Brigham Young was an amazing prophet and leader. He led the church through very difficult times, and literally led the physical gathering of Israel in the last days. But as you point out, he was not perfect - no one is, not even prophets. This is why the principle of Councils is so important. Yes, President Nelson has started and led may changes over the past 5 years, but none of them would not have been implemented without 15 senior church leaders, from various backgrounds and experiences and opinions, UNANIMOUSLY AGREEING to the changes. Obviously Joseph Smith could not have followed this principle from 1820-1835 because there were no apostles. And even up to Brigham Young's time, due to physical separation and physical hardships, the 15 apostles couldn't or didn't regularly meet, it may not have been very formalized and consistent yet. So yes when Brigham Young stated some of these theories that we do not currently agree with, he was following his own opinion, not doctrine approved by 15 apostles. I personally believe the same thing happened with the priesthood restriction. I believe Brigham Young may have been overly influenced by the times and by racist and/or slaveholding members of the church, and political ambition, when he made his racist remarks, did not want blacks to have the right to vote in Utah, and started the priesthood restriction. We have no documentation that states the 15 apostles at the time agreed to the restriction. Perhaps they would have agreed and consented. But perhaps at least one or two or five of them would have quoted the book of Mormon about the gospel being for black and white, male and female, and the fact that Joseph Smith approved black men to receive the priesthood. And the motion might have been killed or tabled. We will never know, but it does make a strong point to how councils are wise and protective for everyone, whether you are a mom and dad leading a family, or the Lord's prophet leading His Church.
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MikeMarch 15, 2023
Brigham Young was an amazing prophet and leader. He led the church through very difficult times, and literally led the physical gathering of Israel in the last days. But as you point out, he was not perfect - no one is, not even prophets. This is why the principle of Councils is so important. Yes, President Nelson has started and led may changes over the past 5 years, but none of them would not have been implemented without 15 senior church leaders, from various backgrounds and experiences and opinions, UNANIMOUSLY AGREEING to the changes. Obviously Joseph Smith could not have followed this principle from 1820-1835 because there were no apostles. And even up to Brigham Young's time, due to physical separation and physical hardships, the 15 apostles couldn't or didn't regularly meet, it may not have been very formalized and consistent yet. So yes when Brigham Young stated some of these theories that we do not currently agree with, he was following his own opinion, not doctrine approved by 15 apostles. I personally believe the same thing happened with the priesthood restriction. I believe Brigham Young may have been overly influenced by the times and by racist and/or slaveholding members of the church, and political ambition, when he made his racist remarks, did not want blacks to have the right to vote in Utah, and started the priesthood restriction. We have no documentation that states the 15 apostles at the time agreed to the restriction. Perhaps they would have agreed and consented. But perhaps at least one or two or five of them would have quoted the book of Mormon about the gospel being for black and white, male and female, and the fact that Joseph Smith approved black men to receive the priesthood. And the motion might have been killed or tabled. We will never know, but it does make a strong point to how councils are wise and protective for everyone, whether you are a mom and dad leading a family, or the Lord's prophet leading His Church.
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