LDS Leaders Denied John Taylor’s 1886 Polygamy Revelation—Until now

This 1886 revelation about polygamy was just released on the LDS Church website. The revelation, given by LDS President John Taylor, seems to indicate that polygamy is an unchangeable and irrevocable practice of Mormonism. But is that was it really says?

Mormon fundamentalists (polygamists) have cited this 1886 Revelation to prove that plural marriage is an eternal, unchangeable law. But the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has denied its existence for around 100 years—that is, until June 2025. It seems that the Mormon polygamists were right about this John Taylor plural marriage revelation. But what does that mean for Mormonism? Should plural marriage have continued after the LDS Manifesto of 1890? Was John Taylor proven to be a false prophet? Or does this revelation mean very little?

In this video, we take a closer look at the John Taylor 1886 Revelation about Mormon polygamy and the doctrine of Plural Marriage. What does it say? What’s the history surrounding it? Why does it matter for Mormon fundamentalism? And why should this matter for modern Latter-day Saints?

If you want to learn more about the revelation, check out this article by Mormonism Research Ministry: https://mrm.org/1886-revelation

Does the King Follett Sermon Prove Smith a Fraud?

The King Follett Discourse: Can one sermon make or break Joseph Smith’s prophetic claims? The King Follett Sermon (KFD) was Joseph Smith’s final General Conference talk, and his most famous and controversial sermon of all time. He preached it at the LDS General Conference to provide comfort to grieving members, make bold declarations about God’s nature, and instruct people on man’s essential nature. But what most people don’t realize? He staked his own authenticity as a prophet on its truthfulness.

Discover how Smith’s statements about God once being a man, children reigning as eternal children, and humanity’s divine potential sparked centuries of debate among Latter-day Saints and Christian critics alike. We’ll explore how LDS leaders have interpreted (and sometimes modified) the discourse, confront the controversies surrounding Smith’s teachings, and ask: If these doctrines are false, what does that mean for Joseph Smith himself?

If you’re curious to learn more about the LDS Church’s reception of the King Follett Discourse, it’s history, controversies, and textual notes – check out William V. Smith’s book – “The King Follett Sermon: A Biography”.

To learn more about the KFD, check out this article by Mormonism Research Ministry: http://mrm.org/kfd

The LDS Church has a MASSIVE Book of Abraham Problem

Here’s everything you need to know about The Book of Abraham, and why it was such a disaster for Mormonism. The Book of Abraham debacle has affected Mormonism’s claim to objective truth – and this fact will ultimately be self-destructive for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

Christians should heed Jesus’ words about false prophets—it’s not a matter of if they’ll come, it’s a matter of who they are. Joseph Smith’s supposed “translation” of the Book of Abraham papyri is objective evidence that the foundational Mormon Prophet was false.

Changes in the Mormon Church

What teachings have been a part of Mormonism until recent times? Even though the LDS Church is only around 200 years old, there have been a number of substantial changes in both teaching and church policy.

In this video, I examine 5 distinct teachings that Mormon Prophets and Apostles used to teach that are no longer taught by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are commanded by Jesus to test the prophets, and warned throughout the New Testament about false teachers and doctrines.

If Mormonism’s supposed “prophets” are inconsistent with themselves, why should we regard them as prophets? If many notable teachings from past prophets have been tossed aside, how can we have any confidence that the modern prophets and apostles are accurate in their teachings?

As one friend of mine put it, “I was promised prophets, not religious philosophers.”

Mormons Distruct Their Own Prophets

LDS Church Leaders have taught that Heavenly Father has a father—yet many Latter-day Saints (Mormons) disagree with this teaching. As an evangelical—this baffles me!

Mormonism claims to be the Restored Church of Jesus Christ, in part, because they have modern prophets and apostles. Yet when their prophets and apostles teach on controversial issues that have fallen out of favor in the modern LDS Church, they reject their prophet’s teachings.

In this video, I respond to some of the comments I received on a recent video we produced about whether or not God had a god above himself (link to that video: https://youtu.be/y0OQx6vDz4Q). Many of the Mormon responses argued that Mormon beliefs don’t teach that Heavenly Father has a god, yet that has been certainly taught by LDS Prophets and Apostles—starting with Joseph Smith.

Check out the playlist of other “Mormons & Christians” on the street videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAs5K46GJ7ULZjylDof2NrsTVg8OXfsfm

Do Mormon Prophets have a Self-life? [2023 Conference Response]

Are the teachings of old LDS Prophets still acceptable to Latter-day Saints?

During General Conference in April of 2023, Elder Allen D. Haynie taught that

“Brothers and sisters, unlike vintage comic books and classic cars, prophetic teachings do not become more valuable with age. That is why we should not seek to use the words of past prophets to dismiss the teachings of living prophets.”

This attitude towards prior Mormon prophets seems common among Latter-day Saints. Do the words of former prophets go bad? Can we still look to them for instruction? Elder Haynie’s conference talk seems to indicate that we cannot! When Christians see statements like this, we’re often baffled! Claims like Elder Haynie’s are stunning because Christians have an incredibly high view of prophets.

The questions is, should Mormons also hold this high view of their own prophets and apostles? In this video, Christian Evangelist Aaron Shafovaloff explains why this view of prophets should be problematic for Latter-day Saints, and how the Bible holds a higher standard for prophets.

This Recent Church Statement is a Problem for Mormons

On November 15, 2022, the LDS Church released an official statement saying,

“We are grateful for the continuing efforts of those who work to ensure the Respect for Marriage Act includes appropriate religious freedom protections while respecting the law and preserving the rights of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters. We believe this approach is the way forward…” 

(https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org/article/respect-for-marriage-act-statement)

 While the church did acknowledge that the doctrine of marriage remained unaltered, this represents a departure from the prior attitude of the Mormon Church towards same-sex marriage.

Recent History

In 2015, the Mormon Church stated that Latter-day Saints in homosexual marriages were “apostate.” At that time, Church Spokesman Eric Hawkins stated

“…the church has long been on record as opposing same-sex marriages.”

However, in 2019, under current LDS President Russel M. Nelson, the church reversed that policy:

“the Church will no longer characterize same-gender marriage by a Church member as “apostasy” for purposes of Church discipline, although it is still considered “a serious transgression.”

The church stated that the reversal was due to

“…the continuing revelation that has been a part of the modern Church since the Restoration.”

This statement in November 2022 represents the most dramatic step in favor of homosexual marriages to date. It is not hard to imagine that this statement may just lay the groundwork for the LDS Church to eventually adjust its doctrine and practices regarding same sex marriages and sealings.

The Problem

Such dramatic changes should present a problem for Latter-day Saints.

The Mormon Church boasts of having modern prophets—those who speak on behalf of God. Yet, instead of a steadfast and unshakable commitment to the truth, the LDS Church has regularly jettisoned beliefs and practices that have become politically inconvenient.

 It’s hard to imagine many of these changes were motivated by a pure desire to remain more faithful…it appears that many of them have been an effort to cater to the world.

For example, early Mormon prophets taught of the necessity of polygamy—which was later jettisoned.  And it wasn’t that long ago that the church changed their policy barring blacks from holding the priesthood.

Changes like these only scratch the surface; they’re the tip of the iceberg, and if you’ve studied much of the LDS Church’s history, you’ll know exactly what I’m saying.

But the Bible says:

In contrast to the instability in Mormonism’s attitudes, the Bible says,

“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind.” (Numbers 23:19).

The Bible continually warns the church to not allow culture to influence her beliefs. The Apostle Paul said,

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2)

The Apostle Peter says,

“…we must obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29)

False Prophets

Truth doesn’t change, and God’s Word is clear. The changing policies and doctrinal convictions of the LDS prophets and apostles over the last 200 years is a clear sign that they are false prophets.

If things like yesterday’s statement make you feel awkward about the LDS prophets…if you are unsure whether you may fully trust what your prophets in the past have taught, or what they may teach in the future…If you question their judgment and wonder if they may acquiesce to the whims of the world...then reject them. 

Jesus warned about false prophets! He said,

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matt. 7:15-16).

These regularly occurring changes are bad fruit! The statement released yesterday is “thorny” and “thistly”. 

But, unlike the Mormon prophets, God’s Word never changes; Christians HAVE a better living prophet—one whonever errors, and who is without sin: Jesus.

No matter what the world says or does—if we love God–we must stand firm on the immovable Rock of His Word

…be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life…” (Philippians 2:15–16).

Do We Still Need Prophets?

Why don’t Christians have a prophet like the Mormon Church does? Hasn’t God always operated through a prophet? How can we know what to do in today’s world if God isn’t giving modern revelation? Well, quite simply, we do have a living prophet—His name is Jesus. And in this video, I want to show you what exactly the Bible teaches about modern prophets.

Old Testament Prophets

The Old Testament teaches that God had a special and unique relationship with certain individuals who held the office of “prophet”. Men like Moses, Isaiah, and Daniel had unique roles in Israel—they heard the “Word of the Lord” and would relay those words to God’s people. In fact, Amos 3:7 even goes so far as to say,

“For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.” (Amos 3:7)

Whenever God wanted to communicate something to His people, He would speak through these prophets. So, because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever…shouldn’t we expect prophets to give us the Word of the Lord today JUST LIKE they did back then? The answer, from the Bible, is an emphatic NO. Here are three reasons why:

1) Jesus Fulfills the Office of Prophet

In Old Testament Israel, God’s people needed mediators to stand between them and God. These mediators were prophets & priests. Prophets spoke on behalf of a Holy God to sinful people, and priests mediated on behalf of sinful people to God chiefly by offering sacrifices. Today, we no longer need these roles! Why? Because we have JESUS, the greater priest and prophet. Hebrews 1:1 says,

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” (Hebrews 1:1)

In other words, a long time ago (in Israel’s history) God used to speak various messages through various prophets…but in this Church age, God has spoken—definitively—through His Son. Where prophets ONCE mediated on behalf of God, Jesus now fulfills that role! 1 Timothy 2:5-6 says,

“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all…” (1 Timothy 2:5-6).

2) God’s Spirit is Given to All Christians

Under the Old Covenant, God’s Spirit was specially given to His prophets to equip them for their unique role. But this special giving of His Spirit was extremely limited. At any given time in Israel’s history only a small handful of people were gifted in this way. The rest of the people then, were dependent upon these Spirit-filled men as intermediaries between them and God.

In fact, Moses said that he wished ALL God’s people could have God’s Spirit like that, and be prophets. Numbers 11 records

“But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” (Numbers 11:29)

But now, God’s Spirit is given freely to all Christians! Before Jesus’s crucifixion, He taught His disciples…

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth…The Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:16-17, 26).

This promise was fulfilled after Jesus’ ascension on the day of Pentecost. On that day, God gave His Holy Spirit to the men and women waiting in Jerusalem. These 120 Christians immediately began preaching the Gospel in different languages and when the crowd asked what was happening, Peter explained that this had always been God’s plan. In Acts 2:17 Peter quotes the prophet Joel saying,

“And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy…” (Acts 2:17).

There are no longer just a few who are Spirit-filled amongst God’s people, because now He gives the Holy Spirit to everyone who hears the Gospel and believes in Christ for eternal life. Ephesians 1:13-14 says,

“When you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, [you] were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it” (Ephesians 1:13-14).

We no longer need Prophets in the same way because every Christian has immediate and unrestricted access to God by His Spirit who dwells within us!

3) God’s message is proclaimed by all Christians

God’s chosen messengers in the Old Testament were prophets, and His summary message was that people needed a Savior. Jesus teaches us that God’s message for people today is the good news—the Gospel—that if sinners stop trying to earn worthiness in God’s eyes, and simply place their faith in Jesus…their sins can be forgiven and they can have eternal life. The ones charged to deliver this message of good news? All His disciples! At the end of Mathew’s Gospel, Jesus says,

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

This is why the Bible teaches that the last prophet in history was John the Baptist, who concluded his ministry before Jesus’ death.

“The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached…”  (Luke 16:16).

Today, God sends His disciples to proclaim His message instead of a small and select group of prophets.

So what’s the point?

We no longer need a man to mediate between us and God because we have Jesus. God’s people no longer have restricted access to Him because the Holy Spirit dwells within us. And the ones tasked with delivering God’s message today, are Christians. Simply put, we no longer have need for modern prophets like the LDS Church has.

If there is no longer a need for modern prophets, then we must ask ourselves…who are these men who claim to be prophets? Jesus warned about false prophets who would LOOK a lot like the genuine thing. We are commanded to “test everything, and hold fast to what is good.” We must test the prophets and apostles of the LDS Church.

I Agreed with Elder Renlund’s Statements

I actually agree with LDS Apostle Dale Renlund’s statements at General Conference (October 2022). Elder Renlund’s talk “A Framework for Personal Revelation” had a segment that, as a non-Mormon Evangelical Christian, I wholeheartedly agreed with.

Renlund explained that when personal revelation conflicts with previously given revelation – that personal revelation may be unreliable. When we ask for clarity on things God has already spoken about, we can open ourselves up to false spirits. I completely agree – and think that if this idea were used consistently, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints would not exist!

God has spoken to us in the Bible, and if modern Mormon prophets reveal things CONTRARY to what God has already revealed, they are shown to be false prophets. We WANT for Mormons to test newer revelation and LDS Prophets against what God has previously said—this is how we can determine true and false prophets.

Joseph Smith’s Boast: Is Joseph Better than Jesus?

What would you say if someone claimed to be better than Jesus? He’s, of course, the Savior of the world, the Messiah! But what if a person said they were greater than Christ—would that be problematic? Could we trust such a person? Consider the following quote:

“Come on! ye prosecutors! ye false swearers! All hell, boil over! Ye burning mountains, roll down your lava! for I will come out on top at last. I have more to boast of than ever any man had. I am the only man that has ever been able to keep a whole church together since the days of Adam. A large majority of the whole have stood by me. Neither Paul, John, Peter, nor Jesus ever did it. I boast that no man ever did such a work as I. The followers of Jesus ran away from Him; but the Latter-day Saints never ran away from me yet…When they can get rid of me, the devil will also go” (History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408).

This was spoken by Joseph Smith, and is recorded in “History of the Church”, Volume 6, pages 408—published by the LDS Church itself. Here’s why this should be such a serious problem for Latter-day Saints:

Beware False Prophets

Jesus says,

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.” (Matthew 7:15-16a).

False prophets look like the real deal. They are convincing. At first glance – they SEEM to be faithfully representing God. But we’re commanded not to examine how a prophet appears…we’re commanded to examine that prophet’s fruit. What is the fruit of a prophet? Prophecy! Their teachings and their works! 

Joseph Smith—a self-proclaimed prophet, who (for many) appears to be a genuine prophet—said that he was “greater” than Jesus. Why? Because he held the whole church together, and Jesus did not. We are commanded by our Lord to test his claims, and examine his fruit.

Jesus: The Highly Exalted Head of the Church

So let’s test this claim: is Joseph greater than Jesus because he held the whole church together? Consider these verses,

“And (Jesus) is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent” (Colossians 1:18).

“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).

 “that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:20-23).

The Father exalts Jesus, giving Him a name above all other names in heaven and on earth, now and forever. Is Joseph greater than Jesus? No.

The Lord Hates Pride

Joseph’s boast reveals his pride and arrogance. He thought of Himself as greater than the Savior. This isn’t me twisting his words—that is exactly what he said! “I have more to boast of than ever any man had.” But James 4:6 says,

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).

God OPPOSES the proud….meaning God opposes Joseph Smith. He is Joseph’s enemy (Because of his pride). The Bible also teaches:

“The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate” (Proverbs 8:13).

“Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished” (Proverbs 16:5).

Look at how The Apostle Paul spoke about boasting,

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

The difference between Paul and Joseph is striking.

If you remain unconvinced that Joseph said these things, research this quote yourself. This is bad fruit; evidence of a false prophet. Reject Joseph Smith. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can have Jesus without Joseph. Jeremiah 9:23-24 says,

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me…’” (Jeremiah 9:23-24)