Prophets

Throughout history God has called prophets. Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and many others. They were called of God and given the priesthood, which is power and authority given to man to act in God's name. They taught the people about Jesus Christ and what they needed to do to follow Him. Amos 3: 7 reads, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets." Everyone has their ability to choose, some chose to follow their teachings and others chose not to. When the people followed the prophets, they were blessed. When the people chose to reject the prophets, God would withdraw His priesthood authority to teach and administer the ordinances of the gospel.

The Bible has many instances of God calling prophets and it tells of many instances of the people rejecting their teachings, which is called apostasy. To end each period of general apostasy, God has shown His love for His children by calling another prophet and giving him priesthood authority to teach and restore the gospel.

The people again fell into apostasy a few hundred years before the birth of Christ. While Christ was on the earth He did many great things: He did miracles, taught the people, established His church, and He completed the Atonement. He did all that His Father in Heaven sent Him to do. He called 12 men to be apostles and gave them priesthood authority (see Matthew 10: 1). He organized His church, the Church of Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4: 11 reads, "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;".

People even rejected Christ. They rejected His apostles. When the apostles were rejected, the world entered into apostasy and priesthood authority was taken from the earth. Over time, many precious truths of the gospel were lost. There was a famine in the land for hearing the word of God. Amos 8: 11 reads, "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord God, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord:".

The world was in this time of darkness and apostasy until the time was right and God called another prophet to restore His gospel anew.  This prophet was Joseph Smith!

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http://lds.org/hf/art/0,16812,4218-1-1,00.html
http://lds.org/hf/art/0,16812,4218-1-2,00.html