Does God speak to us today?

Preach My Gospel challenges me to write down how I would refer to Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon to respond to this question.  This has been a good exercise and will take a few days to get through the list of Questions suggested.

How would I respond to someone who says they don’t believe God speaks anymore?  My first thought is to ask why the Lord thought the people in the Bible were any more important to our Heavenly Father than are we.  I would also refer to Amos 3:7 “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.”  To suggest God doesn’t speak anymore is ludicrous in my mind.  God is the same yesterday, today and forever.  (2 Nephi 2:4, D&C 20:12, Mormon 9:9)  Therefore, it stands to reason that He is still speaking.  The real question is “Are we listening?”  To whom do we listen for the word of the Lord?  Just as Amos said in 3:7, The Prophets.   

In Doctrine and Covenants 1:38 the Lord says, “. . . whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”  The Lord is speaking.

Mosiah 8:16-18 says a prophet knows things past and those that are to come. 

D&C 68: 3-4 says what a prophet speaks when moved upon by the Spirit is scripture. 

I am so grateful to live at a time when we have prophets on the earth today.  I’m grateful to have easy access to their words and counsel.  It brings me great comfort to know they are watching out for us and if we will heed their counsel, we will be protected.  Will we have problems?  Of course!  It is the law of this earth.  We are here to have trials and tribulation to pass through so we can prove our love to our Heavenly Father.  He has shown us where the real comfort comes from.  It is from following his Prophets and doing as our Heavenly Father has asked in spite of the trials that we will be blessed.  We will have His Spirit with us, and know of His love.  I know this is true from my own experiences.  Life isn’t always easy.  Sometimes we are hurt terribly from the actions of others.  To turn on the Lord and stop keeping the commandments because of injustices would be our biggest mistake.  Those who do, find no peace.