Elder Allen D. Haynie, General Authority Seventy, spoke during the Saturday morning session of April 2023 general conference. He spoke of how following God’s chosen prophet leads to safety and strength, especially as the adversary’s influence increases in the latter days. The following is a summary of what he said.
Elder Haynie’s conference talk summary
Knowing the earth has a living prophet changes everything.
“A prophet is someone God has personally prepared, called, corrected, inspired, rebuked, sanctified and sustained. That is why we are never spiritually at risk in following prophetic counsel.”
World conditions can cause panic, but “as God’s covenant children, we do not need to chase after this or that to know how to navigate through these troubled times. We do not need to fear. … The key is to follow the living prophet.”
With a sacred charge to prepare the rising generation amid the adversary’s influence, “we cannot be a source of confusion about the importance of following prophetic counsel.”
“Our seemingly small deviations, quiet neglect or whispered criticisms in response to prophetic counsel may result in our only walking dangerously near the edge of the covenant path.”
These deviations, magnified with the adversary’s influence, may cause one to leave the covenant path altogether.
But those who fall short in their efforts to follow the prophet can begin again to follow President Russell M. Nelson’s counsel.
“We were anxious to come to the earth at this time, having confidence that we would not be left to stumble when confronted by the adversary’s increasingly darker and more confusing mists.”
Notable quotes
“Knowing by revelation that there is a living prophet on the earth changes everything.”
“A prophet is someone God has personally prepared, called, corrected, inspired, rebuked, sanctified and sustained. That is why we are never spiritually at risk in following prophetic counsel.”
“The key is to follow the living prophet.”
See the full text of Elder Haynie’s talk: ‘A Living Prophet for the Latter Days’
Who is Elder Haynie?
- Elder Allen D. Haynie was sustained as a General Authority Seventy on April 4, 2015. At the time of this call, he had been serving in the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy in the North America West Area.
- Elder Haynie received both a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1982 and a Juris Doctor in 1985, both from Brigham Young University.
- In his professional life, Elder Haynie had a one-year clerkship with the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, was a partner with Latham and Watkins law firm, and was later a partner with his brother in Haynie Law Group in San Diego, California
- Born in Logan, Utah, Elder Haynie raised six children with his wife, Deborah Ruth Hall, in the San Diego area.
What has Elder Haynie done recently?
- During the October 2015 general conference, he taught that repentance works and that turning to the Savior through His Atonement, though it may not be easy, is worth it.
- Elder Haynie presided over the groundbreaking of the Mendoza Argentina Temple on Dec. 17, 2020, and offered the dedicatory prayer on the site.
- In a devotional at Brigham Young University–Hawaii, Elder Haynie testified that the companionship of the Holy Ghost will lead us back to the safety of our heavenly parents.
Read more of Elder Haynie’s general conference addresses.
