Straight and Narrow Path

Straight and Narrow Path
Running the Straight and Narrow Path (2 Nephi 9:41).

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Meeting a Self Proclaimed "Prophetess"

Yesterday my companion, Elder Riggs, and I were walking to an appointment. We saw a lady and went to go talk to her. She then proceeded to tell us that she already knew Jesus. She walked straight up to me and said "A Prophetess". I think she was expecting me to be in aw at the fact that she said she is a Prophetess. I was a little puzzled with the way she said it as well. In clarifying what I understood I asked "you are a Prophetess?". She then proceeded to tell me she was indeed a Prophetess. I then thought to myself the scriptures in the New Testament which states "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew 7:15. "And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many." Matthew 24:11. I then asked her "How would I know you are a Prophetess?" She then told me that she could tell me things about me if God would put things into her head, but she said He wasn't at the time, so she couldn't tell me anything. We tried to testify to her about the restored gospel. She kept telling us she was a Prophetess. So we, seeing that she wasn't going to listen, decided to walk away and say "God bless you ma'am" after inviting her to visit mormon.org.

As we walked away I started thinking about it. I was thinking to myself, "I wonder what she thinks the role of a Prophet is?" So many people today are confused on what the role of a Prophet is. So many people think they just prophesy of coming events. But in reality, they have many more roles than that. "And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;" Jesus Christ's church is built upon the foundation of Apostles and Prophets. And Jesus Christ leading them as a chief cornerstone. So one role of a Prophet is to lead Christ's church. There is only one Prophet, his two counselors  and twelve Apostles at one time to lead Christ's church.

"And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron." Hebrews 5:4. No man can make a decision to lead Christ's church. He must be called of God. So how do we know who is the true Prophet leading Christ's church through divine revelation? The Bible tells us to beware of false Prophets in the scriptures I shared before. The next verse to that gives us that answer. "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Matthew 7:16. You can also pray and ask God! "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." Luke 11:9.

As I think back at that lady who self proclaimed herself as a Prophetess. She said she was attending a church and she was currently trying to apply to be a minister. That shows me she isn't a Prophetess. She isn't leading a church and she is trying to give herself authority over that church by applying for it. She has not been called of God.

I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God. He is called of God, he did not chose to be the Prophet. He was appointed and ordained. Just like Christ called the Apostles in the Bible. They didn't come and ask him to be Apostles. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is the Lord's kingdom on the earth. I know that Joseph Smith restored His church after being lost for many, many centuries.
You can find out this is true for yourself. Add me as a friend on Facebook and ask me how you can find out. Go to mormon.org and chat with missionaries online. I promise it    will bless your life.
                                                                                                   Thomas S. Monson