The Prophet

Every since I was little my parents always made me listen to the Prophet speak during conference. I could sleep through all of conference, except for when the Prophet spoke. I never really understood why, I mean, didn’t everyone who spoke have something good to share?

Only until this past summer did I learn why I had to always listen to the prophet. I was assigned to give an Elder’s quorum lesson about what the prophet talked about at conference, but not only that, explain the why behind it. The why is ever so important. If people can understand as to why they need to do something, they are more likely to do it. So, why do we listen to the prophet?

It is rather simple, he is God’s spokesmen. Nothing to hard to understand or over the head of anyone, right? Just being God’s spokesmen, doesn’t make the prophet so important. The Bishop is our ward is God’s spokesmen. So is the stake president, and what about the patriarch? How about when someone gives a priesthood blessing, aren’t they God’s spokesmen? Well, you see, that’s the thing, the prophet, he holds all the keys to do all of those things. Not only does he hold them, he can use them as the Lord directs. No one else in the church holds all the keys and can use them. That makes it real simple as to why we listen to the prophet, he really is God’s right hand man here on earth.

This past conference the prophet gave a rather wonderful talk during priesthood. He talked about “Rising up, O men of God.” And he quoted a hymn which he heard the BYU Men’s Chorus sing.

Rise up, O men of God!
Have done with lesser things.
Give heart and soul and mind and strength
To serve the King of Kings.

Rise up, O men of God,
In one united throng.
Bring in the day of brotherhood
And end the night of wrong.

Rise up, O men of God!
The church for you doth wait,
Her strength unequal to her task;
Rise up, and make her great!

Rise up, O men of God!
Tread where his feet have trod.
As brothers of the Son of Man,
Rise up, O men of God!
(Hymns, no. 324; third verse in The Oxford American Hymnal, ed. Carl F. Pfatteicher [1930], no. 256)

It is rather amazing how songs can make you feel and want to live better then you currently are living. Just within the first line the song sings, “Have done with lesser things.” Much like President Hinckley did while talking to the brethren of the priesthood . He called all of us to rise up and live a cleaner, better, righteous life.

“There is not a man or boy in this vast congregation tonight who cannot improve his life. And that needs to happen. After all, we hold the priesthood of God. If we are boys who have received the Aaronic Priesthood, we are entitled to the ministering of angels to guide and direct, to bless and protect us. What a remarkable and wonderful thing that is. If we have had conferred upon us the Melchizedek Priesthood, we have been given the keys of the kingdom that carry with them eternal powers.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, Rise up, O men of God, Nov. 2006 Ensign)

President Hinckley helped me in realizing the power in which I am entitled to as well as have because I hold the priesthood. This is just not the priesthood, it is the priesthood of God, and by it being the priesthood of God, we must rise up and hold that priesthood with honor and in righteousness.

“With this priesthood comes a great obligation to be worthy of it. We cannot indulge in unclean thoughts. We must not partake of pornography. We must never be guilty of abuse of any kind. We must rise up above such things. "Rise up, O men of God!" and put these things behind you, and the Lord will be your guide and stay.” (President Gordon B. Hinckley, Rise up, O men of God, Nov. 2006 Ensign)

I found it remarkable as to how President Hinckley called us to fulfill our duty. Its amazing how he added unclean thoughts. Often times we feel that we are okay because we didn’t do the action, but here President Hinckley is making us see that our thoughts do count. I love how he finished with how we must put these things behind us, rise up, and walk in the ways of the Lord.
I love listening to the prophet speak. How amazing of a man he is. He truly is a man of God who loves and will serve the Lord in anyway he can. May we all listen and follow the words of the prophet. May we all rise up and live a better life. Follow the prophet, follow the prophet he knows the way. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

God speed.