Introduction

From the time of Joseph Smith to the present, a popular portrayal of the LDS Church by its critics has been that of a few power hungry dictators and a large body of blind followers. The followers are to wait for the leaders to speak and then, without any thought or question, are to follow regardless of their counsel. The most extreme portrayal of this kind is that of Jerald and Sandra Tanner in their comparison of LDS belief to that of the People's Temple (Salt Lake Messenger, Jan 1979).

   In 1978 Jim Jones ordered his followers at Jonestown, Guyana to commit suicide by taking poison. He further commanded the murder of those who did not take the poison. Some 900 died in that tragic event. The Tanners insist that this kind of blind obedience has a parallel in LDS belief. This negative portrayal is produced by quoting several extreme statements which seemingly advocate blind obedience while ignoring a much larger body of non-supportive statements.It is a central LDS claim that God has and does seek to guide the Church through leaders whom he calls and inspires.

   Latter-day Saints are frequently encouraged to listen to the counsel of their leaders and in a few instances this counsel has been extreme to the point of sounding like a call for blind obedience. However, if one is interested in an accurate portrayal of LDS belief on this subject, these few instances must be viewed within their historical context, weighed against numerous statements denouncing blind obedience and considered in relation to the LDS belief in personal revelation and personal responsibility. While the Latter-day Saints have frequently heard the counsel to "follow the Brethren," they have no less frequently heard the counsel to gain their own testimony - that the testimony of a prophet or apostle cannot be substituted for their own personal witness. A strong emphasis is found throughout LDS writings and sermons that each individual member has the responsibility to seek personal revelation from God, who will reveal even hidden mysteries to those who diligently seek (D&C 42, 84, 107).

   Salvation is an individual responsibility and no one can be saved by simply following someone else. The LDS ideal has never been a dictator leading a group of blind followers, but rather individuals who have sought and found the truth from God and, bound together by a common testimony, anxiously supporting inspired leaders.

   Following are several quotations representing the few instances in which obedience has been emphasized to the point of sounding like blind obedience followed by a small sampling of a large body of statements denoucing the idea of blind obedience.

1847, Heber C. Kimball. " . . . be attentive to what [you] hear for . . . If you do things according to counsel and they are wrong, the consequences will fall on the heads of those who counseled you, so don't be troubled." Remarks as recorded in William Clayton's Journal 1 August (SLC: Deseret, 1921), p.334.

1857, Wilford Woodruff. ". . . if the Prophet of God should tell me that . . . the principles by which [I am] governed are not right - that they were incorrect, what would be my duty? I answer that it would be my duty to lay those principles aside, and to take up those that might be laid down by the servants of God." (9 April, JD 5:83).

1857, Heber C. Kimball. "I have got be obedient to whom? To my leader. It does not make any odds what he says. . . . what will justify a man in doing wrong? Not anything. To do just as I am told is my duty." (27 Sep, JD 5:272).

1857, Heber C. Kimball. "But if you are told by your leader to do a thing, do it. None of your business whether it is right or wrong. . . . That is a rather presumptuous doctrine with some people; but with me it is not. "I have heard men teach in this stand that I was under no obligation to do anything, except I had a revelation. I do not believe the doctrine at all. . . . "I am teaching you, Elders. Now, if I am not right, I am wrong. I leave it to you to judge whether I am right or wrong." (8 Nov, J.D.6:32).                                                         

NOTE: Most of the 19th Century statements by Church leaders which seem to advocate a strict, almost "blind," obedience were made in 1857. This was a year of great significance for Mormons in the Salt Lake Valley. A movement of intense religious revival and rededication, commonly called the Mormon Reformation, occurred in the mid-1850's and reached its peak in 1857. Another event, of equal significance, was the July 1857 dispatch of Johnston's Army (composed of twenty-five hundred Federal troops) to put down what Congress had termed the "Utah Rebellion." With Johnston's Army on its way, the Mormons prepared to leave their homes, burn their fields, migrate south, and do whatever else was necessary to avoid having their freedom and their property taken from them by force. During this time of crisis, several statements were made advocating a military type of strict, regimented obedience.

1862, Brigham Young." The Lord Almighty leads this Church, and he will
never suffer you to be lead astray if you are found doing your duty. You may go
home and sleep as sweetly as a babe in its mother's arms, as to any danger
of your leaders leading you astray, for if they should try to do so the
Lord would quickly sweep them from the earth." (23 Feb, JD 9:289).

1945, Ward Teachers' Message. "He [Lucifer] wins a great victory when he
can get members of the Church to speak against their leaders and to 'do
their own thinking . . .When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done. When they propose a
plan - it is God's plan. When they point the way, there is no other which is
safe. When they give direction, it should mark the end of controversy."
(Improvement Era, June, 48:354).

After the above was published, a concerned non-LDS  minister wrote a
letter to George Albert Smith, then President of the Church. He asked President
Smith if this editorial represented the position of the Church with regard
to obedience and free thought. Smith responded as follows:
1945, Pres. George Albert Smith. "I am pleased to inform you that the
passage quoted does not express the true position of the Church. Even to imply
that members of the Church are not to do their own thinking is grossly to
misrepresent the true ideal of the Church, which is that every individual
must obtain for himself a testimony of the truth of the  Gospel  . . "
(Letter to Dr. R. J. Cope, 7 Dec, in Dialogue: A Journal of Mormon Thought,
1986,19:36-37). 

1961, Harold B. Lee. ". . .  [Heber J.] Grant used to say to us time and
again. 'Brethren, keep your eye on the President of this Church. If he tells
you to do anything and it is wrong and you do it, the Lord will bless you
for it. But you don't need to worry; the Lord will never let his mouthpiece
lead this people astray." (19 April, BYU address).

BLIND OBEDIENCE DENOUNCED

1839, Joseph Smith. No power or influence can or ought to be maintained
by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by
gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned. (D&C 121:41).

1843, Joseph Smith. ". . . E[lde]r (Pelatiah) Brown . . . one of the
wisest old heads we have among us, has been called up before the High Council on
account of the beast. The old man has preached concerning the beast which
was full of eyes before and behind and for this he was hauled up for trial.
I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred
in doctrine, it looks too much like methodism and not like Latter day
Saintism. Methodists have creeds which a man must believe or be kicked out of
their church. I want the liberty of believing as I please, it feels so good
not to be tramelled. It dont prove that a man is not a good man, because he
errs in doctrine. (Conference report by William Clayton, 8 Apr 1843. An
edited version is found in History of the Church 5:340).

1844, Joseph Smith. ". . . in relation to the power over the minds of
mankind which I hold, I would say it is in consequence of the power of truth in
the doctrines which I have been an instrument in the hands of God of
presenting unto them & not because of any Compulsion on my part. I will ask if I
ever got any of it unfair. If I have not reproved you in the gate, I ask
did I ever exercise any compulsion over any man. did I not give him the
liberty of disbelieveing any doctrin I have preached if he saw fit . . "
(Wilford Woodruff diary, 24 Mar 1844. An edited version appears in the History of
the Church)

1852, Samuel W. Richards. ". . . to what extent is obedience to those who
hold the Priesthood required? . . . none are required to tamely and
blindly submit to a man because he has a portion of the Priesthood. We have heard
men who hold the Priesthood remark, that they would do anything they were
told to by those who presided 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 beings, until he turns from his folly."
(Millennial Star,  13 Nov, 14:594).

1853, BrighamYoung. "Salvation is an individual operation. . . . those
men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the
influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be entirely led by another person,
suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith on another's sleeve,
will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory . . . Who will?
Those who . . .do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite
course." (20 Feb, JD 1:312).

1868, Brigham  Young. "If a bishop or any other officer in this Church
shall counsel the people to violate any of the laws of God . . . I will
justify them, and the Lord will justify them in refusing to obey that counsel.
But if they counsel you to do right, which they do, take their counsel." (16
Feb, J.D.12:164).

1873, Joseph F. Smith. "We talk of obedience, but do we require any man or
woman to ignorantly obey the counsels that are given? Do the First
Presidency require it? No, never. What do they desire? That we may have our minds
opened and our understanding enlarged, that we may comprehend all true
principles for ourselves; then. . . we shall yield obedience with our eyes open
. . ." (7 Oct, JD16:248).

1876, George Q. Cannon.". . . the Lord has set him [the prophet] to guide
and to lead the people. To lead the people blindly without knowing
themselves whither they are going? No, certainly not. When the President of this
Church gives counsel, it is the privilege of the Latter-day Saints to know,
for themselves, by the testimony of Jesus within them, that such counsel is
right . . . " (17 Sept. JD 18:256).

1880, Charles W. Penrose. "We are accused of following our leaders
in'blind obedience.' There is no such thing in the Gospel. We have in our midst
those who give us the word of the Lord in a church capacity . . . but it is
our privilege to have this same light. . . . It is the privilege of every
Saint to have this light for themselves . . . " (25 April JD 21:89-90).

1892, Charles W. Penrose. "At the head of this Church stands a man who is
a Prophet . . . we respect and venerate him; but we do not believe that his
personal views or utterances are revelations from God; and when 'Thus
saith the Lord' comes from him, the Saints investigate it; they do not shut
their eyes and take it down like a pill. When he brings forth light they want
to comprehend it. . . . The Latter-day Saints are not blindly led by
leaders . . . but every man can receive the divine testimony in his own heart . .
." (21 March, Millennial Star  54:191).

1889, Charles W. Penrose.  "It is folly for anti-"Mormon" writers to state
or insinuate that "Mormonism" requires its votaries to surrender their
consciences to the "keeping of others." All the standards of doctrine
recognized by the Latter-day Saints teach the contrary. Individual responsibility
for every act, is one of the principles most forcibly urged upon their
attention. No person can be held responsible for performing anything which he is
not perfectly free to do or abstain from doing. Intelligent understanding
of truth and practical conformity therewith, freely and voluntarily
rendered, are the means by which people are to be saved and exalted, according to
the teachings of "Mormonism."
There is nothing in it which requires any human being to deliver up his
freedom of thought or action "to the keeping of another." The very opposite
is inculcated. And there is no such thing in practice in the "Mormon"
Church. Good advice is given. The wise will follow it. Only the foolish will
reject good counsel. But it is not compulsory on any one. If it were, the
agency of those compelled would be destroyed or infringed. And that would be
hostile to the whole spirit and tenets of "Mormonism." . . . everybody must be
free to think and act for themselves, or they could not be justly held
accountable, at the same time the counsel of God cannot be rejected with
impunity, nor can the advice of His servants be neglected with profit and
safety.

1904 - Pres. Joseph F. Smith.  I should like to say to the honorable
gentlemen that the members of the Mormon Church are among the freest and most
independent people of all the Christian denominations. They are not all
united on every principle. Every man is entitled to his own opinion and his own
views and his own conceptions of right and wrong so long as they do not
come in conflict with the standard principles of the church. If a man assumes
to deny God and to become an infidel we withdraw fellowship from. If men
steal or lie or bear false witness against their neighbors or violate the
cardinal principles of the Gospel, we withdraw our fellowship. The church
withdraws its fellowship from that man and he ceases to be a member of the
church. But so long as a man or a woman is honest and virtuous and believes in
God and has a little faith in the church organization, so long we nurture
and aid that person to continue faithfully as a member of the church, though
he may not believe all that is revealed." (Reed Smoot Hearings 1:97, 98).

1936, John A. Widtsoe. "Obedience or conformity must be intelligent. The
meaning of the practices of the Church must be explained to every member, so
that the reason for obedience will be clearly understood. Blind obedience
is repugnant to Latter-day Saints; but, necessarily, there may be times
when those of less experience rest their judgment temporarily upon the advice
of men of wider knowledge and longer experiences. . . . Such obedience soon
blossoms into full understanding . . ." Program of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints (SLC: Dept. of Education of the Church of Jesus
Christ of L.D.S., 1936), p.217.

1954, J. Reuben Clark. ". . . only when [the Brethren] do so speak, as so
'moved upon' [by the Holy Ghost] is what they say Scripture. . . . We can
tell when the speakers are 'moved upon by the Holy Ghost' only when we,
ourselves are 'moved upon by the Holy Ghost.' In a way, this completely shifts
the responsibility from them to us to determine when they so speak." (LDS
Church News, 31 July, "When Are Church Leaders' Words Entitled to the Claim
of Scripture?", p.9).

1958, Joseph Fielding Smith, Jr. "The 'lay' members of the Church are
under obligation to accept the teachings of the authorities, unless they can
discover in them some conflict with the revelations and commandments the Lord
has given. There are times when the leading brethren have expressed their
own opinions on various subjects. . . . but when the Lord has spoken
through his servant who holds the keys, there should be unity among the members
of the Church." Answers To Gospel Questions, 2 (SLC: Deseret, 1958.),
pp.112-113.

1963, Ezra Taft Benson. "May I suggest three short tests to avoid being deceived . . .
"1. What do the standard works have to say about it ? . . .
"2. The second guide is: what do the latter-day Presidents of the Church have to say on the subject - particularly the living President? . . .
"3. The third and final test is the Holy Ghost - the test of the Spirit .
. . This test can only be fully effective if one's channels of
communication with God are clean and virtuous and uncluttered with sin. Said Brigham Young:
" 'You may know whether you are led right or wrong, as well as you know the way home . . .
" 'What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much
confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire of themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path that the Lord dictates or not. This has been my exhortation continually.' (JD 9,149-150.) "  (4 Oct, Improvement Era 1963, pp.1063-1064)

1958 Bruce R. McConkie. ". . . the truth or error of any uninspired utterance of an individual will have to be judged by the standard works and spirit of discernment and inspiration that is in those who actually enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost.
"President Joseph Fielding Smith has said: ' . . . the teachings of any other member of the Church, high  or low, if they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. . . . every member of the Church is duty bound to reject [them]. (Doctrines of Salvation, 3: 203-204.)" Mormon Doctrine (SLC: Bookcraft, 1978 printing), pp.608-609.

1969 - Pres. Hugh B. Brown. One of the most important things in the world is freedom of the mind; from this all other freedoms spring. Such freedom is necessarily dangerous, for one cannot think right without running the risk of thinking wrong, but generally more thinking is the antidote for the evils that spring from wrong thinking. More thinking is required, and we call upon you students to exercise your God-given right to think throug on every proposition that is submitted to you and be unafraid to express your opinions, with proper respect for those to whom you talk and proper acknowledge of your own shortcomings. You young people live in an age when freedom the mind is suppressed over much of the world. We must preserve it in the Church and in America and resist all efforts of earnest men to suppress it, for when it is suppressed, we might lose the liberties vouchsafed in the Constitution of the United States. Preserve, the, the freedom of your mind in education and in religion, an be unafraid to express your thoughts and to insist upon your right to examine every proposition. We are not so much concerned with whether your thoughts are orthodox or heterodox as we are that you shall have thoughts. (Address, May 13, 1969)

1983, Boyd K. Packer. "Those who talk of blind obedience . . . do not understand the doctrines of the gospel. There is an obedience that comes from a knowledge of the truth that transcends any external form of control. We are not obedient because we are blind, we are obedient because we can see." (Church News, 20 April 1991, p.14).