Articles of Faith

Included in a letter to John Wentworth, and editor of the Chicago Democrat, were thirteen articles of faith concerning the doctrine of the Church related to religious issues that were common amongst many churches of the day.  One of those articles was -

"5 We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof."  (Pearl of Great Price | Articles of Faith 1:5)

I believe the fact that man must be called of God, "by prophecy" was a bold belief in those days.  The question is "what is prophecy"?  In my mind, prophecy would be inspiration or revelation that would only come throught the Holy Ghost.  As the Lord taught concerning prophecy -

"Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.
3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation..."  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 8:2 - 3)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie explained that  -

"...The inspired utterances of prophets are called prophecy. These declarations may pertain to the past, present, or future. New truths or unknown events may be revealed in them, or they may contain expressions which confirm and give added witness to truths already revealed and testified to by other prophets. In their most dramatic form they are declarations of things to come, things which no mortal power could have made manifest.

 

Prophecy is the announcement of something that has been revealed to a prophet; it always comes by the power of the Holy Ghost. The scriptures are recorded prophecy. Peter gave this inspired rule for their interpretation: "Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet. 1:20-21.) Prophecy is thus a gift of the Spirit (D. & C. 46:22), and wo unto him, the Lord says, who denies the spirit of prophecy. (D. & C. 11:25.)

 

Belief in and the manifestations of the spirit of prophecy are two of the great evidences of the divinity of the great latter-day work in which the saints are engaged. "We believe in the gift of ... prophecy" (Seventh Article of Faith), and every legal administrator in the Church who preaches the gospel or administers gospel ordinances must be called of God "by prophecy" (Fifth Article of Faith), meaning that the call must come by revelation from the Holy Ghost.

 

Every member of the Church — acting in submission to the laws and system which the Lord has ordained — is expected to have the gift of prophecy. It is by this gift that a testimony of the truth comes. "Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts," Paul exhorted, "but rather that ye may prophesy. ... He that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints .... Wherefore brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues." (1 Cor. 14.) (Mormon Doctrine, Bruce R. McConkie)

I would also add that in my mind, prophecy, or callings coming by "prophets" would also qualify as callings coming by the authority of priesthood keys.  I believe that when callings are extended by virtue of priesthood keys constitutes "prophecy".