"The leaders of the Church are honest but imperfect men"

Elder Neil L. Andersen explained this in October 2012, "The leaders of the Church are honest but imperfect men. Remember the words of Moroni: 'Condemn me not because of mine imperfection, neither my father … ; but rather give thanks unto God that he hath made manifest unto you our imperfections, that ye may learn to be more wise than we have been.'"https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/10/trial-of-your-faith?lang=eng  I put this quote on Twitter the other day  with the #polygamy and got the following response, "what happened to the prophet will never lead you astray?"  Unfortunately my response to the tweeted question cannot be summed up in 160 characters or less, so I am doing the next best thing and I will tweet the link to this blog post.

I will regularly hear or see detractors of the LDS church posting or tweeting random snippets from early church leaders and talking about how the LDS church is changing their doctrine or how weird (or evil) we are because of our beliefs.  I think that it's important for everyone to understand what a prophet is, what a prophet does, and what actually constitutes doctrine in the LDS church.

What is a prophet?  A prophet is a spokesman for God.  When God tells Moses to go get the Israelites out of bondage, Moses questions a little bit.  After Moses sees some manifestations of God's power, he then questions his ability to speak, because, he says, "I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue."  The Lord responds by saying, "Who hath made man’s mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?  Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say."  God calls Aaron to be the spokesman for Moses and teaches him the following, "he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God."

In more modern times, the Lord has taught us the following about prophets, "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same" (D&C 1:38).  He has also taught that:

“Thou shalt give heed unto all his (the prophet's) words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;

”For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.

“For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory” (D&C 21:4-6).
"Like the prophets of old, prophets today testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel. They make known God's will and true character. They speak boldly and clearly, denouncing sin and warning of its consequences." https://www.lds.org/topics/prophets?lang=eng

The Lord told Amos that, "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets."  God has used prophets to speak to His children here on the Earth since the very beginning.  Prophets have not always been popular, and are even often killed for their lack of popularity amongst the people (see the parable of the husbandmen in Matthew 21:33-43).  Even when prophets are killed, eventually the Lord will call another one to restore the truth and teach God's plan to us.  Elder John A. Widtsoe explained that, "a prophet is a teacher.  That is the essential meaning of the word.  He teaches the body of truth, the gospel, revealed by the Lord to man; and under inspiration explains it to the understanding of the people." (Evidences and Reconciliations, 1:204-205)

Some people seem to think that these thoughts are at variance one with another (God speaking through His prophets and us being asked to receive his words as if from God and then us saying that prophets are still imperfect men).  However, I feel quite differently.  We must understand everything in context in order to make an informed decision.

For instance, if I pick out two verses from Paul's writings in the New Testament, I could make the case that none of God's children will be saved.  I can quote Romans 3:10 and say that, "There is none righteous, no, not one" and then follow it up with 1 Corinthians 6:9 which says, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?" and then explain that Christians have a Biblical belief that nobody will be saved.  I could make that case, but I would be entirely inaccurate.  We also have to account for all of the other Biblical teachings on salvation and remember that Ephesians 2:8-9 explains that we are saved by the grace of Christ and not by our own works.  The righteousness of Christ and His grace can produce righteousness within us as we turn to Him and use His power to do and be more than we could be on our own.

I use this comparison to demonstrate that we need to find the connecting doctrine to show how prophets can speak for God and yet still have imperfections.

Joseph Smith taught that he himself was not perfect, but that God's revelations are.  Former church President Gordon B. Hinckley worked with many prophets in his various callings and explained the following, "I have worked with seven Presidents of this Church. I have recognized that all have been human. But I have never been concerned over this. They may have had some weaknesses. But this has never troubled me. I know that the God of heaven has used mortal men throughout history to accomplish His divine purposes. They were the very best available to Him, and they were wonderful.

These men whom I have known and with whom I have worked have been totally unselfish in their zeal to build the kingdom of God and bring happiness into the lives of the people. They have been unsparing in giving of themselves to the great work for which each had responsibility in his particular season.

I plead for loyalty to him whom the Lord has called and anointed. I plead for steadfastness in upholding him and giving attention to his teachings. I have said on another occasion at this pulpit that if we have a prophet, we have everything. If we do not have a prophet, we have nothing. We do have a prophet. We have had prophets since the founding of this Church. We shall never be without a prophet if we live worthy of a prophet.

The Lord is watching over this work. This is His kingdom. We are not as sheep without a shepherd. We are not as an army without a leader."https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/04/believe-his-prophets?lang=eng

Here is another thought to assist us in making the connection between the two ideas:

Elder Harold B. Lee testified: “We are not dependent only upon the revelations given in the past as contained in our standard works—as wonderful as they are. … We have a mouthpiece to whom God does and is revealing his mind and will. God will never permit him to lead us astray. As has been said, God would remove us out of our place if we should attempt to do it. You have no concern. Let the management and government of God, then, be with the Lord. Do not try to find fault with the management and affairs that pertain to him alone and by revelation through his prophet—his living prophet, his seer, and his revelator.” (The Place of the Living Prophet [ address delivered to seminary and institute of religion personnel], 8 July 1964, p. 16.)

Please notice the wording...President Lee never said that the prophet wouldn't ever give their own opinion, or that the prophet would never say a single thing that was incorrect.  He simply said that they wouldn't lead the church astray.  When the prophet is speaking for God, the things that come out of that prophet's mouth are the mind and will of God (see Doctrine and Covenants 68:3-4).  However, it is also important to recognize that prophets also can offer their own "well considered opinion", but not every single word that comes out of the prophet's mouth constitutes doctrine.  Please consider the following quotes to understand this principle:

"Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church. With divine inspiration, the First Presidency (the prophet and his two counselors) and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (the second-highest governing body of the Church) counsel together to establish doctrine that is consistently proclaimed in official Church publications. This doctrine resides in the four “standard works” of scripture (the Holy Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price), official declarations and proclamations, and the Articles of Faith. Isolated statements are often taken out of context, leaving their original meaning distorted.

"Some doctrines are more important than others and might be considered core doctrines. For example, the precise location of the Garden of Eden is far less important than doctrine about Jesus Christ and His atoning sacrifice. The mistake that public commentators often make is taking an obscure teaching that is peripheral to the Church’s purpose and placing it at the very center. This is especially common among reporters or researchers who rely on how other Christians interpret Latter-day Saint doctrine." http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/approaching-mormon-doctrine

In addition, Elder Neil L. Andersen explained, "

"A few question their faith when they find a statement made by a Church leader decades ago that seems incongruent with our doctrine. There is an important principle that governs the doctrine of the Church. The doctrine is taught by all 15 members of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve. It is not hidden in an obscure paragraph of one talk. True principles are taught frequently and by many. Our doctrine is not difficult to find...

Joseph Smith said, “I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations.”²² The miracle of God’s hand in the history and destiny of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is understood only through the lens of spiritual inquiry. President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Every [person] eventually is backed up to the wall of faith, and there … must make his stand.”²³ Don’t be surprised when it happens to you!"

President Lorenzo Snow also explained that, "If we could read in detail the life of Abraham or the lives of other great and holy men we would doubtless find that their efforts to be righteous were not always crowned with success. Hence we should not be discouraged if we should be overcome in a weak moment; but, on the contrary, straightway repent of the error or the wrong we may have committed, and as far as possible repair it, and then seek to God for renewed strength to go on and do better." https://www.lds.org/manual/teachings-of-presidents-of-the-church-lorenzo-snow/chapter-6-becoming-perfect-before-the-lord-a-little-better-day-by-day?lang=eng 

In short, a prophet is a prophet "only when he was acting as such" (History of the Church, 5:265).  We can trust their words, understanding that they may have imperfections and may give their own opinions on the issues, but also understanding that the clear doctrine will not be hard to find, because many different prophets will teach the same doctrine on many different occasions. Following are a few quotes to help clarify it further:

"No claim is put forth by the prophets of God to suggest that they are infallible, that everything they say and do is what the Lord would say and do. Only when they act in harmony with the will of the Lord do they become the Lord’s mouthpiece. Each President of the Church has been quick to point out that he has weaknesses and imperfections...

Is every word of a prophet inspired? The Prophet Joseph Smith said, “A prophet was a prophet only when he was acting as such” (History of the Church, 5:265).

Elder John A. Widtsoe commented on the Prophet Joseph’s words: “That statement makes a clear distinction between official and unofficial actions and utterances of officers of the Church. In this recorded statement the Prophet Joseph Smith recognizes his special right and duty, as the President and Prophet of the Church, under the inspiration of the Lord, to speak authoritatively and officially for the enlightenment and guidance of the Church. But he claims also the right, as other men, to labor and rest, to work and play, to visit and discuss, to present his opinions and hear the opinions of others, to counsel and bless as a member of the Church.” (Evidences and Reconciliations, 1:182.)

Elder Widtsoe went on to say, however, that the “unofficial expressions [of a prophet] carry greater weight than the opinions of other men of equal or greater gifts and experience but without the power of the prophetic office. …

“… The unofficial views and expressions of such a man with respect to any vital subject, should command respectful attention.” (Evidences and Reconciliations, 1:183–84.)

President Joseph Fielding Smith said: “I think there is one thing which we should have exceedingly clear in our minds. Neither the President of the Church, nor the First Presidency, nor the united voice of the First Presidency and the Twelve will ever lead the Saints astray or send forth counsel to the world that is contrary to the mind and will of the Lord.” (“Eternal Keys and the Right to Preside,” Ensign, July 1972, p. 88.)

President J. Reuben Clark Jr. counseled, “You will never make a mistake by following the instructions and the counsel of him who stands at the head as God’s mouthpiece on earth” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1945, p. 166)."https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/enrichments/enrichment-f-as-if-from-mine-own-mouth-the-role-of-prophets-in-the-church?lang=eng

Joseph Smith was the prophet of the restoration and Thomas S. Monson is the prophet today.  To see what the prophets have said recently, go here: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2014/10?lang=eng