Samuel W. Richards warns against Church members from blind obedience to Church leaders.

Date
Nov 13, 1852
Type
Periodical
Source
Samuel W. Richards
LDS
Hearsay
Direct
Reference

Samuel W. Richards, "Priesthood," The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 38, no. 14 (November 13, 1852): 594

Scribe/Publisher
The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star
People
Samuel W. Richards
Audience
Reading Public, Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
PDF
Transcription

We have heard men that hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything that they were told to do by those who preside over them (even) if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself should not claim a rank among intelligent human beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told to do by their presidents, they should do it without any questions. When the Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience, as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves

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