Prophets: Watchmen on The Tower

Prophets are like watchmen on the tower who see much farther than we can. They are also special witnesses of Jesus Christ.  Read some of their testimonies.

In  the April 1980 General Conference of the Church, Elder Boyd K Packer said:

We lay no claim to being Apostles of the world—but of the Lord Jesus Christ. The test is not whether men will believe, but whether the Lord has called us—and of that there is no doubt!

We do not talk of those sacred interviews that qualify the servants of the Lord to bear a special witness of Him, for we have been commanded not to do so.But we are free, indeed, we are obliged, to bear that special witness.

In 1985, in what he probably knew was going to be his last General Conference talk, Elder Bruce R McConkie said this:

And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.

I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer.

In February of this year (2011), Elder Richard G Scott gave this unique testimony of his calling as a special witness:

I would like to conclude and use a word that we don’t frequently use among the Twelve, but it’s our official designation as Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ. As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, I bear my testimony that He lives, that He is our Savior, that His Atonement was wrought at a terrible cost but is completely effective and has made Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness active throughout the world. I love Him. I bear solemn witness that He lives. I know He lives because I know Him.

Through his personal suffering, Elder Robert D Hales seems to have developed a special relationship with the Savior. Here’s what he said in General Conference two weeks ago.

I express gratitude that “in my Gethsemane”⁴³ and yours, we are not alone. He that watches over us “shall neither slumber nor sleep.”⁴⁴ His angels here and beyond the veil are “round about [us], to bear [us] up.”⁴⁵ I bear my special witness that our Savior’s promise is true, for he says, “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”⁴⁶ May we wait upon Him by pressing forward in faith, that we may say in our prayers, “Thy will be done,”⁴⁷ and return to Him with honor.

And in the same General Conference, Elder Dallin H Oaks bore his special witness

Jesus Christ is the Only Begotten and Beloved Son of God. He is our Creator. He is the Light of the World. He is our Savior from sin and death. This is the most important knowledge on earth, and you can know this for yourself, as I know it for myself. The Holy Ghost, who testifies of the Father and the Son and leads us into truth, has revealed these truths to me, and He will reveal them to you.