A Prophet's Greatest Duty

Here is another example of what you will find in the book Messages from the Scriptures. This was another insight that was removed from the book before publication, so it should be considered a sample and not an excerpt.

A prophet’s greatest duty is to testify of the Atonement of Jesus Christ.

And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:42–43)

The scriptures state that “John [the Baptist] did no miracle” (John 10:41). And yet, Jesus explained that John was “more than a prophet. . . . Among them that are born of women, there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:9, 11). So what did John do that classified him as greater than all of the other prophets, even those that did mighty miracles? He testified of Jesus as the Savior of all mankind, preparing the way for Him: “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me . . . . And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God” (John 1:29–30, 34). In fact, all “holy prophets, who spake as they were inspired by the gift of the Holy Ghost, . . . truly testified of him in all things” (D&C 20:26). No other act is more important for a prophet to do than to testify of the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. It follows, then, that the most important act for us to do is to “repent and come unto him” (1 Nephi 10:18).