Equality is Necessary for Zion

He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion. 2 Nephi 26:29

I think that priestcraft is the opposite of equality. We should not set ourselves up to be a light unto the world to get gain or praise. We should do it for the glory of God.

Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house;Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5: 15-16

Even when you have come into Christ’s presence you are still equal with everyone. You don't become better than another when you see him. You should not expect praise and worship for following Christ. You should probably expect persecution like the ones who have gone before you i.e. Joseph Smith, Nephi, Abinadi . . .

The greatest among us will serve as our Lord Jesus did. He was the Greatest and yet he served. God's kingdom is not of this world. Halleluiah!!!

And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? Is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Luke 22: 25-27

We should not be idolaters. If we esteem someone as higher and greater than us, there would be idolatry. If there is nobody that is higher than us then there would be no one to worship but God.

Lets look at an example of some people who were equal.

And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength.

And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely. Alma 1:26-27

Here are some people who were not equal:

And I know that ye do walk in the pride of your hearts; and there are none save a few only who do not lift themselves up in the pride of their hearts, unto the wearing of very fine apparel, unto envying, and strifes, and malice, and persecutions, and all manner of iniquities; and your churches, yea, even every one, have become polluted because of the pride of your hearts.

For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.

O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?

Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?

Yea, why do ye build up your secret abominations to get gain, and cause that widows should mourn before the Lord, and also orphans to mourn before the Lord, and also the blood of their fathers and their husbands to cry unto the Lord from the ground, for vengeance upon your heads?

Behold, the sword of vengeance hangeth over you; and the time soon cometh that he avengeth the blood of the saints upon you, for he will not suffer their cries any longer. Mormon 8:36-41

As I look around at our society I see the second scenario. We are not equal and it ought not be so. There are only a few who do not lift up themselves in the pride of their hearts. Worshiping any man or women is wrong.

I feel this message comes from God. If you think I err please correct me (preferably use the scriptures as I don't believe the current LDS church authorities always speak the truth. If you feel that an authority made a inspired comment though, I would like here your thoughts about it)

When someone speaks the truth Glorify God and for goodness sake don't praise the one delivering the message. Have a great day. Raachel - age 16