Elder Linder

Part 4 of “The Living Foundation: Prophets in Christ’s Church”

In our previous posts, we explored how Christ established His Church on prophets and apostles, how ancient prophets foresaw the loss of this foundation, and how the Lord preserved essential truths during the Great Apostasy. Today, we’ll examine how this foundation was restored in our day, fulfilling ancient prophecies and re-establishing the pattern Christ originally set.

After centuries without prophets or apostles, something remarkable happened in a time of intense religious excitement. Western New York in the early 1800s was known as the “burned-over district” due to the waves of religious revivals sweeping the region. This religious fervor deeply affected young Joseph Smith, who later wrote: “so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations, that it was impossible for a person young as I was… to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong” (Joseph Smith—History 1:8,10).

Like many others before him, Joseph searched the Bible for answers. Reading James’s promise to “ask of God” (James 1:5) moved him to pray in a grove of trees near his home. What happened next was unprecedented—God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to him in a pillar of light. This remarkable visitation began the restoration of the prophetic foundation that had been lost.

Three years later, an angel named Moroni appeared to Joseph, fulfilling John’s prophetic vision of “another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel” (Revelation 14:6). This began a series of heavenly manifestations that would restore priesthood authority—first through John the Baptist (Joseph Smith—History 1:68-72; D&C 13), and later through the ancient apostles Peter, James, and John (D&C 27:12-13).

This wasn’t just another reformation attempt. Ancient prophets had foretold both the “falling away” (2 Thessalonians 2:3) and the “restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21). The restoration followed Christ’s original pattern: divine manifestations, restored priesthood authority, and the return of continuing revelation to guide His Church.

The famine foretold by Amos—”not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11)—was finally ended. Through living prophets, God once again provided direct revelation to address modern challenges. This wasn’t just about restoring ancient practices—it was about re-establishing the living connection between heaven and earth that prophets and apostles provide. The woman (Christ’s Church) had returned from the wilderness, clothed with divine authority and continuing revelation.

Today, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints stands as a testimony that the foundation of prophets and apostles has been restored. We are no longer in a time of famine—God speaks again through living prophets. The same divine pattern that Christ established, which was lost during the apostasy, functions once more.

I testify that the Restoration through Joseph Smith fulfilled ancient prophecies and re-established the foundation that Christ’s Church requires. The heavens are no longer sealed. God speaks again through living prophets and apostles, guiding His Church and His children through the challenges of our day. Just as Peter, James, and John received revelation for their time, modern apostles receive revelation for ours.

The invitation given through John the Revelator to “Come out of her, my people” (Revelation 18:4) still stands. All who seek the divine authority and continuing revelation that prophets and apostles provide can find it in Christ’s restored Church. The foundation is rebuilt, the famine is ended, and God’s pattern for guiding His Church continues in our day.