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When the prophet speaks my thinking has only just started. That’s what I consider prophets to be for. Scaffolding or frameworks for my own thought processes. Even the prophets teach this. Sheldon wrote:Brigham Young, “Eternal Punishment,” Journal of Discourses, reported by G.D. Watt 12 January 1862, Vol. 9 (London: Latter-Day Saints Book Depot, 1862), 150.
Quote:I will say a few words in regard to your belief in being led, guided, and directed by one man. Brother Jackman has said that our enemies hate the fact of our being led by one man. Thousands of times my soul has been lifted to God the Father, in the name of Jesus, to make that verily true in every sense of the word, that we may be led by the man Jesus Christ, through Joseph Smith the Prophet. You may inquire how we are to know that we are so led. I refer you to the exhortation you have heard so frequently from me. Do not be deceived, any of you; if you are deceived, it is because you deceive yourselves. You may know whether you are led right or wrong, as well as you know the way home; for every principle God has revealed carries its own convictions of its truth to the human mind, and there is no calling of God to man on earth but what brings with it the evidences of its authenticity….
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.
Could this be construed that he wants people to have their own testimony of the continued RIGHTNESS of their leaders? And not to imply that they sometimes make mistakes or are not always right? I can see a TBM interpreting it this way.
It sounds like this quote is simply like Ford’s approach to the Model T — every citizen should have one. In this case, each person should have confirmation their leaders are inspired and will not lead them astray.
If this is NOT what it means, it surely conflicts with John Taylor or whoever said “the Lord will never permit me to lead the Saints astray or he would remove me from my place”. THAT statement has embedded itself in our history.
SilentDawning wrote:Sheldon wrote:Brigham Young, “Eternal Punishment,” Journal of Discourses, reported by G.D. Watt 12 January 1862, Vol. 9 (London: Latter-Day Saints Book Depot, 1862), 150.
Quote:I will say a few words in regard to your belief in being led, guided, and directed by one man. Brother Jackman has said that our enemies hate the fact of our being led by one man. Thousands of times my soul has been lifted to God the Father, in the name of Jesus, to make that verily true in every sense of the word, that we may be led by the man Jesus Christ, through Joseph Smith the Prophet. You may inquire how we are to know that we are so led. I refer you to the exhortation you have heard so frequently from me. Do not be deceived, any of you; if you are deceived, it is because you deceive yourselves. You may know whether you are led right or wrong, as well as you know the way home; for every principle God has revealed carries its own convictions of its truth to the human mind, and there is no calling of God to man on earth but what brings with it the evidences of its authenticity….
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.
Could this be construed that he wants people to have their own testimony of the continued RIGHTNESS of their leaders? And not to imply that they sometimes make mistakes or are not always right? I can see a TBM interpreting it this way.
It sounds like this quote is simply like Ford’s approach to the Model T — every citizen should have one. In this case, each person should have confirmation their leaders are inspired and will not lead them astray.
If this is NOT what it means, it surely conflicts with John Taylor or whoever said “the Lord will never permit me to lead the Saints astray or he would remove me from my place”. THAT statement has embedded itself in our history.
You’re right that his statement can be viewed in different ways. Some could even say it’s saying that people who gain a testimony for themselves should be even more willing to follow exactly what the prophet says (increase the influence bit).
I thought it was Wilford Woodruff who said that. This would probably be in the context of him having just ended plural marriage, a core doctrine at the time. Many members would have been saying he was leading the members astray by ending it (ironically) and I see his statement as more of a self-defence reaction.
The context of the quote when polygamy ended is important, and, yes, it was an individual saying the Lord would not let him lead the Church astray. Whether that statement is correct or not, it can’t be accepted without close scrutiny for the same reason a parent can’t accept a child’s assertion that he didn’t eat the cookie in the cookie jar because, Quote:“My parents wouldn’t let me do that, or they would have put the jar in a place where I cant’ get to it.”
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