The Preeminence of Joseph Smith’s Teachings

In the conference center at BYU there is a hallway adorned with portraits of the presidents of the church. The portraits include key developments from each president's tenure. President Lee's portrait includes a big book that says, “PRIESTHOOD CORRELATION.” President G. Smith's portrait has a Boy Scout medal. Gordon B. Hinckley's portrait has the Huntsman jet on it and a satellite dish. President Monson's has a printing press and some pigeons. The first painting, that of the prophet Joseph Smith, features only a portrayal of the gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated.

Perhaps the artist did not think the Doctrine and Covenants was not significant. Or the many visitations of heavenly beings to Joseph. Or the revelation that informed us that God once was a man. Or the revelation of the three kingdoms. I can completely understand that, for someone like David O. McKay, the lack of significant developments during his tenure would necessitate a space occupier like a picture of his childhood home. I would expect the opposite problem with Joseph, that of not having enough space and needing to be selective. But one thing? God said that Joseph Smith was his spokesman to our generation. He was and is a really big deal.

Joseph was appointed to hold the keys of this dispensation. The Lord told him:

Therefore, thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the last time. Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come; (D&C 90:2-3.)

God told Joseph that his keys would not be taken from him until the Second Coming.

...rebel not against my servant Joseph; for verily I say unto you, I am with him, and my hand shall be over him; and the keys which I have given unto him...shall not be taken from him till I come. (D&C 112:15.)

God said that our dispensation would receive his word through Joseph: “But this generation shall have my word through you;” (D&C 5:11.)

God gave the church a very singular commandment regarding Joseph, telling them to treat his words as God's own.

Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith. (D&C 21:4-5.)

This was an exceedingly rare thing for God to say. There are no scriptures that indicate he's ever said it to anyone else. God also said that Joseph was the only one appointed to receive commandments and revelations for the church:

But, behold, verily, verily, I say unto thee, no one shall be appointed to receive commandments and revelations in this church excepting my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., for he receiveth them even as Moses. (D&C 28:2)

God told the church officers that it was Joseph's words that they should preach: “my servants, whom I shall call and ordain...shall go forth with my words that are given through you.” (D&C 5:11.)

Every promise listed here was made to Joseph. It was not made to the office of the president of the church, and it was not promised to the successors of Joseph. Perhaps knowing this would be the case, God instructed that “there is none other appointed unto you to receive commandments and revelations” except Joseph Smith and those appointed “through him,” and that “ye receive not the teachings of any that shall come before you as revelations or commandments.” (D&C 43:1-7.) In spite of the clarity of these verses, modern Mormonism allocates what God said to Joseph to all other presidents of the church.¹ It is important to note that we have no record of God doing so.

In a revelation recorded in D&C 124, the Lord said:

I give unto you my servant Joseph to be a presiding elder over all my church, to be a translator, a revelator, a seer, and prophet. I give unto him for counselors my servant Sidney Rigdon and my servant William Law, that these may constitute a quorum and First Presidency, to receive the oracles for the whole church. I give unto you my servant Brigham Young to be a president over the Twelve traveling council; Which Twelve hold the keys to open up the authority of my kingdom upon the four corners of the earth, and after that to send my word to every creature.

The prerogative of Joseph (by name) and his counselors (appointed by name) was to receive oracles² —answers from God to questions pertaining to the whole church. The prerogative of the twelve, designed as an independent and equal quorum and not a subordinate feeder pool for the First Presidency, was not to receive answers to questions, but to preach the gospel outside of the stakes of Zion.³ To Joseph, oracles were revelations, not revelators.⁴ Joseph was told that through him the oracles would be given to the church:

Therefore, thou art blessed from henceforth that bear the keys of the kingdom given unto you; which kingdom is coming forth for the last time. Verily I say unto you, the keys of this kingdom shall never be taken from you, while thou art in the world, neither in the world to come; Nevertheless, through you shall the oracles be given to another, yea, even unto the church. And all they who receive the oracles of God, let them beware how they hold them lest they are accounted as a light thing, and are brought under condemnation thereby, and stumble and fall when the storms descend, and the winds blow, and the rains descend, and beat upon their house. (D&C 90:2-5.)

Importantly, Joseph was told that the answers God had provided through him to questions regarding doctrine and church administration would be passed on, not the ability to receive oracles. This distinction is critical to understanding the importance of what God provided through Joseph.

Joseph’s dispensation was a body of oracles, not a perpetual process to receive oracles. An understanding of that fact places an inexpressible importance on the revelations Joseph received. Inasmuch as we ignore, misinterpret, or replace the oracles given by Joseph, we cut ourselves off from the kingdom of God and the blessings offered through the restoration.

What Constitutes the Kingdom of God Whare there is a Prophet a priest or a righteous man unto whom God gives his oracles there is the Kingdom of God, & whare the oracles of God are not there the Kingdom of God is not...The plea of many in this day is that we have no right to receive revelations, But if we do not get revelations we do not have the oracles of God & if they have not the oracles of God they are not the people of God But say you what will become of the world or the various professors of religion who do not believe in revelation & the oracles of God as Continued to the Church in all ages of the world when he has a people on earth I Tell you in the name of Jesus Christ they will be damned & when you get into the eternal world you will find it to be so they cannot escape the damnation of hell (Words of Joseph Smith, 22 Jan 1843, original spelling.)

The issue of succession is too complex to address here. Suffice it to say that Brigham Young’s succession victory over Sidney Rigdon at the hand of a majority public vote should not be viewed in the same light as the appointments that were made to the First Presidency during Joseph’s life. Every single one of the ten appointments to the First Presidency in Joseph’s life were made through explicit written commandment from God. The same applies for appointments to the Twelve. In none of the many appointments to the First Presidency during Joseph’s life did God select a member of the Quorum of the Twelve. The Quorum of the Twelve was not treated as a feeder pool for the First Presidency. Apostles had special jurisdiction limited to areas where stakes had not been organized. Their authority was equal (but separate) to that of a Stake President’s (see D&C 107).

It is rather odd that a God who thought it necessary to vocally enumerate each member of these quorums from heaven would suddenly make two radical changes: First, to the order of their appointment, as the Quorum of the Twelve was selected to lead the church by self-suggestion and a majority vote of the church; Second, to fill the office of the presidency of the high priesthood with members of a lower priesthood office—that of apostle—without an ordination to the higher office (Brigham Young was never ordained to be president of the church).⁵

Brigham Young did not preside as the president of the church, but as the president of the quorum of the Twelve, the office which continues to preside over the church today, a role it has never been given in revelation. Prior to and up to Joseph’s death, the Twelve had no priesthood authority within any organized stake of the church.⁶ They could not organize a new stake, nor ordain anyone within an organized stake. They did not have the authority to call any stake presidents, any stake patriarch, the presiding patriarch, or even replacements to their quorum. Yet, somehow, they considered themselves to possess the authority to do all this and more at the moment of Joseph’s death.

Knowing all this, does an apostle (even one sitting as church president) have the authority to receive revelation that supersedes that received by Joseph Smith, a President of the High Priesthood ordained by God’s commandment? Joseph Smith said,

I will inform you that it is contrary to the economy of God for any member of the church, or any one, to receive instruction for those in authority, higher than themselves, therefore you will see the impropriety of giving heed to them: but if any have a vision or a visitation from a heavenly messenger, it must be for their own benefit and instruction, for the fundamental principles, government, and doctrine of the church is vested in the keys of the kingdom. (Joseph Smith, History of the Church, 1:338.)

Joseph Fielding Smith wrote that no man, no matter his office, has the authority to teach doctrines that conflict with Joseph’s revelations:

When prophets write and speak on the principles of the gospel, they should have the guidance of the Spirit. If they do, then all that they say will be in harmony with the revealed word. If they are in harmony then we know that they have not spoken presumptuously. Should a man speak or write, and what he says is in conflict with the standards which are accepted, with the revelations the Lord has given, then we may reject what he has said, no matter who he is. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:187.)

If we are to believe and listen to God’s instructions, Joseph’s teachings ought to hold preeminence in Mormonism. They ought to be considered of chief importance. God’s words through Joseph are to us. They ought to be studied. They ought to be heeded.

A Covenant was Revealed Through Joseph

Through Moses, a covenant was given to Israel⁷ It consisted of commandments and promises contingent on keeping them. While the full weight of God’s blessings cannot be obtained without a covenant from him, neither can the full weight of his wrath. Christians mistakenly think that the God of the Old Testament was more severe than the God of the New Testament. In reality, the curses that fell upon those who disobeyed God in the Old Testament were a consequence of breaking the covenant given from God through Moses. The New Testament does not contain the consequences of the people rejecting the new covenant offered through Christ, with the exception of the couple that disobeyed the law of consecration after having received it.⁸ The consequence for the general rejection of the covenant came after the conclusion of the accounts, and was every bit as horrific as anything in the Old Testament.⁹ The God of the Old Testament is the same as the God of the New, and he will consistently treat all who disobey a received covenant with the degree of penalty observed in the past.

There is a consequence of breaking a covenant.

For of him unto whom much is given much is required; and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation. (D&C 82:3.)

This was well-understood in ancient times, as evidenced by the fact that the Nephites would allow their mortal enemies to escape unharmed if they swore a covenant that they would not return to fight again.¹⁰ Every time God extends a covenant, he also extends a cursing if the conditions are not met. For example, when God dispensed the gospel to Israel through Moses with a covenant, he said:

Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day... (Deuteronomy 11:26-28.)

We see the results of the cursing played out in the death penalty and similarly steep consequences prescribed in the law of Moses. For example, in Ezekiel we read that the Pharaoh would be taken captive, beg for his life, and yet all his company would be destroyed, all as a consequence of breaking a covenant:

Neither shall Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company make for him in the war, by casting up mounts, and building forts, to cut off many persons: Seeing he despised the oath by breaking the covenant, when, lo, he had given his hand, and hath done all these things, he shall not escape. Therefore thus saith the Lord God; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head. And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me. And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the Lord have spoken it. (Ezekiel 17:17-21)

Jeremiah provided an example of the issuance of a covenant from God to the people and the consequence of their breaking it:

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; And say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant, Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God: Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not...Therefore thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them. (Jeremiah 11:14,8,11.)

The principle of penalties for breaking a covenant are in just as much force today as they ever were in the past. This used to be taught in the temple with prescribed penalties for breaking the covenant of the dispensation of the gospel given to Joseph Smith.¹¹

One way we can break covenants is through changing ordinances. God has clearly expressed that no man—not even a church leader—has the right to change ordinances. In Malachi 1, the Lord blasts the priests for having changed the ordinances he had revealed to them:

A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the Lord of hosts. And now, I pray you, beseech God that he will be gracious unto us: this hath been by your means: will he regard your persons? saith the Lord of hosts. Who is there even among you that would shut the doors for nought? neither do ye kindle fire on mine altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 1:6-11.)

The Lord states that, because they modified his ordinances, he would not bless them (verse 9), he would not accept their offerings (verse 10), and he would take the covenant from them and give it to another people (verse 11). The Lord always punishes those who have broken a covenant through changing the ordinances.

The sons of Eli changed the ordinances, and took greater than their portion from that which was dedicated to the Lord. In addition, through their syphoning off of the offering, they made the people loathe giving their offerings:

And the priests’ custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand; And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. Also before they burnt the fat, the priest’s servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force. Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord. (1 Samuel 2:13-17.)

As we learn from the account of the sons of Eli, one consequence of changing the ordinances is that it trains men to “abhor the offering of the Lord” because they fail to receive God’s blessings despite their religious practice, as God does not bless men for conducting adulterated ordinances.

Isaiah described that the latter day people would change the ordinances and reject the covenant:

The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants: they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinances, set at nought the ancient covenant. (Isaiah 24:5, Gileadi Translation.)

In the past, God unleashed terrible punishments upon those who rejected a covenant once offered.¹² Will an unchanging God treat this generation any differently? “For thus saith the Lord God; I will even deal with thee as thou hast done, which hast despised the oath in breaking the covenant.” (Ezekiel 16:59.)

We Lose light and Truth if we Don’t Heed what Joseph Received

King Benjamin taught that his people were preserved from “dwindl[ing] in unbelief” because they had read and understood the scriptures. (Mosiah 1:5.) He defined unbelief as 1) not knowing what the scriptures say, 2) not believing what the scriptures say when you are taught them, and 3) allowing incorrect traditions¹³ to overrule what the scriptures say. Those who do not obtain, read, and understand the words God revealed to Joseph are dwindling in unbelief. They are in a state where they 1) do not know what God revealed through Joseph, 2) do not believe what God revealed through Joseph when someone teaches them, and 3) have replaced what God revealed through Joseph with false traditions.¹⁴

In the church today, do we know what God revealed through Joseph? How many members have read “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith?” How many have read “Words of Joseph Smith”? How many study “The Joseph Smith Papers”? Do we fare any better as an institution? How do leaders regard Joseph’s teachings? Do they revere them as primal, or do they relegate them to history? How many times are his words taught in manuals¹⁵ or General Conference? Instead, we are warned not to pay attention to the differences between what he taught and what we are taught today.¹⁶ We are taught that only what is taught by today’s leaders is important.

Joseph Smith taught that it is not a light thing for God to reveal his word to men:

If we have direct revelations given us from heaven, surely those revelations were never given to be trifled with, without the trifler's incurring displeasure and vengeance upon his own head, if there is any justice in heaven; (Joseph Smith, TPJS, p. 54.)

We have been taught what happens when we neglect to heed the light and truth that God dispenses:

And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. (Alma 12:9-10.)

To the degree we ignore or disobey God’s word as revealed through Joseph, we will degrade in our understanding of the truth and be cut off from the blessings associated with a higher law.

Through the kind providence of our Father a portion of His word which he delivered to His ancient saints, has fallen into our hands, is presented to us with a promise of a reward if obeyed, and with a penalty if disobeyed. (Joseph Smith, TPJS, p. 61.)

God commanded the Latter-day Saints to give head to Joseph’s words and warned them not to replace God-given revelations to Joseph with pretended revelations:

And they shall give heed to that which is written, and pretend to no other revelation; and they shall pray always that I may unfold the same to their understanding. And they shall give heed unto these words and trifle not, and I will bless them. Amen. (D&C 32:4-5.)

In the church today, we do just that (see “Prophet: Title or Description?”).

The Saints in Joseph’s day had already begun to take lightly the revelations God had given them. God said of them:

And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion. (D&C 84:54-58.)

If this was said then, what must God think of today, when we have unprecedented access to God’s word through Joseph Smith, yet probably know it less than any of those who came before us?

Living President vs. Dead Prophet

Joseph’s special commission as the head of this dispensation was not without substance. As is the case with all dispensation heads, Joseph was given special experiences with heaven that provided him with uncommon knowledge about the gospel. His experiences were described well in an editorial he wrote for the “Evening and Morning Star”:

Wherefore, we again say, search the revelations of God; study the prophecies, and rejoice that God grants unto the world Seers and Prophets. They are they who saw the mysteries of godliness; they saw the flood before it came; they saw angels ascending and descending upon a ladder that reached from earth to heaven; they saw the stone cut out of the mountain, which filled the whole earth; they saw the Son of God come from the regions of bliss and dwell with men on earth; they saw the deliverer come out of Zion, and turn away ungodliness from Jacob; they saw the glory of the Lord when he showed the transfiguration of the earth on the mount; they saw every mountain laid low and every valley exalted when the Lord was taking vengeance upon the wicked; they saw truth spring out of the earth, and righteousness look down from heaven in the last days, before the Lord came the second time to gather his elect; they saw the end of wickedness on earth, and the Sabbath of creation crowned with peace; they saw the end of the glorious thousand years, when Satan was loosed for a little season; they saw the day of judgment when all men received according to their works, and they saw the heaven and the earth flee away to make room for the city of God, when the righteous receive an inheritance in eternity. And, fellow sojourners upon earth, it is your privilege to purify yourselves and come up to the same glory, and see for yourselves, and know for yourselves. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. (E&MS August, 1832. DHC 1:282-284.)

Joseph's life and teachings are perhaps the most proximate resource we have in getting to know Jesus. In order to draw closer to Jesus, you have to know him. And yet, Jesus is not wholly accessible. What the world knows about him is limited to the little contained in the Bible. He comes to those who seek him without limitation, but seeking him requires us to already know him, to an extent, creating a paradox. The role of true witnesses is that they serve as signposts along the way. Joseph Smith interfaced more with Jesus than any man we know of after his mortal ministry. While Peter, James, and John may have spent more time with him, their contributions to our understanding of him are limited in volume and subject to a host of factors that dilute their effect. These include cultural and historical context that is unfamiliar to us, as well as limitations in translation and preservation. In Joseph Smith we find a more proximate example of a saved man than, say, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. While we have very scant information on the life of the patriarchs, we have an almost constant record of Joseph's later life: not just of the spiritual high points, but of the seemingly mundane events. With these accounts we have many firsthand accounts of those who observed him in his day-to-day life, providing exterior frames of reference. We also have, of course, a very large body of recorded revelation that reveals much more doctrinally about God when placed in the context of the events surrounding them.

How much time do people in the church, from the president of the high priesthood down to the newest member, spend searching out the words of Joseph Smith—the words God gave him to deliver? What proportion of their time is spent on that source compared to others? It is odd that we would sing “Praise to the Man” while simultaneously completely ignoring what that man actually taught, not to mention that which God has commanded us to study.¹⁷

It is beyond dispute that Joseph possessed the ability to ask and receive the oracles of God. In D&C 77 we have an example of how Joseph could ask God questions and receive categorical answers. For example, he asks (about John’s vision in the Book of revelation) “What are we to understand by the eyes and wings, which the beasts had?” In response, the Lord says, “Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is, they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, etc.” (D&C 77:4.) What was a routine process for Joseph in obtaining revelation on seemingly any question is markedly absent from the experience of modern Mormons. Who among us today can ask questions like these questions and receive answers to them?

Modern Mormon leaders do not share the same experiences Joseph had. They do not have the visions Joseph had. They do not have the revelations Joseph had. They have not displayed the ability to ask questions and receive answers from God. Joseph was a dispensation head. Through him God revealed the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because of this, we can use the scriptures and the words of Joseph to vet modern teachings.¹⁸ John Taylor wrote:

If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an imposter. (Times & Seasons, April 1, 1844.)

President Joseph Fielding Smith taught:

When prophets write and speak on the principles of the gospel, they should have the guidance of the Spirit. If they do, then all that they say will be in harmony with the revealed word. If they are in harmony then we know that they have not spoken presumptuously. Should a man speak or write and what he says is in conflict with the standards which are accepted, with the revelations the Lord has given, then we may reject what he has said, no matter who he is. (Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 1 p. 187.)

When a man teaches that they have the authority to overrule revelation given through Joseph Smith,¹⁹ you can “set him down as an imposter.” When a man teaches that he is a higher authority than scripture,²⁰ you can “reject what he has said, no matter who he is.” God’s word does not have an expiration date. What he said at any time in the past is just as valid today as it was then.

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. (D&C 1:38.)

When there is a difference²¹ between what Joseph taught and what is taught today, you will have to decide who you will believe:²² the man who communed with Jehovah, through whom God said he would speak, who— though he be taken—would leave to us God’s oracles, or the man who says he stands above Joseph,²³ yet who cannot speak of any of the same experiences, of whom God has not testified, who contradicts God’s words by saying that they are no longer valid,²⁴ but without offering any revelations to back up the claim. When men pray for a revelation that contradicts what God already said through Joseph, you can be sure they will not receive it.²⁵ When doctrines taught by Joseph Smith are removed from the doctrines of the church, you will have to decide who knows better: Joseph Smith, who received it from God, or a group of men who find that Joseph’s doctrine contradicts their tradition.²⁶

All men are liars who say they are of the true Church without the revelations of Jesus Christ and the Priesthood of Melchizedek, which is after the order of the Son of God. It is in the order of heavenly things that God should always send a new dispensation into the world when men have apostatized from the truth and lost the priesthood, but when men come out and build upon other men's foundations, they do it on their own responsibility, without authority from God; and when the floods come and the winds blow, their foundations will be found to be sand, and their whole fabric will crumble to dust. Did I build on any other man's foundation? I have got all the truth which the Christian world possessed, and an independent revelation in the bargain... (Joseph Smith, TPJS, pp. 375-376.)

Some men teach that the words of a living prophet are more important than those of a dead one. God commissioned Jeremiah to provide an interesting test to a group of people called the Rechabites. God said:

Go unto the house of the Rechabites, and speak unto them, and bring them into the house of the Lord, into one of the chambers, and give them wine to drink. And I set before the sons of the house of the Rechabites pots full of wine, and cups, and I said unto them, Drink ye wine. But they said, We will drink no wine: for Jonadab the son of Rechab our father commanded us, saying, Ye shall drink no wine, neither ye, nor your sons for ever....we have...obeyed, and done according to all that Jonadab our father commanded us.....Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Go and tell the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith the Lord. The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons not to drink wine, are performed; for unto this day they drink none, but obey their father’s commandment: notwithstanding I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye hearkened not unto me. I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me. Because the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father, which he commanded them; but this people hath not hearkened unto me: Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them: because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered. And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he hath commanded you: Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever. (Jeremiah 35:2,5-6,10,12-19.)

God seemed very pleased that the Rechabites had preserved the commandment they had received for generations, and he blessed them for it. He also cursed those who had ignored the commandments received from prophets from generations past. That Zechariah preached the principle of the persistence of God’s word suggests this is a standing doctrine:

Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?...But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. (Zechariah 7:7,11-12.)

The past prophets hold just as much authority today as they did in their day. God’s word does not have an expiration date. If there is a contradiction between former prophets and current prophets, we must analyze the source of each message. In 1 Kings 13 we read of a prophet who was commanded of God to fast for a prescribed time. As the LDS chapter heading states, he was “led astray by a prophet” who convinced him to disobey the original commandment, claiming God had told given him a new commandment that overruled the previous one. God destroyed the deceived prophet, who refused to analyze the source of the new, contradictory commandment or ask God about it before accepting it. When men claiming to be prophets encourage us to act contrary to God’s commandments given by the former prophets, we are obligated to ask God to detect if we are being led astray, as was the deceived prophet in 1 Kings 13. Only then will we be taking measures to avoid substituting the philosophies of men mingled with scripture for the word of God received by the former prophets.²⁷ Nephi warned that

Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. (2 Nephi 28:31.)

Joseph Smith possesses a unique claim as the head of the dispensation, the source of God’s word to this generation. As long as this dispensation stands, any “living prophet” ought to preach in favor of—not contradict—God’s dispensation of the gospel through Joseph Smith. True messengers contradict—not invent—false traditions, restoring teachings to their original, undefiled state. Their teachings should not contradict scripture, but support it.

Conclusion

Through Ezekiel, God summarized his relationship with the Israelites to that point. He said:

In the day that I lifted up mine hand unto them, to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands: Then said I unto them, Cast ye away every man the abominations of his eyes, and defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. But they rebelled against me, and would not hearken unto me: they did not every man cast away the abominations of their eyes, neither did they forsake the idols of Egypt: then I said, I will pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt. But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, among whom they were, in whose sight I made myself known unto them, in bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt. Wherefore I caused them to go forth out of the land of Egypt, and brought them into the wilderness. And I gave them my statutes, and shewed them my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them. Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them. But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, to consume them. But I wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted before the heathen, in whose sight I brought them out. Yet also I lifted up my hand unto them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands; Because they despised my judgments, and walked not in my statutes, but polluted my sabbaths: for their heart went after their idols. Nevertheless mine eye spared them from destroying them, neither did I make an end of them in the wilderness. But I said unto their children in the wilderness, Walk ye not in the statutes of your fathers, neither observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols: I am the Lord your God; walk in my statutes, and keep my judgments, and do them; And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the Lord your God. Notwithstanding the children rebelled against me: they walked not in my statutes, neither kept my judgments to do them, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; they polluted my sabbaths: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them, to accomplish my anger against them in the wilderness. Nevertheless I withdrew mine hand, and wrought for my name’s sake, that it should not be polluted in the sight of the heathen, in whose sight I brought them forth. I lifted up mine hand unto them also in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the heathen, and disperse them through the countries; Because they had not executed my judgments, but had despised my statutes, and had polluted my sabbaths, and their eyes were after their fathers’ idols. Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live; And I polluted them in their own gifts, in that they caused to pass through the fire all that openeth the womb, that I might make them desolate, to the end that they might know that I am the Lord. Therefore, son of man, speak unto the house of Israel, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Yet in this your fathers have blasphemed me, in that they have committed a trespass against me. For when I had brought them into the land, for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to them, then they saw every high hill, and all the thick trees, and they offered there their sacrifices, and there they presented the provocation of their offering: there also they made their sweet savour, and poured out there their drink offerings. Then I said unto them, What is the high place whereunto ye go? And the name thereof is called Bamah unto this day. Wherefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Are ye polluted after the manner of your fathers? and commit ye whoredom after their abominations? For when ye offer your gifts, when ye make your sons to pass through the fire, ye pollute yourselves with all your idols, even unto this day: and shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live, saith the Lord God, I will not be inquired of by you. And that which cometh into your mind shall not be at all, that ye say, We will be as the heathen, as the families of the countries, to serve wood and stone. As I live, saith the Lord God, surely with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out, will I rule over you: And I will bring you out from the people, and will gather you out of the countries wherein ye are scattered, with a mighty hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with fury poured out. And I will bring you into the wilderness of the people, and there will I plead with you face to face. Like as I pleaded with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so will I plead with you, saith the Lord God. And I will cause you to pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant: And I will purge out from among you the rebels, and them that transgress against me: I will bring them forth out of the country where they sojourn, and they shall not enter into the land of Israel: and ye shall know that I am the Lord. As for you, O house of Israel, thus saith the Lord God; Go ye, serve ye every one his idols, and hereafter also, if ye will not hearken unto me: but pollute ye my holy name no more with your gifts, and with your idols. For in mine holy mountain, in the mountain of the height of Israel, saith the Lord God, there shall all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, serve me: there will I accept them, and there will I require your offerings, and the firstfruits of your oblations, with all your holy things. I will accept you with your sweet savour, when I bring you out from the people, and gather you out of the countries wherein ye have been scattered; and I will be sanctified in you before the heathen. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for the which I lifted up mine hand to give it to your fathers. And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed. And ye shall know that I am the Lord, when I have wrought with you for my name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways, nor according to your corrupt doings, O ye house of Israel, saith the Lord God. (Ezekiel 20:6-44.)

This passage serves as a fitting analog to the behavior of modern Israel in how they have treated the revelations of Joseph, and God’s response to them because of it.

The task of Joseph’s successors was to teach what Joseph gave them. How well they have or continue to do so is an open question. Joseph said “...if any man preach any other gospel than that which I have preached, he shall be cursed...” (Joseph Smith, Historical Record 7:548.)

A brief survey of milestones in the administrations of Joseph Smith’s successors punctuates some of the very many differences in the gospel of modern Mormonism and the gospel restored by Joseph Smith. Brigham Young made plural marriage a general practice, created first presidency succession from the twelve, subjugated the authority of stake presidents, the seventy, and patriarchs to the twelve, banned blacks from having the priesthood, began the practice of ordaining children as teachers, deacons, and priests, created Adam-God doctrine and blood atonement. I am not aware of changes John Taylor made. Wilford Woodruff revoked the law of adoption, invented white temple clothing, and had the interesting experiences of receiving a revelation saying polygamy would never end, then a revelation that said it had ended, all without actually ending it. Lorenzo Snow changed the law of tithing, removing the initial consecration. In his defense, he saw that this was necessary to spur dwindling tithing receipts due to the continual abuse of asking for additional consecrations exercised by Brigham Young and others over the years when funds were low. Joseph F. Smith mandated the use of the word of wisdom as a commandment with some exceptions for the elderly and new converts, changed the sacrament ordinance from using wine to water, and ended plural marriage by fiat. Heber J. Grant modified the garment, significantly changed the endowment and changed the way men were ordained. George A. Smith issued a letter saying Brigham Young’s priesthood ban was a direct commandment from God without any evidence that it was. David O. McKay revoked the commandment to gather and began the building of many temples, mostly to keep members in their home countries. Joseph Fielding Smith created many volumes of writings containing the philosophies of men mingled with scripture, many of which the church has subsequently disavowed. Harold B. Lee created correlation, a program whose consequences are beyond what can be discussed here.²⁸ Spencer W. Kimball modified the garment, reversed Brigham Young’s priesthood ban, refuted Adam-God doctrine, taught missionaries sales tactics, ended practice of the true order of prayer outside of temples, and removed the office of presiding patriarch. Ezra Taft Benson and Howard W. Hunter were incapacitated for most of their presidencies. Gordon B. Hinckley significantly modified the endowment ceremony as a result of surveys showing dissatisfaction with the contents and modified the structure and function of the seventies quorums. So far, Thomas S. Monson has modified the endowment ceremony and changed the classification of homosexual desires from a sin to acceptable.

The successors of Joseph Smith have ignored his oracles, and claimed his authority in spite of not receiving more revelation. Modern leaders not only fail to claim new revelation, but they claim that new revelation is not important.

I have learned that strong, impressive spiritual experiences do not come to us very frequently. (President Boyd K. Packer, “The Candle of the Lord,” January 1983.)

Let me say first that we have a great body of revelation, the vast majority of which came from the prophet Joseph Smith. We don't need much revelation. We need to pay more attention to the revelation we've already received. (SF Gate, “SUNDAY INTERVIEW -- Musings of the Main Mormon / Gordon B. Hinckley” April 13, 1997.)

Revelation is not constant. The Lord’s way puts limits on how often He will speak to us by His Spirit. Not understanding this, some have been misled by expecting revelations too frequently. (Elder Dahlin H. Oaks, “In his own time, in his own way,” Ensign August 2013.)

Joseph once directed the following to the Apostles and members:

O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this important Key—that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren; that you do not betray the revelations of God, whether in Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found upon your skirts, and you go down to hell. (Joseph Smith, TPJS, p. 156.)

Would Joseph consider that those claiming to be his successors have remained true and faithful to what God revealed through him? Would he judge them faithful to the revelations of God? To the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants?²⁹ Or, would he find that they have betrayed him and God by replacing, adding to, and removing the revelations for the commandments of men, as Jeremiah prophesied:

For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13.)

The figurative cisterns that hold the commandments of men are broken because their contents are not sound: they always change.

God is testing us to see how completely we will live his commandments as given through Joseph Smith.³⁰ Individuals will only be taught the revelations in the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon as we hearken unto what we have already received, which is currently hid up because of our unbelief in what God has revealed to us already:

For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord. And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh. Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief. (Ether 4:6-8, 13.)

God punished the Israelites with the removal of the higher blessings of the covenant when they rejected the covenant offered through Moses:

When God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. The Israelites prayed that God would speak to Moses and not to them; in consequence of which he cursed them with a carnal law. (Teachings of the Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, Chapter 22.)

If, as a church, we have rejected the covenant offered by God through Joseph, what is our condition?