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by Alatea on December 3rd, 2005

Alatea

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Is the living prophet is more vital to LDS church members than the Bible or Book of Mormon?

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Answers. 10 helpful answers below.

  • by stewartf on July 19th, 2006

    stewartf

    Who was the most important prophet at the time of the flood? Noah, he was the one God called for those people.

    Who was the most important prophet at the just before Christ? John the Baptist, for the same reason.

    Who is the most important prophet today? The one God has called for today.

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  • by Anonymous on December 4th, 2005

    Anonymous

      That's a bit like asking if the New Testament is more vital than the Old Testament, or whether the book of Luke is more vital than the book of Matthew.  God's word is God's word, whenever and wherever and through whomever he reveals it.  I'm not sure that it's entirely valid to suppose that one can pick and choose which portions of God's word are more vital than which other portions.

      That said, there is one important characteristic that a living prophet has over recorded scripture.  Most of what is recorded as scripture is intended to be of universal value to all people in all times.  Through a living prophet, God gives us guidance that is tailored to the  issues that we face in our own time, which may differ considerably from those of other people in other times.  I suppose it could be argued that this guidance is more vital than static scripture given to people long gone, from times long past.

    ———

      No, John, the prophet cannot “…override the Bible any time he wants.”  But through a prophet, God always has the authority to give us new instruction, which may differ substantially from instruction that he gave in the past.  This is not without biblical precedent.  Take a look at what God told Noah in Genesis 9:3. { http://tinyurl.com/bcxj3 }  Compare this with the instruction that God gave through Moses in Leviticus 11.  { http://tinyurl.com/bu8cg }

      The important thing is that it is not the prophet who has the power to override previous instruction from God; it is God himself who has this authority, and it is through a prophet that God may, at any time, exercise this authority.

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  • by denidowi on September 24th, 2008

    denidowi

    Yes.
    The living prophet receives living revelation for living members of Christ's Living Church.
    You see, although God obviously loves all people - anywhere anytime - past, present and future, He has nevertheless, placed His restored Gospel here right now, and given us prophets and leaders for helping the saints prepare for this particular day and age.
    In fact, that goes so far as to have us prepared for Jesus' 2nd Coming - which is not far away now.
    The closer we get to His Imminent return, the more we need to follow the specifics re service in His Kingdom, in order to properly prepare to receive the Lord, and better help Him prepare His people, and get the message to the earth's people.
    We will also need to come much closer to the Holy Ghost - to receive more personal revelation - that will also contribute - along with the prophet's advice - in keeping us out of the impending dangers of these worsening Last Days.
    We have been told times will get tougher and tougher the more we near the Saviour's imminent return.
    We will need to rely more and more on closeness of family, closeness top the guidance of the Spirit, closer to the stakes of Zion and able to receive the instruction the prophet will give us in order to be in place to meet the Saviour at His Coming.
    Does that answer your Q.
    Obviously, 2 most important things that will help everyone better prepare for Jesus' Imminent coming are personal prayer to our Father in Heaven and the reading of God's holy word - Bible and Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, etc.
    But this scripture will also include the words of living oracles: including guidance and visits from the Twelve Apostles and General Authorities of the Church.
    All of these are most important for full activity.
    But, if we lost our scriptures, or they were burnt out somehow, we would still have the all-important guidance of the Holy Ghost and the Living prophets and apostles to guide the Church in the way.

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  • by Anonymous on September 24th, 2008

    Anonymous

    An article of faith reads, "We believe all that god has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of god."

    The quick answer is yes, but that's because it's not an either/or proposition. Scriptural canon is binding on the Church for doctrine and instruction. That doesn't lessen the importance of inspired direction governing the affairs of the Church on a day to day basis, as well as additions to canon as required (the Doctrine and Covenants contains contemporary revelation).

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  • by Anonymous on December 7th, 2005

    Anonymous

    Well the scriptures were written by or about the Ancient Prophets,
    They were Living Prophets in their day.

    & Funnily enough the People Rejected them...& they are rejected Still.

    Who was more important..Noah or Abraham or Moses...?

    Adam excluded as he started the Human Family.

    Christ was the son of God - Litterally!

    Joseph Smith was the Prophet of the Restoration.

    All Prophets have a duty to cry repentance to the People at that time & to write their experinces down for future generations.

    The Scriptures are Vitally Important & the Prophet is As Important,
    each medium has its purpose & both are VITAL.

    Matt 7:14-15

    *Few people will fully Understand what it takes to recieve Exaltation.

    *Why because there are to many false Prophets, those who say their reigion is True & lead people astray.

    Matt 7:21-29

    21 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
    22 Many will tell me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?'
    23 Then I will tell them, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.'
    24 "Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.
    25 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn't fall, for it was founded on the rock.
    26 Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn't do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand.
    27 The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell--and great was its fall."
    28 It happened, when Yeshua had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching,
    29 for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.

    This is from the 'HEBREW-NAMES-VERSION' But I have MANY others.
    It was the only one with straight text all my others have STRONGS numbers after them.

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  • by edndori on September 16th, 2009

    edndori

    A living prophet is the spokesman for God, revealing what he wants us to know and to do.
    .
    The scriptures include the written record of what LIVING prophets have said in the past.
    .
    How can the word of God be more important than the word of God?

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  • by Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here on February 25th, 2009

    Mister IT is trying to Liahona outta here

    SHORT ANSWER: Yes. This has been affirmed and reaffirmed on numerous occasions throughout Mormon History.

    LONG ANSWER: Please refer to point #2 from this classic and well respected proclamation:

    Excerpts from, "FOURTEEN FUNDAMENTALS IN FOLLOWING THE PROPHET" BY ELDER Ezra Taft Benson; February 26, 1980:

    First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

    Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

    Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

    Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.

    Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

    Sixth: The prophet does not have to say "Thus saith the Lord" to give us scripture.

    Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

    Eighth: The prophet is not limited by men's reasoning.

    Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter--temporal or spiritual.

    Tenth: The prophet may be involved in civic matters.

    Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

    Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

    Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency--the highest quorum in the Church.

    Fourteenth: The prophet and the presidency--the living prophet and the First Presidency--follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.

    http://www.concernedchristians.com/index.php?option=com_fireboard&Itemid=42&func=view&id=78494&catid=527

    Here is the full text of point #2 from the above proclamation:

    Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

    President Wilford Woodruff tells of an interesting incident that occurred in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

    I will refer to a certain meeting I attended in the town of Kirtiand in my early days. At that meeting some remarks were made that have been made here today, with regard to the living oracles and with regard to the written word of God. The same principle was presented, although not as extensively as it has been here, when a leading man in the Church got up and talked upon the subject, and said: "You have got the word of God before you here in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants; you have the written word of God, and you who give revelations should give revelations according to those books, as what is written in those books is the word of God. We should confine ourselves to them."

    When he concluded, Brother Joseph turned to Brother Brigham Young and said, "Brother Brigham, I want you to take the stand and tell us your views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God." Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: "There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now," said he, "when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books." That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation: "Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth."
    (in Conference Report, October 1897, pp. 18-19)

    http://www.lds-mormon.com/fourteen.shtml

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  • by John Cox will be back April 6th 2013 on September 15th, 2009

    John Cox will be back April 6th 2013

    President Wilford Woodruff tells of an interesting incident that occurred in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith:

    “I will refer to a certain meeting I attended in the town of Kirtland in my early days. At that meeting some remarks were made that have been made here today, with regard to the living prophets and with regard to the written word of God. The same principle was presented, although not as extensively as it has been here, when a leading man in the Church got up and talked upon the subject, and said: ‘You have got the word of God before you here in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants; you have the written word of God, and you who give revelations should give revelations according to those books, as what is written in those books is the word of God. We should confine ourselves to them.’

    “When he concluded, Brother Joseph turned to Brother Brigham Young and said, ‘Brother Brigham I want you to go to the podium and tell us your views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God.’ Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: ‘There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now,’ said he, ‘when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.’ That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation; ‘Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.’ ” (Conference Report, October 1897, pp. 18–19.)

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  • by laie_techie on September 15th, 2009

    laie_techie

    In at least one respect, YES. A living Prophet is needed so that the Church can retain the Priesthood. LdS believe the Priesthood cannot be obtained by reading the Scriptures alone, but must be received by another Priesthood bearer.

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  • by Joseph Smith was a fraud and Eisegete on January 21st, 2009

    Joseph Smith was a fraud and Eisegete

    There is no such person as the living prophet. Prophets spoke of the coming savior. Jesus was that savior. All that was needed to be said or done was completed by Jesus Christ. When "Deuteronomy 12:32" and Revelations speaks of not adding to this book, they are not referring to the bible. This is in reference to Jesus' word. By having current prophets, Mormons are saying that Jesus Christ was not sufficient enough or smart enough to complete his mission.

    Mormons are telling themselves that they and their prophets are better and more qualified to reveal the truth than Jesus was. Jesus' word is as important and complete now as it was then.

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