The trouble with prophets is we don’t know when they are speaking as prophets

The Holy Ghost is supposed to confirm when the prophet’s words are true.

So then why have we gotten so many things so wrong?

Have you ever had the experience of looking at old doctrines of the church and saying to yourself, “Man, I’m glad we don’t believe that anymore”?

I had this experience several times as a believer. The first time for me, I think, is common for most members: it was when I learned about polygamy.

Then when I learned about the priesthood and temple ban, when I learned about garments that went from wrist to ankle, and when I learned about blood atonement.

But to be perfectly honest, the biggest one for me was as a young man contemplating marriage when I learned about old teachings against birth control.

​I was so glad that we didn’t believe that anymore.

Because honestly, the Holy Ghost wouldn’t have been enough to keep me from following all of it. I valued obedience.

The desire for happiness, mixed with obedience, kept me in the church for a long time, but it was also that same desire for happiness that eventually caused me to deconstruct all of it—even the atonement.