• QUESTIONS FOR LDS ON THE IMPOSSIBLE GOSPEL OF MORMONISM — A Verse-by-Verse Presentation from LDS Scripture

While we strive to reference the Standard Works whenever possible, there are times when we must cite the publications of the LDS Church or the writings of various LDS leaders to provide a view of Mormonism that is unclear or completely absent in the Standard Works.  While individuals, such as yourself, may criticize our use of these resources, we can’t help but notice the inconsistency in this criticism as you did the same thing when you wrote to us about your Church’s position on what constitutes “Scripture” for Latter-day Saints. You cited a Sunday School manual, instead of the Standard Works! Can you see the inconsistency in criticizing our use of LDS Church manuals to define the position of the LDS Church on certain matters? 

Where in the Standard Works of the LDS Church does it say that the Standard Works (four books of Scripture) are “the only sources of absolute appeal” for the doctrines of Mormonism?  On the contrary, LDS Church Manuals and the Prophets and Apostles of the Mormon Church have consistently affirmed the Mormon belief in “continuing revelation” through living Prophets and Apostles whose “words” become “scripture” for Latter-day Saints.  Note the following quotes from LDS writings:

“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, Church publications, and instructions to local priesthood leaders." –Chapter 10 "Scriptures", Gospel Principles, 1995, p. 55

“WHAT IS SCRIPTURE? When one of the brethren stands before a congregation of the people today, and their inspiration of the Lord is upon him, he speaks that which the Lord would have him speak. It is just as much scripture as anything you will find written in any of these records, and yet we call these the standard words of the Church.  We depend, of course, upon the guidance of the brethren who are entitled to inspiration.  There is only one man in the Church at a time who has the right to give revelation for the Church, and that is the President of the Church. But that does not bar any other member in this Church from speaking the word of the Lord, as indicated here in this revelation, section 68, but a revelation that is to be given as these revelations are given in this book, to the Church, will come through the presiding officer of the Church; yet, the word of the Lord, as spoken by other servants at the general conferences and stake conferences, or wherever they may be when they speak that which the Lord has put into their mouths, is just as much the word of the Lord as the writings of the words of other prophets in other dispensations.”—Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 1, p. 186

“The Standard Works and Living Prophets Must Be Accepted or Rejected Together We should regard both the standard works and inspired declarations of living prophets as valid and necessary sources of truth.  Occasionally misinformed members of the Church will maintain that, although they accept the standard works as divinely inspired, they are reluctant to give equal credence to pronouncements of the living prophet. Such individuals are pursuing an inconsistent course and ‘err, not knowing the scriptures’ (Matthew 22:29), for the scriptures themselves plainly testify of the fact that we must give heed to the living prophets. …Prophets have the right to personal opinions. Not every word they speak should be thought of as an official interpretation or pronouncement. However, their discourses to the Saints and their official writings should be considered products of their prophetic calling and should be heeded. …Must a Prophet Always Preface His Remarks with ‘Thus Saith the Lord’ for Them to Be Binding upon the Church? Unfortunately, some Church members place limitations on prophetic statements. Some will not accept anything as a genuine prophetic declaration unless it is prefaced by the phrase ‘thus saith the Lord.’ President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., demonstrated the fallacy of such a position: ‘There are those who insist that unless the Prophet of the Lord declares, “Thus saith the Lord,” the message may not be taken as a revelation. This is a false testing standard. For while many of our modern revelations as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants do contain these words, there are many that do not.’ (‘When Are Church Leader’s Words Entitled to Claim of Scripture?’ p. 10.) ‘The prophet does not have to say “Thus saith the Lord” to give us scripture.” —Teachings of the Living Prophets, 1982, pp. 20-21 

“Must a Prophet Always Preface His Remarks with **Thus Saith the Lord** If It Is to Be Binding upon the Church? A FALSE TESTING STANDARD There are those who insist that unless the Prophet of the Lord declares, ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ the message may not be taken as a revelation. This is a false testing standard.”—Living Prophets for a Living Church, 1974, p. 68

As you can see by the above quotes, our use of citations from General authorities within Mormonism to define and clarify Mormon doctrine is consistent with the LDS view of receiving “continuing revelation” from authoritative leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE:

• SHOULD WE TRUST THE BIBLE? —A Response to Mormonism’s Attack Upon the Bible’s Accuracy (www.4mormon.org)