The preeminent duty of a prophet is to bear witness of Jesus Christ, for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy (see Revelation 19:10; Teachings, pp. 119, 160). Some four thousand years before time’s meridian, Adam was told of the coming of Jesus the Messiah into the world (Moses 6:51-68). Approximately one thousand years later Enoch saw in vision the Son of Man lifted up on the cross and crucified for the sins of the world (Moses 7:55). Noah commanded a wicked generation to “repent … and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, even as our Fathers, and ye shall receive the Holy Ghost” (Moses 8:24; italics added).
Abraham saw in vision the glorious day of the coming of the Son of Man and was made glad thereby (JST, Genesis 15:11-12; Helaman 8:17; John 8:56). Nephi, son of Helaman, therefore explained that “there were many before the days of Abraham who were called by the order of God, yea, even after the order of his Son; and this that it should be shown unto the people, a great many thousand years before his coming, that even redemption should come unto them. And now I would that ye should know, that even since the days of Abraham there have been many prophets that have testified these things.” (Helaman 8:18-19.)
Indeed, the Apostle Peter spoke of Christ as Judge of both quick and dead and added: “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:43; cf. Jacob 7:11; Mosiah 13:33; 3 Nephi 20:24). Indeed, he testified that such was the witness of “all [the] holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21).