We were reminded of an article we published a few years ago while preparing for a new series of videos, and other articles we’re putting on the site — yay! Here’s the link for the original article, or you can read the updated version below.
Gospel Doctrine, p. 179 “NO NEED TO POINT OUT DEFECTS OF CHURCH LEADERS…I do not think it is my right or prerogative to point out the supposed defects of the Prophet Joseph Smith, or Brigham Young, or any other of the leaders of the Church. Let the Lord God Almighty judge them and speak for or against them as it may seem to him good—but not me; it is not for me, my brethren, to do this. Our enemies may have taken advantage of us, in times gone by, because of unwise things that may have been said. Some of us may now give to the world the same opportunity to speak evil against us, because of that which we say, which should not be spoken at all.—Oct. C. R., 1909, pp. 124-125.” – Joseph F. Smith
1 Timothy 5:19-21 “Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. 20 Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. 21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.”
Everyone in life has a standard by which they live, yet unbeknownst to many in life that standard should be a reflection of God. While personal standards may, or may not, be verbally expressed to others, accountability should be of the utmost importance.
Not being held accountable, or teaching those in your flock they can’t speak out isn’t biblical, nor is it sound. Accepting the Bible as our blueprint for life, we can easily see the apostle Paul’s explanation that Christians have a divinely appointed right to stand up and speak out.
God, in His infinite mercy, gave us a system to do this by, and has shown us through His word the relational standard by which church members are to live.
Did You Know???
There are more than fifty ‘one another’ obligations Jesus told us to fulfill? Much like being part of a family, membership in a church obligates us as Christians, and places us in a relationship with each other. To operate in a cohesive, and effectual manner there has to be some sort of semblance, otherwise we’re just loose cannons waiting to explode.
Anytime a pastor, teacher, or anyone else in authority is in front of a crowd, he should expect criticism because he and those he shepherds aren’t perfect people.
Using the God’s method of how to hold people accountable protects the pastor/teacher/elder from undue harassment, and accusations. We need to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15), and accept admonishment (Ps 141:5), but first and foremost, we need to call sin, sin. We mustn’t cower to the feel good stuff we see today, or as in our dilemma, just go with it because we’re told to do so.
James 3:1 “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.”
Lovingly share these truths with a Mormon you know, and ask for their thoughts about this!
With Love in Christ;
Michelle
Much of what the Savior told us about his expectations of us can be found in Colossians 3:17: “And whatever you do, whether in or word or in deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, giving thanks(glory) to God the Father through him.”
In other words, make sure that everything we say or do somehow glorifies both God and Jesus. BE A GOOD EXAMPLE TO OTHERS!!!
“For whatsoever (words, deeds) that are not done in faith, are of sin (Roman 14:23)
Christians hold their clergy accountable. I watched a documentary recently about Jim &Tammy Faye Bakker. Jim had an affair, and their spending habits bankrupt PTL ministries. And Jim was held accountable and went to jail.
It was actually.refreashing to hear someone from the LDS church expose the 100 billion dollar tax fraud. Don’t know what will come of it… we’ll have to wait and see.
I hope this Tax Fraud situation is not somehow swept under the rug and forgotten about. I would like to see a thorough investigation done on not only the tax fraud issue about the entire financial situation wit the church.
There have been numerous investigations done into the lives of many televangelists, exposing them for what they really are. Why hasn’t anybody taken the time to really investigate the Mormon church?