Can a Morally Bad Prophet Bring Forth a Saving Gospel?

23 August

Journal of Discourses 4:77-78; “

I never preached to the world but what the cry was, “…Joe Smith has done thus and so.” I would tell the people that they did not know him, and I did, and that I knew him to be a good man; and that when they spoke against him, they spoke against as good a man as ever lived. … If he acts like a devil, he has brought forth a doctrine that will save us, if we will abide it. He may get drunk every day of his life, sleep with his neighbor’s wife every night, run horses and gamble, I do not care anything about that, for I never embrace any man in my faith. But the doctrine he has produced will save you and me, and the whole world; and if you can find fault with that, find it.” – Brigham Young, Great Salt Lake City, November 9, 1856

Doctrine and Covenants 50:28; “But no man is possessor of all things except he be purified and cleansed from all sin.”

James 3:1; “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”

Doctrine and Covenants contradicts Mr. Young, so now what?

Are the commandments of the Church from Smith, or the doctrines of God? Mark 7:7.

Furthermore, what about God’s admonition that bad company corrupts good morals?

Why would you not care if your pastor/church leader is sleeping with the neighbor’s wife? 1 Corinthians 15:33.

What does Jesus’ warning mean when He said a bad tree can’t produce good fruit? Matthew 7:17-20.

To paraphrase Warren Wiersbe in his commentary for this passage, he said; ‘A good test for the genuineness of someone’s claim of being a Christian is to look at the before and after. Did the person’s life change? Those who follow a false prophet won’t show a changed life, and therefore, won’t produce good fruit. Tragically, they’ll never experience a changed life.’

When  I read his analysis my heart sank. He was describing my family. Not one of them exhibits a changed life. By and large, it’s a fitting description for all Mormons I’ve ever known, or met.

If Brigham had been following the Lord, it’d be highly unlikely he’d say such things. Please, pray for all the Mormon people to see that Smith’s behavior should concern all of them.

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