Spiritual Ignorance

Growing up in a Pentecostal church, we often focused heavily on spiritual experiences. We felt that signs and wonders, healings, and emotional highs placed us on a higher spiritual level. Occasionally, a prophet would stand and deliver a prophecy. Those who accepted the prophecy immediately were viewed as more spiritual, while anyone who hesitated or questioned it was considered less spiritual. The mind—thinking, evaluating, taking thought—was seen almost as an obstacle to faith.

What we failed to realize is that Scripture actually commands us to test spiritual claims.

1 John 4:1–3 instructs believers not to “believe every spirit,” but to “try the spirits whether they are of God,” precisely because false prophets exist. This passage does not tell us to seek a subjective feeling but rather to evaluate claims using sober judgment.

Similarly, Deuteronomy 13:1–3 teaches that even if a sign or wonder comes to pass, we must consider whether the message aligns with God’s truth. The standard is not emotional confirmation but objective discernment rooted in God’s Word.

In Deuteronomy 18:20–22, God gives a clear test for a true prophet: if the prophecy does not come to pass, it is not from Him. The text warns us not to fear such a prophet, emphasizing again the importance of critical evaluation.

Paul makes the same point in Galatians 1:8–9, warning believers to reject any message—even from an angel—that contradicts the gospel already received. The standard is the truth of the message, not the intensity of the spiritual experience surrounding it.

From Scripture, it is clear that God does not expect us to base our faith or eternal destiny on feelings or emotional experiences. He does not want us to be deceived. Instead, He calls us to examine, discern, and test all things. As 1 Thessalonians 5:21 states, “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

Of God, Of Man and Of the Devil

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      Joseph Smith prophesied about the Book of Mormon according to B. H. Roberts in his book A Comprehensive History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Page 162-163 of volume 1 says, "Hyrum Smith is represented by David Whitmer as saying that it had been suggested to him that some of the brethren might go to toronto, Canada, and sell the copyright of the book (of Mormon) for considerable money, that is, sell the right to publish the book in the Canadian provinces, not dispose of the copyright absolutely.  He persuaded Joseph Smith to inquire of the Lord, with the result... that he 'received a revelation that some of the brethren should go to Toronto, Canada, and they would sell the copyright.'  Accordingly, Oliver Cowedery and Hirum Page, the latter being one of the eight witnesses, went to canada to sell the copyright, but failed.  David Whitmer represents that this failure threw the little group of believers into great trouble, and they went to the Prophet and asked him to account for the failure.  The prophet frankly acknowledged his inability to understand the cause of the failure, and inquired of the Lord.  He received for answer... this: 'Some revelations are of God; some revelations are of man; and some revelations are of the devil.' "  

      Joseph Smith was saying that a prophet can receive a revelation from God, from man and from the Devil.  Since his prophecy failed to come to pass, it could not have been from God.  The other two options that Joseph Smith mentioned are these:  The revelation can be "of man" or "of the devil."  The "group of believers" must have thought it impossible for Joseph Smith to speak a false prophesy.  They were troubled by the failure of the prophecy as well as not being able to get the Book of Mormon Published.  According to Joseph Smith, false prophesy is a possibility.  If it is possibly for Joseph Smith to be misled, is it possible for you and I to be misled?  Alma 30:53 says, "But behold, the devil hath deceived me; for he appeared unto me in the form of an angel,..."  In the same verse, Korihor states that he taught this deceiving angel's words and they were "pleasing".  2 Nephi 9:9 states that the devil "...transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men...."  2 Corinthians 11:14 says, "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."  Joseph Smith and the "group of believers" realized that the prophecy was false because it did not come pass.  The venture was a failure.  Deuteronomy 18:22 says, "When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him."