Patterns

I love museums—and I always wanted to go to the Smithsonian here in Washington D.C.

Now, there is an entire row of Smithsonian Museums: for art, for space, for history . . . the list goes on. However, Sister Lindmeir and I first went to the Museum of Natural History, and because she studied anatomy, we spent some time in the bones section.  

Walking through the exhibits, it was easy to notice patterns. The skeleton of a cougar doesn't look very different from the skeleton of a bear; the bones of a kangaroo look like those of rabbit. Now, I know that there are some crazy varieties on the face of the earth, but there are also similarities and patterns between creations . . . and I think those patterns are very meaningful.

Our loving Heavenly Father has established a pattern in everything. Modern revelation shows the following:

And again, I [God] will give unto you a pattern in all things, that ye may not be deceived  

Doctrine and Covenants 52:14

One of those patterns is prophets. A prophet is an inspired man who speaks for the Lord—like Adam, Moses, and Abraham. This pattern of prophets is simple: Heavenly Father speaks through His prophets; the people reject the message; apostasy occurs. Heavenly Father speaks through His prophets again.

I am so grateful that even though people reject prophets, God always sends another one. His love for us is that deep and that sincere. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to a modern day prophet named Joseph Smith, and there is a prophet on the earth today named Thomas S. Monson.