“…it is nowhere held that [the Church’s Prophet] is the only instrumentality through which God may communicate [God’s] mind and will to the world.”
– B.H. Roberts
The B.H. Roberts quote is from a post by Bruce Hammond some years ago. For me, it points importantly to the the more central question of revelation on the current doctrine of LGBTQ and patriarchy.
After quoting from 2 Nephi 29 and Alma 29, the LDS leader and historian B. H. Roberts wrote:
“This is the Mormon theory of God’s revelation to [humanity]. While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is established for the instruction of [humanity], and is *one* of God’s instrumentalities for making known the truth, yet [God] is *not* limited to that institution for such purposes, neither in time nor place. God raises up wise [persons] and *prophets* here and there among all [humanity], of their own tongue and nationality, speaking to them through means that they can comprehend…
“Mormonism holds, then, that *all* the great teachers are servants of God; among *all* nations and in *all* ages. They are inspired [persons], appointed to instruct God’s children according to the conditions in the midst of which [God] finds them.
“Hence it is not obnoxious to Mormonism to regard Confucius, the great Chinese philosopher and moralist, as a servant of God, inspired… by [God] to teach those great moral maxims which have governed those millions of God’s children for lo! these many centuries.
“It is willing to regard Gautama, Buddha, as an inspired servant of God, teaching… the truth…
“So with the Arabian prophet [Muhammad], that wild spirit that turned the Arabians from worshiping idols to a conception of the Creator of heaven and earth that was more excellent than their previous conception of Deity.
“And so the sages of Greece and of Rome.
“So the reformers of early Protestant times.
“Wherever God finds a soul sufficiently enlightened and pure; one with whom his Spirit can communicate, lo! [God] makes of [them] a teacher of [humanity].
“While the path of sensuality and darkness may be that which most [people] tread, a few, to paraphrase the words of a moral philosopher of high standing, have been led along the upward path; a few in *all* countries and generations have been wisdom seekers, or seekers of God. They have been so because the Divine Word of Wisdom has looked upon them, choosing them for the knowledge and service of [God]…
“…it is nowhere held that [the Church’s Prophet] is the only instrumentality through which God may communicate [God’s] mind and will to the world.”
—B. H. Roberts, Defense of the Faith and the Saints (1907), 512–13. (Bruce changed references of God as masculine, humanity as masculine, and prophets as masculine.) Also quoted in part on 13 October 2017 by the LDS Church Newsroom in its article “Treasuring All Truth.”
I found several podcasts useful in processing Elder Holland’s recent BYU faculty talk. And yes, I read AND listened to it. (As well as Matt Eastman’s commencement talk.) And while I love and appreciate Elder Holland, I feel a number of statements in his talk were harmful and unhelpful. In the end, our doctrine on this and other matters needs to align better with the two great commandments. Until it changes, even empathetic leaders such as Holland, will continue to defend the indefensible.
If you haven’t already, I hope you will check these out:
Listen, Learn, & Love, Episode 445, Richard Ostler Update
Faith Matters: Elusive Unity at BYU — A Conversation with Tom Christofferson and Patrick Mason
