Following Prophets

Henry B. Eyring
- The Promise of Prophetic Counsel
"Sometimes we will receive counsel that we cannot understand or that seems not to apply to us, even after careful prayer and thought. Don't discard the counsel, but hold it close. If someone you trusted handed you what appeared to be nothing more than sand with the promise that it contained gold, you might wisely hold it in your hand awhile, shaking it gently. Every time I have done that with counsel from a prophet, after a time the gold flakes have begun to appear and I have been grateful. We are blessed to live in a time when the priesthood keys are on the earth. We are blessed to know where to look and how to listen for the voice that will fulfill the promise of the Lord that He will gather us to safety. I pray for you and for me that we will have humble hearts, that we will listen, that we will pray, that we will wait for the deliverance of the Lord which is sure to come as we are faithful."
(Henry B. Eyring, "Finding Safety in Counsel," Ensign, May 1997, 24)

James E. Faust
- Called and Chosen Lead the Lord's Church
"I believe that never before in the history of the Church has there been more unity than exists among my Brethren of the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve, and the other General Authorities of the Church, who have been called and chosen and who are now guiding the Church. I believe there is ample evidence of this. The present leadership of God's earthly kingdom has enjoyed the Savior's guiding inspiration longer than any other group. We are the oldest group ever to lead the Church.

"My association with some of these men for almost half a century qualifies me, I think, to state with confidence that my Brethren, without exception, are good, honorable, and trustworthy men. I know their hearts. They are the servants of the Lord. Their only desire is to labor in their great callings and build up the kingdom of God on earth. Our Brethren who are serving in this day and time are proven, tried, and true. Some are not as physically strong as they used to be, but their hearts are so pure, their experience so great, their minds so sharp, and their spiritual wisdom so deep that it is a comfort just to be in their presence."
(James E. Faust, "Called and Chosen," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 53)

The Price of Discipleship is Obedience
"The price of discipleship is obedience. In many languages, the word disciple has the same root as the word discipline. Self-discipline and self-control are consistent and permanent characteristics of the followers of Jesus.

"The disciples of Christ receive a call not only to forsake the pursuit of worldly things but also to carry the cross. To carry the cross means to follow His commandments and to build up His Church upon the earth. 'If any man will come after me,' said Jesus of Nazareth, 'let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me' (Luke 9:23). 'And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple' (Luke 14:27)."
(James E. Faust, "The Price of Discipleship," Ensign, Apr. 1999, 2)

- Supporting the Prophet and General Authorities
"My counsel to the members of the Church is to support the President of the Church, the First Presidency, Quorum of the Twelve, and other General Authorities with our whole hearts and souls. If we do, we will be in a safe harbor."
(James E. Faust, "Called and Chosen," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 54)

Robert D. Hales
- Strengthened through Prophets
"If we listen to the prophets of this day, poverty would be replaced with loving care for the poor and needy. Many serious and deadly health problems would be avoided through compliance with the Word of Wisdom and the laws of sexual purity. Payment of tithing would bless us and we would have sufficient for our needs. If we follow the counsel given by the prophets, we can have a life in mortality where we do not bring upon ourselves unnecessary pain and self-destruction. This does not mean we will not have challenges. We will. This does not mean we will not be tested. We will, for this is part of our purpose on earth. But if we will listen to the counsel of our prophet, we will become stronger and be able to withstand the tests of mortality. We will have hope and joy. All the words of counsel from the prophets of all generations have been given so that we may be strengthened and then be able to lift and strengthen others."
(Robert D. Hales, "Hear the Prophet's Voice and Obey," Ensign, May 1995, 17)


David E. Sorenson
- President Hinckley Is a Living Seer
"President Hinckley is not only a living prophet but also a living seer. He sees things that others do not see. He has the gift of discernment; he is an optimist and a realist. . . . Through President Hinckley's divine guidance, the Church has received many far-reaching blessings, many that are not obvious. I strongly encourage each of you to more closely follow his counsel and guidance, for truly 'a seer hath the Lord raised up unto his people' (Moses 6:36)."
(David E. Sorensen, "Faith Is the Answer," Ensign, May 2005, 74)

Marion G. Romney
- The Lord Speaks Through His Leaders
"What we get out of general conference is a build-up of our spirits as we listen to those particular principles and practices of the gospel which the Lord inspires the present leadership of the Church to bring to our attention at the time. He knows why he inspired Brother Joseph F. Merrill to give the talk he just gave. He knows why he inspired the other brethren who have talked in this conference to say what they have said. It is our high privilege to hear, through these men, what the Lord would say if he were here. If we do not agree with what they say, it is because we are out of harmony with the Spirit of the Lord."
(Marion G. Romney, CR, October 1950, p. 126)

Robert D. Hales
– Give Heed and Diligence to Counsel
"The Book of Mormon prophet Lehi was given the Liahona, a divine compass that was 'prepared by the hand of the Lord that thereby they might be led, every one according to the heed and diligence which they gave unto him' (Mosiah 1:16). Just like those of Lehi's day, we must give heed and diligence to the Lord in order to have the blessing of being guided by the Holy Ghost.

"To heed means to listen to the teachings of our Savior, Jesus Christ. It means to take counsel from our parents and the Lord's disciples and leaders. It means to be humble and teachable. To have diligence means that we must live obediently and do that which we know to be right, working with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. Then we can expect to have the Spirit to be with us to guide us and direct our actions to do good, endure to the end, and attain eternal life."
(Robert D. Hales, "Return with Honor," Church Educational System fireside address on 3 May 1998, given in the Cadet Chapel at the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO; see Ensign, June 1999, 9)

Lorenzo Snow
– Learning to Obey Naturally
"An individual undertaking to learn to play upon a flute at first finds a difficulty in making the notes, and in order to play a tune correctly there is a great deal of diligence and patience required. He has to go on, to pause, to turn back and commence afresh, but after a time he is enabled, through a great deal of exertions, to master that tune. When called upon to play that tune afterwards, there is no necessity for remembering where to place the fingers, but he plays it naturally. It was not natural at the first; there had to be a great deal of patience and labour, before it became natural to go through with the tune.

"It is just so in regard to matters that pertain to the things of God. We have to exert ourselves and go from grace to grace, to get the law of action so incorporated in our systems, that it may be natural to do those things that are required of us."
(Lorenzo Snow, Journal of Discourses 4:187; see also Teachings of Lorenzo Snow pp. 45-46)

David O. McKay
– Peace and Character Come Through Obedience
"Jesus taught that God-like character is not a thing of favor or chance, it is a natural result of continued effort and right thinking, the effect of long cherished association with God-like thoughts.... That man is not at peace who is untrue to the whisperings of Christ and the promptings of his conscience. He cannot be at peace when he is untrue to his better self, when he transgresses the law of righteousness in any way, either in dealing with himself or indulging his passions, his appetites, yielding in any way to the temptations of the flesh, or whether he is untrue to a trust imposed upon him, transgressing the law of righteousness in dealing with his fellowmen. Peace does not come to the transgressor of law; peace comes by obedience to law, and it is that message which Jesus would have us portray among men. Peace is to the individual that he may be at peace with his God, perfect harmony existing between himself and law, the righteous laws to which he is subject and from which he can never escape."
(David O. McKay, remarks at the Christmas program in the Church Office Building, December 22, 1961; quoted by Joseph Anderson, "Strength of the Spirit," GC, April 1974; see Ensign, May 1974, p. 10)

John A. Widtsoe
– True Power Comes From Obedience
"When God speaks, some of us fail so to live as to understand the message that comes from eternity. I know some people say, 'Well, how can I so conduct my life as to be responsive to the messages from the unseen world?'

"There is an old illustration, a high school illustration, that bears on this subject. We may take a rod of soft iron, and place it with some iron filings, without apparently causing any change; the rod is not magnetic; but if we wrap that rod of iron with a wire carrying an electric current, it becomes a magnet. Though the rod has not changed, in shape and width and length, it has undergone a deep change. It has become changed so that it attracts iron filings or whatever else is subject to magnetic action Just so, if we, men and women, could wrap ourselves in obedience to God's law, live as we should live, a wonderful change is effected in us, and we, too, can then hear the messages of the unseen world."
(John A. Widtsoe, Conference Report, October 1945, p. 144)

Heber J. Grant
– The Privilege of Obedience
"In the kind providences of the Lord every man who lives the gospel of Jesus Christ sooner or later receives that precious thing known as a testimony to the eternal part of his nature, a testimony regarding the divinity of the labor in which we are engaged.

"There are no people that make the sacrifices that we do, but for us it is not a sacrifice but a privilege--the privilege of obedience, the privilege of entering into a working partnership with our Father in Heaven and earning the choice blessings promised to those who love Him and keep His commandments."
(Heber J. Grant, Era, 42:457; see Gospel Standards, p. 39)

Bruce R. McConkie
– Perfect Worship is Emulation
“Come worship the Lord! How is it done? Perfect worship is emulation. We honor those whom we imitate. The most perfect way of worship is to be holy as Jehovah is holy. It is to be pure as Christ is pure. It is to do the things that enable us to become like the Father. The course is one of obedience, of living by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God, of keeping the commandments.

"How do we worship the Lord? We do it by going from grace to grace, until we receive the fulness of the Father and are glorified in light and truth as is the case with our Pattern and Prototype, the Promised Messiah."
(Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, p. 569)

Joseph Smith
– Cheerfully Conform to Proper Counsel
"Now for persons to do things merely bacause they are advised to do them, and yet murmur all the time they are doing them, is of no use at all; they might as well not do them. There are those who profess to be Saints who are too apt to murmur, and find fault, when any advice is given, which comes in opposition to their feelings, even when they, themselves, ask for counsel; much more so when counsel is given unasked for, which does not agree with their notion of things; but brethren, we hope for better things from the most of you; we trust that you desire counsel, from time to time, and that you will cheerfully conform to it, whenever you receive it from a proper source"
(Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 4:45)

Joseph B. Wirthlin
– Journey to Higher Ground and to Happiness
"Since the days of Adam, the Lord has spoken to His prophets, and while His message differs according to the specific needs of the time, there is one consistent, never-changing theme: Depart from iniquity and journey to higher ground. . . .

" . . . Those who journey to higher ground and keep the commandments of God 'are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness' (Mosiah 2:41)."
(Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Journey to Higher Ground," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 16, 19 )

"In our own storms in life the Savior is our solace and our sanctuary. If we seek peace, we must come unto Him…The gospel gives us that harbor of enduring safety and security. The living prophet and the apostles today are as lighthouses in the storm. Steer towards the light of the restored gospel and the inspired teachings of those who represent the Lord on earth."
(Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Finding a Safe Harbor," Ensign, May 2000, 59)

Paul V. Johnson
- Obedience and Blessings
"Every time we are obedient to the words of the prophets and apostles we reap great blessings. We receive more blessings than we can understand at the time, and we continue to receive blessings long after our initial decision to be obedient."
(Paul V. Johnson, "The Blessings of General Conference," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 52)

Thomas S. Monson
- "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet"
"I love the words of President Brigham Young, who said, 'I feel like shouting Hallelujah, all the time, when I think that I ever knew Joseph Smith, the Prophet whom the Lord raised up and ordained, and to whom He gave keys and power to build up the kingdom of God on earth'(Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young [1997], 343).

"To this fitting tribute to our beloved Joseph, I add my own testimony that I know he was God's prophet, chosen to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter days. I pray that as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth, we may learn from his life. May we incorporate into our own lives the divine principles which he so beautifully taught--by example--that we, ourselves, might live more completely the gospel of Jesus Christ. May our lives reflect the knowledge we have that God lives, that Jesus Christ is His Son, that Joseph Smith was a prophet, and that we are led today by another prophet of God--even President Gordon B. Hinckley."
(Thomas S. Monson, "The Prophet Joseph Smith: Teacher by Example," Ensign, Nov. 2005, 69-70)