How would you respond if a trusted leader commanded that you give to him your money to support him as he does the work of God? Is that a reasonable request? What if that man, with the money given him by you and others, buys a huge house, an expensive car, and other luxuries? Would that cause any doubt in your mind?
What would you do if, as a man, a trusted leader told you that God had commanded that you must take a second wife. What would you do if, as a woman, you were told God had commanded that you must become the wife of another man? What if that man was already married? Would you go through with it? What kind of confirmation would you need first before you were certain it was the will of God?
What if that trusted leader told you it was God’s will that he marry your underage daughter? Would you trust that, as a man of God, he really was speaking God’s will?
What if, as a man, that trusted leader told you that you were no longer allowed to have sexual relations with your wife, but instead other men, called “seedbearers”, would have the responsibility to bear children with her while you looked on. Would you have enough faith in that command to obey? If you were the wife, would you humbly submit?
What if your trusted leader commanded you to kill one of his critics or opponents? Would you do it? Would you consider yourself as Nephi, slaying Laban in order to fulfill the purposes of the Lord? Would your faith waver at any point?
What if your trusted leader commanded you to kill your family and then commit suicide for the better good? Would you meekly accept your fate? Would there be any hesitation on your part?
These are all things that have been asked of followers of different religious sects in the relatively recent past. Many of those sects were break-offs from the restoration began through Joseph Smith.
It may seem obvious to you that such commands were of men and not of God, and that those men were acting as false prophets. Yet, untold thousands have believed such men. As humans, we seem to believe our own ability to discern truth from error is greater than that of others. Yet, how much trust have you put into a man who claims to speak for God? How do you know he speaks for God? Has God told you so?
Christ prophesied that many would be deceived in our day.
And again, beware of false prophets that come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. You shall know them by their fruits...Truly I say unto you, it is not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, that shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. For the day soon comes that men shall come before me to judgment, to be judged according to their works. And many will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name, and in your name have cast out devils, and in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I say, You never knew me. Depart from me, you that work iniquity.So, even those who prophesy in the name of Christ and cast out devils and do many wonderful works can be considered workers of iniquity in the eyes of God. The Lord said there will be many of those. How could so many be deceived? Someone who is prophesying in Christ’s name is not an atheist or an inactive member of some church. That sounds like someone who is actually attempting to serve God. Yet, they could be deceived and ultimately rejected by the Lord at the day of judgement.
Every volume of scripture, including the Book of Mormon, condemns placing trust in man. Therefore, no leader, even a well meaning one, can act as the "word of God" that leads to the tree of life. All men err. The iron rod does not.
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