General Conference was over a week ago now. And now I ask myself, “Why do I need prophets?”

I need prophets to challenge me.

My natural inclinations are more towards a conservative leaning. That is, preserve the way things are and to exclude people by maintaining clear boundaries.

My conservative self is my own version of King Benjamin’s “the natural man” (Mosiah 3:19). I need my conservative self challenged for, “the natural man is an enemy to God.”

I don’t need prophets to give me more reasons to exclude people.

I need prophets to challenge me to love and include.

I don’t need prophets to challenge me to remember there is only one way to be a family.

I need prophets to challenge me to see there are many ways to be a family.

I don’t need prophets to remind me that I have all the answers to everyone’s problems.

I need prophets to challenge me to ask hard questions and to listen to others.

I don’t need need prophets to remind me to put blame on others for their situations.

I need prophets to challenge me to remember there are those who don’t share my same privileges.

I need prophets to challenge me to be liberal in giving my money.

I need prophets to challenge me to help the refugee.

I need prophets to challenge me to look at my own racism.

I need prophets to challenge me to look at my own sexism.

I need prophets to challenge me to love the Muslim.

I need prophets to challenge me to love the atheist.

I need prophets to challenge me to forgive.

Miguel Barker-Valdez

Miguel is a Guatemalan-American Mormon living in the Northwest with his family. He is one of the proprietors of the Rational Faiths blog.

All posts by Miguel Barker-Valdez