My Israel

Prophets or Scripture?

Past prophets of the church have taught that The LORD will never permit the President of the Church to lead you astray. (Official Declaration 1, President Wilford Woodruff and The Teachings of Harold B. Lee) More recently they have expanded this statement to include all leadership. ("Be Not Deceived", Ensign, Nov 1983) So the question becomes whom do you follow? Is a living prophet really more important than a dead prophet? The church would have you think so, but what does The LORD have to say about it? Deuteronomy 13:1-5 and 18:15-22 warn against those that teach against the scriptures. Are those that teach contrary to the scriptures something new? No, Jeremiah chapter 23 outlines the teaching of false doctrine and what The LORD has to say about it. But the Bible is full of errors and many plain and precious truths have been lost from the Bible, right?

We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God. (8th Article of Faith) Unfortunately, this statement of faith has harbored an aversion to using the Bible in the church and as placed it on the bottom of the hierarchy of scripture. The Lord has expressed his disapproval with this and has actually stated the church is under condemnation for it:

54 And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—

55 Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.

56 And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.

57 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—

58 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 emphasis added)

While some General Authorities have referred to this scripture they focus on the Book of Mormon, but a careful reading of this passage shows that we are to give equal heed to the former commandments. Where do we find the former commandments? The same place Lehi found them, in the brass plates, or in our day, what we would call the Old Testament, but what is called by the Jews the Tanak. But you say what about the translation, aren't there errors in translation of the Bible? Yes! But, we live in the fullness of times, we have unprecedented access to information thanks to the Internet and other advances we enjoy today. We have the ability to study Biblical Hebrew and read the Tanak in the original language! As I came to understand this concept, a great desire developed in my heart and soul to begin a diligent study of Biblical Hebrew which I continue today. As I did so, my shelf I had been putting all these issues on that didn't add up, began cracking and the fall thereof was great.