A Follower of Righteousness

Abraham understood the difference between being righteous and being a follower of righteousness, and it was because of his knowledge of God that he knew he could not be righteous, because he knew that only God is righteous.  

He did know, however, that he could be "a follower of righteousness" and "also be one who possessed great knowledge." But the knowledge he had obtained from God made him want "to be a greater follower of righteousness, and to possess a greater knowledge" (Abraham 1:2). He understood that his fathers had "turned from their righteousness" unto the worshiping of false gods because they had "turned their hearts" away from righteousness and towards evil.  (Abraham 1:5-7 emphasis added)

God called upon Adam "by his own voice, saying: I am God; I made the world, and men before they were in the flesh. And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe," repent, and be baptized, he would receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. God also tells Adam that he should do this in the name of "mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come" (Moses 6:51-52).

Both Adam and Abraham understood that only God is righteous, full of grace and truth, and that we repent by turning to Him in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Paul gives us some examples of how people miss the mark by trying to become righteous through good works or the works of the law, and in doing so become self-righteous instead of followers of righteousness. He describes the Gentiles as people that had "followed not after righteousness" but after having the Gospel of Jesus Christ taught to them, they "have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith" (Romans 9:30). And by contrast he describes Israel "which followed after the law of righteousness" but had "not attained to the law of righteousness" (Romans 9:31). And he tells us why Israel could not attain to righteousness by following the law, "Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law" (Romans 9:32).

Paul helps us understand that "no man is justified by the law in the sight of God" (Galatians 3:11), and that the purpose of the law is to bring us to Christ, being our "schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith" (Galatians 3:24). Paul makes it clear that we cannot live the law, and it is because of the law that sin comes, and because we sin we need a redeemer and our Redeemer invites us to follow after His righteousness and put our faith in Him, and therefore become greater followers of righteousness.

How We React to Words of Christ Determines Our Fate

There are multiple references in the scriptures that how we react to the words of Christ (or the word of God) will determine our fate. I want to list just a few of them here.

We are judged by the word of God. Christ said   "I am come a light unto the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believeth not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: that word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. 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 everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak" (John 12: 46-50 emphasis added).

"Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words" (D&C 6:2). D&C 33:1 adds the words after joints and marrow, "soul and spirit; and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." 

We learn here that His words will be a divider between those who accept them and those who do not.

"And at that day, when I shall come in my glory, shall the parable be fulfilled which I spake concerning the ten virgins. For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived--verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day" (D&C 45:56-57 emphasis added). What is the truth they have received? "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).

The difference between the house of Israel (Jews, 10 Tribes and Lehi's descendants) receiving and believing the word of God and the Gentiles not believing and rejecting the word of God is found in the Savior's prophecies concerning the house of Israel and the Gentiles in the last days in 3 Nephi 20-21.

Nephi's discourse concerning those who enter and stay on the straight and narrow path focuses on the word of Christ.  "...after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ, with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save" (2 Nephi 31:19 emphasis added). Then he further admonishes us to "...press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life" (2 Nephi 31:20 emphasis added).

And further he tells us what it means to endure to the end: "Wherefore I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ, for behold the words of Christ will tell you all things what he should do" (2 Nephi 32:3) emphasis added).

There are many other references to the receiving or the rejecting of His words and the consequences in doing so in Alma Chapters 5 & 12.  In fact by not receiving His words Alma tells us we are bound by the chains of hell. (Alma 12:11).

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).