Wednesday, February 23, 2011

The White Horse Prophecy by George Cobabe

This article is the best I've seen regarding the famous (or infamous) "white horse prophecy." There are a lot of questions surrounding the supposed prophecy that he deals with very well. I think the best part of the article, and a point that the author emphasizes, is that there is a rigorous, specific standard for accepted doctrine in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will end this short post with a quote by Joseph Fielding Smith that was used in the article:

"I want to say to you, my brethren and sisters, that if you understand the Church articles and covenants, if you will read the scriptures and become familiar with those things which are recorded in the revelations from the Lord, it will not be necessary for you to ask any questions in regard to the authenticity or otherwise of any purported revelation, vision, or manifestation that proceeds out of darkness, concocted in some corner, surreptitiously presented, and not coming through the proper channels of the Church. Let me add that when a revelation comes for the guidance of this people, you may be sure that it will not be presented in some mysterious manner contrary to the order of the Church. It will go forth in such form that the people will understand that it comes from those who are in authority, for it will be sent either to the presidents of stakes and the bishops of the wards over the signatures of the presiding authorities, Or it will be published in some of the regular papers or magazines under the control and direction of the Church or it will be presented before such a gathering as this, at a general conference. It will not spring up in some distant part of the Church
and be in the hands of some obscure individual without authority, and thus be circulated among the Latter-day
Saints. Now, you may remember this."
-Joseph F. Smith, Jr., Conference Report (October 1918): 55. (Joseph F. Smith, Jr. was later known as Joseph Fielding Smith.)