A Prophet’s words of comfort and council at the launch of the War in Iraq.

By Kristy.

God talked to man during Bible and Book of Mormon times.  He talked to Adam, Noah, Moses, Jonah, and many more from the Bible.  These were people He called to be prophets and to lead the people.  God called prophets in those days because He loved His people.  God still loves His people because He does not change (King James Version, Hebrew 13:8).  I know that God still talks to people today, and that He still calls men to be prophets.  The Book of Mormon was translated by such a man—Joseph Smith.  Joseph Smith was a humble boy at the age of 14 when God first talked to him.  Through Joseph Smith’s faithfulness, we have the Book of Mormon today.  This book is another testament of Jesus Christ.  This book supplements the Bible and lets us know that Jesus Christ visited the people who were living in the Americas.  This shows that God continues to love His people no matter where on the earth they live.  I know that God still loves us today no matter where we are on this earth and no matter where we are in life. For this reason, I know that God has called a prophet to lead and guideus today.  I know that God talks to His prophet. The man that God has called to be His prophet today is Thomas S. Monson.  I am grateful for President Thomas S. Monson, for his love, and for his direction.  I am grateful that God loves me and you and that He gives us a prophet to follow.  Twice a year the world has the great opportunity to listen to and learn from President Thomas S. Monson and other great apostles. This great occasion is General Conference and it is held on the first weekend in April and October.  I look forward to General Conference and the many things that I learn from it.  After listening to General Conference, I can set goals to improve my life and work on them until I listen to General Conference again in six months. I am so glad that God loves each of us enough to call someone to lead us through this period of time that can, at times, be troubling.  With this help we can find our way back to live with our Heavenly Father (God) after we leave this world.

Lifespan

Born November 1, 1808 in Milnthorpe, England.

Died July 25, 1887 in Kaysville, Utah.

Ministry

President John Taylor was ordained an Apostle on 19 December 1838 by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball. He served missions in England (twice), Germany, France, and the Eastern United States. In 1877, President Brigham Young passed away, and President Taylor led the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. On 10 October 1880, at the age of 71, he was sustained as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He died at the age of 78. (more…)

Lifespan

Born August 21, 1927 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Thomas S. Monson was sustained as a ward bishop at the age of 22. He also served at a relatively young age in the Temple View Stake in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 1959, he was called to serve as president of the Canadian Mission. In 1963, at the age of 36, he was ordained an Apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and was set apart as second counselor in the Church’s First Presidency in 1985 and as first counselor in 1995. In February 2008, Thomas S. Monson was sustained as President of the Church. (more…)

Lifespan

Born June 23, 1910 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Died January 27, 2008 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Gordon B. Hinckley was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of eight in 1919. From 1933 to 1935 he served a full-time mission in Great Britain. Upon his return, he became employed by the Church, where he worked for the next 22 years. At age 47, he was ordained an Assistant to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Four years later he was ordained an Apostle, and from 1981 to 1995, he served as Counselor to Presidents Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, and Howard W. Hunter. In 1995, at age 84, he was sustained as President of the Church, until his passing on January 27, 2008. (more…)

Lifespan

Born November 14, 1907 in Boise, Idaho.

Died March 3, 1995 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Howard W. Hunter was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of twelve. At age 51, he was ordained an Apostle by President David O. McKay. From ages 56-64, he was president of the Church’s Genealogical Society, the last two years of which he also served as the Church Historian. In 1988, at age 80, Howard W. Hunter was sustained as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, and was sustained as President of the Church at age 86, where he served for but nine months before passing away. (more…)

Lifespan

Born August 4, 1899 in Whitney, Idaho.

Died May 30, 1994 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Saints at the age of eight in 1907. At age 44 he was ordained an Apostle by President Heber J. Grant. His missionary experiences included serving as a proselyting missionary in Great Britain (1921-23) and twice as president of the European Mission. At age 74 he was sustained as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and in 1985 he was sustained as President of the Church, in which position he served until his passing in 1994. He also served as Secretary of Agriculture of the United States 1952-60. (more…)

Lifespan

Born March 28, 1895 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Died November 5, 1985 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Spencer W. Kimball was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of eight. He served a mission in the central United States from 1914-16. At age 48, he was ordained an Apostle by President Heber J. Grant. His missionary leadership involved supervising the work with the American Indians and in South America. In 1972, at age 72, he was sustained as president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and eighteen months later was sustained as President of the Church, where he served until his death at the age of 90 in 1985. (more…)

Lifespan

Born March 28, 1899 in Clifton, Idaho.

Died December 26, 1973 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Harold B. Lee was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 8 years old. He served a mission in the western United States from 1920-22, and at age 36 (1935) was called to organize the Church’s welfare program. At age 42, he was called to become one of the Twelve Apostles. At age 62, he became the chairman of Church Correlation, a new program organized by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. At age 70 he was sustained as president of the Quorum of the Twelve, served as a counselor to Joseph Fielding Smith, and was sustained as President of the Church at age 73. He served only 18 months before passing away on December 26, 1973. (more…)

Lifespan

Born July 19, 1876 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Died July 2, 1972, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Ministry

Joseph Fielding Smith was baptized a member of the Church at age 8 in 1884. He served a mission in England 1899-1901, and was ordained an Apostle at age 33. From age 44 to 93, he served as Church Historian. When he was aged 68-72, he served as president of the Salt Lake Temple, and in 1951 (age 74) became president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. At age 93, Joseph Fielding Smith was sustained as President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served until his death in 1972. (more…)