Question: Some say the living prophets supersede the dead prophets. I’m confused because aren’t all scriptures true and of God? What do the scriptures themselves say about this?
Answer: Scriptural patterns show that every generation of prophets supports and builds upon those previous to it. No scriptural precedent exists of one generation of prophets’ abrogating or depreciating ones who came before. Instances of where that occurs, therefore, fulfill Zenos’ prophecy in which the end-time wild branches began “taking strength unto themselves” and “overrunning the roots,” causing the Lord’s vineyard to “become corrupted” to the point of requiring a complete reordering of affairs (Jacob 5:48–63). As a sign of the times in which we live—in which God’s people’s political and ecclesiastical institutions operate on a par according to the prophets—this condition presents a test to those branches that haven’t become bitter.
Rather, the example of Jesus and Book of Mormon prophets was ever to quote and explain the words of former prophets, particularly Isaiah, and more especially in pointing to the end-time, when the words of Isaiah and many other prophets would be fulfilled (1 Nephi 15:20; 19:23; 2 Nephi 6:4–5; 11:2, 8; 25:4–8; 3 Nephi 16:17; 20:11; 23:1–3, 14; 24:1; 26:1–3). Where that scriptural pattern isn’t followed, therefore—that is, where no such end-time focus and looking forth to the fulfilment of ancient prophecies is present—there exists a prophetic deficit. Says the Lord, “I will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived; for Satan is abroad in the land, and he goeth forth deceiving the nations” (Doctrine & Covenants 52:14).
