--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never told you I was perfect; but there…" description: "\"I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.\" — Joseph Smith, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/joseph-smith-jr-1647_errors_i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there_88151.png" --- # I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in… ![“I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.” quote by Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/joseph-smith-jr-1647_errors_i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there_88151.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/joseph-smith-jr-1647_errors_i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there_88151.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/joseph-smith-jr-1647_errors_i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there_88151.png) > “I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.” [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker admits imperfection but asserts that the teachings they have delivered are free of error, suggesting a separation between personal flaw and doctrinal truth. **In simple terms:** Imperfect teacher, flawless message. Key Takeaway Authority can be trusted despite human flaws. Themes authority belief doctrine self-awareness Mood confident assertive Type assertion philosophical When to use this quote - religious instruction - leadership speeches Key Concepts epistemic authority humility vs. certainty Practical Applications - evaluate teachings on their own merit - separate messenger from message Questions to Reflect On - Can a message be trustworthy if its source admits imperfection? - What evidence supports the claim of error‑free teachings? A Different Perspective Claims of error‑free revelations are hard to verify and may discourage critical inquiry. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Revelations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/revelations/) ## Related quotes > [When did I ever teach anything wrong from this stand? When was I ever confounded? I want to triumph in Israel before I depart…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/when-did-i-ever-teach-anything-wrong-from-this-stand-when-was-i-ever/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [“the only person's expectations I ever needed to measure up to were my own.  No one decides for me who I am, who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kat-lee/the-only-person-s-expectations-i-ever-needed-to-measure-up-to-were-my/) Kat Lee > [You told me I was perfect, you told me I was all you ever wanted, you told me I was beautiful and you told…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-told-me-i-was-perfect-you-told-me-i-was-all-you-ever-wanted-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [No man can receive the Holy Ghost without receiving revelations. The Holy Ghost is a revelator.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/no-man-can-receive-the-holy-ghost-without-receiving-revelations-the/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [All faiths constitute a revelation of Truth, but all are imperfect and liable to error](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/all-faiths-constitute-a-revelation-of-truth-but-all-are-imperfect-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [If Christ has risen the Bible is true from Genesis to Revelation. The kingdom of darkness has been overthrown. Satan has fallen like lightning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-hodge/if-christ-has-risen-the-bible-is-true-from-genesis-to-revelation-the/) [Charles Hodge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-hodge/) > [History has taught us: never underestimate the amount of money, time, and effort someone will expend to thwart a security system. It's always better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-schneier/history-has-taught-us-never-underestimate-the-amount-of-money-time/) [Bruce Schneier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-schneier/) > [My first program taught me a lot about the errors that I was going to be making in the future, and also about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-knuth/my-first-program-taught-me-a-lot-about-the-errors-that-i-was-going-to/) [Donald Knuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-knuth/) > [God's glory is the created brightness that surrounds God’s revelation of himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-grudem/god-s-glory-is-the-created-brightness-that-surrounds-god-s-revelation/) [Wayne Grudem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-grudem/) > [People don't need sudden revelations. They get what they need when they need it, thought by thought by thought. It's a constant thing when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/people-don-t-need-sudden-revelations-they-get-what-they-need-when/) [Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/) > [Happy (if mortals can be) is the man,Who, not by priest but Reason, rules his span:Reason, to its possessor a sure guide,Reason, a thorn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chatterton/happy-if-mortals-can-be-is-the-man-who-not-by-priest-but-reason-rules/) [Thomas Chatterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chatterton/) > [In the end theologians are jealous of science, for they are aware that it has greater authority than do their own ways of finding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-a-coyne/in-the-end-theologians-are-jealous-of-science-for-they-are-aware-that/) [Jerry A. Coyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-a-coyne/) > [Mine would be, "We will stand together, he and I. One in victory, one in shame. Only then can I truly own the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/mine-would-be-we-will-stand-together-he-and-i-one-in-victory-one-in/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Story is about pulling the reader in and a plot is a more externalized mechanism of revelation. A plot is more antic, more performative,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-enright/story-is-about-pulling-the-reader-in-and-a-plot-is-a-more/) [Anne Enright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-enright/) > [Therefore, brethren, pray until God gives us revelation so that "knowing this" in our spirit we may truly confess "that our old man has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/therefore-brethren-pray-until-god-gives-us-revelation-so-that-knowing/) [Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/) ## More by Joseph Smith, Jr > [ According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I \[the Lord\] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/according-to-the-laws-and-constitution-of-the-people-which-i-the-lord/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [All your losses will be made up to you in the resurrection, provided you continue faithful. By the vision of the Almighty I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/all-your-losses-will-be-made-up-to-you-in-the-resurrection-provided/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge. For if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/a-man-is-saved-no-faster-than-he-gets-knowledge-for-if-he-does-not/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [ \[W\]e shall have the satisfaction of knowing that we have acted conscientiously, and have used our best judgment. And if we have to throw… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/w-e-shall-have-the-satisfaction-of-knowing-that-we-have-acted/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [If I had not actually got into this work and been called of God, I would back out. But I cannot back out: I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/if-i-had-not-actually-got-into-this-work-and-been-called-of-god-i/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I will prove that the world is wrong, by showing what God is...God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-will-prove-that-the-world-is-wrong-by-showing-what-god-is-god/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [One of the grand fundamental principles of Mormonism is to receive truth, let it come from whence it may.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/one-of-the-grand-fundamental-principles-of-mormonism-is-to-receive/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I never thought it was right to call up a man and try him because he erred in doctrine, it looks too much like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-thought-it-was-right-to-call-up-a-man-and-try-him-because-he/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [The laundry has its hands on my dirty shirts, sheets, towels and tablecloths, and who knows what tales they tell.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/the-laundry-has-its-hands-on-my-dirty-shirts-sheets-towels-and/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [When we are accomplishing the good, the greatest opposition comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/when-we-are-accomplishing-the-good-the-greatest-opposition-comes/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Salvation cannot come without revelation. Men of the present time testify of heaven and hell, and have never seen either; and I will say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/salvation-cannot-come-without-revelation-men-of-the-present-time/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [ Will not the Lord hear my prayers and listen to my cries as soon as he ever did to theirs \[the ancient saints'\] if… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/will-not-the-lord-hear-my-prayers-and-listen-to-my-cries-as-soon-as/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Let the Saints remember that great things depend on their individual exertion, and that they are called to be co-workers with us and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/let-the-saints-remember-that-great-things-depend-on-their-individual/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [Friendship is the grand fundamental principle of Mormonism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/friendship-is-the-grand-fundamental-principle-of-mormonism/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) > [I don't blame anyone for not believing me, if I had not experienced it myself, I would not have believed it myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-don-t-blame-anyone-for-not-believing-me-if-i-had-not-experienced-it/) [Joseph Smith, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) [Explore all 219 Joseph Smith, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/) ## More Errors quotes > [It is easier to perceive error than to find truth, for the former lies on the surface and is easily seen, while the latter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/it-is-easier-to-perceive-error-than-to-find-truth-for-the-former-lies/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Effective leaders are made, not born. They learn from trial and error, and from experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/effective-leaders-are-made-not-born-they-learn-from-trial-and-error/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [“I saw the errors I had made and assumed full responsibility for everything.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-saw-the-errors-i-had-made-and-assumed-full-responsibility-for/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Sometimes I envy painters, it is wonderful to remain in front of a bouquet of flowers a whole morning, or even longer. A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Truth is error burned up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-o-brown/truth-is-error-burned-up/) [Norman O. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-o-brown/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [It is often sadly remarked that the bad economists present their errors to the public better than the good economists present their truths. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hazlitt/it-is-often-sadly-remarked-that-the-bad-economists-present-their/) [Henry Hazlitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hazlitt/) > [Developing fewer features allows you to conserve development resources and spend more time refining those features that users really need. Fewer features mean fewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/developing-fewer-features-allows-you-to-conserve-development/) [Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/) > [Tachyon OPC+ is a natural extension of our market-winning Tachyon platform, giving customers a clear path to minimizing the OPC error budget and producing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-vaughan/tachyon-opc-is-a-natural-extension-of-our-market-winning-tachyon/) [Bill Vaughan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-vaughan/) > [It is not to everyone's taste that truth should be pronounced pleasant. But at least let no one believe that error becomes truth when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/it-is-not-to-everyone-s-taste-that-truth-should-be-pronounced/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [To avoid being drawn into error, keep a firm grip on the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/to-avoid-being-drawn-into-error-keep-a-firm-grip-on-the-truth/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [Over immense periods of time the intellect produced nothing but errors. A few of these proved to be useful and helped to preserve the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/over-immense-periods-of-time-the-intellect-produced-nothing-but/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [But to me all sciences seem vain and full of error that are not born of experience, mother of all certainty, and do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonardo-da-vinci/but-to-me-all-sciences-seem-vain-and-full-of-error-that-are-not-born/) [Leonardo da Vinci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonardo-da-vinci/) Browse all 2,404 Errors quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joseph Smith, Jr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there-is-no-error-in-the/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Errors" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there-is-no-error-in-the/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/joseph-smith-jr-1647_errors_i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there_88151.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/joseph-smith-jr-1647_errors_i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there_88151.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8f9/joseph-smith-jr-1647_errors_i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there_88151.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never told you I was perfect; but there is no error in the revelations which I have taught.” — Joseph Smith, Jr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Joseph Smith, Jr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-smith-jr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never told you I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there-is-no-error-in-the/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-smith-jr/i-never-told-you-i-was-perfect-but-there-is-no-error-in-the/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```