I recently read the following: “…unlike vintage comic books and classic cars, prophetic teachings do not become more valuable with age. That is why we should not seek to use the words of past prophets to dismiss the teachings of living prophets.” (source)
When we’re faced with such a situation, we should pause and consider whether the former or the latter (or both) is actually not on the same page with God. After all, Jesus warned us against false prophets who would come after him.
Secular history alerts us to the danger of embracing a new order that aims to hide or discard what was part of the old order. Conquering kingdoms have, in the past, sought to destroy knowledge and learning from the former. When Mao wanted to put in place a new order during his cultural revolution, he engaged in systematic destruction of the old culture.
Coming back to religion, between 1845 and 1847 there was a changing of the guard in Mormonism. Thereafter, Brigham Young began to promulgate at least four ideas (polygamy, blood atonement, priesthood restriction based on race, and Adam-God theory) which had not been taught or condoned by the former order (1844 and before) and were eventually denounced by the church that Brigham’s rule gave birth to.
I don’t know what motivated such a statement: “…unlike vintage comic books and classic cars, prophetic teachings do not become more valuable with age.” But, I could see it being a convenient way to unburden ourselves from an inconvenient past and try to forget it, hide it, and sweep it under the rug.
There is another way to unburden ourselves from that past. We do it by keeping always in our minds Jesus’s words when he warned us against false prophets. How can we discern false prophets? For this, I would say we look at the pattern Jesus himself set as the one concerning whom Moses said: “A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you…” (Acts 3.22-23)
Jesus set the example for us when he traveled with two disciples on the road to Emmaus: “...beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24.17) Jesus did not replace the words of the prophets. He confirmed, expounded, and explained the meaning of the words of the prophets.
When we hear a true prophet, we should hear the words of former prophets. In other words, we should be taught and have things expounded to our understanding from the scriptures. We should have our eyes opened and be edified as we come to greater knowledge, building upon the same sure foundation established by God in former times.
Starting after 1844, a new order began to be set in place. Much from former times was discarded or transfigured into something wholly different and profane. For this reason, the LDS church had good reason to discard those things. But then, if the fruit should be discarded, why not also consider disavowing and discarding the source from which those false ideas emerged?
Perhaps, in 1845, we actually should have used the words of former Prophets to dismiss the teachings of “prophets” who “transfigured the holy word of God” (Mormon 8.33). Perhaps if we had done so, we would not be in the terrible predicament we find ourselves in today.
From Section 1 of the Doctrine and Covenants, we learn that the foundation God was laying had as one of its primary purposes that “...faith also might increase in the earth.” (D&C 1.21) Is faith increasing among those who claim Joseph as the founder of their religion? Or are we seeing the opposite happen?
...it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ...that ye must build your foundation... 