Don’t Question God, Don’t Question Joseph Smith

14 January

Brigham YoungJournal of Discourses 4:297; “It was not for me to question whether Joseph was dictated by the Lord at all times and under all circumstances or not… He was called of God; God dictated him, and if He had a mind to leave him to himself and let him commit an error, that was no business of mine. And it was not for me to question it, if the Lord was disposed to let Joseph lead the people astray, for He had called him and instructed him to gather Israel and restore the Priesthood and kingdom to them. It was not my prerogative to call him in question with regard to any act of his life.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, March 29, 1857

Nine months after Brigham Young made the comment above, his cohort, Heber C. Kimball, made a very Heber C Kimballsimilar one, and as you might remember, we posted on it earlier this month. Don’t Question God, Don’t Question Brigham After reading Young’s comment, it’s easy enough to see where Kimball got his idea from.

Here’s a summation of the both speeches: Brigham didn’t question Joseph Smith and Kimball didn’t question Brigham.

Mankind being who they are with a sin nature can say anything they’d like, but what does God say?

Everyone knows there will always be false teachers who ostensibly perform their works with members none the wiser. For those of us who do know, what if anything, is our responsibility? Sometimes it seems easier to ignore them, but what then? Are we commanded to expose the false teachings?

Contrary to what both Brigham and Heber stated, the Lord tells us we need to bring the evil deeds to light. There are three ways to determine if someone is a false teacher, so let’s look at those real quick. Remember beloved, we follow God before we follow man!

1.Their doctrine is false. Of course this is always an easy thing to detect by using our bibles to compare their words with God’s.

2 Timothy 4:3-4 “ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

Jeremiah 23:17 “They say still unto them that despise me, The LORD hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.”

Ezekiel 13:2-3 “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD; 3 Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!”

2.Look at the effects of their doctrines in the lives of those receiving it.

Jeremiah 23:2, 14 “Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD. 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.”

2 Peter 2:2 “And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

3.The moral character of the false teacher is full of pride.

2 Timothy 3:4-5 “Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

2 Peter 2:10 “But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.”

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