One of the things I love about studying the scriptures is discovering how relevant they are to our day. This morning, as I read Mosiah 8, I found myself feeling especially grateful to be living now—to witness so many things the prophets have foretold.
After arriving in the land of King Limhi, Ammon was asked to teach the people. He shared what King Benjamin had taught and then helped the people understand it.
That made me stop and ask myself a question:
If someone asked me to teach what one of our prophets has been teaching, could I do it?
Right now, I'm studying the conference talks of President Dallin H. Oaks, beginning with the time he was called as an Apostle. It's a long list, but it has been a wonderful experience. His first three talks as prophet and President of the Church are:
- Be peacemakers.
- Jesus Christ is the way to peace in this world and eternal life in the world to come.
- Build our homes on Jesus Christ.
Peace seems to be his focus. I wonder why? Could it be because our nation — our world — is anything but peaceful currently? Those messages have been repeated because they matter. They are exactly what we need for our day.
Another verse caught my attention. Ammon could read the record of the people, but he could not interpret it.
There is a difference.
I can read the scriptures every day. I may understand the words on the page, but understanding what the Lord is trying to teach me requires revelation. Knowing the words is one thing; discerning their meaning is another. That's one reason I treasure prophets, seers, and revelators. They help us understand truths we might otherwise miss. President Nelson told us that being able to receive personal revelation will be the key to our surviving the days ahead. This is a tall order, but we must be up to it.
Then Ammon teaches King Limhi that "a seer is a revelator and a prophet also." As I pondered that, a familiar thought came to mind: A prophet can see around corners.
I love that expression and would give credit to the podcaster who first said it, but I don’t remember..
President Oaks has often reminded us that we are living in the last days and that disciples of Jesus Christ will need to stand firm in a world that is changing rapidly. As I look around today, I am amazed at both the incredible progress and the growing confusion.
Yesterday we celebrated the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding. I couldn't help but reflect on all that has happened in those two and a half centuries. Flight. The telephone. Automobiles. Modern manufacturing. The information age. Computers. And now artificial intelligence. Having lived through many of those advances, I find them nothing short of remarkable.
These are extraordinary blessings. Yet every blessing carries responsibility. If we allow pride to replace gratitude and wisdom, progress itself can become destructive. We live in a time that requires discernment more than ever before.
That is why I am so grateful for living prophets.
The Lord has not left us to navigate these challenging days alone. He has given us prophets who can see what we cannot yet see and who lovingly prepare us for what lies ahead.
Mosiah 8 reminded me that reading the scriptures is essential, but listening to living prophets helps us understand how to apply those eternal truths in our day.
For that gift, I am so very grateful. And I find myself looking forward to the next conference with great
anticipation.
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