Current Lesson No. Seventeen

Give Heed to All the Words of the Prophet

False Signals intended to destroy – As a young Air Force pilot during the cold war my unit often flew in and out of West Germany. During that time the Soviet Union would broadcast false navigational signals and directions with the intended purpose to lure us off course into their territory. If we were to fly into East German airspace there was a serious danger that we would be attacked and shot down.

To address this danger we followed verification procedures and codes to make sure that we were receiving authentic signals and communications from a proper source. This insured that we did not follow false signals and communications which would lead us into hostile airspace.

Living prophets and apostles are authenticators – Just as military pilots must be able to distinguish between authentic communications from authorized sources and false signals from the enemy, in our modern world we must be able to distinguish between good and evil. This is not always easy, and often we need help.

Satan is our greatest enemy. He continuously broadcasts false signals to our society in an attempt to get us into his territory so that he can shoot us down, make us miserable, and destroy us. He is also the master deceiver, and his messages are cleverly packaged and widely accepted.

We sustain the First Presidency and the Quorum of Twelve as prophets, seers, and revelators. They are able to authenticate and verify the many signals, both good and evil, our society sends out.

We learn what our Prophet and apostles would have us do in General Conference and in the various Church publications and media outlets.

Give heed to all the words of the Prophet – Addressing members of His Church concerning Joseph Smith and each successor Prophet and President of the Church the Lord said:

“Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me.

“For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.

“For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory” (D&C 21:4-6).

A warning to those who fight against the apostles and prophets – In Nephi’s vision of the most important events of the last 2,000 years of world history (see 1 Nephi 11 - 14) Nephi saw the birth, mission, and crucifixion of the Lord. He then saw “a large and spacious building” which was filled with people who had “gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (1 Nephi 11:35).

Then Nephi saw our time and the Lord’s latter day apostles. These apostles have the responsibility to minister to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people. Nephi then testified that the “great and spacious building was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (1 Nephi 11:36).

We must not be among those who will fall because they fight against the twelve apostles of the Lord.

Fighting against apostles today includes those who are offended by what the apostles say and do – President Harold B. Lee said: “You may not like what comes from the Prophet. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life….Our safety depends upon whether or not we follow…the President of the Church” (Conference Report, Oct 1970, p. 152-153).

For ten years I served as chairman/vice chairman of the Utah Alcohol Beverage Control Commission. It is well known that the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints would speak out about alcohol policy in Utah. I was surprised how many people, including members of the Church in important positions in business and government, who were offended by this, and did what they could to fight against the Lord’s apostles.

Recently, the leaders of the Church have taken a public position and spoken out about the acceptable use of marijuana in our society. Many, including some members of the Church, were offended. They did what they could to fight against the Lord’s apostles, and to promote a ballot proposition which would, in effect, legalize the use of recreational marijuana in Utah.

In large part because of the Church’s efforts, it now appears that there may be an acceptable compromise on the use of medical marijuana in the State of Utah.

Testimony – The Lord concluded His commandment to give heed to the Prophet with a great blessing:

“For, behold, I will bless all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty blessing, and they shall believe on his words, which are given him through me by the Comforter” (D&C 21:9).

The mighty blessing promised to those who serve the Lord and give heed to His Prophet is happiness in this life and eternal life in the world to come.