RSR refined my testimony in some ways while clarifying some spiritual pings I have had in the past regarding the more sterilized version of church history.
I am a child of the teaching that no prophet can lead the church astray, for God will take him before this happens, which begs the question; Which of the modern day prophets was about to lead us astray but was taken by God before it happened? According to this teaching, all modern day prophets are potential suspects. I mean, how would be know if a prophets death was just age related verses being removed by God. As you can see, this teaching can not be confirmed as a truth, it can only be believed. I tend to believe that not all prophets are A grade. There are some B grade prophets, C grade prophets and if the Old Testament is correct, we even have the potential for some D and F grade prophets as well. I think the question for me has often been, to what degree should I expect to see and tolerate men's fingerprints on God's church. I wouldn't expect this to be 0% but it should be something less than 100% as well. I have often wondered if there is a tipping point in all of this? Is it possible that as the church starts to operate according to good business practices, administrative policy and legal directives more than revelation that there are too many of our fingerprints on HIS church. Maybe God removing a prophet has more to do with this tipping point than a specific doctrine that attempts to lead everyone astray. Just a thought.
RSR should be mandatory reading for every member along with Mormonism in Transition and Things in Heaven and Earth (Thomas Alexander).
