I thought we’d gone over this a few weeks ago? A prophet has two things: opinions and revelations. They are not the same. That’s why we are personally invited to go before the Lord and verify directly with Him through prayer the teachings of the prophet.
Brigham Young was particularly fond of voicing his opinions; but he never did so, to my knowledge, under the guise of revelation, prophecy, or speaking in the name of the Lord. And sometimes he misspoke, and sometimes his words were mis-transcribed (remember, no tape recorders back then). But these things mean he was human. Not a false prophet.
That’s why the context of the teachings of the Church are necessary. You can’t have a clear understanding of what we teach and believe if you are glued to aberrant quotes that are twisted to support what you -want- to think we teach and believe.
And this is why we keep going around in circles, MHG.
Well worded, sadly, not the point of this controversy.
What you say, Tanty, is theoretically possible, but is not a practical thing carried out.
LDS theology makes much of the saints "sustaining" the prophet; and D&C has verses talking about this "sustaining" being done--even thru votes of general authorities.
Beyond those who are on their way out of the church, or those who have already left the church, I haven't heard of a band of LDS saints coming together to openly and publicly oppose a teaching of the current prophet, have you? I mean, beyond some "regular" Mormons-turned-fundamentalist over D&C 130 (polygamy as an everlasting covenant)--like what is written about in Under the Banner of Heaven--I haven't heard, "Well, we prayed to God about this teaching and didn't receive a confirmation, so we're opposing you on this matter." [Frankly, that would be unheard of and would be immediately "punished" in the church by failing to sustain their prophet.]
Isn't sustaining the living prophet a matter that would keep (or keep off if they failed) a member on the temple rec list? Take a look at what's happened to some BYU profs over the years when they "prayed and strayed" from the narrow banner.