Andersen - The Prophet of God - April 2018

Elder Andersen speaks in conference to teach us about what it means to have a prophet of God on the earth today.  He begins by noting that we got to participate in a solemn assembly where we each had a chance to sustain the prophet.  He speaks about the spirit that was in the conference center as this took place.

• To those millions of members who are not here with us in the Conference Center, I want you to know that the Spirit of the Lord in this building during the sustaining of President Nelson was exactly as you would have anticipated it—full of spiritual power.
  

He speaks about the Lord being in charge of the selection of the prophet.

• The selection of a prophet is made by the Lord Himself. There is no campaigning, no debates, no posturing for position, no dissension, distrust, confusion, or commotion. I too confirm that the power of heaven was with us in the upper room of the temple as we prayerfully encircled President Nelson and felt the undeniable approval of the Lord upon him.

Although we love the prophet and sustain his prophetic call, we do not worship him.  We worship God and our Savior Jesus Christ and know that it is through our Savior that we will be saved.

• While we sustain the prophet as the Lord’s anointed, let it be clear that we worship only God, our Heavenly Father, and His divine Son. It is through the merits, the mercy, and the grace of our Savior, Jesus Christ, that we can one day enter again into Their presence.

But we follow the prophet because he is the Lord's representative on the earth.  We can have faith in his calling, his abilities, and his guidance in our lives.

• Anchoring our souls to the Lord Jesus Christ requires listening to those He sends. Following the prophet in a world of commotion is like being wrapped in a soothing, warm blanket on a freezing cold day.

Elder Anderson shares that the prophet has a specific duty to help us prepare for the coming days ahead.  We should not delay our repentance but instead embrace the changes we need to make when he hear his voice.

• The prophet’s voice, while spoken kindly, will often be a voice asking us to change, to repent, and to return to the Lord. When correction is needed, let’s not delay. And don’t be alarmed when the prophet’s warning voice counters popular opinions of the day.

He quotes President Nelson from 1982 when he spoke about following the prophet.  Many people wonder when the prophet speaks as a person or prophet.  We can learn from President Nelson's guidance.

• In 1982, two years before being called as a General Authority, Brother Russell M. Nelson said: “I never ask myself, ‘When does the prophet speak as a prophet and when does he not?’ My interest has been, ‘How can I be more like him?’” And he added, “My [philosophy is to] stop putting question marks behind the prophet’s statements and put exclamation points instead.”
  

Elder Anderson promises us that if we will listen to the prophet and seek to live by the teachings he shares, we will be blessed with an increase of faith.

• I have found that as I prayerfully study the words of the prophet of God and carefully, with patience, spiritually align my will with his inspired teachings, my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ always increases.

Finally, we are reminded that the prophet points the way to the Savior and helps us find Him in our lives.

• A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior.

I am grateful for the thoughts of Elder Andersen.  I have no doubts that President Nelson is called of God and is to be our prophet at this time.  We need to remember that the Lord is in charge and He is leading President Nelson.  Many changes occurred at this last conference and we would be wise to listen to the prophets voice as he shares with us the impressions that the Savior is putting into his mind and heart.