Here are two statements made by authorities from two of a small handful of churches that claim to be the only true church of God. I am very familiar with both of them since I grew up in one of them and am a current member of the other. One of them fell into apostasy and one of them claims this can never happen to them. (Email me if you would like the references regarding which quote belongs to which church and who stated these teachings.)
“A true mystic or visionary will always obey the legitimate religious superiors and authorities in the Church. We can be sure that if a mystic or seer is in any way disobedient to the local Bishop or their religious Superiors, then the alleged revelations and messages cannot be authentic. God’s graces flow through His Church in union with the legitimate authority that He Himself established.”
“When visions, dreams, tongues, prophecy, impressions or an extraordinary gift or inspiration, convey something out of harmony with the accepted revelations of the Church or contrary to the decisions that its constituted authorities, [the members of the church] may know that it is not of God no matter how plausible it may appear.”
Now let me leave you with statements by two men, Joseph Smith and Nephi, both of whom the Holy Ghost has testified to me that they are true prophets of Jesus Christ:
“When God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. The Israelites prayed that God would speak to Moses and not to them; in consequence of which he cursed them with a carnal law.” (Joseph Smith)
“It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the almighty.” (Joseph Smith Preaching at temple stand 13 aug 1843, Ehat pg. 238)
“The mystery power and glory of the priesthood is so great and glorious that the angels desired to understand it and cannot: why, because of the tradition of them and their fathers in setting up stakes and not coming up to the mark in their probationary state.” (Words of Joseph Smith, Ehat & Cook pg. 247)
“To all those who are disposed to say to set up stakes for the almighty – will come short of the glory of God. To become a joint heir of the heirship of the son he must put away all his traditions.” (Joseph Smith 27 aug 1843 temple grove preaching, diary of Joseph Smith by Willard Richards)
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! (2 Nephi 28:26-29)
If we historically applied the teachings of the first two quotes in this post then the teachings of most all the prophets in their day, including Christ, would have to be rejected.
If we apply these teachings to us today then it leaves open the possibility that true messengers sent by the Lord to either institution might also be rejected.
Candidate truth must be evaluated on its own merit without stakes, limits, or prejudice. Just like Nephi went against the established traditions and teachings of his faith when prompted to take Laban’s life and also when Abraham was told by the Lord to offer his son Isaac in sacrifice; what made these actions justified and not sin is that it was the Lord commanding these things.
Could this happen today? Of course it can. Who am I to place limits on what the Lord can reveal to others? Can the Lord reveal some truth to someone that is not accepted and taught by the institutional church?
The apologists might argue “yes but God is a God of order and He wouldn’t do that.” How certain are you of that? How certain are you that the above quotes were the oracles of God and a revelation of His will versus merely a precept and opinion of a church leader?
I will leave you a key to discern the precepts and philosophies of men verses a true teaching from Heaven.
If what you are taught in your church, if carried out in the times when the Savior walked the earth would have caused you to reject Christ in favor of orthodoxy or tradition or your religion; then you may know with surety that the teaching in question is a precept of man or worse yet, a doctrine of devils. It’s that simple. For
If a teaching would have caused you to reject the Christ in his day then that same teaching might lead you to reject any of His true servants that he chooses to send today. I am not talking about religion per se. I am talking about receiving truth. Christ is truth, His word is truth, His light and spirit are truth. Religious traditions that are not based on Him must needs fall.
If we accept the quotes in then beginning of this post as true teachings of God then we are limited to only receive truths that the institutions deem appropriate for us and it stifles the ability of personal revelation.
If the Lord reveals something to you personally that is against the established traditions of your church, you may not be authorized to share it or teach as a doctrine of the church, however it doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t true.
It would behoove us, regardless of which religious institution suits us, to not set up stakes as to what the Lord can reveal and how he can reveal it and by whom he can reveal His truths to the children of men.
I am confident and certain that the Lord is still able to do His own work. I testify that there is a God today, and that the Lord and the Redeemer has not finished his work by giving his power unto men (see 2 Nephi 28:5). Men (and women) however may participate in the Lord’s work should they choose to follow Him. Behold he stands at the door and knocks but he will never force himself upon us, we are the ones who must open unto him.