Doctrine & Theologyliving prophetsinfallibilitycovidkeys

Follow the Prophet When He’s Wrong?

You say follow the prophet. What about when he’s wrong — COVID, priesthood ban, polygamy? Isn’t that a cult test?

Bible

The Bible answers

Bible · Acts 15:6–7, 28

KJV + NRSVUE

It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us. Process, not a god-king.

King James Version
And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter… It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us.

NRSVUE
The apostles and the elders met together to consider this matter… For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us.

Bible · Galatians 2:11

KJV + NRSVUE

Paul withstood Peter to the face.

King James Version
But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.

NRSVUE
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned.

Book of Mormon

Also restored

Doctrine and Covenants 1:24–28
Given in their weakness. Inasmuch as they erred it might be made known.
These commandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language… And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known.

Faithful answers

FAIR

Do Latter-day Saints believe the prophet is infallible?

FAIR Latter-day Saints

Peter was wrong in Antioch. Nathan told David to build a temple and had to walk it back. Latter-day Saints already have the category: keys, not omniscience. COVID policies were stewardship in a plague, not a new canon. The 1978 revelation reversed a restriction the Church now calls a product of a fallen world. That is what continuing revelation is for. A church that can repent is not a cult. A church that pretends it never needed to is.

If your test of a true prophet is never being wrong, you do not have Moses, you have a mascot.

Paul rebuked Peter in scripture. We still follow apostolic keys.
D&C 1 already admits prophetic weakness in the preface to the book.
The question is who holds the keys — not whether a 2020 press conference was Isaiah.

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