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After all, he was the only Mormon prophet to really claim direct, regular communication with Eloheim. Hinckley admitted that his revelations followed the same form that all other modern Mormons get - subtle impressions, the still small voice, feelings, etc. Joseph talked with God face to face, and also received direct, first person revelation from God (eg, "I the Lord am displeased with...").

So, for instance, why shouldn't Joseph's inspired take on the Word of Wisdom (beer and wine are okay, hot drinks of any kind are not, but none of this is compulsory) take precedence over Heber J. Grant's radical reinterpretation of the original revelation? After all, it was Joseph who had the direct line to God, not his predecessors, by their own admission.

Buffalo wrote:After all, he was the only Mormon prophet to really claim direct, regular communication with Eloheim. Hinckley admitted that his revelations followed the same form that all other modern Mormons get - subtle impressions, the still small voice, feelings, etc. Joseph talked with God face to face, and also received direct, first person revelation from God (eg, "I the Lord am displeased with...").

So, for instance, why shouldn't Joseph's inspired take on the Word of Wisdom (beer and wine are okay, hot drinks of any kind are not, but none of this is compulsory) take precedence over Heber J. Grant's radical reinterpretation of the original revelation? After all, it was Joseph who had the direct line to God, not his predecessors, by their own admission.

good point. But his revelations tend to be accepted as scripture (almost the entire D&C), except for the embarrassing ones that didn't get canonized. Those become just opinion, and later prophets and apologists clarify what Joseph really meant. But you make a good point. If Joseph said there are men on the moon and had a full description of what they looked like and dressed like, coming from a guy who talks to god, that should be doctrinal.

Dark H. Vader guy: you need to reset your avatar- I can't see it.

Hey Buff,

Obviously, for a religion, the answer would be yes. What does the church want to emphasize these days? I'm getting this message from their ad campaign: "We are normal like you!"

Maybe later they will get back to a religion.

Joseph Smith only talked face to face with God because God hadn't yet set up the Celestial Order of the Committee. Now that there are 15 men who can discuss things around a table in the upper room of the temple and vote on them, and not make any major decisions except with unanimity, God simply doesn't need to appear to the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator anymore.

Sethbag wrote:Joseph Smith only talked face to face with God because God hadn't yet set up the Celestial Order of the Committee. Now that there are 15 men who can discuss things around a table in the upper room of the temple and vote on them, and not make any major decisions except with unanimity, God simply doesn't need to appear to the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator anymore.

Obviously God guided the development of the concept of a board of directors so that his church could move onto perfection!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_directors#History