Elitism-Pharisees

Most parallels between the ancient types of idolatry and their modern counterparts are not difficult to see. There is one parallel, however, that may require greater discernment on the part of the reader. Anciently, this condition of idolatry, elitism immediately preceded the destruction of the Lord’s wicked people, the Lord delivering only a remnant. If the scriptural type holds true, then, the recurrence of this ancient form of idolatry will signal the same result at that time.

Conversely, when the calamities of the last days appear at the door, that will be because this and other forms of apostasy have grown prevalent among us. For in the last days all types come together, whether for good, as in the restoration of keys and blessings of former dispensations, or for evil, as in the idolatry of Israel (which in these latter days, is us, Ephraimite Gentiles) that precipitates the great and dreadful day of the Lord. 

Concerning this scriptural type of idolatry, I first wish to remind the reader that its existence cannot, nor ever will, constitute grounds for our growing disaffection with people of the Church. The great paradox, the test the Saints endure in our day, surely consists of remaining true, while all around people indulge in idolatry. Brother Hugh Nibley serves us as an inspiring example of such faithfulness. Although he recognizes both the great good and the many evils in the Church, he stands aloof from all disaffection. He scrupulously maintains the fine line between discontent—often voiced openly to inspire us to higher things—and malcontent. From him, malcontent, a sure path to apostasy, receives not so much as a whisper. 

Still, we cannot ignore certain parallels, even though they might be painful to us. We then would not learn our lesson but would be examples of the very folly about which the scriptures teach. Seeing this parallel surely must not cause us to point the finger at others. Rather, it should help us take the attitude, “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone” (compare John 8:7). Especially where aberrations exist within a people’s leadership, whether political or religious, we should remember that such tend to be symptomatic of the general condition: our leadership reflects what we ourselves are, both at our best and at our worst. Those who blame the Church’s leaders for various problems, therefore, put the cart before the horse. Problems begin at the grassroots level and work their way up. Although they may then manifest themselves on higher levels, to the chagrin of the people who spawned them, that does not mean a people’s leaders alone are at fault or even that all leaders are implicated. It does mean that society as a whole suffers the effects of a people’s unrighteousness, and such unrighteousness in this case includes idolatry.

I call this form of idolatry elitism–Pharisaism because it simultaneously partakes of social pride and hypocrisy. It constitutes idolatry because it puts the institution or peer group before the individual: a person serves the corporate entity, not vice versa. It involves worship, in effect, of the system or organization to which people belong and thus is a kind of self-worship. Typifying this sort of idolatry are the Pharisees of the New Testament period, a group whose elitist tendencies we know well from Jesus’ discourses with them. Book of Mormon examples of the same sort of idolatry include the priests of King Noah and the Zoramites (Mosiah 11:1–12:37; Alma 31:1–32:5). Just as none of these groups represented the entire leadership of the people in their times, so modern Pharisees will not represent all Church leaders. 

Pharisaic persons display a form of godliness that lacks the power thereof (2 Tim. 3:5). They harbor a presumptuousness about being a chosen and elect people (Luke 3:8). They consider others even their humble brethren, a lost and fallen people, worthy to be despised as lesser mortals (John 7:47–52). A paradoxical aspect of the elitist-Pharisaic phenomenon is that its pastors and teachers do in fact possess authority to teach and instruct. The biblical type shows that the Lord requires that his people obey them (Matt. 23:1–3). In reality, however, they have taken away the key of knowledge and shut up the kingdom, neither entering it themselves nor letting others enter (Matt. 23:13; Luke 11:52). As a result, they cannot answer difficult religious questions nor recognize the signs of the times, or that which has been prophesied (Matt. 16:2–3; 22:46). They are blind leaders of the blind, yet they assume they see things aright (Matt. 15:14; John 9:41). They confuse their priorities and what is real (Matt. 23:16–24; Luke 11:42). They cancel the good effect the word of God has in people’s lives, overruling individual expressions of devotion with manmade conventions (Matt. 15:3; Mark 7:13). Yet, observant in their religion and esteemed by men, they consider themselves righteous by their own standards (Luke 16:15; 18:11–12). But their religion consists only of what appears in public (Matt. 23:5). Their private words and thoughts tell another story (Luke 12:1–3). Outwardly they appear righteous, but inwardly they raven as wolves; they yield to wickedness, oppression, excesses (Matt. 23:25–28; Luke 11:39). Though they believe in Christ, they care more for people’s praise than for God’s (John 5:44; 12:42–43). Like leaven in bread, hypocrisy permeates their establishment (Luke 12:1). Their hypocrisy, likewise, inspires their communal prayers (Matt. 23:14). They love for others to call them by ecclesiastical titles, to greet them publicly and hold them in admiration (Matt. 23:7; Luke 11:43). In token of reserved seats in the kingdom of heaven, they take the foremost places at meetinghouses and banquets (Matt. 23:6; Luke 14:7–8). Yet quickly they find fault with those not conforming to their exterior of worship (Mark 2:18, 24; 7:2, 5; Luke 6:7). While they themselves covet the things of the world, they despise those who mingle with sinners in attempting to rescue them (Matt. 9:11; Luke 7:33–34; 16:14). Their fear of political repercussions outweighs their love of spiritual obligation (John 11:47–48). 

In the end, they disfellowship those who love and confess Christ (John 9:22; 12:42). The converts to their form of religion, whom they go to great lengths to gain, they make twofold more children of hell than themselves (Matt. 23:15): so much hypocrisy governs their lives that it appears incurable (Matt. 23:29–33). To assure themselves that their religion is well founded, the elitist-Pharisaic faction makes frequent mention of a key prophet or forebear on whom they base their authority. So far have they departed from the prophet’s message, however, that if some came among them who taught as he did, they would seek to kill them, as did their forefathers (Matt. 23:30–34; Luke 11:47–49). Were their acclaimed prophet to confront them, he would be the first to assert that neither God’s love nor God’s word abides in them (John 5:38, 42, 45). Thus, the most righteous among them—one like their acclaimed prophet—they call a deceiver and make a scapegoat (Matt. 27:63; John 11:50). At that point, the Lord removes the kingdom from them, giving it to a people who will bring forth its fruit (Matt. 21:43). 

In summing up this somber biblical type, we see among the ancient elitist Pharisees many forms of priestcraft that Jesus and his Apostles predicted would also corrupt the church of the last days. Indeed, the things they prophesied that would befall us repeat the Pharisaic phenomenon as nearly as any scriptural type. Just as the love of the ancient elitist Pharisees had waxed cold because of iniquity among them, so will the love of many in the last days wax cold because of iniquity (Matt. 24:12). As they loved themselves and were covetous and treacherous, so will many in the last days (2 Tim. 3:1–4). As they were ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth, so will many in the last days (2 Tim. 3:7). As they admired men for personal advantage, so will many in the last days (Jude 16). As they failed to believe that enemies would invade and destroy their land because of their iniquity, so will many in the last days be willingly ignorant of their role in precipitating a fiery destruction of the wicked (2 Pet. 3:3–10). By their idolatry and hypocrisy, they will pollute the church of God, bringing upon themselves God’s judgment (Morm. 8:34–38). As a consequence, just as messianic imposters from among the Jews preceded Jesus’ first coming (Acts 5:36–37)97—with the notable exception of John the Baptist—so false christs and prophets will precede his second coming (Matt. 24:5, 11, 23–24; Mark 13:6, 21–22). The true prophets they will nonetheless withstand, as the false prophets withstood Moses (2 Tim. 3:8–9) and as the Pharisees withstood Jesus. The righteous among them they will hate and betray (Matt. 24:9–10; Mark 13:12–13), as the Jews hated and betrayed Jesus and his disciples to ecclesiastical and political authorities. Many they will deliver to councils to be judged and punished for their testimonies, smiting some and killing them unlawfully (Matt. 24:9, 49; Mark 13:9)—even as they delivered Jesus and his disciples to be persecuted and killed by ecclesiastical and political authorities. 

In the day of judgment that will then be upon them, they will suffer the fate of all hypocrites. Cutting them off from his people, the Lord will cast them into outer darkness, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.