Today I’m going to study about what the scriptures say, particularly the Old and New Testament, about Honesty and Truth.
I just sent my final answer to my “Christian” friend who had questioned my beliefs in Christianity. Our conversation has been going on now for quite some time and I feel it has taken a turn for the “let me tell you, Nate, what Mormon’s really believe in order to save you…”
Anyway, I feel I’ve done my best to maintain a level head and not completely BASH what he’s trying to say. The whole experience has opened my eyes to a whole new form of missionary work that I never had to deal with in Chile – people that use ant-Mormon literature as there way of “proving the truth”.
So, with that all off my chest, I’ll jump into the real truth found in the scriptures…
Here’s one of the first scriptures I found:
25 So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two aPersonages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was bhated and cpersecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true; and while they were persecuting me, reviling me, and speaking all manner of evil against me dfalsely for so saying, I was led to say in my heart: Why persecute me for telling the truth? I have actually seen a vision; and who am I that I can withstand God, or why does the world think to make me deny what I have actually seen? For I had seen a vision; I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not edeny it, neither dared I do it; at least I knew that by so doing I would offend God, and come under condemnation. (bold added for emphasis)
My testimony of Joseph Smith is based in part on this scripture. If a person says they’ve seen something or had an experience like this, who am I to say, “No, that didn’t really happen…” Plus, at the time he was only 14 years old. Did the religious leaders see him as a threat? Ultimately, my testimony of Joseph Smith comes from the fruits he produced – the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ in these latter days.
Another scripture I liked, especially during this time of political garbage, is this one:
10 Wherefore, ahonest men and wise men should be sought for diligently, and good men and wise men ye should observe to uphold; otherwise whatsoever is less than these cometh of evil.
The tough thing about politics is it seems that almost all of the politicians, if not all of them, are at least “slanting the truth”. Does it have to be that way in politics if someone wants to “succeed”?
I think this scripture is fitting for the conversation I’ve been having via Facebook:
13 Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the aSpirit speaketh the btruth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really care, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us dplainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also espake them unto prophets of old. (Jacob 4:13)
4 But behold, the Jews were a astiffnecked people; and they bdespised the words of cplainness, and dkilled the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their eblindness, which fblindness came by looking beyond the gmark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they hcannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may istumble. (vs. 14 from same chapter)
This verse make me wonder how many of us are even as stubborn as the Jews, who look beyond the mark when the simple truth is right in front of us.
For my soul delighteth in plainness; for after this manner doth the Lord God work among the children of men. For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding. (2 Nephi 31:3)
This scripture is also fitting – the importance of LIVING the GOSPEL as opposed to just preaching it:
12 Having your conversation ahonest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good bworks, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matt. 5:14-16)
The whole chapter 2 of Titus is very direct as well. The sub-title of the chapter says this: Saints should live righteously, deny ungodliness, and seek the Lord.
I guess the thing that has most confused me about my conversation with Luke has been how much he “seems” to know about Mormons and what we do and don’t believe. It amazes me that a religion can spend so much time studying the doctrines of ANOTHER church in an effort to “correct them”.
Did Jesus operate this way? Did he go around telling the Pharisees why they were wrong? My interpretation was that no, he didn’t. Instead they came to him trying to stump him, catch him in his preaching of the truth, and he simply used parables to teach them the truth. Not to rebuke them or call them on their evil doing, but to teach them while at the same time teaching his followers.
Isn’t going at another Church with why they are “wrong” considered “evil speakings”?
1 Wherefore laying aside all amalice, and all bguile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil cspeakings, (1 Peter 2:1)
And again:
12 Having your conversation ahonest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good bworks, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. (1 Peter 2:12)
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to asilence the bignorance of foolish men: (vs. 15 of same chapter) (bold added for emphasis)
In cross-referencing, I found this popular scripture in D&C 121:38-42:
38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to akick against the pricks, to bpersecute the saints, and to cfightagainst God.
39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the anature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little bauthority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise cunrighteous dominion.
40 Hence many are called, but afew are chosen.
41 No apower or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the bpriesthood, only by cpersuasion, by dlong-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned;
42 By akindness, and pure bknowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the csoul without dhypocrisy, and without eguile—
And this one too in Proverbs 12:18-22:
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
21 There shall no evil happen to the just: but the wicked shall be filled with mischief.
22 aLying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal btruly are his cdelight.
It causes me to ask myself this question, “I wonder how Luke and others read this scripture? I wonder how they apply it to us or if they even think about LDS people when reading these passages.”
To me, the main thing I can do is be positive, live my religion, and show forth an example to everyone I come in contact with. The reason some people don’t like members of the Church is primarily NOT for what we believe, but for how we LIVE our religion – judging others, feeling we are better than everyone else and that everyone should live as we do, etc.
Granted, the truth we have should be shared; however, to hold someone else accountable for our beliefs even though they don’t know them or at least don’t understand them is to deal unjustly. It’s not fair for me to judge my brother based on my own values or my own understanding of what is the will of God for me.
I’m grateful for today’s study and hope I can reflect on it today as I go about my work.
I’m grateful for the testimony I have of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.
I’m grateful for my family who loves me and I love them.
I’m grateful for experiences I’ve had in my life that have helped shape me into who I am today.
I’ve forever be grateful to my parents for teaching me the truth and letting me govern myself.
Hasta manana!
Nate
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