Lost General Authorities?

[Guest mysticmorini]

Has there ever been a General Authority (or above) that has left the church / recanted his beliefs and NEVER returned to the Church?

I know some of the early church leaders left the church but I believe they all eventually returned. I am really curious if there have been any that have left and not returned post 1900.

[FunkyTown]

John E. Page was, I believe. He went over to the Strangites. He then went on to be instrumental in getting the temple lot in Missouri.

[Guest mysticmorini]

Interesting... of course he left the church before 1900.

John E. Page - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It seems that those that did leave never completly rejected the restored gosple or eventually returned to it.

[rameumptom]

Several members of the 8 witnesses (some of whom were also apostles) also left. Many did not return to the Church. David Whitmer of the Three Witnesses also never returned, insisting Joseph was a fallen prophet.

The last apostle to be excommunicated was in the 1950s. I'm not certain whether he returned or not. The last General Authority to be excommunicated was Elder Lee of the 70, who did not return to the Church before his death.

[HiJolly]

John W. Taylor, son of President John Taylor is one. 1911.

John W. Taylor (Mormon) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

HJ

[Guest mysticmorini]

So has there not been a GA to leave the church of there own free will after 1900?

I think that makes a Strong statment about the truthfulness of the church. I have heard my exmormons say that the church's leadership know the church isn't true but if that were the case you would think there would be at least one GA leave the church and say as much.

Thanks for all the replies.

[Guest gopecon]

The OP asked if they ever recanted their beliefs AND didn't return to the fold. While many (especially early on) may have left, fully recanting has not happened with GA's, with the possible exception of a few early apostates. They may have claimed that someone was a fallen prophet, or that some teaching was wrong, but the idea of the restoration of priesthood authority itself is rarely questioned by them.

[Guest jollyroger]

This is a very dangerous topic and I don't feel the Spirit discussing it. If we were to name or suggest any General Authority that supposedly or not left the church it starts to undermine testimonies and back up and justify anti mormons or ex mormons. I woiuld suggest that we no longer discuss this, I don't see the need for it. Sorry to be a party pooper but that's what I think.

[RMGuy]

I recognize what you are saying jollyroger, but at the same time I believe this quote of the prophet Joseph,

"One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may." Discourses of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 199

We should not fear the truth no matter what it is. The truth can stand independent.

I have faith in things not seen, where evidence is lacking. Once the evidence is manifest it should support the faith, otherwise the faith has been in vain. Regardless, I seek truth. Even where it may tear down old ideas and traditions. That is what the church was built on.

If one, or two, or many GA's left the church and renounced their testimony's, I don't think we need to hide that, or not discuss it. If it is true it is true. If it is not, then it is not.

I understand your thoughts, and I can respect them. I just disagree.

-RM

[Guest mysticmorini]

This is a very dangerous topic and I don't feel the Spirit discussing it. .

I appreciate and note your concern however you are under no obligation to continue reading if you feel that way but i see no reason for you to rock the boat. I think you are reading to much into the question.

If we were to name or suggest any General Authority that supposedly or not left the church it starts to undermine testimonies and back up and justify anti Mormons or ex Mormons.

I am certainly not asking anyone to suppose anything, all the names mentioned so far have been verified by other sources with a quick internet search.

It also doesn't seem as if any GA has voluntarily left the church because they didn't believe the church was true. If anything that should strengthen testimonies.

I would suggest that we no longer discuss this, I don't see the need for it. Sorry to be a party pooper but that's what I think.

You are free to think what you like but I also think that we shouldn't disparage the truth.

[pam]

jollyroger is just voicing his opinion as others are doing. I can certainly see the point being made.

This is a discussion that can very easily turn and go the wrong direction. As long as we keep it civil we should be okay.

[Snow]

So has there not been a GA to leave the church of there own free will after 1900?

I think that makes a Strong statment about the truthfulness of the church.

How many Cardinals do you suppose have left the Roman Catholic Church and recanted their beliefs of their own free volition.

If it is a small number to you agree that it makes a strong statement of the truthfulness of their church?

ps... why do people after 1900 matter but people before that don't?

[Spartan117]

ps... why do people after 1900 matter but people before that don't?

If I were to ask this question I would include a date of 1900ish as well, because the persecution and relocating all over the country had settled down a bit by then. That makes it a different question, a GA leaving over a crisis of faith in a stable church environment as opposed to leaving because of an extermination order as the church goes rolling along the country.

[SuperChris]

Several members of the 8 witnesses (some of whom were also apostles) also left. Many did not return to the Church. David Whitmer of the Three Witnesses also never returned, insisting Joseph was a fallen prophet.

I, personally, found that *helping* my faith when I was gaining a testimony. Later in his life, it's not hard to imagine that, as far as the world is concerned anyway, he had every reason to throw Joseph Smith under a bus. As I recall hearing, he was offered quite a bit of money on more than one occasion to say that he never saw an angel or the golden plates, and that Smith was making everything up.

And instead, to his dying day he still said that he, along with Oliver Cowdery and Martin Harris, saw an angel, saw the plates, and when he died he ordered his testimony of the Book of Mormon to be put on his tombstone.