The day after the passing of our beloved Prophet and President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Russell M. Nelson, I conducted several temple recommend interviews. Question four of that interview states:

 “Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator and as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?”

Asking that question took on a new meaning in the setting of our prophet’s passing. In each interview, the person being asked this question responded “yes”. In that moment they were expressing their trust of our Heavenly Father and that his Son, Jesus Christ leads His Church, and that they sustained whomever the Lord put in place next. 

We are blessed in the Church that the line of succession is clear from the beginning. Decades ago, President Ezra Taft Benson said: 

“God knows all things, the end from the beginning, and no man becomes president of the church of Jesus Christ by accident, or remains there by chance, or is called home by happenstance.”

I testify that the Lord guides His Church. He is indeed at the helm. He will bless and guide whomever has been prepared to lead the Church, both as members of the new First Presidency and whomever is called to serve as our next Apostle. We are blessed by inspired guidance from these special witnesses of Jesus Christ and I join with members around the world in exclaiming: 

“We thank thee, O God, for a prophet

 To guide us in these latter days.”

With great love, 

President Hakes, Farmington, NM Stake