Mormons: Another Question regarding the president of your church?

Question

In the pamphlet I just read, I believe it stated that the President and the two direct men underneath him (I could be getting wrong, I don't have it with me) are considered prophets, leading the Mormon Church in modern times.

Are they really considered prophets? Or are they just "Inspired" men who have been able to...inspire...and move their way up through the ranks of your church (Sorry that sounds crude, not meant to be)...I just found this really interesting.

Answer 1

Another very good question. When Mormons say "prophet," we don't automatically think of someone who can "see into the future." For Mormons, prophets are much more.

1. A prophet receives revelation (a message) from God and communicates that message to others.

2. A prophet receives such communication for the entire Church. Others can receive messages from God, but these messages apply only to their own "stewardships," meaning their family if they're a mother, their congregation if they're a bishop (pastor), their geographical area if they're a general authority, etc.

3. A prophet has the authority to act in God's name. This authority, called "priesthood keys," is very important in Mormonism. We don't believe that getting a degree in theology authorizes one to act in God's name. God must call a prophet through His established channels, and the prophet must receive all "priesthood keys" from someone else who has those keys, as in New-Testament times.

4. Finally, on rare occasions, when it is part of the message God wants to transmit to His people, God can reveal future events through His prophets. I would say, however, that in Mormonism this is one of the minor roles a prophet plays, not the principle role.

Regarding terminology, when we say THE Prophet, we are referring to the president of the church, even though the twelve apostles and members of the first presidency are also considered to be prophets.

Hope this helps! Thanks for your interesting and respectful questions. If you'd like to learn more about Mormons, feel free to visit my site at http://www.allaboutmormons.com .

Answer 2

The Church is led by 15 apostles. The most senior apostle is the president of the Church, and he selects two other apostles as counselors. These three function as the First Presidency, which is the highest governing body of the Church.

Twelve others form the Quorum of the Twelve — the second-highest governing body of the Church. Together, the First Presidency and the Twelve oversee the entire Church. Church members trace this organizational structure to the New Testament.

Leaders called seventies assist the Twelve Apostles and serve in various locations throughout the world. There are currently eight quorums of the Seventy. Each quorum may have up to 70 members. Some seventies are assigned to headquarters administrative functions, but most live and work within a specific geographic region of the Church.

Yes, we really consider them to be prophets, but we also consider them to be human (in other words - they are not infallible unless God is using them to speak at that given time.) We also have a belief in personal revelation - where any member may pray about and question what may be taught or said. The true strength of this church is the fact that members worldwide share the same tesimony of teachings through personal revelation.

Answer 3

We believe in being founded upon prophets and apostles. The apostolic authority was restored to earth via Peter, James and John of the New Testament coming to visit Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in 1829. From then on, apostles have been called by revelation and by the laying on of the hands by those that have that authority to ordain them to that holy calling. The leaders today have been ordained by their predecessors to carry on the apostolic work. The President, his two counselors and the men in the quorum of twelve apostles are sustained as prophets, seers and revelators. They were chosen, called and ordained according to revelation from the Holy Ghost as being the men that Christ wants in those positions at that time and place. When one dies, the others move up in position within the quorum. When the president dies, the senior apostle becomes the leading authority. It is our belief that the Lord guides and controls their lives and makes sure the right person is in the right place at the right time. They are all inspired to do the things the Lord directs them to do. Thomas Monson gave a wonderful talk this past conference demonstrating clearly how the Spirit directs their lives. It is real. They are prophets.

Answer 4

We sustain Gordon B Hinckley as Prophet, Seer and Revelator. He is the President of the Church. The First Presidency also has 2 counsellors. They are Thomas S Monson and Henry B Eyring.
A prophet is God's spokesman on earth. He leads the church of Jesus Christ and receives revelation for the Church as a whole.
These men are also apostles. The senior apostle [by seniority, not age] is the President of the Church. The members of the Quorum of 12 Apostles [as existed in the primitive church] are also called and sustained and ordained as prophets, seers, and revelators and hold all the same keys to administer to Christ's church and kingdom on earth.
These men are not merely 'inspired', but are called of God. A man cannot aspire to become an apostle or president of the church. When a new apostle is called from the general membership of the church, it is through revelation.
Just this past October, in our General Conference, a new apostle was sustained to fill the vacancy in the quorom caused by the death of James E Faust. Several of the apostles discuss the manner in which the quorum is filled.
Check out lds.org and look at the talks from October 2007 General Conference.

Answer 5

The President of the church is a prophet, seer and revelator. His two counselors and the quorum of the 12 are also prophets, seers, and revelators, even tho they are usually referred to as apostles.

It's a sort of checks and balance type thing. They all receive revelation from God for His church.

Answer 6

Actually the first presidency and all the twelve apostles are called to be Prophets. The keys to act upon this calling are only active in the president (the main prophet/apostle).

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Answer 7

The President of the Church ,Gordon B Hinckley and his two counselors, Thomas Monson and Henry Eyring, are consider by Mormons to be "prophets, seers, and revelators. Priesthood "keys" or authority is bestowed upon them by the laying on of hands. Additionally, the members of the Quorum of twelve Apostles are also considered to be prophets, seers, and revelators. So in all, there are 15 men holding those priesthood keys.

Answer 8

I'm going to have to slighlty disagree with Captain Galactic. We hold that the First Presidency (the three men you mentioned) as well as the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are all prophets, seers, and revelators. I think what Captain Galactic means is that often in the LDS Church, we talk of "the prophet" which refers to the President of the Church. Here's an article that I think might be able to answer your question better than I could.

Answer 9

First of all Imasis2 that answer is ridiculous. Yes we sustain them as prophets. Prophets counsel us on what God wants us to do. A prophet is God's mouthpiece on earth. He has always used prophets and does once again. We believe that God continues to reveal His will through His prophets. But we also know that God does reveal His will to individuals on a personal basis. We are all entitled to personal revelation through the Spirit. But the prophet receives revelation for the whole world.

Answer 10

Yes, prophets, although only one at any time exercises the full keys of being a prophet and that is the President of the church.