We are being told to prove/test everything. Don't take anyone's word for it. Check the facts for ourselves to see if they measure up to Gods Word and Facts.
On the contrary, The prophets and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ say, Only read church approved material. DO NOT read "Anti-Mormon" material on the internet or any other place.
They are taught, from a young age, to not question the Prophets. https://www.lds.org/manual/aaronic-priesthood-manual-3/lesson-24-follow-the-prophet?lang=eng
Do not immerse yourself in internet materials about early church leaders. "Can Ye Feel So Now?", Quentin L. Cook, General Conference October 2012
"It's wrong to criticize leaders of the church, even if the criticism is true." Dallin H. Oaks, PBS Mormons Documentary, 2007
Shouldn't always tell the truth "There is a temptation … to want to tell everything, whether it is worthy or faith promoting or not. Some things that are true are not very useful. "The Mantle is Far, Far Greater Than The Intellect", 1981, Packer
What is there to fear in a Question? Is the foundation of your beliefs so shaky that a mere question and answer session would cause it to crumble if it was answered with truth? Do you really want to be associated with an organization that can't be faced with a question and give a straight answer? I couldn't. Once God decided to open my eyes and show me his Truth, I couldn't be associated with it.
After joining the LDS faith, I questioned. For 4 years I questioned things that still didn't fit into the puzzle. Every year (Back when you had to go into the get your temple recommend renewed every year) I would ask the questions that bothered me, and every year I was given answers that made no sense. The 4th year, I was told by my Stake president "If you purse this course, you will be filled with the spirit of the Devil and fall away from the Restoration." Does God plant seeds of fear? Why would a question fill someone with the spirit of the Devil? When our children come to us with questions, do we not answer them to the best of our ability or do we tell them to shut up or I'm going to smack you? Well, my Stake president planted the seed of fear in me that sat, and festered for 10 years. My last stake Presidents wife asked me why I never asked them my questions. Simple enough, I was still scared to ask my questions for fear I would 'be filled with the spirit of the devil'. I was always so worried about how others looked at me.. and listening to the gossip about those that asked questions or left the church... I didn't need that at that time in my life. She also suspects that my history before Joining the LDS faith is at fault for my leaving. She's absolutely right. You KNOW church history in Polygamy. It's taught to you from a very early age. You are well aware that not only Brigham Young took many wives but Joseph Smith also took many wives well before the section 132 in the D&C was revealed.
So I kept my questions to myself. My husband knew I had them but it was kind of like the Elephant in the room no one ever spoke about. He had his own questions also. If you ignored them long enough, they would go away. If you told yourself enough times they don't matter, they will go away. If you think about the answers you were previously given enough times, they might start to make sense. None of this is true. My questions were alive and well.
What do you think you would do if you questioned? Have you recently read or saw something on the internet that didn't quite sit right? Did it make you angry/fear? Has it caused you to completely shut out/block/remove that website/person/group? Did you ask yourself, why or did fear/anger cause you to act rash without thinking through your actions. Are these from God? Would God tell you to not ask a question? No.. but the Devil and his workers do. Don't let fear keep you from finding truth.
Yes truth fears no questions as truth is self-evident and is not
threatened by our questioning. Truth can stand up to scrutiny on its
own. It reminds me of a similar quote which goes something like "Unanswered questions are far less
dangerous than unquestioned answers".
The truth that sets us free fears no questions, and
the truth of perfect love also casts out fear. There is no fear in
love, just as there is no fear in truth. Truth and love goes hand in
hand, and is always on our side.
Be a Berean! For they were commended for their determined questioning.
ReplyDeleteActs 17:11 (KJV)- "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."