A Prophet in Israel

President Thomas S. Monson

This has been a wonderful General Conference and one of the most direct and pointed ones that I can remember.  Last night as I walked away from the Priesthood Session, I felt a renewed and strengthened assurance that we are led by Prophets of God and that my duty is to learn to serve the Lord and His children with greater devotion.  This April, perhaps more than ever, I have gained a witness of just how much we need these bi-annual meetings.  Indeed, sometimes six months seems too long between them. But we absolutely need the peace and direction that comes from on high in these wonderful conferences.

As I thought about conference this morning, I was reminded of an event that happened in 1974.  President Lee had died just a few months earlier.  He had been young and vigorous, a prophet in his 70s and the Church was expecting him to lead for at least a decade (imagine if Elder Holland or President Uchtdorf were the President right now).  And then he was gone.  Elder Nelson described his feelings as being "shocked and struck with grief" as he "mourned for the loss of this giant in the kingdom."  Even five years later and having been filled with a deep conviction that President Kimball as to be the President of the Church, the sudden loss of President Lee seems to have troubled Elder Nelson until it was given to him to understand that "his sudden death in December 1973 was brought about as an act of love and mercy" from the Lord (Russell M. Nelson, From Heart to Heart: The Autobiography of Russell M. Nelson, 159-60).

Into President Lee's place stepped President Spencer W. Kimball, who by that point had already endured serious battles with throat cancer and heart disease.  Some members accordingly expected that he would not be around for long and they would need to wait for another, more vigorous and healthy President to move the Lord's Church forward.  But God does not work that way.  His Kingdom depends more upon willing hearts and faith than upon vigorous and youthful bodies, and President Kimball had the faith and willingness to move mountains.

On April 4, 1974, at a meeting of the Regional Representatives (the precursors to the Area Authority Seventies), President Kimball began urging the Church to lengthen its stride and push the work of the Lord forward in dynamic and faith-filled ways.  He called for the expansion of our missionary efforts and for greater levels of worthiness, promising that miracles would attend the Lord's kingdom as we made these efforts.  He asked the members of the Church, "Are we prepared to lengthen our stride?  To enlarge our vision?"  He then said, "Remember, our ally is our God.  He is our commander.  He made the plans.  He gave the commandment" (Spencer W. Kimball, "When the World Will Be Converted," Ensign, October 1974, 4-5).

This was clearly a landmark address.  Following his talk, President Ezra Taft Benson, President of the Quorum of the Twelve, arose and said, "President Kimball, our hearts rejoice in this masterful address.  I think I can say very safely that no greater address has been given before any seminar--nothing more timely. . . . I am sure we all join in saying God bless you and thank you.  Surely there is no doubt, my brethren, after this message this morning that there is in very deed a prophet in Israel" (quoted in Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, December 1985, 10).

In the midst of questions and worries and doubts, the Lord reminded his people that there was a Prophet in Israel.  Any who were filled with doubts and worries quickly saw that the Lord was at the helm and that He was directing His Kingdom through His servants.  In one way or another, this story has played out a hundred different times in the history of the Church.  Again this weekend as I heard President Monson bear testimony of the Savior and of our call to love God and to love one another, I had that renewed witness that "Surely there is no doubt . . . that there is in very deed a prophet in Israel," for which I thank the Lord.

Brett