Are Church leaders infallible? What does it mean that the prophet will never lead the Church astray? Why do some things in the Church change over time?
Answers to these questions can be found in one of the new entries in the Topics and Questions section of the Gospel Library, The Role of Prophets.
Since ancient times, God has called prophets to testify of Jesus Christ and declare His word. God prepares, calls, and leads prophets to accomplish His eternal purposes.
The Prophet Joseph Smith received authority from God to administer gospel covenants and priesthood ordinances and restore the Church of Jesus Christ. He also received revelation clarifying important truths about God and His plan for His children. His successors as President of the Church have had the same authority to receive revelation to add to gospel knowledge and to guide the Church. This principle of continuing revelation is a central feature of the restored gospel.
Latter-day Saints sustain the President of the Church, his counselors in the First Presidency, and members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. Church teachings are declared by the united voice of these living prophets. Doctrine is declared and interpreted by the President of the Church and sustained by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve acting in unanimity, following the pattern given in Doctrine and Covenants 107:27–31.
The Lord has called mortal men to be His prophets. Like all of God’s children, they experience the trials of mortality, but the Lord works through them to perform His work. He has commanded the Church to heed their counsel “in all patience and faith.”
The section “Exploring Your Questions” answers the following questions:
- Why is it important for me to listen to prophets?
- How can I gain a witness that the Lord guides His Church through prophets?
- Are Church leaders infallible?
- What does it mean that the prophet will never lead the Church astray?
- Why do some things in the Church change over time?
- Are the teachings of living prophets more important than those of the scriptures or of past Church leaders?
Read the entry The Role of Prophets.
You may also find the following helpful in understanding the role of Church leaders:
In the Liahona article “What Do We Mean When We Say the Church Is True?” by Elder J. Devn Cornish, he explains that neither the Church nor its leaders are perfect. The Lord’s purpose is to perfect the saints (see Ephesians 4:11–13). Thus, there is room in the Lord’s Church for all of us imperfect people.
We might expect that the Lord should control everything that leaders and administrators in the Church do so that no mistakes of any kind can be made. It may be better to recognize that the Lord gives guidance to those servants as they prayerfully do their best in their respective charges to direct His work. That is how loving parents teach their children.”The Lord gives us guidance but does not generally exercise control, except in matters that bear directly on our salvation. Once again, it is not His purpose to perfect the Church but rather to perfect His children, including Church leaders and administrators. This pattern of inspired operations at Church headquarters is not substantially different from that used in stakes and wards and homes.
While the Lord does give direct revelation at times, especially to those we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators, He also expects us to study things out in our minds (see Doctrine and Covenants 9:8–9) and to “bring to pass much righteousness” (Doctrine and Covenants 58:27) without being “command[ed] in all things” (verse 26).
We can trust that the Lord will guide us along the path of our salvation as we follow the apostolic leaders of His Church. And we can take great comfort from the Lord’s promise that He will confirm to each of us the truth of all things as we individually seek it (see Moroni 10:5).”
In the October 2013 general conference, Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, then Second Counselor in the First Presidency, said:
To be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine.
I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But He works through us—His imperfect children—and imperfect people make mistakes….
It is unfortunate that some have stumbled because of mistakes made by men. But in spite of this, the eternal truth of the restored gospel found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not tarnished, diminished, or destroyed.
As an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and as one who has seen firsthand the councils and workings of this Church, I bear solemn witness that no decision of significance affecting this Church or its members is ever made without earnestly seeking the inspiration, guidance, and approbation of our Eternal Father. This is the Church of Jesus Christ. God will not allow His Church to drift from its appointed course or fail to fulfill its divine destiny.
The Topics and Questions section of the Gospel Library has an alphabetical list of hundreds of topics of potential interest. It also has two helpful the sections: Seeking Answers to Questions and Helping Others With Questions.
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