“See
Others as They May Become” by Thomas S. Monson
“We
must develop the capacity to see men not as they are at present
but as they may become.”
Compared
to the Bible by Connie Raddon
Color Key:
Quotes from the
LDS Ensign in blue.
Quotes from the
Bible in red.
All my own words
are black.
The
November issue of the Ensign contains all of the talks given by the leadership
of the LDS Church during October’s General Conference. This talk was given by the president of the
Church, Thomas S. Monson, during the Priesthood Session. It is found on pg. 68-71.
The Bible is
based on the theme that we are all sinners, and therefore unworthy of God’s
blessings because His standard is perfection – absolute and complete
perfection.
Romans
3:10 “There is none righteous, no, not one.”
Romans
3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
Even our good
works and obedience is not acceptable to God because it is tainted with
sin.
Isaiah
64:6 “But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are
like filthy rags;”
This makes us
unworthy of living with Him in heaven, and even unworthy of every good thing
God offers. The only thing we deserve is
death – both physical and spiritual.
Romans
6:23a “For the wages of sin is death…”
God provided a
solution to our problem in Jesus Christ.
Romans
6:23b “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Jesus lived
perfectly. Then as a perfect sacrifice
for sin, he atoned for all our sins.
2
Cor. 5:21a “For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be in for us…”
If we accept Him
as our Lord and Savior, then God counts all our sins as completely paid for,
and grants us Christ’s righteousness instead of our own.
2
Cor. 5:21b “…that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”
Mr. Monson’s
talk is based on a very different theme from the Bible. He talks about how we can work hard to change
ourselves into something righteous.
Since he is talking to the men, he talks about how they can make
themselves worthy to hold the priesthood, and even be the incentive for other
men to make themselves worthy.
(I have bolded
the words that Mr. Monson uses to keep church members in the bondage of their
own works.)
“If you feel that you do not yet have the depth of
testimony you would wish, I admonish you to work to achieve such a testimony.
If it is strong and deep, labor
to keep it that way.”
“…there are countless individuals who have little or no
testimony right now, those who could and would receive such a testimony if we
would be willing to make the effort
to share ours and to help them change. In some instances we can provide the incentive
for change.”
“We need to bear in mind that people can change. They can put behind them bad habits. They
can repent from transgressions. They can bear the priesthood worthily. And
they can serve the Lord diligently.”
“…they had
turned their lives around and had
fully qualified to become elders.”
(Speaking about
men who are not active) “It is our responsibility to give them
opportunities to live as they should.
We can help them to overcome
their shortcomings.”
“When our lives
comply with God’s own standard, those within our sphere of influence will
never speak the lament, ‘The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are
not saved.’”
All this
“worthiness” is credited to the efforts of men.
No credit is given to God.
The Bible
teaches that we cannot “qualify” by keeping God’s commandments.
“knowing
that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus
Christ…for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Galatians 2:16
(“Justified”
means to be declared free of blame – in other words, God declares us righteous.)
“…for
if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Galatians 2:21
The
teachings in the November 2012 issue of the Ensign
are
NOT Biblical, and therefore,
NOT
consistent with Christian beliefs.
Brigham Young issued a challenge on
May 18, 1873 (as recorded in the Journal of Discourses, Vol. 16 p. 46): “Take up the Bible, compare the religion of
the Latter Day Saints with it, and see if it will stand the test.”
I have accepted that challenge from
Brigham Young.
In the November 2012 issue of the
Ensign, the LDS religion FAILS
this test.
Resources
used for this article:
The Word of God
(The Bible)
The LDS
magazine, “The Ensign”
