The Way to Perfection, pg 158; “A prophet is one who has the inspiration of the Holy Spirit; one who can testify from revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is one who is faithful in that knowledge and one who magnifies the authority placed upon him.” – Joseph Fielding Smith
Holman Bible Dictionary; “…(3) Prophets spoke the word of God. They were primarily spokespersons who called His people to obedience by appealing to Israel’s past and future. For example, God’s past blessing and future judgment should provoke social justice and mercy for the disadvantaged. (4) Prophets relayed God’s message by deed as well as by word. They worked symbolic acts which served as dramatic, living parables. Hosea’s marriage taught about God’s relationship with Israel (Hos. 2:1-13; see also Isa. 20:1-3; Ezek. 4:1-3; Jer. 19:10-11).”
Today we’re looking at the claims of the tenth LDS prophet, Joseph Fielding Smith to see if what he said is true and I’ve used the Holman’s definition because the Church has historically accepted this dictionary as reputable.
They also said; “The supreme test for prophecy is loyalty to Christ (1 Cor. 12:3; Rev. 19:10).”
This is something that should give pause to every Mormon. Where was Joseph’s loyalty to Christ when he said that Jesus was begotten through a sexual union between God and Mary and where was his reverence for Christ when he taught that Jesus couldn’t save anyone or that Jesus is Lucifer’s brother?
Furthermore, Joseph didn’t speak the word of God, rather Joseph defiled, denounced and demeaned the word of God and those God put in charge to translate it for English speaking people.
We don’t see Smith promoting social justice when he instituted the United Order and blood atonement, nor do we see that Joseph was willing to suffer for the sake of God when he shot and killed two people in the Carthage jail before they killed him. 1 Kings 22:27-28, Jeremiah 38:3-13.
Another definition of a true prophet includes his outward agreement with past prophets. Joseph obviously failed this test as well. Jeremiah 28:8.
Last but not least, nowhere in any of these definitions do we see that a prophet should magnify his authority.
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