FAIR Study Aids/Seminary/Old Testament/Week 32

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Week 3

A FAIR Analysis of: Seminary: Old Testament Teacher Resource Manual

Week 33

Critical questions

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Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
If the job of a prophet is to "watch over and warn the people of impending danger," why doesn't the prophet predict natural disasters such as earthquakes, tornadoes and tsunamis?

Response
Answer here
For more information
Helps for Church teachers/Seminary/Old Testament

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Common criticisms related to this lesson topic
Some critics say that Latter-day Saint prophets aren't really "prophets" because they don't prophesy by fortelling unknown events. They commonly issue challenges such as, "If Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet, tell me one event that he's prophesied." Do LDS prophets "prophesy"?

Response
Prophets have many roles, only one of which is to prophesy future events. Most modern LDS prophets have been forthtellers rather than foretellers. The key issue is the possession of divine authority, in that they give whatever message(s) God wishes communicated to His children.
For more information

• Do latter-day prophets prophesy?

Critical answers

From the manual section: "{{{section}}}"
"Always follow the prophet's counsel"

Commentary

• Critics use a statement made in the Ward Teachers' Message published in the Improvement Era in June 1945 to claim that members must do whatever Church leaders say without question. Critics use a statement made in the Ward Teachers' Message published in the Improvement Era in June 1945 to claim that members must do whatever Church leaders say without question. The statement is presented by the critics as follows:

Any Latter-day Saint who denounces or opposes, whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine advocated by the "prophets, seers, and revelators" of the Church is cultivating the spirit of apostasy.... Lucifer ... wins a great victory when he can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to "do their own thinking."...

When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan—it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy.

• Response from President George Albert Smith regarding the statement:

I am pleased to assure you that you are right in your attitude that the passage quoted does not express the true position of the Church. Even to imply that members of the Church are not to do their own thinking is grossly to misrepresent the true ideal of the Church, which is that every individual must obtain for himself a testimony of the truth of the Gospel, must, through the redemption of Jesus Christ, work out his own salvation, and is personally responsible to His Maker for his individual acts.

Learn more

• "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done."

Further reading

None