#37 We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet"

Pres. Monson’s Conference addresses April/Oct 2009


Share the following story, told by President Hugh B. Brown of the First Presidency:
Before President Brown was called as a General Authority, he spent some time in England working as a barrister, or attorney. He befriended a prominent Englishman who was a member of the House of Commons and a former justice of the supreme court of Britain. The two men often discussed various subjects, including religion.
In 1939, when it appeared that World War II would soon break out, the English gentleman called Brother Brown into his office. He asked Brother Brown to defend his religious beliefs in the same way he would discuss a legal problem. In a general conference address,President Brown recalled part of their conversation:
“I began by asking, ‘May I proceed, sir, on the assumption that you are a Christian?’
“ ‘I am.’
“ ‘I assume that you believe in the Bible—the Old and New Testaments?’
“ ‘I do!’ ”
The English gentleman said that he believed the biblical accounts of the Lord speaking to prophets. However, he maintained that such communication had stopped soon after the Resurrection of Christ. The conversation continued with another question from Brother Brown: “Why do you think it stopped?”
“ ‘I can’t say.’
“ ‘You think that God hasn’t spoken since then?’
“ ‘Not to my knowledge.’
“ ‘May I suggest some possible reasons why he has not spoken. Perhaps it is because he cannot. He has lost the power.’
“He said, ‘Of course that would be blasphemous.’
“ ‘Well, then, if you don’t accept that, perhaps he doesn’t speak to men because he doesn’t love us anymore. He is no longer interested in the affairs of men.’
“ ‘No,’ he said, ‘God loves all men, and he is no respecter of persons.’
“ ‘Well, then, … the only other possible answer as I see it is that we don’t need him. We have made such rapid strides in education and science that we don’t need God any more.’
“And then he said, and his voice trembled as he thought of impending war, ‘Mr. Brown, there never was a time in the history of the world when the voice of God was needed as it is needed now. Perhaps you can tell me why he doesn’t speak.’
“My answer was, ‘He does speak, he has spoken; but men need faith to hear him’ ” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1967, 117–18; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1967, 36–37).
*At the end it says, “but men need faith to hear him” What does that phrase mean?
If we have ears to hear what do we need faith for? To follow His counsel-apply it into our daily lives.

o President Harold B. Lee taught: “The only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized [see D&C 21:4–5]. … There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that ‘the gates of hell shall not prevail against you’ [D&C 21:6]” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 152; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1970, 126).


*The purpose of this lesson it to help us recognize the need for our living prophet, understand his roles, and more faithfully obey his counsel.

We are going to point out the roles of a Prophet and what we can do to better follow His counsel.

I printed all 4 talks of Pres. Monson’s from the last conf. As well as 2 others from the last conference, we are going to split up into 6 groups, each group gets one article along with a couple of questions to be answered. Discuss them in your groups come up with some answers and then we will discuss out loud as we go through them.

#1- “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”
One responsibility of a Prophet is that they help us know how to respond to all the major problems and needs of our day.

What issues do we have today?


What counsel did he give in this talk that helps us with those things?

How do these things bring us closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?

#2- “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”
The Prophet tells us the Lord’s will for us.
What does Pres. Monson tell us is the Lord’s will for us today?

Why would Pres. Monson tell us what He did?

Why do you think that would be significant in our lives?

How do these things keep us on that eternal path?

#3- “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”
The Prophet testifies of Christ and teaches us how to be more like Christ.
Pick out a strong statement where he is testifying of Christ and as many ideas as you can that He lists as a way to Be like, or Follow, Christ’s example.

How would this help us to fight temptation or worldliness?
#4- “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”
The Prophet presides over the Church. He puts forth new and or improved doctrine straight from the Lord’s mouth! He also puts in motion many projects that build the Kingdom of God on the earth. What projects are currently in the works?

How does this currently in the works?

How does this build the Kingdom of God?

What can we do to support that action and keep that growth up?

How do these projects build our testimonies?

#5- “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”
A Prophet stands as an example to all who choose to be followers of the Savior.
In this article, name some of the things you’ve noticed about our prophet that stand as an example to us?

How can we start doing the same things he does that will lead us to Christ?

How could this strengthen our testimonies?

#6- “We Thank Thee, O God, for a Prophet”
A Prophet is a seer, He sees the past and the future, he warns and counsels us accordingly.
What warnings, if any did you find?


What counsel if any did you find?

How would these things build our testimonies if adhered to?

I love the Prophet, He is-to me, how I picture Christ is, loving the one, always about service. I know He is a prophet! He does perform every role he is supposed to. I strive to follow His example the best I can. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen.