|
This implies that leaders actually know that Joseph Smith was a fraud and that the Book of Mormon is false, and that LDS leaders simply need to admit the deception and take the steps necessary to lead Mormons out of the Church and instead to Christ. Who granted the critics insight into the minds, beliefs, hearts, and souls of the leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ?
Critics should recall the admonition of Jesus:
- Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.(Matthew 7꞉1-2)
The implication that LDS leaders actually know that the Mormonism is false has become fashionable in some anti-Mormon circles. This claim is designed to add credibility to the anti-Mormon accusation that the LDS Church is not only wrong, but deceptive. Most critics know that the greatest damage can be done to an LDS testimony if a member comes to believe that the Church (or LDS leaders) is deceitful or hiding something. Many people handle conflicting information without jeopardizing their testimonies, but most people can't handle the feeling of being lied to. Generally, once someone feels that the Church has deceived them, they are no longer willing to examine rebuttals to anti-Mormon accusations. Critics are keenly aware that in many (if not most) instances it is not the anti-LDS information itself that generally makes people leave, but it's the perception that the information was "hidden." It is the feelings of deception and betrayal that ultimately drive people out the Church.
The fact is, however, that LDS leaders give of their time (a tremendous amount of time) and talents, because they love Christ, they love God's children, and they believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. Many LDS leaders give up lucrative professions and sacrifice time they could be spending in retirement or with family, to dedicate themselves to the Restored Gospel. They really believe in the teachings of the Church and they labor continuously leading people to Christ and the fulness of the Gospel as found the latter-day church that Christ restored.
Brigham Young, like many Church leaders, repeatedly taught that no member should rely on their leader's convictions— each member must seek a spiritual witness:
- The First Presidency have of right a great influence over this people; and if we should get out of the way and lead this people to destruction, what a pity it would be! How can you know whether we lead you correctly or not? Can you know by any other power than that of the Holy Ghost? I have uniformly exhorted the people to obtain this living witness each for themselves; then no man on earth can lead them astray. ( Brigham Young, November 29, 1857. Journal of Discourses 6:100.)
- —Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 6:100. off-site wiki
To read more:
|
