Only God Can Choose The Prophet

As mortals we do not have the mind and will of God. We see through mortal eyes and make mortal conclusions and rely largely upon mortal perceptions. Often those perceptions do not square with truth and in fact often those perceptions prove to be very faulty. Today if a prophet chosen of God came out of Greenwood or Slidell, Texas declaring the calling of a prophet how would we receive him? Chances are because of our public media indoctrination and our modern culture, we would insist upon an impressive resume. Greenwood and Slidell Texas population would vastly increase overnight with media photographers and reporters. We would want the alleged prophet to produce card-carrying credentials. We would want proof of a family genealogy. We might even want to compare him with Abraham, Isaac, Moses and Elijah or the like. Lastly we probably would want some theological background and may even want to see a graduation certificate from a theological school. By this time the judgmental and speculative culture of the public media would come into play and the real serious scrutiny would start to dominate the public domain for an indefinite period of time-or as long as the high ratings remained. It is important to note the Savior only gave one simple test to tell a true prophet. Obviously the secular beliefs and authority of the day did not enter into the test. No we simply apply the Savior’s standard and the test of time will give us the answer-by their fruits ye shall know them. (Matthew 7: 12-20) By this standard only God knows the heart and mind of his chosen prophets. Our portrait of a prophet would be much different. Have all of the prophets been perfect? Of course they were not perfect because they lived in mortality and were subject to mortal weaknesses. Did their weaknesses make them any less of a prophet? No the prophet was still a chosen prophet of God. As we spotlight the prophets of God past and present on this Blog perhaps we can find a renewed appreciation and understanding of God’s purpose for the prophets.