Today's Spiritual Message: Prophets Today

In the April 2010, General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Neil L. Anderson was the last speaker (of many), and he talked about how all the messages interrelate to one another:

When you are assigned to speak at the end of the final session of general conference, you listen to every word, wondering which parts of your talk will be given before your turn comes. There are no assigned subjects, no collaboration of themes. The Lord’s way, of course, is always the best way. He takes the individual prayerful efforts of each speaker and orchestrates a spiritual symphony full of revelation and power. Repeated themes, principle building upon principle, prophetic warnings, uplifting promises—the divine harmony is a miracle! I testify that in this conference we have heard and felt the mind and will of the Lord.

In this past Conference, October 2010, I noticed two talks that seemed almost identical:  Both focused on a message given from then Elder Ezra Taft Benson in 1980, entitled Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet.  The talk focused on how important it is that we have a living prophet in our modern times and how we can take advantage of the blessing.  Upon searching for "Fourteen Fundamentals" on the Church's new website (new.lds.org), I found only one other talk referencing Elder Benson's message.  How interesting then, given Elder Andersen's insight, that there would be two talks, essentially repeating Elder Benson's message, on the same day!  Maybe thirty years was the magic number? . . .

Here are the two messages.

The first, entitled Obedience to the Prophets, was given by Elder Claudio R.M. Costa.



The next is entitled Our Very Survival, by Elder Kevin R. Duncan.



I testify that Thomas S. Monson is the man called of God today, to lead His Church and invite all the world to come unto Christ.  I invite you to read the words of President Monson and the other Apostles and Prophets God has called for our age, today.

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Amos 3: 7.