Ezra Taft Benson
Excerpts
from “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet”
(Address given Tuesday, February 26, 1980 at Brigham Young
University)
First: The prophet is the only man who
speaks for the Lord in everything.
Second: The living prophet is more vital
to us than the Standard Works.
Third: The living prophet is more
important to us than a dead prophet.
Fourth: The prophet will never lead the
Church astray.
Fifth: The prophet is not required to have
any particular earthly training or diplomas to speak on any subject or act on
any matter at any time.
Sixth: The prophet does not have to say
“Thus saith the Lord” to give us scripture.
Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need
to know, not always what we want to know.
Eighth: The Prophet is not limited by men’s
reasoning.
Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation
on any matter—temporal or spiritual.
Tenth: The prophet may well advise on
civic matters.
Eleventh: The two groups who have the
greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and
the proud who are rich.
Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily
be popular with the world or the worldly.
Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors
make up the First Presidency—The highest quorum in the Church.
Fourteenth: The prophet and the
presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be
blessed—reject them and suffer.
