The Prophet holds a significant role in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A prophet is a man with divine authority who strives to serve God. He is worthy, humble, and sincerely seeks guidance from Jesus Christ to serve all of humanity, who are considered God's children. According to the Church, "members sustain the President of the Church as the Prophet, seer and revelator and the only individual on earth who receives revelation to guide the entire Church."

While not infallible, all decisions are made collectively and approved by a council that includes the First Presidency (the Prophet and two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles.

These 15 leaders serve as special witnesses of Jesus Christ to all the earth. They witness that He lives today and that He leads this Church. They strive to have the Church be fully staffed. They ensure that every congregation has a Bishop, that the church welfare system is helping those who have been impacted by famine and natural disasters, as well as those who have fallen on hard times. They also oversee the church education system (including BYU, BYU-Idaho, BYU-Hawaii, and Seminaries and Institutes around the world).

They call missionaries, and mission presidents, temple presidencies, and all leaders with worldwide responsibility. Along with speaking in the General Conference, they assign other church officers to speak and ensure all 5 sessions and 10 hours are filled with uplifting messages for the entire church. They make sure that

Temples are built and maintained, along with every chapel and church owned property in the world.

The Prophet also oversees genealogy efforts and the spreading of the gospel. And they participate in the gathering of Israel. That sounds like a lot of work, right? It is!

But the beauty of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is that there is nothing the Prophet can't delegate. And he delegates a lot of things.

During President Ezra Taft Benson's time as Prophet, there came a period when he was very ill and unable to perform his duties. At that point, Gordon B. Hinckley was called to serve as the third counselor. The other two counselors were also seriously ill, which placed the responsibilities of the First Presidency largely on Hinckley's shoulders. He continued to confer with the Prophet whenever President Benson was conscious and available. Despite the challenges, the Lord's work progressed, in part because Hinckley also effectively delegated responsibilities.

The Prophet, the First Presidency, and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles meet together weekly. Any decision they make must be reached through unanimous agreement before moving forward. The focus is not on who is right, but on what is right. If even one member disagrees, the decision is paused. The majority never rules. The Holy Ghost is present in every meeting, which begins and ends with prayer and a sincere effort to seek God's direction. As a result, some decisions may take considerable time.

Many have noted that President Russell M. Nelson implemented numerous changes within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and that observation is accurate. However, the decisions behind those changes were made long before they were publicly introduced, and many had been in development for years. The changes seen over the past decade or more reflect a deep sense of divine care and guidance, offering reassurance that God is attentive to the needs of His children.

Consider the pandemic. Church leaders were inspired to implement a home-centered and church-supported gospel education program just one year before the pandemic began. This shift transformed the approach to church service compared to earlier generations. It allowed members to remain spiritually nourished from the comfort of their homes throughout the pandemic. In previous decades, gospel education had followed a very different model.

This change occurred at the beginning of a family's homeschooling journey with their son. It marked a significant shift, prompted by the fact that no school—public or private, including those tailored for autism—had met the child's needs. As a result, gospel education was also transitioned to a home-based approach. The timing aligned meaningfully with spiritual guidance.

Upon starting, it became clear that although the child had physically attended church every Sunday, he had not absorbed the teachings. He required a quiet environment and personal attention to begin learning about Jesus Christ. This adjustment proved to be transformative.

God and His timing often bless life. The Prophet, along with two counselors and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, plays a meaningful role in those blessings. President Russell M. Nelson will be deeply missed—he was a remarkable leader admired by many.

Confidence remains strong that the next Prophet, likely Dallin H. Oaks, will continue guiding the Church toward God. This is God's Church, not the work of any one individual, and God invites all to participate in His great work.