“I would here say a word or two to the Saints, by way of caution. Because you have been deceived by your former leaders, do not mistrust those you have now, but let them have your confidence and your prayers. It is impossible but that offences come, but woe to them by whom they come; as I stated before, these men have their reward – their situation is not to be envied – they are now reaping the reward of their own doings.”
– John Taylor, 1847
(The immediate context is the corruption of a joint stock company organized in England to aid Mormon emigration, and, not incidentally, to enrich its organizers. The broader context … is up to you.)
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6 thoughts on ““Because you have been deceived by your former leaders …””
Ah, yes. I’ve heard of this scandal.
Its interesting the biases in which scandals get attention. This one is largely ignored. Is it really that unimportant?
Having said that, I think John Taylor’s plea is something that applies today. Leaders do make mistakes and people are harmed. We have to find a way past that.
Unfortunately we are in a culture that has been strongly shaped by Watergate and other subsequent scandals. The only model we have for thinking about scandals is one that assumes that everyone is guilty and should be thrown out and hated, and the institution they operated in should be suspected at every turn. This cultural reaction is very harsh.
Maybe because financial boondoggles of the long-ago aren’t as immediately engaging as murder and rape? or because there is no way to spin this one to implicate Brigham Young? But the principle itself is timeless.
But I thought the Church has always taught that its leaders are perfect and infallible?!?! When did this doctrine change!!?!?!
Snerk, quantum! I’ll have to dig out some John A. Widtsoe quotations I’ve seen from, I think, the 1920s. We never taught anything but infallibility, did we?
This quote certainly applies to those who have in fact had a reason to forgive leaders who have been dishonest, over-judging, and literally driven people from the church. Thank you for posting this reminder. I have a few people I’m going to share it with!
Ah, yes. I’ve heard of this scandal.
Its interesting the biases in which scandals get attention. This one is largely ignored. Is it really that unimportant?
Having said that, I think John Taylor’s plea is something that applies today. Leaders do make mistakes and people are harmed. We have to find a way past that.
Unfortunately we are in a culture that has been strongly shaped by Watergate and other subsequent scandals. The only model we have for thinking about scandals is one that assumes that everyone is guilty and should be thrown out and hated, and the institution they operated in should be suspected at every turn. This cultural reaction is very harsh.
Maybe because financial boondoggles of the long-ago aren’t as immediately engaging as murder and rape? or because there is no way to spin this one to implicate Brigham Young? But the principle itself is timeless.
But I thought the Church has always taught that its leaders are perfect and infallible?!?! When did this doctrine change!!?!?!
Snerk, quantum! I’ll have to dig out some John A. Widtsoe quotations I’ve seen from, I think, the 1920s. We never taught anything but infallibility, did we?
This quote certainly applies to those who have in fact had a reason to forgive leaders who have been dishonest, over-judging, and literally driven people from the church. Thank you for posting this reminder. I have a few people I’m going to share it with!