(Guest writer, Brian Roberts)
In the 1800’s the early Mormons hung on every word their
prophets spoke. For they believed that salvation was found nowhere else except
the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints. Bruce R. McCconkie said it
best in his book Mormon doctrine he said, “If it had not been for Joseph Smith
and the restoration, there would be no salvation. There is no salvation outside
the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints” (pg.670) of Mormon doctrine. So
you would think that those that belong to such an organization would hold fast
to its prophets teachings right? Guess again.
The LDS church has held to many strong doctrines in the
past. Doctrines such as polygamy, the rejection of blacks receiving the
priesthood, and many others. But if their Prophets spoke on these issues, and
declared them as eternal, then why aren’t they? Why the shift in their
position? Why have we seen such an enormous shift now, in the 21st Century? The
question you should be asking is “why has the modern day church rejected so
much of their founders words?” Weren’t these men the prophets of God and spoke
for God, right? Wasn’t what the spoke as if God had spoken?
How often do you here testimonies that say “I like to bear
my testimony, I know this church is true. I know that Joseph smith was a true
prophet”, it’s very interesting to note
however, that this statement that fills the mouth of millions of Mormons
couldn’t be further from the truth. Is Joseph smith really a true prophet? I
mean lets be real, he was a boy who had an encounter with God Himself telling
him to not join any of the so called sects of religion in his day. He was told
all were corrupt, and taught the commandments of men. He was even told all of the
professors of religion were in error, and no institution outside of the LDS
faith had any saving ability. So you would think that all that was told to the
prophet was true, and that the doctrines he claimed were eternal truths. Think
about it! If this was true, then Joseph Smith, and all those who followed his
succession would have a direct line to God, and be the only ones on the planet
that possessed truth.
In essence all religion belonging to Christianity beginning
after the Apostle John died was corrupt, and in the dark. The eternal truths
that the LDS prophets brought should have been a breath of fresh air, and open
to no interpretation. For their words were final, having come from a God who
now has given the fullness of the gospel in these latter-days. But as the
modern day church has come under the spotlight it has taken on much of the
burden off their founders. Many of the things that their prophets of old have
said, have been explained away by its modern day members. In the effort to look
more Christian, we have seen what used to be eternal truths, now seen as only
being pertinent in their time, for specific people.
I bet that the prophets and apostles of the Mormon church
believed that what they were authoritative! I would go as far to say that anyone
who believed otherwise was called an apostate!
According to the ward teacher’s message for June 1945 it
contains a statement similar. It states that “Any Latter-day Saint who
denounces or opposes, whether actively or otherwise, any plan or doctrine
advocated by the prophet’s, seers, and revelators’ of the church is cultivating
the spirit of apostasy… Lucifer…wins a great victory when he can get members of
the church to speak against their leaders and to do their own thinking.” So we
see that the church believed that those that spoke for God spoke with authority.
The improvement era, in June 1945 (pg.354), made this statement “when our
leader’s speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a plan-its God’s
plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is safe. When they give
direction, it should mark the end of controversy.” Interesting since there has
been over 300 sects of Mormonism developed in the past 200 years. Heber C.
Kimball, first council to Brigham Young, made these statements: “When brother
Joseph smith lived, he was our prophet, our seer, and revelator; He was our
dictator in the things of God, and it was for us to listen to him, and do just
as he told us” (Journal of discourses v.2, p.106)
On September 6, 1857, Thomas B Marsh declared: “I have now
got a better understanding of the presidency of the church than I formerly had.
I used to ask myself what is the difference between the president of our
church, and the Pope? True, he is not called a Pope, but names do not alter
realities, and therefore he is a pope”. (Journal of discourses, vol. 5 pg.208)
The founder of Mormonism Joseph smith gave a revelation for his followers to “
give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you… his
word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith”
(Doctrine and Covenants 21:4-5) And finally we have it declared to us in the
Journal of discourses vol.7 pgs.374-375, which states “ God placed Joseph Smith
at the head of this church; God has likewise placed Brigham Young at the head
of this church; we are commanded to give heed to their words in all things, and
receive their words as from the mouth of God, in all patience and faith”
Whether Mormons want to believe it or not this speaks
volumes to how the inspired leaders saw themselves, and how those that were
under their authority were to act in accordance to their words. It is plainly
obvious that when the founders spoke they spoke from God. Either the founders
were who they said they were or not. If Mormons are the only ones dispensing
truth in our day, then why is it being discarded? Judging by what the founders
said about how the members are to heed to their words, I would say that the
modern day church is in a state of apostasy! Why can’t the Mormon church be
real about what they teach? Plural marriage was essential to gaining entrance
into the celestial kingdom according to the revelation by Joseph Smith on July
12, 1843. Yet the modern day Mormon will say, “well that’s what happens in
heaven not on earth”, hmmm is that how the prophet who received revelation saw
it?
Let us take a look at that revelation:
“verily, thus saith the Lord unto my servant Joseph, that in
as much as you have inquired of my hand to know and understand wherein I, the
Lord, justified my servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as also Moses, David and
Solomon, my servants, as touching the principle and Doctrine of having many
wives and concubines- behold and lo, I am the Lord they God and will answer
thee as touching this matter. Therefore prepare they heart to receive and obey the
instructions which I am about to give unto you, for all those who have this law
revealed unto them must obey the same. For behold, I reveal unto you a NEW AND
EVERLASTING COVENANT; AND IF HE ABIDE NOT THAT COVENANT, THEN Y ARE DAMNED, FOR
NO ONE CAN REJECT THIS COVENANT AND BE PREMITTED INTO MY GLORY” there is more
to this revelation but it does not pertain to the subject at hand.
Mormons, please listen! This is your founder, your “seer”
your “revelator” your “prophet” and to not ‘Heed” his word, as he says, you
will be “damned”! Let this sink in please! I am not in any way trying to be
harsh, but I want the modern church to understand that you don’t allow the
Prophets to speak as they spoke. Where is the understanding of what a new and
everlasting covenant is? It is binding and will never change. This is how your
founder perceived his words to mean. they were not subject to change. I’m sorry
modern day church, but you are damned. And according to Joseph Smith you will
not be permitted to enter into God’s glory.
This revelation shows us that it was to be happening on
earth, not in heaven. For just as he says, the servants of God in the Old
Testament were “justified”, so would the Mormon people during their lifetime.
But due to the overwhelming persecution for their practice of polygamy by the
federal government, the LDS church had to make changes. This coming down to an
ultimatum, either quit the practice of polygamy, or you cannot become a state.
The church choose the latter. But just because latter prophets had
“revelations” stating that the doctrine of polygamy was no longer practiced,
means nothing. Cause the understanding of everlasting is absent in the minds of
all those who choose to reject the words of their founder Joseph Smith.
I want the Mormon people to understand that when God uses a
prophet it is for the means of getting His word across to His people. In the
Old Testament, we see God using prophets as a means of judgment for His people.
For instance Ezekiel was sent by God to speak His words whether the people
listened or not. He was to go to the exiles and speak to them, and to say all
that God commands. Whether the people listened or not they heard “THUS SAYS THE
LORD” (Eze.3:11). Look at all the mighty prophets of old, God used them to
dispense His word. When judgment fell on the house of Judah God sent Jeremiah
to proclaim judgment on the people. One of the main ways God proved that He was
God was by sending a spokesperson on His behalf. For there were many prophets
that claimed they spoke for God, so the issue of validity had to be proven. We
see an excellent example of this in 1 Kings 18. But after this confrontation
with Elijah and Baal, what do we see after
God rained fire from heaven? In vs. 39 it states that “ when all the
people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “THE LORD, HE IS GOD;
THE LORD, HE IS GOD.” for the people realized that it was the true God that had
the power. And this power was shown through His servant Elijah.
Whether in the face
of harm, isolation, or even death, the prophets of old proclaimed the message
to His people by proclaiming “ THUS SAYS THE LORD” even when it put His
servants at risk. Put to the test the prophets of old were authentic in the
eyes of the people, for it was God who authenticated them. And the major way
this was done, was by foretelling events. So what do we see when the LDS
prophets are told to authenticate their office?
This is a transcript from the Reed-Smoot investigation
between Senator Dubios, and the sixth president of the Mormon church Joseph F.
Smith:
“Senator Dubios.- have you received any revelations from
God, which has been submitted by you and the apostles to the body of the church
in their semiannual conference, which revelation has been sustained by that
conference, through the upholding of their hands?
“Mr. Smith- since when?
“Senator Dubios- since you have become president of the
church.
“Mr. Smith- No, sir, none whatever
“Senator Dubios- have you received any individual revelation
yourself, since you became president of the church under your own definition,
even, of a revelation?
“Mr. Smith- I cannot say that I have.
“Senator Dubios- can you say that you have not?
“Mr. Smith- no; I cannot say that I have not.
“Senator Dubios- then you do not know whether you have
received any such revelation as you have described or whether you have not?
“Mr. Smith- well, I can say this: that if I live as I should
in the line of my duties, I am susceptible, I think, of the impressions of the
spirit of the Lord upon my mind at any time, just as any good Methodist or any
other good church member might be. And so far as that is concerned, I say yes;
I have had impressions of the Spirit upon my mind very frequently, but they are
not in the sense of revelations” (Reed Smoot case, Vol.1 pages 483-484).
On pages 99 of the same volume Joseph F. Smith stated: “I
have never pretended to nor do I profess to have received revelation” I hope we
all can see that a true prophet of God does not in any way denounce his
calling. Those prophets of old, even under extreme persecution from the people,
never stopped proclaiming “THUS SAYS THE LORD.” But as we have seen it didn’t
take much for the Mormon prophet to profess his inability to receive revelation.
You would think that this would be enough for the Mormon
people to see that those who claim to be prophets in this world, when put to
the test, they do not stand. As a former Mormon, I have put the LDS prophets
through the litmus test of Deut, 18,13, and have seen time and time again that
they fail the test.
May Christians have a discerning mind to what people call
prophets, and measure it against the word of God.
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