Lesson 35: God Reveals His Secrets to His Prophets –
Scriptures and Quotes
President Ezra Taft Benson said: “As the prophet reveals the
truth, it divides the people. The honest in heart heed his words, but the
unrighteous either ignore the prophet or fight him. When the prophet points out
the sins of the world, the worldly either want to close the mouth of the
prophet, or else act as if the prophet didn’t exist, rather than repent of
their sins.
Popularity is never a test of
truth. Many a prophet has been killed or cast out. As we come closer to the
Lord’s second coming, you can expect that as the people of the world become
more wicked, the prophet will be less popular with them” (“Fourteen
Fundamentals in Following the Prophet,” in Speeches of the Year, 1980. [Provo:
Brigham Young University Press, 1981], p.29)
Reading 1 – Amos 7:7-8
Reading 2 – Psalms 15:1-2
Reading 3 – 1 Nephi 16:3
Mosiah 2:32-33
Reading 4 – Amos 3:6-7
Reading 5 – Elder Orson F. Whitney said: "The need for prophecy must be evident
to any pious and reflective mind. Prophets are as watchmen on the tower, noting
the time of night, telling of the approaching dawn. 'Surely the Lord God will
do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.' This
means, as I interpret it, that the allwise Dispenser of human affairs will
neither cause nor permit any event to take place, concerning which the world
need to have fore-knowledge, until he has communicated with his chosen
servants, his oracles among men, and has given them due notice of its
approach." (Saturday Night Thoughts, p15)
Reading 6 - Elder Matthias F. Cowley said : "From this we learn that if there are no
prophets of the Lord, then our Heavenly Father is doing nothing in a religious
sense among the people of this earth; but if He is doing a work among them for
their redemption, then there must be prophets." (Cowley's Talks on
Doctrine, p23)
Reading 7 – Doctrine and Covenants 1:37-38
Reading 8 – Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-5
Doctrine and Covenants 21:6
Reading 9 – Amos 7:10-13
Wikipedia definition - Cultural Mormon is a term used for
Mormons who no longer believe some, or many, of the doctrines of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), but who self-identify as
Mormon. Usually this is a result of having been raised in the LDS faith, or as
having converted and spent a large portion of one's life as an active member of
the LDS Church. Cultural Mormons may or may not be actively involved with the
church, and in some cases may not even be officially members of the church.
Amos 6:1, 3-4, 7-8
Reading 10 - President Ezra Taft Benson said: "It is not going to be enough just to
accept the teachings, standards, and ideals of the Church passively. It will
require real activity, real dedication to the principles of righteousness if we
are to face the future unafraid. But if we have the courage, sound judgment,
and the faith so to do, then no matter what happens we will be able to face any
situation with courage and with faith and with the assurance that God will
sustain us. I know that now is the time probably more than any other time in
our lives to live the gospel. We should not be lulled away into false security
as Nephi said many would be in the last days. We should not be pacified and feel
in our hearts that we can sin a little, that we can attend to our meetings part
of the time, that we can pay a token tithing, that we can live the gospel when
it is convenient, and all will be well. We must not be 'at ease in Zion' and
say 'Zion prospers, all is well' (2 Nephi 28:21, 24). But we must live the
gospel plan in its fulness every day of our lives. Therein is safety. Therein
will come a satisfaction which comes from righteous living which will enter our
hearts, give us the courage and the strength that we need. There is no security
in unrighteousness. The sinful always live in despair (see Moroni 10:22)."
(Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp337-338)
Reading 11– Amos 8:11-13
Joseph Smith 1:41
Joel 2:28-32
Joel 2:12-27
Joel 3:16-17
