Are talks given by prophets, seers, and revelators at general conferences considered scripture?
This is not an easy question to answer because scripture can be defined differently depending on the situation. For that reason, I suspect you’ll get various answers from members of the Church. Let me quote a past prophet named Joseph Fielding Smith. He said:
It makes no difference what is written or what anyone has said, if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has revealed, we can set it aside. My words, and the teachings of any other member of the Church, high or low, if they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. Let us have this matter clear. We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man's doctrine.
You cannot accept the books written by the authorities of the Church as standards of doctrine, only in so far as they accord with the revealed word in the standard works.
Every man who writes is responsible, not the Church, for what he writes. If Joseph Fielding Smith writes something which is out of harmony with the revelations, then every member of the Church is duty bound to reject it. If he writes that which is in perfect harmony with the revealed word of the Lord, then it should be accepted (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 3:203-4).
The scriptures, or four standard works mentioned above, contain what we call doctrine. Doctrine, especially official doctrine, is most often described as the accepted teachings of the Church. Recently, the Church has published the following on the subject of doctrine:
The doctrinal tenets of any religion are best understood within a broad context, and thoughtful analysis is required to understand them. News reporters pressed by daily deadlines often find that problematic. Therefore, as the Church continues to grow throughout the world and receive increasing media attention, a few simple principles that facilitate a better understanding may be helpful:
Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency
(the prophet and his two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles
(the second-highest governing body of the Church) counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture (the Holy Bible
, the Book of Mormon
, the Doctrine and Covenants
and the Pearl of Great Price
), official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith
. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted.
Based on the scriptures, Joseph Smith
declared: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.”
Because different times present different challenges, modern-day prophets
receive revelation
relevant to the circumstances of their day. This follows the biblical pattern
(Amos 3:7
), in which God communicated messages and warnings to His people through prophets in order to secure their well-being. In our day, President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) has repeatedly emphasized the importance of the family
in our increasingly fractional society. In addition, the Church does not preclude future additions or changes to its teachings or practices. This living, dynamic aspect of the Church provides flexibility in meeting those challenges. According to the Articles of Faith, “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.”
Latter-day Saints place heavy emphasis on the application of their faith in daily life. For example, the active participation of Latter-day Saints in their community and worldwide humanitarian programs
reflects concern for other people. As Jesus Christ declared, “By their fruits ye shall know them
.”
Individual members are encouraged to independently strive to receive their own spiritual confirmation of the truthfulness of Church doctrine. Moreover, the Church exhorts all people to approach the gospel not only intellectually but with the intellect and the spirit, a process in which reason and faith work together
.
Approaching Mormon Doctrine
Much misunderstanding about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints revolves around its doctrine. The news medi
https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/approaching-mormon-doctrine
One of the older stories, told from time to time by President J. Reuben Clark about Brigham Young went like this:
"To this point runs a simple story my father told me as a boy, I do not know on what authority, but it illustrates the point. His story was that during the excitement incident to the coming of [Johnston’s] Army, Brother Brigham preached to the people in a morning meeting a sermon vibrant with defiance to the approaching army, and declaring an intention to oppose and drive them back. In the afternoon meeting he arose and said that Brigham Young had been talking in the morning, but the Lord was going to talk now. He then delivered an address, the tempo of which was the opposite from the morning talk."
This story has a way of continuing to surface (for example, it was last used in General Conference a few years back by Elder Christofferson): https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-doctrine-of-christ?lang=eng
Thus, even the prophet can say things that are not the will of the Lord. We do not believe in infallible prophets or inerrant scriptures. The help of the Holy Spirit in discerning truth spoken in General Conference is always needed. I Corinthians 2:10–14 states:
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the a testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, a save Jesus Christ, and him b crucified . 3 And I was with you in a weakness , and in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my a speech and my preaching was not with b enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the c Spirit and of d power : 5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the a power of God. 6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are a perfect : yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 7 But we speak the a wisdom of God in a b mystery , even the hidden c wisdom , which God d ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have a crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, a Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath b prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath a revealed them unto us by his b Spirit : for the c Spirit d searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man a knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God b knoweth no man, c but the d Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the a spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s a wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost b teacheth ; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the a natural man b receiveth not the things of the c Spirit of God: for they are d foolishness unto him: neither can he e know them, because they are f spiritually g discerned . 15 But he that is spiritual a judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may a instruct him? But we have the b mind of Christ.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/nt/1-cor/2?lang=eng
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Profile photo for Ray Farmer
Ray Farmer
· Mon
Great quote by Joseph Fielding Smith! I will be sure to use it in the future. The Book of Mormon, however, limits the “standard works”, those books used as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man's doctrine, to two writings, the Book of Mormon and the Bible: 2 Nephi 3:12 W…
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Michael Hickenbotham
· 12h ago
1 Nephi 13: 39–40 speaks of other books and records which would come forth from the Gentiles for the convincing of the Gentiles and others that the record of the apostles (NT) was true. The Nephites were not Gentiles so it’s questionable whether the Book of Mormon should even be counted as one of those books.
Doctrine and Covenants section 1 was given specifically as a preface for the Book of Commandments/D&C and is the Lord speaking. Verses 20–30 give reasons why it was given.
20 But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world;
21 That faith also might increase in the earth;
22 That mine everlasting covenant might be established;
23 That the fulness of my gospel might be proclaimed by the weak and the simple unto the ends of the world, and before kings and rulers.
24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.
25 And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known;
26 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed;
27 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;
28 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time.
29 And after having received the record of the Nephites, yea, even my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., might have power to translate through the mercy of God, by the power of God, the Book of Mormon.
30 And also those to whom these commandments were given, might have power to lay the foundation of this church, and to bring it forth out of obscurity and out of darkness, the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased, speaking unto the church collectively and not individually
It ends with:
36 And also the Lord shall have power over his saints, and shall reign in their midst, and shall come down in judgment upon Idumea, or the world.
37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.
38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same.
39 For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth abideth forever and ever. Amen.
It seems to me you’re not living by every word that has come forth from mouth of God or by the voice of his servants. Did you listen to conference this past weekend?
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Ray Farmer
· Just now
I always watch conference from beginning to end. This may surprise your. I also attend church with my faithful bride. I know what is going on.
Once again, Dalin Oaks delivered a talk that demonstrates how far away from scriptural Christianity the Church has drifted. I can hardly listen to the man. He makes things up as he goes; things that the more he promotes those demonic doctrines, the more he proves that the Book of Mormon and Bible are false.
He thinks that all God’s children will receive a glorious future for eternity, that those who won’t are of such a small number that it isn’t worth mentioning them. If this is true, than the Book of Mormon and Bible are false.
For example, he says “"In the restored Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we have a unique understanding of our Heavenly Father’s plan. This gives us a different way of viewing the purpose of mortal life, the divine judgment that follows it and the ultimate glorious destiny of all of God’s children" (the church website doesn’t have the text of the talks up yet, but I hope we can discuss them when available).
However, the Book of Mormon and the Bible can’t be true if this statement alone is true. The Book of Mormon clearly says:
I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment-seat.….But behold, for none of these can I hope except they shall be reconciled unto Christ, and enter into the narrow gate, and walk in the strait path which leads to life, and continue in the path until the end of the day of probation.
Plainly, Nephi expects to meet many, not all, spotless souls at the judgement (after your spirit prison experience). The only spotless ones will have, before the end of the day of probation (mortal life), been reconciled to Christ. They will have entered the narrow gate. They have walked in the strait path which leads to life. They will have continued in that way until death. Those who didn’t, who wasted the day of probation, will not be spotless before the judgement seat.
1 Nephi 10:6 Wherefore, all mankind were in a lost and in a fallen state, and ever would be save they should rely on this Redeemer.
Oaks would have us believe that doing good works and having wonderful desires will save us. Jesus died for nothing if this were true. Reliane on Jesus enters not the picture! This is what I meant when I spoke of drifting from Christianity.
Mosiah 16 [E]very nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.
And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.
[The Lord redeemeth them not. Ever. There is no time frame given].
For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
[“all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil”. This is everyone. All mankind. ].
Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.
[ All are lost and they would have been endlessly lost if it weren’t for Jesus, doing good and having wonderful intentions notwithstanding]
But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him.
[He that persists in the carnal, sensual, devilish state remains in that state and the Devil has ALL power over him. There is no repenting and no redemption for those who die in the ways of sin and rebellion against God. They have not the power of God to help them repent for the devil has ALL power over them. They are enemies to God, not loving children].
Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.
[Just as the devil is the enemy of God, so are those who persist in their carnal, sensual, devilish state. They will find that they are in a state as if no redemption has been made. No atonement. No divine forgiveness. No mercy. Never.]
Dallin Oaks went on to say that they will be saved after suffering for their own sins. Again, this is anti-christ and demonic. The Book of Mormon warns you, MH, against this false idea:
2 Nephi 28:8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God--he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.
At last we shall be saved. Nephi goes on to comment on this doctrine and those who preach it:
Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark.
And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them.
Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted.
Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted.
Other Books
Now you have your church fathers, doctrines, covenants, conference issues and temple instructions that tell me that the above is false. This is exactly why all of that can not be in any way the “other books” As ypu pointed out above:
1 Nephi 13:39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true.
Your books tell me that the Book of Mormon and Bible are not true or incomplete or mistranslated. The more I believe your books, the less I am convinced that the Book of Mormon and Bible are not true. Therefore, your books cannot be the “other books”. Your books did not come forth “by the power of the lamb”.
Fine, if that’s what you want to go with.
Moroni 10:27 ….ye shall know that I lie not, for ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man, like as one crying from the dead, yea, even as one speaking out of the dust?
That’s right. THIS man. Moroni. I know you say you love your Living Oracles. They are to be preferred over dead oracles. Note that last line. Moroni is speaking to you, crying from the dead.
2 Nephi 33:14 And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, and also my words, and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day.
So, did you enjoy conference?