A Form Of Godliness

I recall reading about a religious people who built many fine churches.  They would all assemble at these churches once a week to worship.  Those attending would dress up for Church (they wanted to look their best).  They would have meetings where they would go up, one by one, and stand before the rest of the congregation and give thanks to God for their blessings.  They knew they were a chosen people and thanked God for it.  They were grateful for not being led away by the foolish, wicked ways of those not of their faith.  Everyone of them would go up and give thanks in the same way.  Afterwards, they would all go to their homes and live their lives, not speaking of God again until the next week.

Could you relate to these people at all?  Is this your experience when going to Church?  Does this sound like a typical Fast & Testimony meeting?

Nearly 200 years ago, a young boy entered a grove of trees one beautiful spring morning with a question in mind.  He wanted to know which Church to join.  The answer he received haunts me every time I read it.

He was told to join none of them, because “they draw near to me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, they teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof.” (JS-H 1:19)  This answer came from the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

I have to wonder if Christ's words were directed only to the churches present in the state of New York in 1820.  I wonder if those words could not also be applied to our day.  I wonder if perhaps they could be applied not just to religious institutions, but also to religious individuals.

What would it mean to draw near to God with your lips, but to keep your heart far from him?  What are the commandments of men, that have a form of godliness, but deny (or lack) the power thereof?

The people I referred to at the beginning of this post were called the Zoramites.  Alma, the prophet and high priest of God's church, attended one of their meetings.

Now when Alma saw this his heart was grieved; for he saw that they were a wicked and a perverse people; yea, he saw that their hearts were set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods.

Yea, and he also saw that their hearts were lifted up unto great boasting, in their pride.

And he lifted up his voice to heaven, and cried, saying: O, how long, O Lord, wilt thou suffer that thy servants shall dwell here below in the flesh, to behold such gross wickedness among the children of men?

Behold, O God, they cry unto thee, and yet their hearts are swallowed up in their pride. Behold, O God, they cry unto thee with their mouths, while they are puffed up, even to greatness, with the vain things of the world.

Behold, O my God, their costly apparel, and their ringlets, and their bracelets, and their ornaments of gold, and all their precious things which they are ornamented with; and behold, their hearts are set upon them, and yet they cry unto thee and say—We thank thee, O God, for we are a chosen people unto thee, while others shall perish...O Lord God, how long wilt thou suffer that such wickedness and infidelity shall be among this people? (Alma 31:24-28, 30)

Did the Zoramites have a form of godliness?  They certainly practiced a form of prayer and worship.  Yet, according to the prophet Alma, they were a wicked and a perverse people.  Their hearts were set upon their possessions and not upon God, nor upon the poor that they cast out of their synagogues (or churches).  The Zoramites easily fit the description of Nephi, who prophesied:

They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up. 

They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men. 

O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell! (2 Nephi 28:13-15)

Three woes followed by the three-fold name of God is the most severe of condemnations. Here's the catch, though.  Nephi wasn't prophesying about the Zoramites. He was prophesying about the last days!  He was prophesying about us!

Nephi saw our day.  He saw our wickedness.  He nailed us.  Mormon also knew of our day.  I don't think it is a coincidence, after knowing that Mormon could not write even the hundredth part of the things of his people, that he left in a thorough description of the way in which the Zoramites worshipped.

What good is a form of godliness if it denies the power of God?  Can your form of godliness save you?  Can your heart draw nearer to God if it is "set upon gold, and upon silver, and upon all manner of fine goods" at the same time?  Can you serve God and Mammon?  Do we persecute the poor with our fine sanctuaries?  Do we rob the poor with our fine clothing?  Are we puffed up in the pride of our hearts?  Are we preaching false doctrines?  How can we know?  What should be done?

Nephi, speaking to us (the Gentile Church), paints a desperate picture, but also offers some hope:

Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Wo be unto the Gentiles, saith the Lord God of Hosts! For notwithstanding I shall lengthen out mine arm unto them from day to day, they will deny me; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto them, saith the Lord God, if they will repent and come unto me; for mine arm is lengthened out all the day long, saith the Lord God of Hosts. (2 Nephi 28:31-32)

Don't deny Him or His power any longer.  

Repent, come unto Him, and find mercy!