A subjunctive statement in the Lord’s voice about the “only true and living church” (D&C 1:30) has been widely misunderstood as a statement of fact. Statements made as hopes or possibilities can be misunderstood as declarations. Mood confusion occurs when a statement made in one mood is understood to have been made in another mood and causes us to misunderstand God’s meaning and to misquote God. A basic understanding of the subjunctive mood can prevent us from mistaking an invitation from God for a divine endorsement of our present state before him.

McKay Lyman Platt, Jennifer Koski