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 traditions1 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.2
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 manuals3 or General Conference? Instead, we are warned not to pay attention to the differences between what he taught and what we are taught today.4 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?
Footnotes
- 1. Lance B. Wickman of the Seventy, in a face-to-face conversation a few years ago, answered my question of why the church's policy on war is different than the Lord's revelation on the subject in D&C 98 by saying that that revelation does not apply today. When I asked if God had given a revelation to supersede what appeared to be an eternal law given to Abraham, Nephi, and Joseph Smith, he said “you will find the current doctrine of the church in my talks.” ↩
- 2. History shows that the great apostasy did not happen because those with keys died without passing them, or even because those who remained failed to obtain revelation. The great apostasy happened because men substituted their own words for God’s word when their attempts to get revelation that contradicted former revelation failed. “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Proverbs 28:9.) The councils of early Christianity attempted to formulate innovated doctrines that included those advocated by society. When revelation is sought to gain God’s permission to substitute his word with societal sensibilities, revelation will not be received. “Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.” (Jeremiah 6:16-17) ↩
- 3. Even when Joseph’s teachings are cited, they are mangled. The “Teachings of the Presidents of the Church” series does not produce manuals that embody the teachings of the featured church president. Instead, quotes are selected and edited to fit within a pre-made outline reflecting current church doctrine, making it possible to have a manual bearing the name and likeness of a church president that is completely devoid of the hallmark teachings of his tenure. The Joseph Smith manual was originally two volumes, but was reduced by half when quotes offensive to modern Mormonism were removed. Furthermore, many current-church-policy-sustaining quotes are falsely attributed to Joseph Smith from dubious sources (see “Church History”). ↩
- 4. Members are routinely instructed to avoid church history, except what they find in correlated materials. ↩