Disobeying the Commandments

 Prophets  

     Are you obeying the commandments from the right God?  The heading on chapter 13 of Deuteronomy says, "The Lord tests his people to see if they will worship false gods-..."  Verses 1-4 say, "If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder, And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us sere them; Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.  Ye shall walk after the LORD you God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him."
     There are many ideas about what God is.  Moroni 8:18 says, "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity."  Have you been praying to a "changeable being"?  Has your god always been god from "all eternity to all eternity" or did he have to ascend into godhood?  Is he a progressing, exalted man?
      These verses do not ask us to pray about a prophet.  We are not instructed to seek a certain feeling about a prophet.  The Deuteronomy passage is not subjective.  It is objective.  It is a thinking decision to decide which prophet to accept.  If you are praying to an exalted man, then you are not praying to the God of Moroni 8:18.  It is impossible to follow God's commands if you are following the wrong god.

Spirits

      In 1 John 4:1-3, we are commanded to try the spirits.  "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that is should come; and even now already is it in the world."

      Again, this verse does not mention prayer or subjective feelings.  A number of religions believe in Jesus, but Matthew 24:23-24 gives us a Christ warning.  "Then is any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it no.  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."  As we try the spirits, do they give witness to the Jesus of the Bible or of another Christ?  John 3:16 says that Jesus is God's "only begotten son."  Are we praying to the son of an unchangeable being or the son of an exalted man?  If the spirit bears witness to a christ that is the son of an exalted man, then that spirit is not from God.  Christ, the son of a "changeable being" is a false christ.  Let us follow God's command to "Try the spirits".

Gospel

      In Galations 1:8&9, the apostle Paul commands us not to follow other gospels.  "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed."  There are stories of an angel with a sword confronting and commanding people to receive the teaching of plural marriage or receive damnation.  D&C 132:4 says, "For behold, I reveal unto you a new and an everlasting covenant; and if ye abide not that covenant, then are ye damned; for no one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory."  Here is a gospel that says receive plural marriage and be saved by faith after all you can do.  Paul was very careful and accurate in describing the gospel message to the church in Galatia.  He preached salvation by grace through faith.  He strongly stood against those commanding circumcision and the law for salvation.  The apostle Paul does not ask anyone to pray about the gospel or have a certain feeling of it's truthfulness.  It was objective, not subjective.  They were only to receive the gospel of salvation by grace through faith.  Polygamy was not a part of his gospel.  Paul preached about having good works, but he did not include it in his salvation message.  Are we following Paul's command to stay away from other gospels?

      May you follow the commands of the God who is an unchangeable being from all eternity to all eternity.  May you only be led by the Holy Spirit that testifies of the true Christ.  May you cling to the Apostle Paul's simple gospel message.  May God be with you always.