How Prophets are called.....

[bytor2112]

Just how are the "keys" conferred on the Prophet? Is it like conferring the Priesthood? Does the Quorum of the Twelve confer the keys on the new Prophet? How do Prophet's recieve revelation's....is it inspiration? Dreams? Visions? Angelic mesengers? Is it at the Temple? Is there a special room in the Temple for the Prophet and Apostles?

The Holy Spirit definitely witnessed to me that President Monson is now our Prophet!

[Traveler]

Just how are the "keys" conferred on the Prophet? Is it like conferring the Priesthood? Does the Quorum of the Twelve confer the keys on the new Prophet? How do Prophet's recieve revelation's....is it inspiration? Dreams? Visions? Angelic mesengers? Is it at the Temple? Is there a special room in the Temple for the Prophet and Apostles?

The Holy Spirit definitely witnessed to me that President Monson is now our Prophet!

I was going to say, “Hello, Prophet. Hello there, hellllloooo prophet!” But I thought better of it.

A testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophasy.

The Traveler

[Jenamarie]

The Quorum of the 12 hold the Keys when a Prophet has died, and confer them upon the new Prophet when he is chosen by laying on of hands. (I don't know *how* many hands though. ) There IS a special room in the Salt Lake Temple where they go to pray about this. I believe they even have a special Sacrament Meeting during the process, and Fast leading up to that meeting, to further invite the Spirit.

[tubaloth]

Just how are the "keys" conferred on the Prophet? Is it like conferring the Priesthood? Does the Quorum of the Twelve confer the keys on the new Prophet?

A great institute manual (and class) can be found here

Teachings of the Living Prophets Student Manual

It answers your question very well.

How Is a New President of the Church Selected?

“To those who ask the question: How is the President of the Church chosen or elected? the correct and simple answer should be a quotation of the fifth Article of Faith: ‘We believe that a man must be called of God by prophecy and by the laying on of hands, by those who are in authority to preach the gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.’

Step One

“The beginning of the call of one to be President of the Church actually begins when he is called, ordained, and set apart to become a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Such a call by prophecy, or in other words, by the inspiration of the Lord to the one holding the keys of presidency, and the subsequent ordination and setting apart by the laying on of hands by that same authority, places each apostle in a priesthood quorum of twelve men holding the apostleship.

Step Two

“Each apostle so ordained under the hands of the President of the Church, who holds the keys of the kingdom of God in concert with all other ordained apostles, has given to him the priesthood authority necessary to hold every position in the Church, even to a position of presidency over the Church if he were called by the presiding authority and sustained by a vote of a constituent assembly of the membership of the Church.

Step Three

“The Prophet Joseph Smith declared that ‘where the president is not, there is no First Presidency.’ [see Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 106.] Immediately following the death of a President, the next ranking body, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, becomes the presiding authority, with the president of the Twelve automatically becoming the acting President of the Church until a President of the Church is officially ordained and sustained in his office.

“Early in this dispensation, because of certain conditions, the Council of Twelve continued to preside as a body for as long as three years before the reorganization was effected. As conditions in the Church became more stabilized, the reorganization was effected promptly following the passing of the President of the Church.

“All members of the First Presidency and the Twelve are regularly sustained as ‘prophets, seers, and revelators,’ as you have done today. This means that any one of the apostles, so chosen and ordained, could preside over the Church if he were ‘chosen by the body [which has been interpreted to mean, the entire Quorum of the Twelve], appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church,’ to quote from a revelation on this subject, on one condition, and that being that he was the senior member, or the president, of that body. (See D&C 107:22.)

Step Four

“Occasionally the question is asked as to whether or not one other than the senior member of the Twelve could become President. Some thought on this matter would suggest that any other than the senior member could become President of the Church only if the Lord reveals to that President of the Twelve that someone other than himself could be selected.

“The Lord revealed to the first prophet of this dispensation the orderly plan for the Church leadership by a predetermined organization of the earthly kingdom of God. He gave these specific guidelines, as we might speak of them:

“‘Of the Melchizedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum of the [First] Presidency of the Church.

“‘The twelve traveling councilors are called to be the Twelve Apostles, or special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the Church in the duties of their calling.

“‘And they form a quorum, equal in authority and power to the three presidents previously mentioned.’ (D&C 107:22–24.)

“With reference to this subject, the fourth President of the Church, Wilford Woodruff, made a few observations in a letter to President Heber J. Grant, then a member of the Twelve, under date of March 28, 1887. I quote from that letter: ‘. . . when the President of the Church dies, who then is the Presiding Authority of the Church? It is the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (ordained and organized by the revelations of God and none else). Then while these Twelve Apostles preside over the Church, who is the President of the Church[?] It is the President of the Twelve Apostles. And he is virtually as much the President of the Church while presiding over Twelve men as he is when organized as the Presidency of the Church, and presiding over two men.’ And this principle has been carried out now for 140 years—ever since the organization of the Church.” (Harold B. Lee, in Conference Report, Apr. 1970, pp. 123–24.)

You can find more about this in Chapter 7 of the book. Its interesting and something that you should read up on. (You can even guy the book)

How do Prophet's recieve revelation's....is it inspiration? Dreams? Visions? Angelic mesengers? Is it at the Temple? Is there a special room in the Temple for the Prophet and Apostles?

Really the answer is Yes, Revelation comes in any form of those ways. But the on you forget is by the Holy Ghost, the still small voice speaks to each of us about our life. The same holds true for Pres. Monson, expect he gets revelation for the whole church.

There is a room in the temple where the apostles and prophet meet, it was made for this purpose, I don’t know if that classifies it as “special” but sure.

[rayhale]

I’ll ask a similar question, how is a new member of the Quorum of the Twelve selected?

[MarginOfError]

They select a group of about 30 men that are eligible candidates, then each of them selects an m&m out of a bag. The bag has been rigged to only have 1 yellow m&m (yellow is the celestial color). Whoever gets the yellow m&m is believed to be God's choice.

[BenRaines]

New member of the Quorum of the Twelve is by fasting and prayer of the First Presidency.

All the Apostles are also Prophets, Seers and Revelators. They all hold the keys to the Priesthood. It is the Senior Apostle who has been the head of the church in this dispensation. Is it required? No. But it has been so.

There is a special room for Solemn assemblies to be held. As new missionaries, back when we stayed at the mission home in SLC for a couple of days before going out or to the language school we would go to the temple on Wednesday and meet in the solemn assembly room and there have the opportunity to visit with the Prophet or member of the First Presidency and ask them questions. It was a very special time.

I know Stake Presidents in the Utah Valley who have been called to the temple for a solemn assembly session where the sacrament was prepared and passed and a special meeting held. In addition to that room there is another much smaller room in the SLC temple where the Prophet can go for special meditation.

Ben Raines

[Moksha]

They select a group of about 30 men that are eligible candidates, then each of them selects an m&m out of a bag. The bag has been rigged to only have 1 yellow m&m (yellow is the celestial color). Whoever gets the yellow m&m is believed to be God's choice.

Then they get the keys and key ring?

[Mykdiver]

LOL, yeah that is it.

I think revelation can come in many forms tailored to the individual.

[Justice]

I didn't read much of the thread, so I don't know if this was addressed...

Each member of the 12 holds all the keys already by virtue of being an Apostle. All that is required to make a man president of that quorum, and over the church, is to grant the right to direct the use of those keys.

[Mykdiver]

I thought that only the President of the Church held all the keys? Humor me I am a convert. lol

[Brenton]

They select a group of about 30 men that are eligible candidates, then each of them selects an m&m out of a bag. The bag has been rigged to only have 1 yellow m&m (yellow is the celestial color). Whoever gets the yellow m&m is believed to be God's choice.

Is that a joke? No offence if it is not.

They pick them based on chance?

[guitarwizard]

I thought that only the President of the Church held all the keys? Humor me I am a convert. lol

that was also what i was taught. Or maybe it was that they all held the whole of the keys but that the keys were not "activated" so to speak until set apart as the prophet.

[MarginOfError]

Originally Posted by MarginOfError

They select a group of about 30 men that are eligible candidates, then each of them selects an m&m out of a bag. The bag has been rigged to only have 1 yellow m&m (yellow is the celestial color). Whoever gets the yellow m&m is believed to be God's choice.

Is that a joke? No offence if it is not.

They pick them based on chance?

As much as Mars Co. would love to be involved in the selection of an Apostle, this statement is indeed false.