Introduction
Experiencing doubts about our faith can be difficult, and even become heart wrenching if we do not find answers in a timely manner. Some fear that even beginning to question aspects of our beliefs means we are on a path away from God.
However, doubt is not the enemy of faith; rather, it can serve as a refining fire, stripping away misconceptions and redirecting our trust to where it should always have been—Jesus Christ. This article will explore how doubts can lead to deeper, more authentic faith by challenging misplaced trust in people, institutions, or assumptions that were never the foundation of the gospel.
Doubt, then, is not something to fear, but something to engage with thoughtfully. Just as fire purifies gold, questioning assumptions can help separate cultural traditions, human errors, or historical misunderstandings from the pure doctrine of Christ.
Doubt as a Catalyst for Refined Faith
An example of having doubt helping us realign our faith from a falsehood into a truth is the false doctrine of prophetic infallibility.
The idea of infallible prophets does not originate in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It likely came form the Protestant doctrine of Biblical inerrancy, but Latter-day Saints can reject both false doctrines in exchange for truth.
When we think about it, most Latter-day Saints understand that our prophets do not lose their agency and become perfect beings when called to be a prophet. We are gracious enough to allow them to make mistakes in their own personal lives. They are mortal, and have learning and growth they need to do to prepare for exaltation.
The question, then, often becomes, “What about when Wilford Woodruff said the Lord won’t allow the prophets to lead us astray?”
The assumption many make, both members and critics of the Church alike, is, “Doesn’t that mean the prophets will never make mistakes with the administration of the Church?”
There are examples in the scriptures of God’s prophets and apostles being imperfect.
Examples include:
- Elijah complaining against the Lord
- Peter denying Christ three times
- Chief Captain Moroni wrongly rebuking Pahoran
- Joseph Smith refusing the Lord’s answer, and allowing Martin Harris to take (and lose) the 116 pages.
Perhaps the question we should be asking is, “What does ‘lead astray’ actually mean?”
I propose that the most doctrinally sound answer to this question is that the Lord will now allow them to teach us to do anything that would endanger our salvation or exaltation. As J. Max Wilson points out in his article, “On the Limits of Prophetic Infallibility,” the Lord will sometimes tell us “what” to do, but not “why” or “how.” He wants us to use our agency, to use the gift of our minds, to discover those things on our own.
Side note: A common question here is “If prophets aren’t perfect, then what good is prophetic revelation?” This is where personal revelation comes in to connect us to our Father in Heaven. Prophetic revelation gives us general direction, and personal revelation helps us know the “how.” We may ask in our prayers, “Father, the prophet counseled us to do _____. How do you want me to follow this instruction? Is this solution I have pondered on acceptable?”
We can see this doubt as a catalyst to process help us go from faith in a wrong principle (infallible leaders) to faith in a true principle (mortal and fallible, but reliable leaders, whom God has anointed to lead us to Christ). Latter-day Saints should view prophets not as flawless heroes, but as reliable Watchmen on the Tower giving us advanced warning and direction. This shift in perspective can be crucial in dealing with faith crises. If we place our faith in Christ instead of human leaders, we will not be shaken when we learn that Church history is complex and that leaders are imperfect.
Conclusion
If you, or a loved one, are experiencing doubt, take comfort in the knowledge that even as Don Bradley puts it, doubt can be a purifying process, helping us shake off misplaced trust in people or cultural assumptions and refocus our faith on Christ.
Doubt is not a destination but a passage. If approached with humility and a willingness to seek truth, it can lead to a stronger, more unshakable testimony. Hold on—Sunday is coming.