“Words of the Living Prophet,” Liahona, Nov. 2000, 32
Words of the Living Prophet
We Honor Jesus Christ
“We honor the Beloved Son of our Eternal Father. It was Jesus, His Firstborn, who left the glory of His Father’s presence and condescended to come to earth as the promised Messiah. He has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. He has brought meaning to our mortal existence. He has given us the gift of eternal life. He was and is the Son of God.”1
The Book of Mormon: Another Witness
“Believe in the Book of Mormon as another witness of the Son of God. This book has come forth as an added testimony to the world of the great truths concerning the Master as set forth in the Bible. The Bible is the testament of the Old World. The Book of Mormon is the testament of the New World, and they go hand in hand in testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“I can’t understand why those of other faiths cannot accept the Book of Mormon. One would think that they would be looking for additional witnesses to the great and solemn truths of the Bible. We have that witness, my brothers and sisters, this marvelous book of inspiration which affirms the validity and the truth of the divine nature of the Son of God. God be thanked for this precious and wonderful testimony. Let us read it. Let us dwell upon its truths. Let us learn its message and be blessed accordingly.”2
A Promise to Investigators
“I would like to welcome every man, every woman, every child who is not a member of this Church and urge you to go forward in your investigation. Keep your minds open. Listen to what the missionaries teach you. Get on your knees and pray to the Lord and ask Him whether or not it is true. I promise you that if you will do so in humility and faith, by the power of the Holy Ghost you will know the truth of this great work, and you will come to taste of a happiness that you have never before known in all of your lives. God bless you, our dear friends, you who may not be of this faith. May the light and power and understanding rest upon you and bring the truth into your various homes.”3
Membership in the Lord’s Church
“Our membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a precious thing. It isn’t a simple or ordinary thing; this is the Church and kingdom of God. This is the kingdom of God on earth. This is His work in which we are engaged, and there is no more important work in all the world than this work. It concerns the eternal salvation of the sons and daughters of God, those living, those who have lived upon the earth, and those who will yet live. No people have ever been charged with a greater, more inclusive mandate than have we, you and I. Our work, given to us by the Lord, encompasses all of mankind. We need to stand a little taller, be a little kinder, be a little better, each of us, than we have been.”4
We Are a Peculiar People
“We are a peculiar people. There is a wholesomeness about you that is beautiful and wonderful. We don’t smoke, we don’t drink, we don’t even take tea or coffee. That is strange for a lot of people. We do vicarious work for the dead. We teach that marriage in the house of the Lord is for time and for all eternity, that families can actually be forever. We are a peculiar people, and thank heavens we are. If the world continues to go in the direction it is going, families breaking up, pornography everywhere, drugs and things of that kind, we will become an even more peculiar people. God has blessed us generously and kindly and greatly. How thankful we ought to be.”5
Tithing
“Concerning the payment of tithing, it is the Lord’s law. He has given the commandments. He has made the promise. He has the power to fulfill the promise. It is my testimony that He does so. It takes faith when we feel that we do not have enough, but He has promised that the windows of heaven will be opened and a blessing poured down upon us. Let us put our faith in Him. Let us try Him. Let us take Him at His word. Let us keep His commandments. Let us walk in righteousness before the Lord as men and women of integrity, of honesty, of industry, and of faith.”6
Photograph by Jed Clark
Ascent, by David Linn, courtesy of the Museum of Church History and Art