Prophets Speak Today

I am so grateful for my testimony of the doctrines taught by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I am grateful that there are living prophets on the earth today. I KNOW that Thomas S. Monson is a true prophet and he and the apostles speak God's word to the world today.

Today I had the opportunity to hear them speak in person. As I walked into the large conference center surrounded literally by thousands of people, I was filled with gratitude. I've attended general conference many times before today, but for some reason, all those people holding up signs asking for extra tickets made me realize how great an opportunity and blessing it is to sit in the same room as the Lord's chosen prophet and apostles. I think it's easy to take it for-granted when I live in Utah and have had many opportunities to be in the presence of apostles and prophets. That will never happen again.

As I waited for the conference to start, I watched as the apostles slowly made their way in to take their seats on the stand. Many of them chatted with each other for a while, embraced each other, or touched each other on the arm or shoulder to show their love and care. It reminded me of my experiences in the Nauvoo Pageant and how we cast members did those same gestures because we really FELT that love for one another, on and off stage. Immediately, that made me realize what seems obvious, but really increased my testimony of having living prophets and apostles today. I realized that these apostles (Quentin L. Cook, Russell M. Nelson, Dallin H. Oaks, Boyd K. Packer, etc.) are no different than the apostles of the early restored church (Parley P. Pratt, Heber C. Kimball, Brigham Young, etc.) that I've learned about and seen portrayed on stage and have come to know and love. In fact, they are no different than the apostles that Christ called when he ministered on the earth! As I watched these great men interact, I imagined I was watching Heber C. Kimball or Parley P. Pratt, and I gained a greater appreciation for what these men do and I KNEW, once again, that they were called by God for us today. When President Monson walked in and we all stood in silent respect, I felt the spirit witness to me, again that he is the prophet. Yes, it would AMAZING to hear the prophet Joseph Smith speak, and I would stand in respect of him just as I did President Monson, but I know that Thomas S. Monson was called to be our prophet today, to tell me what I need to know in today's world. It's an incredible blessing. I couldn't help but wonder what an apostle and prophet's life is like today since I've read so much about what it was like for the early prophets and apostles. They are just ordinary men, but they are GREAT men and I am grateful for the humble service they do to forward God's work on the earth.

On a side note, the hardest thing to do is to not do something I want to do. In this I am referring to wanting to apply to be in the family cast of the Nauvoo Pageant again, but I feel that is not what I am to do. I AM, however, to audition to be in the core cast of the pageant. That is a bigger deal, but there is a good chance I won't be selected and I wouldn't be in the pageant at all. Even though it is difficult to accept, I have to trust that God has something better planned for me and that is all I can do. For now, though, I am doing all I can to prepare for the audition in January and trusting that it will all work for my good, whatever happens.