As Apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the responsibility
of gathering the elect of Israel by teaching them the fullness
of the Gospel as it was restored to this dispensation by the Prophet
Joseph Smith. However, we find that many Latter-day Saints are
afraid to prayerfully examine this message. It is not necessarily
because they fear the truth, or that they do not feel they discern
truth from error; rather, it is because the leaders of the LDS
Church have warned them against reading or studying anything that
contradicts their leadership. To investigate is reason enough
to lose a temple recommend or cause to receive some other disciplinary
action. Some have even been excommunicated for continuing to examine
this message and certainly excommunicated for adhering to the
higher doctrines that Joseph Smith taught.
This fear of displeasing Church leaders, which usually results
in disciplinary action, keeps many from studying God's message
and learning the truth. We, therefore, are writing this pamphlet
to let all Latter-day Saints know that Church leaders are not
to be feared; rather, "Fear God, and give glory to Him"
(Rev. 14:7).
There is but one rock, one faith, and one gospel to true Latter-day
Saints, to those who would be numbered among the wise virgins.
They are they who will take the Holy Spirit for their guide (D&C
45:57), obtain the power of proper priesthood keys and, when used
correctly, commune with the Heavens (D&C 107:18-19)
and thereby become the Elect of God (D&C 84:33-34).
It is unlikely, then, that false prophets, false Christs, fallen
angels or spirits can deceive them. However, as a general rule,
Latter-day Saints, like the house of Israel of old, have been
content to have their leaders talk to the Lord for them and receive
the word of the Lord in their behalf without even questioning
(Exo. 20:19).
Moses tried to get the people to sanctify themselves through personal
communion with God, but they would not. They were satisfied, merely,
to have a prophet rather than to become prophets themselves through
personal experience. Then, as well as now, they did not want to
be bothered or troubled with such matters. As a result, Israel
provoked God and lost their opportunity (Alma 12:36; Hebrews
3:8, 10-11).
As with Moses' dispensation, so it was with Jesus', and now Joseph's.
There was a shining moment, and then the glory of heaven was traded
for man-made darkness. Joseph Smith once said that the Saints
wanted him to approach God about things they should find out for
themselves from God, but the Saints have never fully accepted
the challenge. Instead, they have slipped into darkness. We will
now explore how such a tragedy happened.
The last dispensation began with a humble young man, Joseph Smith,
who advanced in knowledge and priesthood until he concluded his
mission with the power of God fully upon him; but, even with all
that, he recognized that his position did not make him infallible.
Many of the scriptures he received from God for this dispensation
warned that man should never put his trust in the "arm of
flesh"or fear men more than God or fall subject to the persuasions
of men . For example:
O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever.
I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed
is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed
is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm. (2
Nephi 4:34)
The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the
mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow
man, neither trust in the arm of flesh-- (D&C 1:19)
For although a man may have many revelations, and have power
to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength,
and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the
dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and
incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.
Behold, you have been entrusted with these things, but how
strict were your commandments; and remember also the promises
which were made to you, if you did not transgress them.
And behold, how oft you have transgressed the commandments and
the laws of God, and have gone on in the persuasions of men.
For, behold, you should not have feared man more than God.
Although men set at naught the counsels of God, and despise his
words--
Yet you should have been faithful; and he would have extended
his arm and supported you against all the fiery darts of the adversary;
and he would have been with you in every time of trouble.
Behold, thou art Joseph, and thou wast chosen to do the work
of the Lord, but because of transgression, if thou art not aware
thou wilt fall.
But remember, God is merciful; therefore, repent of that which
thou hast done which is contrary to the commandment which I gave
you, and thou art still chosen, and art again called to the work;
Except thou do this, thou shalt be delivered up and become as
other men, and have no more gift. (D&C 3:5-11)
Joseph Smith learned to rely totally on God and not man. Finally
he was given all the keys of this dispensation as is attested
in the following:
Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never
be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the
world to come;
Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles (revelations)
be given to another, yea, even unto the church.
And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware
how they hold them lest they are accounted as a light thing, and
are brought under condemnation thereby, and stumble and fall
when the storms descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend,
and beat upon their house. (D&C 90:3-5)
The membership of the Church was commanded:
For his word (Joseph Smith) ye shall receive, as if
from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. (D&C
21:5)
Even at that Joseph once said:
. . . I told them that a prophet was a prophet only when he was
acting as such. (TPJS, p. 278; HC 5:268)
Of course, the only real way to tell if a prophet is speaking
as a prophet is to recognize that he is absolutely consistent
with former proven prophets, the scriptures and more importantly
to righteously judge him under the light of the Holy Ghost.
And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in
that Spirit which leadeth to do good--yea, to do justly, to walk
humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit. (D&C
11:12)
Before the end, Joseph said of himself:
I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the
revelations which I have taught. (TPJS, p. 368; HC
6:366)
The scriptural record attests of Joseph at the end of his mortal
life:
Joseph Smith, the Prophet and Seer of the Lord, has done
more, save Jesus only, for the salvation of men in this world,
than any other man that ever lived in it. . . .He lived great,
and he died great in the eyes of God and his people; and like
most of the Lord's anointed in ancient times, has sealed his
mission and his works with his own blood. . . (D &
C 135:3; also see the pamphlet, "Joseph Smith, Jr.")
Joseph pled with the people to let personal revelation and certain
standards be their guide in their decisions to follow leadership.
He said:
Search the scriptures -- search the revelations we publish,
and ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ,
to manifest the truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single
to His glory nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power
of His Holy Spirit. You will then know for yourselves and
not for another. You will not then be dependent on man for the
knowledge of God; nor will there be any room for speculation.
No; for when men receive their instruction from him that made
them, they know how he will save them. (TPJS., p.11-12)
President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel --- said
the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should
each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in
that state of corruption of the Jewish church --- that righteous
persons could only deliver their own souls --- applied it to the
present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
--- said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall
--- that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened
in their minds. (TPJS, 237-238)
Joseph Smith recognized that the law of witnesses applied here
and that he, himself, was only one witness and that the Saints
needed the witness or testimony of heaven about these matters
for it to enlarge their understanding and to be sealed upon their
souls. He believed and taught the doctrine:
. . .that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
may be established. (Matthew 18:16)
. . . In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word
be established. (2 Corinthians 13:1)
And now, behold, I give unto you, and also unto my servant Joseph,
the keys of this gift, which shall bring to light this ministry;
and in the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word
be established. (D&C 6:28)
. . . that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word
may be established. (D&C 128:3)
He realized that one of those witnesses should be from the divine
source for it to be completely binding upon the soul and that
the Saints were entitled to that divine witness as part of the
law of witnesses. After all, it was Joseph who had translated:
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all
things. (Moroni 10:5)
Joseph Smith adds the following standards to the requirements
for personal revelation:
. . . if anything should have been suggested by us, or any names
mentioned, except by commandment, or thus saith the Lord,
we do not consider it binding. (DHC. 3:295, TPJS,
p. 136)
If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary
to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine and
Covenants, set him down as an impostor. (Times and Seasons
5:490)
A Key: Every principle proceeding from God is eternal and any
principle which is not eternal is of the devil. (TPJS,
p. 181)
Joseph's immediate successors were also very strong leaders, but
never did they require that the membership of the Church blindly
follow them. They believed in the divine law of witnesses and
recognized that when they spoke they were just one witness. Therefore,
they always expected the people to ask God if they, as leaders,
were leading them right or not. Then the people would have God's
witness to them as well as the leader's witness, and hence the
law of witnesses was fulfilled; and it was bound upon them. Never
did these early leaders expect the people to be blind followers!
Here is a sampling of some of their statements about this matter:
Samuel Richards, on Nov. 13, 1852 in editorializing, said the
following:
We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark, that they would
do anything that they were told to do by those who preside over
them, if they knew it was wrong: but such obedience is worse than
folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would
thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim rank among intelligent
beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God...would despise
the idea. Others in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority
have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter
what the saints were told to do by their presidents, they should
do it without asking any questions. When Elders of Israel will
so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach
them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their
minds to do wrong themselves. (Millennial Star, 14:393-395)
Brigham Young said:
There are those among this people who are influenced, controlled,
and biased in their thoughts, actions, and feelings by some other
individual or family, on whom they place their dependence for
spiritual and temporal instruction, and for salvation in the end.
These persons do not depend upon themselves for salvation, but
upon another of their poor, weak, fellow mortals. "I do not
depend upon any inherent goodness of my own," say they, "to
introduce me into the kingdom of glory, but I depend upon you,
brother Joseph, upon you, brother Brigham, upon you, brother Heber,
or upon you, brother James; I believe your judgment is superior
to mine, and consequently I let you judge for me; your spirit
is better than mine, therefore you can do good for me; I will
submit myself wholly to you, and place in you all my confidence
for life and salvation; where you go I will go, and where you
tarry there I will stay; expecting that you will introduce me
through the gates into the heavenly Jerusalem."...Now those
men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God,
and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely
by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning
their faith upon another's sleeve, will never be capable of entering
into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they
will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves,
to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to
in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves
in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control
them, They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers
with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold
scepters of glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom.
Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true
independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service
of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined
to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite
course. (JD 1:312, A discourse presented in the Salt Lake
Tabernacle on February 20, 1853)
Again Brigham Young counsels:
Some may say, "Brethren, you who lead the Church, we have
all confidence in you, we are not in the least afraid but what
everything will go right under your superintendence; all the business
matters will be transacted right; and if brother Brigham is satisfied
with it, I am." I do not wish any Latter-day Saint in
this world, nor in heaven, to be satisfied with anything I do,
unless the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, the spirit of revelation,
makes them satisfied. I wish them to know for themselves and understand
for themselves, for this would strengthen the faith that is
within them. Suppose that the people were heedless, that they
manifested no concern with regard to the things of the kingdom
of God, but threw the whole burden upon the leaders of the people,
saying, "If the brethren who take charge of matters are satisfied,
we are," this is not pleasing in the sight of the Lord.
Every man and woman in this kingdom ought to be satisfied with
what we do, but they never should be satisfied without asking
the Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, whether what we do is
right. (JD 3:45, October 6, 1855)
. . . in the midst of all that we hear from this stand with regard
to counsel and implicit obedience to counsel, you and I must have
the testimony of Jesus within us, or it is of but little use for
us to pretend to be servants of God. We must have that living
witness within us. We need the light of the Holy Spirit continually,
day by day, as you have been told hundreds of times. How easy
it would be for your leaders to lead you to destruction, unless
you actually know the mind and will of the Spirit yourselves.
That is your privilege. (JD, 4:368, June 28, 1857)
What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter
destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this
people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will
not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him.
I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security,
trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with
a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes
of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could
give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations
of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and
woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves,
whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates,
or not. This has been my exhortation continually. (JD,
9:151, January 12, 1862)
Apostle Moses Thatcher, several years later, echoed the same doctrine:
We can see now that a few who have relied upon others, who have
sought the counsel of their file leaders and have depended upon
that counsel when they can no longer reach those leaders, falter
and fall by the wayside. I believe that God intends that every
man and every woman in His Church and kingdom shall exercise the
faculties which He has given them, that in the exercise of their
agency He designs to exalt them in eternal glory. So long therefore
as the people rely upon their leaders they are not manifesting
that degree of faith, they are not in a position to think and
reflect for themselves as they should. (JD, 26:328,
October 8, 1885)
President George Q. Cannon said the same type of thing:
Do not brethren, put your trust in man though he be a bishop,
an apostle, or a president. If you do, they will fail you at some
time or place; they will do wrong or seem to, and your support
is gone; but if we lean on God, He never will fail us. When men
and women depend on God alone, and trust in Him alone, their faith
will not be shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside.
Perhaps it is His own design that faults and weaknesses should
appear in high places in order that His Saints may learn to trust
in Him, and not in any man or men. (Millennial Star,
53:674-74)
No man, leader or prophet is infallible! We must put our trust
in the Lord and not in man or we will fail.
Who do the scriptures support? The following testify:
Jeremiah 17:5: Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that
trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
departeth from the LORD.
2 Nephi 4:34: O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust
in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh;
for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm
of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh
flesh his arm.
2 Nephi 28:31: Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man,
or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of
men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the
Holy Ghost.
D&C 1:19: The weak things of the world shall come forth and
break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not
counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh--
The Bible, Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants are
all consistent with what the early brethren taught. There are
many more scriptural references and statements of the early brethren
that teach the same thing, and it can be plainly seen that the
ancients as well as the early brethren clearly understood and
taught this doctrine.
Now the question must be asked, is it possible for the Church
President and/or the Presiding Councils of the Church to falter
and lead the people astray? What are the facts versus fiction?
Let us now reason together.
We quote a famous statement made by President 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. (Sixty-first Semiannual General
Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City,
Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890,
p. 2, D & C, 1981 ed., p. 292)
Most Latter-day Saints consider from the above that God, in some
mystical way, will never allow a President of the LDS Church to
fall through his attempt to "lead you astray". Other
General Authorities have made statements that profess there is
no doctrine of infallibility, such as the following by James
E. Faust:
We make no claim of infallibility or perfection in the
prophets, seers, and revelators. (Conference Report,
Oct. 1989, and Ensign, Nov. 1989, p. 11)
On the surface, Latter-day Saints do not profess to accept or
believe in the doctrine of infallibility of their leaders. However,
it is undeniable that the statement by President. Woodruff quoted
above, as understood and accepted by Latter-day Saints and put
in practice and belief, amounts to the same thing as the doctrine
of infallibility. There is a very apparent gap between what is
said for public consumption and the beliefs and attitudes exhibited
by both Church members and leaders alike. Indeed, behavior heavily
outweighs what is said in an attempt to manage the LDS image.
Confusion is also foisted upon Latter-day Saints because of double-minded
statements that others have made. Some such statements follow:
Marion G. Romney:
I remember years ago when I was a Bishop I had President (Heber
J.) Grant talk to our ward. After the meeting I drove him home
. . . Standing by me, he put his arm over my shoulder and said,
"My boy, you always keep your eye on the President of the
Church, and if he ever tells you to do anything, and it is wrong,
and you do it, the Lord will bless you for it." Then with
a twinkle in his eye, he said, "But you don't need to worry.
The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people astray."
(Conference Report, Oct. 1960, p. 78)
Joseph Fielding Smith is quoted by L. Aldin Porter of the Presidency
of the First Quorum of Seventies:
I sat in this tabernacle some years ago as President Joseph Fielding
Smith stood at this pulpit. It was the general priesthood meeting
of April 1972, the last general conference before President Smith
passed away. He said: "There is one thing which we should
have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President
of the Church, nor the First Presidency, or the united voice of
the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints
astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to
the mind and will of the lord." (Ensign, Nov.
1994, p. 63)
Boyd K. Packer:
Follow your leaders who have been duly ordained and have been
publicly sustained, and you will not be led astray. (General
Conference, Oct. 1992; Ensign, Nov. 1992)
What is amazing is that the above statements by these contemporaries
in the LDS Quorum of Twelve and First Quorum of Seventy were made
publicly, and yet the James E. Faust statement is diametrically
opposed in content and intent with Romney, Smith, and Packer.
Perhaps there is some twisted way of rationalizing that "you
will not be led astray", "ever lead the Saints astray"
or "The Lord will never let his mouthpiece lead the people
astray" is somehow not the same as infallibility. Any attempt
to justify such is nothing more than sophism (Am. Heritage
Dictionary: 1. A plausible but fallacious argument. 2. Deceptive
or fallacious argumentation.) Of course, there are those who
will do anything to save the "image" or incongruities
and will try to harmonize such through fancy verbal "footwork"
or "sleight of hand". These men did say what they said
and if they intended something different they should have been
undeceivingly explicit. It is just an understood thing among Mormons
that the President and, perhaps, even other high leaders are considered
infallible.
The rest of the problem is the balance of the Wilford Woodruff
statement:
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 Semiannual General Conference
of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p.
2, D & C, 1981 ed., p. 292)
The problem with the balance of the statement is that it is just
an "understood thing" among Mormons that if the President
did attempt to lead the people astray, God would cut him off and
bring him through the veil. Many Americans as well as members
of the Church suffer from a distinct lack of comprehension when
reading their own native language. President Woodruff did not
say that is what God would do nor can it be justifiably said that
he implied such. However, so many interpret the words "remove
me out of my place" to mean an automatic termination of his
life and a transfer to the spirit world. To place such an interpretation
on the phrase "remove me out of my place" is to neglect
the context of the phrase. The context of the phrase is the balance
of the statement, "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." The phrase "any other man" obviously
refers to any man besides the President. Clearly, President Woodruff
also meant others than the President of the Church were included,
and "who attempts to lead the children of men astray from
the oracles of God and from their duty" must necessarily
be understood. The 1828 Noah Webster's Dictionary gives us somewhat
of a view of how the Prophet Joseph Smith understood and used
words in his native tongue. The word "oracles" is defined
in this dictionary to mean, "Among Christians, oracles,
in the plural, denotes the communications, revelations or messages
delivered by God to prophets. In this sense, it is rarely used
in the singular; but we say, the oracles of God, divine
oracles, meaning the Scriptures." Let us, therefore,
use the oracles/scriptures to determine what the phrase "remove
me out of my place" means from God's perspective.
The 107th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants defines clearly
how God will remove the President out of his place. Consider the
following:
Of necessity there are presidents, or presiding officers growing
out of, or appointed of or from among those who are ordained to
the several offices in these two priesthoods.
Of the Melchizedek Priesthood, three Presiding High Priests, chosen
by the body, appointed and ordained to that office, and upheld
by the confidence, faith, and prayer of the church, form a quorum
of the Presidency of the Church. (D&C 107:21-22)
But a literal descendant of Aaron has a legal right to the presidency
of this priesthood, to the keys of this ministry, to act in the
office of bishop independently, without counselors, except
in a case where a President of the High Priesthood, after the
order of Melchizedek, is tried, to sit as a judge in Israel.
(D&C 107:76)
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. (D&C
107:82-84)
If there is no possibility that the President of the LDS Church
could ever lead the Church astray, why does the Lord refer to
putting him on trial? Latter-day Saints consider the President
of the Church also the President of the High Priesthood. Therefore,
if there really were no possibility of the President ever leading
the Church astray, this would have been the perfect time for the
Lord to say so. That he did specifically say, that if the President
transgressed he would be tried, is clear proof that the Lord considers
it a real possibility that that action may someday need to be
taken. Obviously, the Lord in His wisdom, knowing the future,
provided for the eventual potential. Earlier brethren also considered
it so as is expressed by B. H. Roberts when commenting on this
very same scripture:
Special Council For The Trial Of The Presidents Of The Church
The special court referred to above consists of the presiding
bishop of the church and twelve high priests especially called
for each occasion. This special court is called into existence
for the purpose of trying presidents of the high priesthood, who
are also the presidents of the church, if they, or any one of
them, should be found in transgression, said council may investigate
the conduct of the president, subject him to rigid examination,
and if the evidence should show him to be in transgression, the
court would condemn him and its action would be final, from its
decision he would have no appeal.
Thus none, not even the highest, is beyond the operation of the
laws and councils of the church. However great and exalted any
single officer of the church may be, the church and its system
of government is still greater and more exalted than he; for though
the president of the church is God's mouthpiece--God's viceregent
on earth--yet he may be tried and his conduct inquired into by
this court to which I have called attention. Therefore if the
time should ever come that the church should be so unfortunate
as to be presided over by a man who transgressed the laws of God
and became unrighteous, a means in the church system of government
is provided for deposing him without destroying the church, without
revolution, or even disorder.
The Nature Of Ecclesiastical Punishments
Of course the only punishment which is within the power of the
church to inflict, is to disfellowship or excommunicate offenders.
(B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of the Church, Vol.
2, Ch. 62, p. 375 -377)
Inasmuch as the Lord provided for this possibility, it suggests
He anticipated that it would become a reality. His anticipative,
very positive, language in Section 64 follows:
For it shall come to pass that the inhabitants of Zion shall
judge all things pertaining to Zion.
And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they
who are not apostles and prophets shall be known. (D&C
64:38-39)
The Lord says, ". . . it shall come to pass . . .".
The word "shall" means:
shall (shal) aux.v.
Used before a verb in the infinitive to show: Something that will
take place or exist in the future. . . . Something that is inevitable.
(American Heritage Electronic Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin
Company, 1992)
The Lord foresaw future conditions when there should arise false
prophets and apostles; and the above testified to by the Lord,
Himself, acts as prophecy that such would occur. The Lord also
tells us how we should understand such prophetic utterances:
Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and
the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself;
and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall
not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled. . . (D&C
1:37-38)
Certainly, what He says, we can expect to happen. Therefore, liars
and hypocrites are to be proven and false prophets and apostles
made known and this to be done by "the inhabitants of Zion".
The interconnection between D&C 107:82-84 and 64:38-39 is
simply that a President is tried before the "the common council
of the church, who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the
High Priesthood", and members, on the other hand, are tried
before a Bishop's court or a High Council court; all of which
are "inhabitants of Zion". The only occasion where a
President has been tried in this dispensation is the case of Sidney
Rigdon, a counselor in the First Presidency. As per the law of
God, Rigdon was tried by the Bishop assisted by twelve High Priests
with the Twelve as witnesses. All of those at the trial of Sidney
Rigdon, the Bishop, the High Priests, the Twelve and all others,
were inhabitants in Zion and a liar and hypocrite was proven and
a false prophet made known as Sidney was cut off. Much of the
transcript of the trial proceedings were even printed in volume
5 of the Times and Seasons (see pages 647-655 and 660-667) for
the people who are the "inhabitants of Zion" to be made
fully aware that such had happened.
The Lord concludes His thought in D&C 107:82-83 by saying:
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. (D&C
107:84)
Of course, those who attempt to escape the justice of God, by
placing themselves above His law, will say that the above does
not apply to them or will malign those who attempt to bring them
to accountability, but Joseph had this to say about those who
behave contrary to the scriptures:
If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary
to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the book of Doctrine and
Covenants, set him down as an impostor. You need not write
to us to know what you are to do with such men; you have the authority
with you. -- Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged
word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary
to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you as useless
and dangerous branches. . . (Times and Seasons, Vol.5,
p. 490-491)
. . . I give unto you a commandment, that you rely upon the things
which are written; (D&C 18:3)
Others have also recognized this principle:
The Holy Ghost does not contradict its own revealings. Truth is
always harmonious with itself. Piety is often the cloak of error.
(Joseph F. Smith, Anthon H. Lund, Charles W. Penrose, First Presidency,
Messages of the First Presidency, Vol.4, p. 286)
We have now seen that God made ample provision for dealing with
even an errant President of the High Priesthood. The Lord did
not intend to cancel a President's agency when he was called to
his office; or for that matter, anyone else. However, he provided
a plan or system to deal with the problem of a President or other
officers of His Church when they faltered or fell. We, therefore,
justly conclude that "the doctrine of infallibility"
is rubbish fit for the garbage can. It is non-scriptural, unsupported
by God and anyone attempting to justify the same is an enemy to
God, an enemy to the law of agency, only babbling the vain imaginations
of his own mind or the revelation of the unholy ghost.
The above requires the Saints at all levels of the Church to be
vigilant and responsible. But what if they are not or haven't
been? What if they, members and leaders alike, have fallen asleep
in their responsibility to be alert and watchful? What if they
have fallen into blind obedience? What if they have misunderstood
or misinterpreted the Lord's requirement to be vigilant and responsible?
The only safety was/is for members and priesthood leaders to recognize
when a president begins to drift astray and then to act expeditiously
to bring the guilty president to trial. If they do not, there
are no guarantees, and the people deserve to be led astray. It
is our testimony that the Latter-day Saints have, indeed, sat
idly by and allowed the very thing they thought would never happen,
to happen. We testify that those who have "taken the Holy
Spirit for their guide" and have attempted to speak up have
had their LDS leaders cast them out and call them "apostates".
The same pattern type of apathy and leadership apostasy demonstrated
in previous dispensations has became apparent in this dispensation.
False prophets/apostles/presidents/leaders demand unquestioning
(blind) followership from their flock. However, God does not!
When leaders begin to preach to the people that there is no possibility
that the people will ever be led astray by their leadership, then
be assured that the doctrine of infallibility is being espoused.
Joseph Fielding Smith even contradicted himself (Aldin Porter
quote above) when he said the following:
. . . infallibility is a fabrication devised by the powers of
darkness to act as a counterfeit for revelation. (Religious Truths
Defined, p. 182)
In all ages of man, faltering leaders have devised in every twisted
way possible the doctrine of infallibility to supplant revelation
when it cannot be obtained from God. As a result, mortal leadership
infallibility is destructive in every way and is not the evidence
of a spiritual people. If such leaders were so endowed as to be
really infallible, there would be no need for the members of the
Church to be given the Gift of the Holy Ghost to "lead them
into all truth". It is sad to say, but true, that when leaders
begin to implement the idea of infallibility in any degree and
the people let them, then the Lord's instructions given through
the Prophet Joseph Smith must apply. Here is the Lord's opinion:
. . . the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with
the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be
controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake
to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition,
or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls
of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold,
the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved;
and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority
of that man.
Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against
the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and
disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority,
as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous
dominion.
Hence many are called, but few are chosen.
No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue
of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness
and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the
soul without hypocrisy, and without guile-- (D&C 121:36-42)
Thus we must observe that any attempt "to exercise control
or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men,
in any degree of unrighteousness" by virtue of the doctrine
of infallibility, in any form whatsoever, is a serious crime before
God and punishable by loss of God's authority, the priesthood!
Having lost God's authority, feigned priesthood authority is
nothing more than priestcraft. Nephi had something to say about
priestcraft:
He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold
priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light
unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world;
but they seek not the welfare of Zion. (2 Nephi 26:29)
Obviously men who would believe in and practice such a doctrine
would fulfill Isaiah's prophecy:
The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because
they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken
the everlasting covenant. (Isaiah 24:5)
For further information on this subject, see the pamphlet ".
. .They Have Transgressed The Laws, Changed The Ordinance. . .".
Once these kind of men begin their downfall, if they do not speedily
repent, they become obsessed with the image they manage and the
power they possess over the people. Is it not apparent
to those who "have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide"
that such has occurred? Only the blind refuse to see! If the blind
do not immediately repent, their stubborn self-righteous blindness
will end in their fiery removal from this earth when God's consummate
vengeance is brought upon these errant sons and daughters who
have broken faith with Him through their perversely unyielding
bullheadedness.
The next question is, is it possible for presiding quorums of
the Church to unanimously consent to anything that might lead
the Church astray? James E. Faust of the L.D.S. Church had this
to say:
How can we be so sure that, as promised, the prophets, seers,
and revelators will never lead this people astray? (See
Joseph Fielding Smith, Ensign, July 1972, p.88.) One answer is
contained in the grand principle found in the 107th section of
the Doctrine and Covenants: "And every decision made
by either of these quorums must be by the unanimous voice of the
same. . .". (D&C 107:27) This requirement of unanimity
provides a check on bias and personal idiosyncrasies. It ensures
that the best wisdom and experience is focused on an issue before
the deep, unassailable impressions of revealed direction are received.
It guards against the foibles of man. (Conference Report, Ensign,
Nov. 1989, p. 10)
It is statements like this one that lead the flock to the impression
that the ruling quorums of the Church would never make a decision
in unrighteousness. However, the Lord makes no such assumption:
And in case that any decision of these quorums is made in unrighteousness,
it may be brought before a general assembly of the several quorums,
which constitute the spiritual authorities of the church; otherwise
there can be no appeal from their decision. (D&C 107:32)
If the Lord did not anticipate such an event to occur, He would
never have provided another safe-guard to deal with it. God does
not expect His children to blindly trust in the arm of flesh regardless
of what office or calling that arm of flesh may have or how many
may be in that office. Earlier brethren understood these matters
much better:
At the afternoon meeting appointed by Brigham Young and his fellow
apostles, the quorums of the priesthood were grouped about the
stand in the order of a general assembly of priesthood; that is,
the quorums of the Melchizedek priesthood were grouped together
as high priests, seventies, elders; and the quorums of the Aaronic
priesthood as priests, teachers, deacons. Questions to be settled
by vote on such occasions are presented to each of these quorums
of priesthood separately; and this general assembly of the quorums
constitute the highest spiritual authority of the church. Such
a general assembly of the quorums may even pass upon the decisions
of the three great presiding councils of the Melchizedek priesthood,
the first presidency, the quorum of the apostles, and the first
quorum of the seventy, if the decision of these councils are made
in unrighteousness. (B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive History of
the Church, Vol. 2, Ch. 64, p. 416)
The decisions of these quorums or either of them are to be made
in all righteousness, in holiness, and lowliness of heart, meekness
and long-suffering, and in that event their decisions are final.
But if their decisions are unrighteous they may be brought before
a general assembly of the several quorums which constitute the
spiritual authorities of the church--in no other way can there
be an appeal from their decisions. (B. H. Roberts, Comprehensive
History of the Church, Vol. 2, Ch. 64, p. 421)
Once again, we see that none are exempt from error and God has
given the flock the right to judge as discussed earlier in this
pamphlet:
For it shall come to pass that the inhabitants of Zion shall
judge all things pertaining to Zion.
And liars and hypocrites shall be proved by them, and they
who are not apostles and prophets shall be known. (D&C
64:38-39)
The logical conclusion is simply that anyone, even those of the
highest quorums, can depart from the truth and should come under
judgment. But what if the people, as well as the leaders, have
fallen asleep? As we stated before, the above requires the Saints
at all levels of the Church to be vigilant and responsible. But
what if they are not or haven't been? What if they, members and
leaders alike, have fallen asleep in their responsibility to be
alert and watchful? What if they have fallen into blind obedience?
What if they have misunderstood or misinterpreted the Lord's requirement
to be vigilant and responsible? What if they have departed from
the standard works as their guide? The only safety was/is for
members and priesthood leaders to recognize when a president or
quorums began to drift astray and then act expeditiously to bring
the guilty to trial. If they do not then there are no guarantees
and the people deserve to be led astray. It is our testimony that
the Latter-day Saints have, indeed, sat idly by and allowed the
very thing they thought would never happen to happen. We testify
that those who have "taken the Holy Spirit for their guide"
have attempted to speak up and their LDS leaders have cast them
out and called them "apostates". The same pattern type
of apathy and leadership apostasy demonstrated in previous dispensations
has became apparent in this dispensation. Joseph Smith gave us
a much better translation from the New Testament of this problem's
solution:
And again, if thy foot offend thee, cut it off; for he that
is thy standard, by whom thou walkest, if he become a transgressor,
he shall be cut off.
Therefore, let every man stand or fall, by himself, and not
for another; or not trusting another.
Seek unto my Father, and it shall be done in that very moment
what ye shall ask, if ye ask in faith, believing that ye shall
receive.
And if thine eye which seeth for thee, him that is appointed
to watch over thee to show thee light, become a transgressor and
offend thee, pluck him out. ( JST Mark 9:42-46)
Since piety is more often than not the cloak covering error, we
must emphatically state that the pattern type of the past is replaying
itself out again as is clearly defined by the prophets of previous
dispensations. The following are but a few of the prophecies relating
to what the former dispensations' prophets expected to happen
in the last dispensation after the restoration had begun (Remember
the Prophet Nephi gives an important key in the understanding
of scriptures when he said, "For I did liken all scriptures
unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning"--1
Nephi 19:23 -- this is profound advice to us also.):
And again: Hearken, O ye house of Israel, all ye that are broken
off and are driven out because of the wickedness of the pastors
of my people; yea, all ye that are broken off, that are scattered
abroad, who are of my people, O house of Israel. (1 Nephi
21:1; Chapter 21 is Nephi's inclusion of a very last days prophecy
of Isaiah chapter 49. This is the first part of verse 1 and can
only be found in the Book of Mormon and no other source.)
Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch
and rush, in one day.
The ancient and honourable, he [is] the head; and the prophet
that teacheth lies, he [is] the tail.
For the leaders of this people cause [them] to err; and [they
that are] led of them [are] destroyed. (Isaiah 9:14-16;
2 Nephi 19:14-16)
The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because
they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken
the everlasting covenant. (The LDS Church has transgressed
every law that would establish a Zion society, they are the only
ones who had the ordinances to change which they have done, and,
therefore, have broken the everlasting covenant, including the
fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise in the last days. See the
pamphlet ". . . they have transgressed the laws, changed
the ordinance. . .".)
Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that
dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth
are burned, and few men left. (Isaiah 24:5-6)
LORD, [when] thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: [but]
they shall see, and be ashamed for [their] envy at the people
(The LDS Church looks more like the world every day as they manage
the image by changing sacred things to be more acceptable to a
broader range of people in the world--it is the mingling of the
philosophies of men with scripture.); yea, the fire of thine
enemies shall devour them. (Isaiah 26:11)
Therefore shalt thou fall in the day, and the prophet also
shall fall with thee in the night (night symbolically represents
darkness--darkness of mind--see D&C 112:23-26), and I will
destroy thy mother (the Church).
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou
hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt
be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy
God, I will also forget thy children.
As they were increased (as the LDS have), so they sinned against
me: therefore will I change their glory into shame.
They eat up the sin of my people (even forgiveness for murder--ie:
abortion--Gen. Handbook of Instructions, 10:3 Topic: Murder, March
1989--when the early brethren considered it to be murder), and
they set their heart on their iniquity (the vain things of
this world--billions of dollars of income from business operations
in Babylon).
And there shall be, like people, like priest: and I will punish
them for their ways, and reward them their doings. (Hosea
4:5-9)
Woe to the crown of pride, to the drunkards (drunk with self deception--mingling
the philosophies of men with scripture) of Ephraim, whose glorious
beauty [is] a fading flower, which [are] on the head (leadership
of the LDS Church) of the fat valleys (ie: the Wasatch Front)
of them that are overcome with wine (self deception)!
Behold, the Lord hath a mighty and strong one, [which] as a tempest
of hail [and] a destroying storm, as a flood of mighty waters
overflowing, shall cast down to the earth with the hand.
The crown of pride, the drunkards of Ephraim, shall be trodden
under feet:
And the glorious beauty, which [is] on the head of the fat
valley, shall be a fading flower, [and] as the hasty fruit before
the summer; which [when] he that looketh upon it seeth, while
it is yet in his hand he eateth it up.
In that day shall the LORD of hosts be for a crown of glory,
and for a diadem of beauty, unto the residue of his people
(Only a righteous remnant, who for the most part have been cast
out of the LDS Church by this unrighteous leadership [1 Nephi
21:1], will survive who have not been deceived by these faltering
LDS leaders.) (Isaiah 28:1-5)
But they (LDS leaders) also have erred through wine
(self deception), and through strong drink are out of the
way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink,
they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through
strong drink; they err in vision (ie: 1978 priesthood change),
they stumble [in] judgment.
For all tables (Hebrew = to send--written form) are full
of vomit (Hebrew = what is vomited up--half digested truth
or the mingling of the philosophies of men with scripture)
[and] filthiness (Hebrew = filth, excrement--repugnant to
God), [so that there is] no place [clean] (Hebrew = to
stand, to maintain oneself, to be established, be confirmed).
(Isaiah 28:7-8)
Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book,
that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:
That this [is] a rebellious people, lying children, children
[that] will not hear the law of the LORD:
Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy
not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy
deceits:
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the
Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye
despise this word, and trust in oppression (would rather have
Utah statehood than keep God's law, etc.) and perverseness,
and stay thereon (see D&C 84:54-59--that condemnation
has never been lifted that was placed upon them over 160 years
ago):
Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to
fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh
suddenly at an instant.
And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel
that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there
shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire
from the hearth, or to take water [withal] out of the pit. (Isaiah
30:8-14)
His watchmen (LDS leadership) [are] blind: they are
all ignorant (do not understand), they [are] all dumb dogs,
they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber
(because they do not understand, they cannot call errant Israel
to repentance and warn them of the approaching destruction that
awaits them).
Yea, [they are] greedy dogs [which] can never have enough
(professionals, businessmen, officials that prosper in Satan's
economic system, Babylon), and they [are] shepherds [that]
cannot understand: they all look to their own way (enterprise,
entrepreneurship), every one for his gain, from his quarter.
Come ye, [say they], I will fetch wine (self-deception, mixing
the philosophies of men with scripture--Isaiah 28), and we
will fill ourselves with strong drink (self-deception); and
to morrow shall be as this day, [and] much more abundant ("all
is well in Zion" syndrome--2 Nephi 28:21). (Isaiah
56:10-12)
For among my people are found wicked [men]: they lay wait, as
he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
As a cage is full of birds, so [are] their houses full of deceit:
therefore they are become great, and waxen rich (the LDS Church
is very rich).
They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of
the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless
(LDS single mothers with children languish in poverty and are
forced onto government welfare roles), yet they prosper; and the
right of the needy do they not judge.
Shall I not visit for these [things]? saith the LORD: shall not
my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
The prophets prophesy falsely (they talk about things consistently
getting better and do not warn of the impending destruction--the
desolation of abomination), and the priests bear rule by their
means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye
do in the end thereof? (Jeremiah 5:26-29, 31)
And their houses shall be turned unto others, [with their] fields
and wives together: for I will stretch out my hand upon the inhabitants
of the land, saith the LORD.
For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every
one [is] given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto
the priest every one dealeth falsely.
They have healed also the hurt [of the daughter] of my people
slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when [there is] no peace.
Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they
were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they
shall fall among them that fall: at the time [that] I visit them
they shall be cast down, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah
6:12-15)
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my
name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither
spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination,
and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that
prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword
and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall
those prophets be consumed.
And the people to whom they prophesy (The general LDS community
to whom they say, "If anything is going to happen, we'll
let you know" and they never do as calamities beset the people)
shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem (metaphorical type
= SLC) because of the famine and the sword; and they shall have
none to bury them, them, their wives, nor their sons, nor their
daughters: for I will pour their wickedness upon them.
(Jeremiah 14:14-16)
Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep
of my pasture! saith the LORD (Where is the revelation that
changes D&C 29:2, 7-8?).
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors
that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them
away (left them scattered all over the world), and have not
visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings,
saith the LORD.
And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries
(He has to do it Himself as part of His "strange act".)
whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their
folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.
And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them
(new leadership to replace the old): and they shall fear no
more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the
LORD. (Jeremiah 23:1-4)
For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have
I found their wickedness, saith the LORD.
Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery [ways] in the
darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I
will bring evil upon them, [even] the year of their visitation,
saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 23:11-12)
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem (metaphorical
type = SLC) an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk
in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that
none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto
me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.
Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the prophets;
Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the
water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness
gone forth into all the land.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of
the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they
speak a vision of their own heart, [and] not out of the mouth
of the LORD.
They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said,
Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh
after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon
you.
Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even
a grievous whirlwind (See D&C 112:23-26): it shall
fall grievously upon the head of the wicked (LDS leadership).
The anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have executed,
and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the
latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken
to them, yet they prophesied.
But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my
people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from
their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. (Jeremiah
23:14-17, 19-22)
Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy,
and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts,
Hear ye the word of the LORD;
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that
follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!
O Israel, thy prophets are like the foxes in the deserts.
Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for
the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD
saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made
[others] to hope that they would confirm the word.
Have ye not seen a vain vision, and have ye not spoken a lying
divination, whereas ye say, The LORD saith [it]; albeit I have
not spoken?
Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; Because ye have spoken vanity,
and seen lies, therefore, behold, I [am] against you, saith
the Lord GOD.
And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and
that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my
people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house
of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and
ye shall know that I [am] the Lord GOD.
Because, even because they have seduced my people, saying,
Peace; and [there was] no peace. . . (Ezekiel 13:2-10)
And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing,
I the Lord have not deceived that prophet; therefore I will
stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst
of my people Israel. (JST Ezekiel 14:9)
And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the
punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him
that seeketh [unto him];
That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither
be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they
may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord GOD.
(Ezekiel 14:10-11)
Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy,
and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds;
Woe [be] to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves!
should not the shepherds feed the flocks (including the mysteries
of Godliness)?
Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them
that are fed: [but] ye feed not the flock (the LDS are
languishing for lack of spiritual substance).
The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed
that which was sick, neither have ye bound up [that which was]
broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away,
neither have ye sought that which was lost; but with force and
with cruelty have ye ruled them.
And they were scattered, because [there is] no shepherd:
and they became meat to all the beasts of the field, when they
were scattered.
My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and upon every high
hill: yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth,
and none did search or seek [after them].
Therefore, ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
[As] I live, saith the Lord GOD, surely because my flock became
a prey, and my flock became meat to every beast of the field,
because [there was] no shepherd, neither did my shepherds search
for my flock, but the shepherds fed themselves (from the prosperity
generated from the tithes of the people and their income from
operations in Babylon), and fed not my flock (withheld true religion
from them and gave them only watered down milk--not the meat);
Therefore, O ye shepherds, hear the word of the LORD;
Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I [am] against the shepherds;
and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease
from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves
any more; for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they
may not be meat for them.
For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I, [even] I, will both search
my sheep, and seek them out.
As a shepherd seeketh out his flock in the day that he is among
his sheep [that are] scattered; so will I seek out my sheep,
and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered
in the cloudy and dark day.
And I will bring them out from the people, and gather them from
the countries, and will bring them to their own land, and feed
them upon the mountains of Israel by the rivers, and in all the
inhabited places of the country.
I will feed them in a good pasture, and upon the high mountains
of Israel shall their fold be: there shall they lie in a good
fold, and [in] a fat pasture shall they feed upon the mountains
of Israel.
I will feed my flock, and I will cause them to lie down,
saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 34:1-15)
For the eternal purposes of the Lord shall roll on, until all
his promises shall be fulfilled.
Search the prophecies of Isaiah. Behold, I cannot write them.
. . (We have included many as quoted above.).
Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things
concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these
things shall come forth among you.
Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are
not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I
know your doing.
And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts;
and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves
up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very
fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions,
and all manner of iniquities; and your churches (every
congregation or ward), yea, even every one, have become polluted
because of the pride of your hearts.
For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your
fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye
love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves
for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church
of God? (The only church that could qualify is the restored
church) Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ?
Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness
than that misery which never dies--because of the praise of
the world? (The LDS Church does every thing possible to manage
their image before the world to obtain the praise of the world.)
Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life,
and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the
sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain
(Billions of dollars of gross income from business operations
in Satan's economic system which is Babylon), and cause that widows
should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before
the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands
to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your
heads?
Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time
soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you,
for he will not suffer their cries any longer. (Mormon
8:22-23, 35-41)
These prophetic scriptures quoted over the past few pages are
indicative of the vast body of prophetic literature declaring
in the last days that Church leadership infallibility concepts
would be espoused and would result in pollution, corruption, error
and final destruction of leaders and the people who support them.
Christ's indictment of the leadership of the temporal church in
His day serves as a real type for the situation Latter-day Saints
find themselves in today.
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in
[yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
(Matthew 23:13)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye compass
sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, ye make
him twofold more the child of hell than he was before, like unto
yourselves. (JST Matthew 23:12)
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye pay tithe
of mint, and anise, and cummin; and have omitted the weightier
things of the law; judgment, mercy, and faith (including every
law that would establish a Zion society); these ought ye to have
done, and not to leave the other undone.
Ye blind guides, who strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel;
who make yourselves appear unto men that ye would not commit the
least sin, and yet ye yourselves, transgress the whole law
(doctrines of gathering, consecration, celestial plural marriage,
etc.).
Ye blind Pharisees! Cleanse first the cup and platter within,
that the outside of them may be clean also.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like
unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outwardly,
but are within full of the bones of the dead (no spirit), and
of all uncleanness (pollutions, corruptions, abominations).
Wherefore, ye are witnesses unto yourselves of your own wickedness
(out of their own mouths they condemn themselves), and ye are
the children of them who killed the prophets (certainly the doctrines
Joseph and Hyrum gave their lives for);
And will fill up the measure then of your fathers; for ye, yourselves,
kill the prophets like unto your fathers.
Ye serpents, and generation of vipers! How can ye escape the damnation
of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and
scribes; and them ye shall kill and crucify; and of them ye shall
scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
Ye bear testimony against your fathers, when ye, yourselves, are
partakers of the same wickedness.
Behold your fathers did it through ignorance, but ye do not;
wherefore, their sins shall be upon your heads. (JST Matthew
23:20-35)
Undoubtedly this kind of diatribe is shocking and difficult to
bear. However, Nephi had this to say about such:
. . .the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth
them to the very center. (1 Nephi 16:2)
Just before the destruction in 3rd Nephi, which is a type for
our day, we find these words:
. . .they were in a state of awful wickedness. Now they did not
sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them,
for it had been taught unto them; therefore they did wilfully
rebel against God. (3 Nephi 6:17-18)
And there began to be men inspired from heaven and sent forth,
standing among the people in all the land, preaching and testifying
boldly of the sins and iniquities of the people, and testifying
unto them concerning the redemption which the Lord would make
for his people, or in other words, the resurrection of Christ;
and they did testify boldly of his death and sufferings (Today
we testify of the destruction of such wickedness and the consummate
work of the Father, even the redemption of the House of Israel
and Zion).
Now there were many of the people who were exceedingly angry because
of those who testified of these things; and those who were angry
were chiefly the chief judges (Church leaders), and they who had
been high priests (lost their priesthood because of unrighteous
dominion--D&C 121:34-37) and lawyers; yea, all those who were
lawyers were angry with those who testified of these things.
Now there were many of those who testified of the things pertaining
to Christ who testified boldly, who were taken and put to death
secretly by the judges. (To Latter-day Saints, excommunication
is tantamount to "spiritual" death and LDS leaders do
excommunicate in a "private--secret" court those who
truly seek out God.) (3 Nephi 6:20-21, 23)
Throughout the history of our Father's dealings with His children,
who did the prophets warn? Time and time again God's covenant
people lapsed into apostasy by rejecting true principles and following
after the strange Gods of their day. That was the exact status
of the people of Jerusalem in Lehi's day. When Lehi was commanded
to call the people to repentance, did they recognize him as a
true messenger and prophet of the Lord? Did Lehi come from the
hierarchy of the church at the time? ". . .the Jews did mock
him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly
testified of their wickedness and their abominations;. . ."
(1 Nephi 1:19) Lehi was seen as a traitor to the structure of
the "church" in Jerusalem and a blasphemer because he
spoke words that were in opposition to the current direction of
"church leadership". The people were blind to their
standing before God, yet they assumed that "All is well in
Zion, yea Zion prospereth". Laman and Lemuel were a prime
reflection of the Jerusalem mind set when they said, "And
we know that the people who were in the land of Jerusalem were
a righteous people; for they kept the statutes and judgments of
the Lord, and all his commandments, according to the law of Moses;
wherefore, we know that they are a righteous people;..."
(1 Nephi 17: 22). Apparently, the people were doing the outward
performances such as attending meetings, paying tithes, etc.,
but their hearts were far from the Lord. This wickedness is confirmed
by the fact that the city of Jerusalem was destroyed as Lehi prophesied.
Did these prophets generally warn anyone other than Israel? Who
was it that Abinadi warned? Who was it that Nephi warned? Who
was it that Samuel the Lamanite warned? Who did Isaiah, Ezekiel,
and Jeremiah warn? We also are now warning an errant Israel! When
will Latter-day Saints begin to recognize that God has abandoned
their hopelessly apostate church who has lost its rights to the
priesthood, is setting His house in order by calling new priesthood
leadership to cry repentance and warn of God's judgments that
are very soon to be poured out upon them. How many listened and
heeded the warning voice anciently? How many will heed this warning
given today?
In conclusion, we testify in the most solemn manner that Latter-day
Saints have apostatized from the principles, doctrines and precepts
that the Prophet Joseph Smith and his contemporaries gave their
all for. This blind-sidedness, which has been so well prophesied,
is about to cause God to call forth His wrath and vengeance on
these errant sons and daughters who have broken faith with Him.
God will not be mocked! One final prophecy from our own dispensation
will close this pamphlet:
Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and
gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become
corrupt before my face.
Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the
earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation,
of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind
it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
And upon my house (Israel) shall it begin, and from my house shall
it go forth, saith the Lord;
First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed
to know my name and have not known me (Apostles of the LDS Church),
and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house (born
false witness), saith the Lord. (D&C 112:23-26; for further
information see the pamphlet "Upon
My House Shall It Begin")