Follow the Prophet

Eastern winds!  Perilous voyages!  Shipwreck!  Deception!  Endangered Lives!  ...What am I babbling on about, you ask?  Just Acts 27.  It's a pretty cool story and all of the above mentioned exclamations are included.  Check it out.  Tell your friends.  

It all started when Paul and company were sailing toward Rome, and they landed in a place called the fair havens.  They were going to continue their voyage, when Paul gave this prophecy and warning:

"Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives" (Acts 27: 10). 

Did the centurion listen to Paul?  Spoiler alert, they didn't.  They listened to the master of the ship instead.  Longish story short, a soft wind blew and they had almost made it when along came a storm.  They had to lighten the ship and endure great tempests.  Paul came out after awhile and told them to be of good cheer, that no man would lose their life.  

But... they still didn't really buy it.  The centurion eventually started to listen to Paul and stayed on the boat.  Paul prophesied that they would lose the ship, but all 200 some people would survive.  When all seemed lost, they cast themselves into the sea and every one of them escaped safe to land, fulfilling Paul's prophecy.  

Paul made 4 prophecies in this chapter and every one of them came to pass.  These men went through a perilous voyage and almost lost their lives.  But they were able to make it through with the help of a prophet of God.  

Sometimes we too have eastern winds blowing at us.  Life is hard.  But God hasn't left us in this tempest alone.  We too are blessed to have a prophet of God here on earth today to guide us through.  This man is Thomas S. Monson.  Sometimes the prophet's direction does not seem likely or logical (Paul's predictions may have been hard to believe), but it is always for our good, and it is always from God.  This chapter teaches me to follow the prophet.  And when I do, I can be of good cheer :)