CAN A PROPHET ERROR?

If any man tries to make man think he can't error, that man above all else errors and seeks to elevates himself to an equal status with God! While the likelihood is somewhat remote, pride, conceit and other villainy it is always possible. In Jeremiah 23:14, we read that the prophets of his day were to God as Sodom and the inhabitants of Gomorrah! Why? Were they homosexual? No!

Jeremiah 23:14
14 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.

and in Jeremiah 29:23 we read,

Jeremiah 29:23
23 Because they have committed villany (sic) in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' (sic) wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and [am] a witness, saith the LORD.

It is apparent and obvious that a prophet is merely a man subject to the same temptations, errors, foibles, pride and conceit as any other person. Apparently, he proved himself sufficiently that God was willing to trust him, but prophets have to betray God's trust and confidence.

Another prophet of God warned man that he can not be saved by blindly adhering to the admonitions of a prophet which is to say, one can not be saved by blind faith. He is also quoted as saying, you must always question your leaders.

One can not blindly believe in what is written either. I have already explained in an article entitled "King Constantine" how an unbaptized Christian, declared himself the thirteenth apostle of Jesus Christ, organized the Council of Nicaea, formulated the beliefs and dogmas of and founded the "Catholic Church," had dissenting Christians murdered to squelch any and all opposition, declared himself the first Pope of the Catholic Church and ordered the monks and fathers translating the Bible to insure that their translation reflected the truth that, "it is a scientific fact that homosexuality causes earthquakes." This from a man who was a real Einstein of a scientist and who had been jilted and his ego seriously wounded by his berdache. For those who aren't familiar with the term, "berdache" means, it is what many today call a "gay lover" or anciently was considered as a "male wife," a male spouse.

Just because a lot of people revere an individual as a spiritual leader, as a man of God or a prophet of God, does not mean he or she is. Christ told man how to tell the difference. He said, "By their fruits ye shall know them." "Fruits" means "deeds" which is to say, "By their deeds you shall know them."

In the Mormon's Doctrine & Covenants, God warns man that a prophet is not immune from the temptations, errors and foibles of man when He said,

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. (D&C 3:4.)

That doesn't just go for "carnal desires," the Book of Mormon warns man, not just Mormons, that their church leaders will be haughty with pride and conceit. Everyone has to constantly guard against those faults. A prophet isn't immune but is probably targeted by Satan and his minions for they have more to lose if the prophet succeeds. Pride and conceit are but a couple of signs that the individual is not listening to God but Satan!

Joseph Smith wrote when he had, "visited with a brother and sister from Michigan, who thought that '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.) The Mormon church maintains, "the opinions and views even of prophets may contain error unless those opinions and views are inspired by the Spirit.

The Mormon Church maintains, inspired statements are scripture and should be accepted as such.

D&C 68:4
4 And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.

Wow! That is a very, very dangerous tenant! Therefore, anything any prophet says is scripture just because he says he was inspired! Mormons quote the above verse to validate any and all writings in which they claim their prophet was inspired. I remember asking the Mormon leaders, "When is what the prophet says, scripture?" The answer was, "Any thing which preceedeth (sic) forth from the month of a prophet!" I don't believe the Catholics have gone to that extreme..., yet!

I can not nor will I try to refute what Joseph Smith claims was a revelation from God, however, Joseph Smith "was inspired to write" the following and is therefore you must accept it as scripture, "That which is wrong under one circumstance, may be, and often is, right under another." For example, God said, "Thou shalt not kill;" at another time He said, "Thou shalt utterly destroy."

What are they going to call it, Section137?

However, Section 68: verse 4 above, when taken as a blanket statement of policy opens the door to numerous abuses and potentially, not only leads the people, but also insures their apostasy. My problem with that is any person can claim to be a "prophet" and also can and will subsequently declare he was "inspired by God!"

Spencer W. Kimball said,

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.

I agree with this totally. Joseph Smith said,

I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught. Must I, then, be thrown away as a thing of naught?
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 368.)

The Joseph Smith also taught,

. . . Nothing is a greater injury to the children of men than to be under the influence of a false spirit when they think they have the Spirit of God.
(Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, page 205.
It is not to be suggested that church leaders are infallible. They are mortal men. However, the Lord works through these men to bless the membership of His church. Such blessings are predicated upon the membership following their counsel, regardless of their human weaknesses. The prophet Joseph Smith taught the saints to look past the human weakness of the leadership and render obedience to their counsel.
Otten & Caldwell, Sacred Truths of the Doctrine & Covenants, Vol. 2, Pg. 237 - Pg. 238

The Mormon Prophet Brigham Young also taught that man must be constantly vigil and question their leaders. Why?

I am not as bold as Joseph Smith. While we must always be aware and conscious of who we are and endeavor to act accordingly, I want to be able to be me, to be human with all my hopes, fears, passions, dreams, foibles, faults and idiosyncrasies. If I am ever to act as the conduit between God and man, to teach man of the will of God, I will say here and now, the word of God is only that which He or His messenger speaks. Everything else is commentary. My commentary can and will change from time to time, as I gain more knowledge and understanding. If I "waffle" from time to time as the political opponents of President Bill Clinton castigate him for, it is because fortunately I'm not God or I still wouldn't be here. I and don't have a perfect knowledge of anything but the fact that I don't have a perfect knowledge!
 
 

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