I’ve been thinking a lot and pondering on how I feel and
what I think of all the controversy that’s been discussed recently regarding certain
positions of the church. I’ve read many posts and comments and seen many
different points of view and have considered each one that I’ve read. I believe
that all this controversy can be boiled down to one thing; pride.
Let me explain why I believe pride is the reason behind all
this contention. I’ll start with an experience I had while on my mission. While
I was serving in Bilbao we would often come across Jehovah Witnesses or as we
came to call them TJ’s (for Testigos de Jehovah). We would frequently get into
discussions with them with each of us sharing our points of view. We even had
some regular TJ’s that we would speak to and we would quite often frustrate
them such that they always wanted to bring their leaders to our discussions. My
companion and I even went to attend one of their baptisms ceremonies. After having
a few of these discussions in which they would often bring up some very valid
points I found myself one day questioning if perhaps they were right and we
were wrong. So I went to my Father in Heaven in prayer for answers to know if
the gospel I was teaching was correct. I had always had a testimony before of
the gospel but because of these encounters I found myself questioning that
testimony. Because I took the matter to my Father in Heaven in prayer, I received
reassurance through the Holy Ghost that the gospel we were teaching was correct
and it dispelled any doubts I had been having. I mention this experience because
it illustrates an important process that each of us should go through anytime
we question our faith. We should make it a matter of prayer and involve our
Father in Heaven and ask Him to help us find the answers. But, we need to go in
an attitude in which we would be willing to accept whatever that answer will
be. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a personal matter and is something that we
must each discover for ourselves.
Recently I found myself again questioning aspects of my
understanding of the gospel. These questions ate at me for days and once again
culminated in me questioning some basic tenets of my faith. Once again I took
the matter to my Father in Heaven in prayer and once again I received answers
that helped reassure me. The current controversies helped solidify the answers
that I had been receiving and strengthened my testimony and faith in my Father
in Heaven.
Let me explain the answers that I received. We have a tendency
as human beings to want to be able to understand the reason for everything. We want
answers, we want to know why. When we don’t understand something or why
something is the way it is, we try to find a justification. For example, in the
early days of the church blacks were not allowed to hold the priesthood. Without
understanding a true purpose for why this may have been, people tried to make
up reasons to try to explain it. Such as, they were decedents of Cain. Currently,
with the feminist movement people try to come up with reasons why women aren’t
ordained to the Priesthood. The fallacy in all this is that sometimes we may
not know why the Lord institutes certain policies. There are times when the
Lord asks his servants to do things that to us just do not make sense. They may
contradict our best reasoning. They may contradict previous commandments he has
given.
For example, consider Abraham when he was commanded to
sacrifice his son, Isaac. This went beyond all reasoning and made no sense. Abraham
could have easily reasoned, “I just don’t understand this, it makes no sense. I
don’t agree with it and I’m not going to do it.” But Abraham trusted in the
Lord and was obedient and humbly did as he was asked. Another example; when the
Israelites entered the Promised Land they were commanded to slay all that
inhabited that land, including the women and children. This contradicts the
commandment, “Thou shalt not kill.” One more example; Nephi, contrary to that
same commandment was constrained by the Spirit to kill Laban. Each of these
commands was given for a specific purpose known to the Lord but not known to
those to whom they were given. I believe that each of us, if we are to receive
the same blessings that Abraham will receive will have to go through our own
trial of faith and obedience, just as Abraham did. The point in each of these
examples is that sometimes we don’t understand why the Lord gives certain
commandments and sometimes we just have to put our trust in Him and obey.
Just as King Benjamin taught we must “put off the natural
man … and be willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to
inflict upon (us), even as a child does submit to his father.” Which brings us
to where we started: pride is the cause of the current controversies. If someone
disagrees with current policy or doctrine of the Church and voices that
disagreement and receives an answer from the leaders of the Church that is
contrary to his or her position and the person then continues to advocate and
push that position, it is due to pride. As members of the Church we sustain the
Prophet and the Apostles as Prophets, Seers and Revelators. By doing so we
agree to accept and support their decisions as the will of the Lord. If we
continue to push an agenda or a position which is contrary to the direction of
the leaders of the church then we are not submitting ourselves to the will of
the Lord. We don’t have to know why they have taken the position they have
taken, we may not even agree with it but just as Abraham, we need to be
obedient and accept it. If we cannot, then it is due to our own pride.
As my thoughts were turned towards pride I also began to discern
that these factions in the church are following the same cycle that we read
about so clearly in the Book of Mormon. As the Nephites prospered and enjoyed
peace they began to grow proud and then contentions would arise. I can imagine
that these contentions weren’t much different than what we are experiencing
today where the members of the church would contend with their leaders, and
because they did not agree with everything their leaders, disputations would
arise. Rather than humble themselves and accept the will of the Lord, many
would fall away. This would then be followed by a time of great trial in which
they would be compelled to be humble once again. If we cannot learn from the
many examples we have been given then we are no better than these people of old
who would stone their prophets while claiming that they would have followed the
prophets before.
What saddens me the most is being able to recognize that all
of this is just another tool used by Satan to wage his war against our Father
in Heaven’s children. There are many tactics that he uses today to destroy our
souls and to keep people away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is very
disheartening to see him leading away those who have already found it. As I said
before this was my answer that I have received over the last few days through
the influence of the Holy Ghost. I testify that the Holy Ghost will help bring
light to the darkness that many will face. As I’ve pondered on these things and
thought upon the things I have described here, I could feel that light. But as I
would direct my thoughts to trying to understand the contrary positions of the
church, all I would find is darkness. I testify that if you will go to our
Father in Heaven in prayer, humbly seeking for answers and willing to accept
whatever those answers will be, the Holy Ghost will help you find the truth and
the answers that you need. Once again, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is personal. I’ve
shared with you the answer I’ve received. I hope in some way I can help others but
ultimately, it’s up to each individual to find his own answers.
“O then despise not, and wonder not, but hearken unto the
words of the Lord, and ask the Father in the name of Jesus for what things so
ever ye shall stand in need. Doubt not, but be believing and begin as in times
of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling before him.” Mormon 9:27
No comments:
Post a Comment