Of Tenets Thou Shalt Not Talk

While the scriptures do not define 'tenets' the dictionary defines tenets as a 'belief, opinion or dogma,' and in contrasting tenets with what the Lord commands us to declare, this definition is probably pretty close.

"And of tenets thou shalt not talk, but thou shalt declare repentance and faith on the Savior, and remission of sins by baptism, and by fire, yea, even the Holy Ghost. Behold, this is the great and last commandment which I shall give unto you concerning this matter; for thou shall suffice for thy daily walk, even unto the end of thy life" (D&C 19:31-32).

A friend of mine who teaches seminary told me once that most of what we hear in our meetings is fluff. As Hugh Nibley once wrote: "One has only to consider the present outpouring of 'inspirational' books in the Church that bring little new in the way of knowledge: truisms and platitudes, kitsch, and cliches have become our everyday diet." We are free to dismiss either of these opinions and can be justified in doing so on the basis that they are opinions of men.

It is much more difficult, even damning however, to dismiss what the Lord has said on this subject. Isaiah describes how both ancient Israel and modern day Israel (us) deliver 'spiritual food.' He describes the books or tablets containing the word of God as our method of delivering 'spiritual food' (Isaiah 28:8). Isaiah describes these tables among Israel as being impure because they are full of partially digested truths regurgitated for the people to consume. Isaiah then asks: "Whom shall he give instruction?  Whom shall he enlighten with revelation?" (Isaiah 28:9) He likens us to babes newly weaned who are yet incapable of digesting sold food. And why?  Paul answers: "For everyone that useth milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness" (Hebrews 5:12-14).

The Lord has made it very clear that we should teach His doctrine and His gospel, which He has defined for us, most notably in the Book of Mormon, but clearly in all scripture. Could it be that like the Jews of old we miss the mark?  "...wherefore these things (His words) are manifested unto us plainly....  But, behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness.... Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must need fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they could not understand, because they desired it" (Jacob 4:14).

While Jacob is describing the Jews as looking beyond the mark, I believe we look short of the mark, and in both cases the mark is Jesus Christ.  We look short of the mark when we put all the emphasis on us and what we should do, making the gospel a check list, rather than putting our faith in Him to change us from our lost and fallen state to a state of (his) righteousness.

The Precepts of Men

The scriptures warn us repeatedly about the dangers of perverting the word of God--teaching the precepts of men mingled with scripture. Just a few examples:

"...they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men" (2 Ne. 28:14).

"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 Ne. 28:31).

We "teach for doctrine the commandments of men" (2 Ne 27:25; D&C 45:29; D&C 46:7).

Compare with this:

"These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man. For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another; and save it were by my power you could not have them; wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words" (D&C 18:34-36).

A simple example illustrates the importance of God's word as opposed to the precepts of men.Take two primary children. Both were taught about letting their light shine, but one was taught to be a good example and to follow others who had set good examples. The other was taught that it was Christ's light that we should let shine, and to follow that light (3 Ne. 18:24). Which one of these primary children is in the right way?

It is a precept of men, mingled with scripture, to teach that we let our own light shine, and to set a good example. It is the Lord who speaks when He says, "I am the light which ye shall hold up" (3 Ne. 18:24). Compare with Isaiah 50:11 where Isaiah says that our light is but sparks.

The reason we persist in teaching the precepts of men is because we have not armed ourselves with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17).

Written Records

Written records of both God and man are important. The written words of God tell us of our conditions here on this earth, and how we can overcome them through the Lord's Plan of Redemption. The records of men tell us how we are doing in relation to this plan, and more importantly what has been and what is important to the world today.

Alma responds to a question by Antionah concerning the placing of a flaming sword on the east of the garden of Eden, by teaching the word of God concerning the fall of Adam, and then says:  "...it was appointed unto men that they must die;... and after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them, therefore he sent angels to converse with them..." (Alma 12:27-29).

He then teaches of the plan of redemption and equates hardening of the heart with lack of repentance, and teaches that:  "But God did call on man, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you through mine Only Begotten Son" (Alma 12:33).

The first written record of God's word goes back to the time of Adam, and is recorded by Enoch in the Book of Moses. Enoch says:

"For a book of remembrance we have written among us, according to the pattern given by the finger of God, and it is given in our own language. And as Enoch spoke forth the words of God, the people trembled, and could not stand in his presence.  And he said unto them:  Behold because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death; and we are made partakers of misery and woe.  Behold Satan cometh among the children of men, and tempteth them to worship him; and men have become carnal, sensual and devilish, and are shut out from the presence of God.

"But God hath made known unto our fathers that all men must repent" (Moses 6:46:47).

Enoch goes on:  "And he called upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying, I am God; I made the world and men before they were in the flesh.  ...If thou will come unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent..., and be baptized...in the name of mine Only Begotten Son...which is Jesus Christ...ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost..." (Moses 6:50-52).

So the first recorded words from God and those given by Alma are the same. Why? Because Alma had those words in the brass plates, and also asked that they be revealed to him personally, which he tells us they were. So he is not just reading what God said to Adam, but is teaching us through the spirit of revelation what he received.  (See Alma 5:45-47)

And those who do not receive His written words "do not believe them when they are taught them, because of the traditions of their fathers, which are not correct" (Mosiah 1:5)  "The records have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries and have his commandments always before our eyes."

And how are we doing?  Just read the writings of men to find out.

Given By the Finger of God

September 12, 2013

A friend from my childhood once told me that he did not believe that the Book of Mormon was the word of God. When I asked why, he said that he did not believe Joseph Smith's story about the angel and the gold plates. I responded by telling him that whatever he believed was not relevant, because the issue is not what we believe. I told him that the only thing that mattered was what was true and that his belief played no part in that determination. I also told him that my believing Joseph Smith's story was also irrelevant. A whole world of non-believers does not make something not true any more that does a whole world of believers make something true.

The greatest truth of all is that there is a God, a God who is full of grace and truth; a God who is our Father in Heaven; who loves us and wants us to receive all that He has; who sent His Son to atone for our sins and provide a way for us to return to Him. The only truth is what has been revealed by Him. He has revealed His plan and given us what we need to know to return to His presence. And anyone can have this truth revealed to him/her.

And He has given us a definition of truth: "The word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is spirit, even the spirit of Jesus Christ" (D&C 84:45). And anyone can have this truth revealed to him/her: But only what He has revealed is truth.

We learn from Enoch that God taught men how to write so they could record His words to them. "For a book of remembrance we have written among us, according to the pattern given by the finger of God, and it is given in our own language" (Moses 6:46).

On the other hand He has also revealed to us that anything that does not come from Him is not truth, and is the mainspring of all corruption, and the "influence of that spirit which hath so strongly riveted the creeds of the fathers, who have inherited lies, upon the hearts of the children, and filled the world with confusion, and has been growing stronger and stronger, and is now the very mainspring of all corruption, and the whole earth groans under the the weight of its iniquity. It is an iron yoke, it is a strong band; they are the very handcuffs, and chains and shackles, and fetters of hell" (D&C 123:7-8).

This contrast between the word of God and everything else is stated revealingly by Oliver Cowdery:

"Man may deceive his fellow-men, deception may follow deception, and the children of the wicked one may have power to seduce the foolish and untaught, till naught but fiction feeds the many, and the fruit of falsehood carries in its current the giddy to the grave; but ...one word from the mouth of the Savior, from the bosom of eternity, strikes it all into insignificance, and blots it forever from the mind."