The Heretic in the Room

A few Sunday's ago I found myself sitting in a Stake Presidency Meeting which begins with prayer and scripture study. The first counselor in the presidency was responsible for the discussion topic and assigned people in the room to read various passages. I found it ironic I would be asked to read Ezekiel 37:24-25. This passage is controversial because it refers to a David figure who plays a key role in the gathering of Israel.

There are two lines of thinking on this issue. Church scholars generally agree with Elder Bruce R. McConkie's view expressed under the heading of "The Davidic Myth." Elder McConkie says: This wresting of the written word assumes that someone of prophetic stature will arise in the Church in the last days, to preside as a Second David, and to prepare the way before the Second Coming of the Son of Man. That there may be one or many brethren called David who preside over the Church in this dispensation is of no moment. The scriptures that speak of King David reigning in the last days are Messianic; they have reference to the Millenial reign of the Lord Jesus Christ." ("A New Witness for the Articles of Faith", Bruce R. McConkie, Deseret Book, 1985 edition, pg.518)

I assume Elder McConkie draws his opinion from the Book of Revelation, chapter 5, verses 5-6 which say: "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof, And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth." (Side note: the Joseph Smith Translation changes verse 6 to say there are twelve horns and twelve eyes and twelve servants instead of spirits of God, in all likelihood a reference to the Apostles of Christ.) In this passage the "Lion of the tribe of Juda," the "Root of David," and the "Lamb" clearly refers to Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Everything appears very straightforward and compelling at this point. Generally, Church scholars have "staked" their position on Elder McConkie's point view because of this passage and because Elder McConkie had the power of Apostleship backing him. Elder McConkie's interpretation was not always the scholarly position in the key position in the Church. Elder Ezra Taft Benson speculated that David Ben-Gurion might be the latter-day David spoken of in the scriptures until Elder Benson had the opportunity to meet Mr. Ben-Gurion. It was a subject of much speculation prior to Elder McConkie's declaration of "The Davidic Myth."

Among Jews the concept of a latter-day David has always been an integral part of their faith tradition. The fact Jesus never lived up to their prophetic expectations was a primary reason the Jews rejected Him as their Messiah. They looked for a Davidic figure often spoken of in prophecies of the Old Testament. They studied these prophecies and vigorously debated the subject. Modern Christian claims that the life of Jesus fulfilled these prophecies could never be squared with their understanding of the prophecies. Never the less, Christians have a difficult time understanding how the Jews can be so blind as to not recognize nor understand Jesus is their long awaited Messiah.

So how did the question of a latter-day David become a "Mormon" issue? Joseph Fielding Smith, (Elder McConkie's father in law) compiled the oft quoted, "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith." In President Smith's compilation appears the following quotation attributed to Joseph Smith:

"Although David was a king, he never did obtain the spirit and power of Elijah and the fullness of the Priesthood; and the Priesthood that he received and the throne and kingdom of David is to be taken from him and given to another by the name of David in the last days, raised up out of his lineage." ("Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith," Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret Book, 1974, pg.339)

Hence, Pandora's box opens. In addition to this reference referring to a latter-day David, Joseph Smith applies the concept of a latter-day David to the gathering of Israel:

"Christ, in the days of His flesh, proposed to make a covenant with them, (Israel/Judah) but they rejected Him and His proposals, and in consequence thereof, they were broken off, and no covenant was made with them at that time. But their unbelief has not rendered the promise of God of none effect: no, for there was another day limited in David, which was the day of His power; and then His people, Israel, should be a willing people;-and He would write His law in their hearts, and print it in their thoughts; their sins and their iniquities He would remember no more." ("Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith", Joseph Fielding Smith, Deseret Book, 1974, pgs.14-15)

This brings us back to the passage in Ezekiel 37 I was asked to read. What does it say? After Ezekiel informs us of the union between the "stick of Judah" and the "stick of Joseph", (Chronological markers that establish a latter-day time frame for the occurrence of these events) we read the following:

"And the sticks whereon thou writest shall be in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land: And I will make them one nation in the land upon the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king to them all: and they shall be no more two nations, neither shall they be divided into two kingdoms any more at all: Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people and I will be their God. And David my servant shall be king over them; and they all shall have one shepherd: they shall also walk in my judgments, and observe my statutes, and do them. And they shall dwell in the land that I have given unto Jacob my servant, wherein your fathers have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their children, and their children's children for ever: and my servant David shall be their prince for ever." (Ezekiel 37:20-25)

At the conclusion of our scripture study an Assistant Clerk asked the Stake President what the reference to David was talking about. Knowing I shared a different opinion from his and as if to make a preemptive strike, the President (Dean of Religious Education at BYU) quickly said it symbolically referred to Christ and we were not going to discuss it. He then made a passing and dismissive reference to several points I have made regarding the subject and then closed the conversation.

I have thought a lot about this experience. I know from prior experience most Church educators or scholars either are unaware of the subject or refuse to discuss it because their minds are already made up and their opinions cemented in stone if they are aware of the subject. From the moment I was asked to read the passage I decided not to broach the subject. It would not have come up if the Clerk had not raised the question.

The point I find humorous about the whole experience is that my view is considered heretical in the scholarly community even though it sides with Joseph Smith over Elder McConkie's view.

So, what is my purpose in sharing this post. Is it my objective to prove there is a latter-day David? Not really. I believe the point is valid but not my major concern.
What I find disconcerting is the willingness to accept a position by virtue of an individuals calling or academic credentials. Church academics frequently seek to reinforce their point by invoking anonymous references to "the brethren" to support their opinion that may or may not be supported by the scriptures. Whenever I hear a Church Educator say this I wonder if they receive private e-mails or belong to a select club that meets once a month with "the brethren?"

Another incredibly annoying experience is to have someone authoritatively declare that some doctrine has not as yet been revealed. The real presumption behind this statement is the belief the person in perceived authority knows everything worth knowing and if they don't know it, it has not been revealed. I have spent my entire adult life studying the scriptures and have never felt confident enough to believe I knew it all. Yet to have someone stand in front of me and say it has not been revealed when I have read it in the standard works and seen traces of it in the words of living Prophets and Apostles is unbelievably annoying.

Church scholars have elevated the Brethren to the same infallibility the Catholic Church attributes to the Pope. The Brethren don't believe or claim infallibility themselves. I suspect when asked they would be embarrassed and good humored about the question. Logic behind these inflated views of infallibility and unquestioned authority is to promote wrote obedience by self appointed guardians of the orthodoxy. The logic supporting wrote obedience is misguided and the very thing that weakens church membership and undermines the development of spirituality and true discipleship. Christ wants us devoted to Himself and His servants (when they speak His words under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.) To presume they always speak under this influence is a false assumption. Their words must be discerned by the Spirit of God or we are at risk of being misled.

Brigham Young expressed frequent concern over the Saints willingness to follow the Brethren blindly: "What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire of themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purpose of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path that the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation continually." (Journal of Discourses 9:150)

How important is it to learn this principle and live it? It may mean the difference between a Celestial inheritance in the next life and a Telestial inheritance. Again, referring to Brigham Young:

"Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and pinning their faith upon another's sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods. They cannot rule themselves, to say nothing of ruling others, but they must be dictated to in every trifle, like a child. They cannot control themselves in the least, but James, Peter, or somebody else must control them. They never can become Gods, nor be crowned as rulers with glory, and eternal lives. They never can hold scepters of Glory, majesty, and power in the celestial kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right, though all mankind besides should take the opposite course. (Journal of Discourses 1:312)

Finally we read more words from Joseph:

“I cannot believe in any of the creeds of the different denominations, because they all have some things in them I cannot subscribe to, though all of them have some truth. I want to come up into the presence of God, and learn all things; but the creeds set up stakes [limits], and say, ‘Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further’ [Job 38:11]; which I cannot subscribe to.”

“I say to all those who are disposed to set up stakes for the Almighty, You will come short of the glory of God. To become a joint heir of the heirship of the Son, one must put away all his false traditions.”

“The great thing for us to know is to comprehend what God did institute before the foundation of the world. Who knows it? It is the constitutional disposition of mankind to set up stakes and set bounds to the works and ways of the Almighty. … That which hath been hid from before the foundation of the world is revealed to babes and sucklings in the last days [see D&C 128:18].”

“When men open their lips against [the truth] they do not injure me, but injure themselves. … When things that are of the greatest importance are passed over by weak-minded men without even a thought, I want to see truth in all its bearings and hug it to my bosom. I believe all that God ever revealed, and I never hear of a man being damned for believing too much; but they are damned for unbelief.”

“When God offers a blessing or knowledge to a man, and he refuses to receive it, he will be damned. The Israelites prayed that God would speak to Moses and not to them; in consequence of which he cursed them with a carnal law.”

“I have always had the satisfaction of seeing the truth triumph over error, and darkness give way before light.”
(“Chapter 22: Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007),261–270)

The more I study, the more I believe this brand of ignorance is the greatest threat to the Church and our individual salvation. To the extent we follow those who promote wrote obedience by virtue of position or academic standing will be a measure and determining factor deciding who stands and who falls in the last days.

"The weak things of the world shall come forth and break down the mighty and strong ones, that man should not counsel his fellow man, neither trust in the arm of flesh- But that every man might speak in the name of God the Lord, even the Savior of the world:" (D&C 1:19-20)

May we learn to never drive stakes (beliefs)into the ground so deeply God Himself cannot pry them from our consciousness.

I conclude with words attributed to Will Roger's I have grown quite fond of:

"It's not what people don't know that hurts them. It's what they do know that just ain't so."

When a Church Scholar cannot openly discuss doctrine with anyone but his or her peers they have reached this point and should wake up to the danger of their own situation and the perils they spread to others who trust and believe them.