No Business Deals with Outsiders
Journal of Discourses 12:315; “And you, sisters, cease trading with any man or being in this city or country who does not belong to the church. If you do not, we are going to cut you off from the church, for we are determined not to be driven or broken up again, and we are determined to deal with love and sustain our nation, our community.” – Brigham Young, Salt Lake City, November 29, 1868
Matthew 5:43-45; “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
If the Church’s goal was to recruit and baptize people into the faith why would they do this? Don’t forget this teaching comes from their prophet who hadn’t read the Bible in years…
In addition to Jesus’ teaching above, the Lord also tells us that if we’re stayed upon Him there is no reason for our hearts to worry. Psalm 112:7-8;
“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.8 His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.”
The number of verses and passages in His word that talks about loving your neighbor, perfect love casts out fear, etc are too numerous to list here. Suffice it to say that just about anywhere you look in the Bible it tells us to trust in Him at all times! If we’re fearful of someone who isn’t one of us then our entire life will be consumed with thoughts of what may or may not happen. Instead, Paul tells us to hold our thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor 10:5)!
Again, admonitions such as these do more harm than good as it isolates the people from society much like an abusive husband does to his wife. Where is this type of behavior condoned in the Bible?
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