Why Prophets?
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as the Mormon Church) believe the Bible to be the Word of God. The Bible teaches that when Jesus the Christ was on the earth he organized believers into a body, an organization, or a church (Ephesians 4:11-14). This church was not an edifice, but an organization of believers.  At the head of this organization were “apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone” (Ephesians 2:20). Mormons claim that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a restored version of the same organization that Jesus the Christ established when He lived on the earth. Hence, the Church is led by prophets and apostles who receive direction from God himself. God is the God of the entire earth, ancient and modern. God is not concerned only about what happened in the ancient world, or in the Near East in what has been called meridian of time, but He is concerned about every person in every era, in every corner of the earth.  He is no respecter of persons (see Acts 10:34). Hence the necessity of prophets in all epochs and in all parts of the earth. Revelation, therefore, did not end–or begin–with that wonderful record that we call the Bible.
God has had much to tell us and still has much to tell us. For His “words . . . never cease” (Moses 1:4). He loves us, and will therefore continue to speak to His children “so so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man [or woman] upon the face thereof to be saved” (Moroni 7:36). The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) has been guided by prophets, since its founding in 1830 by Joseph Smith. These prophets continue to reveal truth unto the Church and the world. Click on the following articles to learn more.
Why are modern prophets necessary? Ancient scripture teaches us about the Lord’s word thousands of years ago, which word is still important and relevant today. But because God’s “words . . . never cease” (Moses 1:4), and because God “is the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever” (Hebrews 13:8), He continues to guide us with His word through prophets as He has always done in the past.
What is revelation? Revelation is God speaking to man. Prophets receive the word of God by the Holy Ghost, but each of us is also entitled to individual guidance–if we are worthy of it–through the same means.
Who was Joseph Smith? Joseph Smith was the founder and first prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (sometimes known as the Mormon Church). Through him, the Lord restored many things to the world that have been hidden or lost–things like truth, knowledge, priesthood, etc.
What did Joseph Smith teach that was so unique? The Lord revealed to Joseph Smith certain essential principles and tenets of Christianity–things that had been lost with the martyrdom and apostasy of the primitive church–such as temple worship and the importance and eternal nature of families.
Who leads The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today? Thomas S. Monson is the sixteenth president of the Church. He is believed to be guided by the Lord, and succeeded Gordon B. Hinckley as President in 2008.