The alleged "doctrine" that "the Brethren will Never Lead the Church Astray".

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THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS

VS

SCRIPTURES AND PROPHETIC STATEMENTS CONCERNING THE ALLEGED "DOCTRINE" THAT  "THE PROPHET &/OR THE BRETHREN WILL NEVER LEAD THE CHURCH ASTRAY"

I. SCRIPTURES UNIFORMLY SAY "TRUST NOT IN THE ARM OF FLESH":

2 Nephi 28:31 Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.

32 Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord god of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts.

D & C 1:19-20 The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh--

20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;

D&C 45:56 And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins.

57 For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day.

Matt 24:37 (Inspired Revision)And whoso treasureth up my word shall not be deceived, for the Son of Man shall come, and he shall send his angels before him with the great sound of a trumpet, ...

Also consider D&C 107:81-84:

81 There is not any person belonging to the church who is exempt from this council of the church.

82 And inasmuch as a President of the High Priesthood shall transgress, he shall be had in remembrance before the common council of the church, who shall be assisted by twelve counselors of the High Priesthood;

83 And their decision upon his head shall be an end of controversy concerning him;

84 Thus, none shall be exempted from the justice and the laws of God, that all things may be done in order and in solemnity before him, according to truth and righteousness.

If the teaching that the Prophet will never lead the Church astray is correct, pray tell, why then has the Lord established a procedure for impeaching the Prophet?

A. The Lord in 3 Nephi 26:6-11 describes a "trial of faith" that He (Christ) would give those who received the record (the LDS). If they passed the trial they would receive the greater things from the sealed portion of the plates. Since the LDS have not received these things it’s obvious that the LDS as a whole have failed the Lord’s trial of faith.

B. Because the Church would reject Christ and His Gospel (by rejecting the doctrine of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, the profound experience in which the natural man dies and one is reborn as a son or daughter of God, D&C 39:5-6), Jesus said at least 4 separate times in 3^rd Nephi that the Lamanites would tread down the gentiles. 3 Nephi 16:15; 20:16; 21:12; & 21:22. See Part VIII below for further details on the "baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost".)

C. Additional statements of the Savior in which He describes the condemnation of and His displeasure with the Saints. D&C 84:49-59, 1:19-20; and 45:56-57.

III. JOSEPH SMITH’S LAST DREAM:

Joseph Smith’s last prophetic dream which he had the night before his murder in Carthage is found on pages 393-394 of "The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith. In that dream Joseph saw himself returning to a beautiful farm he had owned in Kirtland, Ohio. Only now the fields were weed filled, fences down, and the barn was a mess with its doors and windows out and the floor torn up. While he was standing in the dilapidated barn a group of men approached, some with knives, and threatened him saying the property was theirs now and they would not give it back. Joseph said in effect that while he still legally owned it, never having sold it or given it to anyone he did not particularly want it back. Then a second group of men also carrying knives, etc., entered and began arguing with the first group over the property. Joseph just walked away while they argued among themselves. Since Joseph never owned a farm at Kirtland the farm must be symbolic of something else, undoubtedly the Church.

IV. A PROPHET WHO TEACHES "ALL IS WELL IN ZION":

2 Nephi 28 discusses at some length one in the Church in the latter days, one who could only be the presiding officer of the church, who wrongly teaches that "all is well in Zion." It’s not likely that whoever it is will use those exact words but the essence of his message will be the same.

V. ISAIAH:

The following scriptures describe two prophets in the latter days who will be off course and also tell us that that the leaders will err:

A. 2 Nephi 19:13-16 (Is. 9): For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the Lord of hosts.

14 Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

15 The ancient [the Pope], he is the head; and THE PROPHET THAT TEACHETH LIES, he is the tail.

16 FOR THE LEADERS OF THIS PEOPLE CAUSE THEM TO ERR; AND THEY THAT ARE LED OF THEM ARE DESTROYED.

If a Pope (possible an Eastern Orthodox Patriarch but more likely a Pope) and an LDS Prophet die on the same day then you will know that Prophet was "the prophet who teacheth lies".

B. IS 22:15-25: Describes "Shebna, which is over the house" (an LDS President and Prophet) whom the Lord will "drive...from thy station, and from thy state shall he pull thee down" (be driven from office in disgrace) and be replaced by "my servant Eliakim".

Thus, Isaiah prophecies of two separate LDS prophets, one who teaches lies and will die in office and Shebna who will be driven from office, who are seriously off course and not acceptable to the Lord.

C. Is 28: Verses 1-13 describe the "drunkards of Ephraim" who "are on the head of the fat valleys" (rule over the prosperous valleys of Utah). The "drunkards" are so drunk with pride that they err and are "out of the way" and "err in vision" and "stumble in judgment". For this they are "trodden under feet" (destroyed). Then, beginning at verse 14 Isaiah describes the "covenant with death" entered into by the "scornful men who rule this people in Jerusalem" (the Prophet and other Brethren in Salt Lake City).

Another scripture about the leaders erring in the latter days is found in 2 Nephi Chap 28:

2 Nephi 28:14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of PRIDE, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, THEY ARE LED, THAT IN MANY INSTANCES THEY DO ERR, BECAUSE THEY ARE TAUGHT BY THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.

D. Isaiah also refers, in verses 2-3, to a "mighty and strong one" who "as a tempest" shall "cast down to the earth... the drunkards of Ephraim". Other references to a restorer in the latter days are found in D&C 85:7 & Ezek. 34:23-24.

V. EZEKIEL:

Read 33:30-33 and the entire Chapter 34 referring to the latter days and "shepherds who feed not the sheep"

Also NOTE verse 4 of Ez. 34 which speaks of "shephards" that "with force and cruelty have ye ruled...".

VI. MORMON & NEPHI:

Nephi in 2 Nephi 28 and Mormon in Mormon 8 (particularly beginning at verse 35) describe the errors of the LDS church that the Lord showed to them for the benefit of those in this dispensation with ears to hear and eyes to see. Both prophets describe similar problems including rejecting Christ and the Holy Ghost (rejecting the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost), pride, materialism and neglecting the poor in order to build imposing buildings. Recall Pres. Benson’s profound message on pride as being "the sin of Zion". Ensign, May, 1989, pp. 4-7.

A. JOSEPH SMITH: "We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them [even] if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were to do by their presidents they should do it without any questions. When Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves." Joseph Smith in the "Millennial Star, Vol 14, Number 38, pages 593-595.

B. BRIGHAM YOUNG: " 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 the 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 whisperings of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not." Discourses of Brigham Young, John A Widtsoe, pg. 136

"The First Presidency have a right of great influence over this people; and if we should get out of the way and lead this people to destruction, what a pity it would be! How can you know whether we lead you correctly or not? Can you know by any other power than that of the Holy Ghost? I have uniformly exhorted the people to obtain this living witness, each for themselves; then no man on earth can lead them astray." Discourses of Brigham Young, pg. 137

The doctrine of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost is THE CENTRAL TRUTH WHICH THE LATTER DAY SAINTS HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY COMMANDED TO TEACH and which the Book of Mormon expressly says the Latter Day Saints will largely reject.

THE "LOST" DOCTRINE OF THE BAPTISM OF FIRE is that every person must seek for and obtain their own remission of sins through an event or experience known by many names including " the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost." Remission of sins DOES NOT COME thru or with mere baptism in water. While there is a process of qualifying for it, the actual Baptism of Fire and the Holy Ghost is a profound, recognizable EXPERIENCE that, among other things, changes human nature by expunging the natural man, fills one with the pure love of Christ, and bestows a remission of sins. It is the application of the Savior’s atonement to one’s life. It is THE WAY one becomes clean and therefore eligible to return to Father’s presence. It is the mighty change that fills one’s heart with charity and enables a group of such changed people to establish a true Zion Society. Moses 7:27; 4 Nephi 1. (The Latter Day Saints have conclusively demonstrated that a true Zion society can not be established with those who are still "natural men".)

One of the big keys to seeing the central importance of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost is to become aware that the scriptures use many synonyms to refer to it including the following: come unto Christ; conversion; sanctification; born again; becoming a son of God; becoming clean; becoming as a little child; born of the Spirit; becoming a new creature in Christ; hope; entering into the strait and narrow path; having clean hands and a pure heart; mighty change of heart; receiving the Holy Ghost; regeneration; remission of sins; partaking of the goodness of God; and spiritual healing. All these synonyms and more can be most often identified by recognizing one or more of the effects of this mighty change of heart then being discussed. Once you know the synonyms you see the doctrine discussed literally everywhere. The Book of Mormon is full of examples of the experience such as King Benjamins’s people, Alma the Younger, Enos, the Lamanite lynch mob in Helaman 5, King Lamoni, etc. The greatest example is found in 3 Nephi chap. 19.

Coming fully unto Christ through the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost is the central message of the Book of Mormon. It is the principle doctrine restored in the restoration. Only remnants of this doctrine remain in the Bible. It is also the heart of the Savior’s message in 3^rd Nephi. Consider THE SAVIOR’S OWN STATEMENTS OF HIS GOSPEL

D&C 39:5 And verily, verily, I say unto you, HE THAT RECEIVETH MY GOSPEL RECEIVETH ME; AND HE THAT RECEIVETH NOT MY GOSPEL RECEIVETH NOT ME.

6. And this is my gospel, - repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peacable things of the kingdom.

In at least four additional places, Jesus defines His gospel as including the element of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. D&C 33:11-12; 3^rd Nephi 9:13-22; 11:28-41; & 27:13-29. See also Nephi’s unsurpassed discussion in 2^nd Nephi beginning at 31:1 through 32:6 and Enoch’s retelling of Adam’s explanation of the Gospel and the account of Adam’s complete baptism in Moses 6:40-68.

The Lord, in verses 11 and 18 of Section 39 also makes it clear that the gospel as He just defined it in verse 6 is also called the "fulness of my gospel". Obviously, the "fulness" has to include the "baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost".

 

ADDITIONAL COMMANDMENTS TO TEACH THE FULNESS INCLUDING THE BAPTISM OF FIRE

D&C 19:31 And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost.

32 Behold, this is a great and the last COMMANDMENT which I shall give unto you concerning this matter; for this shall suffice for thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life.

33 And misery thou shalt receive if thou wilt slight these counsels, yea, even the destruction of thyself and property.

See also D&C 49:11-14; 53:3-4; & 55:1-3. Also, in 3^rd Nephi 11, the Lord, after again defining His gospel in verses 31-38 to include "fire and the Holy Ghost", then says in verses 39-41:

39 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

40 And whoso shall declare more or less than this, and establish it for my doctrine, the same cometh of evil, and is not built upon my rock; but he buildeth upon a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive such when the floods come and the winds beat upon them.

41 Therefore, go forth unto this people, and DECLARE THE WORDS WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN, unto the ends of the earth.

The commandment to "teach nothing but repentance unto this generation" (D&C 6:9; 11:9; 14:8; & 18:6) is well known. In D&C 19 the Lord makes it clear that "repentance" is one of the many synonyms for the rebirth in the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. In D& C 19, after three times commanding Martin Harris to repent (vs. 13, 15 and 20) and then in verse 21 commanding Martin to "preach naught but repentance", finally, in verse 31 the Lord restates and clarifies this commandment, telling Martin to "declare repentance, and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost." Clearly Jesus was not giving Martin two different commandments about what to preach, but only explaining it in different words.

JOSEPH SMITH. The Prophet Joseph plainly taught the paramount importance of the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost:

You might as well baptize a bag of sand as a man, if not done in view of the remission of sins and getting of the Holy Ghost. Baptism by water is but half a baptism, and is good for nothing without the other half - that is, the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

The Savior says, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." "Though we or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." according to Galations 1:8. Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, at pg 314.

The baptism of water, without the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost attending it is of no use; they are necessarily and inseparable connected. An individual must be born of water and the Spirit in order to get into the kingdom of God. TPJS at pg. 360.

The reason that baptism by water is useless without the baptism or fire and the Holy Ghost, is because the baptism of fire applies the Savior’s atonement to that person and grants a remission of sins. Without the remission of sins the Savior’s atonement might as well never have happened. This is why rejecting the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost is a rejection of Christ Himself. D&C 39:5. Only those whose garments have been washed clean in His Blood may return to the presence of God. D&C 88:21; Mormon 9:6, 14; Moroni 10:32-33 Every person is under the condemnation and bondage of sin until receiving their own remission of sins through the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost. D&C 84:49-59

SCRIPTURES INDICATING THE LDS WOULD REJECT THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST. The original Nephi and Mormon both speak of the sins of the Latter Day Saints in 2 Nephi 28 and Mormon 8. Among the several charges they both make against us are the following: "Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ?", Mormon 8:38; "they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance. And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel;..." 2 Nephi 28:4-5; "Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!", 2 Nephi 28:26. Also in 2 Nephi 32:7, Nephi, after writing the plainest, most complete explanation in all of scripture of the doctrine of Christ and the necessity of the baptism of fire (2 Nephi 31:1-32:6), is forbidden by the Spirit from writing more and then sorrowfully pens this sobering lament:

And now I, Nephi, cannot say more; the Spirit stoppeth mine utterance, and I am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be."

This could only be referring to the Latter Day Saints, since they are the ones who would have his record.

CONCLUSION:

According to the "law of witnesses" only two or three witnesses are required to establish any fact. Here we have considered multiple statements from the following witnesses: Jesus Christ, the original Nephi, Mormon, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Matthew, Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young. With the exception of Ezekiel and a few verses from Isaiah every other statement is from modern revelation all of which is specifically for the LDS people!

I RESPECTFULLY SUBMIT THAT THE ABOVE WITNESSES NOT ONLY DO NOT SUPPORT, BUT RATHER DIRECTLY CONTRADICT THE ALLEGED "DOCTRINE" THAT "THE PROPHET AND/OR THE BRETHREN WILL NEVER LEAD THE CHURCH ASTRAY".

According to all of the above witnesses, the only one to whom any may safely look is JESUS CHRIST.

Respectfully submitted this 20th day of August, 1997

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