Moses' counsel to the children of Israel to not live by bread alone, but by every word "that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord" (Duet. 8:4) created a metaphor that was often repeated by those who followed, including the Savior.
A day after miraculously feeding the 5,000, Jesus was followed by many who would have their bread provided for them, as manna had been provided for the children of Israel anciently."Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
"For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world. . . .
"I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:32-33,35.)
Elder Howard W. Hunter, then of the Quorum of the Twelve, speaking at the October 1972 general conference, continued the metaphor as he compared spiritual hunger with famine.
"Famine was one of the common scourges of Old Testament times, and people understood the devastating consequences of crop failure and starving people," he explained.
"Amos brought this understanding into sharp focus by his prediction of a spiritual famine. He said: `. . . not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord.' (Amos 8:11.)
"Long before this time Moses had written: `Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live.' (Deut. 8:3.)
"Present-day reports of confusion and frustration of individuals and religious institutions, as they attempt to resolve their religious doubts and conflicts, remind us of these words of Amos: `They shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, and shall not find it.' (Amos 8:12.)
"They seek to find the solution without building on the rock of revelation, as the Lord said must be done, if the gates of hell are not to prevail against it. (See Matt. 16:17-18.) This problem has engaged the minds of good and sincere men before and since the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ in this dispensation."
"Most important is the fact that down through its history, including this very day, the Church has had a prophet, seer, and revelator. At the head of the Church is Jesus Christ, who directs His prophet. . . . The more than three million members of the Church do not have to listen to an uncertain trumpet. They can believe the voice of their leaders, knowing they are guided by the Lord. . . .
"There is hope - God does live - and there is a believable voice to those who have faith and the will to believe."
