Peter's Denial

john Hall and Andrew Skinner have written articles and discussed the idea that Peter's denial was commanded him of Christ, and not of any weakness on his part (as hinted by Spencer W Kimball's talk about Peter years ago). I like this a whole lot, but just found an article in the church news from 95 by Millet that points out that Joseph Smith and Joseph Fielding Smith taught that P, J, and J received their calling and election sealing on the mount of transfiguration, long before the crucifixion. That makes it pretty sure that there is no way at Peter denied Christ out of fear or weakness, but that Christ had commanded him to, to prevent him from losing his life as well.

See church news articles:

Andrew Skinner, Lds church news 2003 (January)
And
Robert Millet, church news 1995 (July)