not the easy path

After the last conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in October, we saw a huge protest from millions around the world. How dare you say thus and such about homosexuals? This demonstrates perfectly that prophets teach us what we need, not what we want. The Lords sends prophets to proclaim is word and teach His children. "Surely the Lord God will do nothing but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets." Amos 3:7 Often the people of the earth do not want to hear what they have to say: stay out of debt, prepare for the future physically, spiritually, temporally, and educationally, women to be keepers at home, keep the commandments, refuse to become offended, forgive others, and so on. We know we are right and refuse to change. We are praise junkies that get indignant with admonitions and input contrary to our plans.

"That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord; which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us." Isaiah 30:9-11

We only want to hear that we are wonderful and doing a great job--atta boy. Jesus demands a lot of us. If His commandments don't agree with our desires, we push them aside thinking we know better ourselves. It isn't comfortable to be told we need to improve or that we are wrong.It is easier to stay in a rut than blaze a new trail. It is easier to not make waves and not stand for something. It is easier to adopt the ways of the world and avoid ridicule and mockery than to stand out or stand alone. "Aren't those people weird?" Great but fleeting success can come to those who teach the easy path.

"And it came to pass that in the first year of the reign of Alma in the judgment-seat, there was a man brought before him to be judged, a man who was large, and was noted for his much strength. And he had gone about among the people, preaching to them that which he termed to be the word of God, bearing down against the church declaring unto the people that every priest and teacher ought to be supported by the people. And he also testified unto the people that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life. And it came to pass that he did teach these things so much that many did believe on his words, even so many that they began to support him and give him money. And he began to e lifted up in the pride of his heart, and to wear very costly apparel, yea, and even began to establish a church after the manner of hes preaching." Alma 1:2-6

This man was successful, because he taught them smooth or pleasing ideas. He taught Satan's plan, which caused so much trouble in the councils before the foundations of the world: every man would be saved and have eternal life no matter what he chose to do in his life. 1/3 of the hosts of heaven fell with Satan before the world was, because they were enticed by this idea. These ideas are tempting now but are utter lies. We read of the prophets being stoned in the Bible and many false teachers in the Book of Mormon.

"But it came to pass in the latter end of the seventeenth year, there came a man unto the land of Zarahemla, and he was Anti-Christ, for he began to preach unto the people against the prophecies which had been spoken by the prophets, concerning the coming of christ. And this Anti-Christ, whose name was Korihor, (and the law could have no hold upon him) began to preach unto the people that there should be no Christ. And after this manner did he preach, saying: O ye that are bound down under a foolish and vain hope, why do ye yoke yourselves with such foolish tings: why do ye look for a Christ? for no man can know of anything which is to come. Behold, these things which ye call prophecies, which ye say are handed down by holy prophets, behold, they are foolish traditions of your fathers. How do ye know of their surety? Behold, ye cannot know of things which ye do not see; therefore ye cannot know that there shall be a Christ. Ye look forward and say that ye see a remission of your sins. But behold, it is the effect of a frenzied mind; and this derangement of your minds comes because of the traditions of your fathers, which lead you away into a belief of things which are not so. And many more such things did he say unto them, telling them that there could be no atonement made for the sins of men, but every man fared in this life according to his genius, and that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime. And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their head in their wickedness, yea, leading away many women, and also men, to commit whoredoms--telling them that when a man was dead, that was the end thereof." Alma 30:6, 12-18


Korihor above is like so many evangelists for evil today, teaching that which is pleasing to the carnal, sensual, and devilish nature of the natural man--things which send Satan and his angels into fits of glee. Do whatever dishonest, mean thing you want to get more stuff and feel good in this life was his message.


"But behold, if a man shall come among you and shall say: do this, and there is not iniquity; do that and yea shall not suffer; yea, he will say: Walk after the pride of your own hearts; yea, walk after the pride of your eyes, and do whatsoever your heart desireth--and if a man shall come among you and say this, ye will receive him, and say that he is a prophet. Yea, ye will lift him up, and ye will give unto him of your substance; and 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. I ye wicked and ye perverse generation; ye hardened and ye stiff necked people, how long will ye suppose that the Lord will suffer you? Yea how long will ye suffer yourselves to be led by foolish and blind guides? Yea, how long will ye chose darkness rather than light?" Helaman 13:27-29