The Prophet Over Science
In 1857, Wilford Woodruff taught that if the Prophet contradicts scientific fact, it is your duty to 'abandon that principle or theory.' Authority over evidence.
Audio coming soon
The Quote
“Whatever I might have obtained in the shape of learning, by searching and study respecting the arts and sciences of men—whatever principles I may have imbibed during my scientific researches, yet, if the Prophet of God should tell me that a certain principle or theory which I might have learned was not true, I do not care what my ideas might have been, I should consider it my duty, at the suggestion of my file leader, to abandon that principle or theory.” — Wilford Woodruff, JoD 5:83 (April 9, 1857)
Lyrics
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Historical Context
The Setting: April 9, 1857 — The Bowery, Great Salt Lake City. General Conference. Wilford Woodruff speaks on following priesthood leadership.
The Speaker: Wilford Woodruff (1807-1898) — Apostle at the time, later became the Fourth President of the LDS Church (1889-1898). He is most famous for Official Declaration 1, which ended the practice of plural marriage.
The Context: Woodruff is addressing the question of how to handle conflicts between personal knowledge and prophetic instruction. He explicitly states that any scientific learning should be abandoned if the Prophet declares it untrue. This wasn’t hypothetical — it applied to real disputes about cosmology, evolution, and other scientific matters where early LDS leaders made claims now known to be false.
The Irony: Woodruff himself would later be celebrated for issuing the Manifesto ending polygamy — a reversal of earlier prophetic teaching. The same man who said to “abandon” science when the prophet speaks would lead the Church to abandon polygamy when circumstances required.
Lyric-to-Source Mapping
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Addressing Apologetic Responses
“He’s talking about spiritual matters, not science”
No. He explicitly says “the arts and sciences of men” and “scientific researches.” He’s specifically addressing what to do when your scientific knowledge contradicts the prophet.
“Faith should inform reason”
Perhaps. But Woodruff isn’t describing a dialogue between faith and reason — he’s describing wholesale abandonment of knowledge at the prophet’s word. “I do not care what my ideas might have been.”
“Prophets can receive revelation about anything”
If prophets can override scientific fact by fiat, then we’re left with prophets who declared the sun is inhabited (Brigham Young, JoD 13:271), that evolution is false, and other claims contradicted by evidence. The doctrine Woodruff articulates has been tested — and found wanting.
“Members don’t believe this today”
Many don’t. But this was taught as doctrine by a future prophet. When did it stop being true?
“I should consider it my duty… to abandon that principle or theory.”