6. False Prophets

6A. Has the Bible warned us about false prophets?

Yes,

For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before."
Matthew 24:24, 25.

Jesus has warned us in advance, false prophets would be here, they would look good, show great signs and wonders, for one reason: TO DECEIVE THE VERY ELECT.

6B. What does First John 4:1 tell us to do concerning the false prophet?

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world."

6C. Does Joseph Smith pass the test of a true prophet?

No, one false prophecy would forever disqualify a man as a true prophet of GOD.

"But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.

And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
Deuteronomy 18:20-22.

6D. How did the Mormon Church try to hide the facts that Joseph Smith is a False Prophet?

Joseph Fielding Smith stated in 1972,

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, that when I give a commandment to any of the sons of men to do work unto my name, and those sons of men go with all their might and cease not their diligence, and their enemies come upon them and hinder them from performing that work, behold it behooveth me to require that work no more at the hands of those sons of men, but to accept their offerings."

1972, Answers to Gospel Questions, Vol. 4, p. 112.

6E. What does the Bible say the false prophet would do when he was caught?

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the prophets shall be ashamed every one of his visions, when he hath prophesied."
Zechariah 13:4

6F. Should a sincere person follow a false prophet for any reason?

No,

"...the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him."
Ezekiel 14:10

6G. What does the Mormon Church say about following a false prophet?

Joseph Smith should be exposed as a False Prophet!

"Mormonism, as it is called, must stand or fall on the story of Joseph Smith. He was either a prophet of God, divinely called, properly appointed and commissioned, or he was one of the biggest frauds this world has ever seen. There is no middle ground.

If Joseph Smith was a deceiver who willfully attempted to mislead the people then he should be exposed: his claims should be refuted, and his doctrines whom to be false, for the doctrines of an imposter cannot be made to harmonize in all particulars with divine truth. If his claims and declarations were build upon fraud and deceit, there would appear many errors and contradiction, which would be easy to detect. The doctrines of false teachers will not stand the test when tried by the accepted standards of measurement, the scriptures."

Doctrines of Salvation by Joseph F. Smith, Vol. 1 p. 188.

6H. Joseph Smith is a false prophet! What is the punishment of a false prophet?

Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!"
Ezekiel 13:13

"The false prophet...were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone."
Revelation 19:20 and Revelation 20:10

6I. Can a true church come from a false prophet?

No, according to Jesus.

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Matthew 7:15

(A ravening wolf will take your temporal life, a false prophet will take your eternal life)

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Matthew 7:16

(We shall know them by what they say)

Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Matthew 7:17-19

(The fruits of the prophet is his prophecies)

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Matthew 7:20

6J. Joseph Smith is a false prophet, we are not to be afraid of him.

"And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken?

When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."
Deuteronomy 18:21-22