the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine

[Etherial Blue]

In a conference report given in April 1969 Ezra Taft Bensen made the following observation:

"Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble. As the Book of Mormon, speaking of our day, states: ". . . they have all gone astray save it 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" (2 Ne. 28:14).

Over the last 20 years of studying the gospel and the history of the church I have come to believe that Benson was absolutely correct.

There are indeed many false doctrines taught in the church over the pulpits and in the church publications.

I believe the apostle Paul was speaking about the exact same thing when he prophesied that the day would come when the saints would no longer be able to endure sound doctrine:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

A great Book of Mormon prophet also gave a similar warning.

Viewing the latter day gentiles church he made the following observation. He was shown that the church of Christ in the latter days would NOT be able to endure the truth that was originally revealed to them and they would be turned over to fables.

"O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled. Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing." (Mormon 8:33-35)

It is interesting that he associates the sin of transforming true doctrines into false doctrine with the sin of seeking gain.

The love of money, the misuse of money and the desire to "get gain" instead of seeking equality and the cause of Zion seems to be one of the central issues in the corrupted church that seems to be associated with their rejection of the simple truths and the transfiguration of true doctrines into false doctrines.

Truly the love of money is the root of all evil.

The importance of sound doctrine in true worship cannot be overstated.

True doctrine is the foundation of true worship. In fact, an understanding of true doctrine is essential in understanding revelations from God.

I believe this is why the original Doctrine and Covenants was divided into two parts. The first half of the cannon of scripture contained the true "doctrine" of salvation. The second part contained covenants between God and man.

The doctrine portion was the first part because you need to understand the true doctrines before you can fully appreciate the covenant relationship between God and his people.

The original "Doctrine" portion of the "Doctrine and Covenants" contained an amazing set of lectures that had been delivered in the school of the prophets containing a doctrinal description and explanation of who and what God is, the fulness of the gospel and the plan of salvation.

The teaching of the principles within these amazing lectures on faith actually resulted in several people having the heavens opened and seeing the Father and the Son. (exactly as they are described in the Lectures)

The second part of the cannon of scripture called the "covenants" contained the "revelations" from God through his appointed servants. These revelations contained the saving ordinances and covenants and laws of the Gospel which are primarily contained within sections 20 and 42.

The reason Joseph Smith was inspired by God to canonize the Lectures on Faith as the "Doctrine" portion of the "Doctrine and Covenants" along with the direct revelations that Joseph Smith received from God, and have it sustained as scripture by the latter day saints is because:

1- Every word of it was true and inspired by God. It therefore qualifies as scripture

2- The Lectures on Faith contained the doctrine of salvation which needed to be understood before reading the revelations from God

Here is the definition of what scripture is according to modern revelation:

"And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation." (D&C 68:1-4)

Here is the testimony of the leaders of the church who were given the mandate and stewardship to compile the contents of the Doctrine and Covenants:

"in consequence of [Lectures on Faith]embracing the important doctrine of salvation,"

Most historians agree that the preparation and delivery of the Lectures on Faith in the school of the Prophets and in the Doctrine and Covenants was a joint effort between Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.

This is fitting because, according to section 76, Joseph and Sidney were the two eye witnesses chosen by God to declare the last testimony of the Father and the Son and the plan of salvation to this dispensation and generation.

It was during this amazing vision that Joseph and Sidney became eye witnesses of the Father and the Son and the war in heaven and the plan of salvation.

The inspired contents of Lectures on Faith was taken largely from the vision Joseph and Sidney had and from the truths that were revealed to them during the translation of the Inspired Version of the Bible.

Unfortunately the gentile church eventually decided to de-canonize the doctrine portion of the Doctrine and Covenants by taking the doctrine portion of the Doctrine and Covenants out of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Leaders of the church said that Lectures on Faith had some good stuff in them but that it should not be considered scripture and should not be canonized with the revelations.

President Grant had several counselors and associates that had been highly educated by the worldly institutions of higher learning.

He and they determined that the Lectures on Faith had some doctrinal errors in them.

These well meaning brethren were essentially stating that in their enlightened opinion, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon made some doctrinal mistakes in the Lectures on Faith and they made a mistake in canonizing it and having the saints accept it as scripture through the law of common consent.

Heber J. Grant authorized the expulsion of Lectures on Faith from the Doctrine and Covenants in 1921.

This was done because by the time he became the President of the Church the minds of the latter day saints had become so darkened and confused by false doctrines that they could no longer accept many of the simple truths that were contained in the Lectures on Faith.

Since the latter day saints had been turned over to the fables contained in the traditions of their fathers, it created severe cognitive dissonance when the saints would read the simple truths contained in the Lectures on Faith.

It was therefore necessary to completely remove the doctrine portion of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Technically, the Doctrine and Covenants should have been renamed "The Covenants" in 1921 when the "doctrine" part of it was removed. However the leaders and members of the church at that time were completely darkened in their minds and unfamiliar with their own history that they didn't even understand that the Lectures on Faith constituted the "doctrine" portion of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Interestingly, 99.9% of the Mormons of this generation cannot read the Lectures on Faith and agree with all of the Doctrine contained in them because of the fables they have come to accept as true doctrine.

These fables come from the false traditions of their fathers, the false doctrine which is currently taught in the church and because of some of sections of the Doctrine and Covenants that have since been added and removed from the original Doctrine and Covenants.

In the Book of Mormon the Lord warns that when people begin to reject any truths that he gives them, he then darkens their minds and takes away the previous truths that they had originally been given.

That is exactly what has happened to the Latter day Saints.

The original truths that were revealed through Gods two witnesses have now been transfigured or totally rejected altogether.

The Saints no longer are able to endure sound doctrine.

Virtually every single true doctrine that was revealed between 1829 and the end of 1834 has now been rejected and/or corrupted.

In honor of the truths originally revealed during the first several years of the LDS restoration movement and in honor of the truths contained in Lectures on Faith, I have decided to list 20 of my favorite true doctrines of the LDS restoration along with the associated false doctrines that are currently taught in the church today.

Before I do so, I am inviting anyone on this forum who is interested, to accept my challenge.

My challenge is this.

Re-read through Lectures on Faith and see if you can honestly say that you believe that it IS inspired scripture and that you categorically believe EVERY doctrine that is taught in them.

I seriously doubt very many (if any) members of this forum (or the church) will be able to honest say they believe everything contained in them...

I hope I am wrong.

[firend]

I have read the Lectures of Faith many times, and I absolutely love the truths in them.

[Etherial Blue]

JulesGP-

Praise God Almighty!

Someone willing to accept the challenge!

I appreciate your humble willingness to take the potentially terrifying step of evaluating and reconsidering things of eternal consequence that could take you out of your comfort zone and possibly even challenge existing beliefs that have been taken for granted.

I want you to know that even if we end up with different conclusions and even if we end up having to agree to disagree, I have immense respect for your desire and willingness to seek out truth at the potential risk of having current beliefs challenged.

EB

[awake]

EB,

I agree with your whole post. It's a great explanation of what has happened. I would be interested to see what you believe are the true doctrines revealed by Joseph and the false one's now accepted instead.

It's interesting that even though ETB warned us about apostate doctrines, he himself taught and accepted some without realizing it it seems, like the false doctrine that 'Prophets can't lead us astray', etc.

It just helps us see how easy it is for all of us, even Prophets, to fall for false doctrines that creep in. We need to be very careful and discerning and know the scriptures.

[Sariel]

Great post. I look forward to your list of 20 doctrines that have been corrupted.

[Etherial Blue]

Awake-

Regarding this statement,

"it's interesting that even though ETB warned us about apostate doctrines, he himself taught and accepted some without realizing it it seems, like the false doctrine that 'Prophets can't lead us astray', etc."

Amen... and AMEN

[A Random Phrase]

Before I do so, I am inviting anyone on this forum who is interested, to accept my challenge.

My challenge is this.

Re-read through Lectures on Faith and see if you can honestly say that you believe that it IS inspired scripture and that you categorically believe EVERY doctrine that is taught in them.

I seriously doubt very many (if any) members of this forum (or the church) will be able to honest say they believe everything contained in them...

I hope I am wrong.

I have read the Lectures on Faith a few times, and I must concur. There was a part or two that had footnote(s) explaining that the original was wrong on such and so account (Joseph didn't understand the godhead, for example - I paraphrased that, by the way). There are some parts I have had problems with because it didn't fit what I have been taught.

I am interested in your list, curious as to what is on it.

[marc]

Excellent post! I look forward to (re)reading the Lectures on Faith!

[Etherial Blue]

It looks like I have one person from this forum thus far that has publicly taken me up on my invitation and has even offered to return and report on their findings.

Who-da-thunk?

I had just assumed that I would get no responses and then I would launch into the 20 true doctrines that have been changed..

This person by the name of JulesGP has kind of thrown a curve at me because now I need to wait before posting the 20 true doctrines and corresponding false doctrines.

He/She appears to be some kind of a heretic, look at the two quotes they have at the bottom of their posts:

"They must find it difficult, those who have taken authority as truth, rather than truth as authority." ~Gerald Massey

"I would rather make the gravest of mistakes than surrender my own judgment." ~Cora Munro

Clearly, this person is some kind of religious heretic who actually believes that truth is the ultimate authority rather than “designated human leaders”.

They also seem to think that they ultimately have the right and responsibility for what they choose to believe and do, rather than blindly following the leader.

Who in the world does this person think they are?

Such audacity!

BTW, a heretic is not necessarily someone who is wrong, it is “A person holding an opinion at odds with what is generally accepted.”

Since I am hopeful that this person is actually going to follow through, read all seven lectures and evaluate if they can believe every belief contained therein, and since I am sincerely interested in what they determine without being influenced by my personal opinions, [not that my opinions could possibly influence a strong minded and spiritually grounded heretic like them] I am going to suspend listing the 20 major doctrinal discrepancies that I have found until after he/she has returned and reported his/her findings.

I am simply stating why I am going to delay listing these 20 doctrine so that everyone understands why I am taking my time.

It is not my intention to put pressure on JulesGP to hurry with their reading of the Lectures on Faith or on posting their findings and conclusions.. quite the opposite. It is fine with me if they take a reasonable amount of time.

This is so important that the process should not be rushed.

The Lectures can usually be read and assimilated very easily within a few hours however, JulesGP is very possibly involved in doing good works and has lots of important obligations to do so I think I should be willing to wait up to a week or two to hear their response before I unleash the big 20.

[editorial note: while writing this post it looks like coachmarc has also decided to accept the challenge, holy moly, TWO PEOPLE ON THIS FORUM WHO DARE TO GO WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD!!!!]

For those who are not real familiar with the history and importance of Lectures on Faith, I do want to provide a little more information about them while we wait for Jules GP and coachmarc to complete the challenge.

Here is what Joseph Smith and his brethren on the committee that put the Doctrine and Covenants together put in the front of the D&C in the first edition:

“Dear Brethren: We deem it unnecessary to entertain you with a lengthy preface to the following volume, but merely to say that it contains in short the leading items of the religion which we have professed to believe.

The first part of the book [the Doctrine of the Church] will be found to contain a series of lectures as delivered before a theological class in this place, and in consequence of their embracing the important doctrine of salvation, we have arranged them in the following work.

The second part [the Covenants of the Church] contains items or principles for the regulation of the church as taken from the revelations which have been given since its organization, as well as former ones.
There may be an aversion in the minds of some against receiving any thing purporting to be articles of religious faith, in consequence of there being so many now extant; but if men believe a system, and profess that it was given by inspiration, certainly, the more intelligibly they can present it, the better. It does not make a principle untrue to print it, neither does it make it true not to print it.

The church viewing this subject to be of importance, appointed, through their servants and delegates the High Council, your servants to select and compile this work.

Several reasons might be adduced in favor of this move of the Council, but we only add a few words. They knew that the church was evil spoken of in many places--its faith and belief misrepresented, and the way of truth thus subverted. By some it was represented as disbelieving the bible, by others as being an enemy to all good order and uprightness, and by others as being injurious to the peace of all governments civil and political.

We have, therefore, endeavored to present, though in few words, our belief, and when we say this, humbly trust, the faith and principles of this society as a body.

We do not present this little volume with any other expectation than that we are to be called to answer to every principle advanced, in that day when the secrets of all hearts will be revealed, and the reward of every man's labor be given him.

With sentiments of esteem and sincere respect, we subscribe ourselves your brethren in the bonds of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

JOSEPH SMITH jr. OLIVER COWDERY. SIDNEY RIGDON. F.G. WILLIAMS.
Kirtland, Ohio, February 17, 1835.”

From the above inspired statement we are informed that Lectures on Faith contains the “leading items of the religion” which the members of the original restored church “have professed to believe” which embraces “the important doctrine of salvation”

Furthermore, in the opening statement of the Lectures themselves we are informed that they contain “the doctrine of Jesus Christ”:

“Faith, being the first principle in revealed religion and the foundation of all righteousness, necessarily claims the first place in a course of lectures designed to unfold to the understanding the doctrine of Jesus Christ.”

We see from these inspired statements from Joseph and Sidney and others that were printed in the original Doctrine and Covenants, that Lectures on Faith contains the “doctrine of salvation” and the “doctrine of Christ”.

[A Random Phrase]

Hey, Etherial Blue, I didn't take you up on your offer because, as I said, I already know that there are things in there that I don't accept. That means you're supposed to count me in. :p

Jules is female and I expect that she is one of the dozen or so on this site who searches and thinks. I expect she will read the book again, but it isn't very long and she could be back soon. You could still post your 20 ideas. If she disagrees with any of yours, or has other insights, I guarantee she will say so.

Clearly, this person is some kind of religious heretic who actually believes that truth is the ultimate authority rather than “designated human leaders”.

Spot on. And many others are the same.

[A Random Phrase]

And, by the way, none of my post above is to be construed that people will believe your 20 points just because you think they are true. They will decide for themselves, so don't expect to have people mindlessly agreeing with you (though there may be some - same as there will probably be many who attack your beliefs/views if they aren't "correlated" views.

[marc]

Well, don't hold your breath on my account. I know there is a place in LoF where it defines the Father is a personage of spirit, glory and power and in D&C it clearly states that He has a body of flesh and bones. There's a lot of history here that goes with the Lectures and right now, my studies are focused elsewhere. I'm finishing up the Book of Mormon again, still getting through Jesus the Christ and my studies of Isaiah.

[A Random Phrase]

Well, don't hold your breath on my account. I know there is a place in LoF where it defines the Father is a personage of spirit, glory and power and in D&C it clearly states that He has a body of flesh and bones. There's a lot of history here that goes with the Lectures and right now, my studies are focused elsewhere. I'm finishing up the Book of Mormon again, still getting through Jesus the Christ and my studies of Isaiah.

Coach, that was the part I was trying to refer to/remember in one of my posts above - the God is spirit part.

[marc]

Well, don't hold your breath on my account. I know there is a place in LoF where it defines the Father is a personage of spirit, glory and power and in D&C it clearly states that He has a body of flesh and bones. There's a lot of history here that goes with the Lectures and right now, my studies are focused elsewhere. I'm finishing up the Book of Mormon again, still getting through Jesus the Christ and my studies of Isaiah.

Coach, that was the part I was trying to refer to/remember in one of my posts above - the God is spirit part.

Well, ain't that a coinkeedinkee? :p

[Etherial Blue]

"Well, don't hold your breath on my account."

Fair enough... I didn't think you were really making a specific time sensitive commitment to do the re-reading now and get back and report anytime soon but I didn't want you to feel left out in case you were implying that.

It is very possible that Jules cannot respond anytime soon either but I prefer to wait and see just in case she is seriously working on that project right now.

While I don't think anything I say will influence her, I still prefer to not share my opinions until she has arrived at her own conclusions.

Besides, this isn't just about how doctrines are interpreted, this is about noticing them.

My point is, I am seeing things popping out at me in Lectures on Faith now that I never even noticed when I read Lectures on Faith 30 years ago or 20 years ago or even 10 years ago!

For anyone that is accepting my challenge, it might be a very fascinating experience to itemize every doctrine they notice and list it.. followed by notes on why they believe it or why they don/t. Then when they read my list they may notice a doctrine that they didn't even identify when they read Lectures.

The same goes for me.

Jules might make a comment on a doctrine she notices in Lectures that I have never even noticed after many years of reading it! This could happen because she may be in tune to certain aspects of the gospel that I have a blind spot on.

For this reason, if someone is currently accepting the challenge, I really don't want to begin posting my list until they have returned and shared their report on what they have noticed and whether or not they consider the seven lectures to be inspired by the hand of God and worthy of being considered to be credible scriptures that were indeed worthy of being canonized.

[Etherial Blue]

I'll check back on this forum in a day or two to see if we have heard from Jules...

[A Random Phrase]

Fair enough.

[Matthew.B]

IIRC, the D&C also states that all matter is spirit; to God all things are spiritual; therefore all physical bodies of flesh and bone are spiritual bodies as well as physical. I don't know exactly what the LoF says on the matter, but will be re-reading it now anyway.

I'll take you up on you offer, Etherial Blue. Looking forward to your list!

[JohnnyL]

Nonsense to most of your post.

Waiting for your list.

For example, wasn't it Joseph Smith that said God the Father had a body of flesh?? Hmmm...

[Nan]

To get gain doesn't necessarily mean money. There are many different things people try to gain that are improper and lead to destruction. I think if you limit it just to money you could end up in trouble and miss the other ones.

[Mark]

In a conference report given in April 1969 Ezra Taft Bensen made the following observation:

"Not only are there apostates within our midst, but there are also apostate doctrines that are sometimes taught in our classes and from our pulpits and that appear in our publications. And these apostate precepts of men cause our people to stumble. As the Book of Mormon, speaking of our day, states: ". . . they have all gone astray save it 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" (2 Ne. 28:14).

Over the last 20 years of studying the gospel and the history of the church I have come to believe that Benson was absolutely correct.

There are indeed many false doctrines taught in the church over the pulpits and in the church publications.

I believe the apostle Paul was speaking about the exact same thing when he prophesied that the day would come when the saints would no longer be able to endure sound doctrine:

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

A great Book of Mormon prophet also gave a similar warning.

Viewing the latter day gentiles church he made the following observation. He was shown that the church of Christ in the latter days would NOT be able to endure the truth that was originally revealed to them and they would be turned over to fables.

"O ye wicked and perverse and stiffnecked people, why have ye built up churches unto yourselves to get gain? Why have ye transfigured the holy word of God, that ye might bring damnation upon your souls? Behold, look ye unto the revelations of God; for behold, the time cometh at that day when all these things must be fulfilled. Behold, the Lord hath shown unto me great and marvelous things concerning that which must shortly come, at that day when these things shall come forth among you. Behold, I speak unto you as if ye were present, and yet ye are not. But behold, Jesus Christ hath shown you unto me, and I know your doing." (Mormon 8:33-35)

It is interesting that he associates the sin of transforming true doctrines into false doctrine with the sin of seeking gain.

The love of money, the misuse of money and the desire to "get gain" instead of seeking equality and the cause of Zion seems to be one of the central issues in the corrupted church that seems to be associated with their rejection of the simple truths and the transfiguration of true doctrines into false doctrines.

Truly the love of money is the root of all evil.

The importance of sound doctrine in true worship cannot be overstated.

True doctrine is the foundation of true worship. In fact, an understanding of true doctrine is essential in understanding revelations from God.

I believe this is why the original Doctrine and Covenants was divided into two parts. The first half of the cannon of scripture contained the true "doctrine" of salvation. The second part contained covenants between God and man.

The doctrine portion was the first part because you need to understand the true doctrines before you can fully appreciate the covenant relationship between God and his people.

The original "Doctrine" portion of the "Doctrine and Covenants" contained an amazing set of lectures that had been delivered in the school of the prophets containing a doctrinal description and explanation of who and what God is, the fulness of the gospel and the plan of salvation.

The teaching of the principles within these amazing lectures on faith actually resulted in several people having the heavens opened and seeing the Father and the Son. (exactly as they are described in the Lectures)

The second part of the cannon of scripture called the "covenants" contained the "revelations" from God through his appointed servants. These revelations contained the saving ordinances and covenants and laws of the Gospel which are primarily contained within sections 20 and 42.

The reason Joseph Smith was inspired by God to canonize the Lectures on Faith as the "Doctrine" portion of the "Doctrine and Covenants" along with the direct revelations that Joseph Smith received from God, and have it sustained as scripture by the latter day saints is because:

1- Every word of it was true and inspired by God. It therefore qualifies as scripture

2- The Lectures on Faith contained the doctrine of salvation which needed to be understood before reading the revelations from God

Here is the definition of what scripture is according to modern revelation:

"And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation." (D&C 68:1-4)

Here is the testimony of the leaders of the church who were given the mandate and stewardship to compile the contents of the Doctrine and Covenants:

"in consequence of [Lectures on Faith]embracing the important doctrine of salvation,"

Most historians agree that the preparation and delivery of the Lectures on Faith in the school of the Prophets and in the Doctrine and Covenants was a joint effort between Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon.

This is fitting because, according to section 76, Joseph and Sidney were the two eye witnesses chosen by God to declare the last testimony of the Father and the Son and the plan of salvation to this dispensation and generation.

It was during this amazing vision that Joseph and Sidney became eye witnesses of the Father and the Son and the war in heaven and the plan of salvation.

The inspired contents of Lectures on Faith was taken largely from the vision Joseph and Sidney had and from the truths that were revealed to them during the translation of the Inspired Version of the Bible.

Unfortunately the gentile church eventually decided to de-canonize the doctrine portion of the Doctrine and Covenants by taking the doctrine portion of the Doctrine and Covenants out of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Leaders of the church said that Lectures on Faith had some good stuff in them but that it should not be considered scripture and should not be canonized with the revelations.

President Grant had several counselors and associates that had been highly educated by the worldly institutions of higher learning.

He and they determined that the Lectures on Faith had some doctrinal errors in them.

These well meaning brethren were essentially stating that in their enlightened opinion, Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon made some doctrinal mistakes in the Lectures on Faith and they made a mistake in canonizing it and having the saints accept it as scripture through the law of common consent.

Heber J. Grant authorized the expulsion of Lectures on Faith from the Doctrine and Covenants in 1921.

This was done because by the time he became the President of the Church the minds of the latter day saints had become so darkened and confused by false doctrines that they could no longer accept many of the simple truths that were contained in the Lectures on Faith.

Since the latter day saints had been turned over to the fables contained in the traditions of their fathers, it created severe cognitive dissonance when the saints would read the simple truths contained in the Lectures on Faith.

It was therefore necessary to completely remove the doctrine portion of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Technically, the Doctrine and Covenants should have been renamed "The Covenants" in 1921 when the "doctrine" part of it was removed. However the leaders and members of the church at that time were completely darkened in their minds and unfamiliar with their own history that they didn't even understand that the Lectures on Faith constituted the "doctrine" portion of the Doctrine and Covenants.

Interestingly, 99.9% of the Mormons of this generation cannot read the Lectures on Faith and agree with all of the Doctrine contained in them because of the fables they have come to accept as true doctrine.

These fables come from the false traditions of their fathers, the false doctrine which is currently taught in the church and because of some of sections of the Doctrine and Covenants that have since been added and removed from the original Doctrine and Covenants.

In the Book of Mormon the Lord warns that when people begin to reject any truths that he gives them, he then darkens their minds and takes away the previous truths that they had originally been given.

That is exactly what has happened to the Latter day Saints.

The original truths that were revealed through Gods two witnesses have now been transfigured or totally rejected altogether.

The Saints no longer are able to endure sound doctrine.

Virtually every single true doctrine that was revealed between 1829 and the end of 1834 has now been rejected and/or corrupted.

In honor of the truths originally revealed during the first several years of the LDS restoration movement and in honor of the truths contained in Lectures on Faith, I have decided to list 20 of my favorite true doctrines of the LDS restoration along with the associated false doctrines that are currently taught in the church today.

Before I do so, I am inviting anyone on this forum who is interested, to accept my challenge.

My challenge is this.

Re-read through Lectures on Faith and see if you can honestly say that you believe that it IS inspired scripture and that you categorically believe EVERY doctrine that is taught in them.

I seriously doubt very many (if any) members of this forum (or the church) will be able to honest say they believe everything contained in them...

I hope I am wrong.

the church of Christ in the latter days would NOT be able to endure the truth that was originally revealed to them and they would be turned over to fables.

There are indeed many false doctrines taught in the church over the pulpits and in the church publications.

The love of money, the misuse of money and the desire to "get gain" instead of seeking equality and the cause of Zion seems to be one of the central issues in the corrupted church that seems to be associated with their rejection of the simple truths and the transfiguration of true doctrines into false doctrines.

These fables come from the false traditions of their fathers, the false doctrine which is currently taught in the church and because of some of sections of the Doctrine and Covenants that have since been added and removed from the original Doctrine and Covenants.

The Saints no longer are able to endure sound doctrine.

Virtually every single true doctrine that was revealed between 1829 and the end of 1834 has now been rejected and/or corrupted.

Discernment seems to be in short supply here if this thread is any indication. Good grief people wake up! The wolves will have you for lunch..

[mes5464]

I will take your challenge.

Where is a safe source to purchase a copy of the true Lectures of Faith?

[marc]

I will take your challenge.

Where is a safe source to purchase a copy of the true Lectures of Faith?

A quick Google search produced this:

Lectures On Faith

[gruden2.0]

I will take your challenge.

Where is a safe source to purchase a copy of the true Lectures of Faith?

I got mine from Amazon.

I will take up the challenge to read it again, altho it may take some time as I'm reading about 10 books at once...

As mentioned above, there are some items where Joseph later overruled himself.

[marc]

I'm only going to touch on one paragraph:

2. There are two personages who constitute the great, matchless, governing, and supreme power over all things, by whom all things were created and made, that are created and made, whether visible or invisible, whether in heaven, on earth, or in the earth, under the earth, or throughout the immensity of space. They are the Father and the Son — the Father being a personage of spirit, glory, and power, possessing all perfection and fullness, the Son, who was in the bosom of the Father, a personage of tabernacle, made of fashioned like unto man, or being in the form and likeness of man, or rather man was formed after His likeness and in His image; He is also the express image and likeness of the personage of the Father, possessing all the fullness of the Father, or the same fullness with the Father; being begotten of Him, and ordained from before the foundation of the world to be a propitiation for the sins of all those who would believe on His name, and is called the Son because of the flesh, and descended in suffering below that which man can suffer; or, in other word, suffered greater sufferings, and was exposed to more powerful contradictions than any man can be. But, notwithstanding all this, He kept the law of God, and remained without sin, showing thereby that it is in the power of man to keep the law and remain also without sin; and also, that by Him a righteous judgment might come upon all flesh, and that all who walk not in the law of God may justly be condemned by the law, and have no excuse for their sins. And He being the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fullness of the glory of the Father, possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one; or, in other words, these three constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things; by whom all things were created and made that were created and made, and these three constitute the Godhead, and are one; the Father and the Son possessing the same mind, the same wisdom, glory, power, and fullness — filling all in all; the Son being filled with the fullness of the mind, glory, and power; or, in other words, the spirit, glory, and power, of the Father, possessing all knowledge and glory, and the same kingdom, sitting at the right hand of power, in the express image and likeness of the Father, mediator for man, being filled with the fullness of the mind of the Father; or, in other words, the Spirit of the Father, which Spirit is shed forth upon all who believe on His name and keep His commandments; and all those who keep His commandments shall grow up from grace to grace, and become heirs of the heavenly kingdom, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ; possessing the same mind, being transformed into the same image or likeness, even the express image of Him who fills all in all; being filled with the fullness of His glory, and become one in Him, even as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one.

Context is key. Abinadi would have agreed with the above. And Mark is right. Discernment is in short supply.