But behold, a hundredth part of the proceedings of this people, yea, the account of the Lamanites and of the Nephites, and their wars, and contentions, and dissensions, and their preaching, and their prophecies, and their shipping and their building of ships, and their building of temples, and of synagogues and their sanctuaries, and their righteousness, and their wickedness, and their murders, and their robbings, and their plundering, and all manner of abominations and whoredoms, cannot be contained in this work" (Hel 3:14).
If a prophet-writer were presently writing scripture concerning our day - and there very well may be - a hundredth part could not be written concerning "the proceedings of this people." A hundredth part cannot be written concerning all these things in our history. Not a hundredth part of our building projects, our righteousness, our wickedness, etc.
Though the ideas and examples I put forth in the previous posts are not comprehensive, they should make a point if considered carefully. The Adam-God teachings were used as an example because they make the point very well. One church President believed it, taught it for over 20 years from the pulpit, and threatened another apostle with excommunication for his refusal to believe in it. Another church President didn't believe it, and taught that it was false and should be avoided. An apostle, contemporary with the latter, taught those who do believe in it are cultists, and will be damned.
There are not just a few, but many other examples that students of our history are required to confront. The issue of Adam-God tends to be skirted aside by those unwilling to confront it. It's of such a nature so as to enable us to do so for the time-being. There will soon be other issues, ones that cannot be pushed aside or ignored. You will be forced to confront them head on. It will be a sore test. Don't hang onto this idea of infallibility. It will cause you more heartache than will be necessary.
My purpose was to show that it is incompatible with reason, our spiritual foundation established by Joseph Smith, and the holy scriptures, to believe in the false notion of infallibility. The foolish idea that a man will never lead you astray, is damnable. It cannot be believed by those who claim to worship God and not men. Leaders should point to Christ. True messengers refuse inappropriate adoration, and are quick to acknowledge they are not the object of our worship (Rev. 19:10).
By getting a man to believe that he can place his trust in another man, and not in Christ, Satan will effectively destroy that man's testimony and faith in the very moment he can show him that the very men in whom his faith has been placed have failed him. Our leaders have the capacity, and demonstrated disposition, to contradict one another, the scriptures, and the revelations of God to our dispensation head. Inasmuch as their teachings invite men to repent and come unto Christ, and do not contradict God's word, their messages are sent forth by the Spirit of God. When messages come that teach you to trust in men, or trust that you will never be led astray because of the "virtue of the priesthood" office they hold, it is by compulsion that their message is sent forth, and you should recognize that the source of such is not of God (D&C 121:41).
We should pray for our leaders (D&C 107:22). Many are good men. We are a benefit to them, and to the Church, when we discard false notions and unitedly seek Christ.
Thank you for these posts, you've helped me to think "outside the box".
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