Prophet Or People (or Combo)?

[Dr T]

Des said,

I just don't get how a prophet can teach something, that so many people in the church disagree with.

Aren't all truths testifyed by the spirit?

If that is the case, than would we not all believe that theory if it were true?

I am also having problems with this particular belief. I am confused about the role of the prophet if he is fallible and the role of the broader church on differences of belief. If it is true that each person makes up their own mind-why do you need a prophet (spokesman for God)? Why did Traz say, "I have a prophet and you only have yourself" (in a PM conversation we were having) if ultimately, you all decide what to believe anyway. Since when has then been a majority vote to hold doctrine/scripture as divinely inspired in the LDS church? Basically my confusion about all this is I keep hearing people appeal to authority (LDS presidency) as a "final word" as proof that the LDS church is true because they have that role in the church yet there is disagreement about certain things like the Adam/God issue. Which is it, prophet final work or human consensus final word? I liked AK's take on it, check it out with scripture-if isn't not consistent, then it's prob. not from God. I know he didn't say it in those words but that was the message I took from it. If I'm wrong on that AK please correct me.

I look forward to your thoughts,

Dr. T

[Princess3dward]

Well.. they ARE closer to God than we are....

So would Satan not work harder on them, maybe to confuse them? (seriously, I don't know).

If that is the case, on top of him being human (we all know what a burden that is), he is prone to mistakes...

And I feel, that is he is making a mistake, (seeing as that is a theory, and hardly hinders ones salvation) and the fact that the spirit makes known and testifies(sp?) of truth... then we ought to know when he is telling the truth?

If I am way off base, someone can tell me.

I am not so set that I can't be corrected.

This IS just my feelings on the matter.

[Ray]

Des said,

I just don't get how a prophet can teach something, that so many people in the church disagree with.

Aren't all truths testifyed by the spirit?

If that is the case, than would we not all believe that theory if it were true?

I am also having problems with this particular belief. I am confused about the role of the prophet if he is fallible and the role of the broader church on differences of belief. If it is true that each person makes up their own mind-why do you need a prophet (spokesman for God)?

True, each person makes up his/her own mind regarding whether or not he/she will believe what a prophet of God is saying, and whether or not that person truly is a prophet of God, but God still uses prophets to tell everybody what God wants everyone to at least be able to hear.

Why did Traz say, "I have a prophet and you only have yourself" (in a PM conversation we were having) if ultimately, you all decide what to believe anyway.

Heh, I don't know!?! How am I supposed to know why Traz would say that?!?

I do think it's an advantage to hear from prophets of God instead of only having my own thoughts to think with, but I don't know who the prophets are until I ask God to tell me if what someone says is really true.

Since when has there been a majority vote to hold doctrine/scripture as divinely inspired in the LDS church?

Since the majority of members decided they wanted to vote on whether or not if what someone said was and is to be considered as divinely inspired scripture for the Church.

Basically my confusion about all this is I keep hearing people appeal to authority (LDS presidency) as a "final word" as proof that the LDS church is true because they have that role in the church yet there is disagreement about certain things like the Adam/God issue.

I, personally, appeal to the authorities of the Church when I want to know what the Church teaches, because that is their role... they're the authorities for the Church. But I still always ask God what God thinks.

Which is it, prophet final work or human consensus final word?

It depends on you ask, I think. I, personally, believe only God has the final word, but I know God also speaks through some people.

I liked AK's take on it, check it out with scripture-if isn't not consistent, then it's prob. not from God.

I think I understand what AK meant, and I think I agree with that thought. But some people don't agree that some words are from God and if I know they truly are, I won't agree.

If God tells me He inspired some other people, then I should agree with God. Don't you agree?

I look forward to your thoughts,

Dr. T

And as always I am happy to share what I think with you, so I'm happy you looked forward to this. :)

[Guest ApostleKnight]

Dr. T, I think you understand my opinion. I believe the LDS scriptures or standard works are the touchtsone of doctrine so to speak. A touchstone is of course used in evaluating the purity or content of gold. You can test gold alloys by rubbing the ore or sample against dark-grained jasper, and observing the color of the mark they leave behind.

Similarly, true doctrine is identified by the "color of the mark" it leaves behind when pressed against the standard works. The Adam-God theory isn't gold or even close. It's a theory.

Brigham Young never taught the Church to pray to Adam. If he had, then I think critics could prove he truly taught that Adam was our Father in Heaven. Since he didn't teach that, his theory is just that, a theory based on interpretation of scripture and sermon.

[Ray]

As a side note, I personally believe Brigham Young did NOT believe or teach that Adam was the same person we now refer to as our Father in heaven, or Elohim.

And I also believe Brigham Young did NOT believe or teach that Adam was the same person we now refer to as Jesus Christ, or Jehovah.

I personally believe Brigham Young knew a LOT about Adam... before and after he was created on Earth.

And I think it's very strange to even think that he didn't, because I know he was inspired by God.

[Dr T]

Hello Des,

Here is what you said above

Well.. they ARE closer to God than we are....

And I feel, that is he is making a mistake, (seeing as that is a theory, and hardly hinders ones salvation) and the fact that the spirit makes known and testifies(sp?) of truth... then we ought to know when he is telling the truth?

Bold added.

I have a couple of comments. You say he is closer to God. You then say the spirit makes known and testifies of the truth. If he is closer, as you suggest, it seems that he would tell you all the truth because he would be closer to "the spirit that makes it known to him." That is where I'm having my biggest difficulty with what you are arguing.

Dr. T

[Ray]

Hello Des,

Here is what you said above

Well.. they ARE closer to God than we are....

And I feel, that is he is making a mistake, (seeing as that is a theory, and hardly hinders ones salvation) and the fact that the spirit makes known and testifies(sp?) of truth... then we ought to know when he is telling the truth?

Bold added.

I have a couple of comments. You say he is closer to God. You then say the spirit makes known and testifies of the truth. If he is closer, as you suggest, it seems that he would tell you all the truth because he would be closer to "the spirit that makes it known to him." That is where I'm having my biggest difficulty with what you are arguing.

Dr. T

I think I might know what you mean, Doc.

I know when someone speaks as a prophet of God when God tells me what God told that <other> prophet.

But I know Jesus Christ ALWAYS agrees with our Father even though I'm not as close as He is.

Do you now see how you can know a lot about God and yet not be as close as a <greater> prophet?

We all know some things, but we all don't know everything, while we know some are closer than some others.

[babygirl]

Well.. they ARE closer to God than we are....

So would Satan not work harder on them, maybe to confuse them? (seriously, I don't know).

If that is the case, on top of him being human (we all know what a burden that is), he is prone to mistakes...

And I feel, that is he is making a mistake, (seeing as that is a theory, and hardly hinders ones salvation) and the fact that the spirit makes known and testifies(sp?) of truth... then we ought to know when he is telling the truth?

If I am way off base, someone can tell me.

I am not so set that I can't be corrected.

This IS just my feelings on the matter.

if a prophet were ever to teach us false doctorine or lead us in the wrong direction or give us wrong counsel the lord would remove him from that position and he would no longer be the prophet of god. thats a shure fire way to know he is teaching what the lord wants him to

[Dr T]

Thanks again Ray.

===

Hi dancergirl,

I haven't seen 1000 year-old prophets around. What is that telling us? (only joking) :)

Dr. T

[Princess3dward]

Thanks again Ray.

===

Hi dancergirl,

I haven't seen 1000 year-old prophets around. What is that telling us? (only joking) :)

Dr. T

Haha. I get it! lol!

As long as you know what she really means. lol.

[Dr T]

Hi Des,

You get it as long as you know what she means? Are those two supposed to go together? I missed it.

Dr. T

[Princess3dward]

Hi Des,

You get it as long as you know what she means? Are those two supposed to go together? I missed it.

Dr. T

She wasn't addressing that.

She said that any prophets that teach something false, and says it is an LDS belief, is removed.

[Dr T]

So if they teach it a sermon to an LDS meeting/service then it is not being taught as from God? It is but not considered doctrine. It become doctrine when the church votes on it? Is that right?

Thank you,

Dr. T

[Princess3dward]

So if they teach it a sermon to an LDS meeting/service then it is not being taught as from God? It is but not considered doctrine. It become doctrine when the church votes on it? Is that right?

Thank you,

Dr. T

No.

[Gwen]

I have two thoughts on this.

one being you must consider the source. not is it a prophet saying it, but when and where. this coming sunday is general conference. the prophet and anyone appointed by him will get up and speak (usually general leadership). the words spoken there are the words of God. the prophet is always the last to speak (i was told) so that if there was anything untrue spoken he could correct it, however, i have never seen a correction given. i was also told that the prophet reviews the talks before (i do not have a source for either of those things so if someone knows better you may correct me on that) we do not vote on our doctrines. we sustain, and support our leaders. when the proclamation on the family was given in 1995 i was not given a chance to vote and in my opinion was not asked if i like it. it was, here is revelation from the lord this is what he wants us to be about doing. period. if i choose not to follow it that is up to me, but that does not change the truth of it. some things i feel the spirit witness the truth as it is spoken, but other things i have had to think on, pray about, and do before i received my testamony of it's truth. my being slow to follow didn't change the truth, it was true from the beginning, i was the one who had to grow and change, not the word. now if the words (though may be coming from the same person) are printed and released by anyone other than "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" then it is the opinion of that person. while it is a wise opinion formed through much knowledge and closeness to the spirit and usually very good, it is still their opinion. i have been instructed as a sunday school teacher that reading all good books and those by our general authorities is great for our individual lives. however, i was never to teach from material that did not have the name of the church printed as the publisher, that was the test for weither it was from God or a person. i also personaly beleive that a prophet could not speak falshoods (not opinion but falsehoods) as a prophet because God would restrain his words. i know of others, but i personaly have had words come to my mind at the critical moment that i knew did not come from me, but i have also been physically restrained by the spirit. i felt every nerve in my body respond, i felt the message from my brain move through me, i felt the impulse to move, but did not respond, i could not speak or move until the moment had passed. i was physically restrained. we have accounts in the scriptures where some were restrained and could not speak. i personaly beleive that if a prophet decided to lead us astray and speak falsehoods then he would be restrained and could not speak them to us.

the second thought is that i have been tought and through personal experiance have learned that when you follow your priesthood leaders all will be made right by our Father in Heaven. so even if the priesthood leaders forget to follow the spirit and make a decision based upon personal thoughts if you follow the counsel you will be blessed and all will be fine. to reference the word of wisdom debate, so what if there is nothing damaging about a certian food or drink, i was told not to partake. if i follow that as the end all of the debate and do as told by the prophet and thus the Lord i will be blessed for that. some things are given just to see if we will obey without the whys, in essece our Father is saying 'because i said so'. have you ever been told that or told that to your child? i know i have. who am i to think that i have the right to have 'because i said so' be a good enough answer from me (who is imperfect) to give, but i can't accept that from my perfect Father in heaven. wow, if i thought that, what a pedistal to put myself on, hope i don't fall. lol i have compleat trust in my Heavenly Father and his Son. because i said so is good enough for me.

there is a story in another post about pushing on a rock. push on the rock because i said so, that is the command, he thought he should move the rock and thus failed his father, but that was not the point and though thought he was failing received the blessings because he followed no matter what. so in my opinion the prophet is the final word. it is my job to seek testamony of that word by obediance (either 12:7 (i think), you receive a witness after a trial of your faith)

[Dr T]

Hello AlMom,

You said the following in your last post (excerpts)

we sustain, and support our leaders.

however, i was never to teach from material that did not have the name of the church printed as the publisher, that was the test for weither it was from God or a person.

it is my job to seek testamony of that word by obediance (either 12:7 (i think), you receive a witness after a trial of your faith)

You are saying you do not "vote." Thanks-I thought I was using the wrong word. You call it sustaining and supporting. In what form does that come?

Your next sent. sounds like someone told you that good books are not from God unless they are from the LDS church. Two things about that. Did the person who told you that have an LDS stamped on his/her forehead? If not, are you sure that message was from God? I am not trying to be difficult with that question but I do want to put it into perspective (in context of what we are talking about). Secondly, did the person who wrote the book with the LDS stamp of approval stop being a person? Did they separate from their humanity to channel the message only from God and you are certain about it? This gets to the root of what we are talking about. Is it the writer or your acceptance of it that makes it from God?

Thirdly, you are talking about "seeking a testimony by obedience" so is it your confirming it or the act of the writer that makes it so? So again, is it the president's words or your confirmation of the "truth" or a combination in some way. If it is a confirmation then, are you setting yourself up as part of the final declaration and therefore vital to it's truth?

Thanks

Dr. T

[Ray]

We all give our personal testimonies, and we all are accountable to God.

When someone asks me how I know what God thinks, I say something like:

"I asked God, of course. How do you?"

And if they say something like they read something in a book, I say something like:

"How do you know that's from God?"

And that pretty much covers it, I think.

I don't automatically accept what I read or hear.

I don't automatically accept what people tell me.

When I want to know what God thinks, I'll ask God what God thinks...

... even when some say God is speaking through them.

[StrawberryFields]

Ray,

How does God let you know what is true and what is not?

Have you ever had the spirit bare witness to you when reading something or listening to someone?

[Dr T]

Hello Ray,

Hope things have been going well for you.

You said, that you ask God. We've covered this before. That might just be your interpretation of the events/reading/etc. and not God at all. Your reply does not get to the root of what we are talking about, sir. Thanks for your thoughts.

Dr. T

[Gwen]

You are saying you do not "vote." Thanks-I thought I was using the wrong word. You call it sustaining and supporting. In what form does that come?

Your next sent. sounds like someone told you that good books are not from God unless they are from the LDS church. Two things about that. Did the person who told you that have an LDS stamped on his/her forehead? If not, are you sure that message was from God? I am not trying to be difficult with that question but I do want to put it into perspective (in context of what we are talking about). Secondly, did the person who wrote the book with the LDS stamp of approval stop being a person? Did they separate from their humanity to channel the message only from God and you are certain about it? This gets to the root of what we are talking about. Is it the writer or your acceptance of it that makes it from God?

Thirdly, you are talking about "seeking a testimony by obedience" so is it your confirming it or the act of the writer that makes it so? So again, is it the president's words or your confirmation of the "truth" or a combination in some way. If it is a confirmation then, are you setting yourself up as part of the final declaration and therefore vital to it's truth?

Thanks

Dr. T

sustaining comes in the form of actions. if i sustain my bishop and he asks me to be young womens pres i accept this call, if he asks me to give a talk on sunday i accept this. it is about actions not words. if i refuse to follow his counsel then i do not sustain him reguardless of my words, the same is true for the prophet. if he asks me to do something i do my best to do it. although i must admit i feel i often fall short. it is in the trying that counts for me right now.

as for your second. no that is not what i said. we are to seek out truth in all places. the books are good to read and very helpful. what i said is that when distinguishing between someones opinion and the will of god look at where it comes from. i was told that on sunday as a calling and representitive of the gospel to the class members i was not to teach anything that had not been sactioned. the purpose for this is so that members get the lords words the same way i do and then can decide for them selves vs getting my or someone elses interpretation of the lords words. this opens them to personal revelation to confirm. as for personal study one must decide for self which books to include. again i was explaining how to know if it was the prophet speaking in representation of God or perosonal opinion. (please note i very highly respect the prophets personal opinion, but in teaching in a calling it must be from "the church", i do not cofuse these two) for me if there is question on a principle, find a source that clarifies that is from "the church" and that should end all discussion. we are told weither by my mouth or the mouth of my servents it is the same. this person revealing gods will does not change in any form. it is very hard to explain if you have not experianced the process of personal revelation. i have had revelation before that i know came from God, but i did not change into something else to get it, i did not see God. i simply felt his words. again it is hard to describe if you have not felt it. when these experiances happen they are for me or my imeadiate family. i will not get revelation for you. that is your job. however, if God is going to have a house of order there must be someone appointed to speak for him when he wants to talk to the world. that is what a prophet is. because i know how receiving revelation works for me i can attempt to understand how it works for the prophet (everyone receives how they will hear, that is between them and God). so when he stood and gave the proclamation on the family to the world i know there are no mistakes in it, it was through revelation as a prophet. it is truth reguardless of your or my acceptance.

third, my beleiving or knowing doesn't make it true. it is true. if it is from God it is true, weither i like it or not. the testamony is for me to have personal knowledge so that i may have the courage to follow when things are hard. i am not important enough for the Lord to make his decisions based on my opinion. the Lord will do and say as he will it is my job to follow or not.

think about noah. do you beleive him to have been a prophet? just because no one beleived and accepted that it would flood did it change the truth? did noah transform in some way get this knowledge or to be a prophet? no. truth is truth, and revelation comes in all forms to all. but there is only one prophet speaking for the world. noah for his day, pres. hinckley for ours. that is my beleif and knowledge. you will have to seek your own personal revelation from god to confirm or deny this. all i can speak for is me. and i in no way expect you to take my word for it, you should not follow someone you do not know to be of God. if anyone asks with pure intent and having faith they will get answers for themselves. that is where a change in heart comes from, personal testamony. it is a change within me not a change in the truth of it. it was true before i beleived.

[Ray]

Your reply does not get to the root of what we are talking about, sir. Thanks for your thoughts.

Dr. T

You have said that it doesn't, and you may really believe that, but does that mean I should listen to you?

I think that it does, but "HOW" I can't tell you.

You really wouldn't believe me anyway. :)

[Dr T]

Thank you for clarifying ALmom. :) So you believe that the president receives personal revelations that he shares with the world. Sorry to hound on this point but I'm not hearing it from you. Would you say that his revelations from God are always accurate or not? You then take what he says and get a personal confirmation that it is true or not and then act accordingly. You see truth as truth. It will not change whether you believe it or not. I agree with that. How do you come to that conclusion? What is personal revelation based on? If you have it too, why do you need a prophet? To answer your question-I don't know if Noah was a prophet. How do you define prophet? Is there only one on Earth at a time?

Thanks,

Dr. T

[Gwen]

Thank you for clarifying ALmom. :) So you believe that the president receives personal revelations that he shares with the world. Sorry to hound on this point but I'm not hearing it from you. Would you say that his revelations from God are always accurate or not? You then take what he says and get a personal confirmation that it is true or not and then act accordingly. You see truth as truth. It will not change whether you believe it or not. I agree with that. How do you come to that conclusion? What is personal revelation based on? If you have it too, why do you need a prophet? To answer your question-I don't know if Noah was a prophet. How do you define prophet? Is there only one on Earth at a time?

Thanks,

Dr. T

almost. the president receives personal revelations for self that he takes care of with self, he receives revelations for the world that he shares with the world. because i understand personal i can understand world. his revelations for the world as a prophet of God are always accurate. I then take what he says and get conformation for personal knowledge. fyi i have never gotten an answer that something he has said was wrong, sometimes i have had to wait for confirmation of the truth. imeadiate answers and having to wait are different than right or wrong. God is God weither we beleive he exisits or not, truth comes from God therefore truth is truth reguardless of my thinking. if i beleive the world is flat does that change the shape of the world? if someone says it is night on the other side of the world and i don't beleive, does that make it day? if i tell you the son will not rise tomorrow, will it? personal revelation is based on your inspirations from the Holy Ghost. we are told to pray when we need answers if there was no personal revelation then why would this command exist? a prophet is needed so that when the Lord wants to tell the world a truth it can be done without having to tell every single person, also for when i am not listening the lord can tell me things i need to know. the people in noah's day were not listening to the lord for personal revelation but because the lord loved and wanted to warn them he sent the message through a prophet. he will do the same today. a prophet is one who represents God and speaks as his servent, is called by God, having authority from him to speak in his behalf as prompted or revealed. when there was no world comunication and the continents had no knowledge of eachother there was a need for one to speak to one and one to speak to the other, each having different issues situations. now we have world wide communicatin and that is not necessary, we have one today. that is why we have the book of mormon and the bible. the book of mormon is not a replacement for the bible but another testament of jesus christ. they are supporting not conflicting.

to expound on the difference between personal and world revelation i would use this example. there are some things that are thou shalt nots... (like shedding of inocent blood). others are not so cut and dry. our church has said reguarding contraceptives that it is between husdand, wife, and the lord. that is the world revelation on the subject. now i need personal revelation to know if it is ok for me or not. when my husband and i were to get married i prayed about this, my answer was it was for the lord to be in control of. i had no problem with this, the first came quickly. less than a month later i was fertile again. scared me, so i went back to the lord and asked again. got the same answer. 15 months later number two came along. went back again, same answer, 17 months later number 3, went back, same answer, 19 months later number four. yes by this time i was beyond starting to wonder the whys very much. i still don't know all the whys. went back to the lord and was told that it was time to rest and no more would be comming right away. i went back to the lord and asked does that mean it is ok to use something. the answer was i am in contorl but if that is what you think you need yes you may. my personal feeling on this is that the frist times i was told no if i had it would have been a sin for me, but this last time i was told i could, now what would have been a sin before is not. (sin being defined as doing contrary to what we know god would have us do) because of the revelation to the world it will be different for everyone. that is why i need personal and a prophet. i hope this helped and didn't confuse things. lol

[Dr T]

Thank you for your thoughts, ALmom. Did Noah tell the world something for God? What was it? Was he just preaching or prophesying? What's the difference in those two things? Does a prophet have to tell of future events?

Thanks,

Dr. T

[Gwen]

i must say thank you Dr. T, i am now more knowledgeable. when speaking to non lds i try not to use lds only ex. i feel it's not evidence to you if you don't beleive in the place in which the info is gathered. i used the example of noah because it is one of the most easily understood principles for me. i teach it to my children regularly. being a story everyone seems to know i didn't think more about it. when you said you didn't know if you considered noah a prophet i thought "what, where have you been?" so i proudly opened my bible to quote it to you. lol i never before realized that gen. does not use the words cried repentance. so here it is from my belief system, no i don't expect you to accept it as truth for you, but truth for me in understanding my point.

Moses 8: 13, 15-20, 23, 25-27, 30

13 And Noah and his sons hearkened unto the Lord, and gave heed, and they were called the sons of God.

• • •

15 And the Lord said unto Noah: The daughters of thy sons have sold themselves; for behold mine anger is kindled against the sons of men, for they will not hearken to my voice.

16 And it came to pass that Noah prophesied, and taught the things of God, even as it was in the beginning.

17 And the Lord said unto Noah: My Spirit shall not always astrive with man, for he shall know that all flesh shall die; yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years; and if men do not repent, I will send in the floods upon them.

18 And in those days there were giants on the earth, and they sought Noah to take away his life; but the Lord was with Noah, and the power of the Lord was upon him.

19 And the Lord ordained Noah after his own order, and commanded him that he should go forth and declare his Gospel unto the children of men, even as it was given unto Enoch.

20 And it came to pass that Noah called upon the children of men that they should repent; but they hearkened not unto his words;

• • •

23 And it came to pass that Noah continued his preaching unto the people, saying: Hearken, and give heed unto my words;

• • •

25 And it repented Noah, and his heart was pained that the Lord had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at the heart.

26 And the Lord said: I will adestroy man whom I have created, from the face of the earth, both man and beast, and the creeping things, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth Noah that I have created them, and that I have made them; and he hath called upon me; for they have sought his blife.

27 And thus Noah found agrace in the eyes of the Lord; for Noah was a just man, and bperfect in his generation; and he cwalked with God, as did also his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

• • •

30 And God said unto Noah: The end of all flesh is come before me, for the earth is filled with violence, and behold I will destroy all flesh from off the earth.

Gen. 7: 1, 5-7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23

1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.

• • •

5 And Noah did according unto all that the LORD commanded him.

6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth.

7 ¶ And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons’ wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood.

• • •

9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah.

• • •

11 ¶ In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

• • •

13 In the selfsame day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah’s wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, into the ark;

• • •

15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

• • •

23 And every living substance was adestroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

as for the difference between prophesying and preaching, in my opinion, preaching is teaching something of god, while prophesying is telling the will of God if a then b. anyone can preach only prophets can prophesy. prophets do not need to fortell to qualify as a prophet, but can when inspired to do so. an ex in modern times would be the proclamation on the family given in 1995, in my opinion it is preaching until the very end when it says (bold added by me)

“We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets."

now that being said. i have a question now realizing not everyone believes noah to have been a prophet (lol), who, if anyone, do you consider to have been a prophet? :)