“Prophets Following Prophets,” For the Strength of Youth, Sept. 2023.
Preparing for General Conference
Prophets Following Prophets
Anyone can find blessings by following the prophet—even Apostles.
We are continually asked to follow the prophet. But some may wonder why the prophet’s voice is so important to follow.
In the April 2017 general conference, President Thomas S. Monson, the prophet at the time, asked Church members to study, not just read, the Book of Mormon daily. President Russell M. Nelson and President Henry B. Eyring both followed the prophet’s counsel and spoke about what happened.
An Obedient Apostle
President Nelson said: “I have tried to follow [President Monson’s] counsel. Among other things, I’ve made lists of what the Book of Mormon is, what it affirms, what it refutes, what it fulfills, what it clarifies, and what it reveals. Looking at the Book of Mormon through these lenses has been an insightful and inspiring exercise!”1
President Nelson went on to explain that he asked others similar questions and found that so many lives had been touched by following President Monson’s counsel. The Lord guides us all through our prophet, the scriptures, and personal revelation.
A Faithful Apostle
President Eyring said: “I have read the Book of Mormon every day for more than 50 years. So perhaps I could have reasonably thought that President Monson’s words were for someone else. Yet, like many of you, I felt the prophet’s encouragement and his promise invite me to make a greater effort.”
President Eyring continued: “Heeding President Monson’s counsel has had two other wonderful effects on me: First, the Spirit he promised has produced a sense of optimism about what lies ahead, even as the commotion in the world seems to increase. And, second, the Lord has given me—and you—an even greater feeling of His love for those in distress.”2
Everyone
Everyone can and should follow the prophet’s counsel from general conference. No matter where you’re at on your spiritual journey, you can always improve, whether you’re an Apostle, a brand-new convert, or anywhere in between. It doesn’t diminish our need for personal revelation; it’s another way that God can bless us. If even Apostles can find additional blessings this way, the rest of us certainly can too.