On His Honors: Patches, Prophets and Payoffs

How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

—John 5:44

As a former member of both the Boy Scouts of America and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I support the founding principles of both organizations. My life has been greatly enriched and blessed by both memberships. I’m very grateful for the LDS/BSA relationship, which has spanned over 100 years. In fact, the LDS church was the BSA’s first chartered organization and set the pattern for all the other sponsoring organizations that came thereafter.

Sadly, much has changed since my youth, and today the BSA is an organization in decline, having lost over 50% of its youth membership since 2000. As the BSA struggles for its very existence, the BSA/LDS relationship is increasingly crucial to the survival of the Boy Scouts of America. In a nutshell, the BSA depends on the LDS church.

That shouldn’t come as any surprise, as 51% of all scout troops sponsored by a religious organization are sponsored by the LDS church. When you take all units of any sponsorship into consideration, the LDS church still sponsors 37% of all troops in America. Losing the LDS church would therefore, instantly, cost the BSA over a third of its remaining scout units. That’s a big hit to take, and there’s a lot on the line, as the BSA has over $1 Billion in assets to protect, and an annual budget of over $200 million. 

A Scout is Thrifty...

A few years back, I moved into a new ward, and my first calling was to head up the Friends of Scouting drive. My ward’s required donation to the BSA was $5,000, on top of membership dues for each boy and chartering fees. There are nearly 40,000 LDS scout troops. Of course, they may not all have such sizable donation requirements, but any way you do the math, the LDS church means big numbers and big money for the Boy Scouts.

Similarly, the LDS church depends on the BSA, as scouting is the official young men’s program of the church, and most young men’s activities, particularly for ages 12-14, are centered around scouting.

So in 2013, when the BSA came under intense pressure to accept openly gay scouts, this presented a vexing difficulty for the leadership of both the BSA and the LDS church. Threats of funding loss and boycotts, as well as the removal of corporate sponsorships threatened the future of the BSA. The support of the LDS church was absolutely essential, yet questionable, due to the LDS stance homosexuality. If the LDS church could not be convinced to accept openly gay scouts, the BSA would face its imminent demise.

As you may recall, the BSA deliberated the policy change for several months. Undoubtedly these deliberations included the LDS church and President Monson personally, as he is the longest-tenured member of scouting’s National Executive Board (serving for 46 years.) This board ultimately voted to approve the admission of openly gay scouts.

On May 23, 2013, the BSA's National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation. The same day, the LDS church released a statement in favor of the new policy. Disaster, it seemed, had been averted. 

But how did the BSA win the church’s approval for such a public reversal of position? 

Let’s look at what happened after the decision was settled. 

On his honors...


June, 2013 

In conjunction with the 2013 National Boy Scout Jamboree, the new Thomas S. Monson Award was announced, allowing LDS and non-LDS scouts and leaders to earn the right to wear President Monson’s face, in full color, on their uniforms. I find it particularly odd that non-Mormon scouts and leaders nationwide would be encouraged at the National Jamboree to learn about the Mormon Prophet's life so they could wear his face. But I suppose it’s no more odd than the fact that the Mormon Prophet would allow people to wear his likeness as an award.


October 29, 2013

“Century of Honor” LDS stage program

This stage production at the LDS conference center celebrated, with much fanfare, the 100-year relationship between the BSA and the LDS church. Just before the program, Thomas Monson was awarded Scouting’s Medal of Honor for saving a life when he was 12—which was announced at the program during a 20-minute segment devoted solely to honoring President Monson. 

Since Monson has already received nearly every other award scouting offers, including the Silver Beaver, Silver Buffalo, Bronze Wolf, and Silver Fox, it appears the BSA dug deep to find another award to give him. President Monson received multiple, lengthy standing ovations in his honor from the full-capacity Conference Center crowd.

During the program, the BSA National President announced that the The Leadership Excellence Complex, located on the 10,000-acre Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in West Virginia, would be renamed the Thomas S. Monson Leadership Excellence Complex. Excellent!

March 20, 2014

The BSA announced that a new $3 Million, 23,000 square foot lodge in Utah would also be named after Thomas Monson.

So, for those keeping score thus far, President Monson's honors in the year following the policy change include two multi-million dollar scout facilities named after Thomas Monson, plus a personal award to him for something he did 74 years ago, a stage production and tribute, and a new award bearing Monson's face offered to all scouts and leaders at the National Jamboree. Not a bad haul for one guy.

A Scout is Loyal…

The BSA certainly has gone out of its way to honor President Monson after the gay-scout policy change went through.

But I’m sure it’s all above board, and purely coincidental. Undoubtedly lots of people get this much honor and recognition from the BSA in a single year, even if such people don’t happen to personally hold the future of the BSA in their hands. Nothing to see here. These aren't the honors you're looking for. Move along.

Then What Happened?

Fast forward to 2015, and we again found the BSA under intense pressure from gay interests—this time pressured to accept homosexual scout leaders. On July 28, the BSA announced it would end the ban on gay leaders, but left it up to individual troops to determine whether they would allow gay leaders for their troops. This caveat was specifically designed so religious organizations would not be forced to act against their principles. But in reality, it will have the opposite effect; religious organizations will be even more pressured to act against their principles. Here's why:

The BSA effectively dodged the negative publicity and social pressure brought by homosexual interests, and instead placed it squarely on the churches that sponsor scout units. This, despite the fact that the Supreme Court had already ruled that the BSA was not legally required to allow gay leaders. The BSA gets the “good” press for being “open,” “inclusive,” and “equal” while the churches will bear the negative PR and backlash for supposedly being otherwise. Of course, the gay-interest groups will not rest until all troops drop all restrictions against homosexual participation in all forms. 

As a BSA PR move, this was masterful. But it certainly bore risks as well. The BSA must hope the positive PR will bring in new sponsors to replace the potential losses they face by alienating religious supporters. Many millions of dollars are at stake.

Re-Evaluating

The immediate response of the LDS church to the BSA policy change started with the following language:

“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is deeply troubled by today’s vote by the Boy Scouts of America National Executive Board. In spite of a request to delay the vote, it was scheduled at a time in July when members of the Church’s governing councils are out of their offices and do not meet.”

Why do you think the vote was scheduled when most church leaders were on vacation? If you’re going to alienate your largest and oldest sponsor, it’s probably best to do it when they’re not prepared to respond. The LDS response continued:

“When the leadership of the Church resumes its regular schedule of meetings in August, the century-long association with Scouting will need to be examined.”

Those are strong words from the organization that has been scouting’s largest supporter for over 100 years. Something has clearly changed, even from two years ago.

On the heels of the not-so-veiled LDS threat to drop scouting, came a Dan Jones poll showing that 63% of “very active” LDS church members in Utah believe the LDS church “definitely” or “probably” should end its relationship the BSA. If you broaden the criteria to "active" and "very active" the number is still 54%.

It’s interesting to note that this poll was professionally done, and published through LDS-church-owned news outlets. Clearly, the LDS church wanted it publicly known that the church members want scouting to go. Who do you suppose paid to have the poll conducted? 

If the church were being run by common consent, the BSA relationship would end. But the church isn’t run by common consent. Therefore, it really comes down to the decisions of church leadership. 

In 2013, President Monson stood with the BSA, and received massive recognition, honors of men, and worldly acclaim from that organization for doing so. Whether you think it was purely innocent or a buy off, it really makes no difference now, as President Monson now suffers from ill health and age-related decline in mental capacity. Public appearances are scarce and his day-to-day leadership capacity is limited. The decision may be out of his hands. 

The Quorum of the Twelve is also short staffed, with only 9 (possibly fewer) functioning apostles. It will be very interesting to see how this develops, and who it is that actually makes the decision.

On the one hand, the LDS church could choose to stay with the BSA, relying on the “religious exemption” to exclude gay leaders. If it does so, the LDS church, as scouting’s largest sponsor, will likely then bear the majority of negative PR and social pressure from gay-interest groups. Having gone down that road before with California's proposition 8, the church is NOT keen to go there again. 

But then again, dropping the Boy Scouts would also have negative PR consequences for the church, especially if it happens over the gay issue. Either way, it's a very tough decision. Hence, the need for market research and polling to guide the prophets in their prophetic responsibilities.

It's the LDS boys who stand to lose the most if the church and the BSA sever ties. LDS boys would lose access to excellent BSA camps, facilities and programs for all sorts of outdoor adventures and training. The boys would then reach parity with LDS girls, who have never had such access. Ahem.

If the LDS church does part ways with the BSA, scouting will have to scramble to replace lost income and participation. By becoming more socially relevant and bending to the whims of public opinion, perhaps the BSA will see increased numbers and sponsorship in the future. Perhaps gay organizations will take up the torch and start sponsoring troops. Certainly, someone will have to if the BSA loses LDS sponsorship and money.

I’m not going to guess which way it will go. But I am going to watch carefully. If the LDS church stays with scouting, who will get paid off honored this time? And how?

Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God...

—Alma 60:36

Postscript: The day after I posted this, the LDS church announced its intention to stay with scouting.

Shortly thereafter, a new Dan Jones poll was commissioned. It showed that among "very active" LDS members, 81% believed the church should stay with scouting. That's a massive swing. In fact that's an absolutely unheard-of swing! To go from 63% against an idea, to 81% in favor of it in less than a month, demonstrates just how powerful LDS leadership is in forming the opinions of active members.

Politicians lie, scramble, and agitate just to move a poll a point or two. They would kill for this sort of power over thought.

One lesson to learn is that LDS leadership could easily change a wide variety of church policies or teachings, and the active membership would fall in line. This is worth noting and remembering.

Upcoming Events

Here are a couple of upcoming events that look worthwhile:


1. Tithing Conference

This is an opportunity for the various fellowship and tithing groups to come together and learn from one another.

Click to Download Flyer

From the Organizers:

Format:  We ask that people be allowed to speak/present without interruption. We have dedicated an hour after the presentations as a Q & A time for individual/group participants to ask questions of each other.

Sharing: There will be a clipboard available for groups to communicate with each other “needs” and “surpluses” in a “giving tree” concept.

Articles: We have had over a year of this “Tithing experiment,” so there is much accumulated experience to share. Therefore, we are asking for submissions of articles/papers and even just paragraphs from anyone who wants to contribute. Contributions can be lessons learned, progress made, mistakes, scriptural studies, group experiences, miracles and impacts witnessed, testimonies shared, thanks given or as the spirit directs. We will place all the submissions into a pdf and make it available after the conference.  We will accept submissions after the conference as well for approximately 30 days.

We are open to other ideas and volunteers. Please contact us via

http://www.remnantministry.org/contact.html



2. Women's Conference

Women of Utah County would like to call a Women's Conference

We would like to invite all to come to Utah County, which we hope is centrally located for most to attend.

As we have traveled along on this journey thus far, we are feeling the need of further direction in coming to understand our truer purposes as sisters, daughters, wives, mothers, etc. Are you feeling the same?

We have been discussing the desire we have to know what our Father in Heaven TRULY
would like His daughters to aspire to, and learn how to fine tune the knowledge we are gaining
on the subject of ‘how to Come into His Presence' once again.

And so we are asking for your humble prayers as we gather as Women with the desire of uniting our Hearts, our purposes, to "Wait on the lord" and see if He will bless us with the things which He desires for us to have and continue the restoration that was begun long ago.

• We have speakers who are preparing a message.
• We are interested to learn if you have established work meetings and are sharing your talents, learning new skills and otherwise preparing every needful thing.
• We thought it would be wonderful to hear a report from every group (women) about your 'goings on', how the Lord is directing you, your successes and your struggles. Maybe you could compose a paragraph with your groups and share with the rest of us. You can email it to eveninstar9@gmail.com.

We are joyously watching as we, ourselves, and others around us are better learning to rise up, find our voices with new strengths, with greater balance and Love, and getting out of the stagnant comfort zones which have long held too many of us bound.

Have you also stretched and grown? We want to Hear! We would rejoice if you would join us and share in this experience.

Dear Sisters Seeking ZION, We humbly ask that your prayers and sacrifices be employed in behalf of this effort that we may attract the notice of the heavens and learn the mind and will of the Lord in our behalf.

Our Time has Come!

May the Lord's Love bless us all!!! And until we meet…Thank you for following Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and sharing who and what you are!

Date: 
On Saturday, August 22, 2015

Location:
Highland Community Center
5378 West 10400 North
Highland, Utah

Time:
10:00 am till 3:00 pm

Program:
Speakers, discussion, and prayer on the hour
Potluck lunch at the park across the street
Children are fine to bring

Inquiries? Call Stephanie D. 435-609-0561 (Phone calls best!)

All that Glitters, Conclusion: Who Shall Abide the Day?

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

—1 Peter 1:7

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

When our Lord visited the Nephites, He provided words of scripture not found in the Nephite canon. Mormon, in abridging the record for our day, found the Lord’s scriptural additions important enough to occupy precious space on the plates, even though we already had these words from Malachi:

But who may abide the day of his coming, and who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap. And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. (3 Nephi 24:2-3)

Who, indeed, will abide the day of His coming? Who shall stand when he appears in the coming day “that shall burn as an oven?” (3 Ne. 25:1) For the Lord is like a refiner’s fire—a fire that refines gold and consumes dross. Gold, thus purified, survives the burning because there is no further dross to be consumed.

Pure Gold

Since gold is the metaphor for those who will abide the day, let’s conclude this series about imitation vs. real by considering the following attributes of pure gold:

Solid: Gold is substantial, and one of the most dense metals. There is nothing trifling or insubstantial about it. Therefore, gold is not wasted on the unimportant or trivial.

Malleable: Gold, though substantial, is soft enough to be molded and formed into something of beauty.

Refined: The process of refining gold removes impurities and dross to leave only what is most precious and valuable. Refined gold is pure and elemental.

Incorruptible: Gold is not tarnished by the elements, or stained by contact with with other substances. Gold that is pure, remains pure.

Precious: Gold has been sought throughout history because of its excellent qualities. It is one of the only substances on earth universally recognized as money.

Rare: Pure gold is rare, difficult to produce, and seldom found.

Beautiful: Gold’s beauty is undeniable. Throughout history, the finest ornaments, artwork, and luxury furnishings have been pure gold.

Pure People

Now, with these golden facts in mind, let’s consider the attributes of those the Lord refines and prepares, who will abide the day of His coming:

Solid: Those who will let go of unnecessary worldly cares and superfluous pursuits, find that what remains is substantial. Consider Nephi, son of Helaman:

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. (Helaman 10:4-5)

Here’s an example of a man so solid that the Lord can trust him with Godly power—because the Lord knows Nephi will never use that power contrary to the Lord’s will. Nephi has proven it by seeking only the Lord’s will, doing so with unwearyingness.

Would to God that I might be so substantial!

Malleable: Hard heartedness is the common affliction of humanity and the preventer of faith. It takes a soft heart to mold to the Lord’s will.

Nephi, son of Lehi, faced the difficult circumstance of giving up everything he knew to follow his father, who claimed to speak for the Lord. How would that affect the average young man? I'll tell you how it affected Nephi. It caused him to cry to the Lord for a soft heart:

And it came to pass that I, Nephi, being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father; wherefore, I did not rebel against him like unto my brothers. (1 Nephi 2:16)

Because he voluntarily allowed his heart to be soft, he not only believed his father’s words, but he also came to know the mysteries of God. A soft heart governs the receipt of such knowledge:

And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. (Alma 12:10-11)

I’m reminded of the concluding lyrics to “Consider the Lilies” by Roger Hoffman:

He clothes the lilies of the field

He feeds the lambs in his fold

And he will feed those who trust him

And make their hearts as gold 

Oh Lord, take my stony heart and grant me a soft heart to believe your word!

Refined: The fallen nature of our mortal experience requires that we endure a process of refining to remove corruption and supply missing virtues. Our Lord descended below all things, and suffered all things for His Father’s will. We must similarly bear the Father’s will in all things. Part of this refining purification is to practice pure religion:

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27) 

And now behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you, do not suppose that this is all; for after ye have done all these things, if ye turn away the needy, and the naked, and visit not the sick and afflicted, and impart of your substance, if ye have, to those who stand in need—I say unto you, if ye do not any of these things, behold, your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing, and ye are as hypocrites who do deny the faith. 

Therefore, if ye do not remember to be charitable, ye are as dross, which the refiners do cast out, (it being of no worth) and is trodden under foot of men. (Alma 34:28-29)

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply;

The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design

Thy dross to consume, and thy gold to refine.

(From the hymn, How Firm a Foundation)

God in heaven, consume my dross, refine my gold, and grant me charity for all!

Incorruptible: Those with an eye single to the Glory of God are filled with such light that darkness cannot corrupt them:

And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. (D&C 88:67) See also Luke 11:34, 3 Nephi 13:22.

Oh Lord, make my eye single to your glory, that I may be filled with your marvelous light!

Precious: Those who will rise up and receive eternal life are counted most precious unto the Lord.

Wherefore, go to, and call servants, that we may labor diligently with our might in the vineyard, that we may prepare the way, that I may bring forth again the natural fruit, which natural fruit is good and the most precious above all other fruit. (Jacob 5:61)

Indeed His work and His glory are to bring about our immortality and eternal life. (Moses 1:39). There is nothing more precious to Him than preserving the fruit of His labors, even in the midst of His required justice.

And I will punish the world for their evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible.

I will make a man more precious than fine gold; even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir. (Isaiah 13:11-12)

Rare: There are always only a precious few who accept the gift the Lord offers:

Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in thereat; Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (3 Nephi 14:13-14)  

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:7-9)

Beautiful: Those cleansed and redeemed of the Lord are indeed beautiful. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! (Isaiah 52:7)

In ancient Israel, those who offered sacrifices to atone for Israel’s sins would have bloody feet from walking in the blood that was shed upon the ground. It represented the blood and sins of their generation.

Therefore, those who have been cleansed from the blood and sins of their generation are described as having beautiful feet. The Lord has made them clean. Christ symbolized this cleansing when he washed his disciples’ feet. How beautiful indeed!

Such feet are fit to walk in holy places:

I saw the beautiful streets of that kingdom, which had the appearance of being paved with gold. (D&C 137:4)

Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. (Isaiah 52:1)

Such a setting, and those fit for it, bring us to consider the final chapters of Revelation, where John sees the return of the heavenly city to Earth:

Revelation 21: 

 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 

 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 

 21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. 

 22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. 

 23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 

 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

Blessed, indeed, are those who are purified as gold, and who can therefore enter into the city of gold and not defile it with their footprints upon her beautiful streets.

In such a setting, gold itself, though rare and precious in this world, will be as common as street pavement. And those who dwell in that city will be made even more precious than gold:

And they shall be mine, saith the Lord of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. (Malachi 3:17)

Be the Gold

I started this series by speaking of the pure gold we can mine from the Book of Mormon. 

We've now come full circle to seeking to become gold ourselves. Only the Lord can guide us on this journey of refinement.

I pray that this extended metaphor will help us all to discern between real and imitation, recognize the dross within ourselves, and seek the refining that only the Lord can provide. Only He is mighty to save and cleanse from all unrighteousness (Alma 7:14). Only He can provide us with gold, tried in the fire (Revelation 3:18). He is the refiner indeed!

The fire will indeed come, whether we are prepared or not. Our very survival in that day will depend on what we've built on Christ's foundation:

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 

If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself may be saved; yet so as by fire.

Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3:11-17, JST)

Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? 

—Malachi 3:1-2

I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, “They are my people,” and they will say, “The Lord is our God.”

—Zechariah 13:9b, NIV

All that Glitters, Part 6: Special Watches and Witnesses

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

—Romans 16:17-18

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7

I once visited China, and in the course of business, went shopping for a watch. A friend had a connection who knew a guy who could get us past security and into a secret room in the back of a nondescript building, behind a guarded door.

The cramped, windowless room contained fake watches. Thousands of them.

Every luxury watch brand imaginable was represented in that room, in three levels of fidelity to the original. A cheap copy of a $10,000 watch might cost $50. A better copy might cost $100. And a part-by-part, exact copy, made of premium materials, might cost $1,000. The whole operation lived constantly on the verge of destruction, and would fold and disappear in moments if the authorities came knocking.

The salesman who showed me the watches called every deal "special."

I saw wide-eyed tourists eagerly buy two, three, even ten watches to take home and wear in imitation of worldly wealth, in hopes of worldly prestige. The eager buyers thought they had died and gone to fake-watch heaven, because they could imply, by imitation and deception, that they had something they did not.

Me? I walked out with just one watch, a gift for my wife. It stopped working in less than a week.

If you’ve read this series thus far, you’ve no doubt detected my theme: Real vs. imitation; the genuine article vs. the mere appearance. Satan, the great imitator, offers enticing mimics of the real thing, whether the category is scripture, messengers, marriage, righteousness, or religion. 

This should not surprise us, because nearly all facets of our rapidly crumbling culture have their basis in clever, or not-so-clever fakes, appearing as real. Manufactured performances substitute for real talent, easy credit imitates true wealth, politicians pretend to be everything they’re not, popularity is confused with courage, camouflaged slavery substitutes for true freedom, indoctrination displaces education, and manufactured emotion mimics divine communication. Whether in politics, pop culture, education or religion, a deceptive agenda tells us what to think, what to believe, and how to act. All else is defined as “evil.”

We are so immersed in, and enamored with imitations, that many of us have lost all ability to discern between the true article and the fake.

Religion is no different. Imitations, appearing as real, tempt us to accept fool’s gold instead of the real thing. Such a bargain leaves one feeling rich, until the day of reckoning, when all such fakery will be revealed, counterfeits rejected, and unpaid debts settled. In that coming day, only the genuine article will have any power to save. All else will be cast out, bound in bundles, and burned as stubble. (Matthew 7:23, D&C 101:66, Malachi 4:1) False religion will have no more value than fake watches in that day.

Rejected Strangers

Who will stand rejected of the Lord at that coming day of reckoning? Christ offered the following prediction that will befall the falsely religious:

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23)

It’s worth noting that Joseph Smith changed this passage to read “And then will I say, Ye never knew me…”

Those who profess His name without actually knowing Him, are the counterfeits He rejects. 

For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart? And again, doth a man take an ass which belongeth to his neighbor, and keep him? I say unto you, Nay; he will not even suffer that he shall feed among his flocks, but will drive him away, and cast him out. I say unto you, that even so shall it be among you if ye know not the name by which ye are called. (Mosiah 5:13-14)

So unless you want your ass driven out, you’d better not be a stranger to the Lord.

For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.  

And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shall sound then shall they that never knew me come forth and shall stand before me. And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed. And then I will confess unto them that I never knew them; and they shall depart into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (Mosiah 26:24-27)

And so, it comes down to a question of knowing Christ. 

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. (John 17:3)

Special Witnesses

Who is a witness of the Lord? Who can truthfully bear witness of His resurrection? Who can reliably tell us the way back into His presence? 

Those who know Him. 

Due to language in D&C 107, we assume members of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles are automatically such men. Indeed, they are known to sometimes bear their “special witness” of the Lord. Many church members assume this is a personal witness born from having met the risen Lord.

I believe the words they use are carefully chosen, and ought to be carefully reviewed if we are to understand what they are saying, and what they are not saying. Here are some examples:

Boyd K. Packer: 

Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon recorded the following after a sacred experience: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!
“For we saw him” (D&C 76:22–23). 

Their words are my words. 

I believe and I am sure that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that He lives. He is the Only Begotten of the Father, and “by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God” (D&C 76:24). 

I bear my witness that the Savior lives. I know the Lord. I am His witness. I know of His great sacrifice and eternal love for all of Heavenly Father’s children. I bear my special witness in all humility but with absolute certainty, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Though Elder Packer bears both his “witness” and his “special witness” he still borrows the words of others rather than declaring anything he has seen or experienced himself. He "believes," and is "sure," and "knows," the things he claims (thought these are mutually exclusive ideas) but does not explain how or why he knows. 

Are we not all to stand as witnesses? (Mosiah 18:9) What makes Elder Packer’s witness unique? He doesn't say.

Henry B. Eyring: 

I am a witness of the Resurrection of the Lord as surely as if I had been there in the evening with the two disciples in the house on Emmaus road. I know that He lives as surely as did Joseph Smith when he saw the Father and the Son in the light of a brilliant morning in a grove of trees in Palmyra.

Elder Eyring points to the experiences of others as the source of his knowledge, just as we all can. He does not state anything that would make him an independent witness. He relies on others. "It's as if I've been there" is not the same as "I've been there."

Both of these apostles borrow from those who are actually willing to state they have seen the Lord. They compare themselves to those who know. They state they are witnesses without stating what they have witnessed.

That watch may be a Rolex, or it may be a knock off. They won't tell you which.

Bruce R. McConkie 

And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.

I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.

But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way.

Elder McConkie admits he has NOT felt the nail marks in the Lord’s hands and feet, but expects to do so “in a coming day.” And yet, this ceremony of physical proof is the first order of business when the resurrected Lord appears to mortals. (3 Nephi 11:14, Luke 24:39) In other words, Elder McConkie's witness is that he looks forward to meeting the Lord in a coming day (and he died 13 days later.)

Using the words of others to imply what one is not willing to say does not make one a witness, any more than copying a Rolex makes a genuine article. An actual witness states his testimony clearly and unequivocally. If you are called as a witness to give testimony in court, you are expected to state clearly and publicly that which you actually saw, then defend it when questioned. Mere implication will never stand. 

With that in mind, compare the above “special witness” testimonies with the following words of normal LDS people, without rank or position, who have actually met the risen Lord in person:

I know He lives, for I have seen Him. He has ministered to me. 

I have spoken with Him as a man speaks to another. He speaks in plain humility, reasoning as one man with another. He will reason with you.  

—Denver Snuffer

On April 14, 2012, I was carried away into the heavenly temple. I shook the hand of the angel that was my guide. I saw and heard the Father and the Son speak to me. This experience involved sight, touch, sound, and smell.  It was as real as anything I have experienced in my day-to-day life, only the glory and intelligence conveyed is indescribable. This was not my last encounter beyond the veil. 

I am a witness that Jesus Christ lives. He is a real, knowable person. 

—Daniel Rogers

I’ve been told by God, that I have received my Calling and Election. I have received many visitations by angels and have been taught by them. I have met my Savior more than once. I have spoken to other heavenly beings. I do not say these things to brag – and I am certainly not perfect in the eyes of man and have much to overcome, but to testify of them so others can see that if someone like me (a big huge nobody who has been “spiritually retarded” my entire life) can obtain them, then you certainly can too. 

—Linda Jules Martindale

Nudge, Nudge, Wink, Wink

Perhaps the most appalling, implied “special witness” I’ve heard recently came from Elder Russell M. Nelson. He recently visited a mission where a friend of mine lives, and met with the missionaries there. As part of the missionary meeting, he took questions from the audience. One of the missionaries asked him if he had seen the Savior. The following is his response, as reported by one who was there:

“Well, let me answer your question by asking you some questions. How many of you have been to the temple?” 

     (All the missionaries raised their hands) 

“And while there, how many of you saw and heard sacred things?” 

     (All the missionaries kept their hands raised.) 

“And how many of you covenanted you would not speak about the sacred things you saw and heard?” 

     (Hands still raised) 

“Next question.”

And that was it. Elder Nelson’s “special witness” consisted of the implication that he had special, sacred knowledge he promised he wouldn’t share. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Say no more!

So what is he saying? He has seen the Lord, but promised not to talk about it? But he’s still free to imply it, just as long as he doesn’t come right out and say it like Joseph Smith did? (Because, why on earth would a special witness actually bear witness of seeing the Lord, right?) Does this qualify for some apostolic loophole that allows him to keep confidences by merely implying something without actually saying it?

Or was he hedging his bets, by maintaining plausible deniability that he had ever claimed to see what he has not? Does he assume an implied false witness is not actually a false witness, and does not violate both the third and ninth commandments? 

Why not just come right out and say what you mean? A “yes” or “no” will do. (Matthew 5:37) Why leave us in confusion when your job is to bear witness?

Compare Elder Nelson’s deceptive farce to the Savior’s admonition to his newly called Nephite disciples:

And again, more blessed are they who shall believe in your words because that ye shall testify that ye have seen me, and that ye know that I am. Yea, blessed are they who shall believe in your words, and come down into the depths of humility and be baptized, for they shall be visited with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and shall receive a remission of their sins. (3 Nephi 12:2)

How can we receive the promised blessings, unless there are those who will testify that they have seen Him and know that He is?

Why will lay members willingly testify of meeting the Lord, while the Apostles will not? (Incidentally, Elder Nelson is the one who personally insisted on the excommunication of Denver Snuffer, whose testimony of seeing the Savior is given above.)

Denying the Christ

In the recent fireside given by Elder Dallin Oaks and assistant church historian Richard Turley (now dubbed “The Boise Rescue”) the speakers simulated a question and answer session by providing their own pre-canned questions and answers. 

In one of his answers, Elder Oaks called the idea that we must seek the face of our Savior while in mortality a “familiar tactic of the adversary.” (1:00:36)

That’s right—that old Devil is always encouraging people to seek the Savior’s face. But don’t worry, we won’t fall for that old trick! Why, seeking the Savior’s face, that’s crazy talk. I mean, that’s the very definition of redemption after all (Ether 3:13), and who in their right mind would want to be redeemed? So what if a bunch of guys in the Book of Mormon got suckered into meeting Christ face to face—we know better and we won’t go there!

(Sorry, but Elder Oaks’s assertion is so far beyond reason, that I'm only left with sarcasm to highlight its absurdity. The fact that he makes such an assertion presumes his audience is preposterously uninformed and utterly gullible. Wanna buy a watch?) 

Here’s what Joseph Smith taught on the matter:

The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation...When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses...

Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. (TPJS 150-151)

I could back this idea with numerous scriptures, but to save space, I'll offer just this one:

Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am (D&C 93:1)

Joseph Smith or Dallin Oaks. One teaches you to seek the Lord's face, one teaches you not to. Pick your prophet.

Later in the same presentation we hear this canned question and answer: (1:03:55)

Brother Turley:
Another claim that we sometimes hear is that current apostles have no right to run the affairs of the church since they do not meet the New Testament standard of apostles because they do not testify of having seen Christ.

Elder Oaks:
The first answer to this claim is that modern apostles are called to be witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world, Doctrine and Covenants 107:23. This is not to witness of a personal manifestation. To witness of the name is to witness of the plan, the work, or mission such as the atonement and the authority or priesthood of the Lord Jesus Christ, which an apostle who holds the keys is uniquely responsible to do. 

So, let me get this straight…apostles have a unique responsibility, not to witness of the Lord Himself, but of the plan, the work, and the mission of Jesus Christ? How is that different than any missionary, or for that matter, any other church member?

Of course apostles are also witnesses of Christ just like all members of the Church who have the gift of the Holy Ghost. This is because the mission of the Holy Ghost is to witness of the Father and the Son. 

So there’s your answer. There is no difference between an apostle’s testimony and any other church member’s testimony, born of the Holy Ghost. Thanks for clearing that up.

In addition, while some early apostles and other members of the church have had the sublime spiritual experience of seeing the Savior and some have made a public record of this, in the circumstances of today we are counseled not to speak of our most sacred spiritual experiences, 

Counseled by whom? Who counsels the apostles?

otherwise with modern technology that can broadcast something all over the world, a remark made in a sacred and a private setting can be said abroad 

That would be awful! The world might hear your testimony of Christ! I believe Peter, Paul, Alma or Moroni would have given their lives to receive the opportunity you now dismiss. (See Alma 29:1-2)

in violation of the Savior's commandment not to cast our pearls before swine.

So…testifying that you’ve seen the Savior is casting pearls before swine? Now mind you, we’re not talking about revealing what happens when you meet Him, what He teaches you, what ordinances are performed, or any other sacred knowledge that is revealed. We’re merely speaking of the witness that He lives and is a real person. 

It's ironic that Elder Oaks is a lawyer, because he fulfills this scripture in two ways:

Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered. (Luke 11:52)

If testifying of Christ’s reality is “casting pearls before swine” you’ll need to take it up with Peter, James, John, Paul, Lehi, Nephi, Jacob, Alma, Mormon, Moroni, Joseph Smith, and many, many others who have testified of seeing the Lord.

"But those guys were prophets!" 

   —Exactly. Aren't you?

You’ll also need to take it up with Oliver Cowdery, who gave the following charge to the first apostles called in this dispensation:

You have been indebted to other men, in the first instance, for evidence; on that you have acted; but it is necessary that you receive a testimony from heaven for yourselves; so that you can bear testimony to the truth of the Book of Mormon, and that you have seen the face of God. That is more than the testimony of an angel. When the proper time arrives, you shall be able to bear this testimony to the world. When you bear testimony that you have seen God, this testimony God will never suffer to fall, but will bear you out… 

Never cease striving until you have seen God face to face. Strengthen your faith; cast off your doubts, your sins, and all your unbelief; and nothing can prevent you from coming to God. Your ordination is not full and complete till God has laid His hand upon you. We require as much to qualify us as did those who have gone before us; God is the same. If the Savior in former days laid His hands upon His disciples, why not in latter days? (Minutes, Kirtland, OH, 21 Feb. 1835; in Minute Book 1, pp. 158–159)

Witnessing the Name

Elder Oaks rightly points out that D&C 107:23 stipulates that apostles are called to be "special witnesses of the name of Christ in all the world—thus differing from other officers in the church in the duties of their calling."

What does it mean to be a witness of His name? 

Elder Oaks states that it implies an obligation to testify of His gospel, plan, priesthood, etc. But there's nothing unique about this; all members carry the same obligation. This does not differ from anyone else in the church.

I'd like to offer a different interpretation. 

Witnesses of His name are those who have taken upon themselves His name by being adopted into His family, thus becoming His children.

Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ. (Moroni 7:19)

And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; 

And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. (Mosiah 27:25-26)

Those who have a personal witness of the Lord, who meet Him face to face, who become His children and take His name, are those who will know Him at the last day. One who bears the name of Christ has received His name by becoming His child. Such a situation belongs to those who have been in His presence, received redemption, and been accepted into His family, thus becoming His sons and daughters.

Such can then bear witness of His name indeed, because they carry it and He claims them. Such a witness necessarily requires having met the Lord face to face.

Of course, there will be many at the last day who claim the Lord's name as their own, but never knew Him. Such are false witnesses, claiming their fake watches ought to earn them prestige and recognition. 

And so, we end where we began:

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

—Matthew 7:21-23

Click Here to go to Part 7: Who Shall Abide the Day?