Keywords
dissenters, Latter-day Saints, priesthood, Church leaders
Abstract
This essay addresses the reasons many persons have left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In particular, there are those who publicly assert the Church is not led by inspired leaders so they can feel at peace about their decision to leave it. One common argument used to justify their estrangement is the “Samuel Principle,” which ostensibly would require God to allow his followers on earth to go astray if they chose any level of unrighteousness. Problems with this interpretation are presented including examples from religious history that show that God’s primary pattern has been to call his errant followers to repentance by raising up righteous leaders to guide them. Also explored are the common historical events that dissenters often allege have caused the Church to apostatize. The notion that the Church and the “Priesthood” could be separate entities is examined as well. The observation that Church leaders continue to receive divine communication in order to fulfill numerous prophecies and that a significant number of completely devout Latter-day Saints have always existed within the Church, obviating the need for any dissenting movement, is discussed. In addition, several common scriptural proof-texts employed by some dissenters and their ultimate condition of apostasy are analyzed.
Recommended Citation
Hales, Brian C.
(2014)
"Dissenters: Portraying the Church as Wrong So They can be Right Without It,"
Interpreter: A Journal of Latter-day Saint Faith and Scholarship: Vol. 10, Article 7.
Available at:
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/interpreter/vol10/iss1/7
