Authority

Many years ago a learned man, a member of the Roman Catholic Church came to Utah and spoke from the stand of the SL Tabernacle. I became well acquainted with him and we conversed freely and frankly. A great Scholar, with perhaps a dozen languages at this tongues end, he seemed to know all about theology, law, literature, science and philosophy. One day he said to me: "you Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don't even know the strength of your own position. It is so strong that there is only one other tenable in the whole Christian world, and this is the position of the Catholic Church. The issue is between Catholicism and Mormonism. If we are right, you are wrong; if you are right, we are wrong; and that's all there is to it. The Protestants haven't a leg to stand on. For, if we are wrong, they are wrong with us since they were a part of us and went out from us; while is we are right, they are apostates who we cut off long ago. If we have the apostolic succession from St. Peter, as we claim, there is no need of Joseph Smith and Mormonism; but if we have not that succession, then such a man as Joseph Smith was necessary, and Mormonism attitude is the only consistent one. It is either the perpetuation of the gospel from Ancient times, or the restoration of the gospel in the latter day.”

(LeGrand Richards, a Marvelous Work and a Wonder, p 3-4) Quotes in General Conference April 1972 by LeGrand Richards