The discernment of Mormon leaders is questionable
Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 4:12 am
It is fully proved in all the revelations that God has ever given to mankind that they naturally
love and admire
righteousness, justice and truth more than they do evil. It is, however, universally received by
professors of religion as a Scriptural doctrine that man is naturally opposed to God. This is not
so. Paul says, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of
God," but I say it is the unnatural "man that receiveth not the things of God." Paul, in another
place, says, "if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them." That which was, is, and will
continue to endure is more natural than that which will pass away and be no more. The natural man
is of God. We are the natural parents, and spiritually we are the natural children of the Father of
light and natural heirs to his kingdom; and when we do an evil, we do it in opposition to the
promptings of the Spirit of Truth that is within us. Man, the noblest work of God, was in his
creation designed for an endless duration, for which the love of all good was incorporated in his
nature. It was never designed that he should naturally do and love
evil.
JD 9:305, Brigham Young, June 15, 1862
it is not natural for men to be evil. All men
admire that which is good; all men admire virtue and truth, whether they possess them themselves or not, they
still admire that which is good in others. You may go to the most wicked man that exists and talk to him upon
this subject, and he will say at once, "I am not an example, but such a man is and there are certain principles
that I admire, and if I could see them carried out I should be glad." Who does not admire the truth? And if
men carry out good principles in their lives, all others admire both them and the principles. Who is there that
does not admire virtue, no matter how lascivious they may be themselves? However dishonest the man may
be himself, there is a feeling of admiration of honesty in others. This feeling prevails among the children of
men. The only thing with them, and that which puzzles is, how shall the world be redeemed? How shall
mankind be purified and correct principles be introduced among the human family? Men know that their
hearts are evil, and they are ever ready to charge this upon others. The question now is, how shall good and
John Taylor
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10
1 Cor 2: 14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Ephesians 4:
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Romans 3: 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Romans 7:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Even the Book of Mormon disagrees with Mormons. But when does it ever agree with them ?
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Mosiah 3:19
The Lord himself in these latter days has spoken of the place and mission of Adam: ". . . Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days." (D. & C. 27:11; 88:112; 116:1) "The Lord God . . . hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him upon high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One." (D. & C. 78:15-16) These are eloquent words, which could not well have been spoken of a sinner; only of one who has filled his mission well. Indeed, in the true gospel of Jesus Christ there is no original sin.
Evidence and Reconciliation John Widstoe
Mosiah 16:
3 For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
Mosiah 3:
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the hnatural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
2 Nephi 2:
21 And the days of the children of amen were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
Like normal the Book of Mormon contradicts Mormonism
love and admire
righteousness, justice and truth more than they do evil. It is, however, universally received by
professors of religion as a Scriptural doctrine that man is naturally opposed to God. This is not
so. Paul says, in his Epistle to the Corinthians, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of
God," but I say it is the unnatural "man that receiveth not the things of God." Paul, in another
place, says, "if our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world
hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ,
who is the image of God, should shine unto them." That which was, is, and will
continue to endure is more natural than that which will pass away and be no more. The natural man
is of God. We are the natural parents, and spiritually we are the natural children of the Father of
light and natural heirs to his kingdom; and when we do an evil, we do it in opposition to the
promptings of the Spirit of Truth that is within us. Man, the noblest work of God, was in his
creation designed for an endless duration, for which the love of all good was incorporated in his
nature. It was never designed that he should naturally do and love
evil.
JD 9:305, Brigham Young, June 15, 1862
it is not natural for men to be evil. All men
admire that which is good; all men admire virtue and truth, whether they possess them themselves or not, they
still admire that which is good in others. You may go to the most wicked man that exists and talk to him upon
this subject, and he will say at once, "I am not an example, but such a man is and there are certain principles
that I admire, and if I could see them carried out I should be glad." Who does not admire the truth? And if
men carry out good principles in their lives, all others admire both them and the principles. Who is there that
does not admire virtue, no matter how lascivious they may be themselves? However dishonest the man may
be himself, there is a feeling of admiration of honesty in others. This feeling prevails among the children of
men. The only thing with them, and that which puzzles is, how shall the world be redeemed? How shall
mankind be purified and correct principles be introduced among the human family? Men know that their
hearts are evil, and they are ever ready to charge this upon others. The question now is, how shall good and
John Taylor
Journal of Discourses, Vol. 10
1 Cor 2: 14
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
Ephesians 4:
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, 18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Romans 3: 10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Romans 7:24
King James Version (KJV)
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Even the Book of Mormon disagrees with Mormons. But when does it ever agree with them ?
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
Mosiah 3:19
The Lord himself in these latter days has spoken of the place and mission of Adam: ". . . Michael, or Adam, the father of all, the prince of all, the ancient of days." (D. & C. 27:11; 88:112; 116:1) "The Lord God . . . hath appointed Michael your prince, and established his feet, and set him upon high, and given unto him the keys of salvation under the counsel and direction of the Holy One." (D. & C. 78:15-16) These are eloquent words, which could not well have been spoken of a sinner; only of one who has filled his mission well. Indeed, in the true gospel of Jesus Christ there is no original sin.
Evidence and Reconciliation John Widstoe
Mosiah 16:
3 For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.
Mosiah 3:
19 For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the hnatural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.
2 Nephi 2:
21 And the days of the children of amen were prolonged, according to the will of God, that they might repent while in the flesh; wherefore, their state became a state of probation, and their time was lengthened, according to the commandments which the Lord God gave unto the children of men. For he gave commandment that all men must repent; for he showed unto all men that they were lost, because of the transgression of their parents.
Like normal the Book of Mormon contradicts Mormonism
