Trust Not in the Arm of Flesh

[darknesstolight]

Trust Not in the Arm of Flesh
by Ezra Taft Benson
Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference Talk – October 1967. Trust Not in the Arm of Flesh

In the Book of Mormon the prophet Nephi exclaims: “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.” (2 Ne. 4:34.)

Prophesying of our day, Nephi said, “. . . 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.” (2 Ne. 28:14.)

Precepts of men or principles of God
Yes, it is the precepts of men versus the principles of God. The more we follow the word of God, the less we are deceived, while those who follow the wisdom of men are deceived the most.

Increasingly the Latter-day Saints must choose between the reasoning of men and the revelations of God. This is a crucial choice, for we have those within the Church today who, with their worldly wisdom, are leading some of our members astray. President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., warned that “the ravening wolves are amongst us from our own membership and they, more than any others, are clothed in sheep’s clothing, because they wear the habiliments of the Priesthood. … We should be careful of them.” (The Improvement Era, May 1949, p. 268.)

The Lord does not always give reasons for each commandment. Sometimes faithful members, like Adam of old, are called upon to obey an injunction of the Lord even though they do not know the reason why it was given. Those who trust in God will obey him, knowing full well that time will provide the reasons and vindicate their obedience.

The arm of flesh may not approve nor understand why God has not bestowed the priesthood on women or the seed of Cain, but God’s ways are not man’s ways. God does not have to justify all his ways for the puny mind of man. If a man gets in tune with the Lord, he will know that God’s course of action is right, even though he may not know all the reasons why. The Prophet Joseph Smith understood this principle when he said, … the curse is not yet taken off from the sons of Canaan, neither will be until it is affected by as great a power as caused it to come; and the people who interfere the least with the purposes of God in this matter, will come under the least condemnation before Him; and those who are determined to pursue a course, which shows an opposition, and a feverish restlessness against the decrees of the Lord, will learn, when perhaps it is too late for their own good, that God can do His own work, without the aid of those who are not dictated by His counsel.” (Documentary History of the Church, Vol. , p. 438.)

The world largely ignores the first and great commandment – to love God – but talks a lot about loving their brother. They worship at the altar of man. Would Nephi have slain Laban if he had put the love of neighbor above the love of God? Would Abraham have taken Isaac up for a sacrifice if he had put the second commandment first?

The attitude of the world is reflected in a phrase of falsehood that reads, “Presume not God to scan, the proper study of mankind is man.” But only those who know and love God can best love and serve his children, for only God fully understands his children and knows what is best for their welfare. Therefore, one needs to be in tune with God to best help his children. That’s why the Church, under the inspiration of the Lord, encourages its members to first look to themselves, then their family, then the Church and if need be to other voluntary agencies to help solve the problems of poverty, unemployment, hunger, sickness, and distress. Those who are not moved by that same inspiration turn instead to government. Such man-made course of action does little good compared to the Lord’s approach and often results in doing great harm to our Father’s children, even though the intentions may seem to have been noble.

The first commandment first
Therefore, if you desire to help your fellowmen the most, then you must put the first commandment first.

When we fail to put the love of God first, we are easily deceived by crafty men who profess a great love of humanity, while advocating programs that are not of the Lord.

In 1942 Presidents Heber J. Grant, J. Reuben Clark, Jr., and David O. McKay warned us about the increasing threat to our constitution caused by revolutionists whom the First Presidency said were “using a technique that is as old as the human race – a fervid but false solicitude for the unfortunate over whom they thus gain mastery, and then enslave them. They a suit their approaches to the particular group they seek to deceive.” (The Improvement Era, May 1942, p. 343.)

That timely counsel about a fervid but false solicitude for the unfortunate” could have saved China and Cuba if enough people knew what the Communist masters of deceit really had in mind when they promised agrarian reform.

False solicitude for the unfortunate
Such timely counsel could help save our country from Communism, as the same masters of deceit are showing the same false solicitude for the unfortunate in the name of civil rights.

Now there is nothing wrong with civil rights; it is what’s being done in the name of civil rights that is alarming.

There is no doubt that the so-called civil rights movement as it exists today is used as a Communist program for revolution in America just as agrarian reform was used by the Communists to take over China and Cuba.

This shocking statement can be confirmed by an objective study of Communist literature and activities and by knowledgeable Negroes and others who have worked within the Communist movement.

As far back as 1928, the Communists declared that the cultural, economic, and social differences between the races in America could be exploited by them to create the animosity, fear, and hatred between large segments of our people that would be necessary beginning ingredients for their revolution.

Three-fold attack
Briefly, the three broad objectives were and are as follows:

Create hatred
Trigger violence
Overthrow established government
First, create hatred. Use any means to agitate blacks into hating whites and whites into hating blacks. Work both sides of the split. Play up and exaggerate real grievances. If necessary, don’t hesitate to manufacture false stories and rumors about injustices and brutality. Create martyrs for both sides. Play upon mass emotions until they smolder with resentment and hatred.

Second, trigger violence. Put the emotional masses into the streets in the form of large mobs, the larger the better. It makes no difference if the mob is told to demonstrate “peacefully” so long as it is brought into direct confrontation with the antagonist. Merely bringing the two emotionally charged groups together is like mixing oxygen and hydrogen. All that is needed is one tiny spark. If the spark is not forthcoming from purely spontaneous causes, create it.

Third, overthrow established government. Once mob violence becomes widespread and commonplace, condition those who are emotionally involved to accept violence as the only way to “settle the score” once and for all. Provide leadership and training for guerrilla warfare. Institute discipline and terrorism to insure at least passive support from the larger, inactive segment of the population. Train and battle-harden leadership through sporadic riots and battles with police. Finally, at the appointed time, launch an all-out simultaneous offensive in every major city.

Defense to be impaired
Police and national guard units will never be adequate to handle such wide-spread anarchy, especially if a large part of our men and equipment are drained away in fighting foreign wars. In self-defense, larger numbers are brought into fighting on both sides. The appearance of a nationwide civil war takes form. In the confusion, potential anti-Communist leaders of both races are assassinated, apparently the accidental casualties of race war.

Time the attack to coincide, if possible, with large-scale sabotage a water supplies, power grids, main rail road and highway arteries, communication centers, and government buildings With fires raging in every conceivable part of town, with wanton looting going on in the darkness of a big city without routine police protection, without water to drink, without electrical refrigeration, without transportation or radio or TV, the public will panic, lock its doors in trembling fear, and make it that much easier for the small but assembled and fully disciplined guerrilla bands to capture the power centers of each community. Overthrow the government! After complete control is consolidated (and that may take many months, as in Cuba), only then allow the people to discover that it was a Communist revolution after all.

Revolution through force and violence
If Communism comes to America, it will probably not happen quite like that. Even, though this is the basic formula used in so many other countries now part of the Communist empire, there is one very important difference. In China, in Cuba, and in Algeria, the segment of the population that the Communists used as the “battering ram” of their revolution of force and violence was the majority segment. In America, though, the Negro represents only 10 percent of the population. In any all-out race war that might be triggered, there isn’t a chance in the world that Communism-led Negro guerrilla units could permanently hold on to the power centers of government even if they could capture them in the first place.

It would be a terribly bloody affair, all Americans suffering mightily but with Negroes paying the highest toll in human life. And the Communists know this better than anyone else. They do not really expect to take America with a “war of national liberation” (which is their term for internal conquest through force and violence) unless the aggressive revolutionary force can be broadened to include not only the minority of Negroes, but also migratory farm laborers, the poor, the unemployed, those on welfare, other minority groups, students, the so- called “peace movements,” and anyone who can be propagandized into mob action against established government But unless and until they can manipulate an overwhelming majority of the population into at least sympathizing with their revolutionary activities, they will use violence, anarchy, and sabotage, not as a means of seizing power, but merely as a support operation or a catalyst to an entirely different plan.

Internal strife and conflict
In such countries as Czechoslovakia, the Communists have used an entirely different method of internal conquest. Instead of the force and violence of a bloody revolution (a “war of national liberation), parliamentary and political means were used to bring about a more peaceful transition to Communism. The Communist strategists call this alternate plan a “proletarian” revolution.

This plan is as follows: Using unidentified Communist agents and non-Communist sympathizers in key positions in government, in communications media, and in mass organizations, such as labor unions and civil rights groups, demand more and more government power as the solution to all civil rights problems. Total government is the objective of Communism. Without calling it by name, build Communism piece by piece through mass pressures for presidential decrees, court orders, and legislation that appear to be aimed at improving civil rights and other social reforms. If there is social, economic, or educational discrimination, then advocate more government programs and control.

If riots come
And what if riots come? Then more government housing, government welfare, government job training, and, finally, federal control over police. Thus the essential economic and political structure of Communism can be built entirely “legally” and in apparent response to the wishes of the people who have clamored for some kind of solution to the problems played-up, aggravated, or created outright by Communists for just that purpose. After the machinery of Communism is firmly established, then allow the hidden Communists one by one to make their identities known. Liquidate first the anti-Communists and then the non- Communist sympathizers who are no longer needed in government. The total state mechanism can now openly and “peacefully” be transferred into the hands of Communists. Such is the so-called proletarian revolution. Such has happened in other, once free, countries. It has already started here.

Factors of internal conflict
The Communists are not entirely certain whether force and violence or legal and political means or a combination of both would be best for the internal conquest of America. At first, there was talk of splitting away the “Black Belt,” those southern states in which the Negro held a majority, and calling them a Negro Soviet Republic. But, as conditions changed and more Negroes migrated to the northern states, they applied this same strategy to the so-called ghetto areas in the North. It now seems probable that the Communists are determined to use force and violence to its fullest, coupled with a weakening of the economy and military setbacks abroad, in an effort to create as much havoc as possible to weaken America internally and to create the kind of psychological desperation in the minds of all citizens that will lead them to accept blindly the application of legal and political means as the final blow.

Some wonder if it can happen here. Just take a good look at what has been going on around us for the past few years. It is happening here. If it is to be prevented from running the full course, we must stop pretending that it doesn’t exist.

Let us consider some suggestions for our survival. The hour is late.

Factors of conspiracy becoming commonplace
The Communist program for revolution in America has been in progress for many years and is far advanced. While it can be thwarted in a fairly short period of time merely by sufficient exposure, the evil effects of what has already been accomplished cannot be removed overnight. The animosities, the hatred, the extension of government control into our daily lives – all this will take time to repair. The already-inflicted wounds will be slow in healing. But they can be healed; that is the important point.

Negroes victims not cause
1. First of all, we must not place the blame upon Negroes. They are merely the unfortunate group that has been selected by professional Communist agitators to be used as the primary source of cannon fodder. Not one in a thousand Americans – black or white – really understands the full implications of today’s civil rights agitation. The planning, direction, and leadership come from the Communists, and most of those are white men who fully intend to destroy America by spilling Negro blood, rather than their own.

Beware anti-negro reactions
2. Next, we must not participate in any so-called “blacklash” activity which might tend to further intensify inter-racial friction. Anti-Negro vigilante action, or mob action, of any kind fits perfectly into the Communist plan. This is one of the best ways to force the decent Negro into cooperating with militant Negro groups. The Communists are just as anxious to spearhead such anti-Negro actions as they are to organize demonstrations that are calculated to irritate white people.

Legal discovery of facts
3. We must insist that duly authorized legislative investigating committees launch an even more exhaustive study and expose the degree to which secret Communists have penetrated into the civil rights movement. The same needs to be done with militant anti-Negro groups. This is an effective way for the American people of both races to find out who are the false leaders among them.

Build up local police
4. We must support our local police in their difficult task of keeping Jaw and order in these trying times. Police should not be encumbered by civilian review boards, or asked to be social workers. They have their hands full just trying to keep the peace. Recent soft-on-crime decisions of the Supreme Court, which hamper the police in protecting the innocent and bringing the criminal to justice, should be reversed. Persistent cries of “police brutality” should be recognized for what they are – attempts to discredit our police and discourage them from doing their job to the best of their ability.

Salaries should be adequate to hold on to and attract the very finest men available for police work. But, in questions of money, great care should be taken not to accept grants from the federal government. Along with federal money, inevitably there will come federal controls and guidelines that not only may get local police embroiled in national politics, but may even lead to the eventual creation of a national police force. Every despotism requires a national police force to hold the people in line. Communism is no exception. Our local police should remain free from federal control.

5. Further encroachment of government should be stopped and the entire process reversed. The solution to most, if not all, of the current problems involving civil rights is less government, not more.

Awaken citizens to know the menace
6. Lastly, we need a vast awakening of the American people as to the true nature of the Communist blueprint for revolution. Considering the degree to which the controlling influences of the federal government and many of the communications media are now furthering this Communist revolution, it is unrealistic to expect most of our present leaders or the networks to bring about this awakening. In fact, they may be expected to resist it. That means that individual citizens must stand up and assume more than their share of the responsibility. The speaker’s platform, hand distribution of literature, study clubs, home discussions – all must be pressed into service. All of us should read the new book, Communist Revolution in the Streets, written by Gary Allen, with an introduction by W. Cleon Skousen. Each of us must be willing to discuss the problem openly with our friends – especially those of the Negro race.

The success or failure of Americans of all races to meet this challenge may well determine the fate of our country. If we fail, we will all lose our civil rights, black man and white man together, for we will live under perfect Communist equality – the equality of slaves.

Satanic threat to peace, liberty and God’s work
As President McKay has stated, “The position of this Church on the subject of Communism has never changed. We consider it the greatest satanical threat to peace, prosperity, and the spread of God’s work among men that exists on the face of the earth.”

He has also counseled that “next to being one in worshiping God, there is nothing in this world upon which this Church should be more united than in upholding and defending the Constitution of the United States]” (The Instructor, Vol. 93 (1956), p. 94.)

May we unite behind the Prophet in opposing the Communist conspiracy and preserving our freedom and our divine constitution, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

-Ezra Taft Benson

[Reluctant Watchman]

I have a hard time hearing this principle taught by a leader who also taught us to follow man. His 14 Fundamental in Following the Prophet talk was egregious. Here's how he ended that GC discourse:

"I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord, then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain. How closely do our lives harmonize with the words of the Lord’s anointed—the living prophet, the President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency?"

Talk about encouraging us to trust in the arm of flesh.

Reading his talk above... it's kind of a mixed bag, like eating a trail mix on a hot summer day. Once in a while you find that chocolate mixed in with the pecans.

[darknesstolight]

I have a hard time hearing this principle taught by a leader who also taught us to follow man. His 14 Fundamental in Following the Prophet talk was egregious. Here's how he ended that GC discourse:

"I testify that these fourteen fundamentals in following the living prophet are true. If we want to know how well we stand with the Lord, then let us ask ourselves how well we stand with His mortal captain. How closely do our lives harmonize with the words of the Lord’s anointed—the living prophet, the President of the Church, and with the Quorum of the First Presidency?"

Talk about encouraging us to trust in the arm of flesh.

Reading his talk above... it's kind of a mixed bag, like eating a trail mix on a hot summer day. Once in a while you find that chocolate mixed in with the pecans.

So are things you write.

...

[JK4Woods]

I don’t believe “The Lord’s Anointed” refers to any mortal President or member of the Board of LDSCo.
Not even when truely saying “Thus sayeth the Lord…”

The Lord’s Anointed is some very special, perhaps coming down from Heaven above with specific tasks to perform.

Not any college educated mortal mixing scriptures with the philosophies of men…

[Reluctant Watchman]

So are things you write.

Oh, for sure, there are probably some raisins and walnuts that don't go down very well. Maybe even a few roasted almonds. We all have our preferences.

But what you won't find is me saying anything remotely close to what Benson taught in that 14 fundamentals closing statement.

[darknesstolight]

So are things you write.

Oh, for sure, there are probably some raisins and walnuts that don't go down very well. Maybe even a few roasted almonds. We all have our preferences.

But what you won't find is me saying anything remotely close to what Benson taught in that 14 fundamentals closing statement.

Is that what this OP is about? How is it relevant to the topic of my thread which I created?

...

[Reluctant Watchman]

Is that what this OP is about? How is it relevant to the topic of my thread which I created?

For one, you never injected your own opinion, you simply cut/pasted a talk from EZT, so I honestly have no idea what your opinion was on the "arm of flesh" talk. I'm gonna guess it was about Communism. Although, it could have been about Blacks/priesthood as well. He has a whole smathering of ideas in that talk.

[darknesstolight]

Is that what this OP is about? How is it relevant to the topic of my thread which I created?

For one, you never injected your own opinion, you simply cut/pasted a talk from EZT, so I honestly have no idea what your opinion was on the "arm of flesh" talk. I'm gonna guess it was about Communism. Although, it could have been about Blacks/priesthood as well. He has a whole smathering of ideas in that talk.

Was the topic of my OP about my opinion or something else?

But the question was are your initial observations valid and if so how do they relate to what the message of the OP as delivered by Benson?

...

[Reluctant Watchman]

Is that what this OP is about? How is it relevant to the topic of my thread which I created?

For one, you never injected your own opinion, you simply cut/pasted a talk from EZT, so I honestly have no idea what your opinion was on the "arm of flesh" talk. I'm gonna guess it was about Communism. Although, it could have been about Blacks/priesthood as well. He has a whole smathering of ideas in that talk.

Was the topic of my OP about my opinion or something else?

But the question was are your initial observations valid and if so how do they relate to what the message of the OP as delivered by Benson?

...

I don’t know, you didn’t say anything.

And yes, my initial observations are actually quite valid. Benson had the capacity to recognize the need to not trust certain segments of society, but he was completely blinded by the trust he was placing in the men in the church. Too close I guess, or a bit of cognitive dissonance. I think he realized this later in his life.

[darknesstolight]

Is that what this OP is about? How is it relevant to the topic of my thread which I created?

For one, you never injected your own opinion, you simply cut/pasted a talk from EZT, so I honestly have no idea what your opinion was on the "arm of flesh" talk. I'm gonna guess it was about Communism. Although, it could have been about Blacks/priesthood as well. He has a whole smathering of ideas in that talk.

Was the topic of my OP about my opinion or something else?

But the question was are your initial observations valid and if so how do they relate to what the message of the OP as delivered by Benson?

...

I don’t know, you didn’t say anything.

And yes, my initial observations are actually quite valid. Benson had the capacity to recognize the need to not trust certain segments of society, but he was completely blinded by the trust he was placing in the men in the church. Too close I guess, or a bit of cognitive dissonance. I think he realized this later in his life.

So the OP is a dissertation about Benson?

Benson was talking about himself in the OP?

...

[Reluctant Watchman]

For one, you never injected your own opinion, you simply cut/pasted a talk from EZT, so I honestly have no idea what your opinion was on the "arm of flesh" talk. I'm gonna guess it was about Communism. Although, it could have been about Blacks/priesthood as well. He has a whole smathering of ideas in that talk.

Was the topic of my OP about my opinion or something else?

But the question was are your initial observations valid and if so how do they relate to what the message of the OP as delivered by Benson?

...

I don’t know, you didn’t say anything.

And yes, my initial observations are actually quite valid. Benson had the capacity to recognize the need to not trust certain segments of society, but he was completely blinded by the trust he was placing in the men in the church. Too close I guess, or a bit of cognitive dissonance. I think he realized this later in his life.

So the OP is a dissertation about Benson?

Benson was talking about himself in the OP?

...

You know, instead of bantering back/forth, you could just enlighten us all as to why you thought EZTs words merited the effort to create a thread.

[Being There]

this is probably the best I've ever read, on not trusting in the arm of the flesh.



Be Wary of Man and His Words

http://www.7witnesses.com/uploads/3/8/9 ... _words.pdf

The Lord’s inspired servants do their best repeat God’s words as accurately as possible. They also point to Him
as the source of all light and truth. Imperfect and corrupt men, seeking the praise of the world and filthy lucre,
raise themselves up as a light in replacement of God. This paper addresses the false doctrine that men should be
lifted up as our source of light. Hereafter this paper is divided into three parts; I. Statements by early LDS
church leaders cautioning against putting trust in man; II. Scriptures that support trusting God only; and III. The
misuse of God’s statement “Whether it be by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants it is the same.”

I. Early Teachings in the LDS Church about Trusting Men

Consistent with the Lord’s words and scripture, early LDS church leaders taught members to avoid trusting in
leaders, and said that to do so was to trust in “the arm of the flesh.” Apostle George Q. Cannon stated, “Do not,
brethren, put your trust in man though he be a Bishop, an apostle or a president; if you do, they will fail you at
some time or place; they will do wrong or seem to, and your support will be gone; but if we lean on God, He
will never fail us. When men and women depend upon God alone and trust in him alone, their faith will not be
shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside” (George Q. Cannon, DW 43:322 [Mar 7, 1891]).

Apostle Charles Penrose, counselor to Pres. Brigham Young stated, “Our testimony does not depend upon
Joseph Smith; it does not depend upon Brigham Young; it does not depend upon John Taylor, or upon the
council of the Twelve Apostles, which is now the presiding quorum in the Church. I pin my faith to no man’s
sleeve; I am a believer in the Scripture which says, ‘Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his
arm’” (Charles Penrose, August 17, 1879, Journal of Discourses 20:295).

According to the Lord, those that heed every word of leaders are described in D&C 76 as telestial spirits. Those
of a celestial nature heed the word of God. “And the glory of the telestial is one...For these are they who are of
Paul, and of Apollos, and of Cephas. These are they who say they are some of one and some of another—some
of Christ and some of John, and some of Moses, and some of Elias, and some of Esaias, and some of Isaiah, and
some of Enoch; But received not the gospel, neither the testimony of Jesus, neither the prophets, neither the
everlasting covenant. Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up unto
the church of the Firstborn, and received into the cloud. These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and
adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie. These are they who suffer the wrath of
God on earth. These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. These are they who are cast down to hell
and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies
under his feet, and shall have perfected his work” (D&C 76:98-106).

Those who follow men rather than God’s Spirit are accounted no better than liars, adulterers, and
whoremongers. Following our Lord’s word leads to the Tree of Life - eternal life. If a person focuses on a man
instead of searching for and receiving God's word in revelation and scripture, they will be limited to the telestial
kingdom.

Brigham Young stated, “Now those men, or those women, who know no more about the power of God, and the
influences of the Holy Spirit, than to be led entirely by another person, suspending their own understanding, and
pinning their faith upon another’s sleeve, will never be capable of entering into the celestial glory, to be crowned
as they anticipate; they will never be capable of becoming Gods...They never can become Gods, nor be crowned
as rulers with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. They never can hold scepters of glory, majesty, and power in
the celestial kingdom. Who will? Those who are valiant and inspired with the true independence of heaven, who
will go forth boldly in the service of their God, leaving others to do as they please, determined to do right,
though all mankind besides should take the opposite course” (Brigham Young, JD 1:312).

Pres. Young added, “What a pity it would be, if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of
this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for
themselves of God whether they are led by him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security,
2
trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart
the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken the influence they could give to their leaders, did they know
for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know,
themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. This has been my exhortation
continually” (Brigham Young, JD 9:150).

We are charged by God to validate the truthfulness of what church leaders say. The Holy Ghost is the only
source of truth that will never lead us astray. So said Brigham Young. “The First Presidency have of right a
great influence over this people; and if we should get out of the way and lead this people to destruction, what a
pity it would be! How can you know whether we lead you correctly or not? Can you know by any other power
than that of the Holy Ghost? I have uniformly exhorted the people to obtain this living witness, each for
themselves; then no man on earth can lead them astray” (Brigham Young, JD 6:100).

Nephi stated, “...whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never
perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead
them away to destruction” (1 Nephi 15:24).

Sadly, the narrative embraced by too many today is that our leaders cannot lead us astray. This is a well meaning
but incorrect teaching. We hear, “Keep your eyes riveted on the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles. We will not lead you astray. We cannot” (M. Russell Ballard, October 2014 General Conference). We
are told to “stay in the boat” when there is troubled waters about us, that boat which is directed by men. Joseph
Smith’s last three dreams had him get out of a sinking boat two times and out of a burning barn a third (see the
paper, Joseph’s Last Three Dreams). “Let me remind you to stay in the course chartered by the Church. It is the
Lord’s Church, and he will not permit it to be led astray. If we take the counsel that comes from the prophets
and seers, we will pursue the course that is pleasing to the Lord” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Our Relationship With
the Lord,” BYU Devotional March 2, 1982). “Keep your eye on the Prophet, for the Lord will never permit his
Prophet to lead this Church astray” (Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report, October 1966, 123)

The Prophets of scripture and Joseph Smith tell us the opposite. “We have heard men who hold the priesthood
remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them (even) if they knew it
was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who
would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his
folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have
taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told to do by their presidents,
they should do it without any questions. When the Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of
obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong
themselves” (Joseph Smith, Millennial Star, 14:38, pp.593-595).

Men are not saved through their allegiance to imperfect, broken, fallen man – the arm of flesh, but through their
diligent seeking of God and following the Holy Ghost that results from it. True messengers sent of God and
inspired servants of God here on Earth will always act in ways increasing our faith in God, not in ways that
inflate their limited role as a middleman in substitution of Christ and His Spirit as our mediator. True
messengers do not seek for men to worship them, but for men to worship God. They do not consider themselves
more holy than those they are called to serve and do not ask for special treatment – the praise of men and the
filthy lucre often resulting from it. We read in the Book of Mormon “...for thus saith the Lord; Ye shall not
esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another” (Mosiah 23:7).

II. Trust in God Scriptures

Hereafter is a small collection of scriptures that support looking to God, not man, for light. There are many
more. We begin with the exact, chiastic center scripture of the Bible, Psalm 118:8. It states:

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8).
3

“O LORD, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I
know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or
maketh flesh his arm” (2 Nephi 4:34).

“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” (2 Nephi 28:31).

“Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, that maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart
departeth from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5).

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for
themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns [man] That can hold no water” (Jeremiah 2:13).

“Forasmuch as this people refuseth the waters of Shiloah that go softly, and rejoice in Rezin and Remaliah's son;
Now therefore, behold, the Lord bringeth up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, even the king
of Assyria, and all his glory: and he shall come” (Isaiah 8:6-7).

“For behold, you should not have feared man more than God. Although men set at naught the counsels of God,
and despise his words – Ye you should have been faithful; and he would have extended his arm and supported
you against all the fiery darts of the adversary; and he would have been with you in every time of trouble”
(D&C 3:7-8).

“For the leaders of the people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed” (2 Nephi 19:16).

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).

And now I command you, my servant Joseph, to repent and walk more uprightly before me, and to yield to the
persuasions of men no more” (D&C 5:21).

“Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is
with him: for there be more with us than with him: With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our
God to help us, and to fight our battles” (2 Chronicles 32:7-8).

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. They are
brought down and fallen: but we are risen, and stand upright. Save, LORD: let the king hear us when we call”
(Psalm 20:7).

“For I will trust not in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and
hast put them to shame that hated us” (Psalm 44:6-7).

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes” (Psalm 118:9; 146:3).

“Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a
covering, but not of my Spirit, that they may add sin to sin: That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not
asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt”
(Isaiah 30:1-2; Romans 8:1).

“Their land is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands” (Isaiah 2:8).

“The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and
what will ye do in the end thereof” (Jeremiah 5:31).

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III. It is the Same: God’s Words versus Man’s Words

Good men and inspired servants sent of the Lord do their best to quote God’s words as accurately as possible,
not adding to or taking away anything from them. These servants point to God as our source light and truth, not
themselves. Contrast this with imperfect and corrupt men who seek the praise of the world and financial support
from others. God defines this as “priestcraft” (2 Ne. 26:29). Such live for the accolades of men, filthy lucre, and
more. They raise themselves up as a light in replacement of God. Our Savior stated that He is the light we are
look to, and the things He does as our example (3 Ne. 18:24).

The definition of “priestcraft” is really pretty simple. It is about using God and his ways for selfish purposes (see
2 Ne. 26:29). It reflects the condition of the heart. If a person preaches to gain honor or respect, it is priestcraft.
If someone shares a dream with you to show their connection to heaven and gain your respect, it is priestcraft. If
someone tells you of a vision they had of you being married to them - to convince you to marry them - it is
priestcraft. If they use their position to gain power or authority over you, it is priestcraft. If they use their
position to gain sex, and make it seem acceptable to cover their lust, it is priestcraft. If someone gets money for
their sharing of gospel knowledge, it equals priestcraft. The opposite of priestcraft is real love, the charity
exhibited by Christ. He is the light we must hold up before men, not ourselves, along with the things He did (see
3 Nephi 18:24).

Thus Saith the Lord God’s words are powerful and important, much more so than those of any man. God
often introduces His word by using some variation of the phrase “Thus saith the Lord.” They alert us that we
should pay close attention to what follows. The Doctrine and Covenants has many such phrases. They include,
“Hearken unto me, saith the Lord your God" (Section 51); “Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word”
(Section 13); “Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your redeemer, the Great I AM” (section 29); "Listen to
the voice of the Lord your God, Even Alpha and Omega" (section 35), and so on.

Some things we read are not God’s words. An example of a so-called "revelation" from God in the Doctrine and
Covenants that did not come from Him, are portions of Section 20. Elder James. E. Talmage read its first few
verses, believing that they were the words of Christ, or at least those given to Joseph Smith by Him. He believed
they were also tied to the Lord’s birth date. With this assumption, Elder Talmage added his own statements
about this probability in His book Jesus the Christ, stating that April 6th was most likely the Lord’s birthday.
This book statement is believed to have started the LDS tradition that April 6 is Christ’s birthday. In the Joseph
Smith Paper’s project, we have since learned that the first few verses of D&C 20 are not those of the Lord, a
sent angel, or the Prophet Joseph Smith. Instead, they are added words of John Whitmer, Joseph Smith’s scribe
at the time. Whitmer used them to introduce the reader to the rest of the section, which is a revelation from
Joseph Smith. Elder Talmage’s mistaken belief that they were the Lord’s words has led to a now fully
entrenched LDS “tradition” that they reveal our Lord’s birthdate (see the paper, “The LDS April 6th Tradition”).

God’s Words versus Man’s Words The introductory paragraph to D&C 20 (above it) states that it is a
“revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet,” yet this introduction, along with the first few verses of
Section 20 were written by a committee that compiled that particular edition of the scriptures in 1981. Nowhere
in this section does our Lord Jesus Christ identify these words as coming from Him.

We now know, thanks largely to the Joseph Smith Papers project, that section 20 is a hodgepodge of statements
thrown together by as many as six different early Church leaders, who did so in a hurry to get it ready for
publication. Joseph Smith the Prophet may have been among them, but the original document also shows other
“voices” that are not our Lord’s. This is especially true of the first few verses of D&C 20, which we now know
were written by John Whtimer, Joseph Smith’s scribe at the time. Additional verses in Section 20 may be
written by Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, or Sidney Rigdon, among others.

More importantly, many today assume these “servants” and others (like our General Authorities) are the
“servants” God referred to in verse 38 of Section 1 of the D&C, where the Lord states, “Whether it be by mine
own voice, or by the voice of my servants it is the same.” Many times their words are not the same. We should
understand the context of this statement by God, and what He means by “his servants.” The voices writing in
4
D&C 20, and many others today are not "the same voice” as God's, nor those of His chosen “angels” – those
sent from His throne who are His “servants” sent to quote Him directly and accurately - word for word.
Thus, we should also be careful in how we use the word “servant” today and how we interpret D&C 1:38. We
should pay close attention to those servants sent of God who quote God’s words accurately. Statements by
men are much less important, not matter how well-meaning or eloquent they might be. No man is on par with
God. No man’s words are equal to God’s words. To make them equal is to raise ourselves up and lower God.

Does this mean that section 20 should be ignored? No. It contains many patterns for governing the operations of
the church. But some of those patterns were created by men (some believe they suggest a Campbellite
influence), and not necessarily the pattern laid out by God Himself for the Church.

Take for example, section 27, a revelation given in the voice of one of God's servants – this time an angel. One
day Joseph set out to buy some wine for the sacrament. On the way he was stopped by an angel, who warned
him he was about to purchase wine from his enemies, and that he might want to think twice about doing so in
case it was poisoned. The angel didn’t warn Joseph in his own words, adding His own commentary, but instead
saying, “Listen to the voice of Jesus Christ, your Lord, your God, and your redeemer, whose word is quick and
powerful.” From there the angel quoted God directly, delivering the message he was sent to deliver, accurately
and without embellishment. He recited it word for word just as if it had come from the mouth of God Himself.
He then departed. That is what it really means in D&C 1:38 when God said, “Whether it be by mine own voice,
or by the voice of my servants it is the same.”

In the October General Conferences of 2010 and 2014 a leader stood and quoted this verse of scripture, implying
that what followed in his words would be the same as the Lord’s own words – as if He were expressing them. If
he quoted the Lord’s words exactly, then and only them “they are the same.” Certainly there are edifying words
spoken by leaders, but this verse in D&C 1 doesn’t necessarily mean the words of our leaders past, present, or
future are the words of Christ, unless they are exactly His, or if they speaking under the power of the Holy
Ghost (who is one with God and bears of the truth of all things).

The use of this phrase by some leaders today encourages trusting in man - “the arm of flesh.” This is one of the
biggest problems in our current culture and is a form of idolatry. Where possible, we should verify all things
said or written - as truth - against the Spirit and with scripture. President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “It makes
no difference what is written or what anyone has said, if what has been said is in conflict with what the Lord has
revealed, we can set it aside. My words, and the teachings of any other member of the Church, high or low, if
they do not square with the revelations, we need not accept them. Let us have this matter clear. We have
accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every
man’s doctrine” (Joseph Fielding Smith Doctrines of Salvation, 3:203).

We read in 3 Nephi 19:8 about the Twelve Apostles at Bountiful and how they taught most effectively. “And
when they had ministered those same words which Jesus had spoken – nothing varying from the words
which Jesus had spoken – behold, they knelt again and prayed to the Father in the name of Jesus.” Here His
servants spoke the same words as Jesus, the people knowing that they were His. In this manner the real meaning
of D&C 1:38 is fulfilled, “Whether it be by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants it is the same.” Note
verses 36 through 38 of D&C 1 hereafter. The whole section is the Lord’s introduction to His own words that
are to go forth to the world. He states:

37 Search these commandments, for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in
them shall all be fulfilled.
38 What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the
earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the
voice of my servants, it is the same.
39 For behold, and lo, the Lord is God, and the Spirit beareth record, and the record is true, and the truth
abideth forever and ever. Amen.

5

Note the Lord is counseling us to search these commandments - the ones in the revelations of this particular
book – that ARE HIS! No reference is made in this section to anything a Church leader might one day say in
the future. This is important in understanding the next verse, "What I the Lord have spoken I have spoken, and I
excuse not myself." They are His words, not mans. Our Lord is God. He makes no apologies for the precise
predictions He has made. Note that God is speaking in the past tense. What He has spoken He has spoken. This
is not a reference about what a future leader of the Church may say. He's referencing His own words here, and
His words alone. "And though the heavens and the earth may pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall
all be fulfilled." If our powerful God said it, then we can be sure it will happen.

The key question is, "what is the same" as His words, what is the same as His voice? He is talking about His
word as revealed in this book – the Doctrine and Covenants where His prophecies, His predictions, and the
judgments He assures us will come to pass are found. The servants He is referring to are those men to whom
these particular revelations in the D&C were given to and recorded by. This list includes Joseph and Hyrum
Smith, Oliver Cowdery, Sidney Rigdon, John, David, and Peter Whitmer, etc. We should not miss the clear
reference in them in verse 6 - to "my servants" - the very ones instructed by Him to publish these words to the
world.

Thus, in Section 1 of the D&C, His introduction to His words that follow, God is telling His people that all the
prophecies foretold in the sections that follow this introduction will come to pass. Why - because He spoke it,
"and I excuse not myself.” His words are quick and powerful and will be fulfilled! This is the context of the
Lord’s words, “Whether it be by mine own voice, or by the voice of my servants it is the same.” He is not saying
that future leaders words are or will be His. He is saying that the words He gave past prophets in the Bible, Book
of Mormon, and those given Joseph Smith and others in the D&C - relative to coming judgments in our day -
will be fulfilled, but He gave them to these men. They are His words, given in revelation! They are not prepared
talks by men, not matter how good and well-intended they may be. If the talks are given under the power of the
Holy Ghost, then they are comparable to His words, but not necessarily the same.

Last Thoughts on Section 27 In the original Book of Commandments, Section 27 was 13 verses shorter
than it is today, ending in verse 5, with the statement, “for the hour cometh that I will drink of the fruit of the
vine with you, on the earth, and with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world.” We learn in the
Joseph Smith Papers project that Oliver Cowdery added the extra 13 verses beyond verse 5 – those of God’s
angel, starting with a statement he says was made by Moroni. We see this in the later part of verse 5 when the
angel seems to suddenly shift gears, stating, "I will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth, and with
Moroni...”

Nothing Oliver Cowdery added in section 27 has the same status as that of, “by my voice or the voice of my
servant.” The angel appearing to Joseph Smith spoke for God, providing nothing more or less than His words.
Note the Lord’s words regarding the words He gave His chosen servant Joseph Smith to give us. God states,
“Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall
give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me” (D&C 21:4). An important qualification
for a true messenger is that the word of God they carry be as brief as possible, that it originate from God, and
that it is accurate.

Idolatry It is important that we quote God and angels often and accurately. And it is important that we
quote God more often than men – the arm of flesh, in our talks to one another. We have replaced too many of
God’s words with those of men today. Too many talks quote General Authorities over and over rather than the
words of God. Leaders often quote each other. Sometimes they quote themselves from past talks. God has
instead spoken to us! His words are powerful and truthful. We should reference them more frequently, doing so
accurately. A good second choice is to quote those chosen messengers that quote Him word for word, those who
are “sent ones” from His presence and throne. When a servant, chosen and sent by God states, “thus saith the
Lord,” we should pay close attention to what follows, then confirm that they are indeed the Lord’s words. We
should then follow them. In this way we can avoid idolatry and deception. The author is grateful to Robert
Smith and Rock Waterman for their insights and statements utilized in this paper.

6

[darknesstolight]

Was the topic of my OP about my opinion or something else?

But the question was are your initial observations valid and if so how do they relate to what the message of the OP as delivered by Benson?

...

I don’t know, you didn’t say anything.

And yes, my initial observations are actually quite valid. Benson had the capacity to recognize the need to not trust certain segments of society, but he was completely blinded by the trust he was placing in the men in the church. Too close I guess, or a bit of cognitive dissonance. I think he realized this later in his life.

So the OP is a dissertation about Benson?

Benson was talking about himself in the OP?

...

You know, instead of bantering back/forth, you could just enlighten us all as to why you thought EZTs words merited the effort to create a thread.

Then read the OP and be enlightened and then come back when you're ready to not banter.

...

[Reluctant Watchman]

I don’t know, you didn’t say anything.

And yes, my initial observations are actually quite valid. Benson had the capacity to recognize the need to not trust certain segments of society, but he was completely blinded by the trust he was placing in the men in the church. Too close I guess, or a bit of cognitive dissonance. I think he realized this later in his life.

So the OP is a dissertation about Benson?

Benson was talking about himself in the OP?

...

You know, instead of bantering back/forth, you could just enlighten us all as to why you thought EZTs words merited the effort to create a thread.

Then read the OP and be enlightened and then come back when you're ready to not banter.

...

I don’t think I can handle that much enlightenment.

[darknesstolight]

So the OP is a dissertation about Benson?

Benson was talking about himself in the OP?

...

You know, instead of bantering back/forth, you could just enlighten us all as to why you thought EZTs words merited the effort to create a thread.

Then read the OP and be enlightened and then come back when you're ready to not banter.

...

I don’t think I can handle that much enlightenment.

My beloved brethren and sisters, I rejoice to be with you in another glorious general conference of the Church. How grateful I am for the love, prayers, and service of the devoted members of the Church throughout the world.

May I commend you faithful Saints who are striving to flood the earth and your lives with the Book of Mormon. Not only must we move forward in a monumental manner more copies of the Book of Mormon, but we must move boldly forward into our own lives and throughout the earth more of its marvelous messages.

This sacred volume was written for us—for our day. Its scriptures are to be likened unto ourselves. (See 1 Ne. 19:23.)

The Doctrine and Covenants tells us that the Book of Mormon is the “record of a fallen people.” (D&C 20:9.) Why did they fall? This is one of the major messages of the Book of Mormon. Mormon gives the answer in the closing chapters of the book in these words: “Behold, the pride of this nation, or the people of the Nephites, hath proven their destruction.” (Moro. 8:27.) And then, lest we miss that momentous Book of Mormon message from that fallen people, the Lord warns us in the Doctrine and Covenants, “Beware of pride, lest ye become as the Nephites of old.” (D&C 38:39.)

I earnestly seek an interest in your faith and prayers as I strive to bring forth light on this Book of Mormon message—the sin of pride. This message has been weighing heavily on my soul for some time. I know the Lord wants this message delivered now.

In the premortal council, it was pride that felled Lucifer, “a son of the morning.” (2 Ne. 24:12–15; see also D&C 76:25–27; Moses 4:3.) At the end of this world, when God cleanses the earth by fire, the proud will be burned as stubble and the meek shall inherit the earth. (See 3 Ne. 12:5, 3 Ne. 25:1; D&C 29:9; JS—H 1:37; Mal. 4:1.)

Three times in the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord uses the phrase “beware of pride,” including a warning to the second elder of the Church, Oliver Cowdery, and to Emma Smith, the wife of the Prophet. (D&C 23:1; see also D&C 25:14; D&C 38:39.)

Pride is a very misunderstood sin, and many are sinning in ignorance. (See Mosiah 3:11; 3 Ne. 6:18.) In the scriptures there is no such thing as righteous pride—it is always considered a sin. Therefore, no matter how the world uses the term, we must understand how God uses the term so we can understand the language of holy writ and profit thereby. (See 2 Ne. 4:15; Mosiah 1:3–7; Alma 5:61.)

Most of us think of pride as self-centeredness, conceit, boastfulness, arrogance, or haughtiness. All of these are elements of the sin, but the heart, or core, is still missing.

The central feature of pride is enmity—enmity toward God and enmity toward our fellowmen. Enmity means “hatred toward, hostility to, or a state of opposition.” It is the power by which Satan wishes to reign over us.

Pride is essentially competitive in nature. We pit our will against God’s. When we direct our pride toward God, it is in the spirit of “my will and not thine be done.” As Paul said, they “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.” (Philip. 2:21.)

Our will in competition to God’s will allows desires, appetites, and passions to go unbridled. (See Alma 38:12; 3 Ne. 12:30.)

The proud cannot accept the authority of God giving direction to their lives. (See Hel. 12:6.) They pit their perceptions of truth against God’s great knowledge, their abilities versus God’s priesthood power, their accomplishments against His mighty works.

Our enmity toward God takes on many labels, such as rebellion, hard-heartedness, stiff-neckedness, unrepentant, puffed up, easily offended, and sign seekers. The proud wish God would agree with them. They aren’t interested in changing their opinions to agree with God’s.

Another major portion of this very prevalent sin of pride is enmity toward our fellowmen. We are tempted daily to elevate ourselves above others and diminish them. (See Hel. 6:17; D&C 58:41.)

The proud make every man their adversary by pitting their intellects, opinions, works, wealth, talents, or any other worldly measuring device against others. In the words of C. S. Lewis: “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. … It is the comparison that makes you proud: the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition has gone, pride has gone.” (Mere Christianity, New York: Macmillan, 1952, pp. 109–10.)

In the pre-earthly council, Lucifer placed his proposal in competition with the Father’s plan as advocated by Jesus Christ. (See Moses 4:1–3.) He wished to be honored above all others. (See 2 Ne. 24:13.) In short, his prideful desire was to dethrone God. (See D&C 29:36; D&C 76:28.)

The scriptures abound with evidences of the severe consequences of the sin of pride to individuals, groups, cities, and nations. “Pride goeth before destruction.” (Prov. 16:18.) It destroyed the Nephite nation and the city of Sodom. (See Moro. 8:27; Ezek. 16:49–50.)

It was through pride that Christ was crucified. The Pharisees were wroth because Jesus claimed to be the Son of God, which was a threat to their position, and so they plotted His death. (See John 11:53.)

Saul became an enemy to David through pride. He was jealous because the crowds of Israelite women were singing that “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” (1 Sam. 18:6–8.)

The proud stand more in fear of men’s judgment than of God’s judgment. (See D&C 3:6–7; D&C 30:1–2; D&C 60:2.) “What will men think of me?” weighs heavier than “What will God think of me?”

King Noah was about to free the prophet Abinadi, but an appeal to his pride by his wicked priests sent Abinadi to the flames. (See Mosiah 17:11–12.) Herod sorrowed at the request of his wife to behead John the Baptist. But his prideful desire to look good to “them which sat with him at meat” caused him to kill John. (Matt. 14:9; see also Mark 6:26.)

Fear of men’s judgment manifests itself in competition for men’s approval. The proud love “the praise of men more than the praise of God.” (John 12:42–43.) Our motives for the things we do are where the sin is manifest. Jesus said He did “always those things” that pleased God. (John 8:29.) Would we not do well to have the pleasing of God as our motive rather than to try to elevate ourselves above our brother and outdo another?

Some prideful people are not so concerned as to whether their wages meet their needs as they are that their wages are more than someone else’s. Their reward is being a cut above the rest. This is the enmity of pride.

When pride has a hold on our hearts, we lose our independence of the world and deliver our freedoms to the bondage of men’s judgment. The world shouts louder than the whisperings of the Holy Ghost. The reasoning of men overrides the revelations of God, and the proud let go of the iron rod. (See 1 Ne. 8:19–28; 1 Ne. 11:25; 1 Ne. 15:23–24.)

Pride is a sin that can readily be seen in others but is rarely admitted in ourselves. Most of us consider pride to be a sin of those on the top, such as the rich and the learned, looking down at the rest of us. (See 2 Ne. 9:42.) There is, however, a far more common ailment among us—and that is pride from the bottom looking up. It is manifest in so many ways, such as faultfinding, gossiping, backbiting, murmuring, living beyond our means, envying, coveting, withholding gratitude and praise that might lift another, and being unforgiving and jealous.

Disobedience is essentially a prideful power struggle against someone in authority over us. It can be a parent, a priesthood leader, a teacher, or ultimately God. A proud person hates the fact that someone is above him. He thinks this lowers his position.

Selfishness is one of the more common faces of pride. “How everything affects me” is the center of all that matters—self-conceit, self-pity, worldly self-fulfillment, self-gratification, and self-seeking.

Pride results in secret combinations which are built up to get power, gain, and glory of the world. (See Hel. 7:5; Ether 8:9, 16, 22–23; Moses 5:31.) This fruit of the sin of pride, namely secret combinations, brought down both the Jaredite and the Nephite civilizations and has been and will yet be the cause of the fall of many nations. (See Ether 8:18–25.)

Another face of pride is contention. Arguments, fights, unrighteous dominion, generation gaps, divorces, spouse abuse, riots, and disturbances all fall into this category of pride.

Contention in our families drives the Spirit of the Lord away. It also drives many of our family members away. Contention ranges from a hostile spoken word to worldwide conflicts. The scriptures tell us that “only by pride cometh contention.” (Prov. 13:10; see also Prov. 28:25.)

The scriptures testify that the proud are easily offended and hold grudges. (See 1 Ne. 16:1–3.) They withhold forgiveness to keep another in their debt and to justify their injured feelings.

The proud do not receive counsel or correction easily. (See Prov. 15:10; Amos 5:10.) Defensiveness is used by them to justify and rationalize their frailties and failures. (See Matt. 3:9; John 6:30–59.)

The proud depend upon the world to tell them whether they have value or not. Their self-esteem is determined by where they are judged to be on the ladders of worldly success. They feel worthwhile as individuals if the numbers beneath them in achievement, talent, beauty, or intellect are large enough. Pride is ugly. It says, “If you succeed, I am a failure.”

If we love God, do His will, and fear His judgment more than men’s, we will have self-esteem.

Pride is a damning sin in the true sense of that word. It limits or stops progression. (See Alma 12:10–11.) The proud are not easily taught. (See 1 Ne. 15:3, 7–11.) They won’t change their minds to accept truths, because to do so implies they have been wrong.

Pride adversely affects all our relationships—our relationship with God and His servants, between husband and wife, parent and child, employer and employee, teacher and student, and all mankind. Our degree of pride determines how we treat our God and our brothers and sisters. Christ wants to lift us to where He is. Do we desire to do the same for others?

Pride fades our feelings of sonship to God and brotherhood to man. It separates and divides us by “ranks,” according to our “riches” and our “chances for learning.” (3 Ne. 6:12.) Unity is impossible for a proud people, and unless we are one we are not the Lord’s. (See Mosiah 18:21; D&C 38:27; D&C 105:2–4; Moses 7:18.)

Think of what pride has cost us in the past and what it is now costing us in our own lives, our families, and the Church.

Think of the repentance that could take place with lives changed, marriages preserved, and homes strengthened, if pride did not keep us from confessing our sins and forsaking them. (See D&C 58:43.)

Think of the many who are less active members of the Church because they were offended and their pride will not allow them to forgive or fully sup at the Lord’s table.

Think of the tens of thousands of additional young men and couples who could be on missions except for the pride that keeps them from yielding their hearts unto God. (See Alma 10:6; Hel. 3:34–35.)

Think how temple work would increase if the time spent in this godly service were more important than the many prideful pursuits that compete for our time.

Pride affects all of us at various times and in various degrees. Now you can see why the building in Lehi’s dream that represents the pride of the world was large and spacious and great was the multitude that did enter into it. (See 1 Ne. 8:26, 33; 1 Ne. 11:35–36.)

Pride is the universal sin, the great vice. Yes, pride is the universal sin, the great vice.

The antidote for pride is humility—meekness, submissiveness. (See Alma 7:23.) It is the broken heart and contrite spirit. (See 3 Ne. 9:20; 3 Ne. 12:19; D&C 20:37; D&C 59:8; Ps. 34:18; Isa. 57:15; Isa. 66:2.) As Rudyard Kipling put it so well:

The tumult and the shouting dies;

The captains and the kings depart.

Still stands thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget, lest we forget.

(Hymns, 1985, no. 80.)

God will have a humble people. Either we can choose to be humble or we can be compelled to be humble. Alma said, “Blessed are they who humble themselves without being compelled to be humble.” (Alma 32:16.)

Let us choose to be humble.

We can choose to humble ourselves by conquering enmity toward our brothers and sisters, esteeming them as ourselves, and lifting them as high or higher than we are. (See D&C 38:24; D&C 81:5; D&C 84:106.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by receiving counsel and chastisement. (See Jacob 4:10; Hel. 15:3; D&C 63:55; D&C 101:4–5; D&C 108:1; D&C 124:61, 84; D&C 136:31; Prov. 9:8.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by forgiving those who have offended us. (See 3 Ne. 13:11, 14; D&C 64:10.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by rendering selfless service. (See Mosiah 2:16–17.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by going on missions and preaching the word that can humble others. (See Alma 4:19; Alma 31:5; Alma 48:20.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by getting to the temple more frequently.

We can choose to humble ourselves by confessing and forsaking our sins and being born of God. (See D&C 58:43; Mosiah 27:25–26; Alma 5:7–14, 49.)

We can choose to humble ourselves by loving God, submitting our will to His, and putting Him first in our lives. (See 3 Ne. 11:11; 3 Ne. 13:33; Moro. 10:32.)

Let us choose to be humble. We can do it. I know we can.

My dear brethren and sisters, we must prepare to redeem Zion. It was essentially the sin of pride that kept us from establishing Zion in the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith. It was the same sin of pride that brought consecration to an end among the Nephites. (See 4 Ne. 1:24–25.)

Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion. I repeat: Pride is the great stumbling block to Zion.

We must cleanse the inner vessel by conquering pride. (See Alma 6:2–4; Matt. 23:25–26.)

We must yield “to the enticings of the Holy Spirit,” put off the prideful “natural man,” become “a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord,” and become “as a child, submissive, meek, humble.” (Mosiah 3:19; see also Alma 13:28.)

That we may do so and go on to fulfill our divine destiny is my fervent prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

...

[Robin Hood]

Is that what this OP is about? How is it relevant to the topic of my thread which I created?

For one, you never injected your own opinion, you simply cut/pasted a talk from EZT, so I honestly have no idea what your opinion was on the "arm of flesh" talk. I'm gonna guess it was about Communism. Although, it could have been about Blacks/priesthood as well. He has a whole smathering of ideas in that talk.

"Smathering".
I have never heard an American use that word before.

[Hermesgb]

I think it's meaningful that Benson did denounce the evil strongly while nowadays that the situation is much worse there are no leaders in the church to do it. If he had lived during this time it would have been too much for him to stand.

[Reluctant Watchman]

I think it's meaningful that Benson did denounce the evil strongly while nowadays that the situation is much worse there are no leaders in the church to do it. If he had lived during this time it would have been too much for him to stand.

I fear the situation is far worse. Modern leaders are actually aligning with and welcoming with open arms the whore of Babylon. We’ve buddied up with almost every global organization and even speak highly of “his highness” the pope. If we can’t see how the corrupt churches of the past few centuries are not called out in the BoM, then we are blind to the truth or willingly participating in the corruption.

[darknesstolight]

I think it's meaningful that Benson did denounce the evil strongly while nowadays that the situation is much worse there are no leaders in the church to do it. If he had lived during this time it would have been too much for him to stand.

I fear the situation is far worse. Modern leaders are actually aligning with and welcoming with open arms the whore of Babylon. We’ve buddied up with almost every global organization and even speak highly of “his highness” the pope. If we can’t see how the corrupt churches of the past few centuries are not called out in the BoM, then we are blind to the truth or willingly participating in the corruption.

But what did the OP say? The topic of this thread is not for you to dictate. Contribute to the message in the OP or please take your enmity elsewhere. You keep comparing yourself and pitting your righteousness against others.

That's conduct of the weak and lame.

...

[Reluctant Watchman]

DTL, my comment was directly related to the OP, but I guess it doesn’t align with some reality you’ve kept locked up in your own opinions, which you have yet to reveal. We are awaiting your wisdom with bated breath.

I might add, you have crossed the boundary in making a personal accusation. That is against forum rules.

[darknesstolight]

DTL, my comment was directly related to the OP, but I guess it doesn’t align with some reality you’ve kept locked up in your own opinions, which you have yet to reveal. We are awaiting your wisdom with bated breath.

I might add, you have crossed the boundary in making a personal accusation. That is against forum rules.

In what way is are your comments related to the OP.

Your righteous posts are beyond compare I might add. None more righteous.

...

[Reluctant Watchman]

My insights from EZTs talk, he thinks that he is part of those “few” righteous people.

“Prophesying of our day, Nephi said, “. . . 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.” (2 Ne. 28:14.)”

There’s a reason the Latter-day Saints are called out for their pride, thinking they are the elect. Even this past conference, this exact phrase was used, “we are the elect.” SMH.

And this one: “ Yes, it is the precepts of men versus the principles of God. The more we follow the word of God, the less we are deceived, while those who follow the wisdom of men are deceived the most.”

And he goes on to talk about “ravening wolves.” Again, he doesn’t see these “false prophets” who are dressed in sheep’s clothing. He can’t call out previous church presidents for their false precepts and distorting the word of the Lord.

He then references the withholding of priesthood blessings from Blacks. This is muddy church history at best. He’s capitulating to authority and exclaims, “well… we just don’t know why certain things happen.” Hell no, we know why they happened, why Brigham changed many truths taught by Joseph.

His overall premise is correct, don’t trust in the arm of flesh, yet he, in this very talk, placed his trust in the arm of flesh.

———

Ok, I think that’s it for me. And yes, I’m happy to share my own personal arm-of-flesh opinions. However false they may be.

[darknesstolight]

My insights from EZTs talk, he thinks that he is part of those “few” righteous people.

“Prophesying of our day, Nephi said, “. . . 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.” (2 Ne. 28:14.)”

There’s a reason the Latter-day Saints are called out for their pride, thinking they are the elect. Even this past conference, this exact phrase was used, “we are the elect.” SMH.

And this one: “ Yes, it is the precepts of men versus the principles of God. The more we follow the word of God, the less we are deceived, while those who follow the wisdom of men are deceived the most.”

And he goes on to talk about “ravening wolves.” Again, he doesn’t see these “false prophets” who are dressed in sheep’s clothing. He can’t call out previous church presidents for their false precepts and distorting the word of the Lord.

He then references the withholding of priesthood blessings from Blacks. This is muddy church history at best. He’s capitulating to authority and exclaims, “well… we just don’t know why certain things happen.” Hell no, we know why they happened, why Brigham changed many truths taught by Joseph.

His overall premise is correct, don’t trust in the arm of flesh, yet he, in this very talk, placed his trust in the arm of flesh.

You are interested in talking about Benson and attacking his character but that isn't what the OP is about. If you want to judge Benson and compare your righteous to him do it in your own thread. This was not an invitation for you to take out your enmity and bitterness towards church leaders.

So it looks like your comments really didn't address the OP even though you said it directly does but saying it directly does is either done in ignorance or purposeful deception to save face and ego.

Im not impressed.

...

[Reluctant Watchman]

Your righteous posts are beyond compare I might add. None more righteous.

I’m sure I come off as arrogant at times. I always find it intriguing how others perceive what I say or share. You seem to take away a “holier than thou” vibe from it all. People don’t realize how long it has taken me to deconstruct the conditioning that has occurred over an entire lifetime.

And why not share with great exuberance the things we are passionate about? But one of the things I still don’t understand is how you think my opinions come off as “righteous” beyond compare. I quote scripture and give my interpretation of them. I call out what I consider evil, especially when those promoting it directly contradict the teachings of Christ.

[Reluctant Watchman]

My insights from EZTs talk, he thinks that he is part of those “few” righteous people.

“Prophesying of our day, Nephi said, “. . . 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.” (2 Ne. 28:14.)”

There’s a reason the Latter-day Saints are called out for their pride, thinking they are the elect. Even this past conference, this exact phrase was used, “we are the elect.” SMH.

And this one: “ Yes, it is the precepts of men versus the principles of God. The more we follow the word of God, the less we are deceived, while those who follow the wisdom of men are deceived the most.”

And he goes on to talk about “ravening wolves.” Again, he doesn’t see these “false prophets” who are dressed in sheep’s clothing. He can’t call out previous church presidents for their false precepts and distorting the word of the Lord.

He then references the withholding of priesthood blessings from Blacks. This is muddy church history at best. He’s capitulating to authority and exclaims, “well… we just don’t know why certain things happen.” Hell no, we know why they happened, why Brigham changed many truths taught by Joseph.

His overall premise is correct, don’t trust in the arm of flesh, yet he, in this very talk, placed his trust in the arm of flesh.

You are interested in talking about Benson and attacking his character but that isn't what the OP is about. If you want to judge Benson and compare your righteous to him do it in your own thread. This was not an invitation for you to take out your enmity and bitterness towards church leaders.

So it looks like your comments really didn't address the OP even though you said it directly does but saying it directly does is either done in ignorance or purposeful deception to save face and ego.

Im not impressed.

...

Considering you haven’t expressed any of your own opinion of what the OP “is about,” what the hell are we supposed to do?

BTW, I’ve said nothing about “my own righteousness”, you made that up in your own head. I shared an opinion. An accurate one IMO.