Limhi rises to declare true principles to the people concerning a way out of their dilemma. As both political and spiritual leader, he exercises authority on behalf of the people. Will they choose to follow his counsel? Consider the statements of latter-day prophets on this important subject. President George Albert Smith declared:
The path of safety is to follow Church leaders. We are living not only in the day in which [Heavenly Father] has spoken, but we are offered the opportunity to listen to the voices of men who receive his inspiration when they teach us. If therefore we fall into and by forbidden paths we will not be able to blame anybody but ourselves, because if we are teachable, if we are humble, if we are willing to do what the Lord would have us do, we have the information at hand, not only in the records that have been handed down to us by those who have given their lives that we might have the truth, but we also have the privilege of listening to the voices of living oracles who are as unselfish and faithful as those that we revere because of the records that they have left behind. (The Teachings of George Albert Smith, ed. Robert McIntosh and Susan McIntosh [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1996], 68)
President Howard W. Hunter confirmed this truth as well: “If we follow the counsel of Church leaders we will not be led astray. If we follow the advice, counsel, and teachings of the leaders of the Church in their instruction to us, we will not go amiss in that which is important for our own personal salvation and exaltation” (The Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, ed. Clyde J. Williams [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1997], 223).