We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet

As Thanksgiving approaches this year and we remember all that we have to be grateful for (yes, even in or perhaps because of a pandemic), I find myself more and more thankful for a prophet and looking to him for peace and guidance in my life. In fact, in my interview before being called as president I was asked what I thought the stake needed most. I remember that my response was simply, “follow the prophet better.” I truly believe that our prophet is a watchman on the tower who is able to provide a voice of warning and one of preparation if we will listen and follow in faith. Certainly, looking back, we can see the importance of hearing and following his counsel prior to the pandemic to focus on home-centered gospel learning and living, to study the scriptures through Come Follow Me (especially the Book of Mormon), to observe the Sabbath Day, to minister in a holier way, and to repent so as to qualify ourselves for the constant guiding companionship of the Holy Ghost and greater personal revelation. As he said, “it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.” With that in mind I have been reflecting on the following two questions which I have heard multiple times over the past several months from leaders, including the Prophet in his October General Conference address to the sisters: First, have I grown closer to the Lord or further away? And second, what is my outlook for the future? This reflection has led me to a very clear recognition that when I’m following the prophet, I am closer to the Lord and my outlook is bright and optimistic.

So, with that in mind I’d like to remind us all what President Nelson said in the most recent General Conference and ask that we consider to what degree we are listening to “the watchman on the tower” and expressing through our faith our thankfulness for a prophet. Here, are four key teachings that I gleaned from his three addresses:

The work is moving forward despite challenges to missionary work, temple work, and the “normal” operations of the church being disrupted. Are we using this unique time and circumstances to grow spiritually?

We need to embrace the future with faith through preparation. The paragraph summarizing President Nelson’s talk to the sisters states, “The future will be glorious for those who are prepared and who continue to prepare to be instruments in the Lord’s hands.” In this address President Nelson emphasizes the importance of preparing the way as the great Book of Mormon leader Moroni did for his people against the Lamanite armies and insurrections of traitors. He said we need to create places of safety in our homes, our stakes, and the temple, but most of all that we will feel safety wherever we are if we can feel the presence of the Holy Ghost in our lives. What is the purpose of this preparation? That we can Love God, and our neighbor. We need to be ready to minister to our children, extended family, neighbors, and all those to whom the Spirit guides us. This is how we become instruments in the Lord’s hands.

In his Sunday morning talk President Nelson highlighted a not so well-known Hebrew meaning of the word Israel: “Let God Prevail.” President Nelson asked us to consider if we are willing to let God be the most important influence in our lives. He suggested that such a willingness would lead to our participation in the gathering of Israel, which goes beyond traditional ideas of missionary and family history, to reaching out to and serving all that will let God prevail in their lives. He said, “Anytime we do anything that helps anyone – on either side of the veil – to make and keep their covenants with God, we are helping to gather Israel.” It isn’t enough to know God’s will, His doctrine, and commandments. We have to go and live it. As we have had to spend more time apart this year, I have come to more fully recognize the importance of our baptismal covenant to mourn with those that mourn and comfort those that stand in need of comfort. I hope that we are finding ways to reach out, it is an important way to live the gospel and demonstrate our willingness to let God Prevail. In the end he promised us that if we will do that the Lord will “fight our battles, and our children’s battles, and our children’s children’s battles, and that we will experience for ourselves that God is “a God of miracles.”

Finally, in his concluding remarks President Nelson implored us to make our new normal “turning [our] hearts, minds, and souls increasingly to our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”

Brothers and Sisters, we are so fortunate to have a prophet to guide us in these sometimes turbulent and difficult latter days. I know with all my heart if we will listen to the prophet and follow his counsel, we can have peace and the faith to thrive at all times. I pray that we are learning and growing spiritually. We are going to need it now and in the future.

President Nelson