He Is The Same Yesterday, Today And Forever

In Moroni 10:19 we learn that our Heavenly Father works in patterns. He so mercifully has shown us who He is and what we can expect from Him in these patterns. This scriptures says, " And I would exhort you my beloved brethren, that ye remember that He is the same yesterday, today and forever...."

I find the patterns that our Father has left us to be greatly merciful on His part. 

One pattern we see in the Old Testament, New Testament , the Book of Mormon and in these Latter Days is the fact that He gives His children a prophet in all dispensations. 

For those whom may find it hard to believe that God and Jesus Christ would appear in person to Joseph Smith; they can find the great truth and  His patterns through out the world's history...God reveals Himself to the chosen prophets. This is His pattern....

In the bible in Amos 3:7 the scriptures teach us that God must have a prophet.

 7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

In the bible in Exodus 3:2-4 Moses was first called upon by God in a burning Bush.

2 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.

In the Bible we know of the story of Zacharias and Elizabeth whom desired to have a child but had not been able. Zacharias was a priest in the temple and a very righteous man. One day an angel appeared to him and told him that his and his wife’s prayers would be answered, and they would be blessed to have a baby. The angel told him to name the baby John, and explained that he would be a prophet. We can learn from this story that this child whom was to be born was chosen by God and prophesied that he would be a prophet. The baby that Elizabeth conceived was to be John the Baptist, even the one whom baptized Jesus Christ himself. We can read this story in the Bible in Luke, ( Luke 1:12 ):

 5 ¶There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zachariah of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.

 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.

14 And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth.

15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb.

16 And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God.

17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

18 And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years.

19 And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.

In the New Testament Before Jesus would be crucified He told Peter that upon him, he would build His church; or in other words that Peter would be the one with authority to lead His church or be the prophet. ( Matthew 16:18 )

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

Almost exactly a week later Jesus Christ took Him up to the Mount of Transfiguration and Peter then did receive the Keys of the Kingdom, and He angels did appear even to Jesus Christ and what would later the the First Presidency of the Church after Christ would be crucified. ( Matthew 17:4 )

 1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud over shadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come?

 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things.

These are but few examples of how God does work in patterns; as He is the same yesterday, today and forever; He desires us to have a prophet and Heavenly Messengers is something that has always happened as part of Him establishing His Kingdom on the earth. 

I am thankful that we have such beautiful witnesses in the scriptures of the ways that God does work with His children upon the earth. I love His patterns and His plans to help us receive the highest level of joy that we are capable of. 

I say this in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen