Heed the Prophets and Apostles or be Cut Off!!

The following scripture speaks of 3 distinct sources that we should listen to to avoid being "cut off".

D&C 1

14 And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles, shall be cut off from among the people;

1. Voice of the Lord

2. Voice of His servants

3. Words of prophets and apostles (Yes...this could be broken up into two...but in the scripture they are lumped together...so that's how it'll be discussed)

Let's explore each as none of Christs followers want to be among those that are "cut off".

1. Hear the Voice of the Lord 

It's noteworthy that we are to give heed to His "Voice". While a voice can be heard through the written word "as the voice of one ^acrying from the dust:" it seems more likely based on scripture that He is speaking of those who have a personal visit as in...

3 Nephi 15:17 That other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.

Or...those who "Hear Him" with what could be described as spiritual ears.

John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

In this verse He identifies Himself as the "Prophet" we must "Hear in all things" or be "cut off".

3 Nephi 20:23 Behold, I am he of whom Moses spake, saying: ^aA prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass that every soul who will not hear that prophet shall be cut off from among the people.

2. Hear the Voice of His servants 

To define who the servants is outside the scope of this post. I recommend you read D&C 101 starting in verse 44. This is also a "voice" we are to hear. I'd anticipate these are those who we will physically hear sharing the word of the Lord.

It might look something like this...

3 Nephi 6:20 And there began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth, standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people,

3. Heed the Words of the prophets and apostles

I've heard many give commentary on this saying that this is speaking of the current 15 of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It's used as a foundational scripture for those that would argue that our doctrine teaches us to "follow the prophet". While there is definitely substance to our giving heed to the words of true prophets and apostles...I don't think that is what the Lord was telling us to do in D&C 1:14. 

Here are quatro reasons why.

Uno. The word..."heed" instead of "Hear". 

So...we're supposed to "Hear" the "Voice" of both the Lord and His servants. If He was speaking of men that live in our day...wouldn't He have told us to also "Hear" them as well?! If you want to "Hear" the apostles and prophets of old...you'll need to listen to an audiobook...otherwise you'll just have to give them "Heed".

Dos. The word..."word". 

If you were to do a scripture search for "written word" you'd find that the two words go hand in hand. The "word" is "written" in scripture after scripture. "Word" and "Scripture" can be synonyms. A basically random scripture from many to make the point...

Alma 9:34 And it came to pass that Amulek went and stood forth, and began to preach unto them also. And now the ^awords of Amulek are not all written, nevertheless a part of his words are written in this book.

While yes, words can be spoken, scripturally it is commonplace to speak of the word as a written thing.

Tres. Time frames.

This is a weaker reason as prophesy can speak of times to come but its worth taking note that at the time that Doctrine and Covenants section 1 was revealed...there were no called apostles.

Chapter heading D&C 1

"Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, on November 1, 1831, during a special conference of elders of the Church, held at Hiram, Ohio."

Roughly 4 years later on Feb 8 1835 it was revealed to Joseph Smith to call 12 apostles (Link).

Quatro. Use of "prophets and apostles" in other scripture speak of bible prophets and apostles.

In one of the accounts that Joseph Smith gave of the first vision he related that the Lord spoke of the "prophets and apostles" as being those from former times.

"And mine anger is kindling against the inhabitants of the earth, to visit them according to their ungodliness and to bring to pass that which hath been spoken by the mouth of the prophets and apostles." (Circa Summer 1832 History)

Missionaries from the time period shortly before D&C 1 was revealed (June 6 1831) were being told to go and preach what the "prophets and apostles" had written...

D&C 52:9 And let them journey from thence preaching the word by the way, saying ^anone other things than that which the ^bprophets and apostles have written, and that which is taught them by the ^cComforter through the prayer of faith.

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees saying that they were responsible for killing the "prophets and apostles" to those who lived during His earthly ministry.

49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

In this scripture Peter is speaking in an end times context and says...

2 Peter 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

D&C 66:2 Verily I say unto you, blessed are you for receiving mine ^aeverlasting covenant, even the fulness of my gospel, sent forth unto the children of men, that they might have ^blife and be made ^cpartakers of the ^dglories which are to be revealed in the last days, as it was written by the prophets and apostles in days of old.

Ether 12:41 And now, I would commend you to ^aseek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written, that the grace of God the Father, and also the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, which beareth ^brecord of them, may be and abide in you forever. Amen.

And this one is probably the most important as it speaks of the value to the gentiles of the records of the "prophets and of twelve apostles".

1 Nephi 13:39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld ^aother ^bbooks, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the ^cconvincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are ^dtrue.

The "prophets" of whom the Lord tells us to "heed"...I believe with certainty are the one's He referred to repeatedly in His earthly ministry as the "law and the prophets". The "law" meaning the writings of Moses and the "prophets" meaning Isaiah through Malachi (as well as the other prophets who didn't get their books into the Old Testament as we now know it. This idea that the Lord wants us to "Heed" Old Testament "prophets" is in reinforced with the Lords commandment to study Isaiah.

3 Nephi 23:1 And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to ^asearch these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of ^bIsaiah.

        5... Search the ^aprophets, for many there be that testify of these things.

The "apostles" words the Lord is telling us to give heed to are found in the New Testament as mentioned in 1 Nephi 13:39 above.

Hope this gave some insights!