The Source of a Message Does Not Impact its Truthfulness

Jesus’ authority did not come from the church authorities of his day. Nor did it come from the fact that he was the Son of God.² Jesus’ authority came through the provenance of his message. He spoke the words of the Father. Those who judged the truthfulness of his message based on earthly authority incorrectly rejected him.

And when [Jesus] was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogues, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this Jesus this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended at him. (Matthew 14:55-57, Inspired Version.)

We ought to assume that those who use the same false standards today will also reject God’s true messengers. If we reject true messengers, we too will be rejected.

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6.)

Modern Mormonism teaches that that no true messenger will come without church recognition and church authority.¹ Applying this standard would reject not only most of the true messengers in the scriptures, but Christ himself.