Why Don't Modern Prophets Resolve All Disputes?

[bytebear]

A prophet's job is not just to reveal prophecies. He isn't a fortune teller. A prophet is to bring people to Christ, to call people to repentance, and to establish and maintain the Kingdom of God on Earth.

When you read the Doctrine and Covenants, you will note that most revelations are given in the Lord's voice. But Joseph Smith expounded on a lot of things. I think when Smith spoke as himself, he was giving information as he saw them, as he understood them. Remember, he was literally tutored by angels, and had insight and information that we don't know.

In Joseph Smith History, Joseph describes his visitations from the angel Moroni. In that visitation, Moroni quotes a lot of Biblical scriptures and explains that many prophecies are to be fulfilled. Smith then says, "He quoted many other passages of scripture, and offered many explanations which ccannot be mentioned here." Perhaps, Moroni was revealing things about temple worship, or maybe something about priesthood keys, or maybe it was mysteries that were only meant for Joseph Smith to know.

Regardless, Smith was given a lot of information that us non-prophets don't have. So his personal explanations are his own interpretation of what he understood. Was he 100% right? Maybe, but probably not. Few prophets see beyond their own time. The New Testament has hints of an apostasy, but it's not explicitly spelled out. When I read the few verses about the afterlife it fits perfectly with the LDS concept of Spirit Prison/Paradise, but no other Christian church teaches this. So, Smith was able to clarify some of the ambiguities of the Bible, but that doesn't mean there aren't ambiguities we have now. What happened before Genesis 1? We have speculation, but no specifics. Sometimes later prophets or other church leaders expound on speculation, but even that can be wrong. For most of our history, the church taught that Native Americans were the primary descendents of the Lamanites. Evidence now shows that they were likely a small fraction which intermixed with a much larger indigenous population. The Book of Mormon actually tends to favor this position, although I believe the Lord's blessings and promises extend beyond just these people. "Yea, then will he remember the isles of the sea; yea, and all the people who are of the house of Israel, will I gather in, saith the Lord, according to the words of the prophet Zenos, from the four quarters of the earth. (1 Nephi 19:16)" But you can see how interpretations can change, even from prophet to prophet.

But, again, the purpose of a prophet is to bring people to Christ, call them to repentance and to build the Kingdom of God. Everything else is tangential to that purpose.

Edited November 9, 2013 by bytebear

[jinc1019]

I think that question was recently answered in another thread you started. :)

Absolutely correct! Thank you

[jinc1019]

Is a man who is called to be a prophet allowed to have opinions and ideas?

Absolutely! No one is saying otherwise.

[jinc1019]

When you read the Doctrine and Covenants, you will note that most revelations are given in the Lord's voice. But Joseph Smith expounded on a lot of things. I think when Smith spoke as himself, he was giving information as he saw them, as he understood them. Remember, he was literally tutored by angels, and had insight and information that we don't know.

You brought up many excellent points, but the one referenced above is one that needs to be explained further. Are you saying that not every word of the D&C is deemed to come from God as absolutely true and prophetic? It sounds like you are suggesting that the main concepts are revealed but that many of the details delivered by Smith may have been interpreted incorrectly or purely speculative. Do I have that right?

[bytebear]

You brought up many excellent points, but the one referenced above is one that needs to be explained further. Are you saying that not every word of the D&C is deemed to come from God as absolutely true and prophetic? It sounds like you are suggesting that the main concepts are revealed but that many of the details delivered by Smith may have been interpreted incorrectly or purely speculative. Do I have that right?

The D&C is a collection of revelations given to Joseph Smith. They almost always are given in the voice of the Lord usually defining church practice and a lot of advice and admonition to specific people (mostly Joseph himself). Most are in the present tense, some are in the past tense, as in "The Lord told Joseph..." Sections 77 as well as 113 is an interesting Q&A format with the Lord answering Smith's questions. Section 110 was Smith's description of a visitation of Christ at the newly completed temple. Section 121 (to 125) is a prayer for relief when Smith was in Liberty Jail followed by prophecy about where this great work would lead. Section 128 is an epistle to the church. Section 129-131 and 124, 137 is Smith clarifying doctrine. Section 135 is the announcement of the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith. Section 136 is a revelation given to Brigham Young concerning the westward migration. Section 138 was a revelation given to Joseph F Smith (a later prophet) concerning the spirit world and he writes his vision in his own voice.

Now, we have additional writings of Joseph Smith and pretty much every other prophet after him. The Journal of Discourses is a massive volume of speeches and teachings, but they are not canonical, and may contain false beliefs. There were several scribes who wrote down the speeches, but it was in an unofficial way any you have to take them with a grain of salt. They range from the King Follet Discourse, the widely known speech on the nature of God and him once being a man to the notion that there are men who live on the moon. Most if the speeches are by Brigham Young who had a lot of interesting notions, but few actually stuck as doctrine. and none of it was given as revelation or in the voice of the Lord. So, the D&C is revealed truth. Everything else is speculation, even if stated by Smith.

Edited November 10, 2013 by bytebear

[jinc1019]

The D&C is a collection of revelations given to Joseph Smith. They almost always are given in the voice of the Lord usually defining church practice and a lot of advice and admonition to specific people (mostly Joseph himself). Most are in the present tense, some are in the past tense, as in "The Lord told Joseph..." Sections 77 as well as 113 is an interesting Q&A format with the Lord answering Smith's questions. Section 110 was Smith's description of a visitation of Christ at the newly completed temple. Section 121 (to 125) is a prayer for relief when Smith was in Liberty Jail followed by prophecy about where this great work would lead. Section 128 is an epistle to the church. Section 129-131 and 124, 137 is Smith clarifying doctrine. Section 135 is the announcement of the martyrdom of the prophet Joseph Smith. Section 136 is a revelation given to Brigham Young concerning the westward migration. Section 138 was a revelation given to Joseph F Smith (a later prophet) concerning the spirit world and he writes his vision in his own voice.

Now, we have additional writings of Joseph Smith and pretty much every other prophet after him. The Journal of Discourses is a massive volume of speeches and teachings, but they are not canonical, and may contain false beliefs. There were several scribes who wrote down the speeches, but it was in an unofficial way any you have to take them with a grain of salt. They range from the King Follet Discourse, the widely known speech on the nature of God and him once being a man to the notion that there are men who live on the moon. Most if the speeches are by Brigham Young who had a lot of interesting notions, but few actually stuck as doctrine. and none of it was given as revelation or in the voice of the Lord. So, the D&C is revealed truth. Everything else is speculation, even if stated by Smith.

Ok, I understand what you are saying now. Thank you for explaining those points further...A lot gets easily lost when communicating in forums like this.

[Blackmarch]

By the way, I know Prophets don't just "make decisions," I meant that...Why don't modern day Prophets just ask God for assistance and get a conclusion?

Well Brigham Young (second prophet after joseph smith) stated pretty much to the effect that he was going to stop asking for deep doctrine from God for the saints until the saints could learn to be faithful, repentant, and obedient to our covenants. - and quite frankly thats probably why we don't have more. (we have 2 special occasions a year where we gather as a church to listen to the prophets give us instruction directly [Next one is the first sunday in april], you may want to tune in for some or all and pay attention to the issues they address.. these issues are most likely the most pressing ones for the church as a whole)

Also the things that God hands to us on a platter don't sit very well with the rest of the world.

Also its not the job for the prophet to do so save for matters that are very important. a prophets duty is to be the watchman on the tower to guide the Church and to see God's will is done.

Now that being said, I believe God has assisted many who are in the archeological field both in and out of the church to bring forth things since the BoM was compiled that support it.

[applepansy]

We're suppose to live by faith. If all the questions are answered conclusively then where does faith fit?