Although the Lord desires that His Church and people remain loyal to Him, He allows them the freedom to choose not to serve Him. Recognizing that agency is an attribute of God, it is illogical to think that He would deny a Prophet his agency.

The confusion on this matter can usually be traced to a quote by Wilford Woodruff: "The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty." (Sixty-first Semi-annual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)

Exactly how would the Lord remove the prophet out of his place? Many wrongly suppose that the prophet would be "struck down in an instant" if he were to err. The truth is this: he would be removed from his CALLING and POSITION. If the prophet were to teach false doctrine or exercise unrighteous dominion, the Holy Ghost would withdraw, thus withdrawing his calling as a prophet. If the Saints are well acquainted with doctrine and the Spirit of God, the prophet could be removed from his position by a vote of the body of the church:

"And inasmuch as a President of the High Priesthood shall transgress, he shall be had in remembrance before the common council of the church, who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the High Priesthood; And their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him. Thus, none shall be exempted from the justice and the laws of God, that all things may be done in order and in solemnity before him, according to truth and righteousness." (LDS:D&C 107:82-84)

Is it possible for a prophet or apostle to transgress? Yes. "Of the Twelve Apostles chosen in Kirtland, and ordained under the hands of Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer and myself, there have been but two but what have lifted their heel against me -- namely Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball." (May 28, 1843. DHC 5:412.) If ten out of twelve Apostles can rebel against Joseph Smith, the dispensation head, it could happen today just the same. None of those Apostles died or was "struck down" as it were, they were simply "removed out of their place", either by apostasy or vote of the people.

We say that a true Prophet never has to reassure his followers that he "will never lead them astray." He simply states the will of God, regardless of the consequences, and is confident that God will sustain him and his words by the Spirit.

(See the Pamphlet, "Follow the Brethren, Fact vs. Fiction" in our Pamphlets section.)