A general idea that the prophet cannot lead the people astray is flooding the internet. If this is a true principle, then (like other true principles) we can find scriptural support for it. Let us review the single quote that I believe has lead to this current understanding.
“the Living Prophet cannot lead us astray, for he would be removed from his office before the Lord would allow him to do this.” (Which repeats Wilford Woodruff 1890 statement prior to he becoming the president of the Church in 1889.)
We also have the primary song the reiterates "Follow the Prophet for he knows the way."
Fear of apostasy prevent many question of individuals from being asked and therefore answered. We all understand we are commanded to seek, ask, and knock; the Lord desires to show us all things. We should not fear asking questions and finding answers that make us uncomfortable. Let examine a couple questions to combat any fear of asking questions we may have. Remember we must take the Holy Spirit as our guide and not any other man or organization for the Lord's path is straight and He knows the way.
What is apostasy and how can we identify it?
Apostasy by simple terms is "the abandonment or renunciation of a religious or political beliefs." For someone to apostasy from a religion we must first understand what we believe. True to doctrinal form we believe in Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer of mankind. We do not declare, doctrinally, that any man holds the rights to our salvation. We also believe the law of Moses to be the Law design to point us to Christ to which no saving power is granted. Confusion may arise when we start mixing doctrine with traditions. To these points I would like to look at two chapters inside the Doctrine and Covenants as an answer that shows how this apostasy begins to unfold.
A House Out of Order: DC 85:6-7
We start in DC 85 verse 6 to help us recognize what we may feel when the end time scene unfolds. The Spirt of the Lord is what separates the wise and foolish virgins. Those who are wise take the Spirit; those who are unwise do not (DC 45:57). The Spirit of the Lord can be defined as a flood of truth and knowledge (DC 84:46); not warm feelings or emotional security. Recall the adversary is the great deceiver (REV 12:9) that has the power to make us feel comfortable and good about our current state of being.
DC 85:6 – “Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest, saying:.”
Being pierced with truth in our fallen state is both enlightening and uncomfortable. Typically, higher truth and knowledge will contradict a previous held belief or tradition. This displacement of lower truth for higher is that which is pierced. “Often times it maketh my bones to quake,” implies discomfort when knowledge is given!
DC 85:7: - “And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God,…”
The statement: the Lord “will send”, is predicting a future event of “one might and strong” a calling given to a servant coming unto the Church and “set[ting] in order the house of God.” The implication this draws of the current condition of the Church is that the house is out of order and needs to be corrected. We see a parallel of this type of event with Abinadi first preaching to the general body of the Church and then sealing his testimony with his life when condemning the leadership of the Church.
Are those who recognize the possible disorder prior to a servant of the Lord coming on scene apostates? Should they be silenced with echoes of “follow the prophet,” or calls “not to abandon old ship Zion?” Ultimately that member would either yield to man’s counsel over the Spirt; this would be a result of fear of being cast out from amongst the general body of the Church. Thus, commencing the separation of the wheat from the tares. Often the tares claim they are the wheat and the wheat are often cited as tares.
Unfolding the Wheat and the Tares: DC 86
The Wheat and the Tares are symbols Christ uses to explain the separation that is currently taking place. One view may show that those who do not have faith to follow the Brethren are apostates and removing them from the Church is part of the cleansing process. Another view may show that the apostates remain and cast out the wheat for not conforming to policy. True apostasy in a religious context is not leaving an organization or man but one who turns from Truth or Christ.
Previous to this point, D&C stated the “House of God” needs to be “set in order” (DC 85 6-7). Let us review DC 86 with this understanding.
2 Behold, verily I say, the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed;
3 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. And after they have fallen asleep”
Such a powerful and eye-opening scripture. First, we see the apostle were the sowers of the seed but fall asleep; and while they are asleep Satan enters in to reign and soweth the tares. The tares, which are inside the Church, “choke the wheat” almost to silence them into submission to policy and false doctrine. This allows Satan to literally and spiritual “drive the church into the wilderness.”
Does those who are choked fit with who we are now labeling as “apostates” when silenced or cast out because they disagree with policy and/or the Brethren on a certain matter? Joseph Smith on the other hand taught that men need to be instructed in truth and left alone to govern themselves (Millennial Star, Nov 15, 1851). It could also be stated that he was not above being correct or challenged in his beliefs as this often took place.
The Lord is currently calling the wheat to carry those that are otherwise asleep unto Christ while Christ is beginning to bring forth the word or truth (John 1:1 and 14:6).
4 But behold, in the last days, even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word, and the blade is springing up and is yet tender—
5 Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;
Greater truth will yet come to light which is represented by the blade spring up. Waiting first on the wheat to mature in righteousness. We see the angels witnessing this injustice standing ready.
6 But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.
Truth has to be received and grow to maturity as our “faith is weak” or the wheat will be lost due to not understanding more perfectly the things of God. The importance of coming unto Truth (John 14:6) increases each day as time is being shortened and wickedness reigns.
7 Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned.
Here we clearly see the wheat are gathered out from the tares. This group of saints do not sit ideally by but awaken to their awful fallen state of the true apostasy taking place from Christ prior to the cleansing of the Lord’s house (DC 112:25-26). To highlight further and expound upon the idea of being gathering out; we pull from additional scripture noticing this is not an isolated reference. This is typical prior to destruction and cleansing of a people. For further study look at the parable of the redemption of Zion found in DC 101:43-66
DC 109:39 Implies that servants shall enter and those righteous who receive their testimony “may gather out of that city.”
DC 109:58 The sons of Jacob “Gather out the righteous to build a holy city.”
DC 111:2 The Lord speaks of gathering out many of His people “for the benefit of Zion.”
The Lord transitions back to speaking unto His servants from verse 1. Here is the promise I would like to finish up with.
8 Therefore, thus saith the Lord unto you, with whom the priesthood hath continued through the lineage of your fathers—
Those who the power of the priesthood rightfully belongs are the heirs that have been hid from the world and are growing up as wheat amongst the tares. The priesthood continues through the Church and the lineage of the fathers but the heirs are the only ones who receive the power of that priesthood. As this must be until the restoration of all things, this is a witness of the day we now live.
10 Therefore your life and the priesthood have remained, and must needs remain through you and your lineage until the restoration of all things spoken by the mouths of all the holy prophets since the world began.
This is a major role of the Lord’s servants that are called to labor in these latter days.
Cries of Apostasy:
The dialogue and ideas presented by those professing that a prophet cannot lead us astray is in many forms an Anti-Christ message. It is designed to lead us, the members, to place a false sense of security in a carnal man or prophet, and is derived from the camp of Lucifer. It is the platform on which the Morning Star presented his plan during the council in heaven prior to the foundations of this earth. This very platform calls on all of Gods children to look unto the Morning Star to be saved and gives all credit to Lucifer through his knowledge and wisdom. This voids the necessity of Christ’s suffering and submission to His Father, the Great Elohim. By placing anything as a ‘savior’ of men, instead of Christ himself (who is the only being on who we can trust and have a sure knowledge that he will never fail) causes us to trust in an Anti-Christ.
Today Lucifer’s servants, knowingly or not, scream even louder, “the Prophet will guide us and tell us what to do”, “he speaks for Christ, for he is the Lords Prophet.” Implying Christ has done His work and we need no Savior (2 Nephi 28:20-32). By definition we now have an idol as a prophet that stands between us and the Lord.
Currently, many of the “Brethren” in the Quorum of the Twelve and the First Presidency are learned in the science of medicine. They have called upon that secular learning as well as their position as a “global faith leader” as the foundation for heading their council. Not God’s council, but their learning.
Nephi’s warning has been declared!
2 Nephi 26:20 – “And the Gentiles (LDS) are lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and have stumbled, because of the greatness of their stumbling block, that they have built up many churches; nevertheless, they put down the power and miracles of God, and preach up unto themselves their own wisdom and their own learning, that they may get gain and grind upon the face of the poor.”
2 Nephi 28:5 – “…for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men; 6- Behold, hearken ye unto my precept…”
It is in this hour we now live, that Satan is governing the world’s agenda through his secret combinations. Satan’s dealings are found throughout every nation’s government, all major public and private organizations, and all religions and churches of any great degree.
Recognizing this may cause discomfort and pierce us as mentioned, but it does not discredit the truth and ordinances that have been received by those with proper authority. In fact, this highlights the importance of our Savior and His work. Increases the need to come unto Him as we’ve been taught in the scriptures with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy, and giving Him our whole heart, might, mind, and soul. Allowing the Holy Spirit to be our guide above ALL other things.
Every follower of Christ has overcome this obstacle. The fear and anger only come if your faith is built on anything other than Christ.
2 Nephi 28:28 “ And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.”
This is a great litmus for your faith. Is it in a Man or is it in Christ?
Like: Abraham, Moses, Lehi, Nephi and many others, they had to come to accept that many of their current beliefs were incorrect or only partially true. It didn’t destroy them because their faith wasn’t in their religion, priestly authority, synagogue or society. Instead, it was in Christ, so they could add new truth that changed their paradigms and move forward.
Conclusion:
To conclude, we should recognize the loud cries to ‘follow a prophet’ that “cannot” fail is not logical, doctrinally sound, nor will it hold up to any level of scrutiny.
“I have often said to the Latter-day Saints - Live so that you will know whether I teach you the truth or not. Suppose you are careless and unconcerned, and give way to the spirit of the world, and I am led, likewise, to preach the things of this world and to accept things that are NOT of God, how easy it would be for me to lead you astray! But I say to you, live so that you will know for yourselves whether I tell the truth or NOT That is the way we want all Saints to live.” Brigham Young (JD 18:248)
“Surely the Lord God does nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7). The patterns for the Lord’s revelations are consistent in scripture. These true prophets call back a previously ‘true’ church from apostasy. Typically, they are outsiders or the weak and do not have the authority recognized by any of the organizations in their time. The prophets spoken of in Amos, were in fact, apostates to the people they preached. They were setting the houses of God in order, in their dispensations.
A true prophet will find no fault in council to follow the Spirit over their guidance; they desire no attention, no praise, nor our loyalty or lucre but only that mankind be saved in the kingdom of God. That each man’s loyalty is built up to Christ.
None of this is implying anyone should leave any organization, instead it is given to help each person seek the Spirit of God, that they may be guided by his voice. If the Lord has not shown you what to do, then you may not be ready to be harvested. On the other hand, it’s the author’s testimony, along with many others, that the Lord is establishing His Kingdom on the Earth once again. The End Times Servant is making ready the scene that is about to unfold.
I plead that all may pray to the Father in the Name of Christ to be instructed sufficiently to know the path they must take; to receive the experiences necessary to come unto Christ. That Christ will ultimately show each individual the way unto salvation. That all may enter in by the way of the New and Everlasting Covenant found “in” the Book of Mormon; to be instructed sufficiently that we may be equal to the task at hand.
This I leave with all mankind as a testimony and witness that Christ lives and he is calling out His servants even His friends. I say these words and seal it in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen!
This has been a big stumbling block for many Latter Day Saints. Especially when you still have church leaders reinforce this in General Conference and in Stake Conferences as well.
Great article, and we can find patterns in the scriptures. So important to study the scriptures and let the Holy Spirit be our guide.