A
PROPHETESS
In ancient Israel, the role of
prophets was distinct from any priesthood office. While priests served in the
temple, offered sacrifices, and conducted sacred ordinances, prophets held a
different, more fluid role that extended beyond formal hierarchies. Unlike
priesthood offices rooted in lineage or ritual duties, prophetic callings came
through direct divine appointment, given to those chosen by God, regardless of
their lineage, position, or even gender. Those with prophetic gifts were known
as prophets or prophetesses and served as Gd’s messengers, offering guidance,
correction, and hope in times of crisis.
Prophets were tasked with calling
the people back to their covenantal relationship with God. Their mission was to
realign Israel with divine will, often through direct communication with the
Lord, who revealed His will to them. President Russell M. Nelson has observed, “This
is why [the Lord] sends prophets, to remind us to be anchored to Him and to
guide us in navigating the complexities of our times.” In times of darkness or
doubt, prophets were and continue to be sources of divine light, showing the
way to the Savior and encouraging covenant faithfulness.
Today, we recognize that the
living prophet, President Nelson, holds all the keys of the priesthood, exercising
prophetic authority for the entire Church. Anciently, those gifted with the
spirit of prophecy were also known as prophets and prophetesses, embodying a
tradition of divinely inspired leaders who brought God’s will and to His
people.
Huldah was not the only woman
called to this sacred rule. Throughout Israel’s history, God chose other women
to stand as prophets, each playing a crucial part in the spiritual journey of
the nation. Deborah, both prophetess and judge, prophesied Israel’s victory
over the Canaanite general Sisera, calling forth Barak to lead the army and
warning that ultimate victory would come through the hand of a woman) see
Judges 4:4-9). Miriam, also a prophetess, led the women of Israel in worship
after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, lifting the spirits of the people
through her son of deliverance (see Exodus 15:20-21). Isaiah’s wife is referred
to as “the prophetess” (Isaiah 8:3), though her contributions are less detailed
in the scriptural text. Like these women, Huldah had a calling that was
recognized and respected, and her counsel was sought in a time of national
significance. Each of these female prophets, chosen by the Lord for a specific
purpose, reminds us that God’s truth is not bound by human conventions or
societal roles. (Lori L. Denning, “Huldah: A Prophetess of Judgment and Reformation:
2 Kings 22,” in Seeing Women in the Old Testament: What Scriptural Heroines
Teach Us About Courage, Faith, and Action [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book,
2025], 149-51)
