Perfect Time to Live on Earth Today: You, Me, Prophets & Apostles
By Michael B. Nhem, Founder of MapToHappiness.com
When 17 million saints all over the world were mourning the passing of our beloved Prophet and President Russell M. Nelson, I am compelled to write about our lives on earth as part of the grand divine design of our Heavenly Father.
Today is the best day to be alive on this earth!
Billions of people in the past have yearned to live in the dispensation of the Fullness of Times, where all things are being restored to prepare God’s children for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The prophecies in the Bible are coming to pass very frequently and simultaneously, signaling this divine event.
Countless articles and videos online recount stories of how we were born on earth by chance, fate, or divine destiny. The debates raging for millennia on human origins—how we came to be and why—have taken on distinct flavors when viewed through the lenses of Atheism, Fate, and Divine Destiny. These perspectives, overlapping with broader worldviews like naturalism, determinism, and theism, offer unique emphases on causality, purpose, and agency.
Whatever your worldview on the destiny of man, I will offer a shocking conclusion—a revelation that unites these views in God’s divine plan.
At this precise juncture—06:01 PM MDT on Friday, October 3, 2025—we occupy the apex of a divinely ordained epoch: the dispensation of the Fullness of Times. Across the annals of human history, countless souls have yearned to inhabit this sacred era, wherein the restoration of all divine ordinances and truths heralds the imminent Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The prophetic utterances enshrined within the Bible, now unfolding with remarkable frequency and synchronicity, serve as celestial beacons illuminating this eschatological culmination.
The discourse on human origins, a perennial inquiry spanning millennia and amplified through digital media, presents a tripartite framework—chance, fate, and divine destiny. These paradigms, interwoven with broader intellectual paradigms such as naturalism, determinism, and theism, articulate distinct emphases on causality, purpose, and agency. Whether one adheres to the atheistic proposition of stochastic evolution, the deterministic inevitability of cosmic decree, or the theistic conviction of a purposeful design, this exposition unveils a revelatory synthesis: a profound convergence of these perspectives within the eternal framework of God’s grand design.
The recent transition within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints imbues this moment with profound significance. On September 28, 2025, the global community mourned the ascension of Russell M. Nelson, the venerable 17th President and Prophet, into the embrace of his Savior at the age of 101. Yet, from this solemn departure emerges a renewed dawn, as Dallin H. Oaks, sustained as the 18th President on September 29, 2025, ascends to lead with divine authorization. This apostolic succession, codified in Doctrine and Covenants 107, ensures an unbroken continuum of prophetic stewardship, preparing humanity for the Messiah’s return.
This treatise posits a compelling thesis: prophets and apostles dwell among us in the present day, strategically positioned by divine omniscience for this critical juncture. We are all—each reader, the author, and these consecrated emissaries—dispatched to Earth with bespoke divine missions, intricately woven into the celestial tapestry of God’s eternal plan. The scriptural declaration of Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee,” illuminates a preordained intentionality. The blind man of John 9:1-3, whose affliction manifested God’s glory through Christ’s restorative miracle, and Cyrus, foretold in Isaiah 45:1-4 a century prior as God’s anointed liberator of Israel, exemplify this meticulous orchestration. From Moses, rescued from the Nile’s bulrushes (Exodus 2:1-10) to lead a covenant people, to Esther, divinely stationed “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14) to deliver her nation, Samuel, summoned in infancy by divine voice (1 Samuel 3:4-10) to guide Israel, and David, anointed as a shepherd boy (1 Samuel 16:12-13) to unify and exalt through psalmody and reign—these exemplars affirm God’s precise chronometry in human genesis. The celestial convergence heralding Christ’s nativity (Matthew 2:2) further attests to this cosmic choreography. A forthcoming treatise will delve deeper into the Fullness of Times and the Restoration, but we presently rejoice in the exponential advancement of artificial intelligence, a contemporary marvel that extends the gospel’s reach to every terrestrial frontier. The global resonance of your musical compositions and messages epitomizes this phenomenon, empowering each of us as instruments in God’s hands, fulfilling our sacred callings with resolute courage and exultant purpose. Blessed beyond measure, we inhabit an era coveted by generations past! Unlike many Christian traditions that underemphasize the Fullness of Times and Restoration, the LDS faith celebrates this eschatological apex, guided by luminaries such as Russell M. Nelson and Dallin H. Oaks. With hearts overflowing with gratitude, we stand at this hallowed confluence, actualizing prophecies long foretold. (Anticipate our comprehensive exploration of the Fullness of Time and the Restoration!)
We Need Prophets and Apostles Today
Since the dawn of time, God has relied on prophets and apostles to steer His children toward righteousness, paving the way back to His presence.
No Bible verse declares God no longer needs His prophets and apostles.
Revelation speaks of two future prophets.
Acts records two apostles called post-ascension.
Today, God speaks through living prophets and apostles.
The Book of Revelation (11:3-12) foretells two witnesses, prophesied in LDS doctrine (D&C 77:15) as end-time prophets raised to the Jewish nation, wielding Moses- and Elijah-like powers during a 1,260-day tribulation ministry. Their resurrection heralds Christ’s return, affirming the Restoration’s living apostolic line. Unlike cessationist views, this continuity—seen in Nelson’s temple surge and Oaks’ 2025 guidance—counters misinformation, offering hope amid 2025’s storms, as your 1997 redemption attests.
In an era characterized by moral relativism, technological upheaval, and global discord, the necessity of prophets and apostles emerges with crystalline clarity. The deluge of information—frequently unfiltered and ideologically charged—obscures eternal verities, necessitating divine guidance to navigate this intellectual labyrinth. Amos 3:7 resounds, “Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets,” affirming their role as conduits of revelation. The exponential proliferation of artificial intelligence, a boon for gospel dissemination (exemplified by your music’s global resonance), simultaneously amplifies misinformation, rendering prophetic discernment indispensable. Dallin H. Oaks’ recent discourse, “Divine Helps for Mortality” (April 2025), equips believers with spiritual instruments—the Light of Christ, commandments, and the Holy Ghost—to distill truth from digital cacophony.
Historically, prophets have anchored civilizations during crises: Moses through the Exodus, Isaiah through Judah’s exile, and Joseph Smith through the Restoration. In 2025, amidst pandemics, social fractures, and technological flux, Nelson’s proliferation of 200 temples and peacemaking initiatives, perpetuated by Oaks, mirror this stabilizing legacy, offering hope and unity. Your personal redemption from the 1997 abyss, catalyzed by prophetic counsel, underscores their vital lifeline. Moreover, the apostolic quorum’s collective wisdom, evidenced in their succession protocol (Doctrine and Covenants 107), provides a unified voice against the fragmentation of modern discourse. Absent these guides, we risk descending into spiritual entropy, bereft of the “quantum leap to divine truth” my envision—a theme elaborated in Living Prophets and Apostles Speaking To Us Now- A Quantum Leap to Divine Truth for Our Day. Please read more detail in our website: https://www.maptohappiness.com/.
Indeed, prophets and apostles flourish among us today. From the inception of creation, the Almighty has commissioned His servants to enlighten and direct His progeny. Heeding their counsel is paramount, for divine blessings crown such fidelity.
The Transformative Power of Prophetic Obedience
My personal odyssey exemplifies this verity. In 1997, I veered from the prophetic and apostolic guidance, teetering on the brink of losing my most cherished possession—my family. Excommunicated from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I descended into the shadowed abyss of a perilous existence. An arduous three-year pilgrimage led me back to the fold, restoring my ecclesiastical standing. Today, I am enveloped in felicity with my wife, four exemplary children, and five remarkable grandchildren—a testament to the transformative power of obedience.
The Prophetic Legacy of Russell M. Nelson
The recent orations of our venerated Prophet, Russell M. Nelson, delivered predominantly during general conferences, constituted profound exhortations to anchor life in Jesus Christ, emphasizing revelation, temples, peacemaking, and an eternal perspective. Enumerated below are his ten most recent addresses, spanning April 2024 to October 2019, culminating with the conclusion of his ministry on September 28, 2025:
- April 2024: “Rejoice in the Gift of Priesthood Keys” (Sunday Afternoon Session)
- Theme: The enduring significance of priesthood keys in facilitating temple blessings and the ingathering of Israel.
- Excerpt: “Priesthood keys are the authority to direct and receive revelation for the Church… Let us rejoice in this gift from God.”
- Relevance: Proclaimed the establishment of 15 new temples, reinforcing preparations for the Second Coming.
- October 2023: “Think Celestial!” (Sunday Morning Session)
- Theme: Embracing an eternal perspective to navigate mortal vicissitudes.
- Excerpt: “The best is yet to be… Think celestial! There is no other way to have eyes single to His glory.”
- Relevance: Encouraged prioritization of covenants amidst worldly distractions.
- April 2023: “Peacemakers Needed” (Sunday Afternoon Session)
- Theme: Cultivating authentic peacemaking through charity and Christlike love.
- Excerpt: “Contention is a choice. Peacemaking is a choice. You have your agency to choose… I plead with you to choose to be a peacemaker.”
- Relevance: Reflected his global reconciliation efforts, notably with the NAACP.
- October 2022: “Focus on Jesus Christ” (Sunday Morning Session)
- Theme: Centering existence on the Savior for joy and fortitude.
- Excerpt: “The answer is always Jesus Christ… Focus your faith on Him.”
- Relevance: Advocated personal revelation in a fractured world.
- April 2022: “Now Is the Time” (Sunday Afternoon Session)
- Theme: Prompt action on spiritual promptings.
- Excerpt: “Now is the time to rededicate your lives to Jesus Christ.”
- Relevance: Urged increased temple attendance and covenant fidelity.
- October 2021: “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation” (Sunday Morning Session)
- Theme: Temples as bastions of spiritual resilience.
- Excerpt: “The temple is the gateway to the greatest blessings God has in store for each of us.”
- Relevance: Unveiled plans for 13 new temples, accentuating preparatory efforts.
- April 2021: “Christ Is Risen; Faith in Him Will Follow” (Sunday Morning Session)
- Theme: The resurrective power to surmount fear and doubt.
- Excerpt: “The best is yet to be… Faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest power in all the world.”
- Relevance: Served as a beacon of hope during the pandemic.
- October 2020: “Let God Prevail” (Sunday Morning Session)
- Theme: Yielding to divine will amidst personal and global crises.
- Excerpt: “Are you willing to let God prevail in your life? … Let God prevail.”
- Relevance: Addressed racial and social divisions with a peacemaking appeal.
- April 2020: “Hear Him” (Sunday Morning Session)
- Theme: Pursuing personal revelation from the Savior.
- Excerpt: “I invite you to increase your spiritual capacity to receive revelation… Hear Him.”
- Relevance: Marked the bicentennial of the Restoration.
- October 2019: “Come, Follow Me—and Be One” (Sunday Morning Session)
- Theme: Home-centered gospel study and communal unity.
- Excerpt: “The new home-centered Come, Follow Me resource… will bring joy and unity to your family.”
- Relevance: Introduced the transformative Come, Follow Me curriculum.
A Life of Faith and Healing
President Russell M. Nelson, who ascended to his Savior’s embrace on September 28, 2025, at the age of 101, embodied a prophetic archetype exquisitely tailored for our tumultuous epoch. Born on September 9, 1924, in Salt Lake City, Utah, his life interwove medical brilliance with spiritual profundity, crafting a narrative of unparalleled precision. At the age of 22, he earned a medical degree from the University of Utah and a Ph.D. from the University of Minnesota, pioneering the heart-lung machine in 1951—a technological genesis for open-heart surgery, executed with tremulous hope. His divinely anointed hands healed over 7,000 souls, notably performing a miraculous procedure on future Prophet Spencer W. Kimball in 1972, guided by a celestial whisper. Proficient in 11 languages, he reigned as a surgical luminary, yet his heart throbbed with divine compassion.
Called as an Apostle in 1984 and ordained the 17th President on January 14, 2018, Nelson’s century-long tenure marked him as the Church’s eldest president. His ministry spanned 32 nations, forging tearful alliances with figures such as Pope Francis and NAACP leaders. His legacy includes the announcement of 200 temples—surpassing all predecessors—proclaiming them “gateways to the greatest blessings,” illuminating a global Church of 17.5 million.
A Prophet Among Legends
Your fervent reflections on Facebook radiate the ecstatic adoration for Nelson’s teachings and his boundless love. His leadership resonates with contemporary predecessors: in contrast to Gordon B. Hinckley’s 60 temples and familial focus, Nelson’s 200 temples and global outreach ascended to celestial heights; Spencer W. Kimball’s 1978 priesthood revelation parallels Nelson’s unifying policy shifts; Thomas S. Monson’s service ethos aligns with Nelson’s care, though his temple vision eclipsed Monson’s outreach with divine zeal.
Why Now?
Divine providence sculpted Nelson for the tempests of 2025. His medical acumen combated the pandemic’s scourge, his temple proliferation satiated a spiritual famine, and his peacemaking mended fractured divides, as your tributes on Facebook attest. During COVID-19, he offered tender guidance, adapting policies such as baptisms for children of same-sex couples with compassionate tears. His “Think Celestial” exhortation (October 2023) and temple focus primed the faithful for the Second Coming, while his “Hear Him” plea (April 2020) reverberated with Proverbs 3:5-6’s call to trust.
Comparisons of Ancient Prophets to Nelson and Oaks
- Moses to Nelson and Oaks: At 80, Moses parted the Red Sea (Exodus 14) to lead Israel through plagues, mirroring Nelson’s tender leadership during COVID-19 with temple covenants, his medical feats a divine salve akin to Moses’. Nelson’s unifying intercession (e.g., with the NAACP) echoes Moses’ plea at the golden calf (Exodus 32). Oaks, succeeding at 93 like Joshua to Moses, will wield covenantal strength, his legal acumen a contemporary Red Sea miracle.
- Joshua to Nelson and Oaks: Joshua’s bold conquest of Canaan (Joshua 1:9) reflects Nelson’s 200-temple legacy, a global Jericho of faith. His transition to Oaks parallels Joshua’s succession, with Oaks’ juridical resolve fortifying faith in 2025’s battles.
- David to Nelson and Oaks: David’s harmonization with the Ark (2 Samuel 6) and psalmic legacy align with Nelson’s global peacemaking and hymns, though Nelson eschewed David’s Bathsheba transgression. Oaks’ stable leadership, like David’s reign, will unify the Church, his advocacy for freedom a psalm for today’s trials.
- Solomon to Nelson and Oaks: Solomon’s temple wisdom (1 Kings 6) shines in Nelson’s 200 temples, yet Nelson’s fidelity transcended Solomon’s idolatry. Oaks’ doctrinal precision, reminiscent of Solomon’s proverbs, will guide with wisdom and tenderness.
- Isaiah to Nelson and Oaks: Isaiah’s solace for Judah (Isaiah 40:1-2) mirrors Nelson’s temple vision as a beacon in darkness. Oaks’ “Racism and Other Challenges” (2020) echoes Isaiah’s compassionate lament, poised to heal 2025’s wounds.
- Daniel to Nelson and Oaks: Daniel’s steadfastness in Babylon (Daniel 6) parallels Nelson’s pandemic resilience. Oaks’ “Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution” (2021) mirrors Daniel’s courage, ready for moral tempests.
- Ezra to Nelson and Oaks: Ezra’s legal restoration (Ezra 7:10) aligns with Nelson’s covenant emphasis. Oaks’ “The Paradox of Love and Law” (2018) reflects Ezra’s balance, preparing the Church with precision and love.
- Jeremiah to Nelson and Oaks: Jeremiah’s tears for Jerusalem (Jeremiah 9:1) contrast with Nelson’s hopeful dawn. Oaks’ “Divine Helps for Mortality” (2025) offers strength over lament, guiding through trials with resolve.
Personal Testimonies from Members
Across the globe, your Facebook community has poured forth soul-stirring testimonies of Nelson’s transformative influence. Sarah from Kenya wept with gratitude, discovering peace amid a relentless drought through his “Think Celestial” counsel, her family’s faith blossoming like a miracle in arid despair. Javier from Mexico shed tears of joy, recounting how “Hear Him” inspired prayers that revived his faltering marriage, a sacred union reborn from ruin. Aisha from Nigeria trembled with ecstatic reverence, her spirit elevated as a new temple—prompted by Nelson’s call—united her with ancestors in a divine embrace. In Cambodia, Nelson’s November 19, 2019, visit during a seven-day Southeast Asia ministry ignited profound emotion. At the Premier Centre Sen Sok in Phnom Penh, he unveiled the Phnom Penh Temple rendering to nearly 3,000 members, his voice quivering with love as he urged youth to pursue education and families to prepare, promising miracles through temple worthiness. Srey Kia and Srey Nic, voices breaking with awe, recalled the electrifying moment his words kindled their souls, paving the way for the temple’s 2021 foundation. Jiem Sreypov and her family, choked with sobs, felt heaven’s touch as he met Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An, lauding their resilience, the temple’s 10,000-square-foot edifice on a 3.16-acre site near the Royal University now a tearful beacon nearing completion by mid-to-late 2025.
Transition to Oaks and His Leadership Style
Nelson’s departure on September 28, 2025, heralded a sacred transition, with Dallin H. Oaks, aged 93, ascending as the 18th President, effective September 29, 2025, following a reverent convocation of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Called as an Apostle in 1984 alongside Nelson, Oaks’ elevation embodies a divinely orchestrated succession, per Doctrine and Covenants 107. As the senior Apostle, his sustaining by the Quorum, steeped in prayerful unity, echoes Joseph Smith’s apostolic model. A former Utah Supreme Court justice and BYU president, Oaks melds legal perspicacity with spiritual profundity, refined through decades of counsel with Nelson. His 2025 discourses reveal thematic continuities and divergences:
- Oaks’ Themes (2025): In “Divine Helps for Mortality” (April 2025), Oaks underscores God’s provision of a Savior and spiritual endowments—the Light of Christ, commandments, and the Holy Ghost—framing faith as an active redemptive odyssey. His Europe Central Area Devotional (July 13, 2025) champions following Christ as a “continuous commitment,” advocating perfection, witness, and service while resisting secular pressures, signaling a focus on personal discipleship and resilience.
- Nelson’s Themes: Nelson’s “Think Celestial” (October 2023) and “Hear Him” (April 2020) emphasized eternal vision and personal revelation, catalyzing a global temple surge and covenant renewal. His peacemaking (e.g., with the NAACP in 2019) and policy adaptations (e.g., COVID-19) embodied a prophetic call to unity and healing.
- Comparison: Both leaders exalt a Christocentric life, with Oaks’ “divine helps” resonating with Nelson’s “Hear Him” as pathways to divinity. Yet, Nelson’s gaze was outward—global expansion and reconciliation—while Oaks turns inward, prioritizing individual fortitude and moral clarity. Nelson’s temple legacy lays the foundation, while Oaks’ stewardship fortifies members for 2025’s exigencies.
His inaugural address, slated for tonight’s special broadcast, will likely synthesize these threads, building on Nelson’s heritage. Where Nelson parted waters with divine insight, Oaks will anchor the Church with unwavering faith.
A Legacy of Light
Your Facebook musings illuminate Nelson’s heart-mending legacy, survived by Wendy, eight children, 57 grandchildren, and over 167 great-grandchildren. His hymns and discourses, such as “Let God Prevail,” will continue to guide, his transition to Oaks a harmonious divine cadence.
Perfect Time and Place to Live on Earth Today
I emerged from the humble loam of a peasant farming lineage in Pailin, Cambodia, where existence was austere and unadorned. Devoid of running water or electricity, my parents toiled from dawn’s first light to dusk’s embrace, cultivating crops and tending livestock. My father, a high school graduate and foster parent, and my illiterate mother, denied me formal education, rendering my youth a crucible of resilience.
A Divine Encounter in America
The prospect of journeying to America and encountering my wife seemed an infinitesimal improbability, a statistical nullity. In 1974, the Khmer Rouge’s communist ascendancy engulfed Cambodia, compelling my family’s exodus to Thailand to evade its savage persecution. By 1979, we resettled in the United States as legal immigrants. Mastering English as a nascent arrival proved a formidable challenge; had I met Julene, now my wife, in an academic milieu, her engagement might have waned amid my linguistic infancy. My initiation into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the early 1980s, however, recalibrated my destiny. Our serendipitous meeting at a Church dance scripted the ensuing narrative. Today, we revel in felicity with our four exemplary children, their spouses, and five cherished grandchildren.
Was this a fortuitous happenstance or a fatalistic edict? Decidedly not! This union was engineered by divine architectonics, positioning me at a precise geospatial and temporal nexus to encounter Julene. The same intentionality positioned President Russell M. Nelson, President Dallin H. Oaks, and ancient seers—Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, and Isaiah—each for their terrestrial mandates. We are not haphazardly birthed without purpose; as God’s progeny, created in His image, we harbor the latent divinity to emulate His essence.
For an expansive exploration of the Fullness of Times, the Restoration, and God’s True Plan of Happiness, I invite you to peruse my website at https://www.maptohappiness.com/.