The call to follow living prophets is a hallmark of Latter-day Saint faith. We sustain them as seers, revelators, and divinely appointed guides for our day. Yet many faithful members wrestle with difficult questions:

-What do we do when prophets contradict each other?

-What about past teachings that feel wrong today?

-How can I trust that current leaders speak for God when I know they are human, just like me?

These tensions are not new. In fact, they go all the way back to the Bible. And if we look closely, we find a divine pattern:

God works through imperfect people—on purpose.

Biblical Apostles: Divine Office, Human Messengers

The New Testament is rich with stories of apostles who stumbled, disagreed, or had to grow in their understanding:

Peter, the senior apostle, denied Christ three times despite direct warning.

Later, in Galatians 2, Paul rebukes Peter to his face for hypocrisy—Peter had withdrawn from eating with Gentile converts out of fear of Jewish criticism.

Paul and Barnabas, once close companions, had a “sharp contention” over whether to bring John, whose surname was Mark, on another mission. They parted ways (Acts 15), yet both continued their divinely appointed ministries.

Even at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15), the apostles had to debate and discuss how to handle circumcision and Gentile converts.

Revelation came after dialogue—not before.

These examples do not undermine apostolic authority. They reveal the process: revelation is often progressive, contextual, and clarified through time, experience, and spiritual wrestling.

Modern Prophets: The Tension Between Spirit and Office

Brigham Young once warned:

“I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders… that they will not inquire for themselves of God.”(Journal of Discourses 9:150)

At the same time, modern prophets—from President Hinckley to President Nelson—have emphasized that following the living prophet provides safety and direction. This can feel contradictory: trust the prophet, but also trust your own relationship with God.

The Latter-day Saint understanding of prophetic leadership requires a careful balance between trust and discernment. We don’t believe in prophetic infallibility; we believe in continued guidance, institutional humility, and personal responsibility.

The Restoration was never a one-time event. It is still unfolding—and that includes growth in doctrine, clarity, and even correction.

Case Study: Race and the Priesthood

One of the most sobering examples of prophetic fallibility involves the priesthood and temple restrictions for Black members prior to 1978.
While some early Black men like Elijah Abel were ordained in Joseph Smith’s day, the restriction was later introduced and became widely taught—accompanied by speculative justifications linking skin color to the curse of Cain or Canaan. These teachings, once widely repeated, have since been disavowed.

The official Church essay now affirms:

“The Church disavows the theories advanced in the past that black skin is a sign of divine disfavor or curse, or that it reflects unrighteous actions in a premortal life…”(Race and the Priesthood, Gospel Topics Essay)

Yet many members wrestle with the question: What about earlier teachings? Were they wrong? Were they inspired?

The best way to approach these questions is to separate revelation from interpretation. While prophets receive inspiration, they also speak from their time and culture. The divine message is always mediated through a mortal mouthpiece, and that mouthpiece may occasionally misstep or misunderstand.

That doesn’t mean God wasn’t working through them. It means He works with what we’re ready to receive.

Prophets Are People: Some Quirky Examples

The humanity of our prophetic leaders has often been evident—not just in moments of struggle, but also in the quirks of their time and culture.

Joseph Smith and Moon Men

In the 1840s, a statement attributed to Joseph Smith via Oliver B. Huntington claims that the Prophet believed men lived on the moon—and that they were dressed like Quakers. Strange? Sure. But also not unusual for his era. Many 19th-century thinkers—including respected scientists—speculated about celestial life. Even newspapers like The New York Sun published fictional moon-inhabitant stories that were taken as fact. While there’s no verifiable quote from Joseph directly confirming this, if he did say it, it likely reflected his personal speculation, not prophetic declaration.

Brigham Young’s Bold (and Sometimes Bizarre) Statements

Brigham Young, fiery and unapologetically opinionated, often said things that today sound jarring. From racially charged comments to his views on Adam as God (a teaching later disavowed), Brigham offers a case study in how prophets may teach doctrine alongside speculation—and sometimes blend the two. Later Church leaders clarified that not all of Brigham’s theological musings represent binding doctrine.

Recent Prophetic Adjustments

Even more recent leaders have had moments of misjudgment or reversal. President Spencer W. Kimball once encouraged Native American placement programs with an eye toward “whitening” and “civilizing” children—reflecting outdated racial attitudes, though rooted in a sincere desire to help.

President Russell M. Nelson, early in his ministry, taught that using the nickname “Mormon” was fine, even celebrated it in Church branding. Later, he declared that using “Mormon” was a victory for Satan—not because his original views were evil, but because his understanding evolved.

A Framework for Faithful Reconciliation

So how can a believer navigate these tensions with both faith and integrity?

Honor the Office, Acknowledge the Humanity

Prophets are called of God, but they are not God. Their authority is real, but their views can evolve—and sometimes need to.

Use the Standard Works and the Spirit as Anchors

Scripture and personal revelation are the twin pillars that support and confirm prophetic counsel. As President Nelson teaches, “in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost.”

Understand the Nature of Ongoing Revelation

The Restoration is not static. New light replaces old assumptions. When new direction comes, it isn’t always because the past was wicked—it may simply be that God was preparing us.

Avoid Extremes: Neither Blind Obedience Nor Cynical Doubt

Faith means believing that God works through His Church, even when you don’t fully understand it. Doubt can be a catalyst for deeper testimony—but only when paired with humility and a willingness to receive.

Where We Are Today

Today, the Church is more aware of its history, more vocal in denouncing racism, and more global in its perspective. We’ve seen significant efforts to align teachings and policies with the inclusive love of Christ.

At the same time, many members—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—still carry pain. Reconciliation is not just theological; it must also be pastoral and communal. We need more empathy, more listening, and more grace.
And yet, we continue on—not because our leaders are perfect, but because the Lord is.

Final Thought

The story of God’s dealings with His children has always included prophets, and it has always included their imperfections. What matters is not their flawlessness, but their willingness to seek, to listen, and to lead.

As believers, we do the same. We seek truth, listen to the Spirit, and move forward in faith—trusting that God is big enough to guide a church of imperfect people to a perfect end.