The Biggest Lie Satan Tricks Latter-day Saints Into Believing.
The Biggest Lie Satan Tricks Latter-day Saints Into Believing.
When someone decides to stop going to Church, typically it is often because they have been offended or they feel judged by the shame culture. When this happens, it becomes harder and harder to go to church. This is when Satan tricks them into believing that even though they know the gospel is true, they don't need to actively live it by going to church. They say to themselves "I can believe everything, without going to church."
Because I have already written about both taking offense and the shame culture, I wanted to address this lie that we can be inactive at Church yet be active in the gospel.
Note, this article is not directed to apostates who have forsaken Christ and His gospel and actively fight against His Kingdom, I am talking to the member who deep down inside still loves Jesus Christ, and knows the restored gospel is true.
You Can't Be Active In His Gospel And Be Inactive In His Church.
Satan is a liar. He seeks to trick us into believing half-truths and lies. As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we love the gospel. But there is a deadly lie that Satan is tricking people into believing. Satan knows he can't get us to outright forsake the gospel, so he tricks us into thinking that we can go less active at church and still be living the gospel. By so doing he tricks us into forsaking the countless blessings of membership in Christ's Church.
I have heard this from countless people things like, "I believe everything, and I love and live everything except the going to church part." Some will say, "I don't need to go to church to live the gospel and keep your covenants." But that is like saying, "I am a runner, I love to get ready to run, I love running shoes, but I don't actually run." You can not love Jesus Christ, live His gospel, and keep your covenants while being inactive in His Church!
Remember His stern wisdom, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." John 14:15. Don't let Satan trick you into thinking you can be less active at church and at the same time love Christ, live His gospel and keep your covenants.
"No man who comprehends, believes, and lives according to gospel covenants will be inactive in the Church."
~Marion G. Romney (According to the Covenants, Oct 1975)
The True Gospel Of Jesus Christ Is A Gospel Of Covenants.
The gospel has always been a gospel of covenants. From the beginning of time the followers of God the Father and His Son, Jehovah, have been a covenant making and keeping people. The Bible proves that God always makes covenants with His people. In the Restored gospel, we make and keep sacred covenants just like in days of old. The gospel of Jesus Christ requires a Church led by Prophets, Apostles who hold Priesthood keys. It requires those keys to administer ordinances like Baptism so we can enter into covenants with God. The gospel of Jesus Christ has always required a Church! And being active in the gospel requires being active in His Church!
The gospel of post-apostolic Christianity is not a covenant based gospel. After the death of the apostles, Priesthood keys were lost. Without Priesthood keys man lacked the authority to perform sacred ordinances and enter into covenants. Evil men changed the gospel, as prophesied by Isaiah, when he said, "The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant" Isaiah 24:5. They taught a watered-down gospel of teachings void of covenants. This falling away was foretold by Paul in 2 Thes. 2:3. He also was shocked with how quickly Christianity was apostatizing when he said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel" Gal. 1:6.
The simple truth is that to be a good Protestant you only need to believe Jesus, but to be a good Latter-day Saint you need follow Him.
"Righteous Israel, ancient and modern, has always been a covenant-making people."
~Elder Joseph Anderson (We Are a Covenant-making People, Oct 1976)
We Follow Christ By Making, Keeping, And Renewing Covenants.
If we are genuinely live the gospel, we must not only make covenants, but we must also keep them. Because we are human and the flesh is weak, we will inevitably break our covenants. But a loving Father has provided a way to repair and renew our broken covenants. The only way to do this is through the Sacrament. I thank God that I have the blessing and chance each week to renew any and all of my covenants. I can't think of life without the blessing of the Sacrament!
"By partaking of the Sacrament we renew all covenants entered into with the Lord"
~Delbert L. Stapley (Conference Report, Oct. 1965, 14).
If you are not going to Church and partaking of the Sacrament to renew your covenants you can't be keeping the gospel. Christ's Church and Priesthood enable us to live the gospel and enjoy the fullness of the blessing God wants to give us. Don't believe Satan's lie that you can live the gospel without going to church to make, keep, and renew covenants! So choose today to follow Christ, decide today to love Him in word and deed.
*If you can not attend due to health, request that the Bishop have someone bring you the sacrament. And if you can't go weekly due to work, make sure you go when you can. A police officer who works ¾ weeks which goes that 4th Sunday is active. God judges us off of what we actually can do.
"If you have made covenants, keep them. If you haven’t made them, make them. If you have made them and broken them, repent and repair them."
~Jeffrey R. Holland (The Laborers in the Vineyard, April 2012)
This article is part of an ongoing series about why people leave the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The number one reason is that they choose to be offended by the actions of others. Click here for the article I wrote about offense. And typically this happens because the shame culture is corrupting Mormon culture and people feel judged. Click here for the article about the shame culture.
What of those who are physically unable to attend church and partake of the sacrament at home, are they not active in the church?
If you can not go, then you can not go. As a missionary I was told to teach people, "When work of disability prevent weekly attendance, just make sure you go when you can"
And if you can't you request the sacrament be brought to you. Ideally it should be brought weekly, but some cases due to lack of manpower it is monthly.
The cop that works 3/4 Sunday's who attends the 4th Sunday is active.
The same principle applies to the home-bound.
We stoppped going to the LDS church because we decided it was more important to go with the rest of our family to church (they're Catholic). We decided that it was more important to praise Jesus Christ together than alone.
One must sometimes choose what matters most in life God and their covenants or their family.
It was no decision at all. I know god would want our family to stick together no matter what house we worship him in. It's brought our family so much closer and developed into a way for us to set aside the hustle and bustle of the week and renew our bonds.
To each their own. But as for me and my house, the Lord will always come first.
I guess you misread my reply. We do put god first, we just choose to do it with our entire family in a different setting. It's brought our family closer together while we worship. We have also attended service in the LDS Church as well.
Yes I must've. I thought you were saying you stopped going all together. I know many people who will switch back and forth spending one week at each church. Honestly I love going to other churches, their perspectives are amazing.
Hot or Cold never Warm.
I have a catholic siblings we go where we believe to go. I felt strong testimony of Jesus Christ,got baptized , served a mission. My sibling and parents want to go to catholic church they can go I am going to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. After our meeting we enjoy back home together and joy my family.
I know to much pressure but my testimony conviction and love help me to be strong in my believe I love my family they love me too. We have different believes yes but we are not mad each other because that.
They respect me for my believes and testimony, they went few times to the Church with me because they want to I never pushed them to do it. I know some day they will feel the spirit strong and her baptized.
I am not ashamed for my believes and felleings.
Please read Matt. Chapt. 10 verse.32-38.
You will understand.
Well, I guess that shoots down our whole family-centered doctrine.
You made covenants with Christ and His Church not to the Catholic Church. Families are important and you should support them and be with them, but you cannot let them decide how you will live your life and your religion. I suggest bringing your family with you to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If they cannot or will not come with you, then you go to your church and partake of the Sacrament and teach your children the path they should follow, and let the rest of your family go to the Catholic Church. You can still do about everything else with them. He has commanded you to go to church and partake of the sacrament and renew your covenants which cannot be done anywhere except in your church.
Why does it have to be Satan that is lying to us? I don't have a relationship with him, I do have one with my Heavenly Father. I have to work every other Sunday, I got visit my son out of state one weekend a month. Yes, I do enjoy going to church on Sunday, but I can't always be there. Heavenly Father knows my heart and I'm hopeful that one day I can attend regularly, but don't tell me Satan has anything to do with it
This article is about those who choose not to go. Not those who can't due to work or health.
Maybe you should be more clear on that point. While I understand and agree with your message, I think the "biggest lie satan tricks mormons into believing" is an irresponsible way to put this, and the tone is coming across as very authoritative and judgmental. While reading your article I immediately began feeling very defensive for several friends and family members who are dealing with unique sets of extenuating circumstances that keep them from being able to attend regularly -- this is something their church leaders are familiar with and understanding about. The way this article is phrased / worded -- with the "biggest lie" title and the message of "You Can’t Be Active In His Gospel And Be Inactive In His Church." in bold taking a prominent and eye catching spot on the page, it seems at first glance that the message you're trying to send comes across very differently than I think you mean it to.
Just my $0.02 - I don't mean offense by any of this, just pointing out my own experience and the thoughts that crossed my mind when reading this post.
Now if only they made church more exciting. Sacrament meeting is like a funeral quite dull in all honesty.
I have 3 young kids all in primary and I have to bribe them to go to church as they are bored sitting still for 3 hours each week.
Sacrament meeting IS a memorial service intended to help us remember the Savior sacrifice for us. As we truly focus on why we are there, boredom can transform to reverence. The 1 hour and 20 minute portion of Sunday meetings can be long for children, so I brought books and pictures about the savior to help them focus on why we were there. We also taught them the hymns so they could sing. We also had little snacks if our meeting was during the time they would normally eat, but nothing came out until after the Sacrament portion of the meeting was over. My children our now doing this with my grandchildren. As far as I know, no one is bored because of how we teach them to focus. I hope this helps.
"When someone decides to stop going to the LDS Church typically it is because they have been offended or they feel judged by the shame culture."
I have a hard time believing that anyone who believes this is the "typical" reason people leave the church has ever spoken to anyone who left the church and asked why. It may have been typical once upon a time, but if you're willing to ask why to 10 people who've left I think you'll be enlightened.
That's what many people will claim but honestly, the people with doctrinal issues if you talk to them long enough "doctrinal" suddenly turns into "people." So and so said something or did something. OR they were guilty of breaking the commandments and decided leaving would be easier than repentance. I can't tell you how many less actives across the USA I've worked with who the SAME day they went less active suddenly had things against the Word of Wisdom back in their diet.
Pretty good article, except for the title, which implies that 'the devil made me do it'... As Master Mahan, Cain, himself tried to claim when God asked him about his murderous act... Why do we get sucked into blaming Satan for our choices? My primary class figured this fallacy out, after reading about Cain. If the kids can figure out that we are responsible for our choices, why do many adults look for excuses?
No your right satan can't make us do anything. But he can use our own thoughts or feelings to direct us to a different reaction. Or thought. Remember he was one of authority in father's presence. So hes not stupid. Hes good at what he does. So what I'm trying to say is. He uses our own insecurities, doubts, misfortunes. To make us doubt and in return we lose our way.
I read an article by Dr Lisa Firestone. It has to do with the mean criticle inner voice that plays such a big part in feelings of depression and anti self worth. The gospel is the anti self hate balm. Unfortunately often times the gospel defense is the first thing people surrender. What ever the problem the gospel has a clear course of resolution for feeling shameful. It is called repentense for sinful actions. Getting back up and not equating trials with worth.
In a study about suicide among Mormons, the risk for active members is the name as the national average. When a Mormon goes inactive their occurence goes from a rate of 1.0 to 7.2. Contrary to our critics life gets harder abscent the church, not because of it.
If we are guilty of being clicky then let’s work to stop it. We within the church are on a personal path of discovering truth. Let us be committed to affording our selves and others room to grow.
I love the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I too have made covenants but have fallen back so many times. This us why Sacrament is so important to me. When I can't go to Churcg the elders bring me the Sacrament. I am so blessed to have them
I am highly edified and strengthened, and I am super grateful to God for making me to join the folds of those who follows Jesus Christ and not only believe in him.
While this article may be for some to endure, there is truth in its message. My boys were abused by a young men's leader and would not return to church. I was worried that my willingness to still attend would adversely effect my boys. My wife and I decided to not attend. We still read the Book of Mormon every night and let our children know how much we appreciated the gospel. It did not help that the bishop (not understanding the full scope of the situation) support our position. My wife and I were unequipped with a method for dealing with the situation and our home teachers were of no help either.
Let me break away to explain - My boys are not trouble makers and the YM leader know he had stepped over the line. Children are impressionable and it took some work to help them understand that it was just the wrong doing of one man who is only human.
As their mom and I continued to embrace the gospel we helped them accept the truthfulness of the gospel, but they would not and still do not attend and they are all in their 30's. I believe we should have still gone to sacrament and taught them that attendance is still important.
The bottom line is: Satan uses many methods to stop us from following the sacred path. We (personally) know when we are not doing our best. This article is not saying you should be shamed, quite the opposite, I see it as a wake up call and a warning. If you try to attend and cannot the Lord knows your heart. Every leader in the church has said we are not perfect but, that we should strive for perfection. If we are not attending as much as we "could" that is where the problem exists. We need to show God (and others) that we are committed to doing the best we can. Also, In order to truly show that we believe we must act, otherwise we do not truly believe we only say we do.
Ryan, beautifully and humbly and wisely shared voice of experience. Thank you.
What about "home centered, church supported"? Church meetings are an aid to the much larger, longer, more significant work that takes place beyond. The real "running" and point of this life happens outside church. Ordinances and covenants aren't endpoints- they're preparatory and calls to action.
Home-centered church is about reducing the extra meetings. Sacrament meeting is an essential meeting, as nothing can replace the sacrament and the renewal of our covenants. Active in our church is partaking of the sacrament worthily as often as we are physically able.
This is a very judgmental article. I know somebody who goes out 3 Sundays out of 4 to minister to the homeless and poor. who is more Christlike? The one saying in church: " love thy neighbor" and then goes home doing nothing or he that is not in church because he's ministering to his neighbors but doesn't let his right hand know what his left one is doing? Do not judge others based on attendance or any other reason for that matter.
This article is simply saying that we must make covenants and keep them in order to gain the reward of said covenants. One can't simply run 26.2 miles around their town and then tell others that they ran the Boston Marathon. They have to qualify, enter, and run the race.
Many people are baptized and make covenants (qualify) and even go to church (enter) but don't live their covenants (run the race). But it is making AND keeping your covenants to be a disciple that qualifies one for the Celestial Kingdom.
I am not judging those who do/will not go to church, I am not saying they are going to go hell. But if they refuse to qualify/enter the race, then they won't get the reward of completing the race. The Lord has created a kingdom of glory for those who refuse to make and keep covenants, it is the Terrestrial Kingdom.
Good article!
Matthew 10:37 "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."