Prophetic Promises

By Elder Daniel G Hamilton

Area Seventy

Since the amazing April 2020 general conference, I have been thinking about what are termed “prophetic promises.”

Have you heard them? Are you claiming them?

From two verses in the Doctrine and Covenants, we gain profound insights into prophetic promises.

Firstly, section 1, verse 38 teaches that when the Lord’s servants, His prophets, speak, it is as if the Lord Himself is speaking: “Whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.”

Secondly, section 82, verse 10 adds this powerful celestial commitment: “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”

These two independently received and recorded revelations do not stand alone in doctrinal simplicity and truth. Their significance is astonishingly amplified when they are brought together and viewed as one inspired, intertwined instruction.

Drawing together the principles in these two verses assures us that as living prophets, seers and revelators say, “I promise,” the Lord is bound by that promise, if we live by the prerequisites upon which the promised blessings are predicated.¹

There are three steps to claiming prophetic promises:

Specifically looking for them.
Noting what is required to qualify for them.
Living in order to claim them.

Ten prophetic promises were issued during the April 2020 general conference.

President Russel M. Nelson: “Previously, I promised that if we would ‘do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church,’ He would ‘pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen.’ I renew that promise today.”²

“I promise that as you increase your time in temple and family history work, you will increase and improve your ability to hear Him.”³

In the same talk, the Lord’s prophet added: “What will happen as you more intentionally hear, hearken, and heed what the Savior has said and what He is saying now through His prophets? I promise that you will be blessed with additional power to deal with temptation, struggles, and weakness. I promise miracles in your marriage, family relationships, and daily work. And I promise that your capacity to feel joy will increase even if turbulence increases in your life.”⁴

In closing the conference, President Nelson left us this promise: “We pray that you will begin anew truly to hear, hearken to, and heed the words of the Savior. I promise that decreased fear and increased faith will follow.”⁵

Elder Neil L Andersen: “I promise you that as you willingly acknowledge and carefully treasure the spiritually defining events in your life, more and more will come to you.”⁶

Elder Ulisses Soares, in speaking of the Book of Mormon, said: “I promise you that as you prayerfully and consistently study its words, you can partake of its promises and rich blessings in your life. I reaffirm once more the promise that echoes through its pages: that if you ‘ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ,’ He mercifully ‘will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost’ [Moroni 10:4].”⁷

Elder Ronald A. Rasband: “I promise as you follow the inspired counsel of our dear prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, his counselors, the Apostles, and other Church leaders, and as you pay heed to the ancient prophets who foretold of our day, you will be filled, deep in your heart and soul, with the spirit and the work of the Restoration. I promise you will see the hand of God in your lives, hear His promptings, and feel His love.”⁸

I express my deep gratitude for the guidance of living prophets, seers and revelators. How wonderful it is to have their inspired leadership and example of devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ.

I bear my witness that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers. When prophets, seers and revelators make promises to us, those promises will be honoured if we live in order to claim them. I further witness that Jesus is the Christ, meaning, the long-awaited Messiah and Saviour of the world. He lives!