I didn't attend church today because I'm not feeling well. I did, however read the Sunday School lesson "We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet" (lesson 37). There are a couple of things I want to remember.
1. Conversation between President Hugh B. Brown and a member of the House of Commons and former justice of the supreme cour of Britain just before outbreak of WWII. He asked President Brown to defend his religious beliefs. He believed that God stopped speaking to man shortly after the Resurrection of Christ. Pres. Brown asked "Why do you think it stopped?" Then proceeded to ". . . suggest some possible reasons why he has not spoken."
- He cannot. He has lost his power. (Response: that would be blasphemous.)
- He doesn't love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men. (Response: God loves all men, and he is no respecter of persons.)
- We don't need him. We have made such rapid strides in education and science that we don't need God any more. (Response: There never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now.)
Then the man asked President Brown, "Perhaps you can tell me why he doesn't speak?" The answer was, "He does speak, he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him." (Story can be found in Conference Report, October 1967, pages 117-18.)
2. We have a responsibility to listen to the living prophet. Today that is President Thomas H. Monson. We need to study general conference talks, First Presidency Messages, and other articles in the Church magazines, as well as any letters from the First Presidency that are read in Church meetings.The Conference issues of the Ensign should "be the guide to [our] walk and talk during the next six months (Harold B. Lee)."
3. We need to take stock of our situations and see where we fall short in falling the counsel of the prophets (stay out of debt, food storage, family history, etc.).
4. As we listen to the prophet's counsel and act on his instructions, we will receive the direction and strength necessary to meet the challenges of our day.
