Last night one of my friends and brothers in Christ, Robert Smith, was excommunicated from the Mormon Church for "apostasy." He was weighed in the balance of modern LDS tradition and found wanting.
At his "trial," he boldly (and matter-of-factly) testified of seeing and hearing Christ. That testimony fell on deaf ears, apparently. (I have discovered that such a witness usually arouses only suspicion in the minds of those Latter-day Saints who cannot honestly make the same claim.) Rob told his accusers that Jesus personally commissioned him to write a book: Teaching for Doctrines the Commandments of Men: Tradition in Modern Mormonism. (Read my review of Rob's book here.)
For reasons explained in his book -- reasons requiring an entire book to explain! -- Rob argued that the LDS Church has departed from the path ordained by the Lord for the salvation of mankind. (In other words, Latter-day Saints are doomed and damned if they continue doing what they're doing now.)
Last night the LDS Church "officially" dismissed Rob and his book without further argument. By his own account, however, most of those who cast him out did nothing to evaluate the merits of his claims. They did not compare his arguments with scripture or his essays with recorded histories and the teachings of LDS leaders, past and present. (Most of those condemning him probably never even read his book! Or knew of its existence until last night!)
Those raising their hand in agreement to spiritually murder Rob (and his family) trifled with the souls of men. (They also frittered away another opportunity for themselves to repent!) Myths, lies, foolish traditions, distortions, man-made protocols and the philosophies of men, masquerading as "doctrine" and mingled with scripture, now dominate the teachings of "Mormonism." Those "in charge" now dictate those falsehoods to the masses. Their teachings are inconsistent and unreliable. In effect, they make God a liar. They have been deceived by their own presumptions of authority. By their own ignorance, arrogance and misguidance, they now hinder others from coming unto Christ and, in effect, prevent themselves (and others) from being saved.
Rob's experience (by being excommunicated from the LDS Church) has become commonplace, though his witness has been uncommonly supported, inspired, forceful, and direct. Rob lost his membership in the LDS Church when he refused to renounce his testimony of Jesus or deny the truths he knew to be true. He now joins a chorus of others who have been moved to make similar choices and sacrifices.
The "leaders" of the LDS Church, wittingly and unwittingly, are now anti-Christ. They preach of Christ, but speak against His work and the truth of things as they really are, were and are to be. They are false prophets. They do not recognize how their own behavior conforms to the pharisaical and apostate patterns found in scripture. They do not see themselves as persecutors of saints or prosecutors of prophets. But they are.
The impenitent see themselves as "righteous," "worthy," and "walking in the right way" while the humble, honest in heart and poor in spirit recognize their own deficiencies, their own "nothingness," their own unworthiness, "blindness" and need for continuing light, repentance and redemption! The wicked say "we have enough!" and "all is well," while the righteous hunger and thirst after greater righteousness and further knowledge of God. The proud say "Listen to us! The Lord has placed us in charge! Hearken to our precept! Follow us! We can't deceive you! We know the way!" while true messengers simply declare: "Follow Christ."
I commend Rob for standing firm in his convictions and for evidently discharging faithfully his duty to God. I pray the Lord continues to strengthen him and use him in His service. I pray for Rob's family, as well, knowing (by experience) what perils await. May his wife be blessed, even as Sarah, Sarai, and other daughters in Israel were blessed as they stood beside their righteous husbands as they were guided by the Lord to a promised land.
I firmly believe that Robert Smith has testified truthfully. It now falls to us to rid our minds of false traditions and ideas, our hearts of disbelief and doubt, and our hands and garments of the blood and sins of this generation.
May we all turn unto Christ and be saved.
One would think we would learn from the Book of Mormon and hearken to one claiming to have a commission from the Lord. Maybe I should just be thankful that they only (tried to) spiritually murder Rob, and not physically.
ReplyDeleteThose who have true commissions from the Lord hearken to the Lord's established pattern of authority and defer to those in authority. The Book of Mormon is replete with those examples. Nephi was a prophet in his own right; received countless revelations from the Lord while his father was alive. Yet he ALWAYS deferred to his father as the ONE with the established commission from the Lord to be His mouth piece and the spiritual and temporal leader of his people. Moroni deferred to his father Mormon, as long as he was alive, and yet he was a prophet/historian for the Lord's people during his time.
DeleteOne who genuinely has a commission from the Lord stands with his brethren, not apart from them, recognizing their place and role, in honor and deference to them.
Finally, if his claim was genuine his separation from the church would not be spiritual murder, would it?
Hi, Jan.
DeleteThanks for visiting my blog. Your comments are welcome.
Have you had the chance to read Passing the Heavenly Gift, by Denver Snuffer? Or Teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of Men: Tradition in Modern Mormonism, by Rob Smith? Until you do, you will not (in a sense) have met the "prerequisites" for joining this discussion. (This post, after all, references why Rob was kicked out of the Mormon church. His book had everything to do with that.)
Rob claims to have met Jesus Christ. He claims to have been commanded by Him to write a book. Do you see any problem with either of these claims? Would they, of themselves, be indicative of "apostasy"?
Rob was evidently excommunicated from the Mormon Church for what he wrote in his book. Do not assume you understand what's going on without doing some reading. "If we have the truth, it cannot be harmed by investigation. If we have not the truth, it ought to be harmed." -- J. Rueben Clark
Before moving on, I'd like to address the two examples you brought up: Nephi and Moroni. Both of these men showed deference to their FATHERS (in keeping with the fifth commandment of the decalogue). Those who have not the gift of prophecy must defer to those who do. Both of these men (Nephi and Moroni) were prophets in their own right.
Remember what Joshua said to Moses?
26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad: and the spirit rested upon them; and they were of them that were written, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.
27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp.
28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.
29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them!" (Numbers 11:26-29.)
Our "default" position (as Latter-day Saints) is to "hearken to the Lord's established pattern of authority and defer to those in authority." This is what we're taught to do, i.e. "follow the prophet." We are inured to the idea of hierarchical "chains of command." This we think of as the "established pattern."
Jesus didn't follow the "established pattern." (He was a "nobody.") Neither did His disciples. (They were "nobodies" too.) John the Baptist, while scion of a high priest, was repudiated by those "in authority." Remember Paul? Who was Moses that men should regard him? Samuel the Lamanite? Abinadi? They came out of nowhere. Even Lehi (the one you first referenced) was not among the leaders of the synagogue. Why didn't the elders of Israel "hearken" unto him once he began calling them to repentance? Did Alma the younger fit "the pattern"? (By today's standards, Alma Jr. most likely would not be found "worthy" to serve a two year, full-time mission for the Mormon Church, much less become a "prophet, seer and revelator"! God had no trouble working with him, however.)
(To be continued...)
Those with TRUE "authority" from God demonstrate God's POWER. John the Baptist, while working no miracle, faithfully identified the Son of God and discerned His Spirit upon Jesus. Lehi beheld visions. Nephi broke bands and built a boat. Samuel stood on the wall. His enemies could not hit him. Abinadi preached with power. The brothers Nephi and Lehi were encircled by fire, angels ministered because of their great faith, unto the convincing of 300 would-be murderers and the conversion of thousands of Lamanites. Ammon defended the king's flocks.
DeleteBy contrast, powerless personalities have no REAL authority from God. The "rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven." (D&C 121:36.) The two MUST go together. Jesus' AUTHORITY to forgive sin was evidenced by His POWER to work miracles. The apostles of Jesus' day (and the disciples of old) had POWER to heal sickness, raise the dead, etc. But once the people lost faith and fell into apostasy, these miracles ceased.
What does that tell us about where we are today?
Do those "in authority" in the LDS Church exercise the power of God evidenced throughout the scriptures? I will leave it to you to decide if what you experience in church each and every Sunday equates with what you read in scripture.
You overlook something very important: Nephi (son of Lehi) was a prophet in his own right NOT because he "hearken[ed] to the Lord's established pattern of authority and defer[ed] to those in authority," but because he humbled himself and called upon God and received his OWN revelation.
God's true priesthood "hierarchy" is FLAT. There is no mediator between God and man but Jesus Christ. He employs no servant there. No bishop, stake president or prophet ought to come between us and Deity. Jesus is our personal Savior. Those who think otherwise simply do not know Him.
It appears to me that the Lord is doing exactly what the members of the church are suggesting — separating the wheat and tares.
ReplyDeleteWhat they've forgotten, however, is the Lord revealed through Joseph Smith how this would happen in his church: by allowing the tares to first grow until they were choking the wheat (sounds like nowadays to me) and then remove the *wheat* from the tares, not the other way around.
I find it ironic how quickly my family has pointed out to me what the Lord is doing in order to demonize my actions of claiming I received a revelation that the church is no longer acknowledged by Christ, and yet the very scriptures they cite — if they were to actually read and understand them — are implicating and demonizing their actions, not mine.
Ben, nice observation!
DeleteChrist will remove those in authority in His church before He will cease to acknowledge His church. The Prophet Joseph Smith taught that the Lord will remove a man from authority in His church if that man is leading His church astray as opposed to ceasing to acknowledge His church. There are too many checks and balances within the structure of the Priesthood and the hierarchy of the Church to allow the prophet to lead the Church astray and away from the Lord. The Holy Ghost will fail to honor and enable any priesthood holder to lead the Church astray. That is the Lord's promise to His covenant people. Those under covenant and sensitive to the Spirit will recognize that. May God Bless you.
DeleteJan,
DeleteI think you will find that proposal unsupportable by scripture.
It simply defies logic, free agency and the historical record.
It assumes that those "in authority" have ALWAYS been righteous, while only the PEOPLE (their "followers") have gone astray and never the reverse.
What you are "teaching" here are the philosophies of men, not even mingled with scripture.
I invite you to support your assertion with evidence.
Only those who keep the commandments of the Lord will be saved. There is never any danger in doing the Lord's will. Only those who improvise and innovate and alter what He has commanded in order to conform to the desires of men and the pressures of the world are in danger of falling.
ReplyDeleteIsa 66
ReplyDelete5 ¶Hear the word of the Lord, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
The above scripture tells the whole story. There once was a high priest named Caiaphas who judged the Christ. The Pharisees are alive and well..
Great scripture, Anthony! It really does tell the whole story! Nice find!
DeleteThere is no disciple of Christ, much less a General Authority of the Church who judges Christ. He is our Judge. We are not His and there is no one in leadership positions in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints who would ever make the mistake of thinking they have the right to make that assumption.
DeleteHi, Jan.
DeleteI think you misunderstand the scriptural references cited above. The first (by Isaiah) describes the consolation of those who are cast out of the assembly (as Lehi was) for Christ's sake. Those so oppressed shall behold the Lord!
The second proves that having "authority" (so called) in no wise prevents one from exercising unrighteous dominion in God's church or leading people astray. Caiaphas had "authority" from God...and he used it to condemn Christ! (You can't get more "apostate" than that!)
Your "checks and balances" have FAILED every time (except twice that we know of) throughout human history. "Falling away" is the norm, not the exception. Apostasy is the "default" position.
Moroni warned us:
"[H]as the day of miracles ceased?
36 Or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?
37 Behold I say unto you, Nay; for it is by faith that miracles are wrought; and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men; wherefore, if these things have ceased wo be unto the children of men, for it is because of unbelief, and all is vain.
38 For no man can be saved, according to the words of Christ, save they shall have faith in his name; wherefore, if these things have ceased, then has faith ceased also; and awful is the state of man, for they are as though there had been no redemption made."
Unless you are experiencing THESE things, you do not have faith and it is "as though there had been no redemption made."
So, by this measure, you may know your TRUE state before God.
I believe our Lord defined apostasy wherein He said, "they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (Joseph Smith History 1:19) -- The Lord's statement so aptly described the condition of the world Joseph Smith found himself at the time, that's apostasy.
ReplyDeleteThe Lord's statement also well describes the condition of the modern LDS Church (sadly).
DeleteBut it is not enough to tear down the old, dilapidated building. We must build up a new one -- but without making the same mistakes as before! This requires hearkening strictly to the word of the Lord...and not setting up some false idol, practicing priestcraft, hedging up the way by issuing commandments of men in place of the commandments of God, or, in short, establishing a "system of religion" that detracts from or adds to the simple doctrine of Christ. That's a tall order! Who can do it?
I wake every day wondering and praying "What now, Lord?" This is His work. If, in the silence, we substitute our own ideas...or nothing at all...we go astray, everyone to his own way. It cannot hurt to simply recur to the commandments found in the Sermon on the Mount. No one -- ABSOLUTELY NO ONE -- wants to do these things: bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you, despitefully use you and persecute you; give unto them that ask; go the second mile; turn the other cheek; do not rend again; be a peacemaker; love your enemy.
If we do that, it is the BEGINNING of coming unto God. NOTHING ELSE will do. For THAT is the beginning. We repent of our sins (by confessing and forsaking), get baptised (in water, in spirit, and in the name of Christ), then keep His commandments (as outlined above).
He who is faithful in a few things (these things) shall be made ruler over much (to him will be revealed MUCH greater things -- the things Lehi saw, Nephi experienced, Mormon and Moroni testified of -- indeed, they shall come to know the very Christ...and receive eternal life). Those who don't will die in their sins...and practice their own "religion," worlds without end.
If the leadership of the Church ever "denied the power" of God, or "godliness" your statement would have merit. However, I have yet to encounter any leader of the Church, high profile or no profile, who denies the power of god(liness). Think about the "Gifts of the Spirit". Now consider the "Fruits of the Spirit". Those who deny the power of God-liness have no faith. Without faith they cannot manifest the Fruits of the Spirit. Miracles would not occur, if that were the case. Yet miracles every day in the lives of the members of the Church and in the lives of those in authority over the Church. If you see no miracles in your life I suggest you look in the mirror and re-evaluate.
DeletePlease read Rob's book. (It's free at upwardthought.blogspot.com under "Free E-books".) Then let's talk.
Delete