Abraham Rejects the Traditions of His Father

The Preacher of the True Faith - Legends of the Jews

When Abraham attained the age of twenty years, his father Terah fell ill. He spoke as follows to his sons Haran and Abraham, "I adjure you by your lives, my sons, sell these two idols for me, for I have not enough money to meet our expenses." Haran executed the wish of his father, but if any one accosted Abraham, to buy an idol from him, and asked him the price, he would answer, "Three manehs," and then question in turn, "How old art thou?" "Thirty years," the reply would be. "Thou art thirty years of age, and yet thou wouldst worship this idol which I made but to-day?" The man would depart and go his way, and another would approach Abraham, and ask, "How much is this idol?" and "Five manehs" would be the reply, and again Abraham would put the question, "How old art thou?" -- "Fifty years." -- "And dost thou who art fifty years of age bow down before this idol which was made but to-day?" Thereupon the man would depart and go his way. Abraham then took two idols, put a rope about their necks, and, with their faces turned downward, he dragged them along the ground, crying aloud all the time: "Who will buy an idol wherein there is no profit, either unto itself or unto him that buys it in order to worship it? It has a mouth, but it speaketh not; eyes, but it seeth not; feet, but it walketh not; ears, but it heareth not." 

The people who heard Abraham were amazed exceedingly at his words. As he went through the streets, he met an old woman who approached him with the purpose of buying an idol, good and big, to be worshipped and loved. "Old woman, old woman," said Abraham, "I know no profit therein, either in the big ones or in the little ones, either unto themselves or unto others. And," he continued to speak to her, "what has become of the big image thou didst buy from my brother Haran, to worship it?" "Thieves," she replied, "came in the night and stole it, while I was still at the bath." "If it be thus," Abraham went on questioning her, "how canst thou pay homage to an idol that cannot save itself from thieves, let alone save others, like thyself, thou silly old woman, out of misfortune? How is it possible for thee to say that the image thou worshippest is a god? If it be a god, why did it not save itself out of the hands of those thieves? Nay, in the idol there is no profit, either unto itself or unto him that adores it." 

The old woman rejoined, "If what thou sayest be true, whom shall I serve?" "Serve the God of all gods," returned Abraham, "the Lord of lords, who hath created heaven and earth, the sea and all therein -- the God of Nimrod and the God of Terah, the God of the east, the west, the south, and the north. Who is Nimrod, the dog, who calleth himself a god, that worship be offered unto him?" 

Abraham succeeded in opening the eyes of the old woman, and she became a zealous missionary for the true God. When she discovered the thieves who had carried off her idol, and they restored it to her, she broke it in pieces with a stone, and as she wended her way through the streets, she cried aloud, "Who would save his soul from destruction, and be prosperous in all his doings, let him serve the God of Abraham." Thus she converted many men and women to the true belief. 

Rumors of the words and deeds of the old woman reached the king, and he sent for her. When she appeared before him, he rebuked her harshly, asking her how she dared serve any god but himself. The old woman replied: "Thou art a liar, thou deniest the essence of faith, the One Only God, beside whom there is no other god. Thou livest upon His bounty, but thou payest worship to another, and thou dost repudiate Him, and His teachings, and Abraham His servant." 

The old woman had to pay for her zeal for the faith with her life. Nevertheless great fear and terror took possession of Nimrod, because the people became more and more attached to the teachings of Abraham, and he knew not how to deal with the man who was undermining the old faith. At the advice of his princes, he arranged a seven days' festival, at which all the people were bidden to appear in their robes of state, their gold and silver apparel. By such display of wealth and power he expected to intimidate Abraham and bring him back to the faith of the king. Through his father Terah, Nimrod invited Abraham to come before him, that he might have the opportunity of seeing his greatness and wealth, and the glory of his dominion, and the multitude of his princes and attendants. But Abraham refused to appear before the king. On the other hand, he granted his father's request that in his absence he sit by his idols and the king's, and take care of them. 

Alone with the idols, and while he repeated the words, "The Eternal He is God, the Eternal He is God!" he struck the king's idols from their thrones, and began to belabor them with an axe. With the biggest he started, and with the smallest he ended. He hacked off the feet of one, and the other he beheaded. This one had his eyes struck out, the other had his hands crushed. After all were mutilated, he went away, having first put the axe into the hand of the largest idol. 

The feast ended, the king returned, and when he saw all his idols shivered in pieces, he inquired who had perpetrated the mischief. Abraham was named as the one who had been guilty of the outrage, and the king summoned him and questioned him as to his motive for the deed. Abraham replied: "I did not do it; it was the largest of the idols who shattered all the rest. Seest thou not that he still has the axe in his hand? And if thou wilt not believe my words, ask him and he will tell thee." 

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 3

NOTE: We’ve included two different translations KJV & NLT from this point forward

What is the burden of the Lord?

 33 And when this people, or the prophet, or a priest, shall ask thee, saying, What is the burden of the Lord? thou shalt then say unto them, What burden? I will even forsake you, saith the Lord.

Jer 23:33 "Suppose one of the people or one of the prophets or priests asks you, 'What prophecy has the LORD burdened you with now?' You must reply, 'You are the burden! [fn] The LORD says he will abandon you!'

If someone asks, “What prophecy has the Lord burdened you with now?” How must you reply? Who is the burden?

34 And as for the prophet, and the priest, and the people, that shall say, The burden of the Lord, I will even punish that man and his house.

Jer 23:34 "If any prophet, priest, or anyone else says, 'I have a prophecy from the LORD,' I will punish that person along with his entire family.

If anyone says, 'I have a prophecy from the Lord,' what will the Lord do?

 35 Thus shall ye say every one to his neighbour, and every one to his brother, What hath the Lord answered? and, What hath the Lord spoken?

Jer 23:35 You should keep asking each other, 'What is the LORD's answer?' or 'What is the LORD saying?'

Why should you keep asking each other, 'What is the Lord's answer?' or 'What is the Lord saying?'

 36 And the burden of the Lord shall ye mention no more: for every man’s word shall be his burden; for ye have perverted the words of the living God, of the Lord of hosts our God.

Jer 23:36 But stop using this phrase, 'prophecy from the LORD.' For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

Why is everyone commanded to stop using the phrase, 'prophecy from the Lord'? Why does the Lord forbid the prophets to use his name to give authority to their own ideas?

 37 Thus shalt thou say to the prophet, What hath the Lord answered thee? and, What hath the Lord spoken?

Jer 23:37 "This is what you should say to the prophets: 'What is the LORD's answer?' or 'What is the LORD saying?'

What should we say to the prophets?

 38 But since ye say, The burden of the Lord; therefore thus saith the Lord; Because ye say this word, The burden of the Lord, and I have sent unto you, saying, Ye shall not say, The burden of the Lord;

Jer 23:38 But suppose they respond, 'This is a prophecy from the LORD!' Then you should say, 'This is what the LORD says: Because you have used this phrase, "prophecy from the LORD," even though I warned you not to use it,

Suppose they respond, 'This is a prophecy from the Lord!' then what should you say?

39 Therefore, behold, I, even I, will utterly forget you, and I will forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and cast you out of my presence:

 40 And I will bring an everlasting reproach upon you, and a perpetual shame, which shall not be forgotten.

Jer 23:39 I will forget you completely. [fn] I will expel you from my presence, along with this city that I gave to you and your ancestors.

Jer 23:40 And I will make you an object of ridicule, and your name will be infamous throughout the ages.'"

What happens to those who use this phrase, "prophecy from the Lord," even though they have been warned not to use these words?

How will we respond to Jeremiah’s rebuke? 

“O, my beloved brethren, give ear to my words. Remember the greatness of the Holy One of Israel. Do not say that I have spoken hard things against you; for if ye do, ye will revile against the truth; for I have spoken the words of your Maker. I know that the words of truth are hard against all uncleanness; but the righteous fear them not, for they love the truth and are not shaken.” 2 Nephi 9:40

2 And it came to pass that I said unto them that I knew that I had spoken hard things against the wicked, according to the truth; and the righteous have I justified, and testified that they should be lifted up at the last day; wherefore, the guilty taketh the truth to be hard, for it cutteth them to the very center.

 3 And now my brethren, if ye were righteous and were willing to hearken to the truth, and give heed unto it, that ye might walk uprightly before God, then ye would not murmur because of the truth, and say: Thou speakest hard things against us.

 4 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, did exhort my brethren, with all diligence, to keep the commandments of the Lord.

 5 And it came to pass that they did humble themselves before the Lord; insomuch that I had joy and great hopes of them, that they would walk in the paths of righteousness.  1 Nephi 16:2-5

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 1

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 2

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 3

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 2

Who is going to punish the prophets? 

 15 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

Who does the Lord hold accountable for teaching the people profaneness? Is it because of the prophets that wickedness has filled the land?

 16 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

 17 They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

Are the prophets speaking the words of the Lord? Why does the Lord tell us not to listen to these prophets? How are they making us vain? Would building a $5,000,000,000 shopping mall with upscale housing fit into this category? What if they speak smooth words and say all is well, ye shall have peace? Who is still despising the Lord, but is told that no evil shall come?

 18 For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

Have any of these prophets been in the Lord's presence to hear what He is really saying? Has even one of them cared enough to listen? Where is the counsel of the Lord?  How does one get invited to stand in His counsel?

 19 Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

Why is it so important the people be warned instead of being reassured that all is well? If you could see a grievous whirlwind coming, would you just sit back and let your friends, loved ones, and others be swept away?

 20 The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

When is the fulfillment of this prophecy? Why does he say, “in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly”?

 21 I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

Have these prophets been commissioned of God? Have these prophets been speaking the word of the Lord? Why do they go on prophesying when the Lord hasn’t given them a message?

 22 But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

If they had stood in the Lord’s counsel, what would they have done that would have turned the people from their evil way?

 23 Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off?

 24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord.

How close is God? Can anyone hide from the Lord or escape His all searching eye?

 25 I have heard what the prophets said, that prophesy lies in my name, saying, I have dreamed, I have dreamed.

 26 How long shall this be in the heart of the prophets that prophesy lies? yea, they are prophets of the deceit of their own heart;

Have the prophets been speaking the word of the Lord? Do the prophets’ words fit into the category “whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same”? D&C 1:38  Or are they prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say?

 27 Which think to cause my people to forget my name by their dreams which they tell every man to his neighbour, as their fathers have forgotten my name for Baal.

How have the prophets caused God’s people to forget his name? By telling these false dreams, how are they trying to get the Lord’s people to forget Him? How do they compare with their ancestors who worshipped the idols of Baal?

 28 The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord.

 29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

What’s the difference between chaff and wheat?  What does the Lord’s word do to the prophets?

 30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that steal my words every one from his neighbour.

 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, saith the Lord, that use their tongues, and say, He saith.

 32 Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the Lord, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the Lord.

Why is the Lord against these prophets who steal messages from each other, quote each other, and claim the words are from Him? Why is the Lord against these smooth-tongued prophets who say, 'This prophecy is from the Lord'?

What is the significance of the Lord repeating three times, “I am against the prophets”? Are the people benefited or injured from lies and false dreams? Are these prophets attempting to stand between the people and God? What does the Lord mean, “I am against the prophets”?

To be continued . . .  

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 1

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 2

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 3

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 1

Isaiah and other Old Testament prophets spake many things which are hard for people to understand. Why? “For they know not concerning the manner of prophesying among the Jews.” 2 Nephi 25:1 Prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and others use the past events to prophesy the future.  Jesus when speaking of Isaiah’s prophecy said,  “. . . And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake.” 3 Nephi 23:1-3 

The Jews understand this manner of prophesying. As gentiles, we might think that Jeremiah is only talking about the past. To help us along, Jeremiah tells us the timeframe for the fulfillment of this prophecy.  “The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.” Jeremiah 23:20

Jeremiah 23 

1 Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the Lord.

 2 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.

 3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.

 4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.

Who are the pastors that are suppose to feed the Lord’s people? What have the pastors been doing to the sheep?  What is the Lord going to do about it? What have the sheep been afraid of? How many people believe they are damned without these pastors and their teachings? When the Lord sets up shepherds, who feed and care for the flock, what will be the result?

 5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.

 6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord Our Righteousness.

Who is this king that shall reign and prosper? 

 7 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, The Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt;

 8 But, The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north country, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.

Does this mean that there will be a deliverance that is greater than when Moses brought the children of Israel out of Egypt? What is this vast latter day deliverance? Who will be delivered from whom? Who will come to the rescue?

9 Mine heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine hath overcome, because of the Lord, and because of the words of his holiness.

What is Jeremiah experiencing? And why? Remember, he is seeing the latter days in vision.

 10 For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.

 11 For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.

Where has the Lord found wickedness? If the Lord has found wickedness in his temple, why does He still call it “my house”? Who claims to be a prophet in these latter days?  Who is the Lord talking about? What does He mean, “Their force is not right”? Are people going to individually be held accountable for following profane prophets?

 12 Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.

What are these slippery ways in the darkness? What is the Lord going to do? Are prophets and priests allowed to lead people astray before they’re punished?  When is the year of their visitation?

 13 And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

 14 I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

What does the Lord think of the prophets? What evil hands are being strengthened? What does the Lord compare their wickedness to?

To be continued . . .  

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 1

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 2

Jeremiah Rebukes Latter Day Prophets, Part 3

Persecution, then Respect, then Popular, and then Admiration

I found some interesting quotes from church leaders over the last 150 years or so.  They have different opinions about what persecution and acceptance really mean. Everyone has his or her own opinion.  See what you think.

 “When the spirit of persecution, the spirit of hatred, of wrath, and malice ceases in the world against this people, it will be the time that this people have apostatized and joined hands with the wicked, and never until then; which I pray may never come.” President Brigham Young, May 31, 1857, JD4:327 

“The Lord says, ‘Woe unto you when all men speak well of you.’ Sometimes I have known the papers say this and that good thing about the ‘Mormons,’ and I have said, ‘What’s up? Are we getting wicked, that the world loves us?’” George A. Smith, First Counselor in the First Presidency, November 20, 1870, JD 13:297 

“The great change that has come about since the days of my boyhood in the general attitude toward this people is almost beyond contemplation or expectation. I can remember when I was the junior member of the Council of the Twelve, forty-eight years ago this month, that during my first trips away from home, almost invariably, wherever I went I found opposition. I found ill-will toward the Latter-day Saints. I found men so full of bitterness toward us that they said if they had their way the "Mormons" would be shut up in their tabernacle and the guns of Fort Douglas be turned upon them. Today, wherever I go I find the opposite feeling; I find good-will; I find kindness; I find readiness and willingness on the part of newspapers to give us favorable public notices. Anything we wish to say they are willing to print. . . . Today, we are getting very favorable publicity. . . . To have over three thousand newspapers; to have the Associated Press; to have the Hearst papers, and to have western papers—especially in Utah and in Idaho—the newspapers generally, give us such extended and favorable articles as this immense volume contains, is a cause of deep gratitude on my part and that of my associates of the General Authorities of the Church.” President Heber J. Grant, Conference Report, October 1930

“Ours is the blessing to live in a better season. The terrible persecutions of the past are behind us. Today we are looked upon with respect by people across the world.” PresidentGordon B. Hinckley, October 5, 1996

“Those who observe us say that we are moving into the mainstream of religion. We are not changing. The world’s perception of us is changing. We teach the same doctrine. We have the same organization. We labor to perform the same good works. But the old hatred is disappearing, the old persecution is dying. People are better informed. They are coming to realize what we stand for and what we do.” Gordon B. Hinckley, October 6, 2001 

Now in the year 2012, LDS Church President Thomas S. Monson is one of the 10 "Most Admired Men," according to an annual poll of Americans by Gallup.

Some of the church leaders quoted above indicate public respect or acceptance means apostasy. On the other hand, some believe public popularity, favorable notice, and publicity means righteousness and a better season. I wonder which is true?

We, as a church, are moving into the mainstream of religion, at least from the view of those who observe us from the outside. If we are moving into the mainstream of religion and following the trends of society, how could we possibly be teaching the same doctrines that Joseph Smith restored? How could we be living the doctrines of Christ and yet fit in so well with the world?

Is the church really the same as it was 180 years ago, or is it just following the world? Are we more accepted because the world is becoming more righteous? Or are we apostatizing from the truths that used to bring persecution?

What do we stand for now that causes the world to like us so much? If we are currently teaching the same gospel that Joseph Smith restored, why does the world admire us today, but persecuted the saints in former times?

Why was Joseph Smith hated, despised, and persecuted? Why was his life taken? Through all generations, why were prophets of God reviled, rejected, persecuted, or killed? The world didn’t seem to like Jesus either; even His life was sacrificed.

Why is the church more respected and well liked by the world today? Why has President Thomas S. Monson been chosen as one of the 10 "Most Admired Men," according to the Gallup poll? Does any of these trends seem to alarm or cause concern to anyone? Do we live the gospel of Jesus Christ or follow mainstream religion? How do we know? Are there any indicating signs?

Jesus declared, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also”. John 15:18-20