To Latter-day Saints, the concept of seership is a beautiful one yet also tricky. Latter-day Saints today sustain the top leaders of the Church as “prophets, seers, and revelators.” These concepts would seem to most to be similar if not the same, but certain texts of The Book of Mormon make distinctions between them and explain their roles.

First, the Book of Mormon states that a seer is one that is commanded to look into “interpreters” or the Urim and Thummim to translate and reveal texts that become scripture (Mosiah 8:13). Ammon explains that “a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest” Mosiah 8:17). The Book of Mormon further declares that a “seer is greater than a prophet” (Mosiah 8:15). “A seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except he should possess the power of God” (Mosiah 8:16).

In essence:

• Prophets are those who are called by God to deliver His messages and teachings, guiding His Church and its members.
• Seers possess the ability to see, with spiritual insight, things that ordinary sight does not reveal, including future events or deeper meanings of spiritual truths through the Urim and Thummim.
• Revelators are those who make known or disclose God's divine truths and doctrines, shedding light on principles that help lead to salvation.

Joseph Smith’s revelations expand this concept from the Book of Mormon to include many, many more people. The text of Doctrine & Covenants 130 reads in part as follows:

This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s. Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known.

What unfathomable and invaluable treasures await us when we receive our own stones and become seers ourselves?