LDS prophets are the leaders of the mormon church. They are men who communicate with God through revelation to guide and drect the church. There have been LDS prophtes on the earth since Joseph Smith. The following list shows the mormon prophet line of succession.
Joseph Smith Jr.
Born December 23, 1805, Prophet from April 6, 1830 to June 27, 1844 (14 years)
Brigham Young
Born June 1, 1801, Prophet from December 27, 1847 to August 29, 1877 (29 years - the church was led by Brigham Young as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for about 3 years prior to his sustaining as president)
John Taylor
Born November 1, 1808, Prophet from October 10, 1880 to July 25, 1887 (8 years - the church was led by John Taylor as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for about 3 years before his sustaining as president)
Wilford Woodruff
Born March 1, 1807, Prophet from April 7, 1889 to September 2, 1898 (9 years - the church was led by Wilford Woodruff as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles for about 2 years before his sustaining as president)
Lorenzo Snow
Born April 3, 1814, Prophet from September 13, 1898 to October 10, 1901 (3 years)
Joseph F. Smith
Born November 13, 1838, Prophet from October 17, 1901 to November 19, 1918 (17 years)
Heber J. Grant
Born November 22, 1856, Prophet from November 23, 1918 to May 14, 1945 (27 years)
George Albert Smith
Born April 4, 1870, Prophet from May 21, 1945 to April 4, 1951 (6 years)
David O. McKay
Born September 8, 1873, Prophet from April 9, 1951 to January 18, 1970 (19 years)
Joseph Fielding
Smith
Born July 19, 1876, Prophet from January 23, 1970 to July 2, 1972 (2 years)
Harold B. Lee
Born March 28, 1899, Prophet from July 7, 1972 to December 26, 1973 (1 year)
Spencer W. Kimball
Born March 28, 1895, Prophet from December 30, 1973 to November 5, 1985 (12 years)
Ezra Taft Benson
Born August 4, 1899, Prophet from November 10, 1985 to May 30, 1994 (8 years)
Howard W. Hunter
Born November 14, 1907, Prophet from June 5, 1994 to March 3, 1995 (9 months)
Gordon B. Hinckley
Born June 23, 1910, Prophet from March 12, 1995 to January 27, 2008 (13 years)
Thomas S. Monson
Born August 21, 1927, Prophet from February 4, 2008 to present.
