The Church of Jesus Christ has a quorum of 12 apostles leading the church, just like Jesus Christ established in the New Testament. He also ordained 12 disciples to lead his church in the Americas. Because the structure of our church matches the New Testament, there is not a prophet overseeing the entire church.
Jesus Christ Established His Church
When Jesus Christ established His church on the earth in Palestine, he called 12 men to be his Apostles (see Matthew 10). He also called 70 men to evangelize the gospel in whatever town He would visit (see Luke 10).
Apostle Paul gives the New Testament church structure in Ephesians 4 and 1 Corinthians 12. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, elders and teachers for the work of the ministry and perfecting the body of Christ. This structure according to Ephesians 4:13 is meant to run the church until the end of time, or until, “…we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:” (Ephesians 4:13.
Nowhere in this structure does it say a prophet must lead the church above the apostles. It was the apostles in the New Testament organizing, correcting and spreading the gospel throughout the world. Their leadership represented the witness of Jesus Christ and His authority.
Prophets and Seers Did Not Always Lead the Church
King Mosiah was a Seer (greater than a Prophet) and he did not lead the Church. Alma the High Priest did lead the Church. The gift of Prophecy and Revelation is given by the Holy Spirit to lead the Priesthood as they lead the Church, with much prayer and fasting for Messiah’s direction in the affairs of His Church, not as overseers but as servant leaders of His congregation.
Prophets are used to warn, exhort, and to declare the will and plan of God for the immediate future and the latter days. Prophets are also used to show the glory of God through signs and wonders, and to execute the judgment and the deliverance of God. Prophets can correct the priesthood or the Church’s leadership.
To be clear, while The Church of Jesus Christ does not have a prophet leading the Church, we believe in divine revelation and the gift of prophecy to guide the Church in this dispensation of time. The ministry does review and accept revelation for the church that could come from any member of the church. The Spirit of God and gift of prophecy and revelation is alive today, and we are blessed to enjoy the fruits of the Spirit in the Church.
