Question: Why are there no women prophets in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints today?

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Questions

== The Old and New Testaments talk of women prophets. Why are there no women prophets in the church today?

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Answer

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Every one of us should seek the Spirit of the Lord in learning and discerning our path through this life, and is not this the spirit of prophecy? Through the Spirit we are promised that we shall be led to all truth, and is not this the Spirit of Revelation? If one looks around at their congregation they will find men and women who have developed this gift. We call the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles prophets, seers, and revelators, for they only have the call to receive such holy promptings by which the Church is to be led. However, we all have the need to be prophets, seers and revelators for ourselves, our families, and for our callings in the Church.

The Bible mentions a number of prophetesses. In the Old Testament, we have Miriam (Exodus 15꞉20), Deborah (Judges 4꞉4), Huldah (2 Kings 22꞉14,2 Chronicles 34꞉22), Noadiah (Nehemiah 6꞉14). The New Testament mentions Anna (Luke 2꞉36). So why do we not see women designated as "prophetesses" today?

What is a prophet?

People often regard a "prophet" as an office to which one is formally called and set apart. Latter-day Saints often refer to the President of the Church as "The Prophet," although they are not technically the same thing. In ancient days it was not possible to instantly communicate with the world as it is today. There were multiple prophets on the earth who communicated the Lord's will to the people for whom they were responsible. For example, there were prophets simultaneously in the New and the Old Worlds. Today, however, it is possible to have one prophet who is responsible for communicating the Lord's will to the worldwide church. The fact that there is a person designated as "The Prophet" for the Church does not preclude others from having the gift of prophecy.

From the Bible Dictionary definition for "Prophet," we read the following:

...In certain cases prophets predicted future events, e.g., there are the very important prophecies announcing the coming of Messiah's kingdom; but as a rule prophet was a forthteller rather than a foreteller. In a general sense a prophet is anyone who has a testimony of Jesus Christ by the Holy Ghost, as in Num. 11: 25-29; Rev. 19: 10.

—Bible Dictionary, Prophet

Surely the General Auxiliary Presidency sisters who speak at General Conference are forthtellers (prophets) and surely all who have a testimony of the Saviour are prophets. Prophecy is a gift of the spirit, not a priesthood office. These were charismatic/spiritual designations, not formal/official positions in a church hierarchy. Women as well as men in all levels of the church today are blessed with this gift of the spirit to receive revelation. We simply don't recognize them formally.

Why are there no female prophets today?

Knowing that any righteous individual can have gifts of the spirit, one really ought to ask: "Why do you not notice the females in the Church who are prophets?" The Lord has asked His people in ages past, and today to be:

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19꞉5-6)

He has also said that this is "a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" (1 Peter 2꞉9)

Moses desired all the Lord's people to be prophets, he said:

Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! (Numbers 11)