(The following question was submitted by a visitor to the Word for the Weary web site.)

Many Mormon apologists and lay people seem to always fall back on 'opinion' to get them out of "hot water" when confronted with difficult quotes from past Prophets. When reading, say, Brigham Young's racist remarks about the Blacks, Young spoke with the same confidence he used as when he spoke revelations that are fully accepted by Latter-day Saints.

My question is this: If Brigham spoke so confidently about things that are now considered "just his opinion," how do the Mormon people know he could discern between opinion and true revelation? -NS

Peter was present during transfiguration of Christ and also appeared was moses and Elias. Peter, James, and John are truly prophets; they walked, talked and were set apart by Christ. Yet, Peter denied the Christ thrice. A man today might ask the question was he really a prophet one who could deny his Lord? Jesus asked his disiples, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. My dear friend revelation better be the only way we should know these trths. A friend in Christ, -PH (LDS)

the mormon people believe to be true what they want to be true. simply put, if it does not agree with them then it is the person's mere opinion.

read 1 corinthians 7:12. paul states this is my opinion not of the lord, yet b young NEVER said this is my opinion, he stated just the opposite. in the JOD 13:95 he said and i quote "i have NEVER yet preached a sermon and sent it out to the children of men that they may not call it scripture. so did b young lie? if so he is a false prophet. otherwise everything he stated was/is scripture. this includes the adam god doctrine that the mormon church denies.

a devotional assembly taught at BYU by president ezra taft benson on Tuesday, february 26, 1980 at 10:00 am, called the 14 fundamentals in following the PROPHETS.

number 6 states "the prophet DOES not have to say THUS SAITH THE LORD to give us scripture". benson also quotes b young from JOD 13:95 and D and C 21:4 and D and C 108:1.

also, the 1st fundamental states the prophet is the only man who speaks for the lord in everything and number 4 says the prophet will never lead the church astray. with all these teachings in mind it truly proves the church is not the true church and mormons are being led astray. look at the dismissal of the adam god doctrine and blood atonement teachings. so much for never leading the church astray. if the prophet speaks for the lord in EVERYTHING then why abandon these teachings? i would love to share the real good news of JESUS and true salvation -- with no strings attached. please write me at [email protected]. thank you. -RB (non-LDS)