From the LDS website "Gospel Principles, Chapter 10, Scriptures:
Words of Our Living Prophets
In addition to these four books of scripture, the inspired words of our living prophets become scripture to us. Their words come to us through conferences, the Liahona or Ensign magazine, and instructions to local priesthood leaders. “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” (Articles of Faith 1:9).
Then they ask the following question
• Where can we find the words of our living prophets?
However, according to mormons here - those words are only opinions and not scripture. Yet their manual on doctrine - Gospel Principles - make it very clear that the WORDS given in conference, and official publications are scripture as well.
Joseph smith wouldn't recognize today's mormonism.
Today's Mormons -- in order to escape the charges they lob @ others -- try to distance themselves from the claims of their Past (& sometimes, present) leaders via weasel words.
What's interesting is that they've always touted having a "living prophet" (where they often cite Amos 3:7) so that they can present-tense revelational guidance given to their "seers." This is supposed to be one of the things they can look at with pride at what "sets them apart" from Christianity...(Of course, they fail to recognize that Jesus Christ HIMSELF...per Hebrews 1:1-2...remains our 'Living Prophet'...a title He no longer has to delegate to somebody else)
Their problem is they are downright embarrassed over MUCH of what their past leaders have said. Straight-arm time!
The thing is...they now claim that no Mormons want to immediately honor the words of their "seers" as direct revelation until a group of their leaders get together...sometimes 40...62...74 years later...and declare as a man-made creed-like council that a certain statement was "scripture" after all.
More hypocrisy...especially since Mormons condemn historic church leader councils that came up with certain creeds!
So it's A-OK for the Mormon church to have a "council" and decide, "Nope...most of these words uttered by this 'prophet' and this 'apostle' wasn't 'scripture'...but this little tidbit was."