Just Follow the Prophet

I have been persecuted for believing that others could have dreams, visions and prophecy and be commanded to share them. I wrestled much with the Lord to know if I should be open to people sharing these sacred, personal experiences. The Lord led me to many scriptures and words of the prophets such as; Samuel the Lamanite (Helaman 13-15), Eldad and Medad (Numbers 11:25-29) and a great talk by Elder Dallin H. Oaks entitled, "Spiritual Gifts," Ensign, September 1986. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1986/09/spiritual-gifts?lang=eng

Dieter F. Uchtdorf made this great observation about when one receives additional light and truth and what happens as they share it. “Some might believe us. Most would ridicule, oppose, or perhaps even seek to silence or harm us. Some might attempt to apply logic, reason, and facts as they know them to show that we are misguided, foolish, or even dangerous. They might condemn us for attempting to mislead others.
But of course, these people would be completely mistaken. They might be well-meaning and sincere. They might feel absolutely positive of their opinion. But they simply would not be able to see clearly because they had not yet received the more complete light of truth” (Receiving a Testimony of Light and Truth, Dieter F. Uchtdorf, General Conference, October 2014).

He continued,  “The Everlasting and Almighty God, the Creator of this vast universe, will speak to those who approach Him with a sincere heart and real intent.
He will speak to them in dreams, visions, thoughts, and feelings.
He will speak in a way that is unmistakable and that transcends human experience. He will give them divine direction and answers for their personal lives” (Ibid).

As I tried to share the beautiful insights that I received from being open to other's experiences, I was told often to, "Just Follow the Prophet!" I would say, "I am. That is why I'm using the words of the prophets to try and share what they've shared in how we ought to be open to other's experiences, dreams, visions and prophecies. We can take these things to the Lord and pray to know if they are true. The Spirit testifies of all truth and we need to ask God to confirm or deny if something is true or not" (Moroni 10:3-5, Moroni 7, James 1:5-6 etc). I would try to explain but I've been deemed a heretic and apostate.

I came across this gem in the Joseph Smith Translation of Luke 14:34-37, "So likewise, whosoever of you forsaketh not all that he hath he cannot be my disciple. Then certain of them came to him, saying, Good Master, we have Moses and the prophets, and whosoever shall live by them, shall he not have life? And Jesus answered, saying, Ye know not Moses, neither the prophets; for if ye had known them, ye would have believed on me; for to this intent they were written. For I am sent that ye might have life. Therefore I will liken it unto salt which is good; But if the salt has lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?"

The way I interpret this is Jesus is saying, "if ye understood Moses, the prophet, then ye would believe in Me." In our day, if we believe the prophets, then we are open to applying what they are teaching. I believe there is ample evidence in the scriptures and the words of the latter-day prophets to justify and bear witness to us that we ought to be open to other's being able, willing and commanded to share what they are learning from God and then we go to the Lord for our own confirmation, just as the saints did when Joseph Smith shared his vision or when any person has shared sacred communication from heaven to them. We are agents for ourselves and ought to trust God more than man.

We ought not to limit the ways in which God will answer our prayers. I testify that God has communicated to me and countless others through various means. The one thing in common is that by the power of the Holy Ghost the communication comes to and penetrates the heart and mind deeply in a very personal way (Moroni 10:3-5). May God bless us as we turn to Him in faith, believing He will answer us in His own way and timing. Let us be meek enough to receive the light through whatever means He brings it to us on the wings of His Holy Spirit.