Lifespan

Approximately 515-420 B.C.

Ministry

Enos was a son of Jacob and grandson of Lehi. He was a record keeper and a prophet for the Nephite population.

Preparation and Calling

While Enos was hunting, the words of his father sank deep into his heart and he entered into a lengthy heartfelt prayer to God. The eventual answer to that prayer ensured that Enos knew of God’s reality and love.

Interaction with God

Little is known of Enos outside the record of his prayer while hunting.

Social Situation

Enos lived at a time when his fellow Nephites were becoming increasingly prone to straying from the truth and the Lamanites were becoming more ferocious and wicked.

Key Teachings

After Enos received forgiveness of his sins following a lengthy prayer while hunting, he turned to praying on behalf of his Nephite people and then his enemy, the Lamanites. Both his steadfastness in praying until he received an answer and his concern for all his brethren—friend and foe alike—are significant lessons.

Living with the Prophet

Enos is often credited with having the endurance and commitment necessary to pray until he received an answer to his prayers. But his experience began with his thoughts concerning the gospel truths that he had heard his father speak of. In your journal, or at least on a sheet of paper, write down the key teachings that you have heard your parents or other leaders teach you, and then consider how you feel about these teachings. Resolve to pray to Heavenly Father to help you understand them better.

Sources

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol. 1, s.v. “Enos.”

Book of Mormon, Reader’s Edition, ed. Grant Hardy.

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Lifespan

Approximately 2200 B.C. (the time of the Tower of Babel).

Ministry

The brother of Jared was the first prophet of the Jaredites. His name is not given in the Book of Mormon, although its translator, Joseph Smith, declared his name to be Mahonri Moriancumer.

Preparation and Calling

We do not know how the brother of Jared is prepared or called to the position of prophet among his people.

Interaction with God

More than anything else, the brother of Jared is known for his interaction with God. The Lord appeared to him in a cloud following their departure from the great tower and gave him traveling instructions. Four years later, the Lord again appeared in a cloud, but this time His instructions, which lasted three hours, also included chastening for having not prayed as he ought to have done. Not long thereafter, the brother of Jared prepared eight barges for ocean travel and asked the Lord to touch sixteen stones to make them shone for lights for those barges. When the Lord touched the stones, the brother of Jared saw His finger, which astounded him. He then was given permission to see the Lord in full, along with a vision of the world essentially from its beginning to the end. The brother of Jared is often, therefore, credited as being one of the most faith-filled prophets to ever live.

Social Situation

Jared and his extended family were instructed to leave the Mesopotamian culture and travel to the Western Hemisphere. The brother of Jared was apparently the spiritual leader of that group as they journeyed and then began life anew in their new country.

Key Teachings

The brother of Jared’s personal eyewitness that the spirit body of Jesus Christ appeared as his human body would is one of the strongest witnesses that we are created in the image of God, and God does indeed have a body.

Living with the Prophet

One of the most humbling experiences perhaps recorded in our scriptures is the incident when the Lord spoke with the brother of Jared for three hours from within a cloud. Included in that conversation was a chastening by God because the brother of Jared had neglected his prayers. Though it is unlikely that any of us would have such a chastening, what can you do to ensure that you do not become guilty of the same neglect?

Sources

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, vol. 1, s.v. “Brother of Jared.”

Book of Mormon, Reader’s Edition, ed. Grant Hardy.

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.

Preparation and Calling

England-born John Taylor was baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the age of 27 with his wife, Lenora, in 1836 in Georgetown, Ontario, Canada. At age 30 he was ordained an Apostle. He served two missions to his homeland of England, and also served in France and Germany, where he had the Book of Mormon published. At age 45 he presided over the Eastern States Mission. Following Brigham Young’s death, he led the Church as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for three years, and then was sustained as President of the Church.

Interaction with God

John Taylor was a man of intelligence and conviction. He prayed humbly and fervently, and he sought to always do what he felt the Spirit directed him to do.

Social Situation

The federal government continued to pass legislature that allowed reform groups and others to persecute the Saints, particularly regarding the practice of plural marriage.

Key Teachings

President Taylor’s personal motto was “The kingdom of God or nothing.” He was courageous, intelligent, and a gifted writer and editor. He desired that members of the Church adopt the same attitude as he exemplified, encouraging them to pray diligently, to fulfill their obligations, to trust in God, to live the Gospel, and to seek and obey the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Joseph Smith Jr. founded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the state of New York in April, 1830. He served as its first President and as prophet and seer of the Church. Joseph Smith was a remarkable man. Of that there seems to be little room for doubt. But a prophet? That is an important question-a very important question. Joseph was given to deep questions about the subject of religion as a young man. He sought truth among the organized religions of his day, but remained unsatisfied. In time, as an answer to his sincere pleadings with God on this subject, he received a visit from two heavenly beings: God the Father and the Son. From this foundation, he received education and preparation through future revelations, answers to prayers, heavenly ministrants, and the quiet whisperings of the Holy Spirit.

But why did God break His long silence of nearly two millennia to now call an obscure young man as prophet? The answer is more simple than you might think. It’s a matter of prophecy and preparation. But mostly it’s a simple matter of God’s will. He chose Joseph Smith to be the prophet through whom He would restore sacred truths and saving knowledge. Joseph Smith did not ask to be a prophet.

It is left to each of us, however, to ask God whether Joseph was called to become a prophet. Learning the answer to that question may is key to knowing more about the doctrines Christ revealed through him.

See also: josephsmith.com

Ultimately, the best way to find out if a man is truly called of God as His prophet is to ask God himself for a spiritual witness. After all, religion is a matter of spiritual understanding and experience, and this question deals with one of the most important issues of organized religion: how God manages His affairs on the earth and through what administrative structure(s) He operates.

Having said that, it is worth noting that God is God in part because of His consistency. Although all powerful, He is not arbitrary in His dealings with His children. Therefore, we can look at how He has called prophets in the past and identify certain patterns that should help us to identify at least whether a man fits the prophetic patterns. If not, we will have less confidence in his claim to his holy calling.

Here are some questions that you should ask regarding a man’s being called of God:

• Did he claim that the call came from Deity, even though the calling itself may have come through another person in a position of authority?
• Did he receive priesthood authority to act in God’s name?
• Does he offer revelations and pronouncements from God that he considers binding on the people he leads?
• Does he teach universal truths that cross cultures and political boundaries?
• Does he address social issues in clarifying and sometimes radical ways?
• Does he both maintain and reform status quo religion?

Other questions might include these:

• Did he go through some sort of spiritual preparation for the calling?
• Does he now or did he have a major weakness or trial to overcome?
• Does he have opponents who do not believe his calling as prophet?
• Does he have both a reliance on and a willingness to expand sacred texts (scripture)?
• In what ways does he testify of Jesus Christ as the Redeemer of mankind?

But here we repeat: ultimately, the best way to find out if a man is truly called of God as His prophet is to ask God Himself for a spiritual witness.

Sources

Where Have All the Prophets Gone? Scott R. Petersen

The Encyclopedia of Religion, ed. Mircea Eliade, s.v. “Prophecy”

The Holy Bible

Lifespan

Uncertain. Moses led the Israelites from Egypt and spent the next 39 years as their spiritual and political leader as they wandered the wilderness. (Approximately 1290-1250 B.C.?)

Ministry

Moses served as the leader of the Israelites during their escape from Egyptian bondage and subsequent 40-year wanderings predominantly in the area of the Sinai Peninsula and wilderness south of the Dead Sea, much of which seems to have been spent in the vicinity of Kadesh-barnea in the northern Sinai desert.

Preparation and Calling

Moses was the product of a secret birth during a time of mortal persecution. Hidden in amid the reeds of the Nile River, he was found by the daughter of Pharaoh, and nursed by his own mother through a bit of quick thinking on the part of his older sister. He was raised by Pharaoh’s daughter in privileged circumstances, but when, as an adult, he killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew man, he had to flee the country to save his life. He ended up in Midian, where he married Zipporah, had two sons, and tended his father-in-law’s flocks. While Moses was tending those flocks one day near Horeb, God appeared to him in a burning bush and called him to return to Egypt and lead the Israelites out of bondage.

Interaction with God

Moses experienced a full range of experiences with the God whom he represented to the people of Israel. He spoke to God as He appeared in a burning bush, he visited with Him face to face, he received His word through inspired counselors and friends, and he counseled with God in prayer and the quiet whisperings of the Spirit.

Social Situation

The story of Moses and the Israelites covers several social scenarios. The two major ones are (1) the people of Israel serving in slave-labor camps to the Egyptians, and (2) after escaping, a nearly 40-year existence in the wilderness awaiting God’s permission to re-enter the promised land. However, the theme that connects the entire Moses’ story is the need to understand that God is all-powerful, and Israel must learn to depend on and obey their God.

Some have drawn a close parallel between Moses leading the children of Israel in the wilderness and the modern prophet Brigham Young leading the Mormon pioneers west to the Great Salt Lake Valley in the mid-1800s. He was nicknamed an “American Moses.”

Key Teachings

Moses has left us many important teachings, some of which include:

• The Ten Commandments
• The principle of delegating administrative responsibilities
• The principle of commitment to one God only: the true God
• The witness of miracles for those who believe
• A detailed code of laws for those unable to live God’s higher laws

Prophecies of Christ

“The Lord thy God will raise up onto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken” (Deut. 18:15).

Living with the Prophet

Moses had the perfect background for his calling: an Israelite with an Egyptian education and credentials. But freeing the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage was not his only task. He then had to live with and lead the freed Israelites in the wilderness for 40 years, and they tended to sometimes be less than grateful for their blessings. They lacked the perspective of Moses, the prophet. When you perceive that life is difficult, read the words of ancient and modern prophets and tie into their perspective. You’ll find that your life suddenly becomes more manageable.

Sources

Encyclopedia of Religion, s.v. “Moses”

Oxford Companion to the Bible, s.v. “Moses”

Holy Bible, the book of Moses

Encyclopedia of Mormonism, s.v. “Young, Brigham”

Lifespan

Uncertain.

Ministry

Jonah was called by God to call to repentance the inhabitants of Nineveh. Some scholars place Jonah’s ministry in the mid-eighth century B.C., others suggest it was closer to the middle of the sixth century, during or after the Babylonian exile.

Preparation and Calling

Little is known about how Jonah was prepared, but his calling is certainly memorable. When God called Jonah to cry repentance to Nineveh, Jonah ran. Other prophets have been hesitant to accept the Lord’s call (for example, Enoch, Moses, Amos, and Jeremiah), but none except Jonah ran to the farthest regions of the known world. After his experience with the fish, Jonah repented and eventually fulfilled his calling.

Interaction with God

Jonah’s relationship with God perhaps is easier for the common man to identify with than for his peers of chosen prophets. Jonah heard and understood the voice of the Lord, but did not want to heed it because he knew doing so would mean giving up some feelings that he just wasn’t ready to give up yet. He tried running, but God found a way to bring him back. Begrudgingly, he saw that God was more powerful than he and would not give up on him, so he eventually did His errand. And then he pouted when God’s will was done rather than his own.

Social Situation

Regardless of the time period in which the book of Jonah is set, Assyria or the later Babylonian dynasty was the enemy-and a significant one at that. To call to repentance the inhabitants of one of the enemy’s largest cities was distasteful at best, for doing so would be to require God’s chosen people to forgive them their atrocities. Hence, Jonah’s call to bring Nineveh to repentance implied that God was the God not only of Israel but also of all people in the world. At this time when each local culture had its own god or gods and defended them fiercely, this was a challenging doctrine for even the most faithful.

Key Teachings

Only one verse of the book of Jonah contains his prophesying (Jonah 3:4), but the teachings are in the story rather than Jonah’s writings or sayings. God is all powerful, and He is indeed the God of all peoples. His love and mercy extends over the enemies of His people as well as His chosen ones.

Prophecies of Christ

“Thou brought up my life from corruption, O Lord my God” (Jonah 2:6).

Living with the Prophet

Jonah’s story is one of the best-known of the Old Testament. When he was in the belly of the fish and thought he would die, his thoughts turned to God, and he prayed. God heard his prayer, and Jonah was saved. Listen well to this part of Jonah’s story, for it testifies that you can never be so far removed from God that He cannot hear your sincere prayers. Think of a time when you have felt that God has answered your prayers, and feel again the comfort that you felt then.

Sources

The Learning Bible, the book of Jonah

Holy Bible, the book of Jonah

Oxford Companion to the Bible, s.v. “Jonah, the Book of”

Lifespan

Deported from Israel to Babylon in 597 B.C. (Daniel 1:1 implies 603 B.C.).

Ministry

Daniel spent his entire ministry in Babylonian captivity.

Preparation and Calling

Little is known of his preparation, other than that Daniel was known in his youth for his piety and wisdom. No record has been preserved of a particular calling from God. For this reason, Jewish scholars do not consider Daniel as a formal prophet, though they do hold him to be a great leader and an inspired man. Most Christian faiths, however, count him as a prophet in the fullest sense.

Interaction with God

Daniel dreamed dreams, saw visions, and interpreted visions. He prayed to God, felt His support and direction, and also received angelic visitors for instruction and protection. Perhaps the Son of God Himself was among those angels who protected Daniel and his three friends in the fiery furnace.

Social Situation

Though we don’t know details of Daniel’s ancestry, he was apparently of royal birth. He was taken captive to Babylon, where he made a name for himself with his captors by standing up for his beliefs in a standard of health and in his ability to interpret the king’s dreams. He is also known for being miraculously saved when he was thrown into a den of lions at a time when he had gained significant political power and yet defied the king’s decree regarding worship of God.

Key Teachings

Chapter 2 of the book of Daniel identifies an image associated with the restoration of the gospel, that is, “what shall be in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28). He interprets a dream had by King Nebuchadnezzar, in which a large figure made of various components represented various worldly kingdoms. However, eventually, “the God of heaven [will] set up a kingdom, which . . . will stand for ever” (Daniel 2:44). This kingdom, the stone “cut out without hands,” was established with the restoration of the gospel and God’s power in 1830, during a time when European kingdoms still dominated the political scene. Chapter 7 also contains a vision of the last days. Thus, some of Daniel’s key teachings deal with a great apostasy from God’s kingdom, followed by a restoration of truth and God’s kingdom in the last days.

Daniel also taught uprightness and dedication to principles. Three examples are well-known: (1) Despite great pressure, he requested a simple diet in his youth, which resulted in greater health. (2) Though King Nebuchadnezzar commanded all his people to worship a golden image, he and his three friends refused for they knew it was not God. For this act, the king had all four of them cast into a fiery furnace, where they were miraculously preserved and came out unharmed. (3) Many years later he defied another royal decree in order to worship God as he wished. The latter act got him thrown into a lions’ den, where his faith in God saved him. These are some of the best known of all Bible stories, and demonstrate commitment to God and the power of faith. Because of Daniel’s example, many people were converted to belief in God.

Prophecies of Christ

“. . . to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. . . . And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off” (Dan. 9:24, 26).

Living with the Prophet

On several occasions (see Key Teachings), Daniel was true to his religious convictions despite pressure to do otherwise. Today, we encounter pressure from many directions to do what is wrong. Commit to following the example of Daniel and his friends (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) by standing up for what you know is right, regardless of circumstance or negative pressure.

Sources:

Book of Daniel

Oxford Companion to the Bible

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.

Preparation and Calling

Harold B. Lee was called to be a stake president at age 31 in the Pioneer Stake in Salt Lake City. It was located in one of the areas of the city hardest hit by the Great Depression, and his success wth that situation drew the attention of Church and government leaders alike. His organizational abilities led him to have significant responsibilities in establishing the Church’s welfare plan, which has been admired by governments and other organizations the world over, and the Church correlation effort, which coordinates all Church programs and materials.

Interaction with God

When Harold was a small boy, he heard a warning voice as he prepared to explore some broken-down buildings. That voice was as clear as if someone had been standing next to him, although he could see no one there. Later he wrote, “From that time on, I accepted without question the fact that there were processes not known to man by which we can hear voices from the unseen world, by which we can have brought to us the visions of eternity” (“The Way to Eternal Life,” Ensign, Nov. 1971, p. 17). Deep impressions and the quiet whisperings of the Spirit became familiar friends to Harold B. Lee throughout his life and ministry.

Social Situation

With the growth of the Church and the social issues of identity and direction that came with the 1970s, President Lee was instrumental in establishing the structures necessary to deal with issues on an international level. Church correlation established a unified approach for a growing worldwide organization, and efforts such as welfare, health services, social services, agricultural missions, and the establishment of an organization for single adults in the Church demonstrated a deep concern for the individual.

Key Teachings

In addition to his organizational skills, Harold B. Lee was known for his devotion to responding immediately to impressions of the Spirit and for seeking to strengthen testimony constantly through daily devotion to scripture study and personal prayer.