What do Latter-day Saints mean when they talk about a “living prophet”?

In this Faithfully Explore! episode, we answer a listener's question from eight-year-old Liam, who noticed a picture of a kind-looking older man on his neighbor’s refrigerator and wondered, “Why do they call him the prophet?”

Together, we explore what members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe about prophets, spiritual guidance, General Conference, and following Jesus through kindness, prayer, service, and faith. Kids will imagine a guide with a lantern leading the way through a dark forest, learn how Latter-day Saints connect ancient prophets like Noah and Moses to modern-day leadership, and discover why many Latter-day Saints listen closely to the President of the Church.

This episode also introduces the First Presidency, the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, and General Conference in a simple, kid-friendly way. Along the journey, listeners will move their bodies in “Prophet’s Path,” hear a story about a child learning how prayer and peace can help people understand guidance, play “Prophet, Predictor, or Pal?”, and cross the Friendship Bridge to compare spiritual leaders in different faith traditions.

In This Episode

Children will learn:

• What Latter-day Saints believe a living prophet is
• Why prophets are often seen as spiritual guides
• How Latter-day Saints connect modern prophets with ancient biblical prophets
• What the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are
• What happens during General Conference
• How prophets are different from fortune-tellers or magical predictors
• How different faith communities look to leaders, teachers, and guides
• How kids can practice being helpful guides for others

Belief Backpack Takeaway

For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the prophet is a living leader who helps guide people through life’s choices, like a trusted guide holding a lantern on a dark trail.

This week’s reflection question:

Who is someone in your life who helps light the path when you are unsure what to do?

Weekly Compass Challenge

This week, try the Guide Challenge. Practice being a guide for someone else. You might help a younger sibling, explain a game to a friend, hold a door for someone, or offer encouragement when someone feels unsure.

Notice how it feels to help clear the path for another person.

For Families and Classrooms

This episode is a great fit for conversations about religious leadership, trusted guidance, community, service, and how different faith traditions understand wisdom and authority. Families and educators can use the episode to compare prophets, rabbis, imams, pastors, ministers, elders, monks, and the pope while encouraging children to notice both similarities and differences with respect.

Stay curious, stay kind, and keep faithfully exploring! 🧭🎒