I know, I know, you are all just waiting with bated breath for me to jump in here.
Actually, the D&C has a provision for just this eventuality. I can't say where it is off the top of my head, but there is a procedure for the President of the High Priesthood (the Prophet) to be removed from his position. The Lord gave this procedure early in the Church. This is one of the reasons I maintain that people shouldn't be so focused on "following" the Prophet in all things - which leads to "prophet worship" among many.
I agree with LDS, my testimony is much more focused on the Saviour than on the Church. The Church is a vehicle to help us get to Christ, and shouldn't be the object of our devotion.
Such a situation as you describe would definitely cause a rift in the Church.
However, has anyone noticed the ages of the Prophets for the last few decades? I think most of them are far past that stage of their lives where the testosterone does their thinking for them. So maybe this wouldn't be a problem.
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I know, I know, you are all just waiting with bated breath for me to jump in here. |
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Actually, the D&C has a provision for just this eventuality. I can't say where it is off the top of my head, but there is a procedure for the President of the High Priesthood (the Prophet) to be removed from his position. The Lord gave this procedure early in the Church. |
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However, has anyone noticed the ages of the Prophets for the last few decades? I think most of them are far past that stage of their lives where the testosterone does their thinking for them. wink.gif So maybe this wouldn't be a problem. |
LDS, your last post in this thread is exactly what I was going to say. Prophets are men. They are not perfect. The atonement was for them and their sins too. Many prophets have sinned in the past. David for example.
I hope my faith would be strong enough. More than that, I hope I never have to find out.
The provision for removal is found in Doctrine and Covenants Section 107. Read this closely. This section also defines both the Aaronic and Melchizedek Priesthoods, their relative gifts, the organization of their Quorums, the composition of their presidencies, and what happens if one of the Quorums is dissolved. This is certainly one of the most important revelations we have in the Church. For example, one of the other threads mentioned that the elimination of the seventies in the stakes was a change in the Church doctrine and offices - perhaps that is true; however, it was a change that moved the Church closer to the word of the Lord as revealed in the Doctrine and Covenants.
Remember that this is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Church is greater than any individual mortal man, it belongs to Him who wrought the Atonement. Just as when a prophet is removed by death, the Church would would go on. In addition, the keys wielded by the President of the Church are also held collectively by the Quorum of the Twelve, and in the event that he (the president) was to fall by transgression or sin, they would be empowered to restore the First Presidency, as directed by revelation.
Edited: rbogart on 29th Sep, 2004 - 1:24am
There is a reason we are commanded to pray to receive a confirmation of the truth after we hear the words of the prophets. It's an essential part of the process. Even Christ instructed the Nephites to pray to know that his words were true. We can't take anything for granted - the words of the prophets are only a starting point to our learning the truth directly from the Lord.
Thus, the apostasy or major sin of a prophet or apostle should have nothing to do with my relationship with Christ or his Church. The prophet is only a medium of communication, and if he disqualifies himself through unworthiness, the Lord will appoint another.