Prophets before Joseph Smith?

[rachelbabe86]

I had a question on Sunday when reading the gospel doctrine manual and just remembered it. I have an idea of the answer from either church, seminary or something from the past, but can't completely remember what I learned.

So Joseph Smith was the first prophet on earth in these latter days. So my questions are:

1. Was the reason there weren't prophets for a while before him because the people on earth were too evil for years to having a living prophet on earth? Or do we not even know?

2. Also do we know who and when the last prophet was before Joseph Smith? Was the last ones the ones we read about in the book of mormon? Or do we not know this either?

I just couldn't remember what I learned about this before, and everyone I asked had no clue the answers. And if any of you know any answers and cojld give me sources from books, or talks that would be really great too.

Thanks!

[Snow]

2. Also do we know who and when the last prophet was before Joseph Smith?

Emanuel Swedenborg

[tubaloth]

1. Was the reason there weren't prophets for a while before him because the people on earth were too evil for years to having a living prophet on earth? Or do we not even know?

For the most part. There probably are a lot of factors that would play into it. The idea of people being evil to not get a prophet is only one side. People also have to be willing to have the spirit and be willing to accept more scripture.

2. Also do we know who and when the last prophet was before Joseph Smith? Was the last ones the ones we read about in the book of mormon? Or do we not know this either?

I guess it would depend on what you mean by Prophet. If you mean a prophet as in head of the church, and getting revelation from God, then yes Moroni would probably be the only one we know of it. Prophet in the sense of helping out the restoration, then there are probably others.

[Traveler]

I had a question on Sunday when reading the gospel doctrine manual and just remembered it. I have an idea of the answer from either church, seminary or something from the past, but can't completely remember what I learned.

So Joseph Smith was the first prophet on earth in these latter days. So my questions are:

1. Was the reason there weren't prophets for a while before him because the people on earth were too evil for years to having a living prophet on earth? Or do we not even know?

2. Also do we know who and when the last prophet was before Joseph Smith? Was the last ones the ones we read about in the book of mormon? Or do we not know this either?

I just couldn't remember what I learned about this before, and everyone I asked had no clue the answers. And if any of you know any answers and cojld give me sources from books, or talks that would be really great too.

Thanks!

The term prophet can be a broad brush. Joseph Smith held the office of prophet as well as seer and revelator as apointed in priesthood office. There are definations that extend the title of prophet to home teachers or any one called by the priesthood to testify of Christ.

One of the last "prophets" to called to a priesthood office to teach of Christ prior to Joseph Smith was the Apostle John. He is also joined by at least 3 others of who we do not have their names.

The Traveler

[Dravin]

The term prophet can be a broad brush. Joseph Smith held the office of prophet as well as seer and revelator as apointed in priesthood office. There are definations that extend the title of prophet to home teachers or any one called by the priesthood to testify of Christ.

One of the last "prophets" to called to a priesthood office to teach of Christ prior to Joseph Smith was the Apostle John. He is also joined by at least 3 others of who we do not have their names.

The Traveler

Surely Mormon and Moroni postdate those four as to the time of calling if not longevity?

[Hemidakota]

I had a question on Sunday when reading the gospel doctrine manual and just remembered it. I have an idea of the answer from either church, seminary or something from the past, but can't completely remember what I learned.

So Joseph Smith was the first prophet on earth in these latter days. So my questions are:

1. Was the reason there weren't prophets for a while before him because the people on earth were too evil for years to having a living prophet on earth? Or do we not even know?

2. Also do we know who and when the last prophet was before Joseph Smith? Was the last ones the ones we read about in the book of mormon? Or do we not know this either?

I just couldn't remember what I learned about this before, and everyone I asked had no clue the answers. And if any of you know any answers and cojld give me sources from books, or talks that would be really great too.

Thanks!

John...he is still alive.

Edited April 29, 2010 by Hemidakota

[Blackmarch]

I had a question on Sunday when reading the gospel doctrine manual and just remembered it. I have an idea of the answer from either church, seminary or something from the past, but can't completely remember what I learned.

So Joseph Smith was the first prophet on earth in these latter days. So my questions are:

1. Was the reason there weren't prophets for a while before him because the people on earth were too evil for years to having a living prophet on earth? Or do we not even know?

2. Also do we know who and when the last prophet was before Joseph Smith? Was the last ones the ones we read about in the book of mormon? Or do we not know this either?

I just couldn't remember what I learned about this before, and everyone I asked had no clue the answers. And if any of you know any answers and cojld give me sources from books, or talks that would be really great too.

Thanks!

the last one that we know of (that had priesthood authority) from scripture timewise would be from the book of mormon (IE Moroni). other than that we don't know if there have been other prophets since that time... altho there certainly have been individuals who have been wrought upon by the Holy Ghost nad have given prophetic sayings at various times.

as why there needed to be a period of total apostacy, this might be a clue-

2nd thessalonians 2:

3 Let no man deceive you by any means: afor that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

[Blackmarch]

Surely Mormon and Moroni postdate those four as to the time of calling if not longevity?

nor are they generally considered when the statement that the priesthood was not to be found on the earth is said.... I think they are a special case.

[Hemidakota]

Remember, Moroni died and resurrected. John remains alive and translated. He is still holds the office of a Prophet.

[Dravin]

Remember, Moroni died and resurrected. John remains alive and translated. He is still holds the office of a Prophet.

You do realize if we go along with that train of thought than the last prophet before President Monson was John not President Hinckley?

Edited April 29, 2010 by Dravin

[rachelbabe86]

Thanks for the info. I am still a little confused, but that is ok. I like to learn things simplily, and if I can't understand something in the gospel than I just know I am not meant to know and understand everything and move on. It doesn't hurt my faith at all. I don't need to know everything to have faith.

I was refering to just the one prophet of the church, that holds the priesthood keys, that gets revelation from God for his church on earth. And as far as I have read there can only be one prophet of the church on earth at one time and that person is President Monson right now. So was wondering if after Moroni there were any one prophet that we know of. Also we are taught that Joseph restored the church on earth again. So to me that means there was no true church or prophet on earth for a certain amount of years before Joseph Smith.

[Traveler]

I thought it might be fun to bring up a very interesting character that shows up more than once in history. This interesting person was known as Prester John. He surfaced during the crusades. Most of the information that is found about this most interesting character comes to us from Christians. I encountered a vastly different point of view of Prester John from my Muslim friends that claim that Prester John spent several days with Saladin. The claim coming out from Muslims is that Prester John came to assist the Christians in the crusades because Prester John was Christian but according to the Islamic accounts he was not a believer in the Trinity but instead turned his assistance to Saladin in retaking Jerusalem because the traditional Christians had apostatized and were no longer worthy to claim Jerusalem.

There are some that believe Prester John may have been the last prophet to uphold the priesthood. The title of Prester is a title of both “High Priest” (Prophet) and King. The Nestorian Christians of the east that also hold a letter they claim was written by Christ claim to be what today is left of the “Kingdom” of Prester John.

The Traveler

[Moksha]

Emanuel Swedenborg

Emanuel Swedenborg presented the ideas of the various kingdoms of Heaven, including the Celestial Kingdom. He also proclaimed the existance of Celestial marriage.

We have in the past acknowledged the inspiration of Martin Luther, John Wesley and Adam Smith. Seems like Swedenborg should get a shout out as well.

[Snow]

John...he is still alive.

Someone mowed my lawn last Thursday without my permission. Could have been him?

[Intrigued]

Someone mowed my lawn last Thursday without my permission. Could have been him?

Coulda been Cain too

[TheMightyQuinn]

Coulda been Cain too

Did he look like this?

[Matthew0059]

You do realize if we go along with that train of thought than the last prophet before President Monson was John not President Hinckley?

Not if we understand that different men are assigned different stewardships. For that matter, the 3 Nephites are still alive, and each still held the office of apostle.

Now, do John, the 3 Nephites, and any others that may have received the gift of dwelling on the Earth until the Second Coming have the stewardship of the LDS Church? No- but they still are prophets called of God holding the Holy Priesthood, and with the authority to act in the capacity that that brings.

[Hemidakota]

Someone mowed my lawn last Thursday without my permission. Could have been him?

Was it a 'flying mower'?

[Hemidakota]

Not if we understand that different men are assigned different stewardships. For that matter, the 3 Nephites are still alive, and each still held the office of apostle.

Now, do John, the 3 Nephites, and any others that may have received the gift of dwelling on the Earth until the Second Coming have the stewardship of the LDS Church? No- but they still are prophets called of God holding the Holy Priesthood, and with the authority to act in the capacity that that brings.

Remember Matthew, there were more than just three Apostles who were translated among the Lamanites and Nephites.

[Matthew0059]

Remember Matthew, there were more than just three Apostles who were translated among the Lamanites and Nephites.

Really? With the promise that they would live on Earth until the Savior's Second Coming? I didn't know that.

Always good to know. Do you have a source so I can read more on that?

[Hemidakota]

Did he look like this?

Nice suit...