Trusting in the arm of flesh

Placing one's faith in men (rather than in God) is a very dangerous proposition. The brother who spoke in our Sacrament Meeting today warned that only the Lord Jesus Christ is worthy of our faith and trust. That brother spoke the truth. 

Men can, have and will fail us. Men are not to be trusted. Priesthood leaders cannot save us spiritually. (They can show us the way. They can set the example. But they cannot take us to heaven. We must acquire our own "oil" to see the Bridegroom for ourselves.) We are commanded not to trust in the arm of flesh. Nephi was explicit: "Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm." (2 Nephi 4:34.) It is not the man who speaks, but the Spirit of God that speaks through the man, that gives any man divine authority or witness. (Doctrine and Covenants 68:4; 1:38-39.)

Ecclesiastical position alone connotes very little. Ecclesiastical position alone guarantees nothing. We don't follow a man or men simply because they have "a little authority, as they suppose". God warned us that it is the nature and disposition of nearly all men -- even Church leaders! -- to exercise "unrighteous dominion". (Doctrine and Covenants 121:39.) Consequently, we serve only the Lord.

If you don't understand that, you are doomed. 

This is why priesthood leaders are very limited in what they can do, and how they do it, in righteousness. (Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-44.)

We are not called to "follow a prophet". (You won't find that phrase anywhere in scripture.) We are called to follow and serve the Lord only. (Matthew 4:10.) That phrase is found everywhere in scripture.

Note that when one follows the commandments God gives through a prophet, that person is said -- not to "follow the prophet" but -- to follow the Lord. (Joshua 14:8-9; 2 Kings 18:5-6.) The prophet himself is irrelevant. He gets out of the way. He strives not to be part of the picture. (Numbers 11:27-29.) Moses wasn't kidding when he said "Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed" (Moses 1:10). As one who grew up in Pharaoh's court, conditioned to respect and revere man and his power and authority, Moses acquired true understanding by revelation. Perhaps the Latter-day Saints, conditioned as they are to "follow the Brethren", require similar enlightenment?

Whether the prophet is a former slave and man-slayer (like Moses), a former Pharisee and persecutor of Christians (like Paul) or a former apostate and reprobate (like Alma...take your pick), the identity and character, status or "qualifications" of a prophet are only incidental to the message, never central to it. "Man is nothing" (regardless of his virtues, vices or callings) in comparison to God and His Word.

Prophets have been known to deceive and fail. Prophets have been known to falter and fall. Our own LDS history is replete with "brethren" and "general authorities" who have lied, apostatized, denounced the faith, falsely prophesied, betrayed their office, etc. Even presidents of the modern Quorum of the Twelve have stumbled and gone astray. Are these men to be trusted? If they weren't worthy to be trusted then, why now?

Only a fool would trust his salvation to a proven failure, such as man is.

Only the damned put their trust in men, even prophets, to save them. (Doctrine and Covenants 76:98-103). Why? Because only the Lord can save. We are commanded to follow the Lord only. (1 Samuel 12:24; Moses 1:15; Ether 2:8.)

The Lord's apostles were not enamored with Jesus' appearance (He was nothing to look at), His charismatic persona (He was meek and mild), His wealth (He was broke) or even His "authority" (He claimed no worldly status or station). Jesus was an outcast from the Church, a peasant, a failure in the eyes of the world, with nowhere to call His own or to lay His head. Just before He was excommunicated, His supposed "spiritual leader", who called himself a "judge in Israel", probably said to Him: "You know, Jesus, it's really too bad. You could have been something...."

The apostles were not attracted to the trappings of Jesus' office or station (in this world at least), though they were enamored to (and coveted) His power. They  were convinced and convicted, rather, by His words. When Jesus asked Peter if he would abandon Him also, Peter appealed -- not to Jesus' power or His authority -- but to HIs message when he said: "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). It is the words -- not the man, nor his calling or position -- that define the authenticity of any message or messenger. True messengers convey their message by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is the Holy Ghost that is to be recognized, trusted and heeded, not mere men. (Moroni 10:5; Doctrine and Covenants 45:57.)

Just as we should not trust in any man, we ought not trust in any works of man for our salvation. Terribly misguided souls believe that ordinances alone, or great and marvelous works, will save anyone. To those who do not come unto Christ, however, He will say, "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity. I never knew you." (See Matthew 7:23.)

God has no need of burnt offerings, washings and anointings, temple ceremonies or sacraments. The rites and rituals of men are mere symbols pointing the way to Christ. Those who think the symbols themselves can save are fools. Those who think they have "arrived" or "received" because they have participated in "play acting" beguile themselves. 

There is no substitute for coming unto Christ. Only those who endure (continue, persist) until the end -- until they are at rest in the arms of Jesus -- will be saved.