In the Gospel of John chapter 9 we have the account of the man born blind from birth. It appears that the circumstances were arranged from before the foundation of the world that Jesus should come across this man. Absent from this account is any request or manifestation of faith from this poor afflicted beggar. John simply tells us Jesus spit upon the ground, made clay and anointed the eyes of this blind man and had him go and wash in the pool of Siloam, after which he saw.
When his disciples asked the Lord who sinned the blind man or his parents that he was born that way, Jesus taught that this particular affliction was to show forth the works of the Father.
After those in the village saw him who before was a blind beggar, they all marveled and word soon spread to the local authorities of the day. They kept asking him and even dragged his parents into an inquisition wanting to know if this wasn’t a trick to deceive the people (similar to the account in 3 Nephi 2 when the signs and wonders of God were deemed to be “wrought by men and by the power of the devil, to lead away and deceive the hearts of the people.”)
The parents not willing to take the matter to its logical conclusion and admit that Jesus was a man sent of god with works testifying to his divine mission, punted back to their son. Their testimony was that, yes he was their son, and yes he was born blind, but since he was of age they could ask him directly any further questions about this supposed miracle. They feared man more than God for they did not want to be cast out from the synagogue.
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.
26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it again? will ye also be his disciples?
28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out. (John 9:24-34)
This miracle brought a sword down upon the people and their spiritually bankrupt leaders. The above quoted interactions between the pharisees and the healed man are very revealing.
The sword of truth divides asunder all falsehood and separates in a perfect way the teachings and precepts of man from the truth of God. This single act was a perfect exposing of the hypocrisy of the ecclesiastical leaders of the day who boasted in having Moses as their spiritual father but who did not see the very God of Moses within their midst.
Centuries of Talmudic teachings and precepts of Rabbis had hidden and buried the plain and simple truths of God found in the Law and the Prophets of the traditional Hebrew Scriptures.
Now is this account applicable to us today? If a man endowed with power from God (end time messianic figure or Davidic servant etc.) were to come once again among us to “restore again that which was lost unto [us], or which [the Lord] hath taken away, even the fulness of the priesthood” or show forth mighty preaching and works to testify of the veracity of his calling and anointing, what would we say?
This is not even allowed to be considered in the church today because of the precepts of men which teach that there will never be a need for any outside restoration because we possess the fullness already and that if any future restoration or revelation is needed it has to come through the apostles and prophets of the LDS church.
Gods hands are tied, he is not allowed to send another Abinadi or Samuel because there could never be a future need for this. With this thinking we put up stakes or limits as to what the Lord can do and how he can accomplish his work. Would we say to a future true servant of Christ who may come outsde the establshed LDS hierarchy:
“Our leaders come through Joseph, we know not from whence this man comes.”
“Surely the Lord would have given a commission to do such works only to us for we are the true church and the Lord is well pleased with us.”
“God is a god of order and He doesn’t operate through outside channels.”
“All such talk surely must be from imposters, apostates and false Christs.”
“We have are own prophets and seers what need is there for this man?”
Nephi gave a warning to the latter day readers of his words, stating that in a future day some would do the following:
. . . they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance.
5 And they deny the power of God, the Holy One of Israel; and they say unto the people: Hearken unto us, and hear ye our precept; for behold there is no God today, for the Lord and the Redeemer hath done his work, and he hath given his power unto men;
6 Behold, hearken ye unto my precept; if they shall say there is a miracle wrought by the hand of the Lord, believe it not; for this day he is not a God of miracles; he hath done his work. (2 Nephi 28:4-6)
It is very easy to glibly assign Nephi’s warnings to all the non-believers, who by the way would never even read his words, or to those who would never even accept the restored gospel, or to assume this is referring to the state of the churches before the restoration however this may not be the completely correct interpretation.
I am afraid that the culture we have inherited from our fathers would lead us to reject any truth and anyone who comes outside the ecclesiastical hierarchy and this is very alarming.
Now let me make it clear that I am not claiming to be anybody of importance. I am a sinner in need of the grace of God and his Christ as much as anybody. I am not “steadying the ark” or saying that we need an Abinadi to come to us.
I don’t pretend to know of any anointed servant of Christ outside of the current church leadership whom I sustain in their offices. I will however raise my voice in warning that we reject truth from God at our own peril no matter who it may come from, even if it were to come from one who is marred, or a man of sorrows, or if from someone with no apparent beauty that we should desire him or with no bonafides or authority; for the days of Christ are a type and shadow of events in the end times and since now the covenant people of Lord are the Gentiles (who have the assimilated blood of Israel, principally from Ephraim within them) who have accepted the gospel.
We are now like unto the Pharisees, Sadducees and Sanhedrin of the end times. We must be careful that we don’t make the same mistakes that they did because of pride and loftiness, for the lofty branches will be cut off to make room for the natural branches, that the last may be first and the first may be last. If we are blind, we can pray that the Lord will anoint our eyes that we may see with the eye of faith the great and marvelous work that is upon us.
The Lord bids us come, even the bridegroom says come, eat and drink, come buy milk and honey, without money or price. His yoke is easy and his burden light, especially when compared to the burdens placed upon us in Babylon the Great. He is the true vine and we are but branches which are expected to produce good fruit, even like unto the natural fruit.
As such we can expect that the Divine Husbandman will prune us that we might produce more. Wo be unto us if we say we see and we are bereft of fruit. May we have eyes to see, ears to hear and humble hearts to perceive that which is coming.
5 But behold, verily I say unto you, that there are many who have been ordained among you, whom I have called but few of them are chosen.
6 They who are not chosen have sinned a very grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day. (D&C 95:5-6)