Talk Preparation Guide for "Follow the Prophet; He Knows the Way"

This talk teaches that following Jesus Christ includes following His living prophet. Elder Michael John U. Teh shows that discipleship is not casual or occasional but a covenant path that shapes our choices, our family culture, and our response to trials. Through personal experiences, prophetic teachings, and scripture, he testifies that gospel culture may require us to leave behind traditions that conflict with covenants, that the Savior strengthens us through His Atonement, and that as we reflect Christ’s light we can bless others. The talk culminates in a clear witness that God leads His Church today through living prophets, seers, and revelators.

Topics

Choose to follow Jesus Christ through His living prophet

Elder Teh centers his message on the simple but demanding principle of following the prophet as a way of following the Savior. He teaches that true discipleship is a continuous commitment that guides every part of life.

“Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.”

“Follow the prophet; he knows the way.”

“Following Christ is not a casual or occasional practice. It is a continuous commitment and way of life that should guide us at all times and in all places. His teachings and His example define the path for every disciple of Jesus Christ. And all are invited to this path.”

“My dear brothers and sisters, especially you, my dear young friends, when we follow their teachings and examples, we are following our Savior, Jesus Christ.”

Key Points:

Jesus invites disciples to follow Him even when that requires sacrifice.
Following the prophet is a practical way to follow Jesus Christ.
Discipleship is not occasional; it is a continuous way of life.
The teachings and example of Christ define the path for every disciple.
Following prophetic counsel helps members stay on the covenant path.

Experiences:

When have you been blessed by acting on prophetic counsel even when it required sacrifice?
What is one teaching from a living prophet that has shaped your daily life?
Have you ever hesitated to follow counsel at first but later saw the wisdom in it?
How has following the prophet helped you feel closer to Jesus Christ?
What experience could you share about choosing commitment over convenience in discipleship?

Embrace gospel culture by keeping your covenants

Elder Teh explains that gospel culture is rooted in the plan of salvation, God’s commandments, and the words of living prophets. He shares how his family had to let go of traditions that conflicted with the gospel and learned that embracing gospel culture means keeping covenants.

“When my parents joined the Church, little did they know that they were embracing yet another set of values and traditions—even the gospel culture, based on the plan of salvation, God’s commandments, and the words of living prophets.”

“Over time, as our family strived to fully embrace the gospel, my parents discovered that some of our well-loved traditions were not consistent with gospel culture.”

“I am so grateful that my parents exercised faith and chose to keep their covenants.”

“This experience taught me that embracing gospel culture simply meant keeping our covenants.”

“The gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to change. ‘Repent’ is its most frequent message, and repenting means giving up all of our practices—personal, family, ethnic, and national—that are contrary to the commandments of God.”

“The traditions or culture or way of life of a people inevitably include some practices that must be changed by those who wish to qualify for God’s choicest blessings.”

Key Points:

Gospel culture is founded on the plan of salvation, commandments, and prophetic teachings.
Some family, ethnic, or social traditions may conflict with gospel living.
Choosing the gospel may bring pressure from family and friends.
Repentance includes giving up practices that are contrary to God’s commandments.
Keeping covenants may require a long process of change, but it brings spiritual progress and blessings.

Experiences:

Have you or your family ever had to change a tradition or habit to better align with the gospel?
When have you felt pressure to hold on to something that did not fit your covenants?
What does "gospel culture" look like in your home?
How have your covenants helped you decide between social expectations and discipleship?
What personal example could you share about repentance leading to greater peace?

Rely on the Savior’s Atonement to endure trials

Through visits with members facing serious illness, Elder Teh testifies that Jesus Christ gives strength to endure suffering. The Atonement not only redeems from sin but also enables disciples to bear mortal challenges with hope and peace.

“My intention was to minister to others. However, at the end of my visits, it felt like I was the one being ministered to.”

“Jesus Christ strengthened each of these individuals to endure their trials.”

“Our Savior experienced and suffered the fulness of all mortal challenges. … He therefore knows our struggles, our heartaches, our temptations, and our suffering, for He willingly experienced them all as an essential part of His Atonement.”

“And because of this, His Atonement empowers Him to succor us—to give us the strength to bear it all.”

Key Points:

The Savior understands every kind of mortal pain and challenge.
Through His Atonement, Jesus Christ can strengthen people in the middle of suffering.
Faithful members can face severe trials without bitterness or despair.
Ministering often reveals the quiet strength the Lord gives His people.
The enabling power of the Atonement helps disciples endure, not just be forgiven.

Experiences:

When have you felt the Savior strengthen you in a trial you could not handle alone?
Have you ever visited or ministered to someone and left feeling that you were the one who was blessed?
What experience has taught you that the Atonement includes enabling power as well as forgiveness?
How have you seen someone endure hardship with faith and brightness?
What personal story could help listeners trust Christ more in their own trials?

Reflect the Savior’s light through your example and service

Using the image of sunlight reflected from a nearby building, Elder Teh teaches that disciples can reflect Christ’s light into the lives of others. As members follow the Savior, He uses them to help others feel His love.

“Upon further investigation, I learned that the sun’s rays were being reflected into our apartment by the tall building in front of us.”

“I was reminded that when we strive to follow the Savior, He will use us to bless others.”

“Through our example and service to others, they will feel the Savior’s love for them.”

“Behold I am the light; I have set an example for you.”

“Hold up your light that it may shine unto the world,”

“Behold, I am the light which ye shall hold up—that which ye have seen me do.”

Key Points:

Jesus Christ is the true Light.
Disciples are called to hold up His light to the world.
Members bless others as they reflect the Savior through their actions.
Simple examples and acts of service can help others feel Christ’s love.
Following Christ equips disciples to become instruments in His hands.

Experiences:

When has someone else’s example helped you feel the Savior’s love?
What simple act of service have you seen bring light into someone’s life?
How has the Lord used you, perhaps unexpectedly, to bless another person?
What experience could you share about trying to reflect Christ rather than draw attention to yourself?
When have you felt joy from being an instrument in the Lord’s hands?

Trust prophets, seers, and revelators to see beyond the present

Elder Teh teaches that prophets are not out of touch but are watchmen who see what others cannot. He bears testimony that the Lord leads His Church today through living prophets, seers, and revelators.

“It is interesting to me that some people would think that God’s prophets live in the past and are not attuned to the times. Everything I know of prophets is the opposite.”

“They actually see into the future as watchmen on a tower.”

“A seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed.”

“I testify that we are led today by a living prophet, President Dallin H. Oaks.”

“He, along with the counselors in the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, are indeed prophets, seers, and revelators.”

Key Points:

Prophets are spiritually attuned and help prepare the Church for the future.
A seer is given divine insight into things past, present, and future.
Prophetic leadership is evidence of God’s continuing guidance.
Members can trust the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve as prophets, seers, and revelators.
Following prophetic teachings is an act of faith in Jesus Christ.

Experiences:

When have you seen prophetic counsel prove wise before you understood why?
What conference message or prophetic warning has become more meaningful over time?
How would you explain to someone why living prophets matter today?
What personal experience has strengthened your testimony of prophets, seers, and revelators?
How has sustaining Church leaders brought direction or peace into your life?