D. Michael Quinn, The Mormon Hierarchy: Extensions of Power. Appendice 5; “Selected Chronology of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1848-1996”, page 848; “May 14, 1961 – Apostle Joseph Fielding Smith announces to stake conference in Honolulu: “We will never get a man into space. This earth is man’s sphere and it was never intended that he should get away from it.” Smith, the Twelve’s president and next in succession as LDS president, adds: “The moon is a superior planet to the earth and it was never intended that man should go there. You can write it down in your books that this will never happen.” In May 1962, he privately instructs that this view be taught to “the boys and girls in the Seminary System.” On 20 July 1969 U.S. Astronauts are first men to walk on moon. Six months later Joseph Fielding Smith becomes church president.”
If a man is called of God to be a prophet does his position entail the ability to foretell everything in the future?
The reasonable answer to that question of course is no. However, is it reasonable to believe that a man of God would know that God is capable of anything and therefore enables His creation to invent ways to explore and come up with things to make their lives easier? The answer to that would be yes!
Where in the Bible does it say man was never intended to go to the moon? By stating people could write it down in their books they’d never get into space this man has uttered a false prophecy. He didn’t have to be a prophet at the time to be a false teacher.
Mr. Smith’s comment wouldn’t necessarily be a deal breaker in the land of prophetic utterances, but the comments he made surrounding the same subject and the Church’s response by placing him in the highest position of the Church is baffling indeed. Their lack of discernment shows their absence of concern for the spiritual welfare of the Mormon people. Why would they want to teach the kids no one would ever make it to space?
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