Question: When, if ever, is it okay to disagree with Church leaders?

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Question: When, if ever, is it okay to disagree with Church leadership?

Introduction to Question

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a large and well-established organization of leadership. This video outlines that leadership in detail:

[David Snell video]

The President of the Church, considered to be the prophet, receives revelation on behalf of the entire Church. Each person receives revelation for his own stewardship in the Church.

Occasionally in the Church, it is asked when it is ever okay to disagree with the decisions of top Church leadership.

This article will outline those occasions when it is and is not okay to disagree with leaders of the Church.

Response to Question

The Ideal: Agreeing with and Defending as Much of the Prophet’s Words as Humanly Possible

Recognizing a Fault or Mistake vs. Criticizing and Backbiting

1. It is okay to disagree with Church leadership when what they teach it is out of harmony with the Standard Works

The first place where it would be okay to disagree with any Church leadership is when they say something that is out of line with the standard works.

Joseph Fielding Smith taught

2. It is okay to disagree with Church leadership when they try and claim revelation for something that is outside the bounds of their calling

As mentioned before,

3. It is okay to disagree with Church leadership when their decisions don’t come from revelation

4. It is okay to disagree with Church leadership when their conduct clearly does not fall in line with the moral standards and other statutes laid out in scripture

Conclusion

It is the hope of the author that these principles and ideas will serve productively to show that there is room for disagreement in the Church without undermining the essential governmental structure and authority of Church leaders.