IF THINE EYE OFFENDS THEE

[Awake&Arise]

𝙄𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙀𝙮𝙚 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙚
August 13, 2022

Many of us are familiar with the Savior’s direct command to cut off our hand or foot and pluck out our eye if it offends us. This has troubled me over the years as to what it means. And if you’ve imagined it like I have, the imagery is pretty gruesome. Thank goodness then for the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible that sheds some light on these verses, that is less gruesome, yet can still be extremely difficult and painful.

It should be mentioned that a footnote in Matthew 5 says that the Greek alternative for “offend” or “offences” can be translated as “something that causes stumbling”. Other Bible translations translate it as “snares” (see Complete Jewish Bible). I have replaced “offences” with “snares” in the verses quoted below, but could have easily used the “causes for stumbling” translation as well.

Matthew 18:
7 𝘞𝘰𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 [𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴]! 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 [𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴]𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦; 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 [𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴] 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩!
8 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵 [𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦; 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘵 𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦.
9 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦 [𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦: 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦, 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦.

And then here’s what the Joseph Smith translation adds:
9 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵, 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥.

So we have Joseph’s translation clarifying that:

𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙙/𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙩 = Friend

𝙀𝙮𝙚 = Those of our own household

Also note that verse 7 pronounces a woe to the person who brings about these snares or causes for stumbling.

In JST Mark 9, Joseph gives some more clarification on the hand, foot, or eye.

Note that the hand is being paralleled with “thy brother”.

JST Mark 9:
40 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 [𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧; 𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 [𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵, 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘰 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭.
41 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥.

And then below, the foot is paralleled with someone who we follow as our standard.

42 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵 [𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧; 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥, 𝘣𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘴𝘵, 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳, 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧.
43 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥.
44 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.

And here below, the eye is paralleled with our brother “who seeth for [us], him that is appointed to watch over [us], to shew [us] light.”

46 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 [𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵.
47 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦:
48 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥.

In summary, Joseph’s clarifications in both Matthew 18 and Mark 9 are:

𝙃𝙖𝙣𝙙 = Friend; Brother

𝙁𝙤𝙤𝙩 = Friend; A person who is the standard that you follow, who you depend upon on where to stand or walk

𝙀𝙮𝙚 = Brother; He who is of your own household; He that “sees” for you, who is appointed to watch over you.

It also clarifies that the foot or eye should be cut off, IF, they transgress, confess not, and forsake not the thing that may cause our stumbling, or ensnare us.

There are two hands, two feet, two eyes in the parable. One is you. And the other, according to Joseph’s translation, is someone who is supposed to be your friend or brother of your own household (ie. personally—your own house, or if speaking collectively—the house of Israel, household of faith, or church); someone who is the standard by which you follow; someone who is appointed to watch over you and who you rely on to “see” for you, to show you light.

Notice that the Lord in the midst of warning of the hand, foot, and eye counseled:

JST Mark 9
44 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘭𝘦𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘰𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.

Perhaps He counsels this because “𝘞𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘴𝘢𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘦𝘯, 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯” (D&C 121:39). It is also our nature and disposition that when someone has a little authority, as we suppose, we tend to allow and overlook any unrighteous dominion over us.

In other words, we should not just believe that those who are our brothers, who are appointed over us, cannot fall, transgress, never lead us astray, and/or are not capable of bringing upon us things that will cause stumbling or snares. We should watch and pray that “our own eye” will be able to see when “the other eye” is leading towards a pit. If both eyes can’t see “afar off”, then it will be as the blind leading the blind.

By studying the patterns within the scriptures on how the “causes for stumbling” and “snares” were brought upon the people, you’ll notice that it typically came about by their own brethren who were “appointed to watch over” them. But who had the people practice a corrupt form of the truth, and yet got the people to believe it was the pure form. Examples of this are:

The Pharisees —
JST Luke 11:
53 𝘞𝘰𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴! 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴; 𝘺𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯, 𝘺𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥.
53 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘴 [𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴] 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘷𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘰𝘬𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴:
54 𝘓𝘢𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮.

The religious leaders Jeremiah was prophesying against—
Jeremiah 23:
1 𝘞𝘰𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦! 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥.
2 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘐𝘴𝘳𝘢𝘦𝘭 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦; 𝘠𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘬, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮: 𝘣𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥, 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱𝘰𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴, 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥.

The religious leaders Isaiah was prophesying against—
Isaiah 28:
7 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺; 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘬; 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘳𝘳 𝘪𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵.

Isaiah 1:
23 𝘛𝘩𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘴: 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴: 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴, 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

King Noah and his priests—
Mosiah 11:
4… 𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 [𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘕𝘰𝘢𝘩] 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮.
5 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴.
7 𝘠𝘦𝘢, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 [𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦]𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘴; 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮.

The precepts of men mingled with scripture caused many people to stumble. Their corrupted religious traditions, brought a perception of righteousness, but not a city or people of righteousness. Their corrupt traditions practiced a “form of godliness, but denied (and lacked) the power thereof”. Stumbling blocks were put in place that prevented the people to receive further light and truth, converse with the Lord through the veil, and experience the visions of heaven (like the Saints of old did). Instead, the snares led the people to look to, and completely depend upon, the corrupted traditions and its appointed leaders. This dependency and form of idol worship is an example of a golden calf, an engraven image that is set up. That corruption of the truth and doctrine of Christ is why we see a pattern of the Lord sending servants outside the line of established authority. In the examples given above, Jesus, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Abinadi all came outside the supposed line of authority during a time of apostasy. They were contending against the establishment. These non-traditional, unorthodox servants (including the Savior) exposed the people for trusting in the arm of flesh, instead of God. Their message was to have the people awaken to their awful situation and repent —pointing people back to God.

Do the Savior’s words about the hand, foot, and eye apply to us in our day? Each person should continually watch throughout their life, if their hand, foot, or eye is causing similar patterns of stumbling and snares. The antidote begins with the scriptures, which outlines the doctrine of Christ, and leads us to receive the Holy Ghost. The scriptures and the Holy Ghost guides us on a path towards Christ and eternal life. They provide us enough oil in our lamps to enlighten the path, and avoid corrupt traditions and snares. And during times of apostasy, to recognize when servants outside the line of authority, are sent to call us to repentance.

[mes5464]

Very good work. Thank you. And, yes, they do apply to us today.

[Reluctant Watchman]

𝙄𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙀𝙮𝙚 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙚
August 13, 2022

Many of us…

Here’s my take:

The Hand is someone in a close, nurturing relationship with the person. This, to me, denotes Family; a mother, father, sibling, etc.

The Foot is someone we are following in various aspects of society. This, to me, denotes social and political leaders, etc.

The Eye is quite special and unique. This is a person who “seeth for thee”. This is a seer. One who watches over another is a watchman, a religious leader, even one who shows you light. These are the inspired men and women of this earth. God does speak to prophets. Even these people are human and imperfect, subject to transgression.

46 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 [𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵.
47 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦:
48 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥.

I’ve brought this up before, but I find it intriguing to read the LDS intro to that section and notice their omission.

“Jesus compares cutting off an offending hand or foot to discontinuing associations that may lead one astray.”

You see it? Which of the three symbols are not included? The Eye. What blows my mind is the LDS church actually used the words “that may lead one astray.” They know that Christ taught that all men can lead you astray, even prophets, seers, and revelators.

And in the LDS church they have taught this damned-fool doctrine of NOT leading astray since Brigham Young: https://www.reluctantwatchman.com/infal ... y-timeline

[Awake&Arise]

𝙄𝙛 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙚 𝙀𝙮𝙚 𝙊𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙚
August 13, 2022

Many of us…

Here’s my take:

The Hand is someone in a close, nurturing relationship with the person. This, to me, denotes Family; a mother, father, sibling, etc.

The Foot is someone we are following in various aspects of society. This, to me, denotes social and political leaders, etc.

The Eye is quite special and unique. This is a person who “seeth for thee”. This is a seer. One who watches over another is a watchman, a religious leader, even one who shows you light. These are the inspired men and women of this earth. God does speak to prophets. Even these people are human and imperfect, subject to transgression.

46 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 [𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦, 𝘱𝘭𝘶𝘤𝘬 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵.
47 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘦𝘺𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦:
48 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘮 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥.

I’ve brought this up before, but I find it intriguing to read the LDS intro to that section and notice their omission.

“Jesus compares cutting off an offending hand or foot to discontinuing associations that may lead one astray.”

You see it? Which of the three symbols are not included? The Eye. What blows my mind is the LDS church actually used the words “that may lead one astray.” They know that Christ taught that all men can lead you astray, even prophets, seers, and revelators.

And in the LDS church they have taught this damned-fool doctrine of NOT leading astray since Brigham Young: https://www.reluctantwatchman.com/infal ... y-timeline

Great take!
I was viewing the hand, foot, and eye as being the same people because “friend” is used for both hand and foot, and “brother” is used for both hand and eye which led me to believe they are connected. But I can see how it can apply to anyone really who we place our trust in.

I read through some of the quotes in that link on your blog. It really does remind me of Satan’s way of doing things, take away thinking and agency of the people. Just follow along and you’ll be saved.

[Shawn Henry]

I started a similar thread here:

viewtopic.php?t=67134

5 Posts down Gadianton Slayer posted a link to one he had already started.

[Awake&Arise]

I started a similar thread here:

viewtopic.php?t=67134

5 Posts down Gadianton Slayer posted a link to one he had already started.

Ah got it! Thanks!

[Reluctant Watchman]

I find this quote from Wilford Woodruff quite intriguing given what Christ taught about cutting off the hand that transgresses. This is the same man who canonized the false dogma that the church president can never lead you astray. It looks as if the origins of this mantra began with the philosophies held by church leaders around 1860.

[Reluctant Watchman]

And more false doctrine from Charles c. Rich:

[Reluctant Watchman]

And more silliness from John Taylor:

"When bro. Brigham tells me a thing, I receive it as a revelation, some things may be apparently contradictory, but are nto really contradictory." —John Taylor

[Reluctant Watchman]

And the craziness continues w/ George A. Smith:

"For him (Orson Pratt) to acknowledge Brigham Young as President of the Church, in the exercise of his calling, but he only acknowledges him as a poor driveling fool, he preaches doctrine opposed to Joseph and all other revelations. If Brigham Young is the President of the Church, he is an inspired man. If we have not an inspired man, then Orson Pratt is right... The only thing is for bro. Pratt to get a revelation that bro. B Young is a prophet of God." —George A. Smith

[Reluctant Watchman]

"I don't like any patching, but follow the dictates of our Presidency, I don't believe in having things thrown out on bro. Brigham. If that mouthpiece has not power to dictate, I would throw all Mormonism away." —John Taylor

These men were made idols from the moment Joseph was murdered.

[Shawn Henry]

some things may be apparently contradictory but are not really contradictory." —John Taylor

What a truly dizzying intellect bro Taylor possessed. Hard to argue against such well-articulated logic.

Nice find on those quotes. Sounds like the Quorum admitting that BY is only right because by default he has to be right, as if Orson was the only one who knew how to grab his nuts. I wonder if the wicked priests of king Noah were just as feckless.

[Reluctant Watchman]

From our family study today. Christ clearly taught that all men can lead you astray. This is from the Nemenhah Record:

“ 72) It is not enough to sit at the feet of the Prophets and hear my law. If you would please me, and the Creators which are in Heaven, you must be doers of the word, not hearers only.

73) And behold, if you do this, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, my word shall become a feast unto you, and you shall be filled, even to the overflowing of the cup. And the Holy Ghost shall be unto you as a constant companion.

74) Wherefore, you cannot be deceived. Nay, even should some evil overtake the Chief Seat, you shall not be gainsaid because my word has filled your souls.

75) And I say unto you, even if the Prophets become as sounding brass, and even should my very elect become lost in a sea of confusion, yet shall you be filled with my spirit and you shall see clearly by the power of the Holy Ghost.

[MikeMaillet]

We need eyes to see and we have 15 who claim to be Seers. Maybe the plucking has something to do with them, but then again, maybe not.

Mike Maillet
Ingleside, Ontario