The Spirit of Prophecy

A phrase that we see repeatedly throughout the scriptures is “the spirit of prophecy.”  John informed us that “the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy” (Revelation 19:10).  To believe in Christ is to believe in prophecies to come about His return and His ability to raise us from death the power of the resurrection.  He is “an high priest of good things to come,” and so to have a testimony of Jesus we must trust in blessings which are in the future; in other words, we must believe in the prophecies of the Lord that “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28).  The testimony of Jesus is also epitomized by the words of the scriptures themselves for they are testaments of Christ.  And the scriptures were indeed given through the spirit of prophecy—they were written by prophets.  Moroni’s introduction to the Book of Mormon in the title page states that it was “written by way of commandment, and also by the spirit of prophecy, and of revelation.”  Similarly, Joseph Smith referred to one section of the Doctrine and Covenants this way: “We obtained of Him the following, by the spirit of prophecy and revelation” (see section heading for D&C 20).  Surely that could description could apply to the other revelations of the Doctrine and Covenants—most of which do indeed testify of Christ and prophesy concerning the work He will perform in the future.  

               In addition to being a witness of Christ and future events related to His coming, the “spirit of prophecy” also more generally is given to His servants to perform his work.  Alma and Amulek “knew the thoughts and intents of [Zeezrom’s] heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy” (Alma 12:7).  It was the spirit of prophecy that they possessed that allowed them to predict what Zeezrom was going to do and catch him in his lying and deceiving.  In another experience, Alma was consulted by the Nephite general as to what the Lamanites were going to do because Alma had “the spirit of prophecy” (Alma 16:5).  Because of that gift, Alma was able to describe in perfect detail what the Lamanites were about to do and what the Nephites should do in response.  Many other prophets have had this same gift, such as Ether of whom Moroni said, “great and marvelous were the prophecies of Ether” (Ether 13:13).  Ether was able to tell Coriantumr what would befall him if he continued his destructive course.  Joseph was able to tell his brothers what would happen to them many years later.  Lehi and Jeremiah were able to tell the people of their day of the destruction that awaited them.  These and many other prophets all had the spirit of prophecy and were able to tell those around them what awaited them. 

               So how do we develop this spirit of prophecy in our own lives?  Paul taught that we should “covet to prophesy,” so this must be a gift that we are to seek after (1 Corinthians 14:39).  How do we obtain it?  The Savior invited us saying to “seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given,” and one of those subsequent spiritual gifts that is listed is “to prophesy” (D&C 46:8, 22).  Surely seeking earnestly is the first step.  We gain another clue from the account of the sons of Mosiah: “They had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation” (Alma 17:3).  Prayer and fasting were what allowed the sons of Mosiah to obtain this gift according to Mormon.  Nephi gave us a different test to know if we have the spirit of prophecy: “Give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy” (2 Nephi 25:4).  If we have the spirit of prophecy, then the words of Isaiah will be “plain” unto us.  Isaiah’s words are surely filled with prophecies, perhaps more than any other prophet, and so Nephi’s statement here might imply that to gain the spirit of prophecy we should study Isaiah’s words until they are plain unto us.  Moroni specifically invited us, “Search the prophecies of Isaiah,” and this may be part of what we need to do in order to be given this gift of the spirit if we seek it (Mormon 8:23).