James E. Faust, Counselor in the First Presidency of the Church
of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addressed the members of
the LDS Church during their semi-annual General Conference, on
the morning of April 6th, 1996. He entitled his address, "The
Prophetic Voice."
Jeffrey G. Hanks, President of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles,
and Andrew A. Erickson, of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles of the
True and Living Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days,
responded to Faust's address. This pamphlet is that response.
Faust:
Response:
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 (Exodus. 20:19).
The scriptures teach against placing our trust in the arm of the
flesh. The early leaders of this dispensation also taught against
blind obedience.
Nephi placed his trust in the Lord. If he had "stuck with
the brethren," he would have been destroyed with the rest
of the rebellious inhabitants of Jerusalem. He said:
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)
Brigham Young made the following observations:
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.
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol.4, p. 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.
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Vol.9, p. 151: January
12, 1862)
Ezekiel's words ring true, for truly he prophesied of
our day when he declared:
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 13:4-10)
Compare the indictment of Israel's "prophets"
by Ezekiel with the words of the current leaders of the LDS church.
Ezekiel's description of the words that the false prophets of
modern Israel would speak is very accurate. For instance, Gordon
B. Hinckley said the following at a CES fireside a couple of years
ago:
"This is the greatest day, the greatest season in the
history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in
my judgment. How wonderful to be alive today. How wonderful to
be a part of this great cause, at this time, in the history of
the world, and in the history of this Church. Never has it been
so large, never has it been so strong, never has it been so highly
regarded, never has it made the kind of progress that it's making
today...
This is reminiscent of Satan's declaration: "Now is the
great day of my power!" Hinckley continues:
"I simply say that things are getting better and better,
and I feel profoundly grateful for that...
"There were in the Church, last year, 305,000 convert
baptisms...
"This University, where we meet tonight, this Church operates
presently, I guess, the largest private University in America
if not in the World...
"We have before us now requests for 498 new buildings this
year. Think of it. We won't build them all. We can't move that
fast. But we'll build 350 or 400 of them as we've done each year
for the past several years. This is a great time of strength and
activity. This is the greatest Temple building era in the history
of the Church. It's been my pleasure to dedicate about 23 or 24
new Temples since I came into the Presidency in 1981...
"What I am suggesting, and asking, is that...optimism replace
pessimism."
(Gordon B. Hinckley, CES Fireside, March 3, 1994)
Gordon B. Hinckley is speaking vanity. (Vanity: Excessive
pride in one's appearance or accomplishments: Conceit). Gordon
Hinckley and the other leaders of the LDS church cry "Peace,"
when there is no peace, take pride in the "great accomplishments"
of the corporate church, and do not heed the counsels and warnings
from God found in the scriptures and in the words of the early
leaders of the dispensation. God tells us how he will deal with
such men:
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.
(Doctrine and Covenants 3:4)
Faust:
Response:
Continuing revelation is an important part of the Kingdom
of God. But where are the revelations? The LDS leadership have
not presented a revelation to the members in over 100 years. When
is the last time you heard an LDS General Authority utter the
words "Thus saith the Lord"? Joseph Smith taught:
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...
(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 136)
The most recent things to be added to the LDS canon of
scripture are the "Official Declarations" One and Two.
Can the words "Thus saith the Lord" be found anywhere
in those documents? How many times in the scriptures has God begun
a revelation to his people with the word "To whom it may
concern"? Also, these two "declarations" are departures
from former principles and doctrines, and create contradiction
within the same dispensation.
Faust:
Response:
What Faust fails to point out here is, there is a difference
between "dispensation" and "church." The dispensation
will not be destroyed, if at least a remnant of the House of Israel
is faithful to their God, but the "church," or in other
words, the corporate entity of the LDS Church does not have any
guarantee of immunity from apostasy or destruction.
Lehi's day is a good example of the church as a whole falling
into apostasy within a dispensation, and it having to be renewed
in that same dispensation by individuals outside of the established
(apostate) institution.
The Lord has said:
And if my people will hearken unto my voice, and unto the voice
of my servants whom I have appointed to lead my people, behold,
verily I say unto you, they shall not be moved out of their place.
But if they will not hearken to my voice, nor unto the voice of
these men whom I have appointed, they shall not be blest, because
they pollute mine holy grounds, and mine holy ordinances, and
charters, and my holy words which I give unto them.
And it shall come to pass that if you build a house unto my name,
and do not do the things that I say, I will not perform the oath
which I make unto you, neither fulfil the promises which ye expect
at my hands, saith the Lord.
For instead of blessings, ye, by your own works, bring cursings,
wrath, indignation, and judgments upon your own heads, by your
follies, and by all your abominations, which you practise before
me, saith the Lord.
(Doctrine and Covenants 124:45-48)
Faust:
Response:
John Taylor also very clearly stated that the temporal Church
and the Kingdom of God are two separate entities. Brigham Young
further clarifies the distinction between the "church"
and "kingdom" of God:
I will say to you with regard to the kingdom of God on the
earth--Here is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
organized ... This is what we are in the habit of calling the
kingdom of God. But there are further organizations. The Prophet
gave a full and complete organization to this kingdom the Spring
before he was killed. This kingdom is the kingdom that Daniel
spoke of, which was to be set up in the last days; it is the kingdom
that is not to be given to another people; it is the kingdom that
is to be held by the servants of God, to rule the nations of the
earth, to send forth those laws and ordinances that shall be suitable
and that shall apply themselves to the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints; that will apply themselves to the mother
Church, "the holy Catholic Church," they will commend
themselves to every Protestant Church upon the earth; they will
commend themselves to every class of infidels, and will throw
their protecting arms around the whole human family, protecting
them in their rights. If they wish to worship a white dog, they
will have the privilege; if they wish to worship the sun they
will have the privilege; if they wish to worship a man they will
have the privilege, and if they wish to worship the "unknown
God" they will have the privilege. This kingdom will circumscribe
them all and will issue laws and ordinances to protect them in
their rights--every right that every people, sect and person can
enjoy, and the full liberty that God has granted to them without
molestation.
Can you understand me? This Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints is organized for the building up of this Church alone;
it is not for the building up of Catholicism, it is not for promoting
any or all of the dissentients from the Mother Church, it is alone
for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and for no
other body of people. When we organize according to these laws
and ordinances we make this people one, but we do not bring in
the Methodists, Presbyterians or Calvinists, they are independent
of themselves. But the kingdom of God, when it is established
and bears rule, will defend the Methodists in their rights just
as much as Latter-day Saints, but it will not allow them to infringe
upon the right of their neighbors; this will be prohibited. These
sects may want to afflict the Saints just as now; they may want
to persecute each other just as they now do; they may want to
bring everybody to their standard just as they do now. But the
kingdom of God, when it is set up upon the earth, will be after
the pattern of heaven, and will compel no man nor woman to go
contrary to his or her conscience...
Now I want to give you these few words--the kingdom of God will
protect every person, every sect and all people upon the face
of the whole earth, in their legal rights. I shall not tell you
the names of the members of this kingdom, neither shall I read
to you its constitution, but the constitution was given by revelation.
The day will come when it will be organized in strength and power.
Now, as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we work
our way along the best we can. Can you understand this?
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 17, p. 159: August
9, 1874; emphasis added)
There are several significant points to be brought out
from this discourse. According to Brigham Young:
1. The Kingdom of God was not established until the spring before
the Prophet's death: therefore it cannot equal the LDS church,
which was established 14 years prior:
"The Prophet gave a full and complete organization to
this kingdom the Spring before he was killed." (Ibid.)
2. LDS members are (and have been since Brigham's day) in
the habit of calling the Church the Kingdom of God, yet they are
not the same:
"This [the organization of the LDS church] is what we
are in the habit of calling the kingdom of God. But there are
further organizations." (Ibid.)
3. The Kingdom of God is a further organization than those
that belong to the Church.
"But there are further organizations. The Prophet gave
a full and complete organization to this kingdom the Spring before
he was killed. This kingdom is the kingdom that Daniel spoke of,
which was to be set up in the last days; it is the kingdom that
is not to be given to another people..." (Ibid.)
4. The names of the members of the Kingdom of God are not
the same as the names of the members of the LDS Church. Brigham
said:
"I shall not tell you the names of the members of this
kingdom, neither shall I read to you its constitution, but the
constitution was given by revelation." (Ibid.)
If all of the members of the LDS church were the members of
the Kingdom of God, and none but LDS church members were a part
of the Kingdom of God, why would the names of the members of the
Kingdom of God be unknown to Brigham's audience? Also, why would
it's "constitution" be unknown? The LDS Church does
not equal the Kingdom of God. Faust is incorrect in his application
of Daniel's scripture to the LDS Church.
The modern LDS leaders cling to the scripture in Daniel as if
it is pertaining to them and the ecclesiastical church. This 'Kingdom'
spoken of is the Kingdom of God, a theocracy, that will YET consume
and break down the kingdoms of the world. These are events yet
to come. Has the LDS Church 'broken down' any kingdoms or nations
of the world? Quite to the contrary. They have embraced and engaged
in secret combinations with the very nations they speak of breaking
down.
By actions, declarations, alliances and default the LDS Church
fits into a more fitting category other than that spoken of by
Daniel:
For the time speedily shall come that all churches which are
built up to get gain, and all those who are built up to get power
over the flesh, and those who are built up to become popular in
the eyes of the world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh
and the things of the world, and to do all manner of iniquity;
yea, in fine, all those who belong to the kingdom of the devil
are they who need fear, and tremble, and quake; they are those
who must be brought low in the dust; they are those who must be
consumed as stubble; and this is according to the words of the
prophet.
(1 Nephi 22:23)
Faust:
Response:
It is true that the priesthood will not be taken from the
earth in the last days, and it is also true that the brethren
knew that a righteous remnant out of the hearts core of the people
would be called forth to continue the Lord's work as the main
body of the Church lapsed into apostasy. Here are some pertinent
quotes:
...[F]or if Zion will not purify herself, so as to be approved
of in all things, in His sight, He will seek another people; for
His work will go on until Israel is gathered, and they who will
not hear His voice, must expect to feel His wrath. Let me say
unto you, seek to purify yourselves, and also the inhabitants
of Zion, lest the Lord's anger be kindled to fierceness.
(Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 18)
I do not know but that it would be an utter impossibility
to commence and carry out some principles pertaining to Zion right
in the midst of this people. They have strayed so far that to
get a people who would conform to heavenly laws it may be needful
to lead some from the midst of this people and commence anew somewhere
in the regions round about in these mountains.
(Orson Pratt, Journal of Discourses, Vol. 15, p.361-p.362:
March 9, 1873)
God will preserve a portion of this people, of the meek and
the humble, to bear off the kingdom to the inhabitants of the
earth, and will defend His Priesthood; for it is the last time,
the last gathering time.
(Brigham Young, Contributor, Volume 10, p. 362)
And if we as a people do not hold ourselves on the altar ready
to be used with our means and all that God has bestowed upon us,
according to the Master's bidding, for the upbuilding of His kingdom
upon the earth, He will pass on and get somebody else; because
He will get a people that will do it. I do not mean to say that
He will pass on and leave this people; no, there will come up
from the midst of this people that people that has been talked
so much about.
(Daniel H. Wells, Deseret News, December 9, 1882)
Faust:
Response:
The leaders of 'God's true Church' in Jerusalem surely said
the same thing in the days of Lehi: "You are not a leader
in this Church, Lehi! Who are you to come and tell us that God
will destroy us if we don't repent? WE HOLD THE KEYS AND ARE THE
SAME AS GOD!" Lehi was not recognized by the hierarchy of
the Church and the inhabitants of Jerusalem felt no need to heed
anything he had to say. 'All was well in Zion' for them, and their
institution was full of pride, successful and abundant. The parallel
is this: when God's people go into apostasy, he calls out a remnant
from among their ranks and fulfills the prophecies and destiny
of His work with that obedient remnant. This is and has been the
pattern for time immemorial and this last dispensation is no exception.
This process is repeating itself again in our own day.
Faust:
Response:
The thing to note in relation to Oliver Cowdery's pride and
rebellion is this: Oliver rebelled against the dispensation head,
Joseph Smith. The LDS Leaders and Church have systematically over
100+ years have rebelled against the dispensation head, Joseph
Smith. They have rejected every law and principle that would develop
a Zion people and actually establish Zion upon the earth. James
E. Faust and his brethren are great big hypocrites when they list
apostasy and rebellion from the early dispensation and yet are
deep in the same rebellion from Joseph and Christ as any ever
were. They echo the hearts and mind-sets of the apostate generations
of the past:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are
like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward,
but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within
ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build
the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not
have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children
of them which killed the prophets.
Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
[Ye] serpents, [ye] generation of vipers, how can ye escape the
damnation of hell?
Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and
scribes: and [some] of them ye shall kill and crucify; and [some]
of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute [them]
from city to city:
(Matthew 23:27-34)
[Ye] hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth
me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments
of men.
(Matthew 15:7-9)
Faust:
Response:
When, in the history of the earth (with the possible exception
of the City of Enoch), has this ever been the case? The scriptural
record gives us account after account of the apostasies of the
"main channel of the stream" or "body of the Church".
The Book of Mormon, compiled specifically for our day, gives one
example after another of God's church falling into apostasy, along
with the majority (if not all) of its members. The Lord said to
us in this dispensation:
And if ye seek the riches which it is the will of the Father
to give unto you, ye shall be the richest of all people, for ye
shall have the riches of eternity; and it must needs be that the
riches of the earth are mine to give; but beware of pride, lest
ye become as the Nephites of old.
(Doctrine and Covenants 38:39)
Note that the Nephites were utterly destroyed. Every one
of them followed the "body of the Church" and stayed
in the "main channel of the stream." The scriptures
give plenty of evidence that staying "mainstream" or
following the majority is not always (and is usually not) a safe
course to follow.
Faust:
Response:
Whatever Oliver Cowdery's hopes may have been (and indeed,
these hopes were shared by most of his contemporaries), the fact
remains that the Lord does not remove our agency. As in every
other dispensation, the LDS Church was established under God's
authority and could have fulfilled every hope and expectation
of success. Unfortunately, the LDS Church has fallen into apostasy
just as nearly every other organization of Christ's church has,
in every dispensation. This apostasy has led to the removal of
God's authority from the LDS institution.
Faust:
Response:
Faust fails to see the context of his example. Peter and the
Apostles were the ones who were not "staying with the Brethren"!
The established church and authorities (that had existed for many
many years) considered the Apostles to be an "offshoot"
or "splinter group" from the Jewish faith. It may be
argued that Peter and the Apostles were the "real Brethren",
but notice that the determination between the "real"
and the "false" authorities has nothing to do with the
majority or "mainstream" of the Church, or with who
controls the "original" Church organization. The determination
has to do with who is doing God's will and who does God recognize,
support and sustain? God recognizes those who obey Him and His
laws, not those who pervert and change His laws to suit their
own carnal desires for possessions, praise and power.
Faust:
Response:
Unfortunately, the "works" of the LDS Church do
not include the building up of the Kingdom of God and the establishment
of Zion. They build many buildings, and because of their rejection
of so many of the principles of the Gospel and the Restoration,
they are able to win many converts, but they can never establish
Zion. Every law that would establish a Zion society and people
has been rejected, and the LDS people now live a religion of forms
and outward appearances, and adhere to a religion that is based
on the philosophies of men (mingled with scripture.)
Faust:
Response:
Common consent is a rubber stamp sham in the LDS Church today
and has been systematically violated again and again. That Faust
would even refer to it is the height of hypocrisy.
As far as personal revelation for one's self, the leadership privately
grimaces and disbelieves those who testify of even personal revelation
or manifestations. The LDS leaders teach that you may only experience
a "burning in the bosom" and only "The Prophet"
can receive revelation or manifestations from the other side of
the veil. The true issue is that personal revelation is very de-emphasized,
advised against. and suspect. And if you want to use the keys
of the priesthood in the true order of prayer in the privacy of
your own home to pierce the veil and receive answers (as you were
taught in the pre-1990 endowment), you will be excommunicated.
The reason for this is that when revelation is received from Heaven,
it exposes the true state of apostasy of the LDS Church. They
are attempting to blind the membership by telling them that the
only safe course is to 'follow the brethren'.
If you were in Jerusalem in Lehi's day and adhered to the 'follow
the brethren' program, would you even have given Lehi the time
of day? The organized (and true, before apostasy) Church at that
time was headed by 'the constituted authorities', they had all
the outward demonstrations of true authority. If you did not follow
the Spirit of God and receive the promptings of truth for yourself
and awaken to the apostasy that existed at that time period, you
would have perished. These are the exact conditions that prevail
today. Modern Israel has done it again. They are about to receive
the wrath and judgment of God on their heads for this current
rebellion and blasphemy. Those who have eyes to see and ears that
hear, take heed, for such is our day.
Faust:
Response:
The above would be true IF, IF, IF the Lord's people and institution
were not in apostasy. Who did Abinadi come to to proclaim their
apostasy and rebellion? Who did Samuel the Lamanite come to to
declare their apostasy and impending destruction? Who did Isaiah
and Jeremiah come to and prophecy to about their impending destruction
and demise?
The answer to all of the above questions is the same: These prophets
were called and sent to God's covenant Israel, His former Church
in apostasy, to warn them to repent and return to the true God
or be destroyed. What was the result for the majority ("main
body" or "mainstream") of the people? They were
in a comfort zone of complacency, the 'All is well in Zion' syndrome,
and they suffered and perished. Their leaders comforted their
minds by saying that these 'messengers' were not of God, and that
their beautiful cities and churches could not be destroyed in
all their greatness.
The identical thing is being played out today. The LDS leaders
are exhorting the people to only focus on them for direction because,
of course, they are the only ones that have 'constituted authority'
to speak for God. They don't even want their members asking God
for direction: they want to be the focus of worship, and the "source
of revelation" to the LDS people.
The Prophet Alma awoke to the Church's apostasy and led a remnant
out and was charged to organize a Church in the wilderness. The
point is that originally, King Noah's Church WAS the true church.
This is the parallel throughout the Book of Mormon and ancient
Israel. These are the resounding messages for modern Israel today.
These things are verily true. Modern Israel is in full apostasy
today and is on the verge of receiving the wrath of God upon their
heads. We pray that there are some of the truly Elect out there
who will recognize this sordid state and repent of their sins,
come out of Babylon, and not receive of her plagues and destructions.
Faust:
Response:
Gordon B. Hinckley is neither our "head", nor the
head of God's Church. Yes, he heads the LDS corporate church,
but God no longer recognizes that institution as His own.
We have been called by Almighty God to declare the waywardness
and apostasy of modern Israel from the teachings of the prophet
Joseph Smith and Jesus Christ. We are to declare the apostasy
and rebellion of the LDS Church and gather those of the Elect
who awaken to this plight and come out of her to build up Zion
and keep their covenants.
Faust:
Response:
Gordon B. Hinckley and his associates are not "higher
in authority" than anyone who has even a particle of priesthood.
God's priesthood has been stripped from him, his counselors, the
LDS general authorities, and the LDS institution itself. This
is the natural consequence of apostasy and utter rebellion against
God. A man holding the Aaronic priesthood, who honors it, has
more authority than Gordon B. Hinckley does.
The scriptures are full of examples of men being sent by God to
testify to the leaders of apostate Israel. Doubtless these leaders
considered themselves to be "higher in authority" than
those testifying to them of their wickedness, and dismissed the
words of Abinadi, Lehi, Samuel the Lamanite, Ezekiel, Jeremiah,
Isaiah, Nephi son of Helaman, and many others, based on their
reliance on authority that they no longer held.
Faust:
Response:
The scripture he cites is in reference to Joseph Smith specifically,
not "the President of the Church."
Faust:
Response:
Standing by the authorities is good advice: if you know who
the "authorities" really are. As stated before, the
true authorities are those who are doing God's work, living His
laws, and are recognized by him. If merely inheriting a position
in an organized church automatically qualifies you as a recognized,
authorized servant of God, then we should all be "standing
by" the Pope. After all, isn't he the "constituted authority",
in the Church that was originally organized in Christ's day? No,
position in an organized institution is not a fail-safe proof
of authority. Obedience to God and His laws is an absolute requirement
to hold, or continue to hold, God's authority on earth.
Faust:
Response:
This clever bit of word-play on Faust's part has misled many
to believe that this is a direct quote from Joseph Smith, that
angels will never ordain anyone else, and that it puts to rest
the claims of James D. Harmston, President of the True and Living
Church of Jesus Christ of Saints of the Last Days.
It will be shown that this is not a direct quote from Joseph Smith,
that the meaning of this quote has been distorted by omitting
information, and that words are attributed to Joseph Smith by
Faust that were not Joseph's. Faust's appeal to Joseph Smith via
this quote to prove the infallibility of the LDS church is a planned
and cleverly executed deception, but one that will now be exposed.
1. This is not a direct quote from Joseph Smith.
This "quote" is actually hear-say: the recollection
of an unnamed author (Orson Hyde, possibly) of something Joseph
reportedly said, 13 years after the fact. The likelihood of it
being a verbatim representation of what was said is very low.
Faust's representation of this quote as being directly out of
the Prophet's mouth is a distortion of the truth. It would have
been more correct to say, "This is what Orson Hyde (or whoever)
remembered Joseph saying 13 years earlier..."
2. The meaning and context of this quote is quite different than
the manner in which Faust represented it.
Here is the context in which Joseph's comments were made:
The occasion which called forth his testimony upon this matter
was as follows:-One Francis G. Bishop, an Elder in our church,
was very anxious to be ordained a High Priest, but he was not
considered a proper candidate to fill the office at that time;
and his urgent solicitations to be promoted to the High Priesthood,
confirmed the Saints in the opinion that he wanted a high station
without meriting it, or without being called by the Spirit of
God to that work. He was sent forth into the world to preach in
the capacity and calling of an Elder; but he was not long out
before he declared himself to be a High Priest--and that he was
ordained by an angel from heaven. This made much stir in the branches
of the church and also in the world. But when the news of his
proceedings reached the prophet Joseph, he called Bishop home
forthwith. He was introduced into the school of the prophets,
and there closely questioned upon his course. He said he was ordained
by an angel to the High Priesthood; yet, on a more close examination,
he crossed his own testimony and statements--became confused,
and blushed with shame and guilt--he fell down upon his knees
and confessed that he had lied in the name of the Lord--begged
to be forgiven and cried aloud for mercy.
(Millennial Star, V.9, p. 138-139)
As can be seen, the circumstances which prompted Joseph's
remarks, and the context in which they were given was this: a
man claimed to have been ordained by an angel to an office which
men already held on the earth. Francis G. Bishop did not claim
to receive an ordination to an order of the Priesthood that had
been lost. He claimed to have been ordained to an order of the
priesthood by an angel, since those on earth holding that authority
would not do it. Joseph's observation that this sort of ordination
by an angel would go against the order of the priesthood is correct:
if there is a man on earth that holds the authority to ordain
to a specific office or order in the priesthood, and angel will
not preempt the earthly administrator's rights in the priesthood.
Faust's use of this quote to discredit the TLC fails because it
is not applicable. Jim Harmston was ordained by angels to the
Apostleship, which office and order in the priesthood did not
exist on the earth any longer. It had been lost and taken from
the earth due to the apostasy of the LDS church. If there had
been a man on earth that held the Apostleship, there would have
been no need, as Joseph said, for angels to perform the ordination.
(The omitted words in Faust's quote explains this principle, as
discussed below.)
3. Faust omitted words from the quote which shed light on the
true meaning of what was said.
If you notice above (as in the Ensign type-script of Faust's talk),
there are three dots in the middle of the quote, indicating omitted
material. What Faust left out were two examples given in the original
quote in which an angel WOULD ordain a man. Here is the omitted
material:
"He referred to the angel that came to Cornelius and told
Cornelius to send for Peter; but if there had been no Peter with
keys and power to administer, the angel might have done it himself;
but as there was, the angel would not interfere. Saul was directed
to go to Ananias for instruction and to be administered to by
him; but if there had been no Ananias with power and authority
on the earth to administer in the name of Christ, the Lord might
have done it himself."
(Millennial Star, V.9, p. 139, emphasis added)
The omission of this explanation distorts the clear meaning
of Joseph's instructions. Angels will ordain men, when there is
no earthly administrator to do it. At the time Joseph gave this
instruction, there were earthly administrators who could ordain
others to be High Priests, and Joseph was absolutely correct in
declaring F.G. Bishop's ordination by an angel to be a fabrication.
The deletion of this section of the quote is a prime example of
Faust's cleverness and deceit, in trying to lead his followers
to believe false doctrine.
4. Faust attributes words to Joseph Smith that were not Joseph
Smith's words.
Another clever result of the omitted words is that the change
in speaker is obscured. Faust attributed the following words as
being a quote from Joseph Smith:
You may therefore know, from this time forward, that if any
man comes to you professing to be ordained by an angel, he is
either a liar or has been imposed upon in consequence of transgression
by an angel of the devil, for this priesthood shall never be taken
away from this church.
(Millennial Star, V.9, p. 139)
This sentence immediately follows the omitted portion
of the Millennial Star quote. These words are actually an editorial
statement, written in 1846, by the editor of the Millennial Star,
and NOT a quote from Joseph Smith. While it is not made clear
in the punctuation of the article, the "speaker" clearly
shifts from Joseph speaking in first person", to the speaker
being the editor, REFERRING to Joseph Smith, and then to the editor,
speaking for himself. This can be seen with the addition of the
omitted portion, so that the quote reads in its entirety as follows
(my comments in bold italics, in brackets):
Brother Joseph observed to Bishop that he knew he had lied
before he confessed it; that his declarations were not only false
in themselves, but they involved a false principle.
[Speaker is the editor, referring to Joseph]
An angel, said Joseph, may administer the word of the Lord
unto men, and bring intelligence to them from heaven upon various
subjects; but no true angel from God will ever come to ordain
any man, because they have once been sent to establish the priesthood
by ordaining me thereunto; and the priesthood being once established
on earth, with power to ordain others, no heavenly messenger will
ever come to interfere with that power by ordaining any more.
[The above paragraph are the words that the editor attributes
to Joseph, placing them in a first-person format ("by ordaining
ME", etc.) This is the only portion that could be considered
to "quote" Joseph Smith.]
He referred to the angel that came to Cornelius and told Cornelius
to send for Peter; but if there had been no Peter with keys and
power to administer,the angel might have done it himself; but
as there was, the angel would not interfere. Saul was directed
to go to Ananias for instruction and to be administered to by
him; but if there had been no Ananias with power and authority
on the earth to administer in the name of Christ, the Lord might
have done it himself.
[Notice the switch from Joseph speaking ("by ordaining
ME") to the editor speaking ("HE then referred...")
The above paragraph is a paraphrase, or explanation in the editor's
words, of what Joseph had said 13 years earlier.]
You may therefore know, from this time forward, that if any
man comes to you professing to be ordained by an angel, he is
either a liar or has been imposed upon in consequence of transgression
by an angel of the devil, for this priesthood shall never be taken
away from this church.
(Millennial Star, V. 9, p. 139)
[The above paragraph is not attributed to Joseph by the editor:
it is the editor's own comments, based upon his understanding
of Joseph's instructions. The editor's intent was to prove James
Strang's claims wrong, by referring to something Joseph had said
13 years earlier in the School of the Prophets. The editor's comments
continue from this point on, ending with, "Mr. Strang, like
Bishop, claims that an angel ordained him."]
Strang's claim was, in the view of the editor of the Millennial
Star, of the same nature as Francis G. Bishop's: namely, that
an angel had ordained a man to an office or order in the priesthood
that was already existent on the earth. The ordination of Jim
Harmston by Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Moses to the Apostleship
is NOT a claim to an ordination by angels to a priesthood office
or authority that was existent on the earth at that time. Joseph
taught a true principle, but this true principle was obscured
by Faust in his attempt to attribute a false doctrine to Joseph
Smith.
Is it possible that an angel would ordain any man in this dispensation,
other than Joseph Smith? Yes. It is not only possible, but it
has happened. The LDS Apostles LOST the Apostleship, because they
fell asleep, and the enemy came and destroyed the works of the
Nobleman (Christ):
A certain nobleman had a spot of land, very choice; and he
said unto his servants: Go ye unto my vineyard, even upon this
very choice piece of land, and plant twelve olive-trees; And set
watchmen round about them, and build a tower, that one may overlook
the land round about, to be a watchman upon the tower, that mine
olive-trees may not be broken down when the enemy shall come to
spoil and take upon themselves the fruit of my vineyard.
Now, the servants of the nobleman went and did as their lord commanded
them, and planted the olive-trees, and built a hedge round about,
and set watchmen, and began to build a tower.
And while they were yet laying the foundation thereof, they began
to say among themselves: And what need hath my lord of this tower?
And consulted for a long time, saying among themselves: What need
hath my lord of this tower, seeing this is a time of peace? Might
not this money be given to the exchangers? For there is no need
of these things.
And while they were at variance one with another they became very
slothful, and they hearkened not unto the commandments of their
lord.
And the enemy came by night, and broke down the hedge; and the
servants of the nobleman arose and were affrighted, and fled;
and the enemy destroyed their works, and broke down the olive-trees.
(D&C 101:44-51)
Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, concerning
the parable of the wheat and of the tares:
Behold, verily I say, the field was the world, and the apostles
were the sowers of the seed; And after they have fallen asleep
the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore, even
Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose
hearts the enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign--behold he soweth
the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the
church into the wilderness.
(D&C 86:1-3)
Because of the slothfulness of the Lord's servants (the
Apostles), the Apostleship was lost along with the rest of the
works of the Nobleman. Men remained on earth that held the priesthood,
but there were none who held the authority of the Apostleship.
Since this power and authority was no longer upon the earth, it
was necessary for Angels to ordain a man to this office and authority,
so that the fulfillment of the Parable of the Tower (D&C 101:43-62)
can come to pass.
Not only did Angels ordain Joseph Smith, Oliver Cowdery and Jim
Harmston, there will be others who will be ordained by Angels,
according to the scriptures:
Q. What are we to understand by sealing the one hundred and
forty-four thousand, out of all the tribes of Israel--twelve thousand
out of every tribe?
A. We are to understand that those who are sealed are high priests,
ordained unto the holy order of God, to administer the everlasting
gospel; for they are they who are ordained out of every
nation, kindred, tongue, and people, by the angels to whom
is given power over the nations of the earth, to bring as many
as will come to the church of the Firstborn.
(D&C 77:11)
Those who become members of the Church of the Firstborn,
who are sealed in their foreheads and are part of the 144,000
High Priests of God (Revelation, Ch. 7) are ordained by angels.
This is accomplished during this dispensation (see D&C 77:10).
This is also explained in Revelation 7:1-3:
AND after these things I saw four angels standing on the four
corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that
the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on
any tree.
And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal
of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four
angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till
we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
(Revelation 7:1-3, emphasis added)
These scriptures clearly indicate that it will be ANGELS
that ordain men to be a part of the 144,000, and to seal the servants
of God in their foreheads. If Faust claims that no angels will
ordain any member of the LDS church, if his claims are correct
then there will be no LDS member who becomes a part of the 144,000
(himself and Gordon B. Hinckley included.) That's too bad, since
Revelation Ch. 9 makes it clear that the devastating calamities
of the Last Days will fall upon all those who "have not the
seal of God in their foreheads" (Revelation 9:4).
Faust's reliance on a distorted version of a principle referred
to by Orson Hyde, over a decade after hearing of it from Joseph
Smith is a clever attempt at deceiving people, but he will fall
into the pit he is digging for others. Does Faust accept Orson
Hyde as an authoritative source of doctrine? Does he accept the
Millennial Star as an authoritative source of doctrine? If so,
why does he not adhere to these statements by the editor of the
Millennial Star, found in the very same issue of the M.S. as the
quote he used in Conference:
Rebaptism
Baptism by immersion in water is ordained in heaven for the remission
of sins...
When members of our church have become cold and indifferent by
the neglect of duty, and have fallen into a lukewarm state, but
afterwards cherish a desire to be re-baptized, and covenants anew
to keep the commandments of God, it is their right and privilege
to confess their sins, humble themselves before God, and do their
first work by being immersed in water, and thus their second baptism
is no less for the remission or forgiveness of sins than their
first...
Those who are re-baptized should be again confirmed, but not again
ordained, unless they have been cut off from the church, for their
priesthood is not taken away in the act of re-baptism.
(Millennial Star, V. 9, p. 136)
Do Faust and the LDS church accept the word of Orson Hyde,
editor of V. 9 of the Millennial Star, on this subject? No. Faust's
pretended reliance upon Hyde and the Millennial Star as an authoritative
source of doctrine is a sham. In fact, he had to distort and mutilate
the words in the Millennial Star to make it look like Joseph Smith
supported Faust's false doctrine. Faust does not accept Hyde or
the M.S. as authoritative: if he did, he and the other LDS leaders
would not stand in the way of the members' right and privilege
to be re-baptized by immersion for the remission of sin. They
would not stand between the LDS members and the sacred ordinance
of baptism.
It is clear that the doctrine Faust teaches is not scriptural,
it is not supported by Joseph Smith, and it is not true. It is
clear that Faust's appeal to the Millennial Star for authority
was feigned-- he does not in reality accept the author or publication
he cited as authoritative. It is clear that Faust misrepresented
the nature of the quote found in the Millennial Star. It is clear
that he omitted key concepts in order to distort the overall meaning.
It is clear that he omitted the context in which Joseph's instructions
were given, in attempt to misapply the principle Joseph taught.
In short, it is clear that Faust was doing the very thing that
he claims he is incapable of: Leading the LDS people astray, by
telling them lies, cleverly couched in sophistry and deceit.
Faust:
Response:
Barring the apostasy of that succession from Joseph Smith.
That apostasy was prevalent in Jesus' day as the Scribes, Pharisees
and Sadducees 'rightfully', by succession, claimed outright authority,
feeling that only themselves could speak for God, and yet were
in the darkest of apostasies from the truth. Today's LDS apostasy
most closely parallels that of the Jewish leadership in Christ's
day.
Faust:
Response:
Faust is again extrapolating too much, and is wresting the
scriptures. Here is what some of the early brethren had to say
about the work being given to another people:
If we had not been faithful to our calling and mission the
Lord would have raised up another people, because the set time
is at hand for Him to establish His kingdom.
(Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, Volume 13, p. 325:
September 5, 1869; emphasis added)
But unless the Saints will so live and so exert themselves
that they can preserve the purity of the holy Priesthood among
them, the work will be left to other people.
(George Albert Smith, Journal of Discourses, Vol.6, p. 161,
January 3, 1858; emphasis added)
There is nothing plainer to my mind than this, that if the
Latter-day Saints become luxurious and extravagant; if they love
the world and forsake their former purity; if they forsake their
frugality and temperance, and the principles which God has revealed
unto them, and by the practice of which they are to-day the people
that they are; we shall be overthrown as others have been overthrown.
(George Q. Cannon, Journal of Discourses, Volume 15, p. 200:
October 8, 1872; emphasis added)
The work is in our hands to perform, the God of heaven requires
it of us and if we fail to build it up we shall be under condemnation,
and the Lord would remove us out of the way and he would raise
up another people who would do it.
(Wilford Woodruff, Journal of Discourses, Volume 15, p. 271:
January 12, 1873; emphasis added)
Our Father in heaven wishes us to preserve that which he gives
to us. If we are prodigal and wasteful of his blessings, it will
be said--"Take from them that which they seem to have and
give it to another people."
(Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, Volume 9, p. 167: January
26, 1862)
And the Lord has said:
I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do
not what I say, ye have no promise.
(D&C 82:10; emphasis added)
Faust:
Response:
This is the hideous doctrine of Papal infallibility and has
no basis in scripture. God never removes agency from a man, even
the Prophet, to lead the saints astray if that is the condition
of him and the people. So, we decide which of the doctrines of
Joseph and Brigham that were wrong and useless, and in turn say
that somehow today the Prophets never could lead the people astray.
Which is it? If Brigham and Joseph were mistaken in their doctrines
and practices, (Gordon B. Hinckley: :"that was a glitch in
history and isn't important now"), then they were in apostasy
then, and the current leadership has no leg to stand on, deriving
their continued successive authority from teachers of false doctrine
and unenlightened men from an unenlightened generation.
The plain fact is that the LDS Church today is in rebellion to
the dispensation head, Joseph Smith, and everything he taught
and lived for.
Faust:
Response:
As before stated, personal revelation is de-emphasized by
the LDS leadership, and Heaven forbid if you should have a manifestation
through the veil! Wouldn't a revelation from God, telling you
how you should pray, fall into the category of revelation for
your own areas "personal responsibility and for your own
family"? Yet the LDS church excommunicates those who pray
in the True Order as taught in the (pre-1990) endowment. Faust
is simply giving lip-service to the concept of personal revelation:
neither he, nor the other LDS authorities believe in or support
the idea that a "lay" member has any access to God other
than through their leaders.
Faust:
Response:
I can see in my mind's eye an epistle sent to the Saints in
Lehi's day in Jerusalem:
It has been brought to our attention that there are wolves
among the sheep teaching injurious doctrines, such as declaring
that the Church is in a state of apostasy and that it and the
people must be destroyed if there is not repentance.
We advise the Saints in the most solemn manner, that those who
teach of such things are not speaking by the authority of the
Church and have not been duly ordained to so speak. We advise
Bishops to deal firmly with those who engage in such activities,
for there must not be predators among the flock.
Strict adherence to official church teaching manuals is mandatory
and interpretation of the scriptures is prohibited unless it parallels
the current teachings of the Living Prophets. It should be reiterated
that the General Authorities at 47 East South Laban Street are
the only ones authorized to dispense God's word to the Saints.
The Saints are advised to disregard any allegations that this
great city of Jerusalem could be destroyed. If something of that
nature were to be disclosed, it would come through the appropriate
channels.
(Private note to Bishops) If anyone claiming to be Jeremiah or
Lehi get up to speak to your congregations or in class settings,
they are to be promptly removed and the General Authorities are
to be notified. Their recommends are to be confiscated if possible.
Faust:
Response:
Lehi and Jeremiah ought to rethink their position and rebellion
against the "constituted authorities". Surely the Church
leaders and hired henchmen will put their knives away and welcome
them back with open arms!
Faust:
Response:
It is truly interesting that the pattern does not change.
Satan is not that good of an originator, he just keeps reintroducing
common-theme apostasies.
I refer to the statement of Faust that nothing has changed in
the power and keys since the day the Church was organized on April
6, 1830. How can they claim to garnish the sepulchres of the prophets
and yet reject the very prophets which they profess to venerate?
"Why call ye me, Lord, Lord and do not the things which I
say?" (Luke 6:46).
WOE be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep
of my pasture! saith the LORD.
Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors
that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them
away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you
the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.
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.
And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied
in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.
I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem 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.
For who hath stood in the counsel of the LORD, and hath perceived
and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard [it]?
Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD is gone forth in fury, even a
grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of
the wicked.
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 23:1-2, 11-22)
Jeremiah saw it then and he saw it in our day: the Lord's
covenant people having gone astray. Deja vu.
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 blindness, 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! We invite all to study and pray about these
truths.