"Personal Speculation" by LDS Prophets

[majick275]

uh just for clarification… No “election” for LDS prophets. Next in line by seniority.

 

[ben_dy]

majick275:

This spells it out pretty clearly:

Ezra Taft Benson
February 26, 1980

*In conclusion, let us summarize this grand key, these “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet,” for our salvation hangs on them.

        First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything.

        Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the standard works.

        Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.

        Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray.

        Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or credentials to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time.

        Sixth: The prophet does not have to say "Thus saith the Lord" to give us scripture.

        Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know.

        Eighth: The prophet is not limited by men's reasoning.

        Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter, temporal or spiritual.

        Tenth: The prophet may be involved in civic matters.

        Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich.

        Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly.

        Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency--the highest quorum in the Church.

        Fourteenth: The prophet and the presidency--the living prophet and the First Presidency--follow them and be blessed; reject them and suffer.

I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. if we want to know how well we stand with the Lord, then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain. How closely do our lives harmonize with the words of the Lord’s anointed–the living prophet, the President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency?

May God bless us all to look to the prophet and the presidency in the critical and crucial days ahead, is my prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen. *

Now that he’s dead, though, do those principles still apply? Do they have to be re-ratified (does everything have to be re-ratified) by the reigning prophet?

 

[ben_dy]

tkdnick:

Whoa! That’s quite an eye-opener compared to what has been discussed around here lately.

Isn’t it, though? Quite interesting if still in effect - that’s one part that I still don’t “get”: does EVERYTHING have to be re-ratified in some sense when a prophet dies and the new prophet takes office?

 

[ben_dy]

majick275:

So LDS teach that you must always obey the prophet in all things (even if it’s wrong), never criticize them (even if it’s true) and whatever they say is to be considered the same as if God said it.

That sounds like the whole ball of wax in a nutshell (and if I could mix any more metaphors with folksy whimsey I’d be as happy as a puppy in a roomful of rubber balls).

 

[Brad_Haas]

Ben - he said it before he became prophet. Your question is still valid, though, and I’m curious about the answer. From my perspective, it seems that LDS prophetic teaching stands unless / until repudiated by future prophets.

 

[PaulDupre]

But he was an apostle at the time. Every LDS apostle is a “prophet, seer and revelator”. Can you imagine the apostles James, John and Paul making wild statements like the LDS apostles have made? And yet the LDS say that their modern apostles are every bit equal to those of ancient times.

 

[gryskull]

majick275:

uh just for clarification… No “election” for LDS prophets. Next in line by seniority.

Is it? Wow, that’s an eye opener. :clapping: But you know what, our LDS friends here would say"What’s your proof?"
So let me do the questioning. “What’s your proof?”

 

[gryskull]

How about the revelation on polygamy? Wasn’t that a revelation of god to JS. Then changed in 1890 by President Woodruff because of the pressure of the United States. So was it really a revelation from god from the getgo? Did god really change his mind? Or was it just mere speculation by the first LDS president? Hmmmm.

You might want to check out an informative site.

 

[majick275]

Well the most obvious “proof” is that every LDS prophet has been the senior apostle.

 

[ben_dy]

majick275:

Well the most obvious “proof” is that every LDS prophet has been the senior apostle.

So God favors the elderly?

I hope that all will remember that on December 2, 2005 when I ‘celibate’ my 68 years on this wonderful planet!