"A half-truth is the most cowardly of lies.”
― Mark Twain
In a world where so many adopt a warped sense of right and wrong comes an anthem of "speak your truth" as if the truth were a matter of personal perspective, not fact. This is a dilemma that will continue in the next blog post. But here, we emphasize why we must be wary of false spiritual things, regardless of their intent, and the attitude we should show towards the sacred.
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A SENSE OF THE SACRED
In any religious matter, there are always those who will disagree with them who stir the waters; especially when said water is their means of making a living. But the living water of the gospel was never a product to be bottled, marketed, and sold! Yet such selfish corruption has been around for a long time. Even Jesus, the Prince of Peace, in justified fierceness, "Went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves" (Matt. 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19: 45-46). Perverting spiritual, even sacred things, for personal gain is simply sacrilege.
Elder D. Todd Christoffersen of the Twelve Apostles on a few occasions used a phrase that each of us might consider when dealing with the things of God and that phrase is, "A Sense of the Sacred". Says he:
"The importance of having a sense of the sacred is simply this—if one does not appreciate holy things, he will lose them. Absent a feeling of reverence, he will grow increasingly casual in attitude and lax in conduct. He will drift from the moorings that his covenants with God could provide. His feeling of accountability to God will diminish and then be forgotten. Thereafter, he will care only about his own comfort and satisfying his uncontrolled appetites. Finally, he will come to despise sacred things, even God, and then he will despise himself."
The world at large is increasing in opposition to the things of God. Sometimes, this comes in the form of purposefully offensive attacks, physical and non-physical alike, against the devoted, their faith, and their practices. At other times, the spiritual opposition we see is more passive and comes in the form of indifferent, casual, or irreverent attitudes regarding the sacred things of God. In both cases, the things of God are not being treated with the seriousness and sanctity that they deserve. One might even call it "sacrilege". In developing a sense of the sacred, we become less casual in our attitudes and more committed toward God and His commandments. But lastly, and this is what this blog post will discuss, is the caution against the counterfeit teachings and practices that some people, albeit some of which mean well, need to stop disseminating, because they go in contrary to the true gospel of Jesus Christ and thus are, similarly, in opposition to the things of God. No matter the pure desires of an individual, it is unmistakable that there is a right way to go about administering the sacred things of God, and any other way is incorrect.
FALSE PROPHETS
Nevertheless, correction is the path to improvement in any aspect of life. So, understand that this isn't anything personal towards many well-meaning individuals, mainly those who set out to much a buck off of the sacred. Above all, I wish to illustrate the importance of having real prophets with real priesthood authority, and especially understanding the role of faith in Jesus Christ which is unto repentance, not personal gain.
This is a loving precaution concerning the self-appointed clergy. This is a sensitive subject and I don’t wish to offend but there is a hard truth. There is no shortage of those who feel that God wants them to preach His word. It's true that inspiration may come to direct one’s own affairs but to be a prophet or profess any position of spiritual authority takes more than a feeling, desire, study, certificate, or training. You can be a professor or scholar, or just a lover and sharer of the scriptures but no certificate or degree or can make one a self-appointed speaker for heaven. The right to preach doesn’t come from picking up a copy of the Bible. Of course, reading the scriptures is great but reading can only do so much. That’s why the priesthood is foundational—it ties us to God through covenants and ordinances (See "Priesthood" and "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism"). And yet there are many religious establishments based around a single out-of-context doctrine or series of sermons despite lacking the necessary things of eternal worth.
Ponder Question: Why do we need the priesthood to make covenants? In what other ways can the priesthood bless us? Is it better to have authority or knowledge? Note that these are open ended questions.
They may have branches but they have no root. Look beyond what you see. Christ warned of false prophets who would come, “In sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matt. 7:15; 3 Ne. 14:15); people who pretend to be something they aren’t. Said He, “Many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matt. 24:11). “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible even the elect” (Matt. 24:24; Mark 13:22; D&C 45:40). Miracle working doesn’t necessarily signify someone is God sent. False prophets can also show signs and wonders, they might even believe that it's of God, but we must be careful of this. Use the still, small voice and everything will work out.
Pretenders of prophets are not new. Moses was properly called of God and given authority to show signs and wonders unto the prideful Egyptians (Exo. 4:17), but “Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments” (Exo. 7:10-13). When the plagues escalated, counterfeits proved inferior to God’s priesthood. Even anciently, there were false prophets and miracle workers.
Likewise, the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament, who's best known for the wonders he performed, challenged the four hundred and fifty “prophets of Baal” (Baal was the God of the Sun) to pray to their pagan deity for fire from heaven to consume their sacrifice (1 Kings 18:17-40). Non-surprisingly, their rather dramatic performances failed because they were false prophets pretending to be something they weren't. The Lord answered only to Elijah, doing what the "prophets of Baal" could not.
Throughout the scriptures we find the theme of “Priestcrafts” which are when individuals “Preach to set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of [God’s people]” (2 Ne. 26:29). Said Peter of those individuals who seek or pretend power for personal use or gratification, “Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter…” (Acts 8:18-24). Priesthood authority cannot be bought nor summoned out of thin air; it is a literal authority transferred by the laying on of hands by those who already have the priesthood.
The difference between true prophets and pretenders is primarily priesthood (See "Priesthood"). Joseph Smith received the priesthood in 1829 by heavenly messengers (See "The Return of the King -- Part 4.2"). Translating the Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ by the gift and power of God by 1830 is evidence that He really did see the Father and Son and that it wasn’t something imaginary (See "The Return of the King -- Part 4.1"). It’s a product that we can read and examine for ourselves. It is a “fruit” or evidence of divine intervention in our day. "By their fruits, ye shall know them." (Matt. 7:16-20; Luke 6:44; 3 Ne. 14:16, 20)
The seventh Article of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints states, “We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth”. It's true that we believe in these things and more, miracles even, but to have one or more of these gifts of the spirit does not make one authoritative. Gifts of the spirit may be given to anybody, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.” (1 Cor. 12:7)
SIGN SEEKING
Jesus Christ was and is the Son of God. He walked on earth, the Messiah, a teacher, a leader, son of an honest carpenter, friend, minister, and Savior of mankind. Where there was faith to be found, wonders followed. This He did not for vain ambition or popularity sake but that man might know to whom to turn to for a remission of their sins (2 Ne. 25:26). Though He was all-powerful, His miraculous manifestations were not used selfishly or in place of faith. There came to Him “certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees saying, ‘Master, we would see a sign from thee’. But He answered and said unto them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign…” (Matt. 12:38-39).
We reject sign seeking! Instead, Jesus requires that we have faith, not evidence, unto conversion. The feeding of the five thousand won the temporary interest of some insomuch that “they would come and take him by force, to make him king” (John 6:15), but it was less than twenty-four hours later when they heard his “Bread of Life” sermon and took it to be “An hard saying” (vs. 60) and soon after “walked with him no more” (vs. 66). What they sought for personal pleasure would not and did not ensure enduring conversion; those who were converted like Peter had the right attitude, “…Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.” (vs. 68-69)
When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, He showed Himself to His disciples. “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples, therefore, said unto him, ‘We have seen the Lord’, But he said unto them, ‘Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the prints of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:24-25). After eight days, Jesus came again, “Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands, and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing” (vs. 27). Thomas had proof and believed. “Jesus saith unto him, ‘Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed” (vs. 29). Thomas had no reason to doubt his fellow Apostles, He being an Apostle himself, but although he did gain a personal witness, Christ was firm to reiterate the importance of believing regardless of manifestation.
Some miracles or blessings come regardless of priesthood intervention simply because God does love all His children. But distortion comes as soon as one becomes dependent on signs and miracles in order to believe or accredits himself as a miracle worker. Miracles are not inherently bad but they must not mask the essence of the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
Jesus, in addition to being God’s son, was also a prophet, even that prophet of which Moses spoke (Acts 7:37) but He was not the last prophet. Said Jesus, “I will send them prophets and apostles…” (Luke 11:49). He also taught, “By their fruits ye shall know them” (Matt. 7:15-23). I know that we have a true and living prophet leading the church today. He is the only prophet who has all priesthood keys to act as the prophet, and spokesperson for God, for the entire world. I encourage all to hear what He has to say, pray, read the scriptures, and come to know for themselves not by sight but by the power of the Holy Ghost that he is a true prophet as I know.
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