A
friend asked some important questions in a recent email. Here's part
of the email:
“It
is interesting, because in the scriptures you see examples of when
the leaders of the church have gone apostate (in the time of Christ
and other times). At these times you should follow the unknown person
with a message from God. Then there are other times when you see a
charismatic person that is probably very knowledgeable and leads
people away (Zeezrom). Looking back on the situation it is
easy to tell who you should follow, but I am sure at the time it was
very difficult to know.”
I
hear my friend asking . . . How can you tell the difference between a
messenger from God and a charismatic influential false teacher today?
I
am reminded of five keys of discernment to measure every teacher who
claims to have a message from God.
Key
#1 - Every thing which inviteth to do good, and to
persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of
Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
13
But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good
continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do
good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.
14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge
that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to
be of the devil.
15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye
may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye
may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark
night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he
may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge;
for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe
in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore
ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in
Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a
perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the
devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither
do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.
18 And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye
may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not
judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall
also be judged.
19 Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search
diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil;
and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye
certainly will be a child of Christ. Moroni 7
Key
#2 True messengers come quoting scripture. The scriptures
will be expounded, but not contradicted. “For do we not read that
God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no
variableness neither shadow of changing?” Mormon 9:9
And
now it came to pass that when Jesus had expounded all the scriptures
in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should
teach the things which he had expounded unto them. 3 Nephi 23:14
And
beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in
all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:27
(Resurrected Christ on road to Emmaus)
And
he also rehearsed unto them concerning the rebellions of Laman and
Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, yea, all their rebellions did he
relate unto them; and he expounded unto them all the records and
scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present
time. Alma 18:38 (Ammon to King Lamoni)
Behold,
thus saith the Lord unto you my servants Joseph Smith, Jun., and
Sidney Rigdon, that the time has verily come that it is necessary
and expedient in me that you should open your mouths in proclaiming
my gospel, the things of the kingdom, expounding the mysteries
thereof out of the scriptures, according to that portion of Spirit
and power which shall be given unto you, even as I will. Doctrine
and Covenants 71:1
He
called me by name, and said unto me that he was a messenger sent from
the presence of God to me, and that his name was Moroni . . . After
telling me these things, he commenced quoting the prophecies of the
Old Testament. He first quoted part of the third chapter of Malachi;
and he quoted also the fourth or last chapter of the same prophecy,
though with a little variation from the way it reads in our Bibles .
. . In addition to these, he quoted the eleventh chapter of Isaiah .
. . He quoted also the third chapter of Acts, twenty-second and
twenty-third verses, precisely as they stand in our New Testament. .
. He also quoted the second chapter of Joel, from the twenty-eighth
verse to the last. He quoted many other passages of scripture, and
offered many explanations which cannot be mentioned here. Joseph
Smith—History 1:33-41
Key #3 False teachers use flattery to win the hearts of others. It makes their followers “feel good”, but they do not experience the Holy Ghost conveying truth, understanding, and knowledge. “Feeling good” is not necessarily experienced when an individual is called to repentance, corrected, or receiving further light and knowledge. People may react emotionally, but the Holy Ghost is informational and clear.
1 And now it came
to pass after some years had passed away, there came a man among the
people of Nephi, whose name was Sherem.
2 And it came to
pass that he began to preach among the people, and to declare unto
them that there should be no Christ. And he preached many things
which were flattering unto the people; and this he did that he might
overthrow the doctrine of Christ.
3 And he labored
diligently that he might lead away the hearts of the people, insomuch
that he did lead away many hearts; and he knowing that I, Jacob, had
faith in Christ who should come, he sought much opportunity that he
might come unto me.
4 And he was
learned, that he had a perfect knowledge of the language of the
people; wherefore, he could use much flattery, and much power of
speech, according to the power of the devil. Jacob 7
Yea, and they also became idolatrous,
because they were deceived by the vain and flattering words of the
king and priests; for they did speak flattering things unto them.
Mosiah 11:7 (King Noah and his people.
For it came to pass that they did
deceive many with their flattering words, who were in the church,
and did cause them to commit many sins; therefore it became
expedient that those who committed sin, that were in the church,
should be admonished by the church. Mosiah 26:6
But behold, it is
better that thy soul should be lost than that thou shouldst be the
means of bringing many souls down to destruction, by thy lying and by
thy flattering words; therefore if thou shalt deny again, behold God
shall smite thee, that thou shalt become dumb, that thou shalt never
open thy mouth any more, that thou shalt not deceive this people any
more. Alma 30:47 (Alma speaking to Korihor)
7 And there were
many in the church who believed in the flattering words of
Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church; and thus
were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and
dangerous, notwithstanding their great victory which they had had
over the Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they had had
because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord.
8 Thus we see how
quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how
quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.
9 Yea, and we also
see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place
among the children of men.
10 Yea, we see
that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of
many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to
do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to
destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or
which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the
righteous’ sake. Alma 46
But behold, Paanchi, and that part of
the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was
exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to flatter away those
people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren. Helaman 1:7
Therefore he did flatter them, and
also Kishkumen, that if they would place him in the judgment-seat he
would grant unto those who belonged to his band that they should be
placed in power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkumen
sought to destroy Helaman. Helaman 2:5
Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will
give unto him of your substance; ye will give unto him of your gold,
and of your silver, and ye will clothe him with costly apparel; and
because he speaketh flattering words unto you, and he saith that all
is well, then ye will not find fault with him. Helaman 13:28
And there was also a cause of much
sorrow among the Lamanites; for behold, they had many children who
did grow up and began to wax strong in years, that they became for
themselves, and were led away by some who were Zoramites, by their
lyings and their flattering words, to join those Gadianton robbers.
3 Nephi 1:29
And Jared rebelled against his father,
and came and dwelt in the land of Heth. And it came to pass that he
did flatter many people, because of his cunning words, until he had
gained the half of the kingdom. Ether 8:2
Key
#4 What are the teacher's motives? Do they point others to
Christ or do they participate in priestcraft seeking for gain and
setting themselves up for a light? Is there any $$$ or worldly
benefits received by the teacher? Any bonuses, increases, tithings,
or payoffs involved? These are all “red flags.” Why does the
teacher teach? Is it self aggrandizement and a way to support
himself? Or is the duty of teaching actually requested by God and
becomes an acceptable and sincere sacrifice? Does the teacher hold a
“regular job” and make a living like the hearers do or does he
esteem himself higher than his hearers and fully expects donations
from “the fold” to support him?
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
Nevertheless,
this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the
land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world,
and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for
the sake of riches and honor. Alma 1:16
For
the time speedily shall come that all churches which are built up to
get gain, and all those who are built up to get power over the flesh,
and those who are built up to become popular in the eyes of the
world, and those who seek the lusts of the flesh and the things of
the world, and to do all manner of iniquity; yea, in fine, all those
who belong to the kingdom of the devil are they who need fear, and
tremble, and quake; they are those who must be brought low in the
dust; they are those who must be consumed as stubble; and this is
according to the words of the prophet. 1 Nephi 22:23
Feed
the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof,
not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a
ready mind; 1 Peter 5:2
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. Alma 1:26
32 Yea, it shall come in a day when there shall be churches built up
that shall say: Come unto me, and for your money you shall be
forgiven of your sins.
33 O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built
up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the
holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls?
Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time
cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled.
34 Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things
concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these
things shall come forth among you.
35 Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are
not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your
doing.
36 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.
37 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.
38 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?
39 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?
40 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?
41 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
Key
#5 “. . . ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of
Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a
sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will
manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all
things.” Moroni 10:4-5
Ask
God any question you may have and you can receive His answer to you.
Is the teacher fake or real? Does he know what he is talking about or
is he merely a brilliant and clever deceiver? Is he making a
sacrifice, calling people to repentance, and literally speaking the
Word of God with power? Did the words of the teacher really come from
God? Or does he speak flattering words, saying “all is well in
Zion” and promotes the philosophies of men mingled with scripture
according to his own agenda and benefit? Does God actually vouch for
and vindicate the words spoken by the teacher? Or do they fall to the
ground and fade away? Ask God; He is the best source available. Most
assuredly, He knows what He is talking about, who His servants are,
and what He has asked them to speak using His name.
