Critics seem to gleefully
relish and misuse misstatements and misquotes from apostles and prophets,
although there is no integrity in such tactics. Others purposely, or far more
often, innocently misunderstand what was said and then spread the error. None
of this helps with the accurate dissemination of truth or with building faith. We
are all but human, yet we call all improve. One wise and experienced educator cautioned
gospel teachers:
I know that most
of you [teachers] are sincere and earnest and endeavor to give your best effort
to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ as has been restored in these latter days
through the Prophet Joseph Smith. I have known and observed some, however, who
while being sincere were sometimes wrong or in error. If false doctrine or
misinterpretation of scripture or prophetic statements is given, it is usually
unintentional. Sometimes we misspeak ourselves. Sometimes our preparation is
lacking. We attempt to instruct in ignorance, that is, “to wing it” maybe too often.
There are occasions when we have been misinformed. Sometimes, however, we
assume an expertise or authority for which we have not a right. All of these
factors must be carefully accounted for along with our good intentions in
fulfilling our responsibilities.
Aberrations or
departures from truth always have a way of surfacing to the attention of
others. Departures from the truth are made manifest in a variety of ways. There
stands a host of witnesses of what we are about and what we say and what we do.
I might add
that even internet anonymity will not shield one from accountability at the
final judgment.
From Determining
Doctrine:
Heber J. Grant:
Some years ago I preached a
sermon in this Tabernacle. At the close of the service, on my way home, between
here and the Eagle Gate, six or seven men complimented me for “spanking [criticizing]
in public” brother Abraham H. Cannon who had spoken just before I did. Two or
three days later some seven or eight men were in the President’s office, and I
was summoned before them and taken to task for “spanking” Brother Cannon. They
were very angry. They were all Republicans, and all those who had complimented
me were Democrats. Brother Abraham and I were there at this meeting, and I
asked him if he knew that he was spanked. He said, no, he did not; and I
remarked, “If I spanked you in public, I must have done it in my sleep. I quite
frequently sleep when other people are talking; but, up to date, I have not
learned to sleep while I am talking. I am not aware of saying one single,
solitary word that reflected on what you said.”…
I requested
that those two sermons be published in the Deseret
News, one following the other; that neither Abraham nor I be permitted to
read them before publication. When they were published I was to appear at the
President’s office and I would make any apology that was necessary for spanking
Brother Abraham in public. Brother Cannon and I read them to ourselves and then
read them aloud, and we could not find one single, solitary word, wherein I had
found any fault with what he had said, neither could the Presidency. So I did
not have to apologize. (Conference Report, June 1919, 142-43.)
Bruce R. McConkie:
It is a
very common thing for people to be misquoted. This applies with particular
force to the general authorities. Almost everywhere I go, including almost
every stake conference I attend, someone comes to me and says that at such and
such a time and place I said such and such to them or to someone else. Now I
ordinarily have no independent recollection as to what was said on the
indicated occasion. In the great majority of cases, however, I am confident I
would not have said the thing attributed to me. Very often the language and
approach in the quoted material is such that I can identify it in my mind as
having come from some other one of the brethren….
It is also
not uncommon for a member of a stake presidency to get up in a general session
of conference and say that Brother McConkie said such and such last night in
the leadership session and in his recitation to totally and completely
misconstrue and misquote what I had said. This matter of quoting the brethren
falsely is of such general concern and creates such a problem that even the
Church Handbook contains a statement that church members should not quote the
Brethren where extravagant or unusual things are concerned unless they have the
matter in writing. (Bruce R. McConkie Correspondence, 1968.)
Gordon B. Hinckley :
The media
have been kind and generous to us. This past year of pioneer celebrations has
resulted in very extensive, favorable press coverage. There have been a few
things we wish might have been different. I personally have been much quoted,
and in a few instances misquoted and misunderstood. I think that’s to be
expected. None of you need worry because you read something that was
incompletely reported. You need not worry that I do not understand some matters
of doctrine. I think I understand them thoroughly, and it is unfortunate that
the reporting may not make this clear. I hope you will never look to the public
press as the authority on the doctrines of the Church. (“Drawing Nearer to the
Lord,” Ensign, November 1997, 4.)
Robert L. Millet:
Very often
what is drawn from Church leaders of the past is…either misquoted,
misrepresented, or taken out of context. Further, not everything that was ever
spoken or written by a past Church leader is a part of what we teach today. Ours
is a living constitution, a living tree of life, a dynamic Church (see D&C
1:30.) We are commanded to pay heed to the words of living oracles (see D&C
90:3-5). (“What Is Our Doctrine?” The
Religious Educator, vol. 4, no. 3 [2003], 19.)
The First Presidency released the following statement May 13, 2004 :
From time
to time statements are circulated among members which are inaccurately
attributed to the leaders of the Church. Many such statements distort current
Church teachings and are often based on rumors and innuendos. They are never
transmitted officially, but by word of mouth, e-mail or other informal means.
We
encourage members of the Church to never teach or pass on such statements
without verifying that they are from approved Church sources, such as official
statements, communications and publications. Any notes made when General
Authorities, Area Authority Seventies, or other general Church officers speak
at regional and stake conferences or other meetings should not be distributed
without the consent of the speaker. Personal notes are for individual use only.
True
spiritual growth is based on studying the scriptures, the teachings of the
Brethren and Church publications.
Sincerely
your brethren,
Gordon B. Hinckley
Thomas S. Monson
James E.
Faust
The First
Presidency
(Church News, 29 May 2004 , 2.)
Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles letterhead
To: Mission Presidents
Dear Brethren:
We continue
to receive reports of the distribution of a quote attributed to me which
begins, “The youth of the Church today were generals in the war in heaven,” and
ends with the statement that when they return to heaven “all in attendance will
bow in your presence.”
I did not
make that statement. I do not believe that statement. I hope that you will
clarify this with your missionaries and members.
The
statement, on occasion, has been attributed to others of the First Presidency
and Twelve. None of the Brethren made that statement.
We would
appreciate your help on this matter.
Sincerely,
Boyd K.
Packer
Acting
President
Quorum of
the Twelve
First Presidency
letterhead
Dear Sister ____
Reference
is made to your letter of January 11th addressed to President Smith
in which you mention a discussion in an evening class at the BYU Center in Salt
Lake City where it was reported that President Smith had said that “no LDS
couple should have intercourse unless and only unless they are in hopes of
conceiving.”
I am
directed to tell you that President Smith has been misquoted on this subject. The
Church has not taken any such attitude as indicated.
In regard
to the second question, namely, the denial of temple recommends by a bishop to
couples who have been practicing birth control, we would appreciate it if you
would give us the name of the bishop who took this attitude, and the ward over
which he presides.
Sincerely
yours,
Joseph
Anderson
Secretary
to the First Presidency
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