Sunday Report

The lesson for the 5th Sunday was given by Sister Mary Vach. She chose to focus on a timely message that is so relevant in the world today, though she based her remarks on a talk given by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1980. It just underscored that the words of the Lord's chosen leaders are timeless. Twice during October Conference this same talk was referenced so the message must be on the mind of the Lord for us at this time.

President Benson spoke on the necessity of following the living prophet if we are to remain safe and worthy and true to the covenants we have made in an ever more wicked and alluring world. Continuing revelation and a living prophet make the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints unique in all the world and give us a blessing unmatched as we seek to live in the world but keep from becoming like the world in so many ways. His talk presented 14 fundamentals for following the prophet Mary obtained a video that allowed us to hear the words in President Benson's own voice which was very moving.


He began by emphasizing that the prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything, and that his words on the subjects he addresses are more vital to us than the standard works and any prophet who has gone before him. That does not mean that we can or should abandon the scriptures and words of the former prophets of the restoration, for they have brought us the fullness of the gospel and the teachings of the Lord. It means that when the current prophet speaks, he is giving us direction for our day, our trials and our responsibilities, and if those words differ from what has come before, which they seldom will, for God is the same yesterday, today and forever, we are obligated to incorporate into our lives the message that is specifically for us, just as the directions for building the ark were specifically for Noah.


The prophet tells us what we need to know, not necessarily what we want to know and he can speak on any matter, spiritual or temporal. He is not limited by man's reasoning, but speaks for the Lord who is all knowing. Pride is the greatest stumbling block for accepting the words of the prophet, and he will not necessarily be popular with the world or those of us who are trying to balance between the gospel and the world, a precarious effort indeed.

If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord, we should evaluate how well we are hearing and living the words of the living prophet. " How closely do our lives harmonize with the words of the Lord's anointed--the living prophet, the President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency? May God bless us all to look to the prophet and the presidency in the critical and crucial days ahead...." The Ensign, especially the Conference Issue is the most vital scripture for our day and time, and the words of all those asked to speak have the blessing of the living prophet and are truly words for us to live by.

Thank you Mary for giving this vital message at this time. We all need to remember to whence we should look for the safety and peace of ourselves and our families.