It is important to understand the difference between denying the Holy Ghost and betraying your fellow saints, and merely criticizing church leadership. We ought to support and sustain our Priesthood leaders in righteousness, but no mortal is beyond criticism and correction, regardless of what some leaders say.
There is a quote from Joseph Smith that is often used to instill fear by silencing dissent and criticism, but it is based on a doctored misquotation of the Prophet’s words. Save this article because, if you ever find this quotation used against you, you can use this forewarning message to defend yourself.
It is often declared in places such as Sunday School or Church Priesthood meetings that accusing the brethren of being wrong or “out of the way”, is a sure sign of the individual apostasy of the accuser. Wilford Woodruff, a faithful journal keeper, quoted Joseph Smith in a commission the Twelve Apostles and the members of the Church thusly:
“O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this important key — that in all your trials, troubles & temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments and death, see to it that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray your brethren; & that you do not betray the revelations of God whether in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any of the word of God. Yea in all your kicking, & floundering see to it that you do not this thing lest innocent blood be found in your skirts & you go down to hell. We may ever know by this sign that there is danger of our being led to a fall & apostasy. When we give way to the devil so as to neglect the first known [indecipherable text] but whatever you do, do not betray your Friend.” (Ehat & Cook “Words of Joseph Smith”, p 7-8.)
This shows that the sign of Apostasy is betraying our brethren, not “the” brethren, and by betraying or going against the revelations or instruction or doctrines given to us.
This quote is now quoted in Church materials in a substantially edited form from the original, which is above.
The edited version is here:
“O ye Twelve! and all Saints! profit by this important Key—that in all your trials, troubles, temptations, afflictions, bonds, imprisonments” and death, see to it, that you do not betray heaven; that you do not betray Jesus Christ; that you do not betray the brethren; that you do not betray the revelation of God, whether in the Bible, Book of Mormon, or Doctrine and Covenants, or any other that ever was or ever will be given and revealed unto man in this world or that which is to come. Yea, in all your kicking and flounderings, see to it that you do not this thing, lest innocent blood be found upon your skirts, and you go down to hell. All other sins are not to be compared to sinning against the Holy Ghost, and proving a traitor to the brethren. I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives” (TPJS 156-157 DHC 3:383-392)
Background
The original quotation is excerpted from a speech given by Joseph Smith to the Twelve on July 2, 1839, prior to their departure for missions in England. The speech contains many valuable items of instruction. The most complete record of the speech is in the Wilford Woodruff journals. However the edited version is amalgamated from accounts by Wilford Woodruff, Willard Richards, and Willian Clayton. As you can see from the sources given below, the provenance of the Richards and Clayton quotes are sketchy and poorly documented.
Joseph Smith Papers
There are three accounts related to the above quotes, cited in the JS Papers. Wilford Woodruff’s is the most complete, but does not contain the modified quote.
Willard Richards
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/discourse-2-july-1839-as-reported-by-willard-richards/6?highlight=2%20July%201839
JS, Discourse, Montrose, IA, 2 July 1839. Version copied [between 13 Jan. 1840 and 20 Apr. 1841] in Willard Richards, “W. Richards Pocket Companion Written in England,” pp. 10–15; handwriting of Willard Richards; Willard Richards, Journals and Papers, CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Discourse, between ca. 26 June and ca. 4 Aug. 1839–A, as Reported by Willard Richards.
William Clayton
https://www.josephsmithpapers.org/paper-summary/discourse-2-july-1839-as-reported-by-william-clayton/3?highlight=2%20July%201839
JS, Discourse, Montrose, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, [2 July 1839]. Version from William Clayton report copied [1880] in L. John Nuttall, Notebook, pp. 1–3; handwriting of L. John Nuttall; L. John Nuttall, Papers, BYU.
Wilford Woodruff
JS, Discourse, Montrose, Lee Co., Iowa Territory, 2 July 1839. Featured version copied [between 2 July and 8 Aug. 1839] in Wilford Woodruff, “Book of Revelations,” pp. [21]–[26]; handwriting of Wilford Woodruff; CHL. For more complete source information, see the source note for Discourse, 27 June 1839, as Reported by Wilford Woodruff–A.
The Church
The following excerpted from https://faithfulsaints.com/a-key-that-will-never-rust/
The Lord Himself has stated that He is subject to His own agency, and that if He ceased to follow the law of Justice, He would cease to be God (see Alma 42:13). God retains His agency still. If God Himself can act in a way that could possibly lead to His removal as God, what makes us think a man called as a prophet cannot be removed by his own actions? Nowhere in the scriptures does it say that a man’s agency to follow God in this life is guaranteed; there is always the ability to choose good or evil.
The Lord warned Joseph on numerous occasions that his position was subject to his obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel. If Joseph ceased obeying those laws and ordinances, he would be removed from his position—not killed in an act of pre-crime due to a knowledge that Joseph would act, without him actually committing the act. That outcome would remove justice from the equation, causing God to cease to be God.
The Lord does make us some unequivocal promises for our dispensation regarding the priesthood and the keys to the priesthood and the ordinances. The Lords says,
“Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth” (D&C 27:13)
In section 65, the Lord says:
“The keys of the kingdom of God are committed unto man on the earth, and from thence shall the gospel roll forth unto the ends of the earth, as the stone which is cut out of the mountain without hands shall roll forth, until it has filled the whole earth.” (D&C 65:2)
The keys of the priesthood will remain on the earth for the “last time.” There will not be a re-restoration. The keys have been restored, and they are here to stay. Does that mean that they will always be with whomever they are given to, no matter what?
The Lord warned Joseph that he could lose the keys of the priesthood, declaring:
“And the keys of the mysteries of the kingdom shall not be taken from my servant Joseph Smith, Jun., through the means I have appointed, while he liveth, inasmuch as he obeyeth mine ordinances.” (D&C 64:5)
“For unto you I have given the keys of the kingdom and if you transgress not they shall never be taken from you.” (1832 Revelation to Joseph Smith)
The requirement is clear. Joseph was promised that the keys would remain with him for the rest of his life, on the condition that Joseph would not “transgress,” and would obey (keep/perform) all of the ordinances.
The Lord has promised that the keys and priesthood will remain on the earth—but being able to maintain them as an individual entirely depends on one’s actions. No one’s agency is removed simply because they received a calling. We as individuals are not off the hook from seeking and gaining a testimony of who holds the keys, based on the principles laid out in the revelations. We are responsible for our own righteousness and actions, and cannot ride on anyone else’s coattails into the presence of God.
John144 