Prophet vs. President

President Hinckley's CNN appearance has drawn the usual criticisms from ex-Mormons, anti-Mormons, and NOMs. Chief among them is the notion that sure, Hinckley is a nice guy, and an effective CEO, but why does the world's Prophet only receive divine revelation relating to such minor things (in the grand scheme) as, say, the building of the Conference Center? Here's the crux of this matter, and it bears stating. As I see it we have no official doctrine that states that Hinckley is God's one and only prophet for the world. If he were, then yes, you might think God had more important things to communicate. The problem is the blurring of Prophet and President of the Church among members. Prophecy is a spiritual gift and as such is entitled to all those whom God chooses. I believe that there are many "prophets" who receive inspiration (perhaps without knowing it) that furthers God's work. Surely it is the will of God that the West do more to relieve Third World suffering. For communicating this truth with us, people like Bob Geldof and Bono are "prophets". There are many others, known and unknown. When we speak of the President of the Church as being "the Prophet" we mean that he is entitled to the gift of prophecy for the Church. From True to the Faith: "we sustain the President of the Church as our prophet, seer, and revelator—the only person on the earth who receives revelation to guide the entire Church." Note that last phrase - the Prophet is the only one on Earth who receives revelation for the Church. I do not believe that his sphere extends (at least not yet) to the world. Rare exceptions are those few times when a "proclamation to the world" is specifically made. The Prophet's "only" unique position in the world is as President of the Church. This is his priesthood office. About this office, True to the Faith says: "The Lord guides His covenant people today through the President of the Church, whom we sustain as prophet, seer, and revelator. The President of the Church presides over the entire Church." Again, his calling is to guide the Latter-day Saints, not anyone else. We leave ourselves open to criticism when we overbake our claims. The Lord inspires President Hinckey to guide our Church, and something like the Conference Center is the fruit of that. In the wake of the tsunami disaster I pray that God is guiding other "prophets" among governments, religious organisations, and relief agencies to do his will. This is not Gordon B. Hinckley's job, so you anti-Mormons quit whining, and you TBM's stop claiming something for the Prophet that he doesn't claim himself.