Why Does God Send Prophets?
Will He Send One Again?
The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; Not to all people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the judge of quick and dead.

To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.”  (Acts 10: 36-43.)

How to Recognize True Servants of God:
Lessons from the Book of Mormon

True servants of God are often mistaken for deceivers or not recognized at all. The Book of Mormon shows us the pattern for identifying God's true servants.  
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What is a Prophet?
(posted with author's permission)
Prophets in the past have come from various and usually obscure places, but the last place they came from was the presence of God. They quite often became recipients of a message from God which they know the audience will not want to hear. Most times discharging the errand they are given, and delivering the message they receive comes at great personal cost.
The words they are commanded to deliver after given the charge to speak, are always intended to correct the behavior of a fallen people. There are no opinion polls, no focus groups to shape the message they deliver, only God, who calls them to stand before Him to receive, and then deliver the words He commands. Their words usually correct, jar, condemn, and serve as a warning, which if followed always allow the faithful to change the path they are on, and avert the condemnation of a just God for actions or ways which are subversive to individual or collective salvation.
Most of the prophets we are familiar with are those which the scriptures identify, i.e. Samuel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Jonah, Ezekiel, Moses, Elijah, etc. However, whenever God has a people on the earth whom He identifies as His people, albeit in whatever country or nation, He always calls prophets to disseminate His word among them, and they always deliver that portion of God’s word He deems appropriate for them. Indeed, it is a dire situation when there is a people without a prophet. We should probably assume that even among ourselves, if we think we are a people of God, there are prophets, and we should be looking and listening for them.

Cycles of Apostasy & Restoration:
​The Role of Prophets

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Many communities have stoned, ran out, or otherwise killed true prophets God has sent among them with His message. The fact of the matter is that it is always more pleasing and acceptable to hear a prophet teach and preach that which is pleasant and consoles the people in their evil ways, but this is not the way of true prophets. The Apostle Paul coined a term for teachers who taught doctrines that reassured those who ought to be condemned. He said such people "heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears." (2 Tim. 4: 3.) We can probably presume "heap" means they get quite a few of them.
 
The prophet's role is always to cry repentance. Within this cry for repentance is always couched a message of hope and salvation based upon that repentance. Priests may preside, and kings may rule, but the prophet's voice is always crying repentance. One of the ways, concurrent with the message, to recognize a Prophet of God is that they almost never preside over a congregation (other than occasionally a small inner-circle). They always speak from the sidelines crying for a return to God's ways. Even when there were cities who repented in response to the message of repentance, (i.e. Jonah vs Nineveh) the prophets who gathered them taught repentance and left it to the assembly to govern themselves. So it was with Enoch, and Melchizedek, and their cities, and similarly Joseph Smith attempted to teach repentance to his people. 
 
Enoch and Melchizedek were able to teach a people who wanted so desperately to repent (and did so) that they had angels and the Lord come dwell among them. Joseph sought to accomplish the same, but the Lord has not yet dwelt among the Saints of this dispensation. Jacob of the Book of Mormon bids his brethren and us to repent, hoping his teaching will eventually lead to a latter-day Zion. According to scripture, there will be a small group who will eventually heed a prophet sent with a message to repent, and qualify for the Lord to come dwell among them. It remains a yet distant possibility, however, with concrete progress underway at this moment.

How Would You Know If God Sent An Authorized Servant In Our Day?

Find Out For Yourself