TRANSLATOR IS NOT AN ECCLESIASTICAL CALLING IT IS A GIFT.

The Lord said it this way...

D&C 107

91 And again, the duty of the President of the office of the High Priesthood is to ^apreside over the whole church, and to be like unto ^bMoses—

92 Behold, here is wisdom; yea, to be a ^aseer, a ^brevelator, a translator, and a ^cprophet, having all the ^dgifts of God which he bestows upon the head of the church.

Yes...the gifts of being a "seer, revelator, translator, and a prophet" are bestowed upon the head of the church or "President"! Then it is up to that president "To be" those things. Gifts must be "Received" to be efficacious.

The Lord said...

D&C 88

33 For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.

You might understand this principle by comparing it to the admonition that's given by the laying on of hands to "Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost". The encouragement has been given, but there is a requirement on the part of the person to take action to "receive the gift". 

The gifts of being "prophets, seers, revelators, and translators" can be hindered or stopped entirely by incurring the displeasure of God. For example...when Joseph Smith couldn't translate because of a tiff he had with Emma or was not concentrated on the right things.

David Whitmer said of this experience...

“At times when brother Joseph would attempt to translate … he found he was spiritually blind and could not translate. He told us that his mind dwelt too much on earthly things, and various causes would make him incapable of proceeding with the translation. When in this condition he would go out and pray, and when he became sufficiently humble before God, he could then proceed with the translation. Now we see how very strict the Lord is, and how he requires the heart of man to be just right in his sight before he can receive revelation from him. …

“To illustrate so you can see: One morning when he was getting ready to continue the translation, something went wrong about the house and he was put out about it. Something that Emma, his wife had done. Oliver and I went upstairs and Joseph came up soon after to continue the translation but he could not do anything. He could not translate a single syllable. He went downstairs, out into the orchard, and made supplication to the Lord; was gone about an hour—came back to the house, and asked Emma’s forgiveness and then came upstairs where we were and then the translation went on all right. He could do nothing save he was humble and faithful.” (As quoted in B. H. Roberts, A Comprehensive History of the Church, 1:130–31.)

The gift of being a "seer" can be "covered" when the people are wicked.

2 Nephi 27 (See also Isaiah 29)

5 For behold, the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep. For behold, ye have closed your ^aeyes, and ye have ^brejected the prophets; and your rulers, and the seers hath he covered because of your iniquity.

Every person who is reading this and everyone in the world, I want you to know that I sustain you as an architect. I whole-heartedly support your development of the gift of becoming a great architect! The realization of this gift is of course is contingent on your taking the time to become educated in architecture and practicing the craft. Also the hand of God to work with you in the development.

I also sustain any man or woman on earth to be a "Prophet, seer, revelator, and translator"! To the degree that God has given them this gift and they exercise efforts to realize the fruits of these gifts...I sustain them! I echo Moses...

Numbers 11

29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!

According to the Lords definition..."to be" a prophet also requires...

6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a ^aprophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a ^bvision, and will speak unto him in a ^cdream.

Anyone who wants to have the gift of a being a prophet should make sure they check those requirements on the Lord's list of qualifications!

Soooo...if someone asks if you sustain the current 15 you might want to ask what they mean by that. They might be asking..."Do you support the things they are doing". If that is the case...you can let them know the things you like as well as your challenges you may have in supporting anything that goes against the revealed word. 

If they mean "do you support them as prophets, seers, and revelators inasmuch as they have received the gift" then why not give a "Heck yes!" If they want to "add to" the question and ask "Well...do you sustain them that they ARE or in ALL THINGS ARE prophets seers and revelators"...you may want to let them know...that's not what the question asks...and something we must each confirm with the Lord.

What an exciting time of testing for each of us! Will we throw the baby out with the bathwater...or retain all that is good!? Will we increase our efforts to "Follow the Prophet" that is Christ as He has asked us? Now is the time to choose!