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Mormonism and church leadership
FairMormon Answers Wiki Table of Contents
Mormonism and church leadership
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- Mormon views on authoritarianism
- Succession among Church leadership
- Mormon general authorities
- Criticisms directed at Church leaders
Mormon views on authoritarianism
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Mormonism and independent thought
Summary: It is claimed that the Church teaches that we should not exercise independent thought. "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done."Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: In Mormonism, when our leaders speak, has the thinking been done?
- Question: Why did President Tanner say: "When the prophet speaks the debate is over"?
- LDS Newsroom: "Belief in prophets and apostles at the head of the Church does not mean that members blindly follow their leaders"
Summary: This page contains a collection of quotes related to obedience to Church leaders.
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- Millennial Star (1852): "none are required to tamely and blindly submit to a man because he has a portion of the Priesthood"
- Brigham Young (1862): "I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him"
- Brigham Young (1855): "I do not wish any Latter-day Saint...to be satisfied with anything I do, unless the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, the spirit of revelation, makes them satisfied"
- Spencer W. Kimball: "the only sure, safe way is to follow that leadership—follow the Holy Spirit within you and follow the prophets"
- Spencer W. Kimball: "They who garnish the sepulchres of the dead prophets begin now by stoning the living ones"
- Heber C. Kimball (1857): "When we are corrected by our leaders, it is to set us right, to show us the wrong course, and induce us to pursue the right one"
- Moses Thatcher (1882): "The 'Mormon' Priesthood dominates the affairs of the 'Mormon' people upon the principles of righteousness and equity. Outside of these it has neither power nor authority"
- Spencer W. Kimball: "When men obey commands of a creator, it is not blind obedience"
- Packer: "Latter-day Saints are not obedient because they are compelled to be obedient"
- Cannon: "If we would split up and divide, refuse to listen to the counsel of the man of God, then the devil and his followers would rejoice"
- Cowley: "true obedience to the Lord's commands is an indication of moral courage"
- Maxwell: "The Church does not desire blind obedience; rather, that we see things with the eye of faith"
- Talmage: "God has not established His Church to make of its members irresponsible automatons"
Succession among Church leadership
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Succession in the Presidency of the Church
Summary: There was much contention regarding who Joseph Smith's successor was supposed to be after his death. Some claim that Joseph Smith designated his son Joseph III as his successor.Jump to Subtopic:
- Question: Did Brigham promise that Joseph Smith III would eventually take over the Church?
- Question: What indications were there that Brigham Young would be Joseph Smith's successor?
- Question: What are the standards for prophetic succession in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
Seniority in the Quorum of the Twelve
Mormon general authorities
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