THE DOCTRINE OF INFALLIBILITY – the mother of all false traditions and doctrines!

Pride has been called ”the universal sin, the great vice” and ”the great stumbling block to Zion.” Pride is, as it were, the mother of all sin!

M. Russel Ballard

If we were to point our finger at one ’doctrine’ that might be called ’the mother of all false doctrines and traditions’, it might well be the following doctrine, in this instance expressed by M. Russel Ballard.

 “Keep [your eyes] on the leaders of the Church. … We will not and … cannot lead [you] astray.” 

A brief history of this 'doctrine'!

This doctrine, called the ’infallibility doctrine’, wasn’t conceived by M. Russel Ballard, but rather by Wilford Woodruff. In 1890, the Church was loosing all of its material possessions (including the temples) as a consequence of the Edmunds-Tucker Act, passed in 1886. This act focused on restricting the Church's practice of polygamy, which was considered to be on of the twin relics of barbarism (the other being slavery). Among other things, the Act disincorporated the Church.

The leaders of the Church, beginning with Brigham Young, had taught that polygamy was essential to both exaltation and the faith established by God through Joseph Smith, and anyone that taught against this would be damned. The aim of this was to get the practice of polygamy considered an essential part of the LDS religion and thereby protected by the First Amendment and the free exercise of religion. Despite its efforts, the Church was forced to either comply with the Federal requirement to stop the practice of polygamy, or to forfeit all its material possessions. 

Wilford Woodruff had, in 1869, taught that, “If we were to do away with polygamy ... then we must do away with prophets and Apostles, with revelation and the gifts and graces of the Gospel... and finally give up our religion altogether.... We just can't do that...." (Journal of Discourses, v. 13, p. 166) Since Wilford and his predecessors (except Joseph) had taught that polygamy could never be done away with, he had to give some kind of reassurance to the membership that all was still well in Zion, when he decided to discontinue the practice of polygamy. 

The practice of polygamy is oftentimes believed to have ended with the 1890 Manifesto. That's not true (but is a subject for some other day). Wilford Woodruff is believed to have written the Manifesto whereas Charles W. Penrose claimed to have written it. I don't know who wrote it, and it doesn't matter. The important matter is that, just like Charles W. Penrose is reported to have said, “The Manifesto was not a divine production but something manufactured to outwit the church's enemies” (Apostle Charles W. Penrose, as reported in Solemn Covenant, by Carmon Hardy, 1992).

In connection with presenting the Manifesto to the membership of the Church for sustaining vote, the 'doctrine' of infallibility was taught for the first time. Wilford Woodruff stated the following:

"The Lord will never permit me or any other man who stands as President of this Church to lead you astray. It is not in the programme. It is not in the mind of God. If I were to attempt that, the Lord would remove me out of my place, and so He will any other man who attempts to lead the children of men astray from the oracles of God and from their duty." (Sixty-first Semiannual General Conference of the Church, Monday, October 6, 1890, Salt Lake City, Utah. Reported in Deseret Evening News, October 11, 1890, p. 2.)

Wilford Woodruff taught this 'doctrine', defending and justifying a hoax! It's a false doctrine.

A well established 'doctrine'

Since 1890, many Church leaders have born powerful testimony that this 'doctrine' is true.

For example, on September 1, 1994, Deseret News reported that, 

"The LDS Church will never be without a prophet and that prophet will never lead the church astray, a member of the church's First Presidency told a regional conference this week.  

Gordon B. Hinckley, first counselor in the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, on Sunday responded to a paper presented at the Sunstone Symposium in Salt Lake City two weeks ago. In the paper, Mormon feminist housewife Janice Allred said statements by President Hinckley that God never would allow the church to be led astray do not have a scriptural basis.  

"She can present her paper until doomsday," President Hinckley said at a Tri-Stake Regional Conference at church-owned Ricks College, but God will see to it that the church will not be led astray.  

In her paper, Allred said, "The scriptures do not give any unconditional promises that the church will never fail, although there are some conditional ones. The condition of the promises is obedience to God, not obedience to leaders."  

People who have been taught to accept anything their leaders say without seeking spiritual confirmation are "easy to deceive," Allred said.  

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church whose members sing, "We Thank Thee, O God, For A Prophet," [and following] that prophet is the way to salvation, President Hinckley said. "Our peace, safety and salvation lie in following the prophet."

Randall K. Bennett of the Seventy taught that, "[W]e have the Lord’s personal promise that the prophets will never lead us astray." 

These are but two examples. Rest assured, there are many, many, many more. It's important to remember, that it doesn't matter how many times a false doctrine is taught, it still remains false.

As noted in the article from Deseret News, Janice Allred stated (in her paper, which is excellent, even though I don't agree with all she says) that there is no scriptural basis for teaching that God never would allow the church to be led astray.

This is evident from the fact that, to support his supposition that we have the Lord's personal promise about not being led astray, Randall Bennett points us to the teachings of Harold B. Lee, Marion G. Romney and Wilford Woodruff. Either Randall Bennett didn't bother to search the scriptures, or he did but couldn't find any support there. Together with Janice Allred, I challenge anyone to find the scriptural reference for this personal promise. I propose that there isn't scriptural basis for this 'doctrine'. It's false, and it's dangerous.

When you're done searching for scriptural support of the 'doctrine' of infallibility, you could start a search for scriptures teaching the opposite. If you need some help to get started, this is a phenomenal resource.

One of my favorite verses that teaches that we can, or more correctly will be led astray by our "shepherds", is this one from Jeremiah 50. He prophesies about a future period of time when Zion has been redeemed and the people of God shall go there to join themselves to the Holy City.

"My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place." (see v. 4-7; emphasis added)

Before we move on...

Janice Allred was later excommunicated from the Church (in Janice's own words here).

This reported quote from Gordon Hinckley is so revealing (from the Deseret News article): 

"Following that prophet is the way to salvation. Our peace, safety and salvation lie in following the prophet."

This teaching is false. There is no safety in following man. Only in following Jesus. He is the way, the truth and the life, and we can't get to the Father but by Him! (John 14:6)

What makes this false doctrine so dangerous?

Easy to deceive

Just like Janice Allred stated, people who accept this 'doctrine' are easy to deceive. This fact makes the infallibility doctrine the mother of all false traditions (and false doctrines). A people that surrenders their own responsibility to search out truth and accepts whatever comes from a man/group of men as the mind and will of God and the truth,  is like a puppet show. They will accept, defend and promote teachings and policies that are in clear violation of the doctrine of Christ and the scriptures and they will thank God for a prophet while they do it! 

They will go to great length to justify the dictates from Salt Lake City, even if it means that they will have to come up with colorful explanations and twist and wrest the word of God. They make the word of God null and void. They will say and take comfort in the belief that the Lord will see us through, relying on the false doctrine that we can't be led astray. To them, the pronouncement that "all is well in Zion" is a source of comfort rather than a warning. To them, there's no chance in the world, that the leaders of the Church might be wrong. For me, it's hard to accept this reality. In my mind, we have ample evidence that the Church has been led astray by earlier leaders–if it happened then, why couldn't it happen now?

False traditions (and doctrines) are accepted without thought, on the sole basis that they come from leaders of the Church! Satan doesn't have to put in the effort to get to each member. Instead, he can focus on getting hold of the leadership. If he can make them promote the idea that all is well in Zion, they will, together with their followers, be carefully led down to hell! (2 Ne. 28; read the whole chapters and please understand that it talks about us.) This is serious! Please consider this thoughtfully and prayerfully.

Faith and trust in man

Besides making us easy to deceive, this 'doctrine' is dangerous because it fosters faith and trust IN MAN!We are commanded to put our "trust in the LORD with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding" (Prov. 3:5). If all our heart is invested in God there is no place left for trust in anyone else. 

John Calvin asked rhetorically, "Is it faith to understand nothing, and merely submit your convictions implicitly to the Church?" If we are led to put our full trust in the Church and its leaders, how can we then trust in God? How can we grow in faith on His name? And how can we come to Him when we've put an organization and mortal men in between us? Jesus stands betwixt God and us (see Mosiah 15:9), and He keeps no servant at the gate (see 2 Ne. 9:41).

Faith and trust in man is faith and trust in the arm of flesh. Nephi expressed it clearly when he said that, "O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm." (2 Ne. 4:34; emphasis added)

Conclusion

Janice Allred states in her paper that, ”A church that believes it cannot go astray gives good evidence that it already has.” Sadly, I believe this is true. But, this doesn't mean that God cannot use the Church as one of many tools employed in His work and  glory, nor does it mean that everything in the Church is false. Not even close. The Church is, in my opinion, a wonderful place to be. Still, what's worse than being lost? Not knowing that you are (lost, that is!).

How can we, as an institution, get back on the right track if we choose pride over humility? If we can't even accept the slight possibility that we might have gone astray and that not all is well in Zion? If the Church, if we as members, can't humble ourselves and acknowledge our "sins", then how can we ever hope to redeem Zion? How can anyone who is oblivious or blind to their uncleanness hope to be counted among the pure in heart, which is Zion (Moses 7:18)? 

God desires that we all are prophets (Num. 11:29) and that we all know Him! How could that be possible if we, like the ancient Israel refuse to come to Him, and send Moses (or Thomas, or Russel or Dallin) to get to know God on our behalf? Some things can't be done by proxy.

God wants us to know Him! Let's follow the admonition in the scriptures, and put our trust in Him, get rid of our false traditions and our belief in false doctrines! 

"The world is full of people who are willing to tell us, “Do as I say.” Surely we have no lack of advice givers on about every subject. But we have so few who are prepared to say, “Do as I do.” And, of course, only One in human history could rightfully and properly make that declaration. History provides many examples of good men and women, but even the best of mortals are flawed in some way or another. None could serve as a perfect model nor as an infallible pattern to follow, however well-intentioned they might be. 

Only Christ can be our ideal, our “bright and morning star”. Only he can say without any reservation, “Follow me; learn of me; do the things you have seen me do. Drink of my water and eat of my bread. I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the law and the light. Look unto me and ye shall live. Love one another as I have loved you.” (Howard W. Hunter, General Conference, April 1994)

A VOICE OF WARNING

By recent turn of events, I feel that I have been warned. Now, it ”becometh [me] to warn [my] neighbor.” (D&C 88:81) What have I been warned about?

Two years ago, I woke up to the fact that my involvement in the Church hadn't been satisfyingly spiritual. Un-religious activities (in my case, triathlon) gave more meaning to my life than what I got from Church. In this, I was to blame, but I've also come to understand that "all has not been well in Zion", and that I, because of this, lacked true understanding of the plan of salvation and the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

After prayers, fasting, serving in the temple, study of scriptures, reading of books, blogs and articles, contemplation, discussions with friends and family, watching videos, I've gained some understanding which have changed me and my view of my Heavenly Parents, Jesus, my relationship to them, my beliefs regarding the Church and what God intended to do through the instrumentality of Joseph Smith. It's like everything has changed, although it all looks the same.

One part of the warning I've received is that the faith held and promoted by the Church is lacking in power and in truth. It's full of false doctrines and traditions, and these will, if not handled with humility and faith in Jesus Christ, damn us! With them, we will stay gentiles and not be numbered among Gods people. Without them, we are free to rise up to our potential, and maybe even get a chance to "endure to the end" (that is, to fulfill the measure of our creation).

Light and truth

”That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.” (D&C 50:24)

”Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Light and truth is the essence of godliness, or, in other words, ”the glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.” (D&C 93:36)

From the word of God we learn that the more light and truth we have, the closer we are to God, and the closer we are to God, the more joy, love and peace we will experience. One could argue, that God works through light and truth for the salvation of his children.

Light and truth is hard to acquire, and hard to keep. In order to receive truth and light, we need to keep God’s commandments (see D&C 93:28; see also John 3:21). In order to keep what we’ve received, we need to strive to get more (see 2 Ne. 28:30; Alma 12:8-10) and continue keeping God’s commandments. In D&C 93:39, we read:

”[The] wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.”

We receive light through obedience. Light is a revealer. Have you ever observed your windows when the sun is shining through them? The dirt is on clear display, whereas the window seemed clean when in darkness.

In a spiritual sense, this dirt is the false traditions we’ve inherited, acquired or developed throughout our lives. False traditions are an integral part of the damn practice of unbelief (believing things which are false). False traditions and unbelief hinder us from seeing the grandeur of God and it keeps us from coming to the truth, that is, coming to Jesus himself!

False traditions

Joseph Smith said, ”To become a joint heir of the heirship of the Son, one must put away all his false traditions.” (TPJS p. 321)

Oftentimes, when the light shows that a certain window needs to be cleaned, all the windows in a house needs cleaning. It’s like playing dominoes–if one falls, the rest goes with it. This is a tough pill to swallow, especially when speaking of traditions and beliefs.

You might have enjoyed these traditions and beliefs your whole life, you’ve put your trust in them and they might have seen you through hard times. Awaking to the realization that they might be, or are, false could be devastating. You might feel that you're left with no foot to stand on, and you might resent the fact that you’ve been building your house on the sand. Or you might resent the one who pointed it out. In these situations, it’s easy to get bitter and loose faith altoghether. 

On the other hand, it’s also a rare opportunity to audit your traditions and beliefs and make sure that you are built on the rock of your Redeemer. It’s a chance to go back to the author and finisher of your faith, and maybe let Him start a new chapter in the book of your life.

The process of awakening can be confusing. Many members of the Church can attest to that. One reason for this is the false tradition that truth must and do “feel good”. Truth most certainly can bring in its wake good feelings, but that depends on if you are condemned or exonerated by it. “The truth shall [either] set [us] free” (John 8:32) or imprison us. Nephi said it this way:

”[The] guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.” (1 Ne. 16:2)

We can’t discard of anything solely based on what we feel about it. For example, how did the Sadducees and Pharisees feel about Jesus? Or, when Jesus, in the synagogue of his hometown Nazareth, proclaimed that he was the one they had been waiting for (see Luke 4:16-30), what was their reaction? They “were filled with wrath, And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.” (v. 28-29) Was their wrath an indication of the truth, or was it proof of their blindness, hardheartedness and stiffneckedness? If I was a gambler, I’d put my money on the latter.

If you feel that what I, or anyone else write or say, is contrary to what you’ve been taught, please study it out. See if it squares with what is already written in the Scriptures. Test it. And ask God to show you what is truth and what is not.

In the Church periodical Times & Seasons, it was written, that "If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an impost[o]r. […] Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you as useless and dangerous branches[.]" (Times & Seasons, 5:490-491, April 1, 1844; emphasis in the original)

The plan

During the coming months, I will, in a series of posts, address some of the false traditions that we, as members of the Church espouse. By doing this, I want to stress that it’s not my goal to destroy your faith, but rather help you, and myself, to get rid of the unbelief and false traditions that bind us down and so easily beset us (Alma 7:15).

The following, non-exhaustive, list of traditions will be addressed (and not necessarily in the order given).

• Truth Feels Good
• The Doctrine of Infallibility
• Saving Ordinances
• The Church is True
• Guest post: The Culture of Tradition

Some earlier posts that tie into this same theme are:

• All or nothing - a false approach to the Church
• Misunderstanding Eternal Marriage
• The Waldenström Legacy - a distaste for orthodoxy

Since it’s easy to get sentimental when cans of worms are opened and easy to dismiss the content of the can just because “it doesn’t feel good”, I have already (Tada!) addressed the topic "Truth Feels Good".

After the rest of the false traditions are commented upon, I will go on to address the question that got me blogging in the first place – What was God’s purpose in calling on Joseph Smith? 

The topics that fall under this headline center on the topic of Zion. In essence, what we’ll be doing is Reclaiming the Restoration!

Renouncing horizontal worship: living by every word of God (part 7)

This is the part seven of the fifteen-part discussion on Joseph's teaching on the Second Comforter. The topic of today is "living by every word of God".




Before we venture into today's topic, I have to recommend this post, which is a definitive must read!

Why this discussion on the Second Comforter is so important

In "The Words of Joseph Smith" (Ehat & Cook), we find the following footnote (nr 9):

”Joseph Smith asked rhetorically how the Lord’s restatement (D&C 84:98) of Jeremiah’s prophecy on the last days (Jer. 31:31-34) was to be fulfilled. He answered that it will be fulfilled when the Saints’ callings and elections are made sure and when they receive the Second Comforter. (p. 19; emphasis added)

(On the right, what Joseph reportedly said is highlighted. It should be noted that this part on  ”The Doctrine of Election” immediately preceeds the quote that is the main focus of this series.)

In D&C 84, we read:

”And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness—Until all shall know me, who remain, even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye, and shall lift up their voice, and with the voice together sing this new song” (D&C 84:97-98; emphasis added)

 Jeremiah prophesied in the following manner:

”Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah[. T]his shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jer. 31:31-34; emphasis added)

Those who want to be a part of the house of Israel need to seek to have their calling and election made sure and to receive the Second Comforter. In order to ease up on the anxiety this might cause anyone, all things are to be done in wisdom and in order and no one are required to run faster than they have strength to.

Now, today’s subject!

Detecting impostors

If we are to live by every word of God, we need to understand how God dispenses his words, where we can find it, what characterizes a true messenger and how we can see beyond and through attributes which give a nice impression but are nothing more than sounding brass, tinkling cymbals and a cover for the ravenous wolf lurking inside of a false messenger.

Honestly, how good are we at searching out and recognizing truth? Against what measuring stick should someone’s message be measured? I've grown up believing that the standard works (OT, NT, BoM, D&C and PofGP) is the standard of truth. In 1844, Joseph (or whoever wrote the piece that ended up in the Times & Seasons) seems to have agreed.

"If any man writes to you, or preaches to you, doctrines contrary to the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or the book of Doctrine and Covenants, set him down as an impost[o]r. […] Try them by the principles contained in the acknowledged word of God; if they preach, or teach, or practice contrary to that, disfellowship them; cut them off from among you as useless and dangerous branches[.]" (Times & Seasons, 5:490-491, April 1, 1844; emphasis in the original)

Here, I need to let you know that I doubt the authenticity of D&C 132. I believe Brigham wrote/added unto it and that it teaches doctrines that contradicts the standard works. Therefore I reserve myself the right to follow the admonition of Joseph and proclaim that it is the work of an imposter and not the word of God.


No one can be given a free pass when it comes to carry the message of the Lord. Joseph said that “a prophet [is] a prophet only when he [is] acting as such." (History of the Church, 5:265) This is such an important concept. It puts the burden on us. We can't sit in thoughtless stupor and accept whatever comes out of someone's mouth, just because they sometime in the past have shared a message from God. 

by Jason Crislip

What's even more thoughtless is to put this trust in a man because his predecessor was a messenger from and prophet of God. It's not a hereditary thing. It's about being called and chosen because of "your prayers and your righteousness" (compare to Mosiah 3:4). Just because Joseph was a prophet, which I believe, it’s not necessarily true that any of his successors where prophets of God. And, it should be noted that it doesn’t matter that we call them ‘prophets’.

This opens up a can of worms, I know. Even though it might be a road less traveled, we can't leave it alone since it leads us to more truth!

The can of worms: the danger of putting your trust in the arm of flesh!

In Times & Seasons, the members of the Church in 1844 was taught that no man or woman is exempt from the absolute requirement to comply with "the acknowledged word of God" when writing, teaching or preaching. This included bishops, stake presidents and every other leader in the Church, all the way to the top. Not even the president of the Church, not even Joseph himself, and his closest associates were exempt. Each and everyone of them could potentially be an imposter. To me, it's a sobering, but also liberating thought. Today, we are taught the opposite (see here, here and here; the last article is the "best"). In my view, this is troubling, false, problematic and not worthy of a Church proclaiming to be Jesus’ own.

When it comes to the challenge of searching out and recognizing truth, we can't, in good conscience, put our trust in someone just because they happen to occupy a certain position in the hierarchy and claim authority to act in Gods name. The challenge of searching out and recognizing truth is vertical in nature (that is, it's between you, your divine nature and God). In some instances, we might be led to the truth by trusting someone in authority, but that's definitely not a given–even a broken clock shows the right time twice a day. 

Trusting in the religious hierarchy and holders of the priestly authority of our community is, in my mind, seldom a great idea. At the time of Christ, it would have made you reject and crucify your Savior.

When Christ started his ministry, the religious hierarchy was comprised of the scribes and pharisees. They held the priestly authority. In more modern and mormonesque vernacular, they were the General Authorities of the day. 

Jesus was sent from the Father to preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised and to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. (Luke 4:18-19). Jesus challenged the authority of the ancient General Authorities, and in return, they questioned him in every way. They pushed back, and in the end, they, together with the orthodox Jews, pushed Jesus onto the cross. There, He graciously plead that His Father would forgive them for their ignorant act. 

Today, I'd say that the rhetoric of “follow the prophet” and the "never lead you astray"-doctrine of the Church has caused the same blindness and ignorance among the Latter-Day Saints. Many members have, fully trusting the Church, been placed knee deep in the mud of horizontal worship and obeisance. It’s extremely difficult to get out of this mud, because most members have invested so much in it–family, friends, reputation, social standing, worldview and hopes for eternity. Real faith is needed for anyone who dares to open this can of worms. Even though some reach a different conclusion than I do, I greatly admire their courage and desire for truth.


(Here you can find a compilation of scriptures and quotes teaching that we should NOT trust in man or any other kind of arm of flesh!)


Horizontal and vertical worship

Not long ago, I heard in Sunday school that, "The bishop and the stake president are called to help us come to Christ and if we stand by them, we are safe." I felt great uneasiness at this remark. If I would have been Stake President, or bishop, and present when that comment was made, I would've hade to put both my hands in the air an exclaim "Oh no! Don't you ever follow me! If I hope to accomplish any thing at all, it would be to help you receive the Holy Ghost and be born of Christ. So, don't follow me!"


The interesting thing is, that the Stake President was present when the comment was made, but he didn't say a word. I had to say something, so I raised my hand and said that we are all humans, we all make mistakes and we need to firmly build our foundation on the Rock of Christ, that we need to enter through His gate where he doesn't keep any servants and that it doesn't matter by whom we stand, if we don't stand by Christ.

Between my response and the comment that provoked it, there's a certain tension. At the core of that tension lies, what I call, the difference between horizontal and vertical worship. Vertical worship, as I use the term, is when we worship God and through his grace try to find the divine within and without ourselves and strive to help others do the same. When we espouse the belief that we are to follow our leaders instead of looking inward and upward, we are guilty of horizontal worship, that is, we worship someone who's no better or more saved than us and exchange God for the arm of flesh, thus cursing ourselves (2 Ne. 4:34-35).


Horizontal worship is telestial. In D&C 76:99-102 (read all the way through v. 111 for a fuller image of these people), we read the following about those that inherit a telestial glory:

“For [the telestial] are they who are of Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas. These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and some of Enoch; But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant. Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto the church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud.”

 If we stand by someone else than God and Jesus, we have not received the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the everlasting covenant. In short, we will come short of salvation into the Kingdom of God.

Horizontal worship is one of many different kinds of idolatry we can engage in. For many, it's really hard to recognize this (self-awareness is, after all, a virtue not possessed by all mankind). The most insidious idolatry is the one where the idol stands so close to God and maybe even, in our mind, represents God that the distinction between them is almost impossible to make.


Learning how to recognize a messenger from God


As I've thought about the Sunday school lesson I mentioned earlier, I would've liked to have the time, and the assignment to teach a lesson about how to recognize a messenger from God. It's a lesson, which, for those with ears to hear and eyes to see and hearts to understand, could've dispelled some of the misunderstanding about the role of our leaders, or of any of the leaders God and Jesus employs in their service and what the mission of a messenger of God is.

The story about king Benjamin and his people is a good illustration of how "the preaching of the word [*] had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God." (Alma 31:5)


* Alma later defines the 'word' in these words: "believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins; and that he shall riseagain from the dead, which shall bring to pass the resurrection, that all men shall stand before him, to be judged at the last and judgment day, according to their works. And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this word in your hearts, and as it beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith." (Alma 33:22-23)

King Benjamin received his message from an Angel. He taught the words which the Lord had commanded him to teach (see Mosiah 3) and the people fell to the earth, overcome by their nothingness and carnal state. They cried to God: "O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men." (Mosiah 4:2) The Spirit of the Lord came upon them and they were born again (v. 3).


King Benjamin was desirous to know if the people believed "the words which he had spoken unto them". He got the following response, which is a key to understand how we can recognize a true message from God.

 "Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things. And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy. And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God." (Mosiah 5:2-5)

Just like Alma said, the word of God has a "more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than [anything else]." When a true messenger from God writes, teaches or preaches the word of God, the message becomes "mighty even as [Jesus], unto the overpowering of man to read them" (Ether 12:24) and it causes people to work righteousness, and obtain heaven and seek for the city of Enoch (JST Genesis 14:33-34). Or, as in the case of the people of king Benjamin, they were born again and ready to enter into an everlasting covenant with Jesus. Entering into this covenant was a preparation for them to be sealed His, and thereby "be brought to heaven, that [they] may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all." (Mosiah 5:15) 

(It should be noted that those of the telestial kingdom received not the everlasting covenant.)

Conclusion

The charge to seek truth, and follow it once found, is given to us individually. We need to learn to master this art, for our salvation depends on it. Let’s not entrust this sacred responsibility to someone else.