To continue with my study and summary of the Myths of Christianity that the Book of Mormon Refutes (see myth #1 here, myth #2 here, myth #3 here, myth #4 here), this next myth is related to the last myth that the practice of baptism began during New Testament times and all those who lived before Christ were lost. The Book of Mormon refutes the practices of baptism without immersion and the proper authority. Most of the Christian world is ambiguous about the need for baptism not to mention the proper form of baptism or questions of authority to baptize. Many believe that baptism is ceremonial and that there are no specific requirements related to the practice. Those who perform baptism believe that the sincere feelings of their heart are the evidence of their authority to do so, but the essential nature of baptism in the Plan of Salvation should prompt follower of Christ to seek more certain knowledge of the proper observance of the ordinance.
Jesus was clear about the essential nature of baptism when he taught Nicodeamus that "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," (John 3:5) and Peter said, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38) Thus, the Bible establishes baptism as necessary for salvation in the Kingdom of God, but it also explains the necessity of a two part baptism, a baptism of water and fire (spirit), and testifies that this ordinance of baptism is not complete until both have been administered by one having authority.
One of the clearest teachings of this in the New Testament is found in Acts chapter 19. While Paul was traveling to Ephesus he came across some believers who claimed to be baptized Disciples of Christ and Paul questioned them, "Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?" The believers told Paul they were completely unaware of the Holy Ghost. This response revealed to Paul that they had not been formally taught the baptism of Christ and that their baptism had not been given by the proper authority and therefore was not a valid ordinance. Paul proceeds to teach these believing people about the need for proper baptism and "when they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them." We learn from this encounter that this essential ordinances of baptism by water and fire in the name of Christ and through the laying on of hands must be performed by one having authority to baptize and give the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
There is some detail given in the New Testament about the baptism of immersion and the receiving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by one in authority, but many specifics are missing. Baptism by immersion was the practice of the apostles as Paul taught the symbols of the proper ordinance when he said, "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4-6) In Acts chapter 8 this baptism and receiving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, the complete ordinance of baptism, is performed by Peter and John through the authority and power of the priesthood they held as they "laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."
With these New Testament teaching establishing baptism by immersion and the receiving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost by laying on of hands by one with authority, how is it that there is such confusion within the Christian world about the necessity of baptism for salvation, its proper administration, and the necessity of authority from God in the administering of this sacred and essential ordinance? The practice of baptism varies widely among Christian sects today, from practically non-existent, to multiple baptisms by immersion as a symbolic recommitment to Christ, if you make a study of the practice of baptism in the Christian world you will see very little that resembles the baptism described by the apostles in the New Testament. The most wide spread form of baptism in Christian tradition for over a thousand years was the baptism of infants by sprinkling with no ordinance for the receiving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. One thing all of this confusion should communicate to Christians seeking baptism for salvation, more is needed than what remains in the New Testament after hundreds of years of imperfect translations. The Book of Mormon provides what is needed.
The Book of Mormon prophets recorded the ordinance of baptism as given to them from Christ. Christ taught:
"And now behold, these are the words which ye shall say, calling them by name, saying: Having authority given me of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. And then shall ye immerse them in the water, and come forth again out of the water." (3 Nephi 11:25-26)
Simple enough, right? But when Joseph Smith translated the passages of the Book of Mormon related to baptism by the proper authority, Joseph desired to be baptized in the proper way and by the proper authority. Knowing that he did not have the authority, and having been told that the true church and the power thereof was absent from the world, Joseph sought this baptism in the same way in which he sought to know which Church he should join.
Joseph went into the woods with his scribe Oliver Cowdry and they knelt in humble prayer and asked the Lord to reveal to them how they could be baptized. As an answer to their prayers they received a heavenly visitation from John the Baptist who conferred upon them the priesthood of Aaron by the laying on of hands and taught them the ordinance of baptism by that authority. Being in possession of the proper authority and knowing clearly the proper administration of baptism, Joseph and Oliver baptized each other that day in the Susquehanna River.
The receiving of the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands required a higher priesthood, the Melchizedek priesthood, which Joseph and Oliver received by the heavenly visitation of Peter, James, and John later that same month who conferred upon them this higher priesthood by the laying on of hands. It was essentially a year later, April 6th 1930, which the church was formally organized under the authority of the priesthood and the revelatory direction of Christ. (For further detail on the restoration of the priesthood and the church read here.) Joseph Smith received a revelation establishing the authorized form of baptism directly from Christ and recorded it in the Doctrine and Covenants:
"The person who is called of God and has authority from Jesus Christ to baptize, shall go down into the water with the person who has presented himself or herself for baptism, and shall say, calling him or her by name: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
"Then shall he immerse him or her in the water, and come forth again out of the water" (D&C 20:73–74).
With very little variation, the revelation received by Joseph Smith and the baptism ordinance described in the Book of Mormon are essentially the same. The Book of Mormon and the commensurate restoration, not only refute the false traditions of baptism is the Christian world but add clarity to the New Testament references related to the authority to baptize and confirm the Gift of the Holy Ghost and membership in Christ's kingdom by the laying on of hands by one with that authority. Christ was clear about the necessity of priesthood "keys" in establishing his church and officiating in his ordinances. In Matthew 16:18-19 Christ teaches:
"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
In order for the ordinance of baptism to be binding on earth and in heaven, and in order for it to have the saving power as an ordinance of the atonement, it must be given in the proper way and under the proper authority. The way in which the Book of Mormon compliments the New Testament in establishing the ordinance of baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, which ordinances Christ said was necessary to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, is truly a marvelous thing. The Book of Mormon is a record translated only once by the gift and power of God, and as such has retained in purity the plain and precious parts of Christ's gospel that are able to lead us home to him.
In addition to the proper form and authority of baptism, the Book of Mormon contains the most expansive sermons on the ordinance of baptism and the covenants that followers of Christ make as they enter the waters of baptism.
"As ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;
"Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—
"Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you." (Mosiah 18:8-10)
"And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this straight 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.
"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness 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 31:19-20)
These scriptural passages of the Book of Mormon which describe our covenant relationship with Christ are the most powerful of any book of scripture. The Book of Mormon also contains many references to the Holy Ghost and the Gift of the Holy Ghost, but further clarity on this second part of the ordinance of water and fire that Christ taught was given in the revelations to Joseph Smith recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants.
"After a person is baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders lay their hands on the person’s head and, in a sacred priesthood ordinance, confirm him or her a member of the Church. As part of this ordinance, called confirmation, the person is given the gift of the Holy Ghost.
"The gift of the Holy Ghost is different from the influence of the Holy Ghost. Before baptism, a person can feel the influence of the Holy Ghost from time to time and through that influence can receive a testimony of the truth. After receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, a person has the right to the constant companionship of that member of the Godhead if he or she keeps the commandments.
(Read more about the Holy Ghost and the confirmation of the Gift of the Holy Ghost here.)
It is such a tremendous blessing to be a member of the restored church and to have partaken of this holy ordinance by one having the authority to bind this ordinance and covenant upon me in life and death. The blessings that I have seen flow into my life because of this are so vast that it would require another essay to discuss them all. I am grateful to have a testimony and a witness of the truth of the Book of Mormon, of the mission of the prophet Joseph Smith to restore these things once again in our times, and to experience the power of this ordinance in my life every day. Just one more extraordinary blessing that has flowed into my life because of the Book of Mormon.
Sunday, May 27, 2018
Sunday, May 6, 2018
Myths Refuted #4: Baptism Began in New Testament Times
To continue with my study and summary of the Myths of Christianity that the Book of Mormon Refutes (see myth #1 here, myth #2 here, myth #3 here), this next myth seems kind of singular at first glance, but the impacts of having lost this plain and precious truth have led to many false doctrines that have negatively impacted Christianity in expansive ways. For almost two thousand years Christian doctrine taught that baptism as a practice began during New Testament times and was a symbolic witness of the "new gospel" of Jesus Christ. This was taught in spite of Old Testament reference to the concepts of baptism in the stories and symbols of the scriptural text.
The Book of Mormon provides the clear critical link that weaves a golden thread through the Old Testament, New Testament, and Last-day Restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). The Book of Mormon record makes clear that the ordinance and covenant of baptism was practiced under the Mosaic Law, before the coming of Christ, and the practice and purpose of the ordinance of baptism is described in greater detail in the Book of Mormon. (Mosiah 18) I will detail the important ways the Book of Mormon clarifies the essential nature of baptism and the proper observance of the ordinance in a future essay, but just the clear teaching and practice of baptism in the ancient text of the Book of Mormon is stunning in its implications on Christian teaching.
The ancient Christian church lost many of the plain and precious truths of Christ's gospel as taught in the apostolic age, and the loss of this essential truth, that baptism is an ordinance of Christ's atonement practiced among God's people as symbol of their covenant with God long before Christ's birth, had the effect of convincing the Christian theologians to consider all the ages of men before Jesus Christ's earthly mission to be lost to salvation. A confusing prospect considering some of the beloved prophets who lived before Christ, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah, to mention only a few who were clearly beloved by God.
A modern backlash against this concept, that denies the mercy and justice of God, has led some modern Christian teachers to falter in another way. Instead of accepting that baptism is necessary for salvation, some Christian teachers have chosen to reorient what is necessary for men to receive salvation through Christ's atonement; namely, nothing is needed on our part. Christian teaching has gone from one of strict observance to what Jesus said was necessary for salvation, to teachings that go so far to the other extreme as to say that there is no spiritual work or act of obedience that is necessary for salvation. This attempt to correct the harsh implications of former false doctrines of Christian antiquity denies the clear words of Christ and places the souls of men in danger in another way.
Jesus was clear about the essential nature of baptism when he taught Nicodeamus that "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5) The emphasis that Jesus Christ placed on the essential role of baptism for the salvation of men, was most apparent when he began his mission by submitting himself to baptism by one having authority to baptize, a Levitical priest known as John the Baptist. Christ declared even his need to be baptized that he might "fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15)
The false application of this truth is astonishing; if Adam, Noah, Moses, Isaiah and the many faithful followers in the ages before Christ were not baptized, if they didn't enter into a covenant relationship with Christ, they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The modern alternative is to dismiss the commandment of Christ to be baptized as a necessary observance for salvation in an attempt to open some hope that they are not so cruelly damned, but this teaching is no less perilous to the souls of men.
(This line of reasoning may have you asking, what about those who live and die without knowledge of Christ, they are lost. The Book of Mormon helps clarify doctrines briefly mentioned in the New Testament that reveal how Christ's plan is able to reach even those who lived without a knowledge of Christ. This topic will take its own essay.)
At least the Christian theologians of antiquity were attempting to follow Christ's clear command that all be baptized, unfortunately, their belief that no one could be baptized before Christ and thus cutting them off from God's salvation unravels all that God had established from Adam down to Christ. It places the many who worshiped the God of Israel in the performances of the Law of Moses, and who understood that the law drew them to Christ through the promise of his atoning sacrifice for sin, in a state of everlasting damnation. The thought is simply astonishing and has required many Christians over the ages to suspend their own reason, or to conclude that God was not a merciful God.
Another false teaching of Christian antiquity that grew out of this idea, that the essential principles and ordinances of salvation such as faith in Christ and baptism did not exist prior to Christ's coming in the meridian of time, was that that the God of the Old Testament is not the God of the New Testament. All of the false teachings that have come because of the missing truths that Christ was known and worshiped anciently and that baptism and ordinances of the atonement were given anciently, truly baffle me. It is simply impossible for me to believe that the Old Testament prophets, so beloved by Christians as part of our religious foundation, could of come from a people who didn't worship the one true God; and even harder to accept the idea that faithful followers of God are cut off from him forever because he placed them on earth prior to the coming of his Son.
(Who is the God of the Old Testament? Is the God of the Old Testament Jesus Christ? This question I will cover in more detail in a future essay about things the Book of Mormon clarifies)
The Book of Mormon not only establishes the reality of ancient worship of the principles and ordinances of Christ, such as faith, repentance, and baptism, but it tells the story of a branch of Israel who live the Law of Moses with the understanding that the law is a type and symbol of things to come. It makes it clear with no room for confusion that all of God's children, living before or after the atonement of Christ, are saved through faith in Christ and observance of the principles and ordinances of His gospel as given to them in their time.
Nephi, the Book of Mormon prophet, living 600 year before the coming of Christ gives this enlightening testimony of Christ:
"And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the Law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments. And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away." (2 Nephi 25:24-27)
The same Nephi gives this ancient teaching of the place of baptism in salvation:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost... Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive." (2 Nephi 31:13-18)
To know that God is truly "the same yesterday, today, and forever and the way is prepared for all men form the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him," (1 Nephi 10:18) is such a profound comfort and joy. To know that the God of this world is Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of our Father in Heaven, is the beginning of coming to truly know God. To witness of Christ and to dispel the confusion of false doctrines that have come about because of plain and precious truths lost from the translations of the Bible, is the primary purpose of God in bringing forth the Book of Mormon in these last days. "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) Joseph Smith said that "the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." Truly we must know God more perfectly to come close to Him and the Book of Mormon refuting of false teachings and clarifying teachings the Book of Mormon contains are astonishing in their breadth and scope.
The Book of Mormon provides the clear critical link that weaves a golden thread through the Old Testament, New Testament, and Last-day Restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). The Book of Mormon record makes clear that the ordinance and covenant of baptism was practiced under the Mosaic Law, before the coming of Christ, and the practice and purpose of the ordinance of baptism is described in greater detail in the Book of Mormon. (Mosiah 18) I will detail the important ways the Book of Mormon clarifies the essential nature of baptism and the proper observance of the ordinance in a future essay, but just the clear teaching and practice of baptism in the ancient text of the Book of Mormon is stunning in its implications on Christian teaching.
The ancient Christian church lost many of the plain and precious truths of Christ's gospel as taught in the apostolic age, and the loss of this essential truth, that baptism is an ordinance of Christ's atonement practiced among God's people as symbol of their covenant with God long before Christ's birth, had the effect of convincing the Christian theologians to consider all the ages of men before Jesus Christ's earthly mission to be lost to salvation. A confusing prospect considering some of the beloved prophets who lived before Christ, such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Isaiah, to mention only a few who were clearly beloved by God.
A modern backlash against this concept, that denies the mercy and justice of God, has led some modern Christian teachers to falter in another way. Instead of accepting that baptism is necessary for salvation, some Christian teachers have chosen to reorient what is necessary for men to receive salvation through Christ's atonement; namely, nothing is needed on our part. Christian teaching has gone from one of strict observance to what Jesus said was necessary for salvation, to teachings that go so far to the other extreme as to say that there is no spiritual work or act of obedience that is necessary for salvation. This attempt to correct the harsh implications of former false doctrines of Christian antiquity denies the clear words of Christ and places the souls of men in danger in another way.
Jesus was clear about the essential nature of baptism when he taught Nicodeamus that "except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (John 3:5) The emphasis that Jesus Christ placed on the essential role of baptism for the salvation of men, was most apparent when he began his mission by submitting himself to baptism by one having authority to baptize, a Levitical priest known as John the Baptist. Christ declared even his need to be baptized that he might "fulfill all righteousness." (Matthew 3:15)
The false application of this truth is astonishing; if Adam, Noah, Moses, Isaiah and the many faithful followers in the ages before Christ were not baptized, if they didn't enter into a covenant relationship with Christ, they cannot enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. The modern alternative is to dismiss the commandment of Christ to be baptized as a necessary observance for salvation in an attempt to open some hope that they are not so cruelly damned, but this teaching is no less perilous to the souls of men.
(This line of reasoning may have you asking, what about those who live and die without knowledge of Christ, they are lost. The Book of Mormon helps clarify doctrines briefly mentioned in the New Testament that reveal how Christ's plan is able to reach even those who lived without a knowledge of Christ. This topic will take its own essay.)
At least the Christian theologians of antiquity were attempting to follow Christ's clear command that all be baptized, unfortunately, their belief that no one could be baptized before Christ and thus cutting them off from God's salvation unravels all that God had established from Adam down to Christ. It places the many who worshiped the God of Israel in the performances of the Law of Moses, and who understood that the law drew them to Christ through the promise of his atoning sacrifice for sin, in a state of everlasting damnation. The thought is simply astonishing and has required many Christians over the ages to suspend their own reason, or to conclude that God was not a merciful God.
Another false teaching of Christian antiquity that grew out of this idea, that the essential principles and ordinances of salvation such as faith in Christ and baptism did not exist prior to Christ's coming in the meridian of time, was that that the God of the Old Testament is not the God of the New Testament. All of the false teachings that have come because of the missing truths that Christ was known and worshiped anciently and that baptism and ordinances of the atonement were given anciently, truly baffle me. It is simply impossible for me to believe that the Old Testament prophets, so beloved by Christians as part of our religious foundation, could of come from a people who didn't worship the one true God; and even harder to accept the idea that faithful followers of God are cut off from him forever because he placed them on earth prior to the coming of his Son.
(Who is the God of the Old Testament? Is the God of the Old Testament Jesus Christ? This question I will cover in more detail in a future essay about things the Book of Mormon clarifies)
The Book of Mormon not only establishes the reality of ancient worship of the principles and ordinances of Christ, such as faith, repentance, and baptism, but it tells the story of a branch of Israel who live the Law of Moses with the understanding that the law is a type and symbol of things to come. It makes it clear with no room for confusion that all of God's children, living before or after the atonement of Christ, are saved through faith in Christ and observance of the principles and ordinances of His gospel as given to them in their time.
Nephi, the Book of Mormon prophet, living 600 year before the coming of Christ gives this enlightening testimony of Christ:
"And, notwithstanding we believe in Christ, we keep the Law of Moses, and look forward with steadfastness unto Christ, until the law shall be fulfilled. For, for this end was the law given; wherefore the law hath become dead unto us, and we are made alive in Christ because of our faith; yet we keep the law because of the commandments. And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins. Wherefore, we speak concerning the law that our children may know the deadness of the law; and they, by knowing the deadness of the law, may look forward unto that life which is in Christ, and know for what end the law was given. And after the law is fulfilled in Christ, that they need not harden their hearts against him when the law ought to be done away." (2 Nephi 25:24-27)
The same Nephi gives this ancient teaching of the place of baptism in salvation:
"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost... Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. And then are ye in this strait and narrow path which leads to eternal life; yea, ye have entered in by the gate; ye have done according to the commandments of the Father and the Son; and ye have received the Holy Ghost, which witnesses of the Father and the Son, unto the fulfilling of the promise which he hath made, that if ye entered in by the way ye should receive." (2 Nephi 31:13-18)
To know that God is truly "the same yesterday, today, and forever and the way is prepared for all men form the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him," (1 Nephi 10:18) is such a profound comfort and joy. To know that the God of this world is Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of our Father in Heaven, is the beginning of coming to truly know God. To witness of Christ and to dispel the confusion of false doctrines that have come about because of plain and precious truths lost from the translations of the Bible, is the primary purpose of God in bringing forth the Book of Mormon in these last days. "This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) Joseph Smith said that "the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book." Truly we must know God more perfectly to come close to Him and the Book of Mormon refuting of false teachings and clarifying teachings the Book of Mormon contains are astonishing in their breadth and scope.
Wednesday, May 2, 2018
Christlike Love Strengthens Others in the Right Way, Without Encouraging Them in the Wrong Way
“Wherefore, the Lord God hath given a commandment that all men should have charity, which charity is love. And except they should have charity they were nothing.” (2 Nephi 26:30)
I read these words as I studied the 26th chapter of 2 Nephi today, and pondered them within the greater sermon about the “laberor in Zion.” I pondered them in light of a very difficult and sensitive decisions being placed before administrators of public and private institutions regarding transgender persons who ask to associate as the gender they “identify with,” rather then as their biological sex dictates. Often the request comes with the pleade for all those who associate within the organization to “love them as they need to be loved," the meaning of which is that if we can't affirm the gender change of the transgender person we are not "loving them." I spent many hours pondering this question and what the scriptures teach about how to love as Christ would love, to welcome and invite all into the fellowship of Christ. Even leaders of Christian organizations who are called upon to make such judgments on behalf of the many children and their families in their associations seem to feel that there is a conflict between upholding the Lord’s standard and extending charity.
Today as I read in the 26th chapter of 2 Nephi I began to ponder once again the nature of charity, the pure love of Christ, and how his love is applied in our duty to labor in His vineyard in inviting all men to come unto him. Unfortunately, the way in which love is portrayed in our modern world, and the condemnation that weighs down upon Christians who hold fast to a standard of moral behavior today, often causes us to misinturpret certain scriptural passages and we miss the mark and the entirety of the principle is lost to us. I did this to a certain extent when I read these words this morning (bolded words are the ones I focused on.)
“He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation… Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance. Hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.” (2 Nephi 26:25-28)
At first, these bolded words stood out to me and I began to wonder if in cases of associations in religious organizations, whether we behave in a way contrary to our Christian beliefs when we deny the requests of transgender person to associate with us pretending to the be the gender which they identify rather than their bilogical gender. Is denying their association the same as saying, “depart from me… depart out of the ‘religious organization’… In this act do we forbid them from the love and fellowship of Christ?
Once again I found myself pondering the question: How is charity applied in loving those whose choices, or life situations, cause them to be living in a way incompatible with the principles and teachings of Christ?
As I read further, I was impressed with the reminder of verse 32 which teaches that Christ is the law giver and has commanded that all men should obey the commandments and that the result of disobedience, or a life incompatible with the principles and teachings of Christ, is spiritual death. “They should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish… For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him…” (2 Nephi 26:32-33)
The clarifying words that impressed me in these final verses of the sermon were these: “He denieth none that come unto him.” To come unto Christ is the both the goal and the standard. To embrace the standard is to come unto him, and the reason we must hold up the standard is that none of these iniquities come of the Lord, none of these behaviors inconsistent with the principles and teachings of Christ, can bring that which is good. “For wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10) Certainly I wouldn’t describe what transgender persons are struggling through, wickedness, but I would describe transgender dysphoria as a condition that leads to choices to live outside the pattern and plan the God has given for the happiness and progress of His children, and as such, to pretend that happiness can come in this way is not to extend love to those confused about the true path of happiness.
“I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness. He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world...” (2 Nephi 26:23-24) Confusion is darkness, and truth is the antidote to confusion. God is a God of truth and love and for the Laborer’s in Zion to do the work of Christ, we must labor in the light of truth. With this greater clarity I re-read the former verses and different passages were emphasized in my mind.
“He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him." As he draws us near to him we become more holy and reflect the pattern and the path that he has plotted for our way home to heaven.
"Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation…" His salvation comes through faith and obedience, and Christ will not lead His children to live in a way that would exclude them from his salvation.
"Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price." Here he commands us to come, to follow, to become what he has directed us to be, and that his atonement is given freely to all without price and is the power by which we are made holy, by which our natures are changed, by which we are able to overcome through faith.
"Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance." The church, the synagogues, the religious associations are a place where we invite all men to come to God and partake of his goodness, we invite by persuading all men to repentence. This repentence is an expectation that as they come into association with us and with Christ they will desire to be like him, they will desire to live after the pattern he has set and walk in the path he has perscribed.
"Hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.” No one is forbidden from recieving the strengthening grace of Christ to overcome the natural man, to resist temptations and pitfalls that seperate us from the straight and narrow path. To say that no one is forbidden is not to say that we are permitted to walk into our salvation by following alternative paths, instead Christ is inviting all men to enter into the straight and narrow path and promising his sustaining and cleansing power to all those who will repent and bring their lives into line with his teaching and plan. (2 Nephi 26:25-28)
In this light, there is far more in this passage about what it means to come unto Christ and what is expected of laborers in the vineyard then I had previously seen. The first time through I had focused on words in the passage that sounded similar to the condemnations of the world that portray adherence to standards as an unloving exclusionary act. I heard the echoes of those who have insisted that standards must give way to love, for love is the greater holiness. The second time through, when I focused on the clarifying principle that Christ does his work in the light, and that the standard of morality is the goodness of the Lord, I could see that the sermon is an loving invitation to the world to repent and come unto Christ, to walk in the light, and turn away from iniquity; all who are willing to repent and bring their lives in harmony with his law and his teachings are not forbidden and are privileged with all the blessings of the gospel which is free and without price.
Why is it so easy to be beguiled by the world’s warped concept of love? Why do we so easily lose our bearings when asked to “love” under conditions inconsistent with Christ’s law?
The artifices being used in our society to make what is unnatural seem natural, though it is expressly against the laws of nature and God, have beguiled compassionate well-intentioned people to offer affirmation and support for unrighteous behavior as acceptable choices for some. As we ponder the difficult questions of Christian association with those who have chosen to live alternative lifestyles inconsistent with the pattern and the plan the Lord has given us to walk home to our salvation we must regain our bearings and balance and come to understand that our sincere concern for the plight of those who struggle with transgender sysophoria, same sex attraction or other alternative lifestyles is not best expressed in the affirmation for lifestyles that lead our dear brother and sisters away from the light of Christ and the path of happiness. To participate in the pretence that these lifestyles are good and that true loving is expressed in affirmation and acceptance for the choice to embrace the lifestyle, is not the extention of Christ-like love. Affirmation and acceptance cannot be the extention of Christ-like love becuase these deceptions and behaviors weaken resistance to the temptations of the flesh and cause the children of God to become captive to the desires of the flesh.
When we offer the kind of “love” and acceptance the world demands we are not faithful laborers in Zion, because our “love” and acceptance for destructive behaviors encourages people to break sacred laws, and stumble off the path that leads to eternal life. When we play a part in making anyone believe they can obtain happiness “in doing iniquity,” that they can obtain happiness on some alternative path, we are teaching them to believe in something “which is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.” (Helaman 13:38)
Another scripture passage that has brought light to this subject for me is the great allegory of Lehi’s vision. Picture Lehi after he ate of the fruit of the tree of life, he described his feelings, he said the fruit “filled [his] soul with exceedingly great joy.” (1 Nephi 8:12) Do you remember the effect of his experience? His heart was moved with concern for others, but did his compassion cause him to encourage others to continue wandering in darkness? Did he say, “Good for you! I’m so glad that you’ve found your own path.” NO! He could not, for he knew there was only one path that led to the tree and only one fruit that was “desirable above all other fruit.” Therefore, he beckoned them “with a loud voice” that they would come unto him. He beckoned, not with a soft voice, his compassion made him bold. He was filled with a sincere desire for others to find the straight and narrow path.
There is a social movement in the world that is working to soften the voices of those who uphold the standards of the Lord. Of course, sincere followers of Christ was to speak softly and lovingly, we want to invite and persuade, we want to fellowship and to love, but I think the danger lies in being tempted to change the message in an attempt to be more compassionate. There is spiritual danger in believing that the great mission to rescue requires that we let go of the rod of iron and wander off the path in search of those who are lost. We cannot save them from the midst of darkness (the confusion, philosophies, and sin of the world) if we let go of the rod of iron and wander with them. It’s imperative that we remember that “the Lord God worketh not in darkness,” and as laborers in His vineyard we must labor in the light.
Lehi did not leave the tree and seek in darkness for his family, he stood in the light and beckoned them with a loud voice. Lehi was not a cruel man, not uncompassionate or unloving. Spencer W. Kimball described prophets and their words of warning this way, “Those prophets I have known are the most loving of men. It is because of their love and integrity that they cannot modify the Lord’s message merely to make people feel comfortable. They are too kind to be so cruel” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Listen to the Prophets,” Ensign, May 1978, 77). We are on a rescue mission, called to serve the Lord (D&C 4:3) and “proclaim liberty to the captives,” (D&C 138:31) called to labor in the Vinyard, but like Lehi, we must stand in the light, fixed in our position of truth, and clearly beckon to those who wander in darkness so that they will enter into the straight path that leads to the tree of life. We cannot always “love” them in the way they demand to be loved, but we can always extend the pure love of Christ to them in the way the Lord has prescribed.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints has a doctrine on the eternal nature of gender, the reality of which is an indispensable support to the sustaining of the family, which family, organized by God, is central to the great plan of our God for the happiness and eternal lives of His children. When we shy away from proclaiming our belief in the doctrine of the family, in order to appear more loving and compassionate, we abandon our brothers and sister to wander in darkness.
We cannot ignore the imperative to teach the truth and invite our families, friends, and associates to walk in the straight and narrow way. To ignore our duty is to extinguish brotherly love from our hearts. To receive the great promises of the Lord, and to lead others to greater happiness than they know now, we must hold tight to the iron rod and press forward in the straight and narrow path. When we stand in the light of the tree, when we have tasted of the fruit desirable to make us happy, when our view of the plan of God is clear and unobstructed by the midst of darkness, then we will have power to stand in the light and beckon all to come with boldness and love. Then we will lovingly invite all men to enter into the straight and narrow and we will not be moved by those in the great and spacious building who point at us and mock us for our testimony. We will not be ashamed, we will not fall “away into forbidden paths” and be lost. (1 Nephi 8:24-28) When we walk in the way, we will be able to lead those who seek the truth “but know not where to find it.” (Joseph Smith)
We are the generation that prophets have described as having been held back by our Father in Heaven to come forth in this time when the whirlwinds of wickedness threaten every root. We were sent forth from the courts of our heavenly home to “gather the elect from the four quarters of the earth,” (JST Matthew 1:27) to carry them upon our shoulders, and to become their nursing fathers and mothers. (1 Nephi 21:23) What is required is that we “stand immovable” (Alma 1:25) in our defense of the plan of God, more than all the generations that have gone before, this generation must “contend for the faith” (Jude 1:3) with greater love, skill, tact, and tolerance than ever before. “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” (2 Nephi 31:20) Being compassionate demands that we proclaim truth. We cannot force others to choose the right path, but when we deny the existence of the one right way, we become a stumbling block to their finding it.
The condemnations of the world for moral standards is growing louder every day. The truth is becoming increasingly harder to teach, but it will always be the more compassionate loving path; for only the truth can set free those captive to the false philosophies of the world, only through learning the truth of God's plan for His children and living the laws that govern his house, can we return to live with him again. “Christlike love will always extend love by strengthening others in the right way without encouraging them in the wrong way.” (James Mitchell, my stake president in Maryland)
I read these words as I studied the 26th chapter of 2 Nephi today, and pondered them within the greater sermon about the “laberor in Zion.” I pondered them in light of a very difficult and sensitive decisions being placed before administrators of public and private institutions regarding transgender persons who ask to associate as the gender they “identify with,” rather then as their biological sex dictates. Often the request comes with the pleade for all those who associate within the organization to “love them as they need to be loved," the meaning of which is that if we can't affirm the gender change of the transgender person we are not "loving them." I spent many hours pondering this question and what the scriptures teach about how to love as Christ would love, to welcome and invite all into the fellowship of Christ. Even leaders of Christian organizations who are called upon to make such judgments on behalf of the many children and their families in their associations seem to feel that there is a conflict between upholding the Lord’s standard and extending charity.
Today as I read in the 26th chapter of 2 Nephi I began to ponder once again the nature of charity, the pure love of Christ, and how his love is applied in our duty to labor in His vineyard in inviting all men to come unto him. Unfortunately, the way in which love is portrayed in our modern world, and the condemnation that weighs down upon Christians who hold fast to a standard of moral behavior today, often causes us to misinturpret certain scriptural passages and we miss the mark and the entirety of the principle is lost to us. I did this to a certain extent when I read these words this morning (bolded words are the ones I focused on.)
“He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation… Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price. Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance. Hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.” (2 Nephi 26:25-28)
At first, these bolded words stood out to me and I began to wonder if in cases of associations in religious organizations, whether we behave in a way contrary to our Christian beliefs when we deny the requests of transgender person to associate with us pretending to the be the gender which they identify rather than their bilogical gender. Is denying their association the same as saying, “depart from me… depart out of the ‘religious organization’… In this act do we forbid them from the love and fellowship of Christ?
Once again I found myself pondering the question: How is charity applied in loving those whose choices, or life situations, cause them to be living in a way incompatible with the principles and teachings of Christ?
As I read further, I was impressed with the reminder of verse 32 which teaches that Christ is the law giver and has commanded that all men should obey the commandments and that the result of disobedience, or a life incompatible with the principles and teachings of Christ, is spiritual death. “They should do none of these things; for whoso doeth them shall perish… For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him…” (2 Nephi 26:32-33)
The clarifying words that impressed me in these final verses of the sermon were these: “He denieth none that come unto him.” To come unto Christ is the both the goal and the standard. To embrace the standard is to come unto him, and the reason we must hold up the standard is that none of these iniquities come of the Lord, none of these behaviors inconsistent with the principles and teachings of Christ, can bring that which is good. “For wickedness never was happiness.” (Alma 41:10) Certainly I wouldn’t describe what transgender persons are struggling through, wickedness, but I would describe transgender dysphoria as a condition that leads to choices to live outside the pattern and plan the God has given for the happiness and progress of His children, and as such, to pretend that happiness can come in this way is not to extend love to those confused about the true path of happiness.
“I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness. He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world...” (2 Nephi 26:23-24) Confusion is darkness, and truth is the antidote to confusion. God is a God of truth and love and for the Laborer’s in Zion to do the work of Christ, we must labor in the light of truth. With this greater clarity I re-read the former verses and different passages were emphasized in my mind.
“He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him." As he draws us near to him we become more holy and reflect the pattern and the path that he has plotted for our way home to heaven.
"Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation…" His salvation comes through faith and obedience, and Christ will not lead His children to live in a way that would exclude them from his salvation.
"Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price." Here he commands us to come, to follow, to become what he has directed us to be, and that his atonement is given freely to all without price and is the power by which we are made holy, by which our natures are changed, by which we are able to overcome through faith.
"Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay. Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance." The church, the synagogues, the religious associations are a place where we invite all men to come to God and partake of his goodness, we invite by persuading all men to repentence. This repentence is an expectation that as they come into association with us and with Christ they will desire to be like him, they will desire to live after the pattern he has set and walk in the path he has perscribed.
"Hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.” No one is forbidden from recieving the strengthening grace of Christ to overcome the natural man, to resist temptations and pitfalls that seperate us from the straight and narrow path. To say that no one is forbidden is not to say that we are permitted to walk into our salvation by following alternative paths, instead Christ is inviting all men to enter into the straight and narrow path and promising his sustaining and cleansing power to all those who will repent and bring their lives into line with his teaching and plan. (2 Nephi 26:25-28)
In this light, there is far more in this passage about what it means to come unto Christ and what is expected of laborers in the vineyard then I had previously seen. The first time through I had focused on words in the passage that sounded similar to the condemnations of the world that portray adherence to standards as an unloving exclusionary act. I heard the echoes of those who have insisted that standards must give way to love, for love is the greater holiness. The second time through, when I focused on the clarifying principle that Christ does his work in the light, and that the standard of morality is the goodness of the Lord, I could see that the sermon is an loving invitation to the world to repent and come unto Christ, to walk in the light, and turn away from iniquity; all who are willing to repent and bring their lives in harmony with his law and his teachings are not forbidden and are privileged with all the blessings of the gospel which is free and without price.
Why is it so easy to be beguiled by the world’s warped concept of love? Why do we so easily lose our bearings when asked to “love” under conditions inconsistent with Christ’s law?
The artifices being used in our society to make what is unnatural seem natural, though it is expressly against the laws of nature and God, have beguiled compassionate well-intentioned people to offer affirmation and support for unrighteous behavior as acceptable choices for some. As we ponder the difficult questions of Christian association with those who have chosen to live alternative lifestyles inconsistent with the pattern and the plan the Lord has given us to walk home to our salvation we must regain our bearings and balance and come to understand that our sincere concern for the plight of those who struggle with transgender sysophoria, same sex attraction or other alternative lifestyles is not best expressed in the affirmation for lifestyles that lead our dear brother and sisters away from the light of Christ and the path of happiness. To participate in the pretence that these lifestyles are good and that true loving is expressed in affirmation and acceptance for the choice to embrace the lifestyle, is not the extention of Christ-like love. Affirmation and acceptance cannot be the extention of Christ-like love becuase these deceptions and behaviors weaken resistance to the temptations of the flesh and cause the children of God to become captive to the desires of the flesh.
When we offer the kind of “love” and acceptance the world demands we are not faithful laborers in Zion, because our “love” and acceptance for destructive behaviors encourages people to break sacred laws, and stumble off the path that leads to eternal life. When we play a part in making anyone believe they can obtain happiness “in doing iniquity,” that they can obtain happiness on some alternative path, we are teaching them to believe in something “which is contrary to the nature of that righteousness which is in our great and Eternal Head.” (Helaman 13:38)
Another scripture passage that has brought light to this subject for me is the great allegory of Lehi’s vision. Picture Lehi after he ate of the fruit of the tree of life, he described his feelings, he said the fruit “filled [his] soul with exceedingly great joy.” (1 Nephi 8:12) Do you remember the effect of his experience? His heart was moved with concern for others, but did his compassion cause him to encourage others to continue wandering in darkness? Did he say, “Good for you! I’m so glad that you’ve found your own path.” NO! He could not, for he knew there was only one path that led to the tree and only one fruit that was “desirable above all other fruit.” Therefore, he beckoned them “with a loud voice” that they would come unto him. He beckoned, not with a soft voice, his compassion made him bold. He was filled with a sincere desire for others to find the straight and narrow path.
There is a social movement in the world that is working to soften the voices of those who uphold the standards of the Lord. Of course, sincere followers of Christ was to speak softly and lovingly, we want to invite and persuade, we want to fellowship and to love, but I think the danger lies in being tempted to change the message in an attempt to be more compassionate. There is spiritual danger in believing that the great mission to rescue requires that we let go of the rod of iron and wander off the path in search of those who are lost. We cannot save them from the midst of darkness (the confusion, philosophies, and sin of the world) if we let go of the rod of iron and wander with them. It’s imperative that we remember that “the Lord God worketh not in darkness,” and as laborers in His vineyard we must labor in the light.
Lehi did not leave the tree and seek in darkness for his family, he stood in the light and beckoned them with a loud voice. Lehi was not a cruel man, not uncompassionate or unloving. Spencer W. Kimball described prophets and their words of warning this way, “Those prophets I have known are the most loving of men. It is because of their love and integrity that they cannot modify the Lord’s message merely to make people feel comfortable. They are too kind to be so cruel” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Listen to the Prophets,” Ensign, May 1978, 77). We are on a rescue mission, called to serve the Lord (D&C 4:3) and “proclaim liberty to the captives,” (D&C 138:31) called to labor in the Vinyard, but like Lehi, we must stand in the light, fixed in our position of truth, and clearly beckon to those who wander in darkness so that they will enter into the straight path that leads to the tree of life. We cannot always “love” them in the way they demand to be loved, but we can always extend the pure love of Christ to them in the way the Lord has prescribed.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day saints has a doctrine on the eternal nature of gender, the reality of which is an indispensable support to the sustaining of the family, which family, organized by God, is central to the great plan of our God for the happiness and eternal lives of His children. When we shy away from proclaiming our belief in the doctrine of the family, in order to appear more loving and compassionate, we abandon our brothers and sister to wander in darkness.
We cannot ignore the imperative to teach the truth and invite our families, friends, and associates to walk in the straight and narrow way. To ignore our duty is to extinguish brotherly love from our hearts. To receive the great promises of the Lord, and to lead others to greater happiness than they know now, we must hold tight to the iron rod and press forward in the straight and narrow path. When we stand in the light of the tree, when we have tasted of the fruit desirable to make us happy, when our view of the plan of God is clear and unobstructed by the midst of darkness, then we will have power to stand in the light and beckon all to come with boldness and love. Then we will lovingly invite all men to enter into the straight and narrow and we will not be moved by those in the great and spacious building who point at us and mock us for our testimony. We will not be ashamed, we will not fall “away into forbidden paths” and be lost. (1 Nephi 8:24-28) When we walk in the way, we will be able to lead those who seek the truth “but know not where to find it.” (Joseph Smith)
We are the generation that prophets have described as having been held back by our Father in Heaven to come forth in this time when the whirlwinds of wickedness threaten every root. We were sent forth from the courts of our heavenly home to “gather the elect from the four quarters of the earth,” (JST Matthew 1:27) to carry them upon our shoulders, and to become their nursing fathers and mothers. (1 Nephi 21:23) What is required is that we “stand immovable” (Alma 1:25) in our defense of the plan of God, more than all the generations that have gone before, this generation must “contend for the faith” (Jude 1:3) with greater love, skill, tact, and tolerance than ever before. “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men.” (2 Nephi 31:20) Being compassionate demands that we proclaim truth. We cannot force others to choose the right path, but when we deny the existence of the one right way, we become a stumbling block to their finding it.
The condemnations of the world for moral standards is growing louder every day. The truth is becoming increasingly harder to teach, but it will always be the more compassionate loving path; for only the truth can set free those captive to the false philosophies of the world, only through learning the truth of God's plan for His children and living the laws that govern his house, can we return to live with him again. “Christlike love will always extend love by strengthening others in the right way without encouraging them in the wrong way.” (James Mitchell, my stake president in Maryland)
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