The Prophet = President of the church. If one is called to be prophet, then they become president of the church.
Ask a Mormon, Part 3
- Thread starter Eran of Arcadia
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The Prophet = President of the church. If one is called to be prophet, then they become president of the church.
Perfection
The Great Head.
Does the prophet have chit-chats with God?
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
Ahh.. well, I guess what I meant to ask is this then: Can God have multiple vessels through which he can speak to Mormons, or is it always the president?
Only the president of the Church can receive revelation for the whole church, and for the rest of the world; bishops can receive revelation for their congregations, presidents of quorums and auxiliary groups (ie, the groups within a congregation) for their groups; parents for families, and anyone, not just members of the Church, for themselves.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
So if a Mormon bishop claims to have received a profound message from God that would affect the entire faith, but the president doesn't (receive the same message), it's tough luck for the bishop, and the message could only be revealed to his congregation?
Or could be president go: "Oh yeah, this is huge, we all need to listen to this", even though God didn't tell him the same thing?
No, because (according to Mormonism) if God had something He needed to tell the whole Church, that is what the prophet is for.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
So has it ever happened that somebody else that was important in the church (a bishop for example) claimed that God was speaking to him, offering messages for all Mormons, or all of humanity?
And has it ever happened that somebody important in the church tried to dethrone the president as a "false prophet" ?
How are presidents chosen?
The President is chosen from the Quorum of Twelve Apostles; when the current president dies (it is a life long position) the apostle who has the most seniority at that point is chosen.
People have been claiming that the prophet is false, or fallen, since the very beginning; Jeffs and his crowd are the sucessors to a group that did that in 1890, and there are a lot of splinter groups that refused to accept Brigham Young as the legitimate sucessor to Joseph Smith. And plenty of people have claimed to receive revelation on behalf of the entire church.
People have been claiming that the prophet is false, or fallen, since the very beginning; Jeffs and his crowd are the sucessors to a group that did that in 1890, and there are a lot of splinter groups that refused to accept Brigham Young as the legitimate sucessor to Joseph Smith. And plenty of people have claimed to receive revelation on behalf of the entire church.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
How do you become an Apostle?
Why does God only speak through apostles with the most seniority? And what do you mean by seniority? Length of time as an apostle, or is there more to it?
Thanks for answering my probing questions
Length of time as an apostle. When there is a vacancy, the Quorum (under divine inspiration, which means the choice ultimately comes from God) decides who will fill it. And God, like I said, speaks to everyone, He just only says certain things to certain people.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
Hmm how do you guys explain that God accepts man's choice for God's spokesperson, and goes along with saying all the important things through this person?
Hmm for a sec I thought I'd have to ask Catholics the same question - but I don't think it is doctorine that the Pope can even speak with God.. or maybe I'm wrong about that?...
I am not sure, depends on the Catholic you ask.
But the point is, as we see it God is the one who chooses the prophet, and thus God speaks through him when he needs to address the whole church.
But the point is, as we see it God is the one who chooses the prophet, and thus God speaks through him when he needs to address the whole church.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
Okay. I'm confused though, how do you reconcile the quote above with the one below?
Well, we believe that God is ultimately the one who decides who has seniority when, as He is the one who chooses who joins the Quorum at what time.
Perfection
The Great Head.
What's it aboot?
Pannonius
Reconquistador
How do you guys feel about porn? Is it a one way ticket to hell?
Nothing is a one way ticket to hell, what with repentance and all that.
Porn, though, is to be avoided.
Murky
Deity
How do you know that the supposed "Prophets" aren't just schizophrenics that are hearing voices?
The same reason we know anything about the Gospel, by asking God and receiving an answer through the Holy Ghost.
Ansar
Détente avec l'été
Do you think it's alright to associate Mormonism with polygamy even though today, Mormonism doesn't accept polygamy?
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