I remember once we were on a choir trip and we all sat in a big circle, and someone started at the other end, with some short phrase. It went from person to person until it had finally made it's way to me. It came back as something crazy like, "peacocks live on the roof". I remember we all laughed hardily as the starting line was revealed. "I love chocolate ice cream". 'How does something so simple get twisted so fast?' I thought to myself. Then I thought, if one person stood in the middle our telephone circle and said, "I love chocolate ice cream", do you think we would have changed it so dramatically? Most likely not.
This is the principle of having a living prophet.
I have noticed in my lifetime that the bible is like the game of telephone. The pure word of God always starts out as pure truth, but what happens as it's interpreted, and then reinterpreted? Our bowl of ice cream, turns into a peacock. But, this is not the pattern of God. Our loving Heavenly Father does not leave us to wander down dark paths, trying to govern ourselves by the precepts of men, he calls prophets; Moses, Abraham, Noah, etc. This is His pattern.

You can know it for yourself. I invite all of you to listen to our beloved prophet, ponder his words (which are the words of God) and then "ask God the Eternal Father...if these things are not true" (Moroni 10:4). I testify that they are true, and that our loving Heavenly Father will answer your prayer of faith.
Listen to Prophet Thomas S. Monson