Continuation

I thought I had exhausted the subject in previous posts but I suspect the Lord wants continued discussion on the subject because He continues to place information in front of me that is relevant.

Before I begin to address additional information I wanted to refer you to an article written by Peggy Fletcher Stack for the Salt Lake Tribune. It talks about the inclination to assign infallibility to the Brethren. It was interesting reading and so I refer you to the following link:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/51489143-80/lds-says-leaders-church.html.csp

I suspect the reason for discussing this subject is linked to the proximity of General Conference which begins next weekend. That said, I am going to return to the text of Denver Snuffer's book, "Second Comforter, Conversing with the Lord Through the Veil" and add Denver's insightful observations on the subject:

"In this dispensation, God came to a fourteen-year-old boy. And one, who came from an environment steeped in folk magic. Joseph was not a scholar and did not live long enough to become one. Rather, in all things which mattered most he was one whose mind was educated from on high. That suited the Lord's purpose much better thatn the formal education the ministers of his day possessed. There is a powerful and sobering lesson in that. You should choose your teachers carefully. Avoid what Nephi says will occur in our day from those who "teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance. And they deny the power of God." (2 Nephi 28:3-5) The "utterance" (teaching) should come from the Holy Ghost. Church authorities should speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. For "no power or influence can, or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood" according to Joseph. (D&C 121:36-42) That command, of course,does not deter all teachers who ought to not be teaching. But whether it deters an uninspired teacher or not, it should act as a caution to you in evaluating and accepting teachers.

Nephi continues: "Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, nevertheless, fear God- he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God." (2 Nephi 28:7-8) Here we have the notions "we shouldn't try and be devoted to any teachings which limit you, curtail your misconduct or personal indulgences, or require you to rein in your appetites." "There is no absolute standard which God intends to hold you to." When, in reality, the Lord has told us to the contrary He "cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance." (D&C 1:31) There is no second chance. Now is the time to prepare for the judgment. Every moment of this life is precious. Every moment of this life, including the thoughts of your hear, will require an accounting.

Nephi continues in his discussion of us:

Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines, and shall be puffed up in their hearts, and shall seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord; and their works shall be in the dark. And the blood of the saints shall cry from the ground against them. Yea, they have all gone out of the way; they have become corrupted. Because of pride, and because of false teachers, and false doctrine, their churches have become corrupted, and their churches are lifted up; because of pride they are puffed up. They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up. (2 Nephi 28:9-13)

False, vain and foolish doctrines are going to be taught in our day. Any of the teachers among the Saints who are puffed up in their hearts are unworthy of their discipleship. You should not buy their books, attend their lectures, or listen to their tapes. They offer you nothing, but charge you for doing so. Choose your teachers carefully. some of them will poison your mind and retard your progress because they are not on higher ground and therefore cannot lead you to higher ground. They are like the Scribes and Pharisees about whom Christ warned they "neither go in [themselves], neither suffer them that are entering to go in." (Matthew 23:13.) You can't follow a false teacher and find heaven at the end of the trail. You are accountable for measuring all teachings against the scriptures and against the voice of the Spirit. You cannot rely upon others and blame them for your own responsibilities. You cannot even push this responsibility onto the Prophet.

(Included at this point is a very important footnote: Joseph said to the Relief Society "they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves." (TPJS, p.238) Further, the explanation in D&C 121:34-42 places decided limits upon the kind of deference that a person in authority in the priesthood should receive. Implicit in this Section is unless the authority actually does persuade you by the Spirit, then they are as other men and not entitled to any greater deference than any other man.)

Now we get to the alarming warnings of verse 14: "They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, 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." (2 Nephi 28:14) This inspired warning about our day should trouble any faithful Saint. We have "all gone astray." Not just some belonging to false, apostate Christianity where the Restoration has not been accepted. This chapter speaks prophetically about our day and specifically mentions "Zion" in the same discussion. Nephi does not use the term "Zion" to mean anyone other than us. So including Zion within the Chapter requires us to include Zion within the "all" in our day who have these problems. It was meant to personalize this message. It was meant to make us reevaluate our own conduct and beliefs.

If that is not enough, the Doctrine and Covenants warns the members of the Church directly: "And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received- Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all. And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written-" (D&C 84:54-57) President Ezra Taft Benson reiterated that this warning remains in effect, and the Saints remain under this condemnation still today. ("Lord Increase our Faith," Ezra Taft Benson, Provo Utah Tabernacle Rededication, 21, September, 1986 & April 1986, Ensign [May 1986]:78.)


The substance of these quotations from Denver Snuffer is found in his chapter titled, "Becoming as a Little Child." I highly recommend the book to anyone who has not read it. I am on my fourth reading and anticipate reading it many more times.