Disruptive Theology

Disruptive technology is defined as doing things that disrupt or overturn the traditional business methods and practices. Clayton Christensen, a Harvard Business Professor defined a disruptive innovation as an innovation that creates a new market and value network and eventually disrupts an existing market and value network, displacing established market leading firms, products and alliances.

Applying these definitions, I will coin the phrase 'Disruptive Theology' and define it as follows:

Disruptive Theology is a Truth that disrupts and displaces traditional, established or popular religions, beliefs, philosophies, traditions and/or values. 

Truth is defined as that which has been revealed by God to mankind, hidden to those who do not seek it, but which can be discovered and known, from God, by each person who seeks it.

Truth always disrupts that which is not true and exposes it as the fraud that it is, especially when that which is not Truth is masquerading as or believed to be truth.

Belief is not part of this equation, for beliefs are irrelevant when it comes to whether or not something is a Truth or is not a Truth. So whether you do or do not believe that God reveals His Truth to men, that belief is not relevant. The question is whether He does or does not reveal His Truth to men, not whether you believe it or do not believe it. Belief in something does not make it true any more than not believing makes it not true. For example if I believe in God, that belief is not material to whether there is or is not a God. And conversely if I do not believe in God, that belief also is not part of the equation.

That which is watered down or perverted is not Truth. Mankind cannot alter or improve upon a Truth. Nor does Truth originate from mankind through science or knowledge, although it can be discovered through science or knowledge. Truth does not originate from authority, no matter the authority or the knowledge of that person. People can hear and understand Truth and can convey Truth to others, even as a witness with personal knowledge. But others are not to rely on that person to know if what is conveyed is Truth. Since Truth originates with God, only God can reveal His Truth to those who desire to find it and seek it out.

Truth without personal revelation is just information. Truth with personal revelation is to know. It is the Spirit of Revelation. 

Another way of defining Truth is that the "word of God is Truth," and to say that God has revealed Truths to mankind, and that many of these Truths have been recorded, is in and of itself disruptive theology, for these Truths will upset the way we see and live our lives.

There are many Truths which fall into the category of Disruptive Theology, but one that disrupts all traditional, established or popular religions and philosophies, is one of the earliest accounts of God conversing with Adam and recorded by Adam in a book of remembrance.

An ancient record written by Moses which surfaced in 1830 contains some records written by Moses and also by Enoch. There are three other Enoch fragments which contain some of these same writings. While there are other Truths in this account, these records settle the question once and for all as to when the Gospel of Jesus Christ was first upon this earth, and why there are so many religions in the world. 

Moses is quoting records written by Enoch, and Enoch refers to 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." Enoch is referring to this book of remembrance "which was recorded in the language of Adam," and he explains that because Adam fell, "...we are; and by his fall came death...and (we) are shut out from the presence of God." Enoch then says that God called "upon our father Adam by his own voice, saying I am God...and he also said unto him: if thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ...ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost..." It is recorded that Enoch is speaking the words of God as spoken by God to Adam, which Adam recorded in this Book of Remembrance. 

Here is Adam (and make note that there are no written records before Adam), after he and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden, being told of Jesus Christ, long before the mortal Jesus was born in the flesh, long before any of the world religions--Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, or Muslims--even existed! 

And not only is Adam told of Jesus Christ, but he is given the true gospel of Jesus Christ and the doctrines of His gospel--repentance, baptism (of water and of fire), being born of the Spirit. The record also tells us that Adam was "caught away in the Spirit of the Lord, and was carried down into the water, and was laid under the water and was brought forth out of the water." After being baptized with water, Adam then "heard a voice out of heaven, saying: Thou art baptized with fire, and with the Holy Ghost."

Because of this remarkable Truth, we can understand why there have been and why there are so many churches, religious systems and philosophies on the earth. Everyone on earth is descended from ancestors who fully accepted the way of Jesus Christ to happiness through His Gospel. 

But, as with the case of the children of Adam and Eve, the majority of the people rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and therefore the true Gospel was not passed on to their children. As a result, the Lord raised up righteous men like Enoch to restore the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those who would listen. Enoch, who had been taught by his father "in all the ways of God" called upon men to repent and many did, but again the majority rejected his message.

The generations of those who refused to repent (which means to turn to Christ) and accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ were left with many other religions, churches and philosophies to choose from, but every religion, church and philosophy on earth has descended from, is a reaction to, or was created for want of the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Nothing could be more disruptive than the Truth that the real Gospel of Jesus Christ existed on this earth at the time of Adam and did not originate at the time Jesus Christ was on the earth, and in fact existed long before any other religion or philosophy. 

The Truth that Jesus Christ is Jehovah, the God of the Old Testament, is quite disruptive to both Jews and Christians, especially Jehovah’s Witnesses. Jesus Christ was sent to this world, first as Jehovah and then as the mortal Jesus, and then as the resurrected Savior to save us from ourselves, from our weaknesses and from our sins.

A Truth that disrupts both false science and false religion is that the earth was not created but was organized using matter that already existed, and through the skilled use of what we would call science, or better, knowledge. The organizers of this earth and millions more like it, are God the Father and His son Jesus Christ, and others, under their direction. His Father is also the Father of our spirits, or our Heavenly Father. And further, by agreeing to come to this earth, by being born in the flesh, we agreed that it was part of our Father's plan. Inherent in this Truth is another--we existed before we were born in the flesh.

Man was in the beginning with God as intelligence which was not created or made, neither indeed can be. Spiritual bodies were created by our Father and Mother in Heaven for our intelligence and They are the Father and Mother of our spirits or our Heavenly Parents, in whose image we are, male and female. As intelligence we possessed a certain amount of light and knowledge, or more accurately we were a certain amount of light and knowledge. We can continue to become more intelligent, or possess more light and knowledge. There is no end to the light or knowledge we may become. God is the most intelligent of them all, having more light and knowledge.

God has created man with a mind capable of instruction, and a faculty which may be enlarged in proportion to the heed and diligence given to the light communicated from heaven to the intellect.

Persons who most increase in intelligence attain the greatest oneness with God. The more they acquire his divine attributes, the more powerful they become with God and with humanity, not because of rank or power, but because of what they become. Jesus’ words, “I seek not my own will but the will of the Father who has sent me” (John 5:30), express his oneness with God as a God—the same oneness with God all may grow into. The difference between God, angels, and men isn’t so much in appearance as it is in divine power and intelligence.

As spirits we made a choice to come to this earth and subject ourselves to all the hardships that exist here, to receive a tabernacle (body) of flesh, as elements are also eternal, and that although our body would die, it would someday be inseparably connected to our Spirit because the elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy, and when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy. Spirit and element are both matter and are eternal.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God as the only begotten of the Father in the Flesh, but both the Father and the Son have bodies in the form of men, having themselves been resurrected or having their spiritual bodies inseparably connected to their physical bodies. And God created Adam and Eve in the image of Him, our Father in heaven, and in the image of Her, our Mother in heaven.

God’s creation is an ongoing process that has operated for eons of time and that extends far into eternity. Within that continuum, Adam and Eve’s “creation” by no means constitutes a unique event. Rather, it accords entirely with the cyclical rebirth or re-creation of God’s children who ascend a spiritual ladder to heaven. But ascend in this sense does not include strivings, activities, climbing through our efforts, but ascend means to be lifted up by God, receiving grace for grace. The humbled are exalted while those who exalt themselves are humbled.

Keep in mind that all these Truths have been revealed by God and are recorded. Again whether you believe them is irrelevant. They are either Truths or they are not and anyone desiring to know if they are Truths can find out for themselves directly from God. But if you have no desire to know you will never know, except when you come to know what you could have received.

There are many other Truths that fit the definition of Disruptive Theology. I will name but a few more.

The Kingdom of Heaven is hidden from the view of all those who will not seek to find it. There are hidden Treasures of Great Knowledge that can be discovered. But it is hidden as a test to us. We are generally aware of, or there have been reports over the centuries that these treasures do exist, but unless we search them out we will never know them.

Satan is real and allowed to be here to give us an alternative choice to the goodness and righteousness of God. Satan or Lucifer was also in the beginning with God, someone who had been described as a 'son of the morning' but who 'fell from heaven' after attracting a third of the hosts of heaven (spiritual children of our Heavenly Father). He demanded the glory and wanted others to worship Him. He was called Perdition and the heavens wept over him. 

But Lucifer is an important part of the drama. Without being enticed by the one or the other, we cannot make a choice of our own free will. Mark His word, there are only two choices, good or the righteousness of God ("Good") or everything else ("Evil"), and every day, every hour, every minute and every second we are revealing to our Father in Heaven our choices. He takes these choices that we reveal to Him and rewards us according to the desires of our hearts.

The justice of God is not a myth and exists because God is God and has given us His law. He says if we break the law, we suffer His Justice. He gives us all the circumstances under which we can become subject to His justice. 

On the other hand the mercy of God is also real, but mercy cannot rob justice one wit. So for us it is either the justice of God or the mercy of God. Jesus Christ is the one who has paid for our sins and if we come unto Him and repent of our sins, we can be found guiltless at the judgment. Otherwise we suffer the justice of God which He has described as His anger, His wrath or His vengeance. 

But he uses His justice to entice us to choose mercy which comes about as the result of the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ. In other words His justice can move us into the arms of His mercy. In the end Justice claims her own, and Mercy claims all that are hers. God has, in effect, suffered the demands of justice for all who repent.

During our time here and even after death, before the judgment, we are either under the law and in bondage to our sins, or are under grace, and saved from our sins, but only if we are continually repenting.

Remarkably all our invited to partake of His goodness and mercy regardless of skin color, sexual orientation, beliefs, sins, and iniquities. Love is His motivation, as He desires that love becomes our motivation. He invites us to pray for and be filled with His love, which He describes as the greatest of all gifts.

All will sin and fall short of the glory of God. There is only one way back to the presence of our Father and that is through His Son. So we either repent (turn to Christ) and continue in faith and repentance until the end, and receive His mercy, or we do not repent and receive His justice. And why? Because He said so! And He cannot change His mind. Otherwise He would cease to be God. Another Truth related to these is that every knee will eventually bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is the Christ.

The goodness of mankind is flawed goodness because of our lost and fallen state. Of ourselves we cannot and do not live wholly good lives because of the Fall of Adam. We need to be saved from the evil in our own hearts, the lack of our own minds and the weakness of our own powers. We are lost and fallen because Adam and Eve transgressed and partook of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil after being commanded not to. Why does this trigger our lost and fallen state? Because God told Adam and Eve that it would happen. The fall came about because of the Justice of God, or His word that if they partake of the fruit they would surely die.

Eve first and then Adam, after being reminded by Eve, recognized that the only way they could know the difference between Good and Evil was to partake of the fruit in violation of the command not to. Even though persuaded by Satan to break the command of the Father, they recognized that they, in order to become as the Gods, knowing Good and Evil, must partake, and so they did, which subjected them to the Justice of God. They were cast out of the Garden of Eden and would someday die, but they knew that by passing through sorrow they could learn by their experiences the difference between Good and Evil and learn to prize the Good.

Mercy is introduced through the Atonement of Christ. It was appointed unto men that all must die and after death they must come to judgment. But after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning what He had appointed unto them. He, therefore, sent angels to converse with them. As a result God introduced to Adam and Eve the way back--turn to Jesus Christ, be baptized with water and the spirit and continue in repentance until the end.  Mankind is not capable of saving themselves. No amount of human goodness is enough. It requires an infinite sacrifice, and so God sent His Son to pay the price of Justice for all those who repent.

To save man from his sins, or from his awful, sinful and polluted state is the reason Christ was sent by His Father, sent to do the will of the Father. Christ did not come just to deliver us from the consequences of our sinful deeds, while yet our sinful nature remained. He did not come just to pay the price of our sinful deeds. 

We are only right when there is no wrong in us, not when we have quit doing wrong. We must be set free from the evil within us, not set free from the sins, or evil we are doing, not set free from the sins we have committed. It is the will of God that we become like Him. When that becomes our will as well, then we are one with God. This does not come about by being better behaved or improved, but because we recognize the evil within us and turn to Him to change us, and as He changes us we will eventually become like Him. We can be made perfect in Him.

Because of the Fall we are, and by the fall comes death. Satan is allowed to come among the children of men and to tempt them to become carnal, sensual and devilish, and we are shut off from the presence of God. But God has, through His Son Jesus Christ, provided a way for all to return to His presence. We are innocent when we are born, but when we begin to grow up, sin conceives in our hearts and we taste the bitter that we may know to prize the Good. It is given to all to know the difference between Good and Evil, wherefore we are agents unto ourselves. We learn through our experience, through those things that we suffer, the difference between Good and Evil, and hopefully as a result, learn to prize the good.

This Truth disrupts the notion that you have your values and I have mine, as if our agency is somehow tied to how we live our lives. No, agency is the choice between Good and Evil.

Truth is that there have been seven (7) dispensations when the Gospel of Christ was on the earth in its fullness. We can then look at each dispensation (a time when the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the authority to perform the ordinances was on the earth), and know that 

1. Adam's dispensation was the first, and 

2. Enoch's was the second. 

3. Additional searching will tell you that Noah's was the third dispensation, 

4. Abraham's was the fourth, and 

5. Moses' was the fifth. 

6. We then come to the sixth dispensation which began when Christ came to earth as the mortal Jesus. 

7. The seventh and last dispensation is the restoration of the same Gospel of Jesus Christ given to Adam, through the prophet Joseph Smith. In each of these dispensations the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was on the earth, but in each case, including the last dispensation, the majority of the people rejected it, thereby leading to generations of millions of people without the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

All these Truths are found in records such as the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price, and other ancient records, some available, some only mentioned but quoted from in the records we have--records available to all.

Without these records, which 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, we will, as many have done before us, dwindle in unbelief, and know nothing concerning these things, or even will not believe them when they are taught to us, because of the traditions of our fathers, which are not correct.

But even those who have them can also have their traditions disrupted by the Truths found in these records. In fact in these records we are told that light and truth can be taken away from children by the traditions of their fathers, and that the traditions of their fathers make the word of God, or Truth, of no effect.

Even in these records these Truths are hidden and must be searched out as the treasures that they are, and those who have the most access to these records have been told that they are under the greater condemnation for not searching them out. In fact one prophet writer describes these people as follows: "And now I, Nephi...am left to mourn because of the unbelief, and the wickedness, and the ignorance, and the stiffneckedness of men; for they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be."

We are living in the last dispensation prior to the time of the second coming of Christ. Christ has revealed many events associated with His Great and Marvelous Work that are yet to happen prior to His coming, and yet it was prophesied by many that even the people who have the greatest access to His records or His words would not know of these events and would not be prepared for them.

The records portray a difference between the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in this last dispensation and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The records define His Gospel and make a distinction between His Gospel and religion. Religion, in these records, is always portrayed as anti-Christ because it puts the emphasis on performance and self atonement, rather than on Jesus Christ and His atonement. He says that it is His church, "if it so be that they (notice He does not say it) are built upon my gospel," but it is not His church if we are not built upon His gospel. The gospel, the organization and His church are not the same.  

His gospel is the truth. The organization is the means to foster that truth, and His church are those who are built upon His gospel. And because He is the gospel or good news, His church are those who are built upon Him.

He defines His Gospel as being the good news because He was sent by His Father to do the will of His Father. Because He was lifted up upon the cross by men, all mankind will be lifted up to stand before Him to be judged of their works according to the justice of God. He tells us, however, we can avoid His justice and be found guiltless if we repent, are baptized with water and of fire, and endure in faith in Him to the end. But if, He explains, we do not repent, we will subject ourselves to God's justice.

As recorded in these records there is much said and prophesied concerning those who are part of the last dispensation specifically concerning those who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Old Testament prophets used events of the past to foretell the future, and one Old Testament prophet used the rote method of learning or schoolmaster method of repeating parrot fashion what the mentor articulates. He specifically said that their tablets were impure because they abound with partially digested truths regurgitated for the people to consume. This prophet used this historical fact to foretell the future of the Lord's people being content with a watered down version of the word of God instead of direct revelation and instruction from God.

Old Testament and Book of Mormon prophets use the code name "Babylon" to describe the condition of the world after the fall of Adam. Included in Babylon is the system Satan introduced to Cain, i.e., turn people and property into money and make them slaves to Satan's system of economy, whereby they are dependent on Him and their industry for their daily bread. 

This system is the cause of all inequality in the world. The Truth--that it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another is the reason the whole world lies in sin. The idea that we fare in this life according to the management of the creature and that every man prospers according to his genius and that every man conquers according to his strength, i.e., by his industry, is the result of Satan's economy and the reason for all the inequality that exists in the world. The Truth is that if we cannot be equal in earthly things we cannot be equal in heavenly things. The Lord's system, which is contrary to our present day economy, is that all work together for the whole, and that there be no poor among us.

But these prophets also introduced in juxtaposition to Babylon, the idea of Zion, both as a people and a place. In fact Zion has existed on the earth a number of times. Zion is everything that Babylon is not, as Babylon is everything that Zion is not. Zion and babylon cannot coexist. As a place these prophets prophesied that there would be two Zions before Christ's Second Coming, one in Jerusalem and one in America and that His people, the House of Israel would be gathered to these two Zions before His Second Coming. For purpose of these prophesies, the House of Israel include only the Jews, the 10 Tribes and the descendants of Lehi, a Book of Mormon prophet. The Jews and the 10 Tribes would be gathered to the Old Jerusalem and Lehi's descendants would be gathered to the New Jerusalem. Also the repentant Gentiles, or people of the nations of the earth, would be gathered with Lehi's descendants to the New Jerusalem. Latter-day Saints are identified with the Gentiles (Ephraimite Gentiles) for purpose of these prophesies.

Concerning the members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it was prophesied that instead of becoming a more Zion like people since the commencement of this last dispensation, they would acquire more of the characteristics of Babylon. 

Instead of becoming God's peculiar people, a nation of kings and priests, they would become an idolatrous people, a people under condemnation, treating lightly the things or words they have received. It is prophesied that Babylon and everything and everyone remaining in Babylon will be destroyed before the Lord's Second Coming, and the Ephraimite Gentiles will be the catalyst for the destruction in the Lord's end time.

There is hope, however, according to the prophets, that they who repent will be numbered among the House of Israel. These prophets also prophesied that the Lord's people in the latter-days would deceive themselves, having been on a diet of vomit and excrement, and that the only answer to this self deception is the word of God, or direct personal revelation from God. 

Only through this direct personal revelation can they be instructed to avoid being drunk with the wine of their self deception. Prophet writers make it clear that it is not our goodness or our righteousness that will save us from His justice, but the goodness and righteousness of Christ.

In this connection the word of God has been defined as truth, light, spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ (which can be discerned), and as such, has the power, if received, to change us and cause us to want to repent and turn to Christ. Even as Christ personifies the word of God, so we personify that portion of His word which is in us. 

His word, He tells us, is what we will be judged by. His word is used both to make war and to judge the nations, including His people. Christ only spoke those words which were given Him of His Father, and promised His disciples that He would send the Holy Ghost to bring to remembrance all the words which He had spoken unto them. He describes the words of His Father as Treasures and tells us to treasure up in our minds continually the words of life. But we have two choices when it comes to the word of God--either believe them or do not believe them. In other words we find ourselves on one side of His sword (His word) or the other, His word being described as a two edged sword.

Two future events associated with the Lord's Great and Marvelous Work are that the House of Israel (Jews, 10 Tribes and Lehi's descendants) will come to believe His words and the Gentiles (including the Mormon Gentiles) will not believe His words.

There are many other Truths that would fall into the category of Disruptive Theology, and they are all discoverable. But hopefully you can come to see exactly where you are--living in Babylon--the "Real World." Satan is a master of the use of imagery and self deception. He is a master magician who can make you think you are on the right path, but are really immersed in Babylon, relying on your goodness and having joy in your works for a season. If you are not aware--remember that the greater the awareness, the greater the intelligence--you need to immerse yourselves in His words to become aware so you can prepare accordingly.

Disruptive Theology also means that by virtue of Truth we may be taken out of our comfort zones, and since most of our energy seems to be spent in making ourselves more comfortable, we avoid Truths that may make us uncomfortable. This is especially true where we are the subject of these Truths. Let me give you two examples.

The first one is found in the first two verses of 1 Nephi 20 (Isaiah 48) where Isaiah is writing of both ancient Israel and modern-day Israel, or those who claim to be. He says: "Hearken and hear this, O house of Jacob, who are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, or out of the waters of baptism, who swear by the name of the Lord, and make mention of the God of Israel, yet they swear not in truth nor in righteousness. Nevertheless, they call themselves of the holy city, but they do not stay themselves upon the God of Israel...." 

While maintaining the outward appearance of worship Israel does not stay themselves upon God. It is uncomfortable that Isaiah is describing many of us of the Church and so we may want to try and offer a different interpretation of this scripture, so as not to see the finger of God pointing at us.

The second one is found in D&C 112 where the Lord is telling us that "darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and all flesh has become corrupt before my face." 

This may not bother us because we may say He is talking about someone else. He then says, "Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, said the Lord. And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord" (vs. 23-26).

Hopefully this makes us uncomfortable enough to find out why and how we can avoid the Lord's day of vengeance, keeping in mind that because of His love for us, He wants us to partake of His Mercy and uses His Justice as a means to entice us to partake of His Mercy.

I Know in Whom I Have Trusted

"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men..." (2 Nephi 28:31). 

In the LDS Church we hear of those who have a had a 'crisis of faith,' and I have often wondered whether this 'crisis of faith' is really the result of having put too much faith in the church as an organization, i.e., too much faith in the leaders of the church, past and present, and not enough faith and trust in the Lord. Isn't the 'crisis of faith' really an admission that some leader or leaders have disappointed us or said or did something that has led one to question? Or perhaps one may ask 'how can this be the true church' when its leaders make mistakes or even sometimes abuse its members, and even admit to making mistakes? 

The problem is that a myth has been created which in effect goes like this: "When our leaders speak, the thinking has been done." Although even as some leaders of the Church have disavowed infallibility and urged personal responsibility upon its members, this myth persists. Erecting any--even the noblest among us--into an idol is both a dangerous and a fail-safe recipe for disappointment. 

From God's perspective, the problem is not the universality of human weakness, it is the universality of human trust in that weakness. God does not warn us about trusting in flawed flesh, but in human flesh. "Cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh," writes Nephi. Any human flesh, that is the point. But the reason He employs flawed vessels is to protect us and to help redirect our attention to Him. 

The story of Gideon illustrates this principle. The Lord calls Gideon to free Israel from the oppression at the hands of the Midianites. Gideon raises as army of 32,000 men, but the Lord tells him that is too many, because the army will credit themselves for the victory. Gideon reduces his army to 10,000 and the Lord again tells him that it is too many, and for the same reasons. Finally Gideon reduces his army to 300. With so few, surely their victory over the Midianites could only be attributed to Divine assistance. 

Regrettably, it is not God or God's army that the people credit, but it is Gideon! The predilection to revere a human leader is too great. Gideon's men cannot lift their eyes any higher than the immediately visible--the great leader who has taken them to such a great victory. It is their desire that Gideon rule over them. As for Gideon, he falls prey to the resulting adulation and riches. He fashions a cult object with his new found wealth, which inevitably becomes "a snare unto Gideon, and to his house" (Judges 8:27). 

But trusting in others seems to be a problem among Latter-day Saints, especially as it relates to church leaders, and because of this trust, some have and others will lose faith when they discover that their leaders are human and make mistakes, and even err in doctrine. This is true even though the Lord has told us to look to God and live, and yet, some continue to teach that following the Prophet is our way to salvation. It has been said that the Pope is infallible, but no one believes it, and we have been taught that the LDS Prophet is not infallible, but few members believe it. 

On the other hand there are those who have little or no faith in the leaders of the church, usually because of some issue or issues on which they disagree. These members are also guilty of not putting their trust in God. They use the weaknesses of their leaders to justify their lack of faith, lifestyle, or inactivity, while they criticize leaders for being human while not recognizing that they have misplaced their trust.

I am convinced that people who put their trust in God will remain faithful to Him, and those who don't and instead put their trust in men by either relying on them too much or criticizing them too much, will either have a crisis of faith as soon as they hear or read something that shatters that trust, or seems to justify their lack of trust. 

Isaiah told us that, "Lo, thou trustest in the staff of this broken reed, on Egypt; whereon if a man lean, it will go into his hand, and pierce it: so is Pharoah King of Egypt to all that trust in him" (Isaiah 36:6). 

We have been instructed to "put trust in the Lord" (D&C 19:30), and if we listen carefully this is the message from some Church leaders, beginning with Joseph Smith when he said that our minds have been darkened because of our dependency on our leaders. 

President Uchtdorf said in a recent conference: "And, to be perfectly frank, there have been times when members or leaders in the Church have simply made mistakes. There may have been things said or done that were not in harmony with our values, principles, or doctrine. I suppose the Church would be perfect only if it were run by perfect beings. God is perfect, and His doctrine is pure. But He works through us—His imperfect children—and imperfect people make mistakes" (General Conference October 2013).

And He uses imperfect people to lead so we will put our trust in Him. He has warned us that priesthood authority is only valid if exercised upon the principles of righteousness--His righteousness, that while the rights of the priesthood "may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control of dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man" (D&C 121:36-37 emphasis added). 

He furthers tells us "that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately exercise unrighteous dominion" (D&C 121:39 emphasis added). 

Our Father knows of our tendency to transfer our trust to others, especially those who are called to positions of authority. He knows of our tendency to change "the truth of God into a lie, and worship the creature more than the Creator..." (Romans 1:25) "And my speech and my preaching," wrote Paul to the Corinthians, "was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power; That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor 2:4-5), and "...that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God" (2 Cor 1:9). 

Other writings of Paul make it clear where our trust should be. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God" (2 Cor 3:5). "For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but by measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise" (2 Cor 10:12). "That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:12-13). 

The Book of Mormon is replete with those who are witnesses of this truth: Put your faith and trust in God, and not in man, not any man; not in flesh nor in riches, but only in God. And yet we seem to ignore these witnesses, or worse, minimize these witnesses, by teaching about good examples, about being good examples, about our strivings and the strivings of others, about the awe we seem to reinforce in our leaders or our criticism of them. No flesh is no flesh. Even the Savior tells us to not call Him good, because He says there is none good but His Father. We teach of being instruments in the Lord's hands instead of putting our faith in Christ, which when we do, we also bear witness to others where our faith is and where their faith should be. 

"As Joseph Smith so pointedly taught," wrote Bruce R. McConkie, "a prophet is not always a prophet, only when he is acting as such. Prophets are men and they make mistakes. Sometimes they err in doctrine. Sometimes even wise and good men fall short in the accurate presentation of what is truth. Sometimes a prophet gives personal views which are not endorsed or approved by the Lord. We have been introduced to the gospel; we have the gift of the Holy Ghost; we have the Standard Works, and it is our responsibility to get in tune and understand properly what the Lord has revealed and has had us canonize" (Letter from Bruce R. McConkie to Eugene England, February 19, 1981). 

But even this statement must be put to the same standard as Elder McConkie advocates. It is up to us to know whether our leaders speak the truth to us or whether they don't. D&C 68:4 says: "And whatsoever they speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scriptures, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto Salvation" (emphasis added). The operative qualifier is "when moved upon by the Holy Ghost." As J. Reuben Clark said, we decide whether or not they speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, which means we must have the Holy Ghost! 

This is consistent with a statement by Brigham Young: "We often hear it said that the living oracles must be in the church, in order that the Kingdom of God may be established and prosper on the earth. I give another version of this sentiment. I say that the living oracle of God, or the Spirit of Revelation must be in each and every individual, to know the plan of salvation and keep in the path that leads them to the presence of God." 

This is further supported by President Marion G. Romney. "I don't know much about the gospel other than what I've learned from the standard works. When I drink from a spring I like to get the water where it comes out of the ground, not down stream after the cattle have waded in it. I appreciate other people's interpretation, but when it comes to the gospel we ought to be acquainted with what the Lord says and we ought to read it" (untitled address at CES coordinators convention, 13 April 1973). 

Another witness is B.H. Roberts who said: "I think it is a reasonable conclusion to say that constant, never-varing inspiration is not a factor in the administration of the affairs of the Church; not even good men, no, not though they be prophets or other high officials in the Church, are at all times and in all things inspired of God." 

President Charles W. Penrose taught: "We do not believe in the infallibility of man. When God reveals anything it is truth, and truth is infallible. No president of the church has claimed infallibility." 

President George Q. Cannon suggested an explanation, too, when he stated, ‘Perhaps it is his own design that faults and weaknesses should appear in high places in order that his saints may learn to trust in him and not in any man or men’ (Millennial Star, 53: 658, 1891).

Joseph Smith said "Our only confidence can be in God; our only wisdom obtained from Him; and He alone must be our protector and safeguard, spiritually and temporally, or we fall" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 289 emphasis added).

It is the greatest of all blessing that we do not have to depend on others in order to be taught and know the truth. There are no creeds, no official interpretations of scriptures, no 'official' church doctrine, and as Henry Eyring Sr. said: "You don't have to believe anything in this church that is not true." Each one of us can learn the truth directly from the words of our Father in Heaven. Christ was clear when He said, "For I have not spoken of myself; but the father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak" (John 12:45-50 emphasis added). 

All truth comes from God and He has defined truth as His word (D&C 84:45). It is our joy and our responsibility to hear and receive His words, and when we do, our faith in our Father and His Son will increase until we like Peter will know the truth because our Father in Heaven has revealed it unto us. 

It is not wise to equate priesthood keys and priesthood offices with knowledge. Those who do have not availed themselves of the knowledge that comes directly from God, have not searched the scriptures diligently and have not treasured up in their minds the words of God. If they had, they would know that we are not to trust in other human beings, but only in God. Do not be like the children of Israel, who, when they were given the opportunity to hear God directly, turned away and told Moses "speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die" (Exodus 20:19).

"Wherefore, let no man glory in man, but rather let him glory in God" D&C 76:61).

Notes on Samuel the Lamanite

Notes on Samuel the Lamanite
Helaman 13-15

The words which Samuel the Lamanite spoke to the people of the land of Zarahemla were the words of God, words which God did put in Samuel's heart, words which Samuel says he was commanded to speak, and words delivered to him by an angel. So everything that Samuel spoke was God's word. Samuel uses a phrase "the sword of justice" to describe the unrepentant condition of the people in the land of Zarahemla, and says that "nothing can save this people save it be repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ" (Hel. 13:6).

Samuel serves as a type of prophet who will come among the Lord's people in the last days, someone who has been commanded of the Lord to declare His words and call the people to repentance. And there will be many. We see this often in the Book of Mormon that "there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent" or be destroyed. (1 Nephi 1:4; Enos 1:22; 3 Nephi 6:20; Ether 9:28; 11:1). Samuel came even though Nephi was still the prophet of the Church, and in fact after Samuel had spoken the words of the Lord "many believed on his word" and "went forth and sought for Nephi" desiring to be baptized. (Hel. 16:1). The idea of a Samuel being a type is reinforced by the Savior when He told the Nephites that "all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after" have testified of me. (3 Nephi 20:24)

Samuel describes the coming of the Lord as "glad tidings" and that he was sent to the people of Zarahemla that they "might have glad tidings." Samuel then emphasizes that he has been commanded to say: "Because of the hardness of the hearts of the people of the Nephites, except they repent I will take away my word from them, and I will withdraw my Spirit from them" (Hel 13:8). As with Alma 42, 3 Nephi 27, and throughout the Book of Mormon, we see that the sword of justice (Justice of God) can only be removed by repentance. This he emphasizes again in verses 10 and 11. Repent or face the justice of God, and because of impending catastrophe, if they did not repent they would be destroyed in the upcoming destruction which was to occur just prior to Christ coming to the Nephites. This destruction also awaits those who do not repent in the last days before Christ's coming. God will turn away His anger if they would "repent and return" unto the Lord their God, which He will also do with us in the last days if we repent and return unto the Lord. "Blessed are they who will repent and turn unto me, but wo unto him that repenteth not" (vs. 11). Why? Because they face the justice of God.

We also see a parallel definition of repent--"turn unto me"--and used in parallel with the word repent we understand that to repent means to turn to Him. Note also that Samuel uses the phrase "repent and return" unto the Lord, which reinforces the idea that to repent means to turn or return to the Lord. And by turning to Him, we also repent by "turning away" from our iniquities. (3 Nephi 20:26)

Samuel identifies both 'righteous' people in Zarahemla and 'wicked' people. Those who repent are considered righteous and those who do not are considered wicked. This is consistent throughout the Book of Mormon. In fact it was because of the 'righteous' that Zarahemla had not yet been destroyed, but if the time came that the righteous were cast out, then would Zarahemla be ripe for destruction. He says the same about all the cities which are in the land round about Zarahemla.

Samuel then identifies what appears to be the main cause of the Nephites wickedness: "they have set their hearts upon their riches." Samuel says: "Behold ye, the people of this great city, and hearken unto my words; yea, hearken unto the words which the Lord saith; for behold, he saith that ye are cursed because of your riches, and also are your riches cursed because ye have set your hearts upon them, and have not hearkened unto the words of him who gave them unto you" (Hel. 13:21). He tells them that they do not remember the Lord, but that they do remember their riches and not to thank the Lord for them. The problem is with their hearts, which are not drawn out unto the Lord, "but they do swell with great pride, unto boasting...and all manner of iniquities" (Hel. 13:22).

Samuel makes it very clear that "for this cause hath the Lord God caused that a curse should come upon the land, and also upon your riches" (Hel. 13:23).

Samuel not only is describing the condition of the Lord's people during his day, but also the Lord's people during our day. There are some who, "if a prophet come among you and declareth unto you the word of the Lord, which testifieth of your sins and iniquities," will be angry with him. They would much rather that one speak "flattering words" unto them, and tell them that they can do whatever their "heart" desires. Isaiah describes the same condition among the Lord's people when he says we prefer that our prophets "speak unto us smooth things" (Isaiah 30:10), and as Jeremiah prophesied "my people love to have it so" (Jer. 5:31).

Of particular interest is the fact that Samuel refers to those who flatter as "foolish and blind" guides and that the people suffer themselves to be led by such. He asks them (and us) "how long will ye choose darkness rather than light?" (Hel. 13:28-29).

Samuel's repetition of the cry to repent and reminding them of their curse and warning them that their "days of probation are past' because they have procrastinated the day of their repentance, emphasizes the urgency and the Lord's attempt to drive them from His justice into the arms of His mercy. He doesn't let them off the hook unless they repent. He is pleading with them (and us) to "hear" his words, and if they (we) do, he prays that the anger of the Lord be turned away from them (us), and that they (we) "would repent and be saved" (Hel. 13:38-39).

In addition to calling the people to repentance and teaching them, Samuel also prophesied many things, some of which could not be written. But he was commanded to prophesy unto them the birth of the Savior and many events leading up to His birth, which would be observed by the people in and around Zarahemla--a "sign at the time of his coming" (Hel. 14:3). But even the signs are given to them as a call to believe on the Son of God and to repent. Samuel mentions that God's angel commanded him: "Cry unto this people, repent and prepare the way of the Lord" (Hel. 15:9).

It is important that the people hear his words so that they would know of the "judgments of God" which did await them, and also that they might know the conditions of repentance. But this was not all, they were to know of the coming of Jesus Christ and the signs of His coming, just as we are to know of the second coming of Jesus Christ and the signs of His coming. And the purpose of knowing of His coming is that they "might believe on his name" (Hel. 14:12). For if they did believe on His name, they would repent of all their sins, "that thereby (they) may have a remission of them through his merits" (Hel. 14:13).

The idea that if we believe on His name we will repent indicates how a lack of repentance is associated with a lack of belief in Him. The condemnation prophesied by Christ that would come upon those who received not His words, is also associated with a lack of belief in Him which results in treating His words lightly. (D&C 84:52-55).

Samuel then teaches them of the necessity of repentance because of the Fall of Adam, how we are all cut off from the presence of the Lord and die both temporally and spiritually, and how Christ redeemed mankind so that they would be brought back into the presence of God to be judged of God according to our works. Christ's redemption brought to pass the condition of repentance, "that whosoever repenteth the same is not hewn down and cast into the fire" (Hel. 14:18). Samuel equates the justice of God with being hewn down and cast into the fire, and the mercy of God as not being hewn down and cast into the fire.

And once again he calls to them: "repent ye, repent ye, lest by knowing these things and not doing them ye shall suffer yourselves to come under condemnation, and ye are brought down unto this second death" (Hel. 14:19). The call to repentance is to avoid the justice of God, to avoid the second death, and rather be redeemed of the Lord.

Samuel then shows them the signs of Christ death and describes in detail the death, thunderings, lightnings, earthquakes and great storms. He tells them that many highways will be broken up and many cities will become desolate. But, notwithstanding these calamities, the graves shall be opened and many saints will appear unto many. Finally he tells them of a darkness that will cover the face of the whole earth for the space of three days. Click here

It is important to note that all of these signs and wonders are done for the "intent that whosoever will believe might be saved, and that whosoever will not believe, a righteous judgment might come upon them" (Hel 14:28-29). So all that the Lord does is done with the intent that as many as will believe will be saved! Note also the phrase "whosoever will believe might be saved." This is the same as saying "whosoever will repent might be saved."

Samuel tells them (and us) that we choose either to be condemned to the justice of God or to be saved because of the mercy of God. "And now remember, remember, my brethren, that whosoever perisheth, perisheth unto himself; and whosoever does iniquity, doeth it unto himself; for behold, ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free" (Hel. 14:30). And not just free to make choices, but free to choose good or evil, life or death; and "be restored unto that which is good (God) or have that which is good (God) restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have that which is evil restored unto you" (Hel. 14:31). It is justice or mercy!

If there is any question that the main message of Samuel is to repent, that question vanishes in Chapter 15, where in only seventeen verses the call to repent or to turn, is said eight more times. The word 'repent' is said to those to whom he is speaking and to those who are being taught by others during this time. He speaks of the Lamanites who repented, and then he prophesied that his people would repent again before the Lord comes in our time. In fact Samuel says it will be "better for them than for you except ye repent" (Hel. 15:14). He even says that had the mighty works been shown unto them which had been shown unto the Nephites (and us) that they never would have dwindled in unbelief. (Hel. 15:15).

Samuel uses many words and phrases to describe the condition of those who do not repent, and a word search through the scriptures would yield many more descriptions of those who refuse mercy and instead choose justice, in other words those who refuse to repent. These words and phrases include "desolate," "cause to mourn," "no place for refuge," "trodden down," and "left to perish."  The idea of being "trodden down" is used by the Savior where he prophesied that the salt of the earth would loose its savor and be trodden down by the House of Israel. (3 Nephi 16:14-15). And who are the 'salt of the earth?" Those who "are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men" (D&C 101:39-40). I mention this to show how the Lord links events of the past with events of the future through the use of words and phrases, and to show that Samuel is speaking to us as well as to the people of Zarahemla.

One contrast that Samuel makes between the Lamanites and the Nephites (and us), is "that as many of them as were brought to the knowledge of the truth and to the knowledge of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers were led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them" and they are made free because of their firm and steadfast faith in Christ. (Hel. 15:7-8)

Certainly Samuel's message to the people of Zarahemla is as relevant to us today as it was to the people of Zarahemla, and was put in the Book of Mormon by Mormon because they had seen our day.

Prior to the Lord sending Samuel the Lamanite, Nephi had also been commanded to call the people to repentance. The events in both Helaman 12 (Nephi) and Helaman 13-15 (Samuel) took place about 6 B.C., and the condition of the Nephites was such that the Lord not only commanded Nephi to call the people to repentance, but also sent Samuel. 

Nephi's description of the people gives us an indication of why it was also necessary to send Samuel. Nephi describes the people as being unsteady of heart. He bases this description on the fact that at the time the Lord blesses His people by increasing their flocks, their herds, their gold and their silver, and even sparing their lives, then that is the time the people do "harden their hearts, and do forget the Lord their God, and do trample under their feet the Holy One--yea, and this because of their ease, and their exceedingly great prosperity" (Hel. 12:1-2). Nephi describes them as foolish, vain, evil and devilish and quick to do iniquity. Why? because they set their hearts upon the vain things of the world!

"They do not desire that the Lord their God, who hath created them, should rule and reign over them; notwithstanding his great goodness and his mercy towards them, they do set at naught his counsels, and they will not that he should be their guide" (Hel. 12:6). The reality is that the people, as compared to God, are nothing, "even less than the dust of the earth" (Hel. 12:7), but because of what the Lord has blessed them with, they are lifted up in pride and take strength unto themselves.

Nephi then teaches us one of the most important characteristics of God. "If the Lord shall say unto a man--Because of thine iniquities, thou shalt be accursed forever--it shall be done. And if the Lord shall say--Because of thine iniquities thou shalt be cut off from my presence--he will cause that it shall be so" (Hel. 12:20-21). In contrast to the justice of God, Nephi, however, says that men might be saved and for this cause hath repentance been declared. (Hel. 12:22). The good news is that "blessed are they who will repent and hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God; for these are they that shall be saved" (Hel. 12:23). Of course Nephi would that all men would repent and be saved, but he knows that there are some who will not choose mercy, but would choose justice by refusing to repent. 

Can you imagine? Can you imagine that the Lord must visit His people with many afflictions, with death and with terror, and also with famine and all manner of pestilence, or His people will not remember Him? (Hel. 12:3). And why? because "how quick to be lifted up in pride; yea, how quick to boast, and do all manner of that which is iniquity; and how slow are they to remember their God, and to give ear unto his counsels, yea, how slow to walk in wisdom's paths!" (Hel. 12:5). 

Can you imagine how a Samuel the Lamanite would be received today? Would his message be rejected because he was the wrong type of messenger, i.e., one who made no claim to authority in the Church? His only claim was that he had been sent of God, armed with the words of God, to call to repentance the people of the church in Zarahemla. Would it be a test as to whether we would receive the words of God even though the messenger was not an ecclesiastical prophet, perhaps just a gospel doctrine teacher, or even a ministering teacher, or a friend, a father? 

In other words is it true that in our culture 'who says it' is more important than 'what is said?' Can we recognize the words of God no matter who says them? If not, then we will be in trouble for certainly the Lord made it clear that it will be the words of God that will judge us. "the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:48).