Doctrine & Theologyprophetsrevelationapostleskeys

Living Prophets

Why would God speak through living prophets if we already have the Bible?

Bible

The Bible answers

Bible · Amos 3:7

KJV + NRSVUE

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets.

King James Version
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

NRSVUE
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

Bible · Ephesians 4:11–13

KJV + NRSVUE

He gave some apostles, some prophets — till we all come in the unity of the faith.

King James Version
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

NRSVUE
He himself granted that some are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.

Book of Mormon

Also restored

Doctrine and Covenants 21:4–5
Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.

Doctrine and Covenants 1:38
Whether by my own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.

Ancient witnesses

Dead Sea Scrolls and related extra-biblical texts that illuminate the same pattern the Restoration restores.

Qumran Teacher of Righteousness; 4Q521 Messianic Apocalypse

The Teacher of Righteousness was received as an inspired interpreter who unsealed the prophets for a covenant remnant. 4Q521 expects a coming figure at whose time the dead are raised and good news is preached to the poor.

Jews who loved scripture still hungered for a living interpreter and a last-days messenger. Sola scriptura as the death of living prophets is a late Western move. The Restoration returns to Amos, to Ephesians 4, and to a church that is not headless.

Faithful answers

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Gospel Topics

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Living prophets do not replace the Bible or the living Christ. They speak for Him in a living church. Members are commanded to receive their word in patience and faith, and also to obtain a confirming witness by the Holy Ghost.

The Lord calls prophets to speak for Him. We sustain the President of the Church as prophet, seer, and revelator, and we are blessed as we follow his counsel.

Ephesians 4 says apostles and prophets continue until we all come to the unity of the faith—not until the death of John.
Amos 3:7 is present tense in its claim about how God governs. He has not announced a retirement.
Fallibility of servants is biblical (Peter was rebuked). Fallibility is not the same as having no keys.
The test is the same as ever: fruits, Christ-centered doctrine, and the Spirit (Moroni 10; Matthew 7).

Read the original

Keep going

Rate this answer

Be the first to tell us if this case is strong.