Mormonism and prophets

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This page is a summary or index. More detailed information on this topic is available on the sub-pages below.

Joseph Smith

  • Joseph Smith—Claims and questions about Joseph Smith, first prophet of the restoration (Link)

Post-Joseph Smith and non-Joseph Smith prophecies

  • Revelation after Joseph Smith—If every President of the Church is a prophet, seer, and revelator, why have so few revelations after Joseph Smith been added to the Doctrine and Covenants? Revelations used to be printed in Church periodicals such as the Times and Seasons and the Evening and Morning Star. Why are revelations no longer published on an ongoing basis? (Link)

Oliver Cowdery

Martin Harris

Parley P. Pratt

Joseph Smith, Sr.

Joseph Fielding Smith

David Whitmer

  • Brigham Young ordination blessing—FAIR has found no criticism about the blessing given to Brigham Young upon his ordination as an apostle. His blessing is referenced by at least one other blessing, however, and so is included here for reference. (Link)

Wilford Woodruff

  • Destruction of New York, Albany, and Boston—Wilford made a prophecy that included the destruction of New York by earthquake, Albany by fire, and Boston by flood. Brigham Young confirmed this as a true revelation. Since no earthquake, fire, or flood has yet destroyed them, does this make both Woodruff and Young guilty of false prophecy? (Link)

Others

Other related issues and claims

  • LDS prophets don't prophesy?—Some critics say that Latter-day Saint prophets aren't really "prophets" because they don't prophesy by foretelling unknown events. They commonly issue challenges such as, "If Gordon B. Hinckley is a prophet, tell me one event that he's prophesied." Do LDS prophets "prophesy"? (Link)
  • Prophetic inerrancy?—Critics sometimes impose absolutist assumptions on the Church by holding inerrantist beliefs about scriptures or prophets, and assuming that the LDS have similar views. Critics therefore insist, based upon these assumptions, that any statement by any LDS Church leader represents LDS doctrine and is thus something that is secretly believed, or that should be believed, by Latter-day Saints. (Link)
  • Mormonism and prophets—Critics claim that General Authorities are very silent about some issues, and that the Maxwell Institute takes their place (Link)



Further reading and additional sources responding to these claims

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