Teachings Of The Living Prophets Teacher Manual

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared: Living prophets are leading this church today. The greatest security of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comes from learning to listen to and obey the words and commandments that the Lord has given through living prophets. I would hope that the world would understand the importance of having a living prophet on earth today. (In Conference Report, Apr. 1995, 19; or Ensign, May 1995, 17) As the teacher for this course, you have the opportunity of helping your students recognize the blessing of living in a day when living prophets are upon the earth. You can help them know that Heavenly Father speaks today as He has in all dispensations. When the living prophets speak in an authoritative capacity to the members of the Church, what they say is “the mind of the Lord, . . . the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation” (D&C 68:4). Prayerfully study the scriptures and general conference addresses. Seek the Holy Spirit as you choose learning activities that help students grow spiritually. Help students discover, understand, and live the truths presented in the conferences of the Church. This manual supplements your preparation by providing introductory information to the chapters, identifying scriptures and gospel principles, and suggesting ways you can help students understand the doctrine and apply it in their lives.

President James E. Faust (1920–2007) of the First Presidency explained the role of prophets and the need for the revelation they receive: “The prophets, seers, and revelators have had and still have the responsibility and privilege of receiving and declaring the word of God for the world. . . . “. . . These are the prophetic oracles who have tuned in over the centuries to the ‘celestial transmitting station,’ with a responsibility to relay the Lord’s word to others. . . . “This Church constantly needs the guidance of its head, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This was well taught by President George Q. Cannon, [while serving in] the First Presidency: ‘We have the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants; but all these books, without the living oracles and a constant stream of revelation from the Lord, would not lead any people into the Celestial Kingdom of God’ [Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, 2 vols., sel. Jerreld L. Newquist (1974), 1:323]. . . . “Revelation was required to establish this Church. Revelation has brought it from its humble beginnings to its present course. Revelation has come like flowing, living water. Continuing revelation will lead it forward to the windup scene. But as President [J. Reuben] Clark told us, we do not need more or different prophets. We need more people with ‘a listening ear’ (in Conference Report, Oct. 1948, 82)” (“Continuing Revelation,” Ensign, Aug. 1996, 2, 4, 6–7).

The principal doctrines defining Mormonism today often bear little resemblance to those it started out with in the early 1830s. This book shows that these doctrines did not originate in a vacuum but were rather prompted and informed by the religious culture from which Mormonism arose. Early Mormons, like their early Christian and even earlier Israelite predecessors, brought with them their own varied culturally conditioned theological presuppositions (a process of convergence) and only later acquired a more distinctive theological outlook (a process of differentiation). In this first-of-its-kind comprehensive treatment of the development of Mormon theology, Charles Harrell traces the history of Latter-day Saint doctrines from the times of the Old Testament to the present. He describes how Mormonism has carried on the tradition of the biblical authors, early Christians, and later Protestants in reinterpreting scripture to accommodate new theological ideas while attempting to uphold the integrity and authority of the scriptures. In the process, he probes three questions: How did Mormon doctrines develop? What are the scriptural underpinnings of these doctrines? And what do critical scholars make of these same scriptures? In this enlightening study, Harrell systematically peels back the doctrinal accretions of time to provide a fresh new look at Mormon theology. “This Is My Doctrine” will provide those already versed in Mormonism’s theological tradition with a new and richer perspective of Mormon theology. Those unacquainted with Mormonism will gain an appreciation for how Mormon theology fits into the larger Jewish and Christian theological traditions.

Mormonism is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. For those who have wondered in what specific ways Mormonism differs from the Christian faith, Mormonism 101 provides definitive answers, examining the major tenets of Mormon theology and comparing them with orthodox Christian beliefs. Perfect for students of religion and anyone who wants to have answers when Mormons come calling.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints currently boasts millions of members, thousands of missionaries, and congregations on every continent as well as in the vast majority of the world’s countries. It’s clear that their influence is still growing in our communities, places of business, and in the political arena. It’s also clear that Christians need to be prepared to answer questions from Mormon friends, neighbors, co-workers, and from fellow believers as well. In this updated and expanded edition of McKeever’s popular and practical book, authors Bill McKeever and Eric Johnson provide ready responses to the common questions Mormons ask. With more than six decades of combined experience, the authors tackle such tough questions as: Why don’t you accept Mormons as Christians? Do you believe Mormonism is a cult? If the LDS church is not true, which church is? How can you explain the many contradictions found throughout the Bible? After offering analysis and responses to these and other questions, McKeever and Johnson provide helpful appendices that summarize Mormon beliefs, provide 101 Bible references to use in conversation, and expose common logical fallacies. Originally published in the 1980s, this volume has been--and will continue to be--a classic resource to help Christians become more successful in sharing their faith with Mormons.

This manual is a resource to help seminary teachers prepare lessons from the Doctrines and Covenants and Church history. It provides 160 lessons that contain teaching suggestions, doctrines and principles, and scripture mastery helps for daily seminary classes. It also contains 32 lessons for weekly home-study classes that correspond to the Doctrine and Covenants and Church History Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students.

The School of the Prophets has been written for the purpose of helping the body of Christ understand ministry in light of God's end-time purpose for prophets, prophecy and prophetic ministry. In School of the Prophets we will explore the ministry of the prophet in the Old and New Testament. There will be an emphasis on training, teaching and activating what the Holy Spirit has place within every believer in their gifted place of prophetic ministry. The importance of this subject is seen in Numbers 11:29 when Moses said, "would God that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" It is the heart of God that all spiritual leaders aspire to train, instruct and activate their congregation to hear, perceive, discern and speak forth the mind of the Holy Spirit. Many years later the prophet Joel prophesied of the present hour in which we live when the congregation of the Lord consisting of Jews and Gentiles would be a prophetic people. They would be characterized as having divine ability by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit to see and speak God's viewpoint into earthly matters. The School of the Prophets will not make one a prophet, nor will it give the ability to prophesy the direct word of the Lord. It will bring understanding as to how to release the prophetic word of the Lord through the anointing with excellence, grace, character and divine order in the spirit of true humility.