Monday, January 26, 2009

The Temple Prophet & the Church President

In the temple recommend interview, one of the questions distinguishes between “the Prophet” and the other prophets, seers and revelators. Many members don’t realize that the first is capitalized, while the other is not. However, Thomas S. Monson was not sustained by the membership at large as the “Prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints” - but rather as the “President of the Church . . .” and "a prophet, seer and revelator".

The temple recommend interview draws attention to the fact that he is the presiding Prophet and needs to be supported by the temple attending members as such, but the unique requirement (along with the "generic" prophet, seer and revelator) for the general membership is only support of his role as President.

That’s a truly interesting distinction, imo.

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