How to Deliver God’s Word

Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? And if it be by some other way it is not of God.

—D&C 50:17-18

Well, it’s that time of year again, when millions will tune into LDS general conference, seeking to hear the word of God, get answers to their questions, and “feel the spirit.” With the world watching, those who speak bear a grave responsibility and heavy burden. How might one go about preparing for and discharging such a duty? 

Here are a few general guidelines, from those with the most experience:

1. Start 6 months in advance, and spend maybe 2 months deciding on a topic. Go through several false starts and stops until you settle on the topic you’ll prepare.
2. Begin writing drafts to capture your ideas and thoughts.
3. Maybe include something someone has written to you in a letter, or perhaps a poem, a snippet of fiction, or a current news item to help make your point.
4. Continue through a dozen or more distinct revisions, as you run them past your staff, colleagues, and family to get ideas and insights about how well you’ve stated things. Rewrite your speech as they direct, to avoid causing controversy whenever possible.
5. Maybe use polling or focus group studies to refine your message and ensure it will be well received. A negative message will not rate nearly as highly as a positive one.
6. Next, run it through the correlation department to make sure you are doctrinally correct and in harmony with approved teachings. 
7. You should also let the PR department have a look so they can be prepared to head off any negative press and provide the right context for your remarks. Memes must be prepared for social media posts, and sound bites must be harvested for mass distribution. These all must be prepared in advance for maximum immediate impact. The memes will go up as soon as you speak.
8. Hold a live event in a $450 million theater facility with metal detectors, security people, impressive music, a production crew of hundreds, bright lights, worldwide TV coverage, and simultaneous translation into dozens of languages (but not Hebrew!) A professional makeup artist will ensure you look good, and strict guidelines will ensure your wardrobe and appearance comply with costume requirements.
9. The sacrament of the Lord’s supper will not be offered at this meeting, though His name will be invoked at every turn.
10. At the appointed time, you’ll walk to the stand, look into the lights, and read your talk,
    
    verbatim and unemotionally, off a teleprompter as your name, title and position are flashed on the screen (including the important dignity of a middle initial.) 
11. You’ll invoke the name of Jesus Christ when you close, with its implicit claim that this process has resulted in you faithfully speaking His words.
12. OK..Ready? Lights, camera, action!

Oh…and after all that effort, if your statement results in bad PR, please don’t be surprised if your talk is significantly altered before it is published. It’s possible you might have to even re-record a new version of God’s word to comply with the wishes of those in charge.

Another Way

Of course, there’s another approach to delivering God’s word…one that is actually advocated by God, and best summarized as follows:

Therefore, verily I say unto you, lift up your voices unto this people; speak the thoughts that I shall put into your hearts, and you shall not be confounded before men; For it shall be given you in the very hour, yea, in the very moment, what ye shall say. But a commandment I give unto you, that ye shall declare whatsoever thing ye declare in my name, in solemnity of heart, in the spirit of meekness, in all things. And I give unto you this promise, that inasmuch as ye do this the Holy Ghost shall be shed forth in bearing record unto all things whatsoever ye shall say. (D&C 100:5-8, emphasis mine)

Or here:

Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man. (D&C 84:85)

So wait, what? Just stand up there and say whatever the Lord puts into your heart? That’s a tall order for anyone. Doing so requires one who has treasured up continually the words of life in their heart; it requires that the speaker be filled with light and truth; it requires the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation. Or in other words, a prophet and revelator—and those are hard to find. 

But Abinadi did it. Samuel did it. For that matter, so did Nephi, Lehi, Alma, Paul, John, Christ, Joseph Smith, and myriads of other true prophets, in a variety of ways. Benjamin declared the words an angel had given him the night before. Like his namesake before him, Nephi (son of Helaman) declared the words he got directly from the Lord, and he did so fearlessly. The result was that the Lord entrusted him with sealing power, even over the elements. 

Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which thou hast done; for I have beheld how thou hast with unwearyingness declared the word, which I have given unto thee, unto this people. And thou hast not feared them, and hast not sought thine own life, but hast sought my will, and to keep my commandments. And now, because thou hast done this with such unwearyingness, behold, I will bless thee forever; and I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.  

Behold, thou art Nephi, and I am God. Behold, I declare it unto thee in the presence of mine angels, that ye shall have power over this people, and shall smite the earth with famine, and with pestilence, and destruction, according to the wickedness of this people. Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven; and thus shall ye have power among this people. (Helaman 10:4-7, emphasis mine)

Note the proof of Nephi’s faithfulness, as cited by God, lay in Nephi’s unwearyingness and fearlessness in declaring the word “which I have given unto thee.” Nephi first obtained God’s word, then declared it. 

This exactly matches the pattern employed by the Nephite disciples who “ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken—nothing varying from the words which Jesus had spoken.” (3 Nephi 19:8) And this pattern matches the advice God gave Hyrum Smith:

Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men...Deny not the spirit of revelation, nor the spirit of prophecy, for wo unto him that denieth these things (D&C 11:21, 25)

Some of the best, most powerful, light-filled sermons I’ve seen or heard were given extemporaneously, by the Comforter, in the spirit of truth, as the spirit gave utterance. 

Writing That Talk

Now, truly, there’s nothing wrong with writing a talk in advance. Studying scripture, seeking inspiration, taking your ideas to the Lord, receiving His word and gaining His approval are all valuable and worthwhile things to do. But this is not a process that needs to involve committees and colleagues, polling and public relations. You don’t need a staff of assistants or department sign off. God’s word doesn’t require production values or theatrics. It simply requires you to have the Holy Ghost:

And as ye shall lift up your voices by the Comforter, ye shall speak and prophesy as seemeth me good; For, behold, the Comforter knoweth all things, and beareth record of the Father and of the Son. (D&C 42:16-17)

Those who claim the titles of prophet, seer and revelator would do well to demonstrate these gifts, or stop claiming them. When you spend months grinding a dozen talk revisions through committees to finally produce fifteen minutes of material, then by all appearances, the whole thing is simply an exercise in PR and image building through corporate speechifying. It sounds a lot more like copywriting than authentic revelation, and the resulting vacuous platitudes are so sanitized and generic, they become indistinguishable from Disney products. They may even contain Disney Stories.

And though all the effort seems impressive, the fact that such an arduous process is required to produce an acceptable final product demonstrates the LACK of revelation involved. I’m frankly surprised that those calling themselves prophets will admit to their immense difficulties in preparing a conference address. I can’t find a single scriptural example of authentic prophets obtaining or delivering God’s word in such a manner. 

Joseph Smith dictated God’s word verbatim, and published it as scripture. First draft. Without memes, HeartSell, correlation, or months of revision. But he was a prophet, after all. And we have not seen his equal since. Those claiming to be prophets in our time, in no way measure up to the standard Joseph set. If you view the modern conference speakers as prophets, you must account for the difference. There’s no point in pretending they are the same. You’re only fooling yourself.

Which brings us full circle to the present exercise. When one claims to speak as a prophet and demands his word be treated as God’s word, it’s incumbent on YOU to judge the matter. Get it right, and you’ll hear the voice of God. Get it wrong, and you’ll be misled down to destruction. It’s happening now, and the show is about to start. The months of arduous production work will culminate in inspiring speeches read from invisible screens. It’s up to you to judge the finished product. 

Is it authentic or just theater?

Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?

—D&C 50:21

PS: Here’s a sample of the corporate product. This gem of a talk summary came from last week’s women’s conference. See if you can figure out how in the world flattery shares the light of the gospel:

“We can bring the light of the gospel into our homes, schools, and workplaces if we look for and share positive things about others.”

Sounds great, right? But is it truth?

What Have You Against Being Baptized?

But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

—Luke 7:30

Have you ever imagined what it must have been like for the Nephite multitude at the temple in Bountiful when Christ visited? This event is unique in scripture as it simultaneously documents a number of singular occurrences not seen elsewhere with clarity—or at all—and they happen together.

In these chapters, we witness the opening of a new dispensation; clear teaching of Christ’s doctrine, out of his own mouth; the endowment and opening of the connection with heaven; explanation of other scripture and prophecy, the implementation of the Lord’s supper, and perhaps most important, the ministry of a God among mortals. There’s nothing even remotely like this anywhere else in scripture. 

Those who survived the destructions at the crucifixion were the “more righteous part of the people” who “received the prophets.” (3 Nephi 10:12) And the fact that they made the journey to the temple to observe the required holy days—even though most of the population and many cities had been destroyed less than a year before—shows their commitment to obeying the Lord. They were rewarded with the privilege of beholding Him face to face, feeling his wounds, embracing Him, shouting Hosannah, and bowing before Him.

Immediately after these momentous events, the Lord called forth Nephi and empowered him to provide re-baptism to the people. Likewise, He called 11 others and similarly empowered them. He did this publicly so there would be no question about who was authorized to provide this ordinance, and who was not.

Next, the Lord launched into an explanation of the requirements for who was to be baptized, and exactly how it was to be done—even giving the precise wording and procedure to be used. He explained this as a commandment, to be performed “after this manner” and “according as I have commanded you.” He expressly forbade disputing about this commandment. 

Having thus laid the foundation by clearly teaching the need for, and method of, baptism (or in this case, re-baptism), the Savior then taught His doctrine—culminating with the absolute requirement that His doctrine be obeyed by all those who desire salvation. He taught these things publicly so all could hear and understand. And He taught these things first, giving them absolute primacy in His religion.

The Lord’s actions and teachings make clear the following points:

1. Performing the ordinance of baptism requires the Lord’s authorization. Though unauthorized others may offer the ordinance, the Lord will not recognize it.
2. The practice of ordaining priests existed among the Nephites (see 2 Ne. 5:26, Mosiah 18:18, Moroni 3). Therefore, it’s clear that priestly service requires both ordination by man, and empowerment by the Lord. Scripture does not make provision to neglect either step.
3. Precise qualifications, wording and actions are to be followed in baptism.
4. There is no other way to salvation. In fact, the Lord repeats four times the requirement for baptism, categorically stating that “whoso believeth not in me, and is not baptized, shall be damned.” He leaves no room for exceptions.
5. In recognition of the new dispensation Christ was establishing, a new baptism was required, even for those who had already been properly baptized.
6. Water baptism is a prerequisite to receiving the Holy Ghost, both the first time, and at the opening of a new dispensation when re-baptism is required. Baptism by water is the gate to receiving the baptism of fire. 

Christ is not at liberty to change these commandments; they came from His father. Changing them or making arbitrary exceptions would make Christ both disobedient and a liar. 

Too often, we tend to view commandments as limitations, curtailing our freedom, and restricting our behavior. Many chafe at such perceived limitations. But perhaps it’s useful to think of commandments in another way. Suppose you faced the difficult task of diffusing a bomb, under the direction of an experienced bomb expert. Your very life would depend on exactly following the expert’s instructions. This is not a time to improvise. If you follow the directions exactly, you will safely accomplish the task. In such a situation the directions, or commandments, given by the expert are NOT designed to curtail your freedom or restrict your behavior. Rather, they are the actions that will save your life. There’s no point arguing or refusing to obey the expert’s instructions. Your only hope lies in doing exactly as he says.

Well, Christ is the expert. He has trodden the path and knows the way to be redeemed from the fall. Baptism is not an arbitrary commandment He can change or waive at will. Due to the requirements of eternal, immutable laws, there are good reasons baptism must be received, and must be performed in the correct way. Again, even Christ is not at liberty to change these requirements. There’s no point arguing about it. The only safe course is to do as Christ directs.

Nevertheless, some have trouble receiving Christ’s word and some refuse baptism for various reasons. Some seek to argue the points of His doctrine rather than submitting to it.

I have no desire to argue about these things, but I do think it’s worthwhile providing a few points here in response to some objections I’ve encountered to the ideas Christ has expressed. Please don’t think me unkind if I’m direct in what follows. The time is at hand to declare truth with boldness.

My previous baptism was good enough. I know the Lord accepted it.

That may be so, but the validity of your previous baptism is not the question. Whenever the Lord initiates a new dispensation, He invites those who accept His gospel to be baptized, or re-baptized, in recognition of the new covenant He makes available. 

Such a requirement came at the opening of Joseph Smith’s dispensation. However, some felt their prior baptism was adequate and they therefore refused to be re-baptized. In response, the Lord gave the following revelation:



Behold, I say unto you that all old covenants have I caused to be done away in this thing; and this is a new and an everlasting covenant, even that which was from the beginning. Wherefore, although a man should be baptized an hundred times it availeth him nothing, for you cannot enter in at the strait gate by the law of Moses, neither by your dead works. For it is because of your dead works that I have caused this last covenant and this church to be built up unto me, even as in days of old. Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God. Amen. (D&C 22:1-4 emphasis mine)

A new dispensation is upon us. The Lord has renewed the command to obey His doctrine. Those who accept Him will do so.
 Refusal is really rejection of Christ. How can you reject Him now, and yet rely on your previous baptism to be honored? 

The Lord knows my heart. He surely won’t reject me simply because I didn’t get re-baptized.

The Lord does indeed know your heart, and finds there an unwillingness to hear and obey His voice. Your good intentions cannot overcome the Lord’s edict: “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Refusal to obey Him is evidence your love for Him is feigned. Yes, the Lord knows your heart, but perhaps you don’t. Turn your heart to him.

But what about all my good friends who worship Christ? I can’t believe a loving and merciful God would reject a believing soul simply because they didn’t get baptized—or didn’t get baptized in the right way. I cannot accept such a God.

Your refusal to accept the Lord’s commandment doesn’t make His commandment void. Those who sincerely worship Christ will humble themselves and seek His word, wherever it is found. The minute someone starts dictating what God “should” be like, based on their own flawed understanding of mercy, justice, love, or any other principle, they cut themselves off from learning God’s true character, perfections and attributes. And without a correct understanding of these, faith is impossible. (Lectures on Faith 3:4)

In other words, if you want to engage in ultimatums about what you will and will not accept in your God, then by definition you do not and cannot have faith. You simply believe in a fairy-tale Jesus who bends to conform to your will—a false Christ indeed. (See Matthew 24:24)

In the final analysis, God is more intelligent than us all. His work and glory is to exalt us, and He knows how to do it. We ought to trust Him and let Him do His work, in our own lives and in the lives of those around us. Those who will not accept what He offers in this life will require continuing efforts on His part beyond this mortality. Our best course is to receive all he offers here and now, while it’s available.

I believe the commandment applies to others, but I’m the exception. 

Thus making God a respecter of persons, and a liar. Seriously?

But I’ve constructed a complex and nuanced scriptural argument to prove that, although the Lord commanded re-baptism, He really didn’t mean it, and I won’t be deceived into doing it. 

And yet, he says, “And again I say unto you, ye must repent, and become as a little child, and be baptized in my name, or ye can in nowise receive these things.” (3 Nephi 11:37) Is your complex and nuanced scriptural argument adapted to the capacity of a child? Did you construct your argument as a result of your childlike, humble faith and obedience, or did you construct this argument to avoid doing what the Lord plainly and openly said to do? Is it likely Christ was deceiving us with His commandment? Or is it more likely your wisdom is foolishness?

O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish. (2 Nephi 9:28, emphasis mine)

Anyone can go to God and get power to baptize. It is arrogant to claim that only a certain group or lineage has access to that power. If what he says is true, then very few people who ever lived on earth will be saved! 

The Lord instructed us to anticipate only a few would accept His offer. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) “For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Nephi 31:17)

By broadening Christ’s permissiveness to suit your desires for large numbers, you really just change the parameters of who is excluded. But there will still be exclusions. Whether hundreds, thousands, millions, or billions accept, it is still not everyone. Are you in a position to choose who is excluded? What number would make you happy? Or is it even better to exclude nobody and follow Nehor’s teaching that ALL will be saved at the last day? (Alma 1:4)

There’s no point in arguing about numbers. Even if only one couple is saved and exalted, something infinite has been accomplished. Although few will find and accept the Lord’s offer, it is nevertheless open to all. For those who do not accept, the struggle will continue. We ought to do all we can to raise the warning voice and invite all to come unto Christ. 

You might be able to convince me if you can answer each of my concerns and defeat all my arguments.

Therefore, blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble; or rather, in other words, blessed is he that believeth in the word of God, and is baptized without stubbornness of heart, yea, without being brought to know the word, or even compelled to know, before they will believe. (Alma 32:16)

Yes, but...

Now, having talked through a few of these objections, imagine someone present in the multitude at Bountiful, raising their hand during Christ’s sermon, and advancing one of the arguments listed above. Do you suppose the Lord would argue the points of His doctrine? Do you suppose He would offer a series of exceptions to accommodate those who preferred not to obey Him? Do you suppose He would stand there with holes in His hands, feet and side, where He was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities, (Isaiah 53:5) and be persuaded by the accusation that He is not a “loving God?”

You and I cannot comprehend the price Christ paid to make our rescue possible. He informs us of the exact steps required to take advantage of His offer. What is there to argue about? If you’re drowning and someone throws you a rope, is there any point in arguing about the color, weave, or length of the rope? Is there any point in refusing to take hold unless everyone else does too? Are you in any position at all to critique the throwing form or pulling power of the one who will save you? Take hold of the rope.

The Prevailing Gate

When Nephi discussed the Doctrine of Christ, he referred to repentance and baptism as the “gate” by which we should enter:

Wherefore, do the things which I have told you I have seen that your Lord and your Redeemer should do; for, for this cause have they been shown unto me, that ye might know the gate by which ye should enter. For the gate by which ye should enter is repentance and baptism by water; and then cometh a remission of your sins by fire and by the Holy Ghost. (2 Nephi 31:17)

Until you have entered through that gate, it remains closed to you. Given that you currently reside in a Telestial kingdom, the gate really is the way of escape from Hell. (2 Nephi 9:10). If you do not enter in at the gate, you remain trapped and unredeemed. Or as Christ explained, if the gate remains closed, Hell prevails against you. You must build upon His Rock:

Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. (3 Nephi 11:39)

In conclusion, I’ll simply add my personal invitation: Please come unto Christ through repentance and baptism. Turn to Him, obey His word, and let Him fill you with fire and the Holy Ghost. I know from personal experience His words are true. 

Authorized ministers are waiting to help:

And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? And the Father said: Repent ye, repent ye, and be baptized in the name of my Beloved Son.

—2 Nephi 31:10-11

Doctrine of Christ Conference

The Doctrine of Christ Conference in Boise was a success. The Lord blessed us with wonderful venues, weather, music, fellowship, and, most importantly, His word, declared with power.

You can hear or read the talks at this link:

Doctrine of Christ Conference