It is my opinion that basing the foundation of our testimonies on the church “being true” can be spiritually dangerous. This is not a statement to shock anyone nor is it hyperbole. Before you attempt to cast me headlong down a cliff or kick me out of the synagogue, let me explain my reasoning; hopefully by using gentle persuasion, long suffering, pure knowledge and maybe even some meekness. It would cause me extreme sadness if anyone were to take my writings and use them as justification to leave The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints or to question, doubt or disbelieve any true messages that come from the church.
Before we proceed let me leave you with a definition of what the Lord says constituted His church:
Behold, this is my doctrine–whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.
Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church. (Doctrine and Covenants 10:67-68)
So if we want the church to be true then we need to be true; but true to what? To the philosophies of men mingled with scripture, to the traditions of the fathers? The safest and most sure and essential thing we need to be true to is Christ’s doctrine as spelled out in 3 Nephi 11 and 2 Nephi 31. Lest I be accused of adding or taking away from Christ’s doctrine which is actually referred to as the Father’s doctrine, I invite you to read these 2 chapters for yourself before proceeding to my words.
Any time we stake our testimonies to an institution that is prone to error and mistakes (all earthly institutions are including the LDS church) we are on a sandy foundation; for as soon as it is brought to our attention historical incongruities and we honestly investigate the matters of concern, it can destroy spiritually those who once held such a faith in an institution. We oftentimes equate the church with the gospel or equate the church with Christ himself (meaning everything done and taught in church is exactly how the Savior would have things) both of which may very well be erroneous assumptions. Too often we see those who leave our association completely lose everything, even their faith in Christ all because they feel that they have been deceived by the sterile narrative presented by the church regarding its history and questionable doctrinal teachings of past leaders including presidents. Even past leaders at the very top of the organization have lamented:
“It is a very apparent fact that we have traveled far and wide in the past 20 years. What the future will bring I do not know. But if we drift as far afield from the fundamental things in the next 20 years, what will be left of the foundation laid by the Prophet Joseph Smith? It is easy for one who observes to see how the apostasy came about in the primitive church of Christ. Are we not traveling down the same road?” (Joseph Fielding Smith Journal, entry for 28 December 1938)
Now you know why when a president of the church or a member of the twelve dies today, their journals are confiscated and promptly become property of the Corporation of the President. Can you imagine what would be lost to us if this practice had been put in place with our early leaders’ journals?
To the church’s defense they have started to introduce members to the more questionable practices of the past with the essays found at https://www.lds.org/topics/essays?lang=eng however these are inadequate to address the issues and we still don’t know who authored them, but at least it is a start. My intentions are not to bring up the specifics of these issues, but in today’s Information Age it is inevitable that they will come up.
Twenty years ago and earlier the church strategy of denial, hiding and glossing over the problematic issues and labeling it as “anti-Mormon propaganda” worked beautifully. Then the Internet happened and things kept hidden in darkness were exposed to the light and now we collectively and individually need to deal with it.
You can see how someone growing up in our church culture who is taught from youth with the incantation of “follow the Prophet” and is taught to repeat faithfully “I know the church is true” can be spiritually crushed to learn of some of the problems with our history and the current narrative. “How come the prophet taught such and such doctrine and later another prophet taught that was not true, I thought they can never lead us astray?”
Please show me where the Lord has revealed this to be the case that a prophet can never be wrong or lead anyone astray. I know what the opinions of Wilford Woodruff and other church leaders have been on this subject but that hardly rises to the standard of the revealed mind of God. Speaking of Brother Woodruff, here is what a contemporary apostle had to say about his opinions:
“President Wilford Woodruff is a man of wisdom and experience, and we respect him, but we do not believe his personal views or utterances are revelations from God; and when ‘Thus saith the Lord,’ comes from him, the saints investigate it: they do not shut their eyes and take it down like a pill.” (Apostle Charles W. Penrose, Millennial Star, v. 54, p. 191)
What an apostate attitude that Brother Penrose manifested! Or maybe he is in line with what Joseph taught and our idolatry of the leaders and our belief that everything they say is a revelation from God is more akin to apostasy. Even as the pill of “the Lord will never allow me to lead the church astray” has been swallowed by many, this does not make it true. In fact there are so many scriptures proving the contrary position. There are so many warnings even in our own Doctrine and Covenants teaching us that instead of the notion of a guaranteed safe passage upon the “Good Ship Zion” directly to the Celestial Kingdom, the saints could fall and lose that which the Lord was attempting to give them.
I bring this up not to be argumentative or contrary but because theses issues are of the utmost importance to see how we have evolved as a church and to discern how this evolution occurred. These are issues that countless thousands have grappled with and many are leaving the church because of. Here are the words of the Prophet and other church presidents on these matters. Maybe we could apply them to us today:
“President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel–said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish church–that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls–applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints–said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall–that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves…” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 237-38).
“What a pity it would be, if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken the influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, v. 9, p. 150)
“Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and rinning their faith upon another’s sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to do in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them. They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold scepters of glory, majesty, and power in the Celestial Kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, through all mankind besides should take the opposite course. Will this apply to any of you? Your own hearts can answer.” (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, v. 1, p. 312)
Do not, brethren, put your trust in a man though he be a bishop, an apostle, or a president. If you do, they will fail you at some time or place; they will do wrong or seem to, and your support be gone…” (Apostle George Q. Cannon, Millennial Star, v. 53, pp. 658-659)
I could offer up many more from past apostles and prophets however these quotes contain some sound precepts to ponder. How did we get from these teachings to today where correlation; conformity to orthodoxy, conformity of thought, conformity to leaders, conformity to tradition is valued above almost anything else. I’ll give my opinion, you can take it or leave it. We gentiles (myself included so this is another area in which I need to repent) are an idolatrous and slothful people, steeped in the traditions of men and don’t inquire enough for ourselves. We think that having prophets to guide us is enough or that the spiritual levels these men may have attained is higher than anyone else has attained. This is a problem throughout all rungs of the ecclesiastical ladder. We adopt philosophies of men mingled with prooftexting (and scripture) and think we have built upon a firm foundation.
Despite this I wish to persuade all who may come across these writings of the many blessings in remaining with the body of the saints. I have been and am currently richly blessed by what the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides and am blessed by the countless opportunties to serve others within the church. We are not commanded to “believe everything that is taught”, we are however to look for the light and knowledge that the Lord is willing to provide us. Where is it?
What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same. (D&C 1:38)
In the words of Christ we can find the way back to Him. This comes by his own voice or by his servants including those on the earth today. Our job is to accept all the truths from heaven regardless of who is uttering them. Our job is to reject falsehood no matter who is teaching it. This takes work, it takes being in tune with the light of Christ and with the Holy Spirit of God. It’s not enough to lazily accept 15 men and erroneously believe everything that they believe and teach and reject anything else.
Christ’s words are also found in the scriptures. In them we think we have eternal life but only inasmuch as we use them to come unto to the Holy One of Israel and be perfected in Him.
Let me humbly propose some things that may help us to be spiritually inoculated against the potential issues that will inevitably arise in the church.
1. Gain a living faith in Jesus Christ. Then follow his doctrine as taught by Him in 3 Nephi 11 (and 2 Nephi 31) by avoiding contention, being humble and child-like, continually repenting, receiving a baptism by immersion, seeking for the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, pressing forward with a steadfastness in Christ etc.
2. Gain a testimony of the restoration and to know if Joseph Smith was a true messenger from God and if he died a true messenger or prophet. I testify resoundingly yes to both!
3. Gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon as the word of God translated by gift and power of God. Gain a testimony of why the Lord called it a covenant and why the early saints and we also are under a curse for taking it lightly. Reverse the curse personally in our own life. I testify resoundingly that yes it is the word of God and yes it is a covenant unto us.
4. Realize that God will not be mocked and that the covenants we make with Him; we will be held accountable for, despite earth, hell, men or angels.
5. Realize that leaders of the church are fallible and we are not obligated to “believe everything that is taught”. We are to believe the true messages only. How? By pondering, praying and receiving a witness born by the Spirit when they are true. One who does this is a lot less likely to be deceived and will not be building their foundation on an unstable base. (In the beginning of any spiritual journey, we start by believing the messages of true messengers, then we receive the truth for ourselves.)
6. Realign our expectations about what it means for the church to be true. Does it mean everything done is the will of God? Is everything taught the will of God? No this is not what it means. To me it means that the restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the prophet Joseph is true. It means the preparatory priesthood to administer the outward ordinances of the gospel is true. It means the Book of Mormon is true. How can you know what parts of our religious cultural heritage are true and of God and which are the doctrines of men being passed off as commandments of God? See number 5 above. We need to stop relying wholly on others to give us truth and become seekers ourselves.
When someone is inspired by the spirit of truth or by the Holy Ghost they can act as the Lord’s servant and what they say becomes important to us, even approaching the importance as if the Lord was speaking it himself. This doesn’t mean anyone can lead the Church or establish the tenets and precepts of the Church for we have a system of common consent supposedly functioning. However if we think that truths of heaven will always only come from the 15 men we sustain as prophets, seers and revelators we may miss the words of the Lord unto us. The doctrine that Christ taught invites the inhabitants of the earth to become as a little child, those who do so will receive more, those who are proud and say in their hearts that they have enough and there can be no more, will have their light dimmed.
And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.
And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and be baptized in my name, and become as a little child, or ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. (3 Nephi 11:37-39)
Let me leave you with a warning from Nephi. These words were etched into metal plates to provide a witness and a warning to the gentiles who would receive the Book of Mormon. I wonder if Nephi is not aiming his remarks straight at us:
Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well!
Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!
Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!
And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God! For behold, he that is built upon the rock receiveth it with gladness; and he that is built upon a sandy foundation trembleth lest he shall fall.
Wo be unto him that shall say: We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough!
For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom; for unto him that receiveth I will give more; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.
Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. (2 Nephi 28:25-31)
Some of you may criticize and find fault with what I am saying and that is fine however the Savior taught that when we build our houses upon the Rock, he did not mean join a church and believe in it or its leaders. He did not mean for us to say to ourselves “we’re good, we already have a church.” Neither did he mean for us to say we have enough. He meant build the foundation upon Christ and the Rock of revelation. Who’s revelation? Any true revelation including to the leaders of the church and possibly to those outside the established hierarchy (should the Lord choose to send someone in that capacity, far be it for me to put up limits or stakes as to how the Lord can accomplish His work) and more importantly to YOU personally. I will raise my voice in warning that just as Nephi warned, I will do so likewise that we will be cursed for hearkening to the precepts of men except they shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost. May we learn to discern the difference.