Mosiah 8

As Limhi and Ammon discussed the finding of 24 plates made of pure gold filled with engravings, Ammon responded -

"...I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called interpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 8:13)

Not to necessarily overlook these so called "interpreters", what my mind seem to focus on this morning is one called a "seer", which Ammon suggests must be commanded or in my mind, called to become such. It is clear that no one takes this honor until themselves or they may perish. Many prophets were called as seers. But not all prophets were seers. For it is a -

"...high gift from God." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 8:14)

To King Limhi, it was apparent -

"...that a seer is greater than a prophet." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 8:15)

For a -

"...a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God, which no man can; yet a man may have great power given him from God." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 8:16)

And as a revelator and a prophet -

"...a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 8:17)

As we read the Old and New Testaments and the Book of Mormon, we recognize many prophets that were called to be seers in that they "saw" and prophecied ofthings that were to come and revealed many great and hidden things, even the mysteries of God -

"Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a great benefit to his fellow beings." (Book of Mormon | Mosiah 8:18)

In our day, because of restored priesthood keys, we sustain members of the First Presidency and members of the Quorum of the Twelve apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. There brethren are a great benefit to our fellow man warning us of conditions that will come.