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Woes Embraced by the LDS

Behold the witness of the Latter Day Saints

Each prophetic woe is rooted in God's Holy Word, each charge brought forth by their own creed and testimony. Therefore the lament is spoken, and the mirror of truth is lifted before them.

1. Woe to the proud and self‑exalted

— who proclaim, “I am learned, and know more than all the world put together” 1, who are sustained as Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and even acknowledged as “King” in a theocratic council 2, — who seek the highest seats of power to magnify themselves, and who put their trust in the arm of flesh, gathering armed men to secure their will34 and who declare that saving authority is vested in “one man on the earth at a time” 5.

2. Woe to the persistent sinners

— who preach chastity yet secretly institute plural marriage, including unions with women already married to other men, keeping the practice hidden from their own people 6.

3. Woe to the false spiritual leaders

— who destroy the press that dares expose their secret works 7, who teach that it is “wrong to criticize leaders… even if the criticism is true” 8, and who silence dissent through membership councils and withdrawal of fellowship 9.

4. Woe to the unprepared

— who send out missionaries trained on scripted lessons, then later must replace them with a call to teach by the Spirit and adapt to needs 10, and who must be reminded to labor diligently to strengthen and retain new converts 10.

5. Woe to the rebellious nations

— who raise up bands like the Danites in times of conflict 11, who leverage civic charters to consolidate extraordinary powers 12, and whose later folklore foretells a constitutional crisis in which Zion rises 13.

6. Woe to the violent and unjust

— who shed innocent blood and whose leaders were implicated 14, who preached of “blood atonement” from the pulpit 15.

7. Woe to the complacent

— who place upon the people the burdens of an institutional hierarchy Christ never established 16, while overseeing significant financial operations 17, while urging the poor and widowed to pay tithes in faith first 18.

8. Woe to the gathered armies against God

— who mobilize members and means to influence moral legislation 19, who publicly engage governments on “moral issues” despite political neutrality claims 20, and who frame opposition as threats to religious freedom 21.

9. Woe to the unrepentant world system

— who build ever more and grander temples 22, who maintain significant financial operations amid ongoing questions and controversy regarding financial practices 28, and who take an active seat in the public square while teaching separation from worldly corruption. 23.

10. Woe to all who oppose God’s people

— who declare that the creeds of other churches are an abomination 24, who discipline those deemed in apostasy 9, and who teach that saving ordinances require their exclusive priesthood authority 25.

11. Woe to those trusting in false security

— who promise that the Lord will never permit their prophet to lead the people astray 26, and who teach that following the prophet is the path of safety 27.

A lament for the contradictions they hold as truth.

Sources

LDS‑published, LDS‑archived, and non‑hostile to the LDS Sources

Please examine these sources directly and consider the evidence for yourself. Honest inquiry requires a willingness to follow truth wherever it leads.
The pursuit of truth matters because truth is worth seeking and embracing. We should strive first to be true to ourselves.

“As a Christian, I believe this pursuit of truth is important because Jesus taught, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life.’”

  1. History of the Church, Vol. 6, p. 408 churchofjesuschrist.org — “I am learned, and know more than all the world put together.”
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  2. Council of Fifty Minutes, Church Historian’s Press history.churchofjesuschrist.org — the council chose him at the meeting on April 11, 1844, to be their “Prophet, Priest & King.”.
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  3. Times and Seasons, Feb. 1844 churchofjesuschrist.org — announcement and platform for Joseph Smith’s presidential campaign.
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  4. Church History Topics: “Nauvoo Legion,” churchofjesuschrist.org — background on the Nauvoo militia and leadership.
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  5. Doctrine and Covenants 132:7 churchofjesuschrist.org — sealing authority vested in “one man on the earth at a time.”
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  6. Gospel Topics Essays: “Plural Marriage in Kirtland and Nauvoo,” churchofjesuschrist.org — including instances of polyandry.
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  7. Church History Topics: “Nauvoo Expositor,” churchofjesuschrist.org — city council action to destroy the press.
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  8. Dallin H. Oaks, “Criticism,” BYU Fireside, May 4, 1986 (BYU Speeches).
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  9. General Handbook, “Membership Councils and Church Membership,” churchofjesuschrist.org.
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  10. Preach My Gospel (2004; 2023), Introduction and chapters on teaching by the Spirit and retention of converts.
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  11. Encyclopedia of Mormonism (BYU): “Danites.”
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  12. Encyclopedia of Mormonism (BYU): “Nauvoo Charter.”
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  13. Church History Topics: “White Horse Prophecy,” churchofjesuschrist.org (discussion of the folklore and its status).
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  14. Church History Topics: “Mountain Meadows Massacre,” churchofjesuschrist.org.
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  15. Journal of Discourses, Vol. 4, p. 219 — Brigham Young sermons referenced in discussions of “blood atonement.”
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  16. Maintaining Meetinghouses churchofjesuschrist.org
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  17. “Church Financial Administration,” churchofjesuschrist.org.
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  18. Gordon B. Hinckley, “Tithing: An Opportunity to Prove Our Faithfulness,” Ensign, Nov. 1982.
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  19. Newsroom: “The Divine Institution of Marriage” and statements on Proposition 8 involvement (2008).
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  20. Newsroom: “Political Neutrality” — the Church may address moral issues.
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  21. Newsroom: “Religious Freedom” and “Fairness for All” initiatives.
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  22. Newsroom: “A Look Back at Temple Milestones in 2025” — Nine temple dedications, 20 construction starts and 16 announced new locations.
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  23. Newsroom: “Political Neutrality and Participation” churchofjesuschrist.org.
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  24. Joseph Smith—History 1:19 — “their creeds were an abomination.”
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  25. Doctrine and Covenants 1:30 — “the only true and living church”; teachings on saving ordinances requiring priesthood authority.
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  26. Wilford Woodruff, Official Declaration 1 — “The Lord will never permit me… to lead you astray.”
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  27. Ezra Taft Benson, “Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet,” BYU Devotional, Feb. 26, 1980 (BYU Speeches).
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  28. Sources regarding public scrutiny and reporting on Church financial practices:

    Newsroom: Church finances and a growing global Church — official statement regarding the SEC settlement.

    60 Minutes: “Mormon whistleblower: Church’s investment firm masquerades as charity.”

    BYU Studies: Answering Questions About Church Finances — A Model for Rigorous Faithful Inquiry
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If these words stir questions in your heart, do not leave them unanswered. Open the Bible and let its words speak plainly to you. Search its claims with an open mind and an open heart. The God who created you calls you to know Him — not as one among many, but as the only God, Savior, and Lord (Isaiah 45:5; John 17:3).

Final Call: While it is called Today, search your heart for contriteness and humility; and if such be found, do not delay — come to the Lord Jesus Christ while the door yet stands open.