Prophetic Guidance

Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults

By Quentin L. Cook

Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Turning to receiving prophetic guidance, I testify that Russell M. Nelson is the Lord’s chosen prophet to guide His Church today. I have talked about my love and appreciation for him many times.¹

President Spencer W. Kimball, in speaking of prophetic guidance, stated: “Of all things, that … we should be most grateful [for] is that the heavens are indeed open and that the restored church of Jesus Christ is founded upon the rock of revelation. Continuous revelation is indeed the very lifeblood of the gospel of the living Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”²

The prophet Enoch foresaw the days in which we live. He saw the great wickedness that would prevail and prophesied of the “great tribulations” that would occur. Nevertheless, the Lord promised, “but my people will I preserve; And righteousness will I send down out of heaven; and truth will I send forth out of the earth, to bear testimony of mine Only Begotten.³ The coming forth of the Book of Mormon was the fulfillment of the Lord’s pronouncement to Enoch.

The Prophet Joseph Smith received revelation after revelation. Many have been preserved for us in the Doctrine and Covenants. All of the standard works of the Church contain the mind and will of the Lord for us in this last dispensation.⁴

In addition to these great foundational scriptures, we are blessed with continuing revelation to living prophets. Prophets are “commissioned agents of the Lord, authorized to speak for Him.”⁵

As I have said many times before, I declare with all solemnity that continuous revelation has been received and is being received through channels the Lord has established.

I have served as an Apostle under the direction of three prophets: Presidents Gordon B. Hinckley, Thomas S. Monson, and Russell M. Nelson. I testify that all of them have received revelation for our day.

I assure you that revelatory guidance can be received by each of us as we labor in the Lord’s vineyard. Most of our guidance comes from the Holy Ghost. Sometimes and for some purposes it comes directly from the Lord. I personally testify that this is true. Guidance for the Church, as a whole, comes only to the President and prophet of the Church.

I have previously paraphrased what Wilford Woodruff said about the Prophet Joseph Smith; it is equally true of President Russell M. Nelson. I have seen “the workings of the Spirit of God with him, and the revelations of Jesus Christ unto him and the fulfillment of those revelations.”⁶ He is the Lord’s prophet.

As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bear a sure witness of the Savior’s divinity and the reality of His Atonement. He is our Savior and Redeemer. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.