Transcription
[Music] Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
So Bighgam, what is the greatest doctrine of the church? The living prophet is more important than the scriptures. The living prophet can never lead the church astray. On these two doctrines hang all the policies and requirements of the church. The living prophet is more important than the scriptures.
What is the origin of this belief? Where did it come from? Who first taught it? The living prophet can never lead the church astray. This belief, as many of you know, has been canonized into scripture. On February 26, 1980, Ezra Tefbenson gave a devotional address at Brigham Young University. At the time, he was president of the quorum of the twelve apostles. The title of his talk was “14 fundamentals in following the prophet.” Two of the fundamentals President Benson spoke on were “the living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works” and “the prophet will never lead the church astray.”
So again, where did this belief or doctrine come from? Who first taught it? To begin to answer that question, we need to go back to October 6, 1890. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was holding its 60th semiannual general conference. It was on this date President Wilfrred Woodruff presented to the church membership the manifesto which ended the practice of polygamy. There are 10 pages found in this 1890 manifesto booklet. On the first and second page, the articles of faith by Joseph Smith were introduced and read to the members by Bishop Orson F. Whitney. Franklin D. Richards, George Cucanan, and Lorenzo Snow also had a part in the manifesto. However, it is on page 10 that we find President Woodruff’s famous quote: “The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as president of this church to lead you astray. It is not in the program. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, 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.”
Those words of President Woodruff have been canonized as they now appear as part of our scriptures. However, it took 31 years to do that. It wasn’t until the 1921 release of the Doctrine and Covenants before the manifesto became identified as official Declaration One in the Standard Works. As such, the words that the prophet can never lead the church astray has risen to the level of doctrine, a doctrine that is strongly preached even today.
So what does the statement “the living prophet can never lead the church astray” have to do with Brigham Young? It was President Woodruff who declared it 13 years after President Young died. To find the answer, we need to travel back another 30 years to April 4th, 1860.
[Music] On that day and the next, a church court was held right before the start of general conference. Wilfrid Woodruff attended both days. The apostle on trial was Elder Orson Pratt. In addition to Elder Woodruff, President Brigham Y. Young was there along with six other apostles and a bishop. President Young scheduled a meeting purposely two days before the start of General Conference when a majority of the quorum of the twelve apostles would be assembled in Salt Lake City. Elder Pratt’s fellowship, apostleship, and membership were all at stake because he had expressed publicly that some of Brigham Young’s teachings went contrary to what the prophet Joseph Smith had taught. At this time, Elder Pratt was the second most senior member of the quorum of the twelve apostles. Among other things, Elder Pratt publicly disagreed with President Young’s teachings that Adam was our God and the physical father of Jesus Christ.
The church court was held at the church historian’s office, which was across the street and about 50 yards to the west of Brigham Young’s complex in downtown Salt Lake City. On the left is the Lion House. The Lion House was literally built to house many of Brigham Young’s multiple wives and family. On the right is the Beehive House, which was one of Brigham Young’s personal homes. Between the two are the church president and governor’s offices. This historical marker sits by a north outside entrance to the City Creek Center Mall and identifies the location to where the church historian’s office once stood.
It’s Wednesday evening, April 4th. The meeting President Young arranged to consider formal church action against Elder Pratt begins. “Brother Pratt, has brother Benson spoken to you about that for which we have met tonight?” “No.” “Wow.” It appears from Elder Pratt’s response that he was blindsided and had no idea the purpose of this meeting. “Well, it is this brother Orson. I want to get an understanding of your views and see if we see things are right. Perhaps if I could see it as you Orson does, perhaps it’s all that I could ask. But if not, we want to have the matter talked over and laid before the conference in a manner that we all see eye to eye. I presume, Brother Pratt, you have no objections to our taking this course and having it all laid before the conference satisfactorily.”
“There are certain points taught by brother Young as being true that there does seem to be disputed between those and the revelations. And when I reflect that there is item upon item, doctrine upon doctrine, I would be a hypocrite if I came out and said that these are views on which I have strong faith. I would be acting too much a hypocrite. I would like to enumerate those items first preached and published that Adam is the father of our spirits and father of our bodies. When I read the revelations given to Joseph, I read directly the opposite. Your statements tonight, you came out tonight and placed them as charges and have as many against me as I have against you. One thing I have thought I might still have omitted. It was Joseph’s doctrine that Adam was God. Joseph could not reveal what was revealed to him. If Joseph had it revealed, he was told not to reveal it. There is not a contradictory thing in what I have said.”
“Did you catch what Brigham just did here?” Brigham knew that Orson was a member of the original quorum of the twelve apostles called in 1835 under the direction of Joseph Smith. Brigham knew that Orson idolized the prophet Joseph Smith and that his allegiance was to the revelations Joseph revealed over anything taught in contradiction by any man, including Brigham Young. Brigham knew that Orrison would not admit error where he saw none, even if it meant severance from the church. Brigham also was aware there were many members of the church in Utah who personally knew and loved the prophet Joseph Smith. Brigham did not want a public conflict between Orson’s championing the prophet Joseph Smith on the opposite side of the Adam-God doctrine. So Brigham did what Brigham often did: He played the Joseph Smith card. “One thing I thought I might still have admitted. It was Joseph’s doctrine that Adam was God.” “Wow.” Brigham knew there was no one going to challenge that statement. To do so would be calling him a liar. Even though it had been eight years since Brigham first preached the Adam-God doctrine, he was now declaring it was Joseph’s doctrine. Orson was diffused.
On Friday, the 27th of January 1860, at 6 p.m., Brigham Young presided over a high-level meeting of church leaders to discuss Orson Pratt’s non-conforming publicly taught doctrinal issues. Included in this meeting were members of the quorum of the twelve apostles, presidents of the Seventy, the presiding bishop, church secretaries, and lesser authorities. Throughout the evening’s lengthy meeting, Pratt had remained remarkably subdued. Though the solitude of his position weighed heavily upon him, his convictions were solidly founded. He finally mentioned his desire to speak: “I am willing to take President Young as a guide in most things, but not in all. President Young does not propose to have revelations in all things. I have said many things which President Young says is false. I do not know how it is I count President Young equal to Joseph and Joseph equal to President Young. When Joseph teaches anything and Brigham seems to teach another contrary to Joseph, I believe them as Joseph has spoken them. I have spoken plainly; I would rather not have spoken so plainly, but I have no excuses to make.”
President Young said, “I ought to make a confession, but Orson Pratt is not a man to make a confession of what I do not believe. I am not going to crawl to Brigham and act the hypocrite and confess what I do not believe. President Young condemns my doctrines to be false. I do not believe them to be false which I published in the Seir in England. I will not act the hypocrite. It may cost me my fellowship, but I will stick to it. If I die tonight, I would say, ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, I believe what I say.’”
“Elder Orson Pratt pursued a course of stubbornness and unbelief in what President Young said that will destroy him if he does not repent and turn away from his evil way. For when any man crosses the track of a leader in Israel and tries to lead the prophet, he is no longer led by him, but in danger of falling. Orson, it is for you to call the Twelve together and do as I have suggested or do as you please. It will then be brought before conference and you will be voted as a false teacher and your false doctrines discarded. I love your integrity, but your ignorance is as great as any philosopher ought to be.” “Wow.” The significance of what Brigham Young just said to Orson Pratt cannot be ignored by anyone who hungers and thirsts after truth. Brigham publicly has already judged Elder Pratt as a false teacher with the backing of the Twelve and a general conference vote pending. If there was ever a stacked deck or a kangaroo court, this is it. The irony is it was Brigham who is promoting false doctrine along with the support of all the apostles except for Orson Pratt. “Brother Pratt counts too little on his standing and calling too little or he would not let his private judgment stand between him and his salvation or he would yield. But I attribute it to his ignorance.” Sadly, now Brigham Young uses institutional religious tyranny in declaring Elder Pratt’s salvation is at risk unless he yields to the president of the church.
The next day, Thursday, April 5th, the church leaders arrive back early in the morning at the historian’s office to determine Elder Pratt’s fate. Brigham Young, however, was noticeably absent. Orson Hyde, president of the Quorum of the Twelve, was now in charge. Following the opening prayer, President Hyde was the first to speak: “I do not feel competent to take up the points of difficulties in doctrine between Brother Pratt and Brother Young. But to acknowledge that this is the kingdom of God and that there is a presiding power, and to admit that he can advance incorrect doctrine is to lay the axe at the foot of the tree. Will he suffer his mouthpiece to go into error? No. He would remove him and place another there.” It’s amazing that 30 years before the 1890 manifesto, almost the same words were used to establish the infallibility of the prophet. Yet, it was this infallibility of the prophet at this time in 1860 that was used to defend the Adam-God doctrine as being true. “I do not believe as brother Brigham and brother Kimell do in some points of doctrine and they do not wish me to acknowledge to others that I do not believe.”
The meeting lasted many hours. In the end, Orson Pratt saved his membership and apostleship by agreeing to keep his personal beliefs to himself that disagree with Brigham Young.
And so it is today, 164 years later. Many of you may be familiar with Michelle Stone and her video series titled “132 Problems Revisiting Mormon Polygamy.” On episode 49, Brian Hales was her guest. Michelle and Brian are both active members of the church. Michelle and her hundreds and perhaps thousands of hours of study and research has concluded that the practice of polygamy in the church was not of God. In doing so, she’s in direct opposition to the position of the church. Sadly, Michelle’s podcast was taken down this year. I do not know why, but I speculate Michelle was under the same kind of pressure Orson Pratt faced. Notice the title of this episode: “Do I need to be excommunicated?” Brian Hales, however, believes polygamy was ordained of God and has written several books on the subject. Listen now to Brian’s warning to Michelle: “Does this sound familiar? I can believe whatever I want privately, but when we publicly disagree, that’s where the problems occur.” “Wow.” “I can believe whatever I want privately, but when we publicly disagree, that’s where the problem occurs.” This is the same manipulative religious authority Elder Pratt experienced. “It doesn’t matter, Michelle, how much significant evidence you discover in your research. Keep it to yourself or else.” I believe if Brian Hales had lived in 1860 and had attended the trial of Orson Pratt, he would have been in lockstep with Brigham Young in defending the Adam-God doctrine, a false doctrine. And if Michelle Stone had lived in 1860, she would have been tried for her church membership or forced into silence, no different than today.
“We warn you against the dissemination of doctrines which are not according to the scriptures and which are alleged to have been taught by some of the general authorities of a past generation. Such, for instance, as the Adam-God theory. We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrine.” I do not know why President Kimell used the words “are alleged to have been taught.” As you can see from the definition of the word “alleged,” it creates doubt. However, there should be no doubt. The historical records are clear and numerous. The words “which are alleged to have been taught” should read “which have been taught.” Also, President Kimell used the words “Adam-God theory.” The historical records are clear that Brigham Young called it a doctrine and not a theory. “Some have grumbled because I believe our God to be so near to us as Father Adam. There are many who know that doctrine to be true.” Also, President Kimell’s words “taught by some of the general authorities of the past generations” is an understatement, especially when examining the historical records of the time of Brigham Young. Church hymns were even sung in honor of Adam being our God.
It was April 9th, 1852, when the prophet Brigham Young declared that Adam was our God: “Now hear it, O inhabitants of the earth, Jew and Gentile, saint and sinner. When our father Adam came into the Garden of Eden, he came into it with a celestial body and brought Eve, one of his wives, with him. He helped to make and organize this world. He is Michael, the archangel, the ancient of days, about whom holy men have written and spoken. He is our father and our God and the only God with whom we have to do. Every man upon the earth, professing Christians or non-professing, must hear it and will know it sooner or later.”
The next day, Saturday, April 10th, 1852, Heber C. Kimell also declared the Adam-God doctrine. Heber was the first counselor in the First Presidency. His comments were recorded in Wilford Woodruff’s journal: “The God and Father of Jesus Christ was Adam. The Lord told me that Jesus Christ was the son of Adam. I have learned by experience that there is but one God that pertains to this people and he is the God that pertains to this earth. The first man, that first man sent his own son to redeem the world, to redeem his brethren. His life was taken. His blood shed that our sins might be remitted.” It could not be any clearer. False doctrine was taught by Brigham Young and defended at the highest levels of the church.
The Adam-God doctrine taught by Brigham Young also had a negative influence on missionary work. Franklin D. Richards was a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles and presided over this mission. He was also the nephew of Willard Richards and the grandfather to LeGrand Richards. One of his missionaries, Elder Kafal, had an investigator who was ready to join the church except for the Adam-God doctrine. He did not believe it. Elder Kafal wrote President Richards seeking help, seeking an answer. President Richards responded publicly to Elder Kafal’s concern as recorded in the August 26th, 1854, edition of the Millennial Star: “Concerning the item of doctrine alluded to by Elder Kafal and others that Adam is our father and God, I have to say, do not trouble yourselves, neither let the saints be troubled about the matter. If Elder Kafal remarked, there are those who are waiting at the door of the church for this objection to be removed, tell such the prophet and apostle Brigham has declared it and that it is the word of the Lord. Adam is our father and God. The prophet and apostle Brigham has declared it and that it is the word of the Lord.”
Brigham Young’s false Adam-God doctrine was also promoted by a song as seen clearly here from this 1856 Latter-day Saint hymn published in England: “We believe in our God Adam. We believe in his son Jesus Christ.” Fifteen years later, Brigham’s inherent lie continued to be promoted by song: “Sons of Michael, eternal father.” However, our current hymnal has been changed to read “Sons of Michael, ancient father.” Notice even the capitalizations have been altered from uppercase in respect for deity to a lowercase reflective of a mortal man.
Joseph Lee Robinson in his journal writes about his conversion to Mormonism, Joseph Smith’s teachings, and his journey from Nauvoo to Salt Lake City. He also writes about the Adam-God doctrine and how he felt sorry for Orson Pratt not being a believer: “October 6th, 1854, attended conference, a very interesting conference for this meeting. President Brigham Young said thus that Adam was God, our eternal father, that our father Adam had many wives, and that Eve was only one. But behold, there were some that did not believe, saying of the prophet Brigham, even our beloved brother Orson Pratt told me he did not believe it. He said he could prove by the scriptures it was not correct. I felt very sorry to hear Professor Orson Pratt say that. I felt he should apostatize, but I prayed for him that he might endure unto the end. For I saw verily it was possible that great men might fall.”
Except for Orson Pratt, every man pictured here defended the false Adam-God doctrine.
One last thought regarding President Kimell’s quote: “We denounce that theory and hope that everyone will be cautioned against this and other kinds of false doctrines.” It appears President Kimell has given all of us permission to be on the lookout for other kinds of false doctrines. The historical records are clear regarding false doctrines. Brigham Young has much to answer for.
“Shall I tell you the law of God in regard to the African race? If the white man who belongs to the chosen seed mixes his blood with the seed of Cain, the penalty under the law of God is death on the spot. This will always be so. Were the children of God to mingle their seed with the seed of Cain, it would not only bring the curse of being deprived of the power of the priesthood upon themselves, but entail it upon their children after them, and they cannot get rid of it. If a man in an unguarded moment should commit such a transgression, if he would walk up and say, ‘Cut off my head,’ and kill man, mother, and child, it would do a great deal towards atoning for the sin. Would this be to curse them? No. It would be a blessing to them. It would do them good that they might be saved with their brethren. A man would shudder should they hear us talk about killing folk, but it is one of the greatest blessings to some to kill them.”
There are numerous talks by church leaders regarding blood atonement during President Young’s administration. Here is just one: A discourse by President Brigham Young delivered in the Tabernacle, Great Salt Lake City, February 8th, 1857: “Atonement by the shedding of blood. Now take a person in this congregation who has knowledge with regard to being saved in the kingdom of our God and our father and being exalted. One who knows and understands the principles of eternal life and sees the beauty and excellency of the eternities before him compared with the vain and foolish things of the world. And suppose that he is overtaken in a gross fault, that he has committed a sin that he knows will deprive him of that exaltation which he desires and that he cannot attain to it without the shedding of his blood and also knows that by having his blood shed he will atone for that sin and be saved and exalted with the gods. Is there a man or woman in this house? But what would say, ‘Shed my blood that I may be saved and exalted with the gods.’ All mankind love themselves, and let these principles be known by an individual, and he would be glad to have his blood shed.” That would be loving themselves, even
Unto an eternal exaltation. Will you love your brothers or sisters likewise, when they have committed a sin that cannot be atoned for without the shedding of their blood? Will you love that man or woman well enough to shed their blood? [Music] Anyone who received their temple endowment prior to 1990 knows something about this. [Music]
Sadly, here are four examples of the church being led astray by its prophet. Why is polygamy still standing? The living prophet can never lead the church astray. The living prophet is more important than the scriptures. These two fundamental beliefs in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints overarch and undergur all other doctrines and policies. These two beliefs have absolute control in managing the church and its members. How the members of the church individually accept and respond to these primary beliefs determines one's faithfulness to church leaders or potential excommunication. [Music]
Coming soon in the next video, I will examine when and where this belief came from. The living prophet is more important than the scriptures. [Music]