The Unknown Meaning of LDS Scripture is Well, Still Unknown

Doctrine and Covenants 85:6-8; “Yea, thus saith the still small voice, which whispereth through and pierceth all things, and often times it maketh my bones to quake while it maketh manifest, saying: 7 And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God; 8 While that man, who was called of God and appointed, that putteth forth his hand to steady the ark of God, shall fall by the shaft of death, like as a tree that is smitten by the vivid shaft of lightning.”

2 Timothy 3:13-14; “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them”.

The longer I study Mormonism, the more I find myself camped in Paul’s epistle to Timothy, the young disciple he trained. His timely wisdom, and God-inspired insight is a timeless treasure to be cherished by all.

Paul’s letters are clear, concise, and have served as a legacy of where to go for advice on how to run a local church. His instructions also provide insight of what God expects from the leadership of each congregation.

Keep that in mind as we take an ever-so-quick look at the makings of LDS scripture.

Our example today comes from Doctrine and Covenants Section 85. In particular, we’re using just 3 verses as an example.

Reading quickly over the verses listed above, one might assume this is referring to Joe Smith.

That would be a wrong assumption.

This so-called letter, allegedly written by Joe Smith in 1842, reads as if it was directed to some of his constituents, or followers.

To date, no one knows what these 3 verses mean. No one knows whom Smith was referring to. No one knows if Smith was referring to himself, or someone in a future event.

Letters, and books have been written on who it might be. Encyclopedic works filled with surmisings have been published. One Message of the First Presidency after another, has been officially canonized, warning members not to speculate.

At one point the entire 85^th section of the Doctrine and Covenants was removed altogether, and not put back into the ‘inspired’ canon until 1921.

I found the info I’m sharing today on a website written by the late Ogden Kraut. Kraut was axed from the Church in 1972 for practicing polygamy. (Note: he was not part of the FLDS Church, but an independent polygamist still holding membership in the mainstream church until ’72.)

The article he wrote is hosted by a surviving son who’s published all of his father’s works online.

This particular article goes into great historical detail of who said what, and when, and why the Church still hasn’t taken a stand one way or the other, about this part of the so-called inspired scripture God supposedly gave to Smith.

If they can’t get this right after 180+ yrs, how can you trust what they dish out today?

What does this part of LDS canon mean for people like my mother, and how does it cause her to grow closer to Jesus?

Oh, how my heart breaks over such craziness! This isn’t from the Lord, and they know it. Again, we must ask the obvious…how do they sleep at night? Ugh…