D&C 21:4 Give Heed Unto All His Words and Commandments … As He Receiveth Them

D&C21:4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; (bold, italics added).

D&C 28:2 But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses.3 And thou shalt be obedient unto the things which I shall give unto him, even as Aaron, to declare faithfully the commandments and the revelations, with power and authority unto the church. (bold added).

 Notice there is a condition which God has set upon the Prophet ­- he must first “receive” the words and commandments from God, before he should require the Saints to give heed to those words and commandments. This part of the verse is generally skipped over by many Saints, they assuming that everything that is said or written by the Prophet or any of the General Authorities is automatically inspired verbatim from God. If that were truly so, then we should expect that regardless of what prophet or authority is speaking, he or she would utter the self-same words that any other would speak, if some other prophet had been chosen by God to reveal the same revelation.

But what we find instead is a variety of personal input. Some prophets will pepper or flower their inspired thoughts more than others using different imagery and figures of speech. For example, instead of saying as God might have dictated it to their minds, “I felt inspired this morning to say to you…,” they might instead say, “On this superb and glorious morning, I was constrained by the Holy Ghost, to say to one and all….” In other words, there is a filtering process that occurs when God reveals a matter to be given through a Prophet, namely, the ego or pride system which every individual, including prophets, has. And as this has been the case in all ages, we may correctly deduct that God is not much bothered by this filtering of His inspiration.

A classic case of this is the Apostle Paul. Because of Paul’s upbringing as a Pharisee, and a zealous one too, and because of his disposition toward things that needed to be righted, such as the demise of the Law of Moses, and because he was rather dramatic in many of his expressions of the Gospel, even to the point of contradicting himself *, the Apostle Peter warned the Saints of Paul’s writings: 

2 Peter 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. (bold added).

* As an example, Paul’s instructions how to treat apostates, or those that have backslid from the faith:

2 Thess. 3:6 Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. … 14 And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (bold added).

If one is to admonish another as a brother, then one cannot withdraw totally from that person. One must have company with him in order to admonish him.

Further, regarding the treatment of these fallen:

2 Tim. 25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

Titus 1:13 This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith; (bold added).

 

So, we must or must not withdraw ourselves from the fallen, we must or must not have some company with them, and in meekness or sharply rebuking them to help them to repent?

I am sure if we could sit down with Paul and if he was so disposed, he could elucidate these teachings to make them consistent. And it is so with most teachings of the prophets, but not all.

Perhaps, if Peter were given the same inspiration which Paul received, he would have conveyed that inspiration in a manner not so hard to be understood. This then illustrates that what goes into the prophet’s mind from God, likely comes out modified from what went in. But as Peter cautioned, we should not wrestle with these revelations, but rather we should try to understand the intent.

Gal. 2:11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

One of the two, or both or neither, Peter and Paul was inspired and the other was not, causing this dissension the Bible relates.

But what if a Prophet sees a need to say something, but God is not disposed to reveal anything about it at the time? This did not stop Paul from giving his own point of view, based on his own understanding. For example:

1 Cor. 7:10  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:11 But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.12 But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.13 And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15 But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.16 For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? (bold added).

Verses 10 and 11 are inspired from the Lord. But Paul admits that what he says as recorded in verses 12 and onwards is from himself and not from the Lord. But might there be instances where the prophet thinks he is getting something from the Lord but is not? Yes. 

Consider Moses who ruled his nation of the elect of God with ill-gotten inspiration by making himself the sole judge over them all. It took his father-in-law Jethro’s inspiration to fix it.

Exo. 18:14 And when Moses' father in law saw all that he did to the people, he said, What is this thing that thou doest to the people? why sittest thou thyself alone, and all the people stand by thee from morning unto even? 15 And Moses said unto his father in law, Because the people come unto me to enquire of God: 16 When they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one and another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and his laws. 17 And Moses' father in law said unto him, The thing that thou doest is not good. (bold added).

 

Jethro then advised Moses to divide up the work with a number of righteous judges to do the task of judging:

Exo. 18:23 If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. 24 So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said.

Note that Moses inquired of God all the day long to settle matters requiring judging. But God, with all that enquiring by Moses, never told Moses to delegate the job. Apparently, Moses never asked. It took inspiration by Jethro to correct the situation. Now, Jethro was senior to Moses, so perhaps God wanted it done this way to illustrate the line of authority. But Moses generally got his inspiration directly from God, and not through Jethro.

Consider also the Prophet Joseph Smith who felt inspired that God acquiesced in the matter of giving Martin Harris some of the Book of Mormon text, which then fell into enemy hands, whereby God rebuked Joseph for a time (see D&C 10:1,2). Then he realized that what he thought was a yes was a no. Or, in the case of Joseph who thought he was getting a revelation from God to send Oliver Cowdery and Hiram Page on a mission to Toronto, Canada, to sell the copyright to the Book of Mormon, to raise money for the Church. The mission failed and they returned without any funds. According to David Whitmer, Joseph went again to the Lord and received the answer “Some revelations are of God; some revelations are of man; and some revelations are of the devil” (An Address to All Believers in Christ, David Whitmer, p.31).

Then there are the many cases of conflict in varying accounts between Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Gospels regarding the life and ministries of Jesus.

Joseph Fielding Smith tactlessly admitted his error that man would never leave the earth to travel to the moon, etc. – it was not in the providence of God to permit it.

We will never get a man into space. This earth is man's sphere and it was never intended that he should get away from it. The moon is a superior planet to the earth and it was never intended that man should go there. You can write it down in your books that this will never happen. (address at a stake Conference  referred to in D. Michael Quinn, Elder statesman: A Biography of J. Reuben Clark (Salt Lake City, Utah: Signature Books, 2002) p. 498. Source: Wikipedia: Joseph Fielding Smith.

 

To this and a few other such quotations on the subject, Joseph Fielding Smith replied to a question about his prediction:

"Well, I was wrong, wasn't I?" (Personal reminiscence of David Farnsworth provided to FAIR 21 November 2010. The press conference took place on 23 January 1970).

 Or, of President Young’s, Elders Bruce R McConkie’s (and others) erroneous teachings that Blacks of African descent would never get the right to hold the Priesthood until the end of the Millennium or after, even though logic dictates that does not make any sense. Sometimes, a too strict interpretation of Scripture can lead to gross misconstruing.

When all the other children of Adam have had the privilege of receiving the Priesthood, and of coming into the kingdom of God, and of being redeemed from the four quarters of the earth, and have received their resurrection from the dead, then it will be time enough to remove the curse from Cain and his posterity. (JD 2:143, Brigham Young).

The end of the Millennium is reserved for the resurrection of Telestials, the morning is for Celestials.
Those being resurrected with celestial bodies, whose destiny is to inherit a celestial kingdom, will come forth in the morning of the first resurrection. … They are Christ’s, the firstfruits, … (Mormon Doctrine, p. 640.) Among the Blacks (as in all races) there are many who are the elect of God, who will be exalted in the afterlife, reaping the highest glory God has to offer. Thus, they need to be resurrected in the morning of the first resurrection. That means they must have access to the Priesthood in that morning or sooner! Otherwise there would be a great bottleneck of sealings as soon as the Millennium commenced.

Furthermore, Joseph Smith explained that all Saints have their blood changed to that of the seed of Abraham, by the Holy Ghost, as part of their admittance into His Church.

This first Comforter or Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence. It is more powerful in expanding the mind, enlightening the understanding, and storing the intellect with present knowledge, of a man who is of the literal seed of Abraham, than one that is a Gentile, though it may not have half as much visible effect upon the body; for as the Holy Ghost falls upon one of the literal seed of Abraham, it is calm and serene; and his whole soul and body are only exercised by the pure spirit of intelligence; while the effect of the Holy Ghost upon a Gentile, is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually of the seed of Abraham. That man that has none of the blood of Abraham (naturally) must have a new creation by the Holy Ghost. (DHC 3:380, bold added).

This includes Blacks as well as every other race. Thus, in the eyes of God, we are no longer German, Indian, Black, Asian, etc. – we are of one race, the seed of Adam, and in the Church the seed of Abraham as well. If God thinks that way, so should we.

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; (bold added).

But I digress. Lesson: The Biblical prophets as well as those appointed in these latter-days are not free from error. Joseph Smith also taught, while in Liberty Jail:

… if there should be any corrections by the word of the Lord, they shall be freely transmitted, and your humble servant will approve all things whatsoever is acceptable unto God. 4. 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, Vol. III, p.295, 296. (bold added).

Elder Bruce R McConkie, quoting in part President Joseph Fielding Smith of the Quorum of the Twelve, taught a valuable doctrine that all Saints should consider.

With all their inspiration and greatness, prophets are yet mortal men with imperfections common to mankind in general. They have their opinions and prejudices and are left to work out their own problems without inspiration in many instances. Joseph Smith recorded that he “visited with a brother and sister from Michigan, who thought ‘a prophet is always a prophet’; but I told them that a prophet was a prophet only when he was acting as such.” (Teachings, p.278.) Thus the opinions and views even of prophets may contain error unless those opinions and views are inspired by the Spirit. Inspired statements are scripture and should be accepted as such. (D. & C. 68:4.)

Since “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets” (1 Cor. 14:32), whatever is announced by the brethren as counsel for the Church will be the voice of inspiration. But the truth or error of any uninspired utterance of an individual will have to be judged by the standard works and the spirit of discernment and inspiration that is in those who actually enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost.

President Joseph Fielding Smith has said: “It makes no difference what is written or what anyone has said, if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside. My words, and the teachings of any other member of the Church, high or low, if they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. Let us have this matter clear. We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man’s doctrine.

“You cannot accept the books written by the authorities of the Church as standards of doctrine, only in so far as they accord with the revealed word in the standard works.

“Every man who writes is responsible, not the Church, for what he writes. If Joseph Fielding Smith writes something which is out of harmony with the revelations, then every member of the Church is duty bound to reject it. If he writes that which is in perfect harmony with the revealed word of the Lord, then it should be accepted.” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 3, pp.203-204) (Mormon Doctrine, pp608, 609) 

The books, writings explanations, expositions, views, and theories of even the wisest and greatest men, either in or out of the Church, do not rank with the standard works. Even the writings, teachings, and opinions of the prophets of God are acceptable only to the extent they are in harmony with what God has revealed and what is recorded in the standard works. When the living oracles speak in the name of the Lord or as moved upon by the Holy Ghost, however, their utterances are then binding upon all who hear, and whatever is said will without any exception be found to be in harmony with the standard works. The Lord’s house is a house of order, and one truth never contradicts another. (Doctrines of salvation, vol.3, pp.203-204.) (Mormon Doctrine, p.765).

Brigham Young said the following in a discourse:

Were the former and Latter−day Saints, with their Apostles, Prophets Seers, and Revelators collected together to discuss this matter, I am led to think there would be found a great variety in their views and feelings upon this subject, without direct revelation from the Lord. It is as much my right to differ from other men, as it is theirs to differ from me, in points of doctrine and principle, when our minds cannot at once arrive at the same conclusion. I feel it sometimes very difficult indeed to word my thoughts as they exist in my own mind, which, I presume, is the grand cause of many apparent differences in sentiment which may exist among the Saints. (Brigham Young, April 17, 1853, JD 2:123).

Now, this is my thinking on this matter, so please have a grain of salt to take with it. In my view, we have God up in heaven. He wants mankind to know something. If it is really important, He might dictate it word for word, possibly adding something like “Thus saith the Lord….” He might want it canonized. On most other occasions, He is not so concerned with exactness, and will allow the prophet to reword the inspiration in his own words, concerned only that the gist or the substance of the revelation be properly related. This is why there is so much variety and diversity in the manner of delivering some inspired thought from one prophet to another.

Joseph once said he taught the Saints correct doctrine and then encouraged them to govern themselves. I think God does the same thing.

I teach them correct principles and they govern themselves.” (John Taylor quoting Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, Nov 15, 1851, p.339 .)

God has given us the basics along with some meat to digest, and He now expects us to individually make the most of it, to govern ourselves. Essentially, God wants a thinking folk in His Kingdom, humble as a child, but intelligent and prepared to actively engage themselves in the process of becoming gods. We should not, according to the scriptures, need to be commanded in all things:

D&C 58:26 For behold, it is not meet that I should command in all things; for he that is compelled in all things, the same is a slothful and not a wise servant; wherefore he receiveth no reward.

The Church and the Prophets are here for guidance, motivation and encouragement. The Priesthood is authority given of God through the Church to organize us for entrance into His kingdom. Further, it is given to bless us, and to provide proper administration and ordinances of the Church and Kingdom, etc.

He who is commanded in all things is a slothful servant. The Prophets of the Church have access to an enormous amount of history and doctrine from which they can glean promptings and opinions about most anything. Some will err. Most will not. If it is not something that God regards as crucial to our salvation, He might let it slide. Perhaps God will add a little to what they wish to say, perhaps God has something valuable to convey. To a greater or lesser extent the inspiration comes, and then goes through the filtering process of the personality of the individual, finally emerging for us to peruse, incorporate and apply as we can. As President Joseph Fielding Smith advised, if perchance it is out of harmony with truth as revealed, we are obligated to “reject it.” If it is in “perfect harmony” with revealed truth, then it “should be accepted.”

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