Mythical Category of Dead Prophets

Again and again we have been told by our leaders to read the scriptures for ourselves by way of obtaining a testimony for ourselves. But have we shunted our responsibility by creating a mythical category of dead prophets? Perhaps we have done this without actually branding the ancient prophets as irrelevant so much as deferring exclusively to the "living prophets." But when Gabriel and Moroni (who are still very much alive) came with their messages to mortals, what each delivered was a package of quotes from the Old Testament. In fact, when the Lord himself came to the Nephites he insisted on checking their written records and insuring that the prophecies of Malachi and of Samuel the Lamanite where updated. Here was the author of it all present in person, but he did not shove the old records aside. Instead, He deferred His further teaching to the written record and to the prophets of old "for the profit and learning" of future generations.

In fact after the Lord's resurrection when he met with his apostles, and "beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself" (Luke 24:27 emphasis added). Here is the author of it all teaching from the scriptures. The effect on the listeners was also recorded, "and they said to one another, did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32)

Even though we are continually admonished to search the scriptures (scripture narrative), or to read them and to ponder them (pulpit narrative), for ourselves, none will deny that good teachers can be of real assistance, especially those with the gift of knowledge:

"And I give unto you a commandment that you shall teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom.  Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand; Of things both in heaven and in earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and perplexities of the nations, the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms--that ye may be prepared in all things..." (D&C 88:77-80).

Who then is to teach us the scriptures? It has always been our boast that we have no professional ministers who have been to school and learned to interpret the scriptures for us. The understanding of scripture is a function, not of office, but of revelation, as is evidenced on a day in May 1829:  "Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the Scriptures opened to our understanding, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed to us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of" (History of the Church, 1:43).

But the scriptures do not deliver their messages to us automatically. The mind must always intervene, yours and others who have used theirs and had their own minds enlightened as the scriptures were opened to their understanding. Again Alma is the example: "For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God" (Alma 36:26 emphasis added).