Apostasy
I have been pondering the occurrence of personal apostasy for sometime. Over the summer, I learned of an acquaintance that made the decision to leave the church. Not just the inactivity of not attending meetings but asked for her name to be removed from the records of the church. This was neither the first nor the last such story I have heard over the years, but I think the shock and dismay over this situation touched me to the core. I never for a million years would have expected this woman to leave the church, leave her husband and wish to raise her youngest children outside of the principles of the gospel.
What leads to person apostasy, and what can I do to prevent myself from falling into the same traps. My sister and I often talk about people choosing to leave the church and why do they choose to do so. She maintains that it comes down to sin and not wanting to be responsible for the actions of that sin. Often we think of adultery being a cause for excommunication, but I have known a few people that have been in that situation that return to full membership. What is the difference? Some leave the church because they start to intellectually think they know more than the chosen leaders, whether it is the prophet and the first presidency, or even taking leadership direction from a bishop. They not only speak out about their own opinion but also start to say that everything the Prophet says is wrong. Therefore, even though sin in itself is a issue, I think the bigger issue is Pride, pride to not repent, and pride in not listening to the counsel of others.
We are taught that pride can become our downfall and I think I have witnessed it in many ways. So how do I keep myself from the same problem? How do I continue to remain humble to take the direction, correction, and admonishment from the Lord? When there is something I do not like and think can be different, how do I keep that from harming the testimony growing in my soul?
I know there are many things I can keep doing, but are they enough?
1. Prayer
2. scripture study
3. gratitude
4. willingness to serve in all things
5. love others with my whole heart
6. pay generous tithes and offerings
7. acknowledge my own frailties
8. praise others for their gifts and abilities
9. share my testimony
10. stand up for all that is good and true.
I know much of the key is to rely on the promptings of the Holy Ghost, repent as soon as a sin is commited, and trust completely in Jesus Christ.
The Book of Mormon talks about the steps to individual and sociatal apostacy.
(Hel. 6: 29-30)(2 Ne. 9: 9)(2 Ne. 26: 22)(Moses 5: 31)(Ether 8: 25).
1. Posses the truth (Rom. 2: 12).
2. Perverting the ways of the Lord: e.g. excusing yourself in your sins, hiding your sins (Alma 42: 30)(2 Ne. 28: 9).
3. Individual Apostasy: come to believe in your own lies (Alma 30: 53)(Isa. 3: 9).
4. Priestcraft: preach popular doctrine for gain (1 Ne. 22: 23)(Alma 1: 3).
5. Religious Extremism or Political Fascism: To force your beliefs on others (Alma 1: 12)(Alma 30: 11).
6. Secret Combinations: Conspiracy, terrorism, assassination, genocide for power and wealth (Hel. 2: 4,
7. Unpardonable Sin: Denying the Holy Ghost and shedding innocent blood (Jacob 7: 19)(Alma 39: 6)(Mosiah 17: 10)(D&C 132: 19, 26-27).
Comment by BRoz — March 13, 2007 @ 6:10 am
I remember learning in a religion class at BYU that criticizing church leaders put someone on the “high road to apostasy”. Turns out Joseph Smith said it: I will give you one of the Keys of the mysteries of the Kingdom. It is an eternal principle, that has existed with God from all eternity: That man who rises up to condemn others, finding fault with the Church, saying that they are out of the way, while he himself is righteous, then know assuredly, that that man is in the high road to apostasy; and if he does not repent, will apostatize, as God lives.” (Joseph Smith, HC 3:385.)
Comment by Nancy — March 14, 2007 @ 7:37 pm
I laughed when I saw this post on ldsblogs because it reads “Apostacy …we seek after these things.”
As far as keeping myself from apostasy, the best defense, I think, is to strive for continual contact with the spirit, which is the source of my testimony in the first place. I said something about this at NCT recently. All the stuff in your list is great, obviously, but unless it leads to a living relationship with God, it starts to seem like going through the motions for nothing. I know of people who have lost their testimonies despite scripture study and personal prayer. I think Alma 5 is great in this regard.
Comment by Jacob J — March 24, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
Oops, sorry, misspelled “apostasy,” how embarrassing.
Comment by Jacob J — March 24, 2007 @ 8:19 pm
I think you are right. It’s pride vs. humility. I always think of Nephi, who chose to go to the Lord when Lehi said they were heading out into the wilderness, as opposed to Laman and Lemuel who rarely, if ever, inquired of the Lord to receive guidance, answers, etc.
Comment by allysha — April 2, 2007 @ 11:50 am
Thanks for all your comments. They are all very good.
Comment by Tanya — April 2, 2007 @ 1:07 pm
Wow — lots to think about there. You know, when I think about the church, I know I would be absolutely lost without it, and so I’ve never really understood why someone would ever want to leave it. But through looking through these lists of things that can lead to it, helps me to understand signs I might see in others around me. One of the big things I see is when I hear people say, “Yes, I heard that GA say that. But was he speaking as a man or as a GA at the time? Do we really have to listen to what he said?” That really leads to a lot of hair-splitting and contention.
Great blog — I’m going to be back.
Comment by Tristi Pinkston — June 24, 2007 @ 10:48 pm
I agree with you Trisit, it is hard for me to think of it as well.
Comment by Tanya — June 26, 2007 @ 11:39 am