Prophets Don't Reveal Everything
I frequently see
somebody use Amos 3:7 as part of their comment in various forums. The quote is
often used in an attempt to justify that major events won't be happening unless
we hear it from the prophet. Usually this is used against those who profess to
have dreams or visions of events of these last days.
"Surely the
Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the
prophets."
This statement is
true. But, what people forget is it does not say, "and surely the prophets
shall reveal his secrets to all the people."
If fact, very little
of what God reveals to his prophets are they permitted to reveal to us. There
are several places in the scriptures where the prophet states something like,
"I want to say/write more, but the Spirit forbids me to do so." Even
when the Savior visits the people in the Americas they were unable to record
everything that was said, forbidden to do so, or told to seal up the things
which were written.
Alma 12:9
"And now Alma
began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many
to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a
strict command that they shall not impart only according to the
portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to
the heed and diligence which they give unto him."
I cannot recall any
modern day prophet giving any public, specific, precise warning regarding an
impending earthquake, volcano, terrorist action, or any other event that ended
up affecting the lives of many. But I have heard of faithful people being warned
by the Spirit to perform some kind of action, preparation, or to leave before
an event occurs.
It is rare for the
prophets to give a precise warning for a specific event because that event has
to potential to affect each person differently. General warnings and calls to
repentance are more common. We have been given lots of general warnings, along
with counsels to become physically and spiritually prepared.
One of the main
missions of the prophets and apostles, and by all servants of God, is to bring
people to Christ. When we come to Christ, it is our duty, our privilege, to
live close to the Spirit so we can then know what we should do in our own
situation, kind of like a customized warning system.
The other factor to
consider is that future events can change, in their timing and intensity.
Repentance and the prayers of the righteous can have a big influence on when or
where a calamity might occur. The real goal of the prophets is for people to
come unto Christ. God doesn't want his children to be destroyed, and he is
merciful to those who seek him and willing to extend his arm of mercy as long
as he is able.
Because we are at
different levels of spirituality and faithfulness, in order for us to get more
than the general message--which is the essential message--of the Gospel, we
must seek diligently on our own. Prayer, scripture study, fasting, meditation,
temple attendance are all helpful.
Those who rely on
the prophet to tell them everything, or at least claim to "follow the
prophet," include many of those who wouldn't do what the prophet asked
them to do anyway.
D&C 101:63
states, "Again, verily I say unto you, I will show unto you wisdom in me
concerning all the churches, inasmuch as they are willing to be guided in a
right and proper way for their salvation."
"All churches" refers to all the
organization congregations of the Church, what we refer to today as branches,
wards, and it could even refer to stakes.
What is the
"right and proper way" to be guided? It is submitting our will to the
Father's, to be led by the Holy Spirit. Yes, there is a proper order for
revelation, authority, and administration in the Church. Yes, we need to
"follow the prophet." But, all the ordinances in the Gospel are on an
individual level and it stands to reason that all individuals are entitled to
specific revelation and guidance for their own self, and their families. We
must be active in seeking for this guidance.
Regarding the
prophets, even they have counseled that members need to seek out confirmation
from the Spirit and not to accept everything on blind faith.
The final few words
of D&C 101:63 state "for their salvation." The most obvious
interpretation of this is spiritual salvation and eternal exaltation. However,
I believe it also refers to physical salvation. If we are being guided by the
Spirit, we can be led to avoid captivity or what we need to do to become free.
Elder Robert D.
Hales spoke of being guided by the Lord in the October 2015 General Conference:
"In every
instance, Heavenly Father warned these believers. Similarly, He will help us
know whether to fight, flee, or go with the flow of our unfolding
circumstances. He will speak to us through prayer, and when we pray, we will
have the Holy Ghost, who will guide us. We have the scriptures, the teachings
of living prophets, patriarchal blessings, the counsel of inspired parents,
priesthood and auxiliary leaders, and, above all, the still, small voice of the
Spirit."
Absolutely follow
the prophet, but make sure you have, and strengthen, your own testimony. The
Lord reveals his secrets to his prophets, but many of those secrets the
prophets do not reveal, or are under strict commandment what to reveal and when
to reveal it.
A measure I've begun
to use on how well one actually follows the prophet is in food storage and
preparation. If we are heeding the counsel to become prepared (including food
storage and supplies), then we are more likely to follow other prophetic
counsel, and also more likely to follow the Spirit in our own lives. Those who
are not making efforts to build their food storage, and to become prepared, are
more likely to be those who justify, rationalize, and/or procrastinate why they
can't follow some counsel (such as food storage) or how it doesn't apply to
them.
Those who dismiss
the visions of dreams of others--who seem to think that only the president of
the Church, his counselors, and the apostles (the prophets, seers, and
revelators of the Church) can receive revelation, prophesy, dreams, visions,
etc.--use Amos 3:7 like a cop-out. That is, these people seem to want to avoid
doing what they should be doing to have the Spirit guide them in their own
lives, and they, instead, want to excuse themselves from having to rely on the
Spirit.
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