Have you ever wondered...?

In the Bible, God spoke to prophets and told them what to teach the people. Often times, what God told the prophets literally saved their lives.

•God commanded Noah to tell the people to repent, when they didn't, God commanded Noah to build an ark to save himself and his family. Those who did not listen to the prophet, were drowned in the flood.

•God told Moses how to save his people when they were slaves in Egypt. Only those who followed the counsel of the prophet were spared when every firstborn was killed in the night. And only those who followed him were led out of Egypt to freedom.

Have you ever wondered if you had lived in those days, would you have been one of the ones to follow the prophet or would you have been one of those who believed that it was foolish to think that God would speak to men? Would you have listened and obeyed the words that the prophet spoke, even if you didn't fully understand them, trusting that they were indeed words from God? Or would you have scoffed and laughed at them, thinking it ridiculous? Do you believe that the Bible stories are true?

If the Bible is true, and if God talked to men then and told them what to do to help save, lead, and direct His people, have you ever wondered why God doesn't do that for us now?

I bear testimony that He does. Today there are living prophets and apostles on the earth, just like in the Bible. Back then, the prophets and apostles were often ignored, and when they weren't ignored, they were often perscuted, laughed at, even stoned and killed. But none of that changed the fact that they were prophets of God doing His work. Those who did listen and follow the teachings of the prophets were blessed. People were healed, physically and spiritually.

Today we have living prophets and apostles trying to share with us what God has told them. But just like in times of old, they are most often ignored. Sometimes they are scoffed and laughed at, persecuted, and targeted by people who don't believe. But none of that changes the fact that they are indeed men called by God to help lead, teach, direct, and help His people.

If you like to think that you would have been one who would have believed when Noah preached repentence or when Moses said to mark the doors of the homes with the blood from sacrificial lambs, then ask yourself if you are willing to believe that there could be a prophet today. Because this weekend, a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, will speak to the world and tell us what God wants us to know today. We have read what God told prophets of old, now let us hear what He has told a prophet living today.

I know that Thomas S. Monson is a living prophet. I also know that Henry B. Eyring and Dieter F. Uchtdorf are living prophets. I know that there are also living apostles that testify of Christ and teach His teachings. And I know that the most important scripture for us today, is the most current scripture of the day.

During the next two days, we will receive new scripture from the mouths of prophets and apostles who have dedicated their lives to serving God. The new scripture which we receive this weekend will not cancel out or contradict the scriptures in the Bible and other scriptures, but it will be especially important and pertain to us specifically at this time. Nothing could be more important than to hear and heed this new scripture.

Saturday, October 3: 9am-11am (PST) and 1pm-3pm (PST)

Sunday, October 4: 9am-11am (PST) and 1pm-3pm (PST)

(These are not repeated sessions, each session will have different speakers/talks, in total 8 hours of new scripture to help us today.)

If you would like information on how you can hear/read/watch the addresses given this weekend by prophets and apostles, check out this website. The broadcasts will also be shown on BYU TV (as well as on http://www.byutv.org/), some areas may have local access channels airing it as well, and of course there will be satellite broadcasts at LDS stake centers all over the world. Also, in a month there will be a magazine published containing all of the transcripts from the entire weekend, let me know if you would like a copy and I will gladly get you one.

I love the comfort and joy that comes from knowing that God loves us and still speaks to us today. I always look forward to hearing from our prophets and apostles; I know they are called of God and I am excited to hear what they have to tell us this weekend! I hope you will listen, too! :)