“Follow the prophet” — and who is The Way?
Every Primary child can march to it: “Follow the prophet, he knows the way.” I like to write it with capitals: “he knows The Way,” the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). That is, the prophet knows Jesus Christ, and it is Jesus whom I follow.
Elder Neil L. Andersen said, “A prophet does not stand between you and the Savior. Rather, he stands beside you and points the way to the Savior” (April 2018 general conference).
I try not to confuse Jesus with the man who points to Him. This has several implications:
1) We don’t worship the prophet; we worship the Lord Jesus Christ. We need not over-idealize the prophet. Gordon Monson said, “Listen to General Conference and count how many times church President Russell Nelson is quoted versus the number of times Jesus is cited. Something’s wrong with that” (Salt Lake Tribune, April 28, 2024 - limited free articles each month).
2) Jesus is perfect; no one else is. The prophet is a man, and, like any other man, makes mistakes. The kindest way to follow the prophet is not to expect more than he can deliver, and to extend mercy for the inevitable mistakes.
“Follow the prophet, he knows The Way.”
-Marci
“Follow the Prophet,” Children’s Songbook, 110.
Photo taken by myself on the Camino in Spain in May 2024. (Camino means “The Way” in Spanish.)
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