President Henry B. Eyring on the power and blessing of repetitive counsel from prophets

President Henry B. Eyring (1933- ) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"In our own time we have been warned with counsel on where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. For instance, more than once in general conferences, you have heard our prophet say that he would quote a preceding prophet and would therefore be a second witness and sometimes even a third....

"The Apostle Paul wrote, 'In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established' (2 Corinthians 13:1). One of the ways we may know that the warning is from the Lord is that the law of witnesses, authorized witnesses, has been invoked. When the words of prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Safety in Counsel," Ensign, Jun 2008, pp. 4-9
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I have come to love and treasure the counsel of "the words of prophets." I truly believe it is a source of "safety from sin and from sorrow." This insight from one of the living prophets was, to me, profound and inspired. We can learn to recognize important warnings by noting their repetition. Rather than be bored or annoyed when counsel seems repetitive, we should be actively seeking for those confirming witnesses; repetition should "rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude."

As we are alert and pondering, we will note underlying themes and repeated emphases in the counsel we are given; and we can find in that a great key as to what the Lord would have us really focus on!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
April 1, 2016