“When the Prophet Speaks,” Friend, Apr. 2001, 38
When the Prophet Speaks
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, … whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same (D&C 1:38).
Twice a year, now in the beautiful new Conference Center, President Gordon B. Hinckley and others speak to us. Because he is the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we often refer to President Hinckley as “the prophet.” But if you listen closely during the sustaining of the General Authorities of the Church, you will hear that the members of the First Presidency and the members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are called as “prophets, seers, and revelators.”
A revelator reveals, or makes known to us, what the Lord wants us to know and do. A prophet prophesies, or explains to us and makes sure that we understand what has been revealed. (Sometimes he also tells us of future happenings, as when Lehi warned the Jews that they would be destroyed and scattered if they did not repent of their wickedness, and when Samuel the Lamanite told of the birth and death of Jesus Christ.) “A seer is greater than a prophet. … A seer is a revelator and a prophet also; … by them … things shall be made known … which otherwise could not be known.”*
Listen closely to what these great men have to say. What are they telling us that the Lord wants us to know? Do they use stories to help us understand? Do they warn us of what will happen if we disobey the commandments of Jesus Christ? Do they help us know Him better? Do they tell us of their love for Him and of His love for us? When we truly listen to them, sincerely wanting to grow closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we will feel the Holy Ghost testifying to us that the words of these prophets, seers, and revelators are true!†
Conference Center True/False Quiz
One year ago, on April 1, 2000, general conference was held in the Church’s beautiful new Conference Center for the first time. To test your knowledge of the new center, read the statements below and circle (T) if it is true, or (F) if it is false. The answers are printed upside down at the end of the quiz.
(T) (F) 1. The Conference Center was not finished when the first general conference was held there.
(T) (F) 2. The chandeliers in the lobby can be mechanically lowered for replacing bulbs and cleaning.
(T) (F) 3. The pulpit is made out of a black walnut tree taken from President Hinckley’s family homesite.
(T) (F) 4. There is a large garden of trees, bushes, flowers, and waterfalls on the roof.
(T) (F) 5. In August 1999, while under construction, the building survived a tornado.
(T) (F) 6. Including the Tabernacle Choir and the General Authorities, there is seating for more than 21,000 in the amphitheater.
(T) (F) 7. A large airplane could fit inside on the main floor of the amphitheater.
(T) (F) 8. The granite on the outside walls came from the same place in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon as the granite for the Salt Lake Temple walls.
(T) (F) 9. The Conference Center has four levels of underground parking with 1300 parking places.
(T) (F) 10. It was dedicated on October 8, 2000.
(T) (F) 11. In one of the foyers, a sculpture of the head and shoulders of each former Church President is displayed.
(T) (F) 12. Including parking, the Center is about 40 times bigger than the Tabernacle.
(T) (F) 13. The organ has 7,667 pipes.
(T) (F) 14. The Center has another smaller theater that seats 900.
(T) (F) 15. There is enough electrical wiring in the building to circle the earth two times.
(T) (F) 16. It has a spire that is 48 feet (14.6 m) high.
(T) (F) 17. There is a large meadow on the roof.
(T) (F) 18. Facilities in the center allow for translators of up to 60 languages to work at the same time, second only to the United Nations building in New York.
(T) (F) 19. Inside are 13 passenger elevators, 12 escalators, and 3 service and stage elevators.
(T) (F) 20. Last year, on June 23, 2000, President Hinckley was 90 years old and had a birthday celebration in the new Conference Center.
(T) (F) 21. The roof has an irrigation system for the gardens and a snow-melting system that sends the water down floor drains and into the ground drainage system.
Photos by Craig W. Dimond