DISCERNING FALSE VS. TRUE REVELATIONS
In June of 1831, a church conference was held in
Kirtland, Ohio. Just prior to that conference, Section 50 of the D&C was
given. The reason this revelation was given is stated right in the beginning.
First, verse one tells us that the brethren had asked for guidance from the
Lord in discerning spiritual manifestations.
“Behold, verily I say unto you,
that there are many spirits which are false spirits, which have gone forth in
the earth, deceiving the world. And also Satan hath sought to deceive you, that
he might overthrow you” (D&C 50:2-3).
Why is Satan so interested in deceiving us?
“And because he had fallen from
heaven, and had become miserable forever, he sought also the misery of all
mankind…” (2 Nephi 2:18).
“Wherefore, men are free
according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto
man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life through the great
mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the
captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be
miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27).
The revelation of May 1831 told the brethren how to
choose:
“And that which doth not edify is
not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that
receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light
groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day.”
This counsel is very important in preventing apostasy,
today as well as in the 1830s. It was prophecied that Satan would deceive the
very elect if possible, and he did. Within two years after the marvelous
spiritual manifestations occurred in relation to the dedication of the Kirtland
Temple, all of the Three Witnesses, three of the Eight Witnesses, and one-third
of the General Authorities, including three Apostles, left the Church.
Interestingly, apostasy was more prevalent among the leadership than among the
“average” members. As near as can be determined, 87 percent of the Kirtland
Saints continued in the faith, including most of those who lost a lot of money
due to stock held in the Church bank, the Kirtland Safety Society (Milton V.
Backman, Jr., Ensign, April 1989, p.
30).
We can hopefully learn from the errors of the early
church apostates, and avoid some of these problems ourselves. (Double-click on the chart to enlarge it.)
INNER ATTITUDES
Our inner attitudes are very important when it comes to
following the guidance of the Spirit, our leaders and the doctrine that we
know. Wrong attitudes can keep us from truth and freedom, and can deceive us as
surely as if we were blindfolded. All of these wrong attitudes are based upon
pride. A study of how some of the early Saints were deceived can help us see
how we can avoid those same pitfalls. (Information
is from Susan Easton Black, Who’s Who in
the Doctrine and Covenants, unless otherwise noted.)
Thomas B. Marsh.
The cream incident with his wife created a mountain out of a molehill. Here are more details about Brother Marsh and his struggles. He declared
that he would “sustain the character of his wife if he had to go to hell to do
it.” President Gordon B. Hinckley said of this incident: “What a very small and trivial
thing—a little cream over which two women quarreled. But it led to, or at least
was a factor in, Governor Bogg’s cruel exterminating order…”
Joseph Wakefield.
In obedience to the revelation, he went on a mission with Parley P. Pratt, wherein
they “visited the several branches of the Church, rebuking the wrong spirits
which had crept in among them, setting in order things that were wanting…”
(Parley P. Pratt, quoted in Black, p. 324). Joseph baptized George A. Smith, who later became an
apostle. George A. Smith was very distressed when his missionary joined with
Mormon apostates in criticizing and tormenting Joseph Smith. The reason? Joseph Smith played with the children
immediately after translating. “This
convinced him that the Prophet was not a man of God, and that the work was
false, which, to me and hundreds of others, he had testified that he knew came
from God” (George A. Smith Autobiography, quoted in Black, p. 324).
Frazier Eaton.
(Not mentioned in D&C.) He had given $700 to the building of the Kirtland
Temple, but he arrived late to the dedication and couldn’t get in. The dedication was being repeated the following day for those
who couldn’t get in the first day, but Brother Eaton thought that he should get
in on day one, and so he apostatized (George A Smith, Journal of Discourses).
Oliver Cowdery.
Oliver Cowdrey was with Joseph from the very first. He received the Priesthood
with him, was baptized with him, saw great and glorious visions with him, and
received the keys of the Priesthood with him from Elijah, Elias, and Moses.
Pride in his education, however, led to his downfall. He commanded Joseph Smith
in the name of God to change the words of D&C 20:37. He also said that he
told the Church leaders about his land in Jackson County, “…while I lived and was sane, I would not be dictated, influenced, or
controlled, by any man or any set of men by no tribunal of ecclesiastical
practices whatever.” At the encouragement of Brigham Young, 11 years
after leaving the Church, he finally returned.
William Carter. Called on a mission in D&C 52 although he was blind. He refused to go
and his priesthood was taken from him. His uncle tried to bring him back to the
faith and immediately afterwards wrote the conversation: “He said he was convinced that it
was the work of the Lord but he did not as yet feel prepared to obey the work…I…felt with my own soul
as though his situation was very dangerous for he had some time grieved the
Spirit by his disobedience and I having a sense felt to cry mightily to my
Heavenly Father for him. I, at length, felt the power of prophecy to him and
expressed to him that this was the very day he would obey the commends if
ever…Soon after this, he knelt down with me and entreated the Lord to have
mercy on him.” He did help to build the Kirtland Temple, but there is
not any information about him after that to show whether he stayed faithful.
John Whitmer.
For many years, John Whitmer was a stalwart in the Church. He was a scribe, a
historian, and a member of the First Presidency, as well as one of the Eight
Witnesses to the Book of Mormon. At one time in Jackson County, he offered
himself as a ransom to the mob to prevent further violence. He purchased land
in Far West for the saints, but there were some allegations about how he
handled the finances. He was angered
when asked to account for his use of Church funds, and declined to disclose the
records. He was excommunicated. To quote Susan Black, “John remained in Missouri during the atrocities
arising from the Extermination Order of 1838, free from persecution because [he
was no longer a member of the Church]. When the Saints fled from their homes and property in
Far West, he returned and took advantage of cheap prices for land…” He
lived there the rest of his life.
Jared Carter.
The uncle of William Carter. D&C 79:2 says, “I will send upon him the
Comforter, which shall teach him the truth and the way wither he shall go.”
Although Jared Carter was a great missionary for a time, later he wavered back
and forth in church activity, joining the Danites, conspiring against the
Prophet, and not following counsel. He repented and promised faithfulness, but did not keep the promise. When the
saints went west, he stayed behind.
Selah Griffin.
He lost a lot of property to the mobs in both Jackson County and in Caldwell
County. To quote Susan Black, “Angered
by the governmental affront and by the persecution he had suffered for his
religious conviction, Selah weighed the cost and concluded that the price of
faithfulness was too great.” He gave up Church Activity for an easier life.
OUTER DECEPTIONS
Hiram Page
was one of the 8 witnesses to the Book of Mormon. He joined the church in 1830,
and shortly thereafter found a stone five by three inches, and one-half inch
thick with two holes in it. He thought he received some revelations by looking
through the stone. These included the location of the “New Jerusalem” and the
proper governing process of the Church. Newel Knight said, “He had quite a roll of papers
full of these revelations, and many in the Church were led astray by
them…although they were in contradiction to the New Testament and the
revelations of these last days. [The Prophet] Joseph Smith was perplexed and
scarcely knew how to meet this new exigency. That night I occupied the same
room that he did, and the greater part of the night was spent in prayer and
supplication.”
As a result, D&C 28 was received, which states that
only the prophet has the keys to revelation for the entire church. In that
revelation, Oliver Cowdery (one of those who had been deceived) was told to
advise Hiram that the source of his revelations was false. Hiram Page and those
who had followed him took that counsel and renounced the stone and its
revelations. Elder Knight commented on the situation that “…it was wonderful to witness the
wisdom that Joseph displayed on this occasion, for truly God gave unto him
great wisdom and power, and it seems to me that none who saw him administer
righteousness under such trying circumstances could doubt that the Lord was
with him. He acted not with the wisdom of man, but with the wisdom of God.”
A TRUE GUIDE
How
could it be that these people all believed Joseph’s revelations over Hiram’s
revelations with no more than Joseph’s word about it?
Therefore, why is it that ye
cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of
truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit if truth? Wherefore, he that
preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified
and rejoice together. (D&C 50:21-22)
The reason they believed it was because they had more
than Joseph’s word: they had the manifestation of the Holy Ghost to go with it.
With the revelation, Brother Knight said, “The Holy Ghost came upon us and filled our hearts with
unspeakable joy” (Andrus, They
Knew the Prophet, quoted in LDH,
p. 65).
What outer guides do you see in our world today that
might deceive us if we are not careful? Do you agree that the
outer guides to truth are the same for us today as they were in 1831?
The Holy Ghost is truly the most powerful of the guides
available to us, and testifies of the truth of the others. It’s like the final
word and it can be trusted. It is vital that we learn to hear and understand
the Holy Ghost.
At the conference in 1831, the following month, a pattern
was given for discerning whether a man was speaking the word of God or not, in D&C 52:14-18. In that same revelation with this
advice, 34 men were called as missionaries. Do you ever wonder who all these
people are who are mentioned in the D&C, and whether they followed the
counsel given them? Of those 34 in Section 52, how many do you think followed
the counsel on how to avoid deception? I wondered, and so I researched them
(very sketchily) and discovered that although most of them went on the missions
they were called to in this revelation, just 13 remained faithful to the Church
their entire lives, no matter what the cost. Three more left fellowship for a
period of time but later returned (Orson Pratt for just a few months, Thomas B.
Marsh for 19 years, and Martin Harris for 32 years). (Brief sketches on each of
these faithful men are included at the end of this post.)
One of these men who avoided deception and continued
faithful to the end was Parley P. Pratt. He spent his 50th year on a
mission, away from his large family. He wrote to them, “The whole country is being overwhelmed with the most
abominable lying, mockery, and hatred of the Saints, and with all manner of
corruption. The legions of spirits are let loose and are working wonders.” A
little later in the letter, he says, “I hope you will not be cast down or borrow any trouble about me
because I admit an if as to my safe
return. I have no doubt but that I shall return in safety and live to a good
old age. But still I must acknowledge that I do anticipate with a great deal of
pleasure the change of worlds. And, every day that I work on my history, I
naturally think that the word finis will
soon be added to the end.”
Elder Pratt was shortly thereafter accused of some false
charges by three men who had sworn to kill him. He was honorably released from
the court with the charges dismissed. The three men followed him twelve miles,
until he was utterly alone and defenseless, and then shot him. He had 11 living
wives, and 21-22 living children, ranging in age from 20 years to 10 months.
Among his children are found many Book of Mormon names: Moroni, Helaman, Alma,
Nephi, Abinadi, Lehi, Teancum, Mosiah, Omner, Ether, and Moroni. John Taylor
wrote of him, “…his name is
revered by thousands and tens of thousands, and will be honored by millions yet
unborn; while that of his cowardly assassins…will be loathsome, and a stink in
the nostrils of God and good men” (The
Mormon, published in New York, May 30).
I am fifty years old! I have lived
to see
Seven times seven and a Jubilee.
That period famed in the days of
yore
As a grand release for the humble
poor;
When the pledg’d estate was again
restor’d
And the bondman free’d from his
tyrant lord.
When man his fellow was bound to
forgive, and begin anew to think and to live. . . .
All these are facts; but of little
worth,
Compared with a Prophet restored
to earth.
I have seen his day and have heard
his voice,
Which enraged a world, while the
meek rejoice.
I have read the fate of all
earthly things:
The end of thrones, and the end of
kings.
I have learned that truth alone
shall stand,
And the Kingdom of God fill every
land.
I have seen that Kingdom rolling
along,
And taking its seat ‘mid the
mountains strong;
While the nations wondered but
could not tell
To what these wondrous things
would swell.
I have wandered far, over land and
sea,
To proclaim to the world its
destiny—
To cry to the nations, repent and
live,
And be ready the bridegroom to
receive. . . .
I have toiled with the great in
freedom’s cause,
And assisted to give to a State
its laws.
I have lain in a dungeon, bound in
chains,
And been honored in Courts where
Justice reigns.
In a thousand joys, and a thousand
fears
I have struggled on through my
fifty years.
And now, by the law of God, I am
free;
I will seek to enjoy my Jubilee.
I will hie me home to my mountain
dell,
And will say to the “Christian”
world—farewell!
I have served ye long--; ‘twas a
thankless task,
To retire in peace is all I ask.
Another fifty years will fully
prove
Our message true, and all our
motives love.
Then shall an humble world in
reverence bow,
And hail the Prophets so rejected
now.
Kings shall revere, and nations
incense bring
To Zion’s temple and to Zion’s
King.
I shall be there and celebrate the
day
‘Till twice ten fifties shall have
passed away.
(Excerpts from
Parlet’s poem My Fiftieth Year, p.
410-412 of Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt.)
At Parley’s death, his brother Orson wrote, “O how pleasant is the death of a
righteous person! He lays down his body with a sure and certain hope of coming
forth from the tomb in the morning of the first resurrection, to reign as a
mighty King and Priest of the Most High God, to sit enthroned in eternal glory,
ruling with power and dominion for ever and ever” (ibid., p. 419).
In the first edition of the British church magazine, the
Millennial Star, a hymn written by Parley P. Pratt was published: “The Morning
Breaks.” It is now Hymn #1 in our hymnbook. As the first two verses elaborate
on Darkness vs. Light, you may want to sing it or read it as the conclusion to the lesson.
Elder Melvin J. Ballard: “No man goes away from this
church and becomes an apostate in a week, nor in a month. It is a slow process.
The one thing that makes for the safety of every man and woman would be to
appear at the sacrament table every Sabbath day. We would not get very far in a
week – not so far away that, by the process of self-investigation, we could not
rectify the wrongs we may have done. If we should refrain from partaking of the sacrament, condemned by ourselves as unworthy to receive these emblems, we could not
endure that long, and we would soon, I am sure, have the spirit of repentance.
The road to the sacrament table is the path of safety for Latter-day Saints”
(quoted in Millet, et. al., Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, 4:121).
“BLESSED
ARE THEY WHO ARE FAITHFUL AND ENDURE” --D&C 50:5
In next week's post, we will read more about what it takes to remain faithful or to return to faithfulness, using examples from the early Saints.
