"Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."Prophets is plural for a reason...meaning more than one. When God declares His word and will it doesn't just come from one person. In the second book of Corinthians, chapter 13, verse 1 it reads:
"...In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established."If there was only one person declaring the will of God it would be easy to not hear it, but when multiple people are declaring it it's not so easy.
Think about it for a minute...throughout all of history God has called prophets like Noah and Moses...do you really think that God would leave us stranded today without somebody called of God to declare his will to the inhabitants of men? It doesn't seem likely. No loving God would leave his children without guidance.
I believe and know that our Heavenly Father continues to call special witnesses to testify of Him, His son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. The prophets and apostles are alive and living today. As such, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a proclamation called "The Living Christ: The Testimony of the Apostles" in which they do as they were called and testify that He lives!
In 1995, the First Presidency of the LDS Church released "The Family: A Proclamation to the World" where they "solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children."
Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, has recently come under fire from gay rights activist groups within the past week for his talk/speech he gave during the Semi-Annual General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. There have been protests and petitions for Elder Packer to rescind his "hateful" and "anti-gay" remarks. Please read his remarks before reading more.
All done? Let me just say this, marriage between one man and one woman is one of the core doctrines and beliefs of the LDS church, and there is absolutely no way that will ever be rescinded in any shape or form. Does that make the Church and its members hateful and full of bigots. No. They are expressing what they believe to be right just as others can do the same. Love the person, hate the sin. Active members of the Church make a covenant to keep the Law of Chastity where the sacred procreative powers should only be used in the bonds of matrimony between a man and a woman. Anything outside of this is considered immoral and unatural and considered a sin against the commandments of God.
The LDS church is led by a prophet and a quorum of apostles. In answer to the title of this blog, Yes. I know for myself through the Holy Ghost that they are called of God and their words are the word and will of God.
Let me end with some remarks my brother left throughout a lengthy discussion to one of his Facebook friends who is actively gay and was raised a Mormon:
" For those in the gay and lesbian community: You owe your life to a man and a woman who chose to come together and create a child--you! If you desire to have a family, you have to adopt a child who was a result of a man and woman coming together to procreate.
A man and man together cannot create a child. Nieither can women. Legislation would create a token relationship between the couple, but you would never have the ability to create a family, which is what marriage is all about.
The ultimate harm and threat of homosexuality is the total disegration of the family unit which is the building block of any society. When the family unit is gone, so will be the society you live in.
Even though our beliefs differ on this subject, I have not been offended. I still consider you a friend and I have appreciated the opportunity to voice my personal opinion. I have said my peace, now I will be done."
