The Prophet Speaks

                    Wise people listen when a prophet speaks, and the Lord's prophet for our day will be speaking this weekend.  You can hear the words of President Thomas S.Monson here on October 6-7, 2012.  Fourteen other men sustained as "prophets, seers, and revelators" as well as other leaders will also speak.

                    We would all be wise to listen to the counsel of our living prophet in order to know what we should do in the next six months.  We live in the "perilous times" described by the Apostle Paul. 

"This know also that in the last days perilous times shall come.

                    "For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.

                    "Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers [slanderers], incontinent [without self-control], fierce, despisers of those that are good.

                    "Traitors, heady [rash, reckless], highminded [puffed up, conceited], lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;

                    "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof:  from such turn away" (2 Timothy 3:1-5).

                    A living prophet speaks the words of God.  He is the Lord's spokesman for all the earth.  An Old Testament prophet named Amos said, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but [until] he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7).

                    In these last days before the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, all men and women can gain knowledge and wisdom by listening to a prophet of God.  A favorite hymn is entitled "We Listen to a Prophet's Voice" (Hymns, 22; words written by Marylou Cunningham Leavitt with music by Darwin K. Wolford).

                    We listen to a prophet's voice and hear the Savior too.

                    With love he bids us do the work the Lord would have us do.

                    The Savior calls his chosen seer to preach the word of God,

                    That men might learn to find the path marked by the iron rod.

                    In ev'ry land, in ev'ry tongue, our prophet will be heard;

                    How swiftly round the world his voice reveals the gospel word!

                    The sacred message that he brings will witness and agree

                    With ev'ry prophet called of God throughout earth's history.

                    Hosanna!  Let our praise ascend unto the Savior's throne;

                    Rejoice!  The prophet has confirmed that by Him we are known.

                    Attend, ye earth!  The prophet speaks; come listen and obey.

                    He is the man who holds the keys of priesthood pow'r today.