Does God Allow a Prophet to Lead Us Astray?

Posted on May 10, 2021Jun 18, 2021 by Dustin G

Would God ever allow a shepherd or prophet in Israel to lead his people astray? Has he ever in the past? Has God ever “removed them from their place” when they’ve attempted to? Where does this notion come from? Let’s explore scriptural teachings, revelations and examples from ancient and recent times to better understand the answers.

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Live Stream Presentation called “Does God Allow a Prophet to Lead Us Astray?” by Dustin Grady

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Can Prophets Lead People Astray?

This presentation answers the question: Can the people be led astray by the leaders of the church.

Prophets Prophesied to Lead People Astray in the Last Days

D&C 112:23-26 – The day of desolation: “upon my house shall it begin” is a warning that the Lord’s house will be in a state of wickedness. This house is led by those “who have professed to know my name and have not known me.”
D&C 85:7 – The Lord declared that he “will send one mighty and strong” in the last days. This servant will “set in order the house of God.”

The Condition of the Church in Latter Days

In the Parable of Redemption of Zion (D&C 101:43-69), we learn about what happened to the servants and the vineyard shortly after the restoration of the gospel and how the Lord would handle the situation. While the foundation of Zion was being laid, wicked watchmen overtook the vineyard.

The Lord, upset by the condition of the vineyard (“this great evil”), calls those sleepy “watchmen on the tower” (leaders of the latter-day gentiles) “mine enemies.” The Lord criticizes the servants “watchmen” (those who claim to be in charge of the Lord’s people) and states that had they not fallen asleep, they could have prophesied and seen the enemy watchmen (stewards over the vineyard/church) and kept them from taking over the vineyard (his church) and warned the people before this happened.

Instead, the enemy ravaged the vineyard, causing the Lord to order the servant to return again. This time, the servant was to bring with him “the strength of the Lord’s house” to redeem Zion and “avenge me mine enemies.”

Jeremiah 23

In Jeremiah 23 (using the NKJV/NASB Parallel), you can see a prophecy that illustrates that prophets can lead the people astray. Here’s what the Lord states “concerning the shepherds who are tending My people” which Jeremiah refers to as “prophets” (in air quotes):

“The Shepherds Tending My People”

“You have scattered My flock and driven them away, and have not been concerned about them“ (verse 3)
“I am going to call you to account for the evil of your deeds” (3)
“I will also raise up shepherds over them and they will tend them; and they will not be afraid any longer, nor be terrified, nor will any be missing.” (4)
“As for the prophets: My heart is broken within me” (9)
“For both prophet and priest are defiled; Even in My house I have found their wickedness.” (11)
“their way will be like slippery paths to them” (12)

Prophesied by Baal & Led My People Israel Astray

“among the prophets… I saw an offensive thing: They prophesied by Baal and led My people Israel astray.” (13)
“Also among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen a horrible thing: The committing of adultery and walking in deceit; and they strengthen the hands of evildoers, so that no one has turned back from his wickedness.” (14)
“from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness has spread into all the land.” (15)
“Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They tell a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the Lord.” (16)
“They keep saying to those who despise Me, The Lord has said, ‘You will have peace’; and as for everyone who walks in the stubbornness of his own heart, they say, ‘disaster will not come on you.’” (17)
“I did not send these prophets, but they ran. I did not speak to them, but they prophesied.” (21)
“But if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds.” (22)

The Prophets Who Prophesy Falsely

“I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy falsely in My name, saying, ‘I had a dream, I had a dream!’” (25)

Was Wilford Woodruff Right?

The following statement taken from commentary underneath the “Official Declaration #1” (notice it is not from the declaration itself) has been the main cause of perpetuating the notion that the Lord would never let a prophet lead us astray:

“The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty. (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)
Wilford Woodruff

Note that Woodruff does not use the term “prophet,” but rather “president of this church.” The next claim is that the Lord would remove that man who were to attempt it. Let us compare that statement to those already considered, as well as this one from Jesus Christ:

10 And if it so be that the church is built upon my gospel then will the Father show forth his own works in it.
11 But if it be not built upon my gospel, and is built upon the works of men, or upon the works of the devil, verily I say unto you they have joy in their works for a season, and by and by the end cometh, and they are hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence there is no return.
12 For their works do follow them, for it is because of their works that they are hewn down; therefore remember the things that I have told you.
3 Ne. 27:10-12

According to our Lord, he confirms that he will “hew them down,” but not until some period of time passes (“joy in their works for a season”). In fact, the next statement is an indication of exactly when such things would actually occur – Jesus winks at the reader here and indicates that his church at some point would become built upon the works of men (or, God forbid, of the devil), and that they would reign until the end cometh, when the wicked are hewn down and cast into the fire. This phrase is specifically an end-time context. In other words, Jesus here delivered a prophecy about what would happen to his church in the last days, and how exactly he would handle it.