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Mormon Prophet Infallibility - Page 3

Name: Davejay
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Comments: Is there a difference of belief between what we say as in not leading us astray' and the Catholic belief of the infallibility of the Pope?

Infallibility Prophet Mormon

Not sure. Do Catholics believe the Pope is never wrong? I do not know exactly where they stand on the matter. Saying that a Prophet cannot lead us astray is believe in infallibility.

Mormon Prophet Infallibility Studies Doctrine Mormon

Thats interesting and it reminds me of something an old missions president once told me, when I was doing my exit interview I ask him if all his transfers were inspired, and he told no they were not but, because he was the authority responsible for that, his decision was the same as gods even if he did not do exactly what god himself would have done in that position, in other word god supports his decision even if it is not the same as gods himself. He also said that if he made a mistake it would be straitened out at some time. I think this is exactly the same as with prophets and perhaps they have a more direct line of communication but I also think that god does not hold the hand of the prophet and lets him lead according to his conscience.

Page 3 Infallibility Prophet Mormon

Wow, without malice or trying to be sarcastic but that sounds like the "gospel according to the mission president".

Infallibility Prophet Mormon

Happy, you can take it how you will but what he said makes sense to me.

Mormon Prophet Infallibility

Good for you, for me it makes no sense at all. But again, I need to remember he was just expressing his opinion.

Mormon Prophet Infallibility - Page 3

I think that the statement by President Wilford Woodruff is largely responsible for what I call the Mormon doctrine of infallibility, but I don't think that the problem is really what President Woodruff actually said so much as it is the way that it has been misinterpreted:

Please note that when President Woodruff explains why the Prophet could never lead the Church astray, he explains that it is because if he were to attempt it, then the Lord would remove him from his place. Here is the question: what does that mean? I think that many, if not most, members of the Church assume that what he meant was that if he were to attempt to lead the Church astray, then the Lord would give him an automatic transfer to the spirit world. But I don't think that's what he meant.

The key to what he really meant to say is found in the last phrase, which reads: "and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty." The word "so" means that the Lord would do the same thing to any man who were to attempt to lead the Church astray, not just the Prophet. So, let's ask this question. How does the Lord remove apostates from their place in the Church? Does He give them an automatic transfer to the spirit world? Obviously not. What He does is He acts through His authorized representatives in the priesthood to remove them from their place in the Church, not from their place in the world. So, that tells us what President Woodruff meant when the said that "the Lord would remove me out of my place"--I.e., He would act through His authorized representatives in the priesthood to remove him from his place in the Church. That's why the Lord revealed to us, in the Doctrine and Covenants, how to try a President of the Church for his membership.

But here is the problem: if the general authorities have all grown up being brainwashed with the idea that the President of the Church would never lead the Church astray, because if he were to attempt it the Lord would give him an automatic transfer to the spirit world, then if the President of the Church ever did go astray and try to lead the Church astray, could we count on them to do their duty and try him for his membership in the Church? This is at least doubtful.

Mormon Prophet Infallibility Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 3

This is so true! And its kind of concerning you know what am I saying? For me fully trusting in the arm of the flesh is a dangerous thing.