Ezekiel saw a day when the people would “seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.” (Ezekiel 7:26, KJV). Do people seek visions from the prophet today? Does President Monson give it? Do we receive the word of the Lord from our “ancients” (Elders)? Do priests speak the law? Or are we instead nourished on everchanging PR-firm-written policy?
They are a rebellious people, sons who break faith, children unwilling to obey the law of Jehovah, who say to the seers, See not! and to those with visions, Predict not what is right for us: flatter us; foresee a farce! Get out of the way; move aside, off the path! Cease confronting us with the Holy One of Israel! Therefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel: Because you have rejected this word, and rely on manipulation and double dealing, and on them are dependent, this iniquity will be to you as a perilous breach exposed in a high wall which suddenly and unexpectedly collapses. (Isaiah 30:9-13, Gileadi Translation.)
The word “prophet” is not a title, but a description. It is a term defined repeatedly and clearly in the scriptures, as is its opposite, “false prophet.” Modern Mormons are in the uncomfortable position of having to reconcile their tradition of equating the 15 governing men in the church to the description of prophet in an absolute absence of any of the associated gifts and responsibilities. These actions align very well to the scriptural description of false prophets.
LDS leaders after Joseph Smith have taught their own ideas and feelings as the word of God. They have promoted their own words and the decisions of their councils as equal to God’s word, and used this to rationalize a systemic turn away from the revelations given through Joseph Smith.