Saturday, October 18, 2008

#47 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine

The Key to the Knowledge of God

"I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2nd Tim 4:14

One of the great evidences that the Marvelous Work was to be a separate work from the foundation work of the 1830's is the prophecy given by Paul in the above verses, that the time would come when the Saints would not be able to endure sound doctrine, but rather, they would turn away their ears from the truth and would be turned unto fables.

Obviously many of the Saints in the Meridian of Time drifted into apostasy and the dark ages followed, during that time men were unable to endure sound doctrine. However, as we have previously discussed, most if not all prophesies have a dual fulfillment. If it can be shown that Latter day Israel has not been able to endure sound doctrine following the restoration of the church in these latter days, then it provides another evidence that another great work is needed to restore true doctrine to Gods people.

We all have our opinions based on our own interpretation of the scriptures which doctrines are true and with are false. However I want to begin this post by showing that modern LDS leaders have stated publicly and privately that false doctrines have entered into the Church.

President Ezra Taft Benson once said:

"Not only are there apostates in our midst, but there are apostate doctrines which are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and which appear in our publications. The these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble. AS the Book of Mormon, speaking of our day, states: "..they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men" (Book of Mormon ref 2 Nephi 28:14 E.T. Benson ref CR April 1969 )

Not to many years prior to President Bensons statement President Joseph Fielding Smith had entered the following notation in his person diary:

"I attended sessions of meetings for the institute teachers, held in the assembly room on the fourth floor of he Church Office Building. I cannot say that I was very greatly edified. Too much philosophy of the worldly nature does not seem to mix well with the fundamentals of the gospel. In my opinion many of our teachers employed in the church school system have absorbed too much of the paganism of the world, and have accepted too readily the views of the uninspired educators without regard for the revealed word of the Lord. What to do about it I do not know. It is a problem for the Presidency to consider. It is a very apparent fact that we have traveled far and wide in the past 20 years. what the future will being I don't know . But if we drift as far afield from the fundamental things in the next 20 years, what will be left of the foundation laid by the Prophet Joseph Smith? It is easy for one who observes to see how the apostasy came about in the primitive church of Jesus Christ. Are we not traveling the same road?" (The Life of Joseph Fielding Smith 212. Deseret Book Co., 1972 )

Prior to that observation by President Smith, George Q. Cannon had made the following remark:

"I tell you we are beginning to follow along the course of the early Christian Church. So long as that church was persecuted from without, it prospered, but when it began to be polluted from within, the church began to wither. There is, creeping into our midst, and I warn you brethren about it, and urge you to meet, a great host of sectarian doctrines that have no place amongst us. The gospel in its simplicity, is to be found in the revelations... we must accept them as God gave them to us and there must be amongst us a unity of the faith." ( CR October 1944 )

Erastus Snow made this observation:

"Over fifty years have passed away since the light of the glorious gospel in its fulness began to dawn upon us, and still we are measurably walking in darkness." (Annual Conf Report April 6 1883 )

Finally, let me share this sobering proclamation from John Taylor:

"We are getting into such a condition that if we were to meet the Lord, we could not look him in the face and the way we are going, it will soon be impossible to tell what we do believe."

As you can see from the testimony from numerous leaders of the Church, the restored church is plagued with false teachers teaching false doctrines.

This is another sign that the Marvelous Work and a Wonder did not take place in the 2nd Watch at the time the church was restored to the earth in 1830, rather it is to be a future work that takes place in the 3rd watch when fulness of the Gospel and the fulness of the scriptures will be restored to the earth and all false doctrines will be done away.

For a longer version of this post that addresses the importance of the key of the knowledge of God and a more detailed focus on an event in LDS church history wherein a false doctrine was taught that had a profound effect on the church click here


8 comments:

necrodancer said...

I've attended Gospel Doctrine classes, Institute classes and Priesthood meetings in which individual opinion was taught as doctrine. The brethren have counseled the teachers of Gospel Doctrine and Priesthood meetings to maintain strict adherence to the lesson manuals and scriptures. It is for this reason, to sustain efforts against sharing false doctrine that this counsel was given.

We've been warned of this sharing of false doctrine within the church. I do not, however, believe the warnings are directed at anything that is taught by our church leaders.

grego said...

Most of those quotes are from a long time ago. It seems Mormon Doctrine put a stop to many, and then the second MD put a stop to some in the first MD! What do you feel are the false doctrines of these days? Evolution, DNA, there wasn't the Flood (at least as a global thing), billions of years of creation, similar conflicts with some beliefs of science? Or feminism, don't have lots of children, work outside home, etc.? Or love of money, lack of sacrifice, etc.? Are lack of convert quality/ conversion, or rushed baptisms, reasons for this?

Someone who is watching said...

Grego

Actually, I have in my possession a copy of the personal diary of President David O McKay at the time that the book Mormon Doctrine was published.

President McKay was very upset and offended that McConkie ( who was a Seventy at the time) would be presumptuous enough to write a Book claiming to represent the Churches belief on doctrine without getting permission from the President of the Church.

He formed a committee to evaluate how accurate the book was.

Mark E Peterson reported to President McKay that there were hundreds of doctrinal mistakes in the book.

The came very close to pulling the book off of the shelves.

A political battle took place within the Church over this matter. McConkie's father-in-law, Joseph Fielding Smith ran interference for him...

Someday, when I get around to it I will blog about the fascinating details behind the book that has become known as the "fifth standard work"

Suffice it to say, some people think that McConkie's book should be called "McConkie Doctrine" and that he is part of the problem, not the solution to the problem we have today with false doctrines in the Church.

Although Brigham taught false concepts about God... Mcconkie has too. (see http://threewatches.blogspot.com/2008/10/he-was-born-not-of-blood-nor-of-will-of.html )

Anonymous said...

It seems a long time since I last posted a comment!

Watching, although you do not mention Mormon 8 specifically in this post, it is extensively referenced in your related post on LDSA 'Why have ye transfigured the Word of God'. What do you suppose Moroni was alluding to when he says, in verse 32, that churches shall say, 'Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins'? It would be easier for me to interpret if Moroni was speaking about the great and abominable church instead of the Saints in the church of God. Any ideas?

Someone who is watching said...

I think the short answer is that there are no examples in the New Testament, Book of Mormon or the D&C wherein the Church of Christ requires you to commit to paying money in order to be baptized into Gods Kingdom nor is it a requirement after being baptized to be able to enjoy any of the ongoing spiritual blessings or endowments. (I use the term endowment in the scriptural term, not the distorted term that has evolved)

The longer version of the answer would probably point out that it is true that followers of Christ are required to live consecration when the church is in a gathered state in Zion, but that is quite a different thing than paying 10% of your money.

Consecration makes people equal, a money based economy creates class distinction. Which God despises.

“For if ye are not equal in earthly things ye cannot be equal in obtaining heavenly things;”

Indeed, the Book of Mormon declares:

“..the laborer in Zion shall labor for Zion; for if they labor for money they shall perish.”

Charging money for spiritual blessings is priestcraft.

In a previous life I was serving in a Bishopric and we had been visiting inactive members one night.

After leaving the home of a man we had been visiting who had not been “active” in the church for many years and did not appear to have any interest or belief in the work, as we were walking down the street, the Bishop after a moment of deep thought turned to me and said,

“You know, even though Brother Jones is a rather vile person and has lots of bad habits, he won’t be burned when the Savior comes”

I found his comment curious:

“Really? Why s that?” I asked.

“Because he faithfully pays his tithing. He mails a check every month. And I believe the Lord when he says “..he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming”

I must admit, the Bishop was being a literalist… and I am a literalist… however, I am not convinced that the word tithing means what we have been indoctrinated to think that it means.

If you will go to http://scriptures.lds.org/ uncheck the “sort by relevance” box and punch in “tith”, you will get every scripture wherein the words tithes and tithing is found.

Scroll down till you get to the D&C scriptures and you will see that there are only four sections in modern revelation that speak of tithing.

Now lets analyze what the word really means and what the Lord is really speaking about.

The four references you will see have to do with sections 64, 85, 97 &119

Lets take a minute to review how the Lord uses the term tithing.

Section 64 is of course what my dear bishop friend was quoting.

“I will not that my servant Frederick G. Williams should sell his farm, for I, the Lord, will to retain a strong hold in the land of Kirtland, for the space of five years, in the which I will not overthrow the wicked, that thereby I may save some.

And after that day, I, the Lord, will not hold any guilty that shall go with an open heart up to the land of Zion; for I, the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men.

Behold, now it is called today until the coming of the Son of Man, and verily it is a day of sacrifice, and a day for the tithing of my people; for he that is tithed shall not be burned at his coming.

For after today cometh the burning—this is speaking after the manner of the Lord—for verily I say, tomorrow all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be as stubble; and I will burn them up, for I am the Lord of Hosts; and I will not spare any that remain in Babylon.”

The above verses are very revealing.

If you read my article on “The Bridegroom Tarried” on the narchy site, then you realize that the five years during which the Lord protects Kirtland, providing priesthood protection, brings us to September 11th 1836.

Joseph Smith revealed that the end of that five year period was the “appointed time” for the redemption of Zion.

The Lord was talking about the importance of his people going up to the land of Zion to live consecration with an open heart.

He then warns that after “today”, a term I would submit is referring to the 2nd Watch, those who refused to consecrate in Zion will be burned. Hence in that scripture tithed means consecrated.

Notice also the key words “stubble” and “burn”. Punch those into the word cruncher and among other places, it will point you to Malachi 4 which is coming off of the following phrase in Malachi 3:

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.

Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
.

Read all of Malachi 3 & 4 very carefully, it is pregnant with information relating to this topic and also having to do with the latter day Saints.

The word tithes in Malachi has to do with consecrating tangible things into the Bishops Storehouse… not paying money for priestcraft.

Now lets look at the uses of tithes in section 85:

“ It is contrary to the will and commandment of God that those who receive not their inheritance by consecration, agreeable to his law, which he has given, that he may tithe his people, to prepare them against the day of vengeance and burning, should have their names enrolled with the people of God.”

In other words, receiving your inheritance by consecration agreeable to the law of Zion IS how God tithes his people.

That is the definition of tithing.

Lets get a second witness on this definition of tithing by going to the forth scripture listed in the cruncher in Section 119::

“Verily, thus saith the Lord, I require all their surplus property to be put into the hands of the bishop of my church in Zion, For the building of mine house, and for the laying of the foundation of Zion and for the priesthood, and for the debts of the Presidency of my Church. And this shall be the beginning of the tithing of my people.”

When you give over your surplus property to the Bishop in Zion, that is the beginning of the true principle of tithing.

“And after that, those who have thus been tithed shall pay one-tenth of all their interest annually; and this shall be a standing law unto them forever, for my holy priesthood, saith the Lord.”

First you TITHE (Consecrate) Then you pay a tenth of your increase.

Funny how we are taught that tithing is the preparatory law that we are living before we live consecration when the scriptures say just the opposite.

“Verily I say unto you, it shall come to pass that all those who gather unto the land of Zion shall be tithed of their surplus properties, and shall observe this law, or they shall not be found worthy to abide among you.

And I say unto you, if my people observe not this law, to keep it holy, and by this law sanctify the land of Zion unto me, that my statutes and my judgments may be kept thereon, that it may be most holy, behold, verily I say unto you, it shall not be a land of Zion unto you. And this shall be an ensample unto all the stakes of Zion. Even so. Amen. “

From this we find that anyone truly living in Zion that does not consecrate is not worthy to live among the true Saints of God.

And section 97 is also consistent with the other three previously mentioned sections… it is also speaking in the context of Zion and consecration.

Hence, according to the infallible word of God, the true scriptural definition of the term tithing is categorically referring to consecration and the law of Zion.

Moroni appears to be alluding to the fact that the people he is referencing have deviated from the true tithing and now, instead of building up Zion through consecration, they are building up class distinction and materialism.

The great and unscriptural lure is that you can gain access to and enjoy the ongoing benefits of the ordinances of salvation and the gift of the spirit in return for filthy lucre.

“Come unto me, and for your money you shall be forgiven of your sins'?”

Anonymous said...

I apologize, Watching, if my last comment seemed derogatory. I was fully expecting your response, but after picturing my post out of context, from your point of view, I realized it may be construed as such. Honestly, I meant no harm. I was only trying to capture the conundrum of a modern latter day saint-in a sense, revisiting the questions I had posed in an earlier post (#33).

Anonymous said...

I suppose one could be justified in paying 'tithes', as defined by the modern church, if done in a spirit of consecration (I have no intention of providing the hand-waving argument here), but as you mentioned, 'the great and unscriptural LURE' or TEMPTATION, is to pay 'tithing' in order to erase sin, nullifying the infinite and eternal sacrifice of the Savior, as well as the scapegoat sacrifice of Joseph.

So, don't be lured into building up 'surplus'.

Someone who is watching said...

Apology accepted.. but still at a slow burn.

your last post was thrust into hell where there is weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth..