{"id":21160,"date":"2026-07-28T16:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-28T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/morefaith.in\/?p=21160"},"modified":"2026-07-23T18:24:20","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T12:54:20","slug":"%e0%b0%85%e0%b0%ac%e0%b0%a6%e0%b1%8d%e0%b0%a7-%e0%b0%aa%e0%b1%8d%e0%b0%b0%e0%b0%b5%e0%b0%95%e0%b1%8d%e0%b0%a4%e0%b0%b2%e0%b0%a8%e0%b1%81-%e0%b0%97%e0%b1%81%e0%b0%b0%e0%b1%8d%e0%b0%a4%e0%b0%bf%e0%b0%82","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/morefaith.in\/en\/beliefs\/qa\/%e0%b0%85%e0%b0%ac%e0%b0%a6%e0%b1%8d%e0%b0%a7-%e0%b0%aa%e0%b1%8d%e0%b0%b0%e0%b0%b5%e0%b0%95%e0%b1%8d%e0%b0%a4%e0%b0%b2%e0%b0%a8%e0%b1%81-%e0%b0%97%e0%b1%81%e0%b0%b0%e0%b1%8d%e0%b0%a4%e0%b0%bf%e0%b0%82\/","title":{"rendered":"How to recognize false prophets and apostles"},"content":{"rendered":"
Basic Beliefs and Principles , Church of Jesus Christ
4 min read<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFor false Christs and false prophets\n will appear and perform great\n signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.\u201d -Matthew 24:24<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are reading this, you have surely heard the passage in Matthew that speaks of the false prophets, apostles, and even false Christs that will appear in the last days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, we see many people making predictions about the future, others claiming to be chosen by God, and some even declaring themselves to be the Savior himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With so much confusion, how can we distinguish between false and true prophets?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Okay, we'll talk about this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What are prophets and apostles?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Image: These apostles also receive God’s power to act in His name.<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
From the beginning, God has called men on Earth to be His spokesmen. Adam, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Noah, and even Jesus Christ Himself are some examples of prophets. These men received God's authority to act in His name and bind things in heaven as well as on Earth (Matthew 16:19-20).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Generally, there is only one living prophet at a time (with some exceptions in history), and their role is to guide, warn, and teach God's people to stay on the right path, as well as to be a special witness of Jesus Christ. The prophet is the one who receives revelation for the entire Church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because of the great work of establishing God's kingdom on Earth, the prophet usually calls 12 apostles to help him. These apostles also receive God's power to act in His name, but always under the prophet's guidance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The difference between false and true prophets<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/mark><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The key point to distinguish false prophets from true prophets and apostles of Jesus Christ is the authority they possess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This authority, a power called Priesthood, is received in a specific way, by the laying on of hands by someone who already possesses that authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply wanting to teach the gospel, having extensive scriptural knowledge, or being an expert in theology does not mean a person holds the priesthood. The Lord's way is by the laying on of hands (Acts 6:5-6).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd no one takes this honor upon himself, but he who is called by God, as Aaron was.\u201d (Hebrews 5:4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aaron was called of God and ordained by the laying on of hands (Hebrews 6:1-2; Doctrine and Covenants 27:28, Joseph Smith 1:68-69; Doctrine and Covenants 68:19-20, 107:17); Moses did the same with Joshua, as recorded in Numbers 27:23.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ<\/h2>\n\n\n\nThe First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Image: The Church of Jesus Christ<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
So far we've only talked about biblical times, but what about today? What about the 21st century? Do we have a true prophet amidst so much confusion?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Good question, and the answer is yes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After God's authority was lost, a long period of spiritual darkness covered the earth. There was no prophet, no revelation for all people, and no priesthood (if you want to know more about this period, click here).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, God being a loving Heavenly Father, He restored His gospel to the Earth again during the 19th century through the Prophet Joseph Smith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The priesthood, the power of God on Earth, was back, and remains to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How to recognize a false prophet or a true prophet?<\/h2>\n\n\n\nImage: Christ Ordaining the Twelve Apostles<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
After understanding all of this, we arrive at the reason you came to read this article. How can we recognize the true servants of God, who have received legitimate authority from God? How can we recognize false prophets and apostles?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Let's turn to the Scriptures. In Revelation 2:2 we read:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know your works, your hard work, and your patience; and that you cannot tolerate wicked people, and you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them liars.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scripture says that the members of the Church in Ephesus \u201ctested\u201d the false teachers (Revelation 2:2).<\/p>\n\n\n\nImage: The apostles Peter, James, and John appear to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The first test is based on the origin of the authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is, if a person is truly a prophet or apostle, he is able to prove his priesthood lineage (prove that he received the priesthood from someone who already possessed it) in a chronological regression that will end with Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery, who received the priesthood from Peter, James, and John, who received it from the same Savior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The second proof is that this leader was also sent by the governing body of the Church, those who hold the keys to the administration of God's kingdom on Earth. In addition to being sustained by the local or worldwide congregation, the Church needs to know who its leaders are (Doctrine and Covenants 42:11).<\/p>\n\n\n\nJesus and his apostles. Image: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints<\/mark><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
The third test is that this leader teaches what is in the Scriptures and is a true disciple of Jesus Christ. This person emanates spiritual power and is a representative of the Savior. If he preaches against the revelations, encourages discord, and sows evil, then he is not from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And now, an extra test to be certain that there is no false prophet disguised as a sheep among us (Matthew 7:15): the test of the Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Holy Ghost can teach us the truth of all things (Moroni 10:3\u20135). The Lord said, \u201cBy their fruits ye shall know them\u201d (Matthew 7:16). If we sincerely and faithfully inquire of God whether the leader was called by Him, then we will have a concrete and certain answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lord can answer whether a leader is His servant or not in several ways. When Joshua took Moses' place, the Jordan had to part so that the people could recognize him as their new leader (Joshua 3:7, 15-17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Elijah passed his mantle to Elisha, and his disciples saw in the new prophet an extraordinary manifestation (2 Kings 2:11, 14-15); and when Brigham Young succeeded Joseph Smith in the leadership of the Church, an unusual transfiguration occurred (History of the Church in the Fulness of Times, \u201cThe Twelve Assume Leadership of the Kingdom,\u201d p. 291).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most of the time, we will only serenely feel the holy mantle of the leadership calling rest upon the Lord's anointed ones during their special ministry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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