What is a prophet?
The word first appears in the Bible in an unlikely place. Abraham and his wife Sarah have migrated south, to a place called Gerar. Just as they have done in other places, Abraham introduces Sarah as his sister, worried that the local men would kill him if they knew she was his wife. The local king, Abimelech, sends for Sarah but is warned by God not to touch her, because she is Abraham’s wife. God’s message to Abimelech is direct: “Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.” Abimelech protests that he meant no harm. “In the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.” God acknowledges Abimelech’s integrity and reassures him that He is revealing this information to prevent him from making a grave mistake (Genesis 20:3-6). Then, He identifies Sarah’s husband as a prophet and explains what a prophet can do:
Restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live.
Genesis 20:7
The first reference to a prophet in the Old Testament isn’t about foretelling the future or even preaching the gospel. It’s about prayer. Abraham is a prophet, God says, and he will pray for you.
Abimelech takes Sarah home and gives Abraham and Sarah money and other possessions to compensate for his error. Abraham prays for Abimelech, and God blesses him. (See Genesis 20:14-18.)
God promised Abraham, “In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). This event represents one fulfillment of that promise, as Abraham prays for one family, and that family is healed by God (Genesis 20:17).
Prophets pray for the people they serve.
- Nephi wrote, “I pray continually for [my people] by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night, because of them; and I cry unto my God in faith, and I know that he will hear my cry” (2 Nephi 33:3).
- Amulek invited Alma into his home, because an angel told him Alma was a prophet of God. He later testified to his neighbors, “He hath blessed mine house; … yea, even all my kindred hath he blessed, and the blessing of the Lord hath rested upon us according to the words which he spake” (Alma 10:11).
- Mormon wrote about the people he had led as a military commander: “I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them” (Mormon 3:12).
Jesus set the example of praying for others. After warning Peter that he would be tempted, He offered these words of encouragement: “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not” (Luke 22:32). After His resurrection, He prayed for a group of people in the Americas, who testified, “No one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father” (3 Nephi 17:17).
President Dallin H. Oaks recently said, “As your leader, I pray for what our Heavenly Father wants for each of us.” He added, “We need one another’s prayers. I feel the positive effect of your prayers. I am thankful, and I love you” (“Coming Closer to Jesus Christ,” Brigham Young University Devotional Address, 10 February 2026).
Today, I will follow the examples of Abraham and other prophets by praying for others. I will remember that prayer is one of the ways that Abraham and his descendants can fulfill the covenant to bless all of the families of the world, including our own families.
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