i am really puzzled by the confusion that remains here first people need to know that the term prophet is used in two ways by the lds in essence any individual who is given revelation which is pertinent to the future is acting prophetically thus any individual in or out of the church might prophecy and thereby be referred to as a small 'p' prophet however some individuals are formally ordained by laying on of hands as prophets seers and revelators thus brother jones may be a bishop a high priest an apostle and a prophet at the same time we actually have prophets if you wish to pursue the issue unique to the lds belief is the understanding that the authority of priesthood offices are retained based on worthiness forever so while joseph smith acted prophetically he also held the titles of elder apostle prophet president and high priest it could also be said he was a deacon a teacher and a priest these are titles in fact broken down by office and common usage aaronic preparatory priesthood deacon brother jones teacher brother jones priest brother jones bishop bishop jones melchizidek priesthood elder elder jones seventy elder jones high priest brother jones patriarch formerly patriarch jones new policy recommends brother jones apostle senior quorum member designated prophet or president jones consider this fact joseph smith's father served for years as the patriarch of the church while he was a patriarch speaking of his role as a father it would sound silly to state that joseph smith sr was the small 'p' patriarch of the church joseph smith while a 'p'rophet was also a 'p'rophet by virtue of priesthood office thus pope john paul president obama prophet smith though the term president smith is more commonly used so feel free to refuse to identify joseph smith as a 'p'rophet but it is insensitive to both the rlds and the lds and erroneous to ignore the fact joseph smith was a 'p'rophet an office in the high priesthood i don't follow the pope but i wouldn't deny he is one you don't have to believe smith was a prophet to accept he was a prophet in the lds priesthood